By Arthur B.W. Yong, B App Sc JP In 2003, Arthur B.W. Yong coordinated and edited a book for the North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association (NEMCA) on Chinese settlement in Darebin. First published in July 2003, ‘Chinese Settlement in the City of Darebin’, records the experiences of Australians of Chinese descent. They live, work and […]
Author: admin
Wikinorthia is managed by the Local and Family History Librarian at Yarra Plenty Regional Library
Farmers Arms Hotel
The following article is reproduced by permission of Noel Withers and extracted from “Banyule City Council Spring Outdoors Programme 2008: Greensborough & the Plenty River Pioneer Trail With Dennis Ward & Noel Withers. A ramble from the lower part of town and along the river bank learning about historic sites and the pioneering families that […]
Epping District Roads Board
Local government in Darebin can trace its roots back to 1841 and the establishment of the District Council of the County of Bourke. Drawing its members from prominent local landowners, it included Thomas Wills, Alexander McCrae and Major G.F. St. John. The District Council was an advisory body, reporting to the Superintendent of Victoria on […]
Belmont Hotel (c1859-1990s)
The Belmont Hotel first opened in the rural community of Thomastown around 1859. At first it catered mainly for locals and passing trade but between 1865 and 1867 it became the headquarters for the Epping District Roads Board. The Epping District Roads Board was one of the earliest forms of local government in Victoria and […]
Greensborough Tea Rooms
This weatherboard building opposite St Helena Road is the former Greensborough Tea Rooms or Lobb’s Tea Rooms built in the 1920s. During World War 2 air raid wardens were trained here, it was also used by the peace corp. Later, in the 1960s, due to its proximity to the Sports oval, the building was used […]
Forge Lane and Heidelberg Forge
This article is largely based on Bill Massey’s (dec) anecdotes and recall from Robin Massey’s childhood. Effie Massey also assisted with reminiscences. To the south of Burgundy Street, behind a number of businesses, runs Forge Lane. Nondescript it may be but it can lay claim to some historical significance. It is the only physical clue […]
Eltham Barrel restaurant
The Eltham Barrel restaurant was situated off Main Road, Eltham towards Research. The barrel shaped building was constructed in the late 1960s. It was claimed to be the biggest barrel in the world at the time according to a now deleted article on Wikipedia. It had a capacity to hold over 8 million litres. Built […]
Movie making in Eltham
In 1928 a short film was filmed in Eltham called “Borrowed Plumes”. Local houses for the on location film shoot and local people were featured in the film according to press reports in “The Advertiser”. It was produced by local resident Mr E. C. Lyall and his Kooringarama films company probably named for an Eltham […]
Mill Park Writing Group
The Mill Park Library Writing Group was formed in March 2009. It all began with an author night at Mill Park Library with guest author Alice Pung. Alice Pung has won many awards for her writing for instance for her book Unpolished Gem. She won Australian Newcomer of the Year in the 2007 Australian Book […]
Diamond Creek Bridge
I believe the first bridge to span Diamond Creek was built by my great-grandfather Joshua Higgs in1853. Joshua was also a renowned artist and this is his original sketch painting of that structure which was the first of many construction works he completed after leaving England in 1852. Much of his fine art and history […]