As a member of the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society, donor Arthur ROWAN photographed a series of significant buildings in the Port and South Melbourne area over several years. A selection of nineteen of these was presented to the Port Melbourne Society in 1993.Small print mounted on white card, with mounted, typed caption: Court House, 109 Bay St, Corner of Graham St Designed 1860 by JJ Clarke, Works Dept Architect First owner: Colony of Victoriabuilt environment - civic, arthur rowan, j j clarke, architecture, court house

This photograph was taken by Charles NETTLETON (1826-1902), a prominent Melbourne photographer who recorded the city’s rapid growth from a small town into a metropolis. He was the special photographer for the government and the Melbourne Corporation, and documented of the built environment and major public works throughout Melbourne from when he arrived to Victoria in 1854. Nettleton is credited for having photographed the first Australian steam train, the Melbourne-Sandridge (Port Melbourne) line, which opened in 12 September 1854; the first cricket team to come to Australia on the ss Great Britain in 1861; and Ned KELLY while Nettleton worked as a police photographer.Bay Street shops, 1875:- original Charles NETTLETON print showing west side of Bay Street: Collings & Son, Butcher; Cranston, Paperhanger; Mrs T CLAY; Johnny ALLSORT's Pawn Office; H. DAVENPORT, Clothing; G. RANSOM, Hardware; A.E. AITKEN, Auctioneer; Mrs A. BROWN, Haberdashery; F.C. FORSTER; Marshal, Printer; John PARRY (or BARRY), General Store; E & M RICE. The house is on the site of the 1912 Post Officebuilt environment - commercial, charles nettleton, theresa clay, collings & son, cranston, h davenport, g ransom, alexander ebling aitken, mrs a brown, john parry, john barry, e & m rice, f c forster, johnny allsorts pawnbroker