Columns » Carlton Community History Group

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A mansion on Rathdowne St

May 6th, 2026 - Jeff Atkinson

On the south-west corner of Rathdowne and Pelham streets in Carlton there is a brick pillar that looks out-of-place. It is all that remains of a brick wall that once surrounded a substantial house on the site.

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Kathleen Syme: a successfully repurposed building

March 4th, 2026 - Inner City News

In Faraday St, Carlton there is an example of an old 19th century building that has twice been successfully reconfigured and repurposed. Built 150 years ago as a state primary school, it is still in use today as a modern, well-used community centre and library.

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The old Carlton and United Brewery

December 3rd, 2025 - Jeff Atkinson

Just north of the CBD, the block surrounded by Swanston, Victoria, Bouverie and Queensberry streets in south Carlton was the site of one of Melbourne’s earliest breweries. Remnants of it can still be seen there today.

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The Grattan Street Drill Hall

September 30th, 2025 - Jeff Atkinson

In 1860, a large wooden building was constructed in Grattan St between Lygon and Drummond streets for use as a drill hall by a local troop of part-time soldiers known as the Carlton Volunteer Rifles.

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Wilson Hall: a lost treasure

July 30th, 2025 - Jeff Atkinson

Over the years, Carlton has seen many fine buildings lost – to demolition, neglect, fire and developers. One of the finest was the original Wilson Hall in Melbourne University.

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Chinese Church in Carlton

June 3rd, 2025 - Jeff Atkinson

On Queensberry St, Carlton, there is a historic building that is a reminder of the Chinese community that has been part of Melbourne since the days of the gold rush in the 1850s.

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Carlton Conversations features a look back to World War Two

April 30th, 2025 - Jeff Atkinson

The Carlton Community History Group’s president and historian Jeff Atkinson will speak about Carlton during the Second World War on May 26 from 6pm to 8pm.

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Memorial drinking fountains

April 2nd, 2025 - Jeff Atkinson

In earlier times, it was possible for a Melbourne City councillor to erect monuments to himself and members of his family in public places.

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Double-decker buses in Melbourne

January 29th, 2025 - Jeff Atkinson

For 14 years, from 1940 to 1954, the streets of Melbourne and its inner northern suburbs had double-decker buses operating along them. 

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The historical treasures of Drummond St

July 31st, 2024 - Jeff Atkinson

The southern end of Drummond St in Carlton contains some of the earliest extant buildings in Melbourne and many that are of historic or architectural importance. But they may be under threat from developers.

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An early Grand Final

An early Grand Final

November 30th, 2022 - Jeff Atkinson
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