Local History Month - Nillumbik

Photo: Yarra Plenty Regional Library

October is local history month. While we cannot provide our usual annual program of speakers, walks and tours, you are invited to test your knowledge of your local area in this series of blog posts for Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea residents and invite you to visit some lesser known websites and resources for your local history research.

Lost Trades Festival

Our Seniors Fesitval Program's theme this year is lost trades so be sure to check out what is happening including an online conversation with 6th Generation Cooper George Smithwick who will discuss his career in this lost and forgotten art  Thursday, 22 October. 3.00pm-4.00pm. Join via Microsoft teams.

Do you know? (answers at bottom of post)

1. What former local government area retains its name as one of Yarra Plenty Regional Library’s branches?
2. What was the original name of Hurstbridge?
3. The Shire of Eltham Council offices were first located in what place?
4. There is a sculpture in front of Eltham Library.  Who does the sculpture represent?  What is the person significant for?  Who is the artist?
5. What was the Binni Shell (illustrated here) and where was it located?

Walking Trails

You can explore so much of your neighbourhood, when it is by foot.  Enjoy these walking trails to learn more about your local history

Hurstbridge Heritage Trail

An easy one hour walk around town

GAWA Trail

Short self-guided loop trail at Watsons Creek, with markers explaining how the Wurundjeri clan of about 50 people lived near the creek, and used the land to obtain bush foods, medicines, implements, shelter and clothes.

Smiths Gully- St Andrews Trail

The trail follows the Smiths Gully Creek to St Andrews through the Old Caledonia Gully alluvial gold diggings of the 19th-20th century.

Virtual tour

Montsalvat

Explore Eltham's Montsalvat in a new way, learn more about its history and what has and continues to make it such a unique fixture on the Australian cultural landscape. Montsalvat have developed this digital experience, taking you through the picturesque gardens populated with its stunning European-inspired buildings, so that you can continue to feel connected to Montsalvat from a distance.

Websites

WWII at Home: Response, Reflection and Rejuvenation 

Digitally explore 18 sites of significance that represent the transformative impact World War II had on Victoria through response, reflection and rejuvenation including the unique Eltham War Memorial Building Complex.

Stories from the Shire with Geoff Paine: Eltham District Historical Society

View this video of a brief history of the Eltham Justice Precinct, and the formation of the Shire of Eltham Historical Society (now Eltham District Historical Society) initiated with the relocation of Shillinglaw Cottage

Stories from the Shire withh Geoff Paine : Mudbrick Houses

A quick history of muddies in the Eltham district

Warrandyte Diary

With the loss of community papers, the Warrandye Diary can still be relied on for community news and they often feature stories of historical interest. Artist, Miner & Sapper: Penleigh Boyd and this tribute to local historian Mick Woiwod who recently passed away.

Jigsaw Planet

Have you discovered YPRL's very own online jigsaws showcasing photos from our collection?  This can get addictive!

Answers

1. Diamond Valley
2. Named for the homestead built here, the town was officially named Hurstbridge in 1924 after Henry Hurst who built the first log bridge across the Diamond Creek (Source:  Allwood Neighbourhood House)
3. The Shire of Eltham existed from 1856 until 1994. Council Offices were for a time in Kangaroo Ground until a fire in 1934 (Source andmore at  Advertiser, 9 Feb 1934) 
4. Alan Marshall, a writer most famous for his autobiography “I can Jump Puddles”. It was created by Matcham Skipper.
5. The Binni Shell was built as a community centre in Diamond Creek in 1979. The construction involved reinforced concrete raised using an internal balloon.

Want more?

Try this Quiz 

Visit Local History Month Banyule and Local History Month Whittlesea

#Askalibrarian and send us your questions 

Local History Month - Banyule

Image: Heidelberg Shoeing Forge, 1900. YPRL in partnership with Heidelberg Historical Society

October is local history month.  While we cannot provide our usual annual program of speakers, walks and tours, you are invited to test your knowledge of your local area in this series of blog posts for Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea residents and invite you to visit some lesser known websites and resources for your local history research.

Lost Trades Festival

Our Seniors Fesitval Program's theme this year is lost trades so be sure to check out what is happening including an online conversation with 6th Generation Cooper George Smithwick who will discuss his career in this lost and forgotten art  Thursday, 22 October. 3.00pm-4.00pm. Join via Microsoft teams.

Do you know? (answers at bottom of post)

1. What former Presbyterian Church is now a gallery and art space?  Name the Church and name the Organisation.
2. When was the Shire of Heidelberg proclaimed a City?
3. Where in the City of Banyule is there a link to the famous French Soldier Napoleon?
4. Over the years this building complex has been a training centre for Jesuit priests and later a training centre for social workers.  Where and what am I ?
5. A ward in the City of Banyule is named 'Ibbott'.  Who was it named for her and why was this person significant?

Walking Trails

You can explore so much of your neighbourhood, when it is by foot.  Enjoy these walking trails to learn more about your local history

Darebin Parklands - Alphington

If you already enjoy the walking trails at Darebin parklands, consider exploring the nearby streets of Alphington.  This recently developed local history project documents your choice of walking tour. Download the localised map and information.

Plenty River Trail 

The Plenty River Trail starts north of the Western Ring Road in Greensborough and ends far to the south, meeting the Yarra River Trail in Viewbank.  It passes several sites of post-European historical significance, including the remains of an early public swimming pool built into the river in Greensborough and a number of 100-150 year old fruit trees that mark the location of many orchards established in the late 1800s. In Lower Plenty, the trail crosses a historical bluestone bridge dating from the 1860s, one of the first bridges across the Plenty River to be built of its kind. (via https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/)

Websites to Explore

WWII at Home: Response, Reflection and Rejuvenation

Digitally explore 18 sites of significance that represent the transformative impact World War II had on Victoria through response, reflection and rejuvenation including Heidelberg Military Hospital. 

Mont Park to Springthorpe

Explore the former Mont Park Hospital and Asylum and its environs, the heritage-listed buildings, horticulturally significant landscape design, social and cultural history, hospital and psychiatric care history, indigenous history, significant historical figures and interviews with people associated with the area in the past. Heitage walks have recently been added.

Read The Heidelberg Mirror: Olympic Village Souvenir

The Souvenir issue of The Heidelberg Mirror 15th November 1956 (published in East Kew, Victoria by Mirror Newspapers) commemorating the Melbourne Olympic Games has been digitised and can be read on our Flickr channel. Includes articles on the Olympic Village, Heidelberg Library and Montsalvat, Eltham, as well as display and classified advertisements for local businesses in the City of Heidelberg and wider area and business' associated with the construction of the Olympic Village in Heidelberg West.  The Melbourne Olympic Games were held 22 November - 8 December 1956.

Victorian Places

Search your favourite place here

Jigsaw Planet

Have you discovered YPRL's very own online jigsaws showcasing photos from our collection.  This can get addictive!

Answers

1. John Knox Presbyterian (later Uniting) Church at 8 Noel Street, Ivanhoe is now a gallery and art space for Ivanhoe Girl’s Grammar School
2. 1934
3. The Church at St Helena was built by the pioneer Major Anthony Beale, in memory of his wife Katherine.  Beale had been a pay master for the east India Company on the island of St Helena during Napolean’s imprisonment there.
4. Loyola College, Watsonia
5. Cr. Nellie Ibbott was the first woman to be elected to the Heidelberg Shire Council in 1928. She later became Mayor – making her the first female mayor in Victoria.

Want more?

Try this Quiz

Visit Local History Month Nillumbik  and Local History Month Whittlesea

#Askalibrarian and send us your questions via this form

Local History Month 2018

Travel back in time this October as Yarra Plenty Regional Library's Local History Month program takes place.  From walks and talks, to tours and displays, there are discoveries to be had as you connect with the local history in your community.

Nillumbik Historical Society will have a display at Diamond Valley Library and Eltham District Historical Society will have a display at Eltham Library later in the month.

Staff are Whittlesea Library staff are keen to interview locals with a story to tell as they launch their Whittlesea Storiesproject on Friday 5 October.  Nillumbik Historical Society will present a talk on the History of Diamond Creek at Diamond Valley on Monday 8 October.  Dr Annette Shiel will about the history of Miss Show Girl at Whittlesea Library on Monday 15 October.

Enjoy a slide show of photos about and from Watsonia as we gear up for our 30th birthday celebrations next month.  Do you have photos you would like to share?

Curators Liza and Catherine will discuss the Invisible Farmer Project at Eltham Library on Wednesday 17 October.

Please book for the Thomastown Trek  .

The Eltham Heritage Walk does not require bookings.

We are pleased to have partnered with Eltham District Historical Society, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School, Nillumbik Historical Society, Eltham Little Theartre, Royal Agricultural Society, Museums Australia (Victoria), Friends of Westgarthtown and others to present the 2018 program.

See what else is happening for Local History month at YPRL

Test your local history knowledge on our fun quiz. 

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.

Local History Month

Loyola, Watsonia

Yarra Plenty Regional Library celebrates ten years of Local History month programming in 2017.   Through our collections and programs we aim to educate, inspire and connect the community with its history.

This October explore the rich history of your local community through an extended number of tours and walks which will provide the opportunity to explore our local neighbourhoods.

The Centre, Ivanhoe

Meet local historians with a passion to share the stories of our local community from Mernda to the Yarra River.   Enjoy displays and a special book launch.

Highlights include:

Changing Face of Rosanna exhibition through out October – Rosanna Library

Local History Bingo – Eltham Library Tues 3 October 7.00pm – 8.00pm

History of Watsonia  - Watsonia Library Wed 4 October 11.00am – 12noon

Migration stories from Banyule (Book Launch) – Watsonia Library Saturday 7 October 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Ivanhoe Heritage Walk – Ivanhoe Library Thursday 12 October 10.30am – 12.30pm (Bookings required)

Springthorpe LaTrobe History Project – Mill Park Library Mon 16 October 1.00pm – 3.00 pm

A trip down the Yarra – Watsonia 17 October 10.30am – 11.30am

Passengers on the David Clark Eltham Library Tues 17 October 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Trove Tips – Mill Park Library Friday 20 October 11.00am – 12 noon

Australian Indian History – Diamond Valley Library Wed 25 October 2.00pm – 3.00pm

Murder at the Mountain Rush – Whittlesea Library Sat 21 October 11.00am – 12.00 noon

Lalor Living History Walk - Lalor Library Saturday 28 October 11.00am - 12.00 noon

Thomas Family of Mernda – Whittlesea Library Monday 30 October 11.30am – 12.30pm

History of Banyule – Rosanna Library Tuesday 31 October 11.00am – 12noon

And more.. Check out what is happening at your local library.