J.M. Conolly of Christmas Hills, came to Australia in 1842, and landing in Melbourne went as a manager of a station to Portland in the Western District. He then purchased a station on the Upper Goulburn, where he remained for seven years, engaged in pastoral pursuits, after which he carried on dairy farming at Essendon […]
Tag: Christmas Hills
Private John Valentine Wilson
19 October 1914, Port Melbourne Pier. Men of the 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade board the HMAT Benalla (right) for service overseas. Amongst them was a young Christmas Hills farmer Private John Valentine Wilson, son of David and Elizabeth Wilson. Just eight months later on 3 June 1915 Private Wilson aged 25 was killed in action […]
Christmas Hills cenotaph
The Christmas Hills cenotaph was unveiled on 10 Dec 1921 by Captain Stanley Melbourne Bruce, who had served on the frontline at Gallipoli, and was to become Australia’s eighth Prime Minster (1923-29). The Eltham and Whittlesea Advertiser painted a vivid picture of the moving ceremony of dedication, and captured some of Bruce’s heartfelt speech, delivered […]
World War 1 Casualty : Harry Conway (Christmas Hills)
Harry Conway from “Penrith”, Christmas Hills died of wounds at Rouen, France on 28 April, 1918. Conway had certainly the most remarkable background of any serviceman from the-then Shire of Eltham to die in the Great War – born in the Singapore states, educated in India and having served four months Nigiri Volunteer Rifles before […]
Sugarloaf Reservoir
Christmas Hills Sugarloaf Reservoir in Simpsons Road, Christmas Hills is a stunning body of water used extensively by the local sailing club, canoers and anglers. The area is open between 8.30am and 8pm during daylight saving, and is home to an abundance of rainbow trout, brown trout, redfin, roach and European carp. A Victorian Amateur Fishing […]
Christmas Hills : a safe haven for native animals
Trust for Nature has purchased a property in Christmas Hills, ensuring rare and endangered species have somewhere to call home. Australia’s leading, not-for-profit, private land conservation organisation Trust for Nature has purchased the Reeves Road property because it helps form a cluster of protected bushland. This bushland houses a healthy population of wombats, the cryptic […]