Westgarthtown History Online for kids

Did you know Thomastown and Lalor was called once called Westgarthtown? Why is the ship called the Pribislaw so important to the region?

Westgarthtown is an historic dairy farming settlement established in 1850 by German and Wendish immigrants. It is located within the residential suburbs of Thomastown and Lalor. Many of Westgarthtown's outstanding bluestone heritage buildings and structures still survive. 

While its opening hours are temporarily suspended, it has an online schools’ program that can easily be adapted for individual use. It is based on the Victorian Curriculum for years 1- 6 and covers local history, geography plus civics and citizenship. It is a very interesting and accessible program. While it was developed for primary school children, much of the information is interesting for adults as well. It can be downloaded for free on their schools program link.

View their film Westgarthtown and WW1. To explore a wide range of stories about our area visit Wikinorthia  If you have a question about our area's local history send it to us and we will get back to you.

Ziebell's Farmhouse, Westgarthown

Ziebell's Farmhouse.  Photo: Friends of Westgarthtown

Congratulations to the Friends of Westgarthtown who have successfully completed the Museum Accreditation Program. They were awarded their certificate at the recent Museums Australia (Victoria) awards night held 29 August. This has been a long committed process by this voluntary organisation to meet the recognised museum standards. They are the only accredited museum in the City of Whittlesea.  Westgarthtown is an historic dairy farming settlement established in 1850 by German and Wendish immigrants. Although now located within the residential suburbs of Thomastown and Lalor  many of Westgarthtown's outstanding bluestone heritage buildings and structures still survive.

Members of the community will get a chance to visit Ziebell's Farmhouse during the upcoming Thomastown Trek event as part of YPRL's Local History Month program in October.  Please book.

Westgarthtown and World War One

Friends of Westgarthtown recently launched their documentary “Westgarthtown and World War One”. This documentary juxtaposes the treatment of citizens of German descent living in Westgarthtown with the experiences of their relatives who were fighting and dying for Australia during World War One. Almost 70 descendants of the German settlers of Westgarthtown fought on all battlefronts; some being decorated, others losing their lives, whilst others returned to Australia. Back at Westgarthtown, their relatives were viewed by their neighbours with suspicion. Instead of seeing fellow citizens some saw the enemy.
Shortly after the beginning of World War One, soldiers from the nearby Broadmeadows army camp regularly trained in the Thomastown area, including Westgarthtown. George Wuchatsh’s 9th Light Horse Regiment rode along German Lane (now Gardenia Road) and he visited Wuchatsch’s Farmhouse, then owned by his uncle Charles Wuchatsch. Regimental Sergeant Major George Wuchatsch was awarded a Military Medal for bravery in the Middle East in 1918.
Mr. Andrew Giles member for Scullin officially launched the documentary. He later posted on his Facebook page “ Today I was honoured to launch a fantastic video, telling important stories about the experiences of the German-Australians of Germantown (now Thomastown and Lalor).
Leon Borrack, John Fry and the Friends of Westgarthtown have done a wonderful job, bringing contemporary resonance to their film.”

The project was funded under the Australian Government's Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program.
View the film here
Source: Whitttesea Cultural Heritage Program 2016
Andrew Giles MP Facebook page May 1 2016