History

The National Library of Australia provides an excellent historical resource in the form of a searchable database of scanned newspapers from 1803 to 1954. Here are some highlights relating to post aboriginal Port Melbourne (aka Sandridge):

1803 - Lagoon sighted by Charles Grimes
1835 - Melbourne founded
1839 - Arrival of the Liardets
1840 - Pier Hotel opened
1849 - The lagoon flooded
1854 - Melbourne - Sandridge train line opened
1854 - Swallow & Ariel biscuit manufactory opened
1860 - Sandridge declared a municipality
1863 - Another flood
1867 - Duke of Edinburgh visited
1868 - Large fire along Beach Street
1873 - Gas company starts producing gas
1884 - Sandridge renamed as Port Melbourne
1888 - The Port Melbourne Lagoon bill was submitted to parliament
1890 - Cable trams start running along Bay Street
1893 - Port Melbourne was proclaimed a town on the 23rd January
1920 - Gasometer exploded
1942 - War-time brownouts

And here are some links to articles with photos:

• Bridge across Port Melbourne lagoon
• Butchers shop on Bay Street
• Cohen & Marks Loan Office
• Camels at Fisherman's Bend
• Fire at Bay Street drapers
• North Sandridge floods
• Montague Street flood
• Port Melbourne from the air
• Port Melbourne Theatre
• Procession for Gallipoli wounded
• Sandridge Pier
• Warships at Port Melbourne 

If you find this sort of thing interesting, you might be interested to join the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society; it only costs $15.