Sponsored by Alfred M. Nicholas the Deco era Mission building facing Beach street built by Architect Harry Norris opened in 1937. The building was then in WW2 requisitioned with the Mission returning to full use of the complex some years after the War ended. The building in later years was relinquished due to decreasing shipping at Port Melbourne and need to consolidate seafarers services in the Central Mission at 717 Flinders St. The building was used as an art centre just prior to demolition in the 1990s. The Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society was instrumental in ensuring the the old foundation stone was preserved in the sea wall opposite the original site. A single brick from the building is also part of the MtSV Heritage Collection. This stone is one of the few items remaining from this building demolished in 1995.Photograph depicting the foundation stone laid on the 18 May 1937 for the new Mission in Port Melbourne.TO THE GLORY OF GOD/AND THE WELFARE OF ALL SEAFARERS / THIS FOUNDATION STONE WAS LAID BY / HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA / THE LORD HUNTINGFIELD K.C.M.G. / MAY 18th 1937 / THIS BRANCH INSTITUTE OF / THE VICTORIA MISSIONS TO SEAMEN / WAS ERECTED THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF / ALFRED M.NICHOLAS ESQ. / OFFICE OF HARRY A.NORRIS ARCHITECTSfoundation stone, lord huntingfield, port melbourne, beach street, art deco, brick, harry a. norris, alfred m. nicholas, maurice nicholas

Also known as the King George V memorial building this branch of the Mission to Seamen opened in 1937 as a replacement for the old Mission in Port Melbourne. The Foundation stone was laid by the Victorian State Governor and a photograph of the event is also held in the MTSV collection. The Art Deco style building was commissioned by merchant and philanthropist, Alfred Michael Nicholas (1881-1937) and designed by prolific Melbourne-based architect Harry A. Norris (1888-1966) in 1937 best known for his commercial work in Melbourne city centre. NB PMHPS Kindly allowed MTSV heritage to take scans of the Kelly series notes in their collection for reference in 2019.One of the few full colour images of this building originally classified by the National Trust and now demolished. An example of architect Harry Norris' work 1937. All that remains are a ceramic plaque, a brick and several items of chapel artefacts. Alison Kelly, a photographer, was part of the group supporting the Port Melbourne Seamen's Mission in the 1980s and 1990s. She took a series of photographs of the building now held by the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society.Full colour Postcard featuring colour image of a large red brick building in a 1930s era Architecture. There is a green wrought iron gate ajar in the foreground with the word SEAMAN spelled out. MISSIONS TO SEAMEN can also be seen spelled ut in white across and down the central clock tower of the building and this is surmounted with a white flagpole.On verso: Printed: "Heritage Series / POST CARD " at right angles in small print from lwr edge to upper: "PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON KELLY PORT HERITAGE SERIES NO 6". At Lwr left crnr printed:" Missions to Seamen Building, Port Melbourne/ Designed in the Modern style by architect Harry Norris,/ this 1937 National Trust classified structure was until 1972 / an entertainment and spiritual centre for seamen, with / important roles during the war [WW2] and immigration periods"king george v, memorial chapel, harry a. norris, brick, art deco, alfred m. nicholas, beach street, mission to seamen, alison kelly, 1937, arts centre, seamen mission, mission to seafarers, port melbourne

This brick was salvaged by the donors, members of PMHPS and former residents of Port Melbourne from the ruins of the Art Deco Mission to Seamen also known as King George V memorial building, built in 1937 by Harry Norris and demolished in 1995. Used in their former courtyard the donors, who recently moved to Docklands offered the brick to MTSV when they sold their Port Melbourne house in 2017.One of the few remaining tangible materials from the architecturally significant Mission to Seamen, the George V Memorial building dedicated in 1937 and demolished in the 1990s. The Brick adds to the MTSV collection of Port Melbourne material from the 1930s. See also Research and clippings folder and records such as 0641 and 0233. The brick was donated to the Mission by the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society (PMPHS) who had two bricks in their collection.A terra cotte standard construction Brick Two embossed letters on face of the brick "B" and "L"port melbourne, king george v, mission to seamen building, brickwork, art deco, harry a. norris, alfred m. nicholas, beach street, 1937

The photograph taken in 1988 before it was demolished shows the Art Deco style building also known as the King George V memorial Building, commissioned by merchant and philanthropist, Alfred Michael Nicholas (1881-1937) and designed by prolific Melbourne-based architect Harry A. Norris (1888-1966) in 1937 best known for his commercial work in Melbourne city centre. Architect Harry A Norris, one of Melbourne's early designers in the Moderne style had a strong relationship with the wealthy Nicholas family who made their fortune on the production of Aspro, a replacement for the German Aspirin when it was made unavailable during WWI. After the Nicholas Building on Swanson Street (1926), the Nicholas Factory in South Melbourne, and the mansion 'Burnham Beeches' in the Dandenongs (1931), the former Missions to Seamen building in Port Melbourne (1937) was a gift from Alfred Nicholas to the Church of England. “The new Institute will be a modern two story building in brick, with a high clock-tower, a memorial chapel, a hall for talking pictures, lounges, and billiard-rooms. It will stand in about an acre of ground between the two piers at Port Melbourne. The building of the mission has been made possible by a bequest of about£15,000 by the late Mr. A. M. Nicholas.” – The Argus 19th May, 1937. The building had a cruciform floor plan which contains a chapel, a large hall, other recreation rooms, sleeping accommodation on the first floor and a sundeck and living quarters for the chaplain and the caretaker. After being left derelict for years, it was demolished in 1994 to Colour photograph of Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen demolished in 1995.harry a. norris, alfred m. nicholas, art deco, 1937, missions to seamen, brick, king george v memorial building, 1988, zeitgeist, arts centre

art deco, brick, harry a. norris, alfred m. nicholas, missions to seamen, port melbourne, beach street, king george v memorial building, 1937, 1988, arts centre

Small b & w photograph depicting 1930's Mission to Seafarers building at Port Melbournemission, port melbourne, art deco, harry a. norris, alfred m. nicholas, brick, beach street, huntingfield hall, king george v memorial building, seamen mission, mission to seamen, mission to seafarers, 1937, phone booth, phone box, bill doyle

large b & w photograph street view of the Art Deco Mission in Port Melbourneart deco, mission, harry a. norris, alfred m. nicholas, brick, king george v memorial building, beach street, port melbourne, 1937, seamen mission, mission to seamen, mission to seafarers, phone booth, bus stop, bill doyle

This plaque was made to commemorate the generous funds donated Mr A.M Nicholas in 1936 almost entirely funding the building of the new Mission to Seamen at Port Melbourne opened in 1937. Mr Nicholas died in Feb 1937. The new building was opened on the 4th of December 1937 by Lord Huntingfield, the plaque was dedicated and unveiled the same by his nephew Mr Nicholas Lightfoot. The plaque was removed from the building which ws demolished in 1995. The plaque is really similar to the memorial plaque made in memory of Ethel Godfrey (see item 2053).Mr Nicholas together with Mr HW Shmith organised rights to produce Aspirin aka ASPRO in Australia in 1915 during WW1. The Nicholas Family were significant philanthropists in Melbourne and Victoria and this plaque commemorates his gift to the Mission for visiting seamen between 1937 and late 20th C. The story of the donation is told in an unpublished autobiography by the then Rev'd Frank Oliver, based at 717 Flinders st. as senior Mission Chaplain 1930-1960.A heavy ceramic plaque with moulded metal alloy frame, polychrome glazed irregular ceramic tesserae design and memorial text in Gothic script in central lozenge set into a rectangular clay base.in each corner design features initials: "ihs" / IN central lozenge of design text reads: " To the Glory of God/ and in grateful memory of/ ALFRED MICHAEL NICHOLAS Esq / through whose generous gift/ the whole of this Institute / and Chapel were built./ Died February 26th 1937"1908, plaque, alfred m. nicholas, memorial, alfred michael nicholas, port melbourne, 1937, aspro

Kept by Robert POWELL at 175 Bay Street, Port Melbourne, and discovered c1980 at rear of the premises 173 by Arnold GOETZ of Alfred M NOTT when moving in. (Fred NICHOLAS, Chemist, had been previous occupant for 50 years). 'Particulars of pledges' register from pawn shop Johnny Allsorts of Bay Street. Dark blue fabric cover bound in leather. One of three from the 1890s, this from 22.4.1891 to 23.3.1892depression, business and traders - pawnbrokers, robert powell, elizabeth powell, bay street, johnny allsorts pawnbroker, arnold w goetz