Historical photos of Black Rock beach -compiled by Vicki Karalis of SFA

Views taken during gale conditions on November 15th, [sometime in the late 1930s] showing sea
beating against new sea wall at Third Street during a storm.

Image supplied by DELWP

Historical photos of the seawall built in 1937. See photos attached including of
newspaper clippings. Photos and images supplied by the Sandringham Historical
Society of the construction of the sea wall:
Notes on the Black Rock Revetment Sandringham & District Historical Society

The sea-wall was constructed in part using the bluestone blocks which were originally
forming part of the Old Melbourne Gaol.

When a criminal was executed (hung) they were buried within the gaol but were not given
the privilege of a headstone. The bluestone block in the Old Melbourne Gaol wall was
inscribed with their initials and the date of execution. When the Old Melbourne Gaol wall
was demolished the blocks were stored and subsequently used for the sea-wall.

Graeme Disney has spent extensive hours researching on this topic. He will be our guest
speaker at our next general meeting on the 2nd July at 2.00pm.

One of our other volunteers, Jan Withers, has documented the details of the crimes for each
of the criminals whose burial markers (stones) that have been located. They are 2 at Black
Rock (Vic Heritage H7922-0481 with no further details) and one adjacent Wellington Street
Brighton (H7822-2304 with no details). We have this information should it be required. The
other Vic Heritage listing is fully documented (VHR-H2206, Beach Rd opposite New Street
Brighton with details of 6 individuals.)

After discussion at the committee meeting, we have the following concerns:

Stage one of the revetment is for the southern section at Black Rock. Although there
are no identified blocks in this area it does not rule out the possibility of some being
located there. If the area is covered, it makes it virtually impossible for future
generations to explore the wall for more blocks. Would it be possible for the wall to
be dismantled prior to the construction of the proposed changes?
If the revetment continues into the northern section (Stage 2) is there a plan in place
for the two existing heritage listed burial markers, and could the scope of the project
be included to investigate this part of the sea wall also?

Philippa Johnstone (President)

Ray Nilsson (Hon Treasurer)
Sandringham & District Historical Society Inc
sandringhamhistorical@gmail.com
Dr Vicki Karalis AM,
SFA President

SFA committee members:

Alison Horton, Vice-President & Public Officer; Perfusionist

Salva Crusca, Secretary, Mental health worker
Craig Francis, Treasurer, IT expert
Ike Solomon, Engineer
Helen Gibson, Geologist & Editorial assistant
Paul Hede, Architect
Trevor Turner, IT
Adrienne Smith, Secretarial Assistant, IT consultant

Cristian Silver, Editorial Assistant

Free SFA Membership

The Sandringham Foreshore Association is a charitable not-for-profit association. Membership is free. Our self-
acclaimed role is to foster and promote good natural conservation principles to Bayside foreshore management.
Our current focus is to assist public education by aligning ourselves with scientific experts in fields of
conservation and natural environment, and to facilitate effective communication between community council
and state governments and established environmental science publications and position statements.
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and preserve our local archaeological, geological, cultural, indigenous and heritage sites such as the Beaumaris
Bay fossil site.
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