Transcribed from hand written notes on four pages by Mr Geoffrey Howell in 1970. Donated to City of Whittlesea and forwarded to Yarra Plenty Regional Library by Sandra Scott (nee Scurlock) April 2019. Began in 1950, March (I think) at the request of 2 people aged about 15. I was approached and asked if I […]
Category: Whittlesea
WW2 and Home Front Regulations, or Deja Vu
The COVID-19 virus pandemic has been likened by our political leaders to a war like situation. We have been directed to ‘stay at home’ and practice social isolation in order to stop the spread of the virus. Many businesses have been ordered to close and many people are working from home. Our streets are quiet […]
James Aitken
James Aitken, Epping, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1837, and landed in Brisbane, Queensland in 1865. Eighteeen months later he came to Victoria, and began living in Melbourne for a year, and at Kilmore for three months. He settled in Epping in 1868, and worked at his trade as journey-man blacksmith there until 1873, […]
Thomas A. Ahern
Ahearn, Thomas A. Epping (deceased) was born in Tipperary, Ireland in 1827, and arrived in Melbourne in March 1841. After farming for two years and paying a two years’ visit to New Zealand, he returned to Victoria, and went to the shearing on some of the principal stations up country, and settled down for a […]
Richard Bassett
Richard Bassett Upper Yarra Pioneer From Hazel Glen, Richard was born in Cornwall, England, in 1838 and coming to Australia in 1859 first went to Brunswick, where he worked at the quarries for a year, then to Darebin Creek as a farmer, and thence to Greensborough. He then selected land at Hazel Glen, where he […]
History of Hawkstowe Park
South Morang was developed early in the European History of Victoria, in the 1850’s. The Plenty River provided a reliable source of water before the construction of the Yan Yean Reservoir in the late 1850’s. Combined with the flat land and the close proximity to Melbourne, the region became a prime agricultural area, providing a […]
A Restoration Journey
Horse drawn carts & drays were commonly used by early farmers of the Plenty Valley for general farm use. This 1880’s cart spent its working life in the ownership of the Hurrey family at the historic “Craigie Lee” farm, Yan Yean. It was used to carry sheaves of oaten hay and cans of milk from […]
Whittlesea Senior: June de Chalain
June De Chalian of South Morang was profiled in the Victorian Seniors Festival October 2018 June de Chalain likes to stay busy, help others, and contribute to her community. Her work with the Whittlesea Council’s Seniors Link Up Program helps isolated older people in the community to find local programs, groups, activities and events they […]
Viola Josephine Mann (1904-1972) – Invisible Farmer of Yan Yean
My Mother Viola Josephine Mann (maiden name McLaughlin) was born in Traralgon, Victoria on the 16th January, 1904. She was the daughter of Thomas Joseph McLaughlin and Elizabeth Therese Bushby. Her father, Thomas, was a shoemaker who had a shop in the small town of Trafalgar, in Gippsland, Victoria. In 1906, when Viola was two […]
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, […]