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, […]
Tag: Mernda
World War 1 Casualty : Colin Hicks (Mernda)
Colin Hicks was the first serviceman from Mernda to enlist and also the first casualty from the district in the Great War, dying of wounds while being invalided back to Egypt. Hicks suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and died at 2.30 a.m. on 14 May, 1915 on board the hospital ship H.S. Gascon […]
History of Mernda Bakery Cafe, Mernda
This unique and small bakery with its Scotch oven was built in the early 1890’s by Charles and Stephenson Turner, two brothers who moved from Preston to Mernda Vic. to bake and supply bread to the Little Plenty River Flour Mills and the surrounding district for approximately sixty years. Their brother- in- law and others […]
Bridge over the Plenty at Morang/Mernda
Today, passing over the Plenty River on Bridge Inn Road Mernda is done without any thought as to just how this crossing was once negotiated. Opening up communication with the interior of the County of Evelyn, and the goldfields of St Andrews The 1850’s and 60’s saw great prosperity in the Region – fuelled by […]
Carome Homestead
This historic homestead was built of bluestone blocks in 1864 on a rise overlooking the Plenty River. It’s current address is 10 Hathfelde Boulevard, Mernda It was established at a time when surrounding properties grew wheat that was to supply the growing metropolis of Melbourne and those travelling along Plenty Road to the goldfields. Carome […]
Intoxicated cows in Mernda
Apple growing was once an important part of the local economy around Mernda. So bountiful was the supply of apples that a number of cider factories operated in the area in the first half of the twentieth century. One of the earliest was built by Kitz & Co in 1916. In 1928, several cows belonging […]