Local History Onlne

The Royal Historical Society of Victoria maintain an excellent database.

The database includes records from affiliated societies. So far thirteen societies have submitted their catalogue records to the database, including Eltham & District Historical Society.

The RHSV website also includes links to other local history databases around the state.

Loyola College

A beautiful photograph of the entrance of Loyola forms part of our Diamond Valley photographic collection.

The main entrance to Loyola College, in Watsonia clearly shows its foundation stone on the right. Loyola is a Catholic regional secondary College in the Ignatian tradition. The land on which Loyola College was built was donated to the Archdiocese of Melbourne by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1979 for the purpose of building a catholic secondary school. The Jesuit Order had a presence on the site from 1934 to 1974 where a house of formation and studies for the Society of Jesus was located (the current Old Loyola building purchased by the College in 2002). Established in 1980 and set on 27 acres in Watsonia, it serves north-eastern Melbourne and, by special arrangement, accepts students from Catholic schools overseas.

Source: Loyola College history and philosophy

Loyola was probably named for Saint Igatius of Loyola of Spain who formed the Society of Jesus in 1540

Source: The Jesuits in history and the history of the Jesuits

If anyone can leave details of the inscription on the foundation stone we can add this information to our records.

Anniversary of Black Wednesday

Unfortunately Australian summers are associated with bushfire. The Diamond Valley Leader recently acknowledged the 40th anniversary of Black Wednesday. ..
"It was hot, dry and windy on Wednesday, January 8, 1969.
By mid-morning, fire brigades across the Diamond Valley had been summoned.
By day’s end, it was estimated more than 2000 people had joined the effort to save lives, homes and livelihoods in Diamond Creek, Research, Eltham North, Wattle Glen, Kangaroo Ground, Panton Hill and Warrandyte. .."

Local Historian Mick Woiwod mentions the fires in his history of the Research Fire Brigrade,
Against the odds: Research rural fire brigade, 1950-2000

Hard copies of the Diamond Valley Leader can be accessed at Eltham and Diamond Valley libraries. Against the odds can be accessed from the local history collection at Eltham library

Placename histories

VICNAMES is the Online register of Geographic names in Victoria of more than 19,000 placenames and roads, including lakes, mountains, rivers, suburbs, localities, towns, cities, regions, roads, reserves and schools. Historical Information can be submitted by public users, from sources such as books, memorial plaques, oral history and more. This information is verified by "Historical content administrators" - a position you can apply for. This website is worth keeping an eye on as content is progresively added.