Plenty of Heritage Walks

Now that Spring has sprung it is fitting that a number of Heritage groups are conducting walks in coming weeks.

History of the Plenty
Saturday 4 October, 1pm-3pm
Presented by Banyule City Council
A fascinating ramble with historians Dennis Ward and Noel Withers, who will lead us through the rich landscapes of the Plenty Valley's Greensborough section. Suitable clothing and
footwear are advised - there are one or two steeper sections.
Limited to 35 participants.
Cost: free
Where: assemble at Pope Place, northern side of
Greensborough station (Melway 20 K2)
Bookings: Megan Kemp on 9457 9816


Explore the Plenty
Presented by Parks Victoria and supported by Melbourne Water and the Plenty Valley Conservation Group
An event for the 2008 City of Whittlesea Heritage Program.

The Plenty River and its gorge are the major physical features of the Plenty Gorge
Park. Take part in this guided walking tour along the river and learn about the formation of
the river and gorge. Discover early uses of the river by those who settled upon it.
See recent weed removal works and hear why these works are important for the
ecology of the river and the life forms it supports.
Bring along your stories and recollections of the river and what it means to you.
Suitable attire and footwear required. Afternoon tea supplied.

Date: Tuesday 7 October 2008
Time: 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Cost: Free. Bookings essential.
Location: Meeting point: Bridge Inn Road, Mernda
100m west of the Plenty River Crossing. Look for signs.
Melway: Map 390 K10
Contact: Cultural Heritage Officer 9217 2377
Event Day 0419 520 501
Email: events@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Did you know? The Plenty River extends from Mt Disappointment southwards to
the confluence with the Yarra River and flows for approximately 24 kilometres
through the Plenty Gorge Park.

Eltham District Historical Society also conduct regular heritage walks around the township. The next one schedule is Saturday November 1st. Book with Russell on 9439 9717

Monster Pettion Project

YPRL recently hosted banners in five branches as part of Family history month in August. Over 300 signatures were gathered in acknowledgment of the achievement of the original Monster Petition and as a commitment to pursuing equality for women in all aspects of Victorian life. These banners will be sewn together at the end of the year and displayed at the November Finale and the Parliament House open day.

The 1891 Women's Suffrage petition can be searched online and is a great resource for both local history and family history researchers alike.

Local History Grants Program

The Local History Grants Program (LHGP) supports projects that preserve and present Victorian local history.
The LHGP is administered by Public Record Office Victoria. The program is funded through the Community Support Fund.
Applications for the 2008-09 round of the grants program are being accepted between 12 September and 24 November 2008

All Yarra Plenty Region Local History groups are encouraged to apply for funding. Contact the Local History librarian for a support letter for your project.

Plenty Historical Society

Plenty Historical Society Inc. is a group which aims
• to create, develop and maintain a sustainable and successful organization to preserve the history, natural environment and culture of Plenty and districts and undertake projects designed to protect and preserve significant areas of heritage in Plenty.

• To continue to develop and expand the historical research activities undertaken by members of the Society and to establish a comprehensive inventory of historical, cultural and environmental items unique to Plenty and districts.
• To identify significant sites and features and make application recommendations to Nillumbik Shire Council for inclusion in the Shire heritage overlay.
Meetings are on the first Thursday of every second month (starting in February) at the Plenty CFA, Yan Yean Road, Plenty. The meetings are open to the public and special guest speakers attend throughout the year.

Recent projects have included the Plenty Memorial Gates restoration project.

Plenty Historical Society will have their seventh annual meeting on Thursday 2nd October 2008 and welcome new members.

Contact: Neisha Forbes 0438 793 766 or Alan Pearce 9435 9117

Queenstown Cemetery

There are nine local history groups in the Shire of Nillumbik. This is the first of a series to a highlight the interest areas and work that these groups do.

Photo: Rod Beveridge Australian Cemeteries

Queenstown Cemetery is a pioneer cemetery established during the gold rush of the 1850s at the site of the first mining village of the Caledonia Diggings. The Trust administers the cemetery with support of The Friends and Relations of Queenstown Cemetery and endeavours to maintain and preserve it for future generations.
Heritage walks of the Queenstown Pioneer Cemetery can be arranged by appointment. Regular working bees are held a the cemetery. Historical research workshops and social activities are also held. All funds raised and donations made are used for cemetery restoration.

Friends and Relations of Queenstown Cemetery will host its Annual General Meeting 2008 on Sunday 14th September at the Panton Hill Living and Learning Centre.

The first in a series of booklets entitled A Link to the past : stories on the goldminers, pioneers and settlers of the district buried in Queenstown Cemetery will also be launched on the day.

The first one George and Emily Gray and "Cleir Hills Nursery & Homestead, Cottlesbridge
describes the life of George, his wife Jane and thier two sons, Brooks and James. They are buried in Queenstown Cemetery with no headstone or marker. Brooks died of diptheria in 1888 aged nine and James of typhoid fever in 1894 aged nineteen. The lives of George, Jane and children is an aspiring story, representative of many of the struggling immigrant families who came for gold, a new life and successfully pioneered the district.

The Gray's nd Hurst's of Allwood House, Hurstbridge (the settlement of Henry Hurst) are related, either by blood or marriage to George and Jane and are honoured in theh Hurst family cemetery. The common thread that runs through their story are the historical fruit tree nurseries of Alwood House, Cleir Hills and Pheasant Creek, Kinglake and the inter-marriage of local families. Many of these people are buried at Queenstown.

This new book is based with permission on George Gray & Cleir Hills Nursery & Homestead published in 2002 by Geoff Walker.

Queenstown Cemetery contact: Elizabeth Wykes Phone 9718 1245
Sources:
Heritage Nillumbik
Grave Concerns newsletter and notice of annual General Meeting issue no 2 2008