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.

Warringal Cemetery Walk

Eltham Gateway northern walk

Join the Eltham District Historical Society for a heritage excursion Saturday March 3rd. Meet at 2.00 pm at the Local History Centre, 728 Main Road, Eltham.

The Eltham Gateway is the name adopted for the section of Main Road Eltham leading from the roundabout at Fitzsimons Lane to the Eltham town centre.

The name has its origin in a 1987 planning report for Eltham Shire Council that identified this precinct as having special characteristics that warrant special planning protection. The area includes historic and other "Eltham character" buildings, significant parkland and extensive canopy tree cover. The land fronting this section of Main Road now has its own special planning controls that are intended to preserve the character that is so important to Eltham and its residents.

This part of Main Road has been the main entrance to Eltham from the earliest times of European settlement. Originally the only access was through Lower Plenty but 50 years ago the Fitzsimons Lane Bridge over the Yarra River was opened, providing alternative access. This joined Main Road at Eltham South and from there the traditional road into Eltham was followed.

Part of today’s Main Road follows Maria Street of Josiah Holloway’s 1851 subdivision of Little Eltham. It is well known local history that before the coming of the railway in 1902 the Eltham "town centre" stretched along Maria Street, generally between Brougham and Bridge Streets. The remaining buildings from this period provide a significant character component of today’s Eltham Gateway.

The Eltham District Historical Society's Eltham Local History Centre at 728 Main Road (cnr. Brougham Street, Melway ref. 21 J7) is about halfway along the Gateway and so provides a convenient starting place to walk the northern part. The walk is on Saturday 3rd March, starting at 2pm. The length is about 2km. There are many stops along the way so it will take about two hours. There is no charge and the walk is open to Society members and the general public.

The walk will extend northerly as far as the Eltham Library. It will pass many old Eltham Township buildings and we can look at photos of how they appeared in earlier times. In Alistair Knox Park we can see modern sculptures and signs on the Heidelberg School Artists’ Trail. The return walk is along the Diamond Creek path.

The Local History Centre will be open at the conclusion of the walk for those who want to view the displays, have a cuppa or a chat.

Please book with Russell at edhs1@bigpond.com

Eltham walk to Killeavey

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.

Edendale Walk

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

Eltham Heritage Walk

Eltham & District Historical Society will continue their successful program of heritage walks by providing a variety of walks in different locations around Eltham and nearby areas. The first walk for 2010 will be on Saturday 6th March starting at 2pm. The starting point is the corner of Lavender Park Road and Kent Hughes Road, Eltham South (Melway Ref. 22 A9). Roadside parking is available in Kent Hughes Road. The distance is about 3.5 km and it will take about 2 hours. It includes a track along the Yarra River that is a bit rough in places and a short steep climb in Sweeneys Lane. The track through parkland adjoining the river is quite scenic and there are extensive views of the Yarra Valley from the ridge above.

Thomas Sweeney was the first land purchaser from the Crown in the Eltham area in 1840. The family went on to become long term residents, and played a prominent role in Eltham’s early history. Most of this walk passes through Sweeney property and we pass the Sweeney homestead which remains on a small part of the original farm. Other locations of interest include Griffith Park and Petty’s Orchard across the river in Templestowe.

Bring whatever you need to eat and drink and we will stop along the way for afternoon tea. Perhaps at Sweenys Flat. There is no charge for this walk which is open to the public as well as Society members. The contact number on the day is 0409 021 063. Ring Russell on that number if you need transport and to check for possible postponement if the weather is to be 30 degrees or hotter.

Historical walk of Eltham

The September walk co-ordinated by Eltham and District Historical Society is set for 5th September. It will cover the Diamond Street area of Eltham. This area known locally as “The Hill” contains a number of important heritage sites and many mud brick houses. The walk will start at the corner of Diamond Street and Youth Road (Melway ref. 21J4) at 2pm and will last about 2 hours. Transport from the Local History Centre will be available at 1.45pm. Members of the public are welcome and there is no charge.
Ring Russell on 9439 9717 for information and bookings.

Eltham mud brick walk

Eltham & District Historical Society will be conducting a number of short walks in precincts of Eltham where there are groups of mud brick houses, this Saturday July 26, 2008 commencing at 10.30 am.

Transport between the precincts will be by car and car pooling may be arranged. Most individual walks will be just a few hundred metres but there will be one walk of about 1.5 kilometres. A number of the houses are of heritage significance. The proposal is to walk past and discuss these houses rather than visit them.

The program will start at the Eltham Local History Centre at 10.30 am and will return there for lunch. You will need to bring your own lunch or stop somewhere to buy it on the way. You can do as many or as few of the individual short walks as you wish.

There is no charge for either members or others for the mud brick walk or other walks. Ring Russell Yeoman on 9439 9717 or email to edhs@bigpond.com for bookings or further details.