Yarra Plenty Library Local History Blog

Kinglake 350 author Adrian Hyland in conversation

2012-02-08T11:23:00.000+11:00

As Australia remembers the 3^rd anniversary of Black Saturday - Eltham Library will present Kinglake 350 author Adrian Hyland in conversation with Arnold Zable on Tuesday 14 February at 7.00pm

Kinglake 350 is a very readable story of what took place in the Kinglake community on Black Saturday through the eyes of local policeman Roger Wood. If you want to know what actually happened on Black Saturday, this book is a good place to start.

Melbourne writer and author Arnold Zable profiles members of the Flowerdale community who were affected by Black Saturday in yesterdays Age. He ran writing workshops for Black Saturday survivors in Flowerdale and other affected towns in a project supported by the Grace Marion Wilson Trust, Alexandra Library and the Victorian Writers Centre.

Heidelberg Girls Secondary School Reunion

2012-01-25T10:17:00.002+11:00

There is a reunion being planned for past teachers and students of Heidelberg Girls Secondary School, Heidelberg Girls High School, Waterdale High School in West Heidelberg who attended there between 1957-1982. The reunion commemorates the 30th anniversary of the closure of the school
When: Saturday 3rd March 2012
Where: Bundoora Park
Time: From about 1pm
Details on Facebook reunion page

For more information about the school visit Heidelberg Girls School

Have you discovered Inside History?

2012-01-12T14:20:00.001+11:00

The new Australian history magazine is now up to edition 8. The current edition includes a cup of tea with Yarra Plenty Regional Library’s Local and Family History Librarian where she chats about the library’s digitisation program. (Search images via our catalogue). They have also featured a review on our new app – available for android and iphone.
Other articles include:
Celebrate 2012 as the National Year of Reading by asking: what’s your favourite history book?
Resident photo expert helps solve a family mystery
Discover one home’s genealogy in Tasmania
The experiences of Australian mothers since 1788
Darwin 1942: eyewitnesses before and after the bombings
Was your ancestor in the theatre? How to find them
The life of a ship’s surgeon in the 1800s
Why Norfolk Island’s world heritage listing is so well deserved
Follow Inside History
Blog http://insidehistorymagazine.blogspot.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/InsideHistory
Inside History can be found at Diamond Valley, Ivanhoe and Watsonia Libraries.
Current editions can only be viewed in the library, but you can borrower past issues and place a hold online.
Tell us what you think of Inside History

Were you affected by the Christmas day floods?

2012-01-03T14:31:00.002+11:00

Were you affected by the Christmas day floods in theShire of Nillumbik? Yarra Plenty Regional Library would like to record andpreserve your photos and personal stories on our Wikinorthia: documenting life inMelbourne’s north website.

Flood waters severely impacted some residents late in theafternoon in Eltham and Research in particular with severe hail stones alsobeing reported in the area. Roads, drains, cars, homes and fences were in somecases destroyed by the torrent of water caused by the storm, with many longterm residents claiming they had never seen anything like it.

Email the Local and Family History Librarian at: localhistorygene@yprl.vic.gov.au
Source: Photo from http://www.facebook.com/elthamcom

Updated Local History websites

2011-12-14T10:42:00.002+11:00

The Heidelberg Historical Society’s updated website was recently launched at Watsonia Library by Ms Lindy Stagg, a Director of the East Ivanhoe and Heidelberg branches of the Bendigo Bank. The new website includes information about the Society, the Museum, the speakers program, the collection, the newsletter, the history of the district and a page of comprehensive links of local interest including links to Victorian Historical Societies.

The Heidelberg Historical Society will celebrate its 45^thanniversary in 2012.

The Anzac Centenary web site has been revised and updated. It includes information about the Anzac Centenary Advisory Board; public submissions on the Anzac Centenary; information on the use of the word 'Anzac'; and a number of publications.

Melbourne

2011-11-22T11:11:00.001+11:00

eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online
The print volume of the Encyclopedia of Melbourne was published in 2005 by Cambridge University Press. The online Encyclopedia of Melbourne - eMelbourne - now contains the full text of the print volume, with additional text, digital and educational resources.

The University of Melbourne have put Melbourne maps online for 1945 - or aerial photographs. It includes our region.

Apps for Family and Local History

2011-11-15T12:42:00.001+11:00

Smart phones and other devices such as IPads are becomingmore common place in our community. Moreand more Apps or applications are being developed for use on thesedevices. I have an android phone and areslowly becoming familiar with some interesting apps out there.

So what would be of interest to Local and Family Historyresearchers? A search on Quixey – the searchengine for apps using the termsAustralia and History came up with a couple of interesting apps including: -

Melbourne Historical

Melbourne Literary

Australian short walks (east coast)

Others of interest include:

National Trust Trees(Victoria)

Terrific – plug in a location and a list of heritage treeswith info and picture come up. Great forlocal history and travellers interested in history

The Sounds of theBuildings – Architecture of Melbourne read more on The Age website

My Story -Based around Melbourne’s laneways - anauthor reads you a unique story set in the very place that you're standing.

Resting Spot

RestingSpot connects the memories of loved ones who havepassed with their final location on earth. People can photograph a headstone froma headstone with their phone and upload to the website. A terrific resource for familyhistorians. No Australian content yet

In a similar vein

BillionGraves

aims to be thelargest repository of headstone records, images, and locations in the world.This will give family historians access to previously undocumented informationthat can further their genealogical research. The site is built with theseresearchers in mind, and its structure is inherently collaborative. The firststep in the BillionGraves process is to have iPhone users download theBillionGraves camera app and take it with them to local cemeteries. Snap quickpictures of the cemetery’s headstones, and the app uploads the photos toBillionGraves.com. The photos are tagged using the iPhone’s location servicesso the exact location of each grave is recorded.

Storytree

Allows you to easily build a family history made up ofpictures, videos, and text

Tagwhat

Tagwhat tells greatstories about the places around you. All you have to do is look through yourmobile like a window. With Tagwhat, stories pop up as “tags” right on top oftheir actual locations in real life. Turn around and watch as stories updatebased on where you’re looking! With a range of channels from movies to sports,music to history, Tagwhat is a world of originally produced and curated videos,photos, and audio to enjoy against the backdrop of your real life. Rememberyour experiences by collecting digital postcards that you can personalize andsave in Tagwhat or share with friends.

Have you used any of these apps? Do you know of other apps suitable forAustralian local and family history researchers?

This article has been crossposted on Yarra Plenty Genealogy and Yarra PlentyRegional Library

Eltham Cemetery Walk

2011-11-09T15:08:00.003+11:00

Eltham District Historical Society has an upcoming heritage walk of interest.

The Eltham Cemetery is the custodian of more than 150 years of Eltham’s history. Harry Gilliam’s research on the cemetery includes information on Eltham pioneers from those early years, as well as details of interesting and important locals buried there in more recent times.

Harry will lead a further tour of grave sites on Sunday 13th November. It will include many sites not visited on previous cemetery visits.

The tour will start at 2.00 pm. Enter the cemetery from Mt Pleasant Road (Melway Ref. 21 K9) and proceed to the car park near the south western corner. This tour is free and is open to the general public as well as Society members.

Local History Month

2011-10-31T10:43:00.005+11:00

November is Local History month at Yarra Plenty Regional Library. Special events are running at most branches. Please check our website and @Your Library brochure for more details.

Eltham Library

Eltham - Then and Now
Thursday 3 November 6.30pm-7.30pm.
Jim Connor from Eltham District Historical Society will be looking at the changes in Eltham over the last 150 years through the use of early images compared with current photographs of the same locations. Everyone is most welcome to attend and see what you can recognise.

Friday Focus

Friday 4 November, 10.30am - 11.30am
Come along and tell what it is about Eltham that you enjoy. Share your favourite undiscovered gem.

St Margaret's celebrates 150 years

Thursday 17 November 10.30am-11.30am
Geoffrey Sandy will give insight into the life and times of St Margaret's Church and reveal why the first vicar was forced out of office, and will reveal the church's treasures. Books will be available for purchase.

Mill Park Library

Kinglake: history and stories
Sunday 20 November
2.00pm – 3.00pm
In partnership with the Whittlesea Cultural Heritage Program
Deidre Hawkins of the Kinglake Historical Society will outline the history of Kinglake and entertain with stories of local people.

Thomastown Library

Thomastown Sharps

Tuesday 15 November
6.30pm-7.30pm
Join Nick Tolewski for a talk on his book “Once were Sharps” and relive the colourful life and times of the Thomastown Sharps gang.

Diamond Valley Library

Greensborough Historical Society

Monday 21st November
1.30 pm – 2.30 pm
Learn about the work of the newly formed Greensborough Historical Society and view a snap shop presentation of the area’s history

Watsonia Library

Memories of our community
The Street where I live

Tuesday 8th November
10.30am – 11.30am
It is local history month, come along to this friendly conversational group and share your local area stories. All welcome.

Website Launch
Saturday 26th November
2.00pm-3.30pm
Heidelberg Historical Society will launch their brand new website with a virtual tour and slide show of local historical photos. Refreshments provided. Bookings required.

Ivanhoe

Restoring Family Photos
Thursday 24 November
7.00pm – 8.00 pm
Carol Heath from Pixel to Pixel will explain how to restore heritage photos using a computer and image software.

We hope that you are able to come and share some of your own Local History reminiscences at the library for Local History Month.

Lower Plenty River Red Gum Walk

2011-10-26T09:35:00.001+11:00

Join Eltham District Historical Society members on their next local heritage walk

The predominant feature of this walk in the Bonds Road area, Lower Plenty is the large number of magnificent old River Red Gums that line the route. The walk also includes parts of the historic Cleveland Estate and Henry Stooke’s “Rosehill” homestead as described in the separate historical article in this Newsletter. From the southern part of Cleveland Avenue there are extensive views across and along the Yarra Valley.

This walk will start at 2pm on Saturday 5th November at the corner of Bonds Road and Stawell Road (Melway Ref. 33 B1). It is about 3 km. in length and will take about two hours. Parking is available in Montpelier Drive.

This free walk is open to Society members and the general public. The phone number for contact on the day is 0409 021 063.

Greensborough Historical Society’s Heritage Weekend

2011-10-24T11:18:00.001+11:00

In partnership with the 2011 Banyule Senior’s Festival Ocotber 29 and 30

Saturday is Show and Tell – discover the treasures of Greensborough with photographs, stories and artefacs.
Sunday – Join the popular historical walk in Greensborough and along the Plenty River finding out who lived where and what they got up to back in the 1800s. It’s not always pleasant!
Followed by afternoon tea and music by local artists
Bookings essential

Where Diamond Valley Learning Centre, Greensborough Park
Opposite intersection of Main Street and St Helena Road, Greensborough
Time 12.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Cost Gold coin contribution welcome
Book Noel on 9435 4513 or DVLC 9435 9060

New books to the Local History Collections

2011-10-18T12:15:00.003+11:00

Eltham Library

St Margaret’s Anglican Church, Eltham: celebrating 150 years by Goeffrey A SandyThe author will give insight into the life and times of St Margaret’s Church and reveal why the first vicar was forced out of office, and will reveal the Church’s treasures at Eltham Library on Thursday 17 November 10.30 am as part of Local History Month.

Illuminations: The Alan Marshall Short story awards 2003-2010 edited by Rachel Hennessy.
Copies of this title are also available for loan.

Ivanhoe Library

Banyule Heritage Review: final report (2011)

The report can also be viewed at the City of Banyule website

Carol’s Headstone Photographs

2011-10-18T11:30:00.004+11:00

This is a terrific effort by a local and family historian who offers free photographs of headstones for mostly country cemeteries in her database of Victorian cemeteries.

These cemeteries are listed on her website together with the names on the headstones.

The latest addition to this is the Kangaroo Ground Cemetery

Other local cemeteries include Donnybrook

Epping

Greensborough

Old Heidelberg

Queenstown

Thomastown Lutheran

Yan Yean

She also has a few cemeteries listed for South Australia, NSW, Tasmania and Western Australia. Carol also maintains a blog
where she announces new additions to the site. She also has photographs of war memorials available.

New centre to open at Farm Viganò

2011-09-06T14:57:00.000+10:00

A new Community and Cultural Centre will be opened at Farm Viganò, South Morang on Wednesday 7 September at 11am.

The new centre was made possible with a $2.45 million grant from the Australian Government.

The event will be attended by City of Whittlesea Mayor, Cr Rex Griffin and Councillors, Farm Viganò patron and well-known Melbourne restaurateur Guy Grossi and a range of Federal and State Government representatives including Harry Jenkins, Member for Scullin.

Farm Viganò, with its orchard, extensive grounds and native wildlife, has been identified as a site of major significance to Victoria’s Italian heritage.

City of Whittlesea Mayor Cr Rex Griffin said Farm Viganò was a “celebration of the Italian community’s cultural, artistic and culinary contribution” to a diverse and multicultural Melbourne.

“Having a cultural learning centre in such a scenic environment will be a major tourist drawcard to our municipality and north-east metropolitan area,” Cr Griffin said.

The centre, run by staff from Plenty Valley Community Health, will provide an opportunity for residents to participate in social and cultural activities including gardening, cooking, creative arts and woodwork.

The Nostalgia Viganò project, commissioned by the Friends of Farm Viganò, compiles the property’s history. These stories come to life on interpretative panels stationed throughout the grounds. The panels document the farm’s culinary, cultural and community origins and recognise the Italian migrant experience and its influence on the Australian way of life.

These panels will also ensure that Italian heritage remains an integral part of the farm’s future.

The panels are split into 5 themes:

Indigenous interpretation – tells the stories of the Wurundjeri people in the region
Farm history – from early European settlement to working farm
Hospitality – outlines the influence of the Viganòs and other influential Italian immigrants
Artist’s impression – pays tribute to Maria Teresa Viganò’s artistic talents
Family album – reproduces a series of photographs from the family albums of the various owners depicting earlier life and times at the farm
Farm Viganò is located on 10 Bushmans Way, South Morang.

All media are invited to attend.

Book Review: Au Revoir My Darling: an intimate war correspondence 1940-1945

2011-09-06T12:11:00.001+10:00

For five years Eileen and Ken MacFarlane wrote to each other at least once, sometimes seven – times a week. In their letters they describe their daily lives and the depth of their relationship also comes through. The Mills and MacFarlane families from Rosanna had known each other for some time. The best letters are reproduced in this book by her daughter Heather Haughton.

Eileen especially brings alive the Home front point of view during those war years living in Heidelberg Melbourne, with a baby a toddler, and elderly parents living with her she decides to operate a poultry farm and save money eventually to build a home of their own on property in Montmorency. In addition she took the time to also build an air raid shelter.

Her letters are full of rich descriptions of life around the house and yard with references to local people, businesses and places.

In particular she gives a terrific description of the Victorian bushfires which took place January 1944 including locally “We’ve had a week off the worst bushfires yet..Altogether nearly half a million sheep, about 2,000 cattle, 3,000 horses and a quarter million of poultry. 3000 hectares burnt between Eltham and Heidelberg”.

This book is a surprise and welcome addition to our local history collection at Ivanhoe Library. A valuable primary resource of reminiscences especially of the home front during World War 2 in our local area.

A sample chapter from the beginning of the book can be downloaded on the publishers website at New Holland publishers

Eltham walk to Killeavey

2011-08-31T12:23:00.001+10:00

The next walk of the Eltham District Historical Society is a walk to "Killeavey"

“Killeavey” was the home of Sir William Irvine, Victorian and Federal Parliamentarian and Supreme Court Judge. Later it was the home of his daughter Beatrice Morrison, a significant personality in the Eltham community. The original house was destroyed by fire and its replacement has been demolished by Parks Victoria. The site sits high above the Yarra River near the south end of Reynolds Road. It contains garden remnants, including significant trees and a stone wall.

We will start our walk to “Killeavey” on 3rd September at the corner of Mt Pleasant and Reynolds Roads, Eltham (Melway Ref. 22 E7). Parking is available in Reynolds Road south of Mt Pleasant Road. This walk of about 3km will start at 2pm and take about two hours. It will be on unsealed roads and bush tracks that are mainly quite solid but with a few muddy patches, so appropriate footwear is recommended. The walk is mainly within a bushland section of the Yarra Valley Metropolitan Park where dogs are not permitted.

Doug Orford will join us on this walk and will talk about the former Orford family property in Reynolds Road.

Bring some afternoon tea for our stop at “Killeavey”. Those who would rather remain active could explore around this interesting site.

This free walk is open to Society members and the general public. Contact phone number on the day is 0409 021 063.

Victorian Veterans Virtual Museum

2011-08-31T09:11:00.003+10:00

The Victorian Veterans Virtual Museum has recently been launched. This website contains a number of new resources including:

Victorian War Heritage Inventory
The Victorian War Heritage Inventory was developed in partnership with
Heritage Victoria. It is a searchable online database containing
information and images of places relating to Victoria’s war history
including war memorials, avenues of honour, places of commemoration and
former defence sites. Users can search for places according to keyword,
postcode, region, type of heritage, or conflict commemorated.

War-related heritage in Victoria: a report
War-related heritage in Victoria was commissioned by DCPD and gives an
overview of the extent and nature of war-related heritage in the state such
as memorials, commemorative buildings, honour rolls and memorabilia. The
report estimates the number of war memorials and other sites, and explores
the preservation of moveable heritage through a series of case studies
involving collections in RSLs, local historical societies and community
museums. The report is downloadable and an information flyer is attached.

World War One unit histories
In partnership with the State Library of Victoria the Veterans Unit has
digitised many of Victoria's World War One unit (battalion) histories. A
number of these books were originally published in the 1920s and are now
rare. This important online library can be read from any computer with
access to the web.

'In our words' digital stories
The Virtual Museum also hosts the 'In our words' digital stories recorded
with Victorian veterans over the past two years. They include personal
accounts of war and repatriation by World War Two, Korean War and Vietnam
War veterans which make compelling viewing. This project is still underway
in partnership with the Shrine of Remembrance and the Australian Centre for
the Moving Image (ACMI).

On this day - Eltham Library opened

2011-08-17T10:19:00.006+10:00

On August 17, 1971, the Premier of Victoria - The Hon. R. J. Hamer opened the original Eltham Library in Main Road Eltham. The Library formed part of the Shire of Eltham Shire Offices building.

That building has since been demolished and Eltham’s current library building was built in 1994.

The photograph above shows Librarian - Miss Jean Truebridge and Cr. G. C. Dreverman with a copy of 'Pioneers and Painters' by Alan Marshall at the opening of the original Eltham Library on 17th August, 1971.

What are your memories of the old Eltham Library?

New Books for Local History at Eltham

2011-08-11T13:20:00.000+10:00

Ev Hales – A Work in Progress
“When I decided to write this book I wanted to create something I would like to read. I wanted the book to have my voice as well as my images. What has evolved is something quite unexpected. I did’nt expect to learn about myself from this project…” Few books are written by the artist about why they do what they do. Ev Hales beautiful hard bound book offers a unique insight into the evolution of the artists thought process before, during and after completion of a work.

The Diary of Andrew Ross 1828-1895 and The Reminiscenes of Andrew Ross 1851-1864Andrew Ross, known as “The Squire of Kangaroo Ground” was born in Edinburgh in 1814. He commenced making entries in his Diary in 1829 and continued entering them for a further sixty-six years. He migrated to Australia in 1838 hoping to make a name for himself in the colonies. After ten arduous years in Australia, still struggling for recognition, he decided to search out for himself ‘a quiet nook in the country’ and to there hopefully reach the heights as ‘a big fish in a small pool’ — the place he chose was Kangaroo Ground!

Arriving in Kangaroo Ground in 1851 as the region’s first schoolmaster and preacher, Ross led his community a further 25 years, all the while recording the action in his diary, during which time he’d extended his activities to include every civic role open to him which had included the establishment of what in effect became Victoria’s first technical school.

There are also loan copies available of these titles.

Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program

2011-08-08T12:50:00.001+10:00

The National Library of Australia is pleased to announce the newspapers that are scheduled to be digitised through the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program over the coming year:

Through Trove, the national resource discovery service, there is free online access to over 5 million pages from over 130Australian newspapers. All of the digitised newspapers are fully text-searchable and users can enrich and enhance the data through subject tagging, text correction and annotations.

Titles have been selected by the National Library in consultation with the state and territory libraries. A number of the titles are being digitised with the generous support and funding from a range of organisations. For those libraries and organisations wishing to digitise a specific newspaper title, Contributor Guidelines and a Factsheet provide additional information. If you would like any additional information please email us at austnewsdigiproj@nla.gov.au.

David Ong,
Manager, Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program

Hilary Berthon
Coordinator, Australian Newspaper Plan

Hurstbridge Wattle Festival

2011-08-03T09:56:00.001+10:00

Sunday 28 August, 10am – 4pm
Celebrate local heritage, environment and community - Celebrate our early rail history as spring approaches and the wattle blooms in the quaint township of Hurstbridge in the Shire of Nillumbik. Ride the old K-class steam train or Cobb & Co horse drawn coach, see displays of vintage cars and local history, enjoy food and wine, art and craft, family entertainment, rides, face painting and more. Visit www.wattlefestival.org.au or call the Nillumbik Tourism Association on 1300 660 721.

Heidelberg Historical Society - Rats of Tobruk

2011-07-28T13:39:00.002+10:00

The next meeting of the Heidelberg Historical Society will be held at the Uniting Church Community Centre, Seddon St Ivanhoe, on Tuesday 9th August at 8.00 p.m. The speaker will be Marion Jones who will present "Rats of Tobruk: readings from a stretcher-bearer's diary". All welcome. Enquiries 9455 2130 (message service)

Photos in a bowl

2011-07-25T12:25:00.000+10:00

New item added to local history collection at Mill Park Library. Photos in a bowl: stories from Kinglake storeis from Kinglake before and after the disastrous fires of Black Saturday, February 7 2009 edited by Vivein Achia.

New titles for local history collections

2011-07-12T13:46:00.001+10:00

The following books have been added to the Ivanhoe and Eltham Local History collections:

Forgotten Country: the hidden cultural landscapes of Melbourne’s middle Yarra 1937-1851 by Mick Woiwod (2011)

The Arts Festival: a guide to the exhibitions with introductory commentaries on the Arts in Australia (Melbourne Olympic Games 1956

81 Victorian groups share in $355,000

2011-07-04T11:17:00.002+10:00

After some delay Public Records Office Victoria have announced the successful applicants in the most recent Local History Grants Program 2010-2011

Local groups have been successful. Congratulations to
Whittlesea Historical Society (City of Whittlesea) for their Whittlesea Township walking tour project
and St Andrews/Queenstown Historical Society (Shire of Nillumbik) for their Computer Database project.

Heritage walk of Montmorency and Briar Hill

2011-06-27T12:03:00.000+10:00

Eltham District Historical Society’s regular excursions program continues in July with a visit to Montmorency and Briar Hill. It will comprise a short train journey and a walk of about 3km. The date is Saturday 2nd July. The plan is to catch the 2.01pm train from Eltham to Montmorency. Meeting in the foyer of the Eltham station 10 minutes before that time. Otherwise, wait at Montmorency station for the train to arrive at 2.04pm.

The walk will start by viewing the famous Were Street footpath mosaics that tell the anecdotes of early residents and traders in this village shopping strip. On the walk to Briar Hill we will talk about the subdivisions of the 1910s and 20s that established Montmorency as a suburb. Featured locations on the walk will include the site of the Briar Hill Timber Mill, Briar Hill overpass (the site of a former tiny road bridge over the railway) and St Faith’s Church.

This free excursion is open to Society members and the general public and will be for about two hours., returning to Eltham by train. The phone number for contact on the day is 0409 021 063.

Yarra Plenty Heritage Forum

2011-06-22T13:00:00.001+10:00

A successful Heritage Forum was hosted yesterday (Tues 21 June) by the Cultural Heritage Officer at the City of Whittlesea for the second Yarra Plenty Heritage Forum this year.

The Heritage Forum which is held four times each year is facilitated and co-ordinated by the Local and family History Librarian at Yarra Plenty Regional Library and hosted by member groups at various locations. It is a an opportunity for local history groups, council representatives and like minded organisations within our three municipalities with an interest in local heritage such as Parks Victoria to come together for informal networking and information sharing.

Yesterday’s meeting held in the prestigious Council Chambers at the City of Whittlesea hosted a guest speaker Mr Detlev Leuth, former Chairman of Blue Shield Australia, the cultural equivalent of the Red Cross. It is an international committee which works to protect the world’s cultural heritage against threats of all kinds including natural disasters such as floods and bushfires. His passion for the preservation of cultural heritage was evident in his presentation where he spoke about disaster preparedness and preservation of photos. Talks he said, which in the past he has presented each for a full day.

18 Forum members certainly took home some food for thought relating not only to their groups collections but also family archives.

Following a quick delicious unexpected light lunch provided by Whittlesea, groups did around the table reports on local projects and a decision to further discuss aspects of Detelv’s presentation such as putting together a Memorandum of Understanding with local groups in times of disaster was tabled for the next Forum meeting in September.

Quote from Member:

“Just to say that we thought Detlev’s presentation this morning was well worth attending. Although we may be aware of some aspects of the presentations its often a session such as this that gets one motivated and encourages one to move forward on such matters.”

Smart blog for a Smart phone

2011-06-14T12:42:00.001+10:00

If you have a smart phone, this blog can now be read in a mobile-optimized version on your phone.

Harold Desbrowe-Annear open day

2011-06-09T14:43:00.001+10:00

Harold Desbrowe- Annear (1865- 1933) was a prominent architect best known for a number of houses he designed and that were built in Eaglemont.

The Robin Boyd Foundation invites you to an rare public open day of these privately-owned houses designed by Desbrowe-Annear on Sunday June 26th 2011. Details also at Facebook

Montsalvat Eltham - Request for Information

2011-05-24T11:47:00.001+10:00

Sigmund Jörgensen - former longtime director, current Board Member and Arts & Heritage Advisor and son of Justus Jörgensen - is currently researching a book about the Montsalvat community, with a focus on the people who helped in the construction and development, either as artists, artisans, students or trades people.

Much of Montsalvat revolved around the architecture, the art and of course the food and it is these things that he is currently looking at. Anyone who has any information, anecdotes, photos or stories that they might like to share with Sigmund for possible inclusion in the book can either email them to sigmund.jorgensen@montsalvat.com.au or give him a ring on 0418 549 541 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0418 549 541

Thomastown Local History

2011-05-19T12:02:00.002+10:00

Once were Sharps: the colourful life and times of the Thomastown Sharps by Nick Tolewski and written by Dean Crozier is a welcome addition to the Whittlesea Local History collection at Mill Park Library. Copies are also available for loan. To learn more about the Sharps gang check out the Facebook Group

Movie Making in Eltham

2011-05-16T14:50:00.002+10:00

In 1928 a short film was filmed in Eltham called "Borrowed Plumes". Local houses for the on location film shoot and local people were featured in the film according to press reports in “The Advertiser”. It was produced by local resident Mr E. C. Lyall and his Kooringarama films company probably named for an Eltham property, property owned by Mr and Mrs Boake. The Cast included Clifford Cumming, Raoul Conyers, Norman Mayes, John Cornwall, Beatrice Chennery, Marie Bucknall, Elizabeth Tippetts, Rene Dudfield, Grace Loukes and Clare Lynwood.

The Company also made a short film of the Eltham Fire Brigade.

The first ever feature film in the world was “The Story Of The Kelly Gang” which was released in 1906 and is said to have been filmed in St Kilda (indoor scenes), Eltham, Greensborough, Heidelberg, Mitcham, and Rosanna. 11 minutes of the film remain.

A number of clips of the film can be viewed on YouTube
Or view via the Internet Archive .

It has been suggested that the sandstone building 'Charterisville'
Heidelberg matches one of the images in the film.

Alan Marshall in “Pioneers and Painters” states that “serious film making” in Eltham began in 1929 with the the one hour film “As Ye Sow”. Principals in the cast included Jack Cornwall, Norman D’Arcy, Marie Bucknall, Gwen Pritchard, Rene Dudfield (later Mrs H. A. Davies).

Later Mr Tom Burstall, an Eltham resident became a prominent film maker.

If anyone would like to add to this information please do so online at Wikinorthia

Bear's Castle Tour

2011-04-28T11:24:00.000+10:00

Places still available for the Bear's Castle Tour, situated beside Yan Yean Reservoir - this Sunday May 1 as part of the Whittlesea Cultural Heritage Program - also Sunday 23 October

Information and Bookings : City of Whitttlesea

Lower Plenty River Walk

2011-04-28T10:18:00.002+10:00

Greensborough Historical Society presents a Lower Plenty River Walk
Date: Sunday - 1st May 2011 at 1:00pm
Meeting place: Old Lower Plenty River bridge
Duration: 2 to 2½ hours
Cost: Gold coin donation would be appreciated
Recommended footwear: Good walking shoes
Bookings not required. A courtesy email to say you will be there would be appreciated to info@greensboroughhistoricalsociety.org.au.

Society committee member and local historian, Ann Paul, will conduct an informative walk along the lower reaches of the Plenty River at Lower Plenty. Ann has for many years extensively researched the early history of this part of the river and township and has conducted a number of similar walks over the years.

Ann has prepared informative notes for the walking trail which will be available on the day. The walk will cover indigenous and European colonial history.

Eltham - Then and Now

2011-04-21T11:28:00.000+10:00

Draft Nillumbik Heritage Strategy

2011-04-18T10:32:00.003+10:00

The Shire of Nillumbik has released a draft Nillumbik Heritage Study and Council would like your views.

The draft strategy aims to identify, protect and care for heritage places and to involve communities and promote awareness, knowledge and enjoyment of those places.

Nillumbik’s heritage places contribute to the Shire’s identity and to making it a great place to live in and to visit.

A copy can be accessed on The Shire of Nillumbik website
Copies can also be viewed in the foyer of the Council offices in Civic Drive, Greensborough. (next door to Diamond Valley Library). While you are there, visit the display and read comments from local Councillors and others on their own favourite Nillumbik heritage site and why. Add you own and post up your postcard and be in the running to receive a copy of
Marguerite Marshall’s Nillumbik Now and Then

It is Australian Heritage Week – to see what else is on this week by visiting the Events page for Victoria

Historical Images

2011-04-07T10:41:00.002+10:00

There are over 1, 300 photos available to view via our website.

Photos can be accessed by using the keyword “images” in the search box or by choosing the option “online images” as the format in advanced search. The individual image will load in a separate window, when the link is clicked.

Each image can be searched by title and subject as well as place subfield “picture” eg. Ivanhoe picture

For example if someone is looking for information on Montsalvat, the search will result in images and books.

I encourage users to tag and add comments as they would for other items including books in our catalogue.

These images are comprised from a number of collections.

We have digitised collections only from the Heidelberg Historical Society and the Nillumbik Historical Society, that is we do not hold the hard copies.

Hard copy collections are held at Diamond Valley, Eltham and Mill Park.

Diamond Valley

Some 10 albums were recently rehoused and digitised thanks to grant funding received in 2009. The photos focus on the former Shire of Diamond Valley with many photographs of Diamond Creek and Greensborough in the early 1980s.

Eltham

Eltham’s large collection of black and white historical photos were collected prior to the publication of “Pioneers & Painters” by the former Shire of Eltham. Not all of these have been digitised, nor are they all on the catalogue. There is a physical listing with subject list which can be consulted in the library.

Mill Park

The Whittlesea Historical Society initially donated a number of photographs arranged in albums by location when the local history collection was first set up at Lalor Library.

Known as the Bicentennial collection, the folders cover

Donnybrook/Kal Kallo, Epping, Kinglake/Glenvale/Humevale, Lalor, Mernda, Mill Park/Janefield / Bundoora, South Morang, Strathewen / Arthur’s Creek, Thomastown, Whittlesea (township), Wollert, Yan Yean.

Further images were collected for a project in 2001 celebrating the Centenary of Federation.

Other photos are gradually being added to the collections.

New to the Local history collection

2011-04-04T13:45:00.002+10:00

Sutherland Home School 3660 June 3, 1910-1975
February Reunion 2000

For more information about Sutherland Homes visit Wikinorthia at Sutherland Homes for Children and Selina Sutherland

New to the Local history collection

2011-04-04T13:45:00.000+10:00

Sutherland Home School 3660 June 3, 1910-1975
February Reunion 2000

For more information about Sutherland Homes visit Wikinorthia at Sutherland Homes for Children and Selina Sutherland

Growing up in Lalor, Epping and Thomastown

2011-03-30T09:53:00.002+11:00

If you grew up in the Lalor, Epping or Thomastown area from the 1950s onwards a Facebook group invites you to join and contribute your memories.

Visit Growing up in Lalor, Epping and Thomastown

Memories can also be contributed to Wikinorthia: documenting life in Melbourne's north. If you require assistance with this enquire at your local library.

Robert Wuchatsch contributed his Recollections of Lalor Shopping Centre

Nillumbik Historical Society

2011-03-28T10:24:00.000+11:00

Nillumbik Historical Society now have a blog. Follow their online newsletter at

Nillumbik Historical Society

The Society's aim is to preserve and share the history of Nillumbik. They have a have a large archive of photographs, artifacts and historical documents relating to people who have lived in the area and places in the district they lived farmed and mined, with a particular focus on the wider area around Diamond Creek.

New to Local History collection

2011-03-17T10:53:00.000+11:00

Greensborough War Memorial Sculptures by Leigh Conkie

2011-03-16T13:26:00.000+11:00

2011-03-16T13:13:00.000+11:00

2011-03-16T13:10:00.000+11:00

An Eye on our heritage

2011-03-01T12:28:00.002+11:00

Heidelberg Leader
01 Mar 2011

Greensborough Historical Society

2011-02-23T10:52:00.002+11:00

The Greensborough Historical Society is running one of their Heritage Forums again this Saturday. Speakers include local teacher and historian Felicity Williams who has researched the WW1 diggers of Greensborough. For more information on the Greensborough War Memorial check out the Wikinorthia article. There will also be a speaker on using family history resources. More details at the Greensborough Historical Society blog

Plenty Valley Christian College anniversary

2011-02-14T12:47:00.000+11:00

Hurstbridge Advertiser

2011-02-14T12:08:00.002+11:00

Fantastic news from TROVE. Victoria’s third newspaper is to the “Hurstbridge Advertiser”. Some pages are already on line with more to come. It is currently focusing from 1922 -1939.

The Hurstbridge Advertiser superceded the Evelyn Observor from my understanding. It’s masthead provides a good description of its reporting area:

“This paper has a good and increasing circulation throughout the Counties of Evelyn and Bourke, comprising the Shires of Eltham, Epping, Healesville, Heidelberg, Lilydale, Templestowe and Whittlesea

Is officially recognised as the advertising medium for the districts of Arthur’s Creek, Bundoora, Christmas Hills, Cottle’s Bridge, Diamond Creek, Dixon’s Creek, Doreen, Eltham, Hurstbridge, Kangaroo Ground, Kinglake, Kinglake West, Mernda, Nutfield, Panton Hill, Queenstown (St Andrew’s), Queenstown North, Research, Smith’s Gully, Steel’s Creek, South Morang, Strathewen, Upper Diamond Creek, Watson’s Creek, Whittlesea, Yan Yean, and Yarra Glen”

This resource compliments the

The Heidelberg News 1897-1920 and The Evelyn Observer 1882-1901, which we have as desktop resources. Browesable in PDF format only. This is available at Ivanhoe, Diamond Valley and Eltham Libraries.

Eltham Primary Cookbook

2011-01-25T12:35:00.001+11:00

I could not leave a book behind on an Op Shop shelf recently. I came across the “Eltham Primary Cookbook” and it is soon to be added to the Local History collection at Eltham Library. Unfortunately it has no date. The spiral bound book was illustrated by students and typed up by “mums and teachers”. I am guessing it was produced in the late 1970s, early 1980s. The committee members included Bernadette Gately, Kay Maynard, Sandra Doull and Heather Guy with Mary Fenelon the recipe co-ordinator.

I cannot find any reference to the cookbook in “We did open a school in Little Eltham”

Kangaroo Ground Chronicle

2011-01-19T12:19:00.002+11:00

Copies of the Kangaroo Ground Chronicle: newsletter of the Andrew Ross Museum are now accessible in both hard copy and electronic form at Eltham Library. A complete run of the newsletter 1995-2009 is available and searchable in PDF format on the Local history computer.

The Andrew Ross Museum was established in 1993 in the old schoolhouse (built circa 1878) in Kangaroo Ground, Victoria. The Museum is dedicated to interpreting the life and times of Andrew Ross and the history of Kangaroo Ground from indigenous to early white settlement.

Farming in the Plenty Valley

2011-01-10T10:08:00.001+11:00

The historical photographic exhibition: Farming in the Plenty Valley: an historical view" has moved to Ivanhoe Library.

This photographic display depicts some of the early farming practices that were carried out within the Plenty Valley. Produce from the Plenty Valley supported the development of early Melbourne and was once considered Melbourne’s food bowl.

The display provides an opportunity to reflect on the early methods used in agriculture and consider the advances made.

This display was created by the Whittlesea Historical Society in order to recognise and celebrate the 150th year of the Whittlesea Agricultural Show held in 2009.

Visit Ivanhoe Library, - the display is open every day during library opening hours until 23 January. It will then go to Watsonia Library.

Greensborough House history from 1920s

2010-12-16T18:48:00.001+11:00

Diamond Valley Leader Banyule Edition
08 Dec 2010

Oak Trees at Panton Hill

2010-12-16T14:34:00.000+11:00

There are lots of stories relating to our local history – just as there are within families.

This one has recently come to my attention and unfortunately all attempts to verify it so far have come to nought - :

There are some big “amazing” oak trees at Panton Hill Primary School. The story is that these trees were “either planted by Prince Albert to commemorate a visit or his engagement to Victoria”.

There is a brief history of the school given on their website

In the past, there has been research conducted on students of the Panton Hill School honour Board

We have not been able to find any references to the trees in local history publications including a history of the School, nor have we been able to find any references online in “The Argus” via TROVE.

Local historians consulted so far have no knowledge.
We do not know that Prince Albert visited Melbourne in 1881.

If you have any knowledge of the origins of the oak trees at Panton Hill Primary School we would love to hear from you.

YPRL's New website

2010-12-16T13:45:00.003+11:00

Yarra Plenty Regional Library are very pleased to announce the launch of their brand new website – still at www.yprl.vic.gov.au

Discover a whole new way of interacting with the library online.

Yarra Plenty now has one of the most cutting-edge library websites anywhere and is the first in the world to deploy this kind of online library with integrated website and discovery layer.

What makes it so innovative is that it incorporates a discovery layer that sits over the library management system and interacts seamlessly with the website.

It has transformed our library catalogue into a social place where you can add your own ratings, reviews and build your own lists to share with others. It also has much better search capabilities, more “google like”.

You might like to refer to the welcome message

One of the advantages of the new website is that our blogs will now be integrated into this website.

The Local History Blog, along with the genealogy and other library blogs can be found here

Or go to the tab – About – News – Follow Us
And/or Resources - Local History

Until we can get the RSS feed organised I will maintain this Blogger blog as well

If you are a library member I encourage you to sign on, have a play and make it your own! We welcome your feedback and tell us what you think of it.

Farming in the Plenty Valley exhibition

2010-12-07T11:25:00.002+11:00

Lalor Library is currently hosting the historical photographic exhibition: Farming in the Plenty Valley: an historical view".

This photographic display depicts some of the early farming practices that were carried out within the Plenty Valley. Produce from the Plenty Valley supported the development of early Melbourne and was once considered Melbourne’s food bowl.

The display provides an opportunity to reflect on the early methods used in agriculture and consider the advances made.

This display was created by the Whittlesea Historical Society in order to recognise and celebrate the 150th year of the Whittlesea Agricultural Show held in 2009.

Visit Lalor Library, May Road, Lalor - open every day until 12 December

What is happening at Heidelberg Historical Society?

2010-11-25T12:42:00.000+11:00

The award winning "An Invitation to a Ball" exhibition has been extended into December.

Their last meeting for the year is on Tuesday December 14 2010 with guest speaker Bev Briese OAM speaking about "Elizabeth Austin: the woman & her legacy 100 years on from her death".

The meetings take place at the Unitng Church Community Centre, Seddon Street, Ivanhoe (enter from the car park) and commence at 8 pm.

Enquiries to: heidelberg.historical.society@gmail.com

Greensborough Historical Society

2010-11-22T10:13:00.002+11:00

Guest Blogger Noel Withers President of Greensborough Historical Society reports on the success of their recent Heritage Weekend:

The weekend was well attended both Sat & Sun which was most encouraging and we got at least 7 new members from it.

Saturday was an information day with photos, maps of old Greensborough including Greens subdivision of about 1860 showing the first land holders, a session on genealogy, an excellent talk by June Hall regarding her late husband Doug who was an accomplished musician and artist and a presentation regarding Lower Plenty by Anne Paul.

This was broken up with about four chat sessions where everyone mingled and shared their bit of history and partook of refreshments which is the most important bit as there were so many instances where people had connections.

Screams of recognition are not unusual at our meetings by people who have not seen each other for 40 – 50 years.

Sunday we had 20 starters on our walk up Main Street with me advising of who lived where over the years and some of their activities such as bigamy, fisticuffs and suicide to keep them interested, it went very well and we returned to the Diamond Valley Learning Centre for afternoon tea and entertainment by the St Helena Secondary College band and numerous solo artists.

We have to thank the DVLC very much for the success of the weekend and the availability of its facilities, the staff and premises have been made available to us from the start at no cost and we have much to be grateful for.

Discover German past (Whittlesea Leader, 16 Nov 2010, Page 7)

2010-11-16T18:50:00.003+11:00

Discover German past

Whittlesea Leader
16 Nov 2010

Ziebell’s Farmhouse will be open this Sunday from 1-4pm for the Westgarthtown celebrations, with tours at 2pm and 3pm.read more...

The past set in stone (Heidelberg Leader, 16 Nov 2010, Page 19)

2010-11-16T18:30:00.001+11:00

The past set in stone
Cemeteries | Hannah Donnellan
Heidelberg Leader
16 Nov 2010

WALKING through Banyule’s cemeteries could be spooky, might be kooky, even spine-tinglingly creepy, but there’s no denying it offers a fascinating insight into the area’s history. Time travel might not be possible, but Warringal and Hawdon St...read more...

Tech Tags: Heidelberg Leader newspaper Play

Eltham District Historical Society coming events

2010-11-03T11:21:00.002+11:00

Coming Events…..you are invited

Saturday 6th November (2.00 pm) – HERITAGE WALK – TOM ORR’S FARM
Our next Heritage Walk this coming Saturday 6th November continues our series on local road names.

The Panorama Heights Estate in Montmorency South is a residential area of winding streets lined with ndigenous local trees and includes many secluded parks and walkways. Prior to its subdivision in the 1920s this was Tom Orr’s farm, a favourite painting place of Walter Withers. After it was subdivided by land developer John Quinn the sale of land and house building proceeded very slowly and much vacant
land remained in the 1970s.

The walk will not be one of historic buildings and the like. Rather it will be a pleasant walk led by Russell Yeoman through informal streets and parks, imagining the past landscape that inspired Walter Withers and looking at aspects of this unusual 1920s subdivision. The distance is about 4km and includes a couple of steep hills. The walk will start at 2.00 pm at the car park in Grand Boulevard
opposite the Montmorency South School (Melway Ref. 21E 7/8). The contact phone number on the day is 0409 021 063.

The Panorama Heights Estate was unusual for its time, although to some extent it emulates the subdivision designs of Walter Burley Griffin such as the heritage listed Glenard Estate at Heidelberg.
It includes winding streets, irregularly shaped lots, secluded parks at the rear of lots and connecting walkways. Its main street Grand Boulevard, originally Bonnevue Boulevard, has a very wide road reserve. It connects Main Road, Lower Plenty with Bolton Street Eltham and appears to be designed as an alternative route to Eltham from Lower Plenty.

The estate is bounded on the south by Main Road and on the east by Bolton Street and is shown highlighted on the map, which also shows all current street names. Many are family names but Bonnevue Boulevard and Buena Vista Drive are descriptive of their ridge location. All are welcome to attend this free event.

Wednesday 10th November – EDHS GENERAL MEETING
8 pm at the Eltham Senior Citizens’ Centre, Library Place Eltham

Since it was established in the 1930s by Justus Jorgensen, Montsalvat has played a major role in fashioning Eltham into the place we know today. It is far more than a unique collection of buildings, although these buildings were really the start of the tradition of mud brick and other vernacular styles of building that is now widely identified with Eltham.

Many of the people associated with Montsalvat have played a significant role in Eltham’s more recent history. These people and Montsalvat the place are an important component of Eltham’s artistic reputation.

Our guest speaker on this evening will be Mike Ridley,who is a volunteer tour guide at Montsalvat and has accumulated a wealth of knowledge about the place and its people. He is also a tour guide at the ABC Melbourne Studios where he previously worked in television. Other places in his tour guide repertoire are the Melbourne Cemetery and Gulf Station at Yarra Glen.

Mike has his own collections of photos of Montsalvat and these will be shown to illustrate his talk.

Participants in this meeting can be assured of an entertaining and informative evening. As at all meetings we welcome interested visitors and new members.

Sunday 14th November – ELTHAM CEMETERY VISIT

The historic Eltham Cemetery is currently celebrating its 150th Anniversary. Harry Gilham’s research on the cemetery includes information on Eltham pioneers from those early years, as well as details of interesting and important locals buried there in more recent times.

Harry will lead a further tour of grave sites on Sunday 14th November. It will include many sites not visited on previous cemetery visits.

The tour will start at 2.00 pm. Enter the cemetery from Mt Pleasant Road (Melway Ref. 21 K9) and proceed to the car park near the south-western corner. All are welcome to attend this free event.

Everyone is welcome to attend these free events from the Eltham District Historical Society

November is Local History Month

2010-10-19T12:13:00.004+11:00

Yarra Plenty Regional Library is looking forward to hosting various speakers as part of celebrating local history month in November

Events will be of interest to both local and family history researchers as well as the local community.

German Heritage Revealed
Thursday November 4
10.30 – 11.30 am
Hear from Volkhard Wehner, the author of a history of the German Speaking community of Melbourne.
Eltham Library, Panther Place, Eltham Phone 9439 9266

ANZACS of Greensborough
Monday November 8
7.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Join Greensborough College Teacher Felicity Williams as she recounts her research on those from the Greensborough district who enlisted in World War 1 and the one man from Greensborough who died in the Korean Campaign. Felicity has toured Korea and Gallipoli as part of the Victorian Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC competition.
Diamond Valley Library Civic Drive, Greensborough
Phone: 9434 3809

Heidelberg Cemeteries
Tuesday 9 November
2.00 pm
Cemetery historian David Weatherill will speak about the history of the Warringal Cemetery and old Heidelberg Hawdon Street cemetery now closed.
Ivanhoe Library 255 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe
Phone 94975780

Putting family memorabilia in the Picture
Thursday November 11
7.00 pm - 8.00 pm
Neville Crawford from Recherché Specialty Picture Framing will discuss and display ways of presenting your military and other heritage memorabilia.
Watsonia Library, Ibbottson Street, Watsonia
Phone: 9435 2397

Photo Preservation Workshop
Saturday 13 November
1.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Detlev Lueth, leading photo and paper conservator, will present an informative workshop on how to ensure your photographs don't fade away
Mill Park Library, 394 Plenty Rd, Mill Park Phone: 9437 8189

Researching the History of your house
Monday 15 November
7.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Simon Reeves of Built Heritage will show you how to research your house.
Ivanhoe Library 255 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe
Phone 94975780

Researching Land Records in Victoria
Thursday 18 November
2.00 - 3.30 pm
Balllarat genealogist and local historian Joan Hunt will present on
accessing Victorian land records including using the online facilities of
the Public Records Office Victoria.
Eltham Library, Panther Place, Eltham Phone 9439 9266

Local Ghosts
Thursday 18 November
7.00 - 8.00 pm
Join us for some local ghost stories.
Rosanna Library 72 Turnham Ave, Rosanna Phone: 9459 6171

Visit the Farming in the Plenty Valley: an historical view exhibition
In partnership with Whittlesea Cultural Heritage program
Photrographic display depicting early farming practices that were carried out within the Plenty valley. Produce from the Plenty Valley supported the development of early Melbourne and was once considered Melbourne's food bowl.
Mill Park Library
Wed 26 Ocot - 7 November
Thomastown Library
11 November - 25 November
Lalor Library
29 November - 12 December

Eltham Mud Brick Tour

2010-10-18T10:15:00.000+11:00

History Week

2010-10-14T11:03:00.001+11:00

24 - 31 Ocotber is Victoria's History Week. To celebrate why not spend the week travelling back in time, discovering Victoria's wide and wonderful past. From fascinating walking tours and engaging discussions and "history in the making" events - there is something in store for everyone to enjoy.

Visit the website at www.historyweek.org.au which lists all the details on the exiting events being held around Melbourne and Victoria during the week, and is contantly updated.

Art History of the City of Whittlesea

2010-10-13T14:50:00.000+11:00

Do you have a jigsaw puzzle in your collection?

2010-10-11T11:39:00.003+11:00

I am posting this on behalf of a student seeking information: -

I am doing post-graduate museum studies at Deakin University and currently doing research into the history of jigsaw puzzles and jigsaw puzzle making in Victoria. I am particularly interested in puzzles hand-made or home-made before electricity enabled mass production. As I am new to Victoria I would welcome the opportunity to travel and see 1st hand any examples of the puzzles or tools used. I work as a volunteer at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria in Melbourne and would love to see some of the places I come across when researching queries from the public. My contacts are

Email: virginia_fowler@bigpond.com
Ph: 03 9807 4961
Ph: 0409 127 815
c/- RHSV, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Virginia Fowler

25 years as Yarra Plenty Regional Library

2010-10-06T15:46:00.000+11:00

In 1965 the Heidelberg Regional Library Service was formed. In 1985, just gone 25 years ago, the name changed to Yarra Plenty Regional Library to reflect the wide area we serve which was then Eltham, Heidelberg, Diamond Valley and Whittlesea and is now Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea.

Yarra Plenty Heritage Forum – Carome Homestead

2010-10-06T13:55:00.006+11:00

The Grand finale of the 2010 Yarra Plenty Heritage Forum program was held recently at Carome Homestead, Plenty Gorge Park, Mernda hosted by Parks Victoria.

Four meetings are held each year facilitated by the Local History Librarian and generally hosted by local history groups and related organisations with the three municipalities our region covers.

21 people attended representing local history groups and local government in the Region. Two guests were totally new to the Forum meetings as were the guest speakers.

Jan Penney is the executive Chair of Mint Inc and has been instrumental in resurrecting the Carome Homestead property at Mernda. She spoke to the group describing the ethos of the organisation – making historical disused buildings useful again. The organization finds buildings on crown land which are underutilized and develops that building to highest possible standards at the same time finding a tenant to occupy. They currently manage 15 properties with an eye out for more.

Carome’s redevelopment has included the bluestone house itself, commercial kitchen facilities and outbuildings. A community garden has also been established.

Darren Jackson is the Manager Strategic Planning at the City of Whittlesea and spoke about their attention to and requirements of local developers to the local heritage.

He also reported on the “state of play” regarding Toorourong Reservoir and Melbourne Water’s efforts to dismantle the bluestone spillway.

A Devonshire morning tea followed our guest speakers with an opportunity to catch up with each other.

The meeting soon resumed with brief reports from attendees on what groups were doing locally including hosting events as part of Seniors Week and Local History Week.

14 people stayed for further networking over lunch and then a small band received an informal tour from Parks Victoria Ross Mugavin around the property.

I received a comment via email the following day which certainly summed up the day: “I thought it was a worthwhile get together with interesting and relevant speakers. In speaking with others they expressed the value of meeting members of other local historical groups to share ideas and gain support for what they are doing.”

To learn more about Carome Homestead read the Wikinorthia article

To view photos from the Forum day visit Yarra Plenty local History on Flickr

Yarrambat Heritage Museum Open Day

2010-09-28T10:54:00.000+10:00

History of Campbellfield

2010-09-21T13:23:00.004+10:00

Although Campbellfield is not within our area, it does border the City of Whittlesea. A long term project to document the history of the area is hoping to be completed next year.

The authors are currently researching the following aspects of the area and are seeking assistance with information about:-

Mr. Neil Campbell - the man who the town is named after. He donated 5 acres of land to the Presbyterian church. See some information here

The original bakery - subsequent bakers who worked in the area. Mr. Thomas George Norris, may have been the first baker in Campbellfield.

The Clay Hole in Mahoney's Road. - Apparently this was the biggest clay hole in the district.
How many people worked there, and the years that the site was used for making bricks and other pottery items. The site is now occupied by Pipeworks market.

Pretty Sally. For whom the Pretty Sally Hill north of Wallan is named for. C J Dennis wrote a poem about Pretty Sally

The Beetle motor train.

If you are able to assist with any inforamtion please email the Loca history Librarian at localhistorygene@yprl.vic.gov.au

Ivanhoe Memories

2010-09-09T10:54:00.003+10:00

Local author Russell Beedles will present his memoirs of growing up in the Ivanhoe area in the 1940s and 1950s and his experiences in the St Paul's Cathedral boys Choir at Ivanhoe Library, Monday 20 September 7.00pm - 8.00 pm.

Further information including booking details here

His memoir has been added to the local history collection in Ivanhoe Library. There are also loan copies available.

Toorourrong Reservoir

2010-09-06T13:01:00.004+10:00

Melbourne Water is planning on removing much of the old Clear water channels on the downstream side of the reservoir wall when carrying out an upgrade to the wall. "Unfortunately, this upgrade means we have to remove the bluestone and granite from the spillway structure that runs to Yean Yean Reservoir and outlet structure to the Clearwater Channel" they said.
No consultation was carried out before making the decision. Now Melbourne Water "will be hosting a series of open community forums" for residents.

Whittlesea residents have lodged an application with the National Trust for protection of the Toorourong Reservoir's historic bluestone and granite spillway. The 130 year old structure is situated at Jack's Creek Road, Whittlesea.

More information can be found on the Facebook page listed for those with Facebook access.

An Invitation to the Ball

2010-09-01T11:11:00.001+10:00

Inviting contributions to Australian Newspapers Service

2010-08-16T11:33:00.001+10:00

The National Library of Australia is now inviting contributions to its Australian newspapers service.
This service provides free online access to digitised Australian newspapers through Trove, the national resource discovery service.

With 40 million articles from over 100 newspaper titles representing every Australian state and territory scheduled to be in the service by June 2011, Australian newspapers will enable users to explore online an unprecedented quantity and range of Australia’s newspaper heritage. From July 2011, the National Library will be implementing a model which enables other libraries and institutions to fund digitisation of specific newspaper titles.

The Australian newspapers service is part of the Australian Newspaper Plan , a cooperative endeavour through which Australian libraries collect, preserve and provide access to Australian newspapers.

For further information about how to contribute to the Australian newspapers service, please see the Contributor Guidelines (http://www.nla.gov.au/ndp/get_involved/documents/ANScontributorguidelines2010final.pdf) and Factsheet (http://www.nla.gov.au/anplan/documents/Benefits_of_ANDP_Model_for_Contributors_000.pdf), or call the National Library on 02 6262 1685.

Whittlesea Historical Society

2010-08-11T11:55:00.001+10:00

WHS are hosting their annual general meeting Wednesday August 11 2010 at the Whittlesea Bowling Club.

6.30 Dinner

7.30 AGM

8.00 Guest Speaker
Elizabeth Gertsakis (Curator, National Philatelic Collection, Australia Post)
Topic: "The Australian Stamp - a small measure of National identity"

Oral History Workshop

2010-08-05T11:08:00.002+10:00

Yarra Plenty Region Heritage Forum Oral History Workshop

Presented by Lesley Alves
Historian and member of the Oral History Association

Wednesday 8 September 2010
9.30am – 4.30pm

Shire of Nillumbik Council Offices
Civic Drive, Greensborough

This workshop will cover the practicalities of oral history, including research, ethics, and equipment, interviewing techniques, transcribing,tape conservation and use of oral history.

Participants will have the opportunity to practise the skill of interviewing.

Oral History Handbook available for purchase.

Please bring a battery operated recorder if you have one.

Cost: $27.50 per person
Payment due by no later than 13 August]
Cheques payable to: Yarra Plenty Regional Library

Liz Pidgeon
Local History Librarian
Yarra Plenty Regional Library
Bag 65
Bundoora, VIC. 3083
Email: lpidgeon@yprl.vic.gov.au

Heidelberg Historical Society Meeting

2010-07-29T13:36:00.001+10:00

The August meeting of the Heidelberg Historical Society features Prof Rob Watts speaking on "Pox Brittanica: The Empire and biological warfare in Australia - Sydney Cove 1789".

The meeting will be held at the Uniting Church Community Centre, Seddon St Ivanhoe on Tuesday 10 August commencing 8.00 p.m. All welcome.

Diamond Creek under flood

2010-07-21T15:53:00.000+10:00

A sample from our "Relections of Diamond Valley" photo collection at Diamond Valley Library. We have a series of photos showing the Diamond Creek in flood in 1985, this from the Allandale Bridge, Diamond Creek. There is a lot more urban development in this area now.

The Christmas Hills Story Book Launch

2010-07-13T13:39:00.003+10:00

Andrew Lemon, author of "Australian Horse Racing" and President of the RHSV will introduce well known local author Mick Woiwod at Eltham Library Community Gallery, Panther Place, Eltham on Sunday 18th July at 2.00 pm, when Mr Woiwod will talk about his new book The Christmas Hills Story or Once around the Sugarloaf 11. Hear how the first farmers faced the forest with axe and plough to carve out their paddocks and build their first homes.

Hear about hte rustic wayside hotels that dotted the old Yarra Track eventually giving way to colourful guesthouses for holiday makers escaping the bustle of city living.

Hear how others in the south came to value the gumtrees and chose to hold the line against the encroaching suburbs.

Presented by
The Eltham Bookshop
The Andrew Ross Museum, Kangaroo Ground
Nillumbik Reconciliation Group

Bookings: Phone 9439 8700

Country of Bourke 1866

2010-07-07T14:22:00.003+10:00

Ivanhoe and Diamond Valley libraries are currently displaying a large map of the County of Bourke in 1866. Bring your magnifying glass to read actual names on this map of pioneer settlers to Victoria.

Read more about the County of Bourke

Edendale Walk

2010-06-30T09:50:00.004+10:00

The next heritage walk organised by Eltham District Historical Society is on Saturday 3rd July will visit Edendale Farm and nearby areas of interest. It will start from the Edendale car park in Gastons Road at 2pm and will take about two hours. Gastons Road runs off Wattletree Road between the Eltham North bridge and the railway crossing (Melway ref. 22 A2)

Edendale Farm now operates as Nillumbik Council’s environmental centre. The historic farmhouse has undergone recent restoration works. A brief history of this property was included in the last EDHS Newsletter (May 2010). The house and gateway sculpture “The Fences Act” are included in the Heritage Overlay in the Nillumbik Planning Scheme.

The walk will pass through the farm property and radiate to a number of other points of interest, including mud brick houses, the Eltham home of author Alan Marshall and Colemans Corner where the early road system has undergone some unusual changes. It will also traverse the north western corner of “Belle Vue Farm”, the subject of EDHS's July meeting.

There is no charge for this walk which is open to everbody. The distance is about 3.5km and it will take about 2 hours, Contact Russell for further information on 0409 021 063 including on the day contact.

For more information on Edendale Farm read the following article on Wikinorthia
Lade Family of Edendale Farm

Whittlesea Cultural Heritage Program 2010

2010-06-17T12:15:00.002+10:00

More than 35 festivals, events, tours and activities are included in the Whittlesea Cultural Heritage Program that runs from June until November.

Yarra Plenty Regional Library is a partner in the program and is hosting a number of events. Highlights of the program include an heirloom and antique discovery day, family history research day, multicultural food fest, public art and heritage tour, photo preservation workshop, heritage bike tour and the Westgarthtown 160th anniversary.

The cultural activiites include those related to our Chinese, Indian, Italian, Macedonia nad Maltese communities.

Copies of the program are available at all Whittlesea libraries and online

Historic Walk in Greensborough

2010-06-16T14:35:00.002+10:00

The newly formed Greensborough Historical Society Inc. present an historic walk in Greensborough. Join Dennis Ward & Noel Withers at 1pm on Saturday 19th June Poulter Avenue Greensborough opposite the station for 2 hours or so.
Learn about our pioneer families, where they lived and what they got up to.

Limit to 30 people so please book in on 9435 4513

A Tribe of Angels

2010-06-15T11:31:00.006+10:00

A new memoir has been added to the local history collection in Ivanhoe Library. A Tribe of Angles: coming of age in Melbourne by Russell Beedles is an "evocation of daily life in Melbourne during the 1940s and 1950s". Part one of this autobiographical memoir centres on his childhood in Ivanhoe.

Photos from the Beedles Family collection living in Ivanhoe are in the collection of Museum Victoria and can be accessed via their website

Guest speaker at Heidelberg Historical Society

2010-06-02T13:47:00.004+10:00

The Next meeting of the Heidelberg Historical Society is a talk entititled
Finding Fairy Hills: Using local records for Historical Research by Susan Reidy
on Tuesday 8th June 2010, 8pm Uniting Church Community Centre, Seddon St, Ivanhoe.

Fairy Hills is a small residential place in the south-western corner of Ivanhoe. The name referes to just a few streets above the junction of the Yarra River and the Darebin Creek.

Susan Reidy has just completed her MA thesis in 20th century suburban history and for this research she used Fairy Hills as a case study.

Her talk will be accompanied by a range of illustrations, many drawn from the Heidelberg Historical Society's records.

Nillumbik Council Grants information session

2010-05-31T13:47:00.002+10:00

Does your local history group need some extra funding? Each year, Shire of Nillumbik (and other councils) awards grants to sports, arts and cultural, youth and volunteer groups that want to plan and develop new programs for people living, working or playing in the Shire, and to budding athletes who compete at state level, or above. To help applicants apply for grant submissions, an information session will provide an overview of community grant categories and advice regarding selection criteria. Council highly recommends that all individuals or groups considering applying for grants attend an information session.
DATE: Thursday June 3 2.00pm - 3.00 pm
LOCATION: Council's Civic Centre, Civic Drive, Greensborough (Melway 11 A10)
CONTACT: Artsinfo@nillumbik.gov.au

Victoria 175 History Grants now open

2010-05-25T11:56:00.000+10:00

Victoria 175 History Grants now open
2010 is the 175th anniversary of the founding of Melbourne, the first European settlement in what became the State of Victoria. The Victoria 175 History Grants provides grants of up to $12,000 to community organisations to preserve and commemorate the origins and founding stories of Victoria's many and diverse communities.

Around Eltham

2010-05-19T12:58:00.002+10:00

Richard Ellender maintains a great blog of beautiful photographs he takes in and Around Eltham.

Whittlesea War Memorial

2010-05-18T12:55:00.002+10:00

The Whittlesea RSL has received funding to restore the Whittlesea War Memorial.

The Past Matters

2010-05-12T10:28:00.005+10:00

Nillumbik Reconciliation Group and Eltham Bookshop present "The Past Matters 2010" May 21 - 22 2010. The brochure says:
"An exploration of contemporary indigineous writing, art and literature..this festival seeks to generate discussions on indigineous affairs..."

Among the authors presenting is Ann McGrath co-author of "How to write history that people want to read", a recently added title to YPRL's collection.

Greensborough Historical Society

2010-04-29T09:44:00.003+10:00

Congratulations to the newly formed Greensborough Historical Society. Though not wanting to put boundaries on history it is envisaged that the society would cover Greensborough, Briar Hill, St Helena, Watsonia and parts of Bundoora.

Shillinglaw Farm Walk

2010-04-27T09:55:00.002+10:00

Eltham District Historical Society will conduct a heritage walk on Saturday 1st May. It will follow the boundaries of the original Shillinglaw Farm in central Eltham.

This will be a short walk with a large number of stops to look at early photos and maps of the farm. It will start at 2.pm in Panther Place outside the Eltham Library (Melway Ref. 21 J5).

The Shillinglaw farm comprised lot 90 of Holloway’s 1851 Little Eltham subdivision. It was originally 30 acres in area and situated east of the Diamond Creek and north of Henry Street. Before Phillip Shillinglaw purchased the property in the 1870s the eastern part had been acquired by the Colonial Government to establish the main road to Kangaroo Ground. In subsequent years the size of land was reduced in stages, mostly by Government or Council acquisition. These included purchase of land for the railway including Eltham station in the early 1900s and the acquisitions for Council parkland between the railway and the creek. The final part of the land came into Council ownership in 1964 when the site of Shillinglaw Cottagewas purcjased for its new shire offices. The cottage was saved by community action and moved to its present site just outside the original farm boundary. Part of the Eltham Town Centre is included within the original boundaries of lot 90.

This walk will illustrate the gradual reduction of the Shillinglaw farm and also the early history of the railway. It will include many photos of the Eltham Town Centre.
Shillinglaw Cottage Cafe will be open at the conclusion for those who might like a coffee or something else. Ring Russell on 0409 021 063 for further information.

Tales of Old Melbourne Town!

2010-04-12T13:28:00.002+10:00

Whittlesea Historical Society cordially invites you to a talk by Lindsay Mann entiteld "Tales of Old Melbourne Town!" Wednesday 14 April 2010 at 8 pm Christ Church Hall, Wallan Road, Whittlesea (behind the Church)

What was Melbourne first called? Not what you might think.
Which official had to beg, for a departmental dunny door?
Where was Melbourne's magnificent manure heap situated?
Which condemned men rode to the gallows seated on thier coffins?
Which Public Work has the potential to bankrupt Victoria?
What happened to people washed drains in storms?

These and other questions will be answered.
Members are free. Non members gold coin donation please
Supper with a cuppa will be served after the talk
RSVP Mar (03) 9716 2760 or Lindsay (03) 9435 9391

Eltham barrel restuarant

2010-04-12T13:07:00.005+10:00

A Bring back the Eltham Barrel group is on Facebook. Join it here

The Eltham Barrel resturant was situated in Main Road, Eltham. There are photos in the collection at the State Library of Victoria but unfortunately we do not have any here at Yarra Plenty.

A recent listings in the local real estate pages describes Natalie Mews, Eltham. "Old-timers might scratch their heads and wonder where Natalie Mews is. Mention the Eltham Barrel and they'll get it. This barrel-shaped, glass-fronted restuarant was a an Eltham icon and the scene of many a big night out before it burnt to the ground more than three decades ago. Today, houses occupy the large blocks carved out of the old Eltham Barrel grounds."
Source: Heidelberg & Diamond Valley Weekly March 30, 2010 p. 25

If you have any photos or stories about visiting the Eltham Barrel please email the local history librarian at localhistorygene@yprl.vic.gov.au

Victorian Local Cemeteries Talk

2010-04-08T10:21:00.001+10:00

David Weatherill will be speaking on 'Victorian Local Cemeteries' at the April meeting of the Heidelberg Historical Society on Tuesday 13th April 2010 at 8.00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Uniting Church Community Centre, Seddon Street Ivanhoe and visitors are very welcome.

Black Saturday

2010-04-06T11:49:00.003+10:00

Over a year later images of Black Saturday still have an impact. Visit Black Saturday : photos from St Andrews to view photos.

A huge Bushfires collection on Flickr has a lot to explore.

A media release from the State Government today announces communities will share in more funding from the Bushfire Appeal Fund. Projects that have been approved includes one out of Whittlesea with activities to help bush-fire affected residents share their stories.

We encourage people to share their stories on Wikinorthia: documenting life in Melbourne's north. Read reminiscences of Black Saturday here.

Reflections of Diamond Valley

2010-03-30T09:44:00.005+11:00

Yarra Plenty Regional Library have a number of historical images on large canvas prints covering the Diamond Valley area which are available for schools and community groups to borrow.

These include:
Diamond Creek CFA Fire Station (1982)
Binni Shell/Community Centre, Diamond Creek (1979)
Loyola College, Watsonia, (Formerly Department of Community Welfare Services) (1980)
Pioneer John Lawrey of Diamond Creek (1944)
Selina Sutherland, Sutherland Homes Christmas Party, Plenty (1908)
Wood chopping Chainsaw style Diamond Creek (1984)

Contact the Local History Librarian for more information.

Short History Prize

2010-03-23T13:22:00.002+11:00

The Prahan Mechanics Institute's objective is to encourge and facilitate historical research. In keeping with this the PMI is inviting participation in their Short History Prize 2010.

Entries are to
be non-fiction
be up to 15,000 words
cover the history of a place or aspect of a place in Victoria, Australia
be written by a member or members of a Victorian historical society or similar organisation

Further information can be found here

Ellis Cottage Autumn Fair

2010-03-16T11:16:00.003+11:00

The Nillumbik Historical Society (Diamond Creek) present their annual Autumn Fair this Saturday March 20 2010 9.00 am - 3.00 pm

The day will feature historic talks, photographic and archival displays, historic photos for sale, genealogy display including the Ellis family tree. Music by local singer/composer Garry Hayes 10 am - 11 am, Ray MacMinn, artist of Australian Bush, Strathewen Tree Project, Black Smith demonstration, classic and vintage cars and more.

Ellis Cottage is situated in Diamond Creek at Melways Ref 12 F 5.

Apple Tasting Festival

2010-03-16T11:08:00.003+11:00

Rural areas in Nillumbik and Neighbours in Manningham - particularly in Templestowe and Warrandyte have a hertiage of fruit growing and in particular apples. This heritage is being celebrated on Sunday 28th March at the Apple Tasting Festival at Petty's Orchard Templestowe.

With over 100 apples to taste, featuring talks, music, children's fun, orchard tours, apple folkore, food and gardening advice and more.