In 1928, increasing delays to traffic traveling to and from the city to Northcote and Preston and points further north via Queen’s Parade and High Street were alleviated when the level crossing just on the south side of the Merri Creek was replaced by an overhead railway bridge (pictured below). The original plan was for […]
Author: ozsportshistory
Brian Membrey ; Local historian for Darebin area and sports of all sorts
Larundel – Mental Institution or Women’s Auxiliary Air Force?
Most conversant with the districts covered by WikiNorthia will be vaguely conscious of Larundel and its many decades as a mental institution, but few will be aware that it took eleven years from plans being announced to it operating in its proposed role. Approval was given in January, 1938 for a new mental hospital at […]
Melbourne’s Infancy and Growth: Heidelberg
The Argus, 6 December, 1884 “Heidelberg, which will be the last suburb dealt with in these articles, is eight miles north-east from Melbourne. It has been said that, next to Melbourne, this township is the oldest in the colony, older even than Geelong. At any rate, Heidelberg must be the oldest suburb of Melbourne. There […]
The Pender’s Grove Racecourse
Michael Pender was one of the original purchasers of land at the Government sales in 1839 of what was to become the section of Northcote north of Beaver’s Road (south to Westgarth Street sold the following year, the elevated section bringing more than twice the price per acre). Pender paid 27/- per acre for his […]
What’s In A Name : Preston (or Irishtown?)
The Preston area from today’s Dundas Street north to the borders of today’s City of Whittlesea was divided by the New South Wales Government into 12 estates ranging from 312 to 1065 acres and sold at auctions on 12 September, 1838, and 1 August and 3 October, 1839, bringing prices ranging between 8/3d (83 cents) […]
Mernda – What’s In A Name?
The opening of the Whittlesea railway in 1889 saw stations established at South Morang, South Yan Yean and Yan Yean, the names causing considerable confusion (particularly between the latter two) The impetus for a change had been building for some years and a public meeting held in the Yan Yean Mechanic’s Hall on 7 October, […]
Robert Garrick Wilson
Despite being the highest ranking and the oldest serviceman connected from Whittlesea to die in service during the Great War (and the only full-time soldier), Robert Garrick Wilson for some reason does not rate a mention on any of the Memorials erected around the Shire. Even more surprisingly, his considerable contribution to Australia’s war effort […]
The Phantom Railway Network of Kinglake
Many will be aware that Whittlesea station became the terminus of the Fitzroy-Preston-Whittlesea when the full route was opened on 23 December, 1889; ditto Hurst’s-bridge (Hurstbridge) station opened on 25 June, 1912 as the terminus on the original Heidelberg line of 1887. The line north of Lalor station was closed on 29 November, 1959 ending […]
What’s In A Name? Yarrambat or Tanck’s Corner?
The name of Tanck’s Corner was altered following a meeting of ratepayers and residents in late January, 1929, a change having been considered for several years – a preferential ballot of those present actually opted for “Kanangra”, an aboriginal word apparently meaning “beautiful views”, “Yarrambat” was the second preference (again, aboriginal, “high hill”) and “Carawatha” […]
The White Family of Northcote : At War
The First World War provides us with many rich and varied stories, but rarely do these little scenarios spread across three conflicts. For the White family of Northcote, the curtain opens with an article in the Northcote Leader, 18 August, 1900 : “My husband is out on active service in South Africa and I won’t […]