Walking in your pandemic isolation

The Mont Park to Springthorpe Heritage Project has developed a sixth walk to add to their suite of heritage walks around the Macleod precinct. These and other walks can be accessed via Walking Maps The latest walk features the Victoria Cross Estate near the old Mont Park asylum/hospital area. 

The Victoria Cross Estate west of the Macleod station, presents a unique walking opportunity around streets which commemorate ten veterans from WWI and WWII. Captain Albert Jacka VC (1893 – 1932) is probably the most famous of the Victorian and Tasmanian veterans remembered here. Read his story and those of the other men at the Information Boards near the ‘Lone Pine’ tree.

The age of the homes varies from the 1926 shop and residence at the corner of Cherry St and McNamara St, to million-dollar homes and new blocks of units. Behind most blocks there are laneways which were used for the ‘night soil’ collection before Macleod (then ‘North Heidelberg’) was sewered in the 1960s. See if you can spot the remaining laneways which led to backyard ‘thunder boxes’. 

Park in Macleod Parade which is named after Malcolm and Edith Macleod who owned this land from 1903 to 1910. They lived at Strathalan House on the hill, which is still evident in the Baptcare Strathalan Community Complex.    Enjoy this 40-minute Macleod Heritage Walk soon.

Eltham Memorials Walk

Over the the past two years the Eltham District Historical Society along with other similar  organizations has participated in the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War. Their next heritage excursion on Saturday 7th May is a further event in that commemoration.
Within the local area many memorials, honour boards and the like were installed after that war. New memorials and additions to the earlier ones were established after the Second World War and there have been subsequent conflicts that are also commemorated.
Within Eltham there are a number of memorials dedicated to locals who served Australia in times
of war. This walk will visit a number of memorials along Main Road, Eltham starting with the heritage listed Avenue of Honour. Along the way there will be stories of some of those who are honoured on the memorials. It will include a visit to the EDHS Local History Centre where there will be a display featuring memorials beyond the area of the walk.

Visitors are welcome to attend this excursion, which is about 2 km in length and will take 2 to 2.5 hours. It will start at 2pm at the car park in Wingrove Park near the intersection of Main and Mount Pleasant Roads. (Melway ref.21 J8). This is a one-­way walk finishing at the Eltham shopping centre.
Private arrangements are required to return to the start, such as bus or a return walk.
This free walk is open to the general public as well as Society members.
Dogs are not permitted on Society excursions.

Heritage Walk – Research Valley Views

The Eltham District Historical Society November Heritage walk will include

sites of historic interest close to the Research Shops and a walk through the 1940s subdivision that forms the southern part of Research. However, the main feature of the walk is the view of Research Valley and beyond as the group walks back into the valley along the power line easement track.

This walk will start at 2pm on Saturday 3rd November at the Research Shopping Centre in Main Road (Melway Ref. 22 G2). The distance is about 3.5km and it will take about two hours. There is no charge and the

walk is open to Society members and the general public.

For enquiries prior to the day ring Sue on 9439 9520.

Phone number of contact on the day is 0409 021 063.

Reading:  

Return to Research

Heritage walk of Montmorency and Briar Hill

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.

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