A group of artists created an arts centre and save the Mission building but it was demolished in 1995.Colour photograph depicting the Mission to Seamen, Beach Street, Port Melbourne in 1988. In front of the building is a sign for an art exhibition: " Zeitgeist - Spirit of the Times - paintings by Phil Edwards, Robert Ewing and Anthony May, Sculptures by Andrea Griffin, August 18- September 8 1988."port melbourne, harry a. norris, brick, art deco, 1937, beach street, ww2

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

This red plastic folder entitled "1M''s Peaceful Protest" and the response letter from the Prime Minister of Australia at the time, are part of Record Series 35. Student Work. In October 1986 the girls from Form 1M [Year 7] compiled a volume of poems and drawings titled “1M’s Peaceful Protest” that was sent to the Honourable Robert (Bob) Hawke, regarding the importance of peace in this country and around the world. Bob Hawke, responded with a thank you letter and returned the student’s work back to Lauriston. This “Peaceful Protest” from the girls of Form 1M was significant as it showed how Lauriston students were prepared to speak out and let politicians know what their thoughts were on the zeitgeist issues at the time. In 1986 the ongoing Cold War between the West and the communist states of the Soviet Union, provided a real threat to world peace. The vibrant colours of the students’ poems and drawings bely their concerns about the ongoing threat of the Cold War. The spelling mistake on the front page reminds us how these young students were given the opportunity to develop their own contributions and make mistakes.