The original date for the laying of Foundation stone for the first Mission building at Australian Wharf in 1906 had to be changed to the 5th of February 1907 due to industrial action at the Wharves. See scrapbooks and clippings for details. Lord Northcote the Governor General officiated. The invitation marks the establishment for the first time at the Australian Wharf official recognition of the need to establish a Mission for seafarers in this location, some six years after presentation of the letter in 1897 from 22 Captains urging and requesting a respectable and convenient facility. Just ten years later the Mission would have to move to an adjacent site and raise funds for yet another Mission building in 1916. A heavy card with crimped edge with commercially printed invitation in cursive scripts from the Archbishop of Melbourne and the Members of the Committee of the Mission. A blue flying angel Missions to Seamen flag is printed in the top left corner. The invitee name is written in sepia ink as is an altered date. Ink inscriptions: the Rev A.G. Goldsmith and Mrs Goldsmith // ; printed date of Friday 14th of December 1906 is crossed out and superscribed in handwritten ink as: Tuesday 5th of February 1907 lord northcote, governor general, rev gurney goldsmith, foundation stone, australian wharf, the melbourne missions to seamen, victorian seamen's mission, 1907, siddeley street, alfred gurney goldsmith, walter richmond butler

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

The foundation stone of the Victorian Seamen's Institute, which is to be erected in Beach street, Port Melbourne, was laid on Wednesday afternoon by His Excellency the Governor, in the presence of Lady Loch, the Post master-General (Mr. F. T. Derham), Sir James MacBain, Colonel Sargood, and Mr. S. Fraser, M's.L.C., the Dean of Melbourne, the members of the local council, Mr. John Blyth, and a large concourse, of spectators. Captain Pasco then presented His Excellency with a silver trowel and a silver-mounted ivory mallet, whereupon the stone was lowered into position. The stone was placed in the 1937 building then given into the care of the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society during the demolition in 1995. Then it was placed in the bluestone wall in front of the building with the other building stones.The 1888 Mission was sold in the 1930s when the new building, designed by Harry Norris was open in 1937. The 1888 building is still standing but is now for commercial use (restaurant). Colour photograph depicting the foundation stone of the Port Melbourne Mission to Seamen 1888.THIS MEMORIAL STONE WAS LAID BY HIS EXCELLENCY SIR HENRY B. LOCH C.C.M.C. K.C.B. GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA ON WEDNESDAY THE 5TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER A.D. 1888.lord henry brougham loch, frederick sargood, sir james mcbain, simon fraser, john blyth, captain crawford pasco, port melbourne, beach street, nott street, frederick williams, brick, frederick thomas derham, pmhps, port melbourne historical and preservation society, port melbourne mission

Photographed by Pat Grainger, volunteer during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly: Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen, tower stairwell, window wallsmissions to seamen, built environment, architecture, pat grainger, harry a norris

Photographed by Pat Grainger, volunteer during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly: Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen, detail of iron railing in tower stairwellmissions to seamen, built environment, architecture, pat grainger, harry a norris

Photographed by Alison Kelly while she was joint caretaker of the building during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly, Port Melbourne Mission to Seamen: view of grounds of mission toward Centenary Bridgemissions to seamen, built environment, architecture, alison kelly, harry a norris

Photographed by Alison Kelly while she was joint caretaker of the building during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly: Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen, exterior of chapel apse - detail of brickwork at basemissions to seamen, built environment, alison kelly

Photographed by Alison Kelly while she was joint caretaker of the building during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly: Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen, interior tower stairwell, south and west wallsmissions to seamen, built environment, architecture, alison kelly, harry a norris

Photographed by Alison Kelly while she was joint caretaker of the building during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly: Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen, view from roof to Commonwealth Engine works and Telecom, city in distancemissions to seamen, built environment, alison kelly

Photographed by Alison Kelly while she was joint caretaker of the building during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991 Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen building, colour view of clocktower, southern and eastern faces - window pane missing. From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly:missions to seamen, built environment

Photographed by Alison Kelly while she was joint caretaker of the building during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly: view down the lane behind Swallow Street toward the rear of the Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen building (Telecom building on right)missions to seamen, built environment, alison kelly

Photographed by Alison Kelly while she was joint caretaker of the building during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly: Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen building, roof of chapel from Mission roof; outer beacon and tall ships at Princes Pier 1988missions to seamen, built environment, princes pier, tall ships

Photographed by Alison Kelly while she was joint caretaker of the building during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991 Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen building, Huntingfield Hall, looking toward stage; used as workroom at this period of the Mission Arts Centre 1988. From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly:missions to seamen, built environment, huntingfield hall

Photographed by Alison Kelly while she was joint caretaker of the building during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly: Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen, 1888 memorial stone from original Seamen's Institute, set into interior wall outside doors to chapelmissions to seamen, built environment, alison kelly

Photographed by Alison Kelly while she was joint caretaker of the building during the Mission Arts Centre days 1987 to 1991 Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen building, colour view of sculpture in Huntingfield Hall, showing wave motif on ventilators, mural by Brian Couldrey 1987. From album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly:missions to seamen, built environment

Photographed by the National Trust to record damage to building after May 1994 fireFrom album of photos mostly by Alison Kelly: Port Melbourne Missions to Seamen, exterior of chaplain's quarters; photo taken by National Trust after May 1994 fire in chaplain's lounge roommissions to seamen, built environment, crimes and misdemeanours, fire and fire services