Sarka to Westgarthtown: The Wuchatsch Family in Germany and Australia

A new local history book has been added to our collections.  One of which will be preserved in the local history collection at Mill Park Library.  Särka to Westgarthtown by Robert Wuchatsch has been a long time in the making.

This 525-page book tells the story of the Wuchatsch family in Germany and Australia from the early 1700s. Profusely illustrated, it covers in narrative style the lives of Johann, Hanna and Magdalene Wuchatsch; their children; grandchildren; and greatgrandchildren. Subsequent generations are included in family tree form. Parts of the book are in German as well as English so Wuchatsch relatives in each country can read them.

In his Foreword, George R. Nielsen, Ph. D., Professor Emeritus, Concordia University, Chicago wrote:

If by chance this book, in addition to informing you, inspires you to become involved in your own heritage, look not only for the details, but also the excitement of the search. Like Rob, pay attention to your feelings and experiences … Sensing apprehension while crossing the Iron Curtain at Friedrichstrasse or at Checkpoint Charlie may no longer be possible, but imagine the loneliness one feels entering a rural isolated graveyard in the late afternoon with a pen and notebook reading headstones while the raucous kookaburras in the eucalyptus trees surrounding the cemetery find your efforts entertaining. I hope as you read this book you are motivated to go on a quest of your own and see places you never thought you would see or experience … See how Rob did it and plot your strategy.

Westgarthtown is an historic dairy farming settlement established in 1850 by German and Wendish immigrants, located with within the residential suburbs of Thomastown and Lalor in the City of Whittlesea.

Grace Park Estate – Beautiful building allotments

The New Grace Park Electric Station Estate, (Watsonia) was advertised widely in June 1924 showcasing the nearly completed electrified line and Railway Station and advocating its proximity to prospective buyers.  The Advertiser, reported on Friday 27 June 1924, .."The sale last Saturday of 44 allotments in the Grace Park Estate, adjacent to the new railway station, Watsonia, by Messrs Knight and Harwood, of Melbourne, with whom were associated Messrs C. Jessop and Co., Greensborough, was a distinct success. Trains were stopped at the new station, which has been named Watsonia by the commissioners, for the first time. for the convenience of buyers. There was an attendance of about 500 from all parts of Melbourne and suburbs, and all of the blocks offered were sold under the hammer after spirited bidding. The total amount realised was £4,964 19s 5d..."

 Yarra Plenty Regional Library has an original very fragile flyer in our collection, which has recently been digitised.

Robert Whatmough: Pioneering Victorian horticulturalist

A new book for the Diamond Valley Library Local History collection has been recently added.  A circulating copy is also available.  Robert Whatmough : Pioneering Victorian horticulturalist by Jacinta Crealy.

In 1824, nine-year-old Robert Whatmough began work at a local cotton mill in his home town of Rochdale, Lancashire, a product of the widespread poverty of his time. In 1887, Robert died in Greensborough, Victoria a wealthy and respected pioneer, whose horticultural achievements were awarded many times over.
A combination of biography and social history, Robert’s story explores the Chartist movement, migration on the troubled ship Georgiana, surviving in the infant town of Melbourne in 1841, working on John Batman’s garden and developing his own prosperous gardens in Greensborough. There are riots, bushrangers, horse racing, the Black Thursday bushfires, the Victorian gold rush, fraud and a life-changing murder.
Robert’s horticultural passion motivated his life. He developed new fruit varieties and participated in many exhibitions. As a committee member of the Horticultural Society of Victoria from 1859 to 1871, Robert worked with his peers to create the Burnley Gardens of Richmond, run local exhibitions and manage the horticultural sections of the enormous intercolonial and international exhibitions which took place during the mid to late 1800s in Melbourne.

Wild Men of Montmorency

“Diamond Valley footy in the 1970s and 1980s was hard and tough footy at its best and sometimes worst. It was physical, brutal, occasionally spectacular and thrilling, captivating fans and players alike.  In this tribal cauldron where suburb was pitted against suburb there was no room for the feint-hearted”.

The Wild Men of Montmorency and other tales by Andrew Brasier recently published by the Montmorency Football Club adds to the community history and more importantly the recreational and sporting history of the local area.The collection of profiles presented relies heavily on the experience and memories of the author’s own association with the Club but this helps to interweave the voices of his contemporary subjects, mainly players but also administrators throughout the book.  

The 1970s through to the 2000’s is the main time frame covered. Despite the Club’s history going back to 1924, this is not a typical local history with little reference to the early history – and what there is – is presented at the back of the book.  Hall of Famers, including players who rose to the VFL are well represented.  Contemporary and some older photographs help illustrate this easy read. 

Mont Park Hospital

Patients playing cards, 16th Australian General Hospital, Mont Park ca 1918 (Alice E. Broadhurst Collection, Yarra Plenty Regional Library)

A collection of unique photos are now in the local history collection here at YPRL.  The Alice Elizabeth Broadhurst collection includes over 255 photos from about 1918-1920 depicting the 16th Australian General Hospital, Mont Park (Macleod West, now part of LaTrobe University and the Springthorpe Community). The albums were compiled and owned by Australian Red Cross nurse, Alice Elizabeth Broadhurst (1896-1981), probably while working with the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Many of the photos depict her time there, including nursing staff, patients, buildings, group gatherings, a visit by General Birdwood and the end of the service of the hospital as a military hospital in 1920 when the last military patients left. In addition the albums include photos of her childhood home in Western Australia, her parents' home "Heatherleigh" in Tunstall and hospitals she later worked at in Melbourne and Bendigo.

Photos have been digitised and can be accessed at Yarra Plenty Local History Flickr and via Trove Pictures.

To learn more about the military hospital at Mont Park access this list via Trove .

New Local History Publications

The following recently published items have been added to the local history collections at Eltham, Diamond Valley and Mill Park libraries

A History of Saint Margaret's Church Eltham

Greensborough RSL Sub Branch

The History of Diamond Valley / Eltham Citizens Advice Bureau Inc.

In Praise of landscape: the art of John Borrack

Local History Book launch – A History of St Margaret’s Church Eltham Vol 3

A History of Saint Margaret’s Church Eltham Volume 3 – The Post-War Years 1945 to 2015  by Dr. Geoffrey A. Sandy will be launched on Sunday 22 May at 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm.

The book will be launched by historian, Dr Andrew Lemon and Jim Connor President of the Eltham District Historical Society with Professor Dr Harry Watson.  

The launch will be in the refurbished Mud Brick Hall 79-81 Pit Street Eltham. Parking is available in the hotel across the road or in Pitt Street. 

The 1861 Saint Margaret’s Church, together with its 1870 Vicarage, is Heritage Listed and both are significant buildings of Eltham.  Further details can be accessed at the Victorian Heritage register.  The Eltham Anglican faith community is vibrant and progressive and has significant connections with the wider Eltham community.

The Book will be available for purchase.  Refreshments will be served. All welcome.

New Local History titles

New titles for local history have been added to the collection at Ivanhoe Library
The Centre: 40 years of Banyule Community Health

The history of the centre began in 1975 as a result of community meetings that agitated for better services in the Heidelberg West Olympic Village in the early 1970s.  The Whitlam government at the time implemented major reforms.  The book includes a timeline and many local community photographs.

Ivanhoe Harriers:from St James Church to Willinda Park by Andrew Edney
Ivanhoe Harriers was founded by the Rev. S. L. Buckley in March, 1914, as a cross-country team. In the early 1920's with the help of the YMCA and the Ivanhoe Grammar School, the Club grew into a powerful combination, which dominated and indeed became unbeatable in A Grade competition through the 1930's. After the Second World War, we became less dominant until the 1970's, which proved to be an excellent decade for the Club. During the 1980's and 1990's, our under-age teams were among the strongest in Victoria.

This history was revised and updated in 2014 and is a very detailed account of the Club's first 100 years.
A number of past members have represented Australia at Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games and other international events. That said, the Club provides a supportive and friendly environment for athletes of all standards.
From : Ivanhoe Harriers

Copies can be accessed from the local history collection. Loan copies are also available

New titles added to local history

Local history collection at Diamond Valley Library

The following titles have been added to the local history collections, check the record for location and if a circulating copy is available:
Hands held, tears dried, dignity restored: the history of the Banyule Housing Support Group 1973-2015
Celebrating 150 years St Peter;s Church 1865-2015 Parish of Epping, Epping North
Fairy Hills: a memoir Ivanhoe Melbourne 1940-54
The Story of Gulf Station Yarra Glen
Ravenswood
Kangaroo Ground Dreaming

Montmorency farm on the Plenty

Montmorency, for many, is still a hidden part of Melbourne.  Once situated in the Shire of Eltham, Montmorency is now part of the City of Banyule. For those who know it, the trees, the widening streets, hilly terrain, remnant bushland and Were Street with its environs, the suburb has special appeal.

A new book by local historian and resident  Maureen Jones is now in our collection. Montmorency is the author's tribute to this special place.  The history from its earliest years as a hunting ground for the Wurundjeri willam people, through its uptake by white settlers.  Ownership of the land remained in the hands of one family for over four generations spanning seventy years, before the land evolved through small farmlets into the suburb we now know.

This book uses land records combined with personal stories, photographs and newspaper articles to provide an up to date local history of this area.

New titles for Local history

The following new titles have been added to the local history collection at Eltham Library.  Loan copies are also available.

Nillumbik Tales Voices of Our Elders - Published by the Shire of Nillumbik this is a unique collection of stories celebrating the cultural diversity and history of the local community.  A wide array of local contributors focus on topics such as gardens, schools, characters, organisations, place and the history of the place where they call home.

We Need A School at Research Edited by Maggie Sakko

Local historian Mick Woiwod has substantially rewritten his novel The Last Cry and republished it as Wrath of the Myndie.

New Books for Local History at Eltham

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.

New to the Local history collection

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

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

Visit the Local History Collections

Each municipality has a local history collection for its region. Visit the Banyule collection at Ivanhoe library. This is situated in the local history and family history room on the second level.

Whittlesea's collection is at Mill Park library in the J.W. Payne room named after a local historian and author.

Nillumbik has two collections at its branches at Diamond Valley and Eltham libraries.

What do local history collections have that might help you with your research? Resources vary from one collection to another and a first port of call is the online catalogue. Collections may consist of local newspapers, including newspapers on microfilm, local council minutes, local histories, limited publication family histories and personal reminiscences, information on local schools including in some cases, school annuals, Cemetery records or transcriptions, Photographs, and more.

Items in the collection can only be accessed in the library. Please ask library staff for assistance.

Joy Jobbins: the rural bohemia of Eltham

Joy Jobbins’s memoir “Shoestring” (named for the family property in Eltham) is a candid portrait of marriage and women’s working life in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s. An ordinary woman whose remarkable life intersected with many well known figures including Peter Carey, Chips Rafferty, Rupert Murdoch and Helmut Newton, Laurence Olivier, Maggie Tabberer and many others.

Vist Joy Jobbins website

Access this title via the local history collection in Eltham Library.

New additions to Local History collections

New additons to the local history collections include the following:

Ivanhoe
Banyule City Council's Banner newsletter 1997 -
St John's Church of England, Heidelberg - booklet published around the 1960s
Scots Church, Heidleberg: centenary souvenir historical sketch 1843-1943

Eltham
Various accumulated articles on Alistair Knox
Various accumulated artciles on Alistair Knox Park
Heritage Place Record, Crozier Farm House, 66 Susan Street, Eltham (now demolished)

Mill Park
Index to items overed in the John Waghorn collection of historical material relating to the City of Whittlesea.