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Welcome to Sandringham & District Historical Society
Hampton Pier 033
Welcome to Sandringham & District Historical Society
On the Pier, Sandringham VJY2659
Welcome to Sandringham & District Historical Society
Sandy Beach HQ History SANDY BEACH HQ p0656fix2
Welcome to Sandringham & District Historical Society
half moon bay VJY2665
Welcome to Sandringham & District Historical Society

Our location is 15 Melrose Street, Sandringham

Opening hours remain Fridays and Sundays 2 - 4pm (except Public Holidays) or by appointment

What We Do

  • Collect, preserve and catalogue material relevant to the history of Sandringham, Black Rock, Beaumaris, Hampton, and parts of Highett and Cheltenham.
  • Record oral histories from local residents and past residents. 
  • Disseminate this knowledge available through social media, web page, books, articles, newsletters, and displays.
  • Research local history and write stories based on this intriguing work. 
  • Liaise with local businesses, volunteer organisations, clubs, to collect historical information and provide advice on historical material and projects

Castlefield Estate Project

The Castlefield estate holds historical significance as the second largest soldier settlement housing estate in Victoria after World War I. Here are some key points about this remarkable estate:

  • Origins and Ownership:

    • Originally, the land was farmland owned by early settler Matthew Smith.
    • After World War I, the land was compulsorily acquired for the purpose of establishing a soldier settlement.
  • Naming Convention:

    • The Castlefield estate is recognizable by the names of its streets, which are named after landmarks on the Western Front during the war. These street names include Amiens StreetPasschendaele StreetRouen Street, and others.
    • This naming tradition pays homage to the soldiers who served during the war and the battles they fought.
  • Preservation:

    • The Castlefield estate has maintained it’s historical character and is the best preserved of the remaining WW1 Soldier settlement estates in Victoria.
    • It stands as a testament to the post-war efforts to provide returning soldiers with land and housing.
  • Recent Developments:

    • The Sandringham and District Historical Society, along with the Castlefield Project Centenary Committee, is actively involved in researching and celebrating the estate’s history.
    • A grant has been allocated to manage the Castlefield Project, which includes research, celebrations, and interpretative street signs.

In 2025, there will be a grand celebration of the Castlefield Estate, commemorating its role in supporting veterans and shaping the local community.

Recent Posts

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From books to pictures and more, our shop at Sandringham & District Historical Society Inc. may have just what you are looking for.

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Help with your research

Whether it's researching your family tree or photocopying some articles for your project, we have a team of volunteers ready to help.

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A Hampton Story - by SDHS member Margaret Watts

My great grandparents, John Silk Sherrard junior and his wife Jane, nee Potter, started marital life in Melbourne in 1876.  Neither however would have contemplated that they would ultimately probably hold the record for the most unusual living arrangement in Hampton.

When John and Jane’s fortunes fluctuated in the depression, he left to find work in North West Tasmania.  Jane stayed on with their four daughters in Melbourne’s Tin Pan Alley and she worked as a midwife.

A huge thanks to our partners

We acknowledge the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land, and we pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.