Plenty Road is one of Victoria’s oldest, starting—as far as Bundoora, and northward is concerned—in 1838, when Robert Hoddle, as part of the process of laying out the Parishes of Keelbundora, Morang, Yan Yean and Toorourrong, allowed an easement for a Government Road. In the early days the Southern end of Upper Plenty Road (or […]
Tag: Whittlesea
The History of the Formation of the Shire of Whittlesea, S.T. Grey
S.T. Grey worked for the Leader Publishing Company of Northcote, publishers of “The Whittlesea Post”. Grey moved from Preston to Gladstone Road, Briar Hill 1935. He was also secretary of the Whittlesea Agricultural Society and a tentative candidate in the 1935 Eltham Shire elections. In 1961, at the direction of the Shire of Whittlesea, Grey […]
Bundoora Park
The 450 acre park in Plenty Road when first established was a joint project with the adjoining (former) Councils of Preston, Diamond Valley and Whittlesea. It includes a golf course, scenic drive and picnic sites amidst beautiful mature gum trees, including an Aboriginal Canoe tree. The picnic sites are used to capacity in the warmer […]
Yan Yean Public Cemetery
Yan Yean Public Cemetery: an historical overview By Lindsay Mann Copyright © Yan Yean Public Cemetery Trust, 2009. The Yan Yean Public Cemetery had its genesis in either 1853 or 1854, when the first death occurred among the labourers employed by Joseph Martindale, the contractor who constructed the Yan Yean Reservoir’s Embankment. Martindale was legally […]
REDLEAP Champion Jumps Horse
In Commemoration of the 103rd anniversary of the Redleap’s death, a famous jumps horse that trained in Mill Park, the City of Whittlesea will be exhibiting a small display of his remains from Museum Victoria’s collection at the Council Offices in late 2011. This will be an opportunity for the community to learn about the […]
Growling Frog Golf Course
The Growling Frog Golf Course at 1910 Donnybrook Rd, Yan Yean was opened in September 2004. It is designed by golfing legend and internationally renowned golf course architect Graham Marsh and is is nestled amongst stately 300 year old River Red Gums on more than 300 acres of Victorian countryside. The Growling Frog name is […]
Tommy Gibson of “Tommy’s Hut”
Tommy Gibson was a paling splinter, cutting palings and shingles for sale at the Melbourne markets. He lived at “Tommy’s Hut” around 1862. His house was used as a sly grog shop and meeting place. Every few days, when he had enough palings to sell, he would load up his trusty wheelbarrow and wheel his […]
Whittlesea Dry Stone Walls
Dry Stone Walls populate the relatively flat landscape in the rural corners of the City of Whittlesea on the outskirts of northern Melbourne. This area is experiencing rapid development. Dry stone walls were built traditionally on farms for boundaries. There are a number of references to dry stone walls in the Whittlesea Heritage Study (1992). […]
Donnybrook Cemetery
Donnybrook Cemetery can be found by driving up the Hume Highway from Melbourne to Kalkallo, pass Donnybrook Road on the right, and then turn into Malcolm Street and the cemetery is directly ahead, about 200 metres On the 10th September 1857 a request was made to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Victoria for land to […]
Dan O’Brien – Australian’s forgotten turf legend
Born in pre-gold rush Melbourne to Irish immigrants Dennis and Ann O’Brien, Dan grew up among horses. From birth to seven years old, this renowned jockey, trainer, owner, breeder and publican, the son of a drover, lived less than 100 metres from Kirk’s Bazaar, Melbourne’s famous horse market. On his mother’s death in 1854, Dan […]