Famous Islanders

Phillip Islanders share their stories

The Phillip Island and District Historical Society is delighted to report that the society’s exciting oral history project, funded by the Public Records Office of Victoria and the Victorian Government, has gone ahead successfully despite on and off lockdowns during 2020 and 2021.

25 Jan 2022

Local News

Vale Viv Reith

One of Phillip Island’s oldest residents has passed away at the age of 104.

25 Jan 2022

Early Island Industry

Inspiring an island-only architecture

Chicory kilns may stand as sentinels to Phillip Island’s past, but residents with an eye for design see them as architectural opportunities.

25 Jan 2022

Early Island Industry

Monuments to the island’s early years

Chicory kilns have become such an accepted part of Phillip Island’s landscape, they can be easily overlooked.

25 Jan 2022

News

San Remo’s lobster man

Matthew Harry has seen the TV shows about tough guys fishing in rough seas to catch lobster.

18 Jan 2022

News

San Remo inspires Victoria’s new emblem

A “monster” carnivorous fossil found on the San Remo coastline is Victoria’s official state fossil emblem, after beating seven other contenders to the prestigious title.

18 Jan 2022

News

New York rates our “iconic” Penguin Parade

Once again, our littlest residents are making a big splash on the world stage.

18 Jan 2022

History

Edward: Australia’s most famous koala

Australia’s most famous bear Edward, was raised by Florence Oswin Roberts on sweetened milk.

17 Jan 2022

Famous Islanders

Eliza Coghlan

Coghlan Road on the outskirts of Cowes is now a busy thoroughfare leading from farm land near the Phillip Island Road, to Western Port at Silverleaves. The road is named after Eliza Coghlan, known as ‘old Eliza’ to early island settlers because...

Guest Admin

07 Aug 2020

Famous Islanders

Florence Oswin Roberts

Today the Oswin Roberts Reserve is one of the last remaining remnant bushland areas on Phillip Island, on Harbison Road.

Guest Admin

07 Aug 2020

Famous Islanders

Manning Clark

Described as “Australia’s most famous historian”, Manning Clark (who died in 1991) was the author of the six-volume A History of Australia, published between 1962 and 1987. But for Phillip Islanders it is his “The Puzzles of Childhood”...

Guest Admin

29 Jul 2020

Famous Islanders

Peter Reith

Peter Reith was well known for his civic duty on Phillip Island, long before he became a minister in the Howard Government, most notably as Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (1998–2001), and Minister for Defence from January 2001...

29 Jul 2020

Famous Islanders

Ricky Swallow

Ricky Swallow may not be a household name around Australia, but in the world of arts – particularly sculpture – he is lauded. When you get your own Wikipedia page you know you’ve made it. Ricky was born in San Remo in 1974 and was educated...

Guest Admin

29 Jul 2020

Famous Islanders

William Watt

While William Watt was not born on Phillip Island, he lived here – according to the Australian Dictionary of Biography – for about six years, and so we can still claim him as our own. Watt was the 24th Premier of Victoria. He later became...

Guest Admin

29 Jul 2020

Famous Islanders

Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner

Nearly 60 years ago, Hollywood came to Phillip Island when Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner and Fred Astaire filmed “On The Beach”, a 1959 post-apocalyptic science fiction drama film. Produced and directed by Stanley Kramer, and also starring Anthony...

Guest Admin

29 Jul 2020