Charles Ferguson saw the construction of a sailor’s home as the solution to “a vast amount of evil, [as] it is well known that the crimping system is in full bloom here [Melbourne].” Ferguson’s proposal received support from various wealthy Melburnians as well as the Victorian Government that provided Crown lands upon which the home was to be built. Alfred Smith who designed major public buildings such as the Bank of Victoria, the Supreme Court of Victoria, and the Esplanade Hotel, was commissioned as the architect for the home.
Luis Calleja’s latest article in Docklands News introduces us to the long-gone crime of crimping and how Melbourne sought to ameliorate the crime on the waterfront in the 1860s.
To read Luis’ full article click here.
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