Lilydale & District Historical Society Inc. | Historical tour agency

Lilydale & District Historical Society Inc.

Phone: +61 3 9739 7407

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22.01.2022 This years council elections are vitally important to the future and rapid development of Lilydale while preserving and enhancing our town’s rich heritage. With this in mind and reflecting the issues which have been raised by the Lilydale & District Historical Society, it’s members and the wider community for almost 50 years, l emailed 6 questions to each candidate in Billanook and Melba wards which cover Lilydale. Sue Thompson President ... Lilydale & District Historical Society. To read the questions and the candidates responses to each please go to https://lilydalehistorical.com.au/candidate-responses-lily/ Castella Street looking north at 8.33 am 16 September 2020.

22.01.2022 Mafeking Tree, Melba Park, Lilydale. Our President Sue Thompson spoke to the First Croydon Hills Scout Group about the history of the Boer War and Mr Nick Magree explained the history of the tree. Great to see local kids interested in history and their contribution to recreate the plaque.

21.01.2022 Before 1870, there appears to have been a number of small schools in Lilydale, all very close to each other. In 1866 Lilydale Common School No. 876 was gazetted. It was not until the passing of the Education Act in 1872 that these schools were all joined together to become Lilydale State School No. 876. The main brick building was erected in 1876. Mr Sinclair McNab was in charge of the Lilydale State School for many years. He was transferred to Flemington in 1898.... Whilst in Lilydale he was associated with many local institutions, one of them being the St Johns Ambulance Association and he and his wife were members of the local Presbyterian Church choir. He was well esteemed by his fellow townsmen and beloved by his scholars for his straightforward, genial and impartial bearing. Source: Mr S McNab. Lilydale Express Friday 8 September 1905 p2. Scan: W.415 Lilydale State School 1881, Mr Sinclair McNab Teacher.

20.01.2022 The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced that the new $100 banknote enters general circulation from today Thursday 29 October 2020. As you may be aware, the new $100 celebrates the outstanding contributions of two well known Australians, Dame Nellie Melba and Sir John Monash. We received an email today to thank the Lilydale & District Historical Society for our contribution to the design of the $100 banknote, including our assistance with finding images of Dame Nellie Melba.

18.01.2022 Happy St Patrick’s Day. On this day 150 years ago this granite German-Gothiic style church was opened by Bishop Goold and Fr Finn on the 17 March 1871, it’s Consecration Day. The church was built by David Mitchell who was the contractor using stone from near the corner of Hardy and Clarke St. The tender price was 576 pounds, with furnishings and inflation it finally cost the local catholics about 2000 pounds to finish. The design and plan was by Mr A Martelli, Architect, Coll...ins St Melbourne. Messrs. Urie and Ferguson decorated the alter, and Mr Gaunt of Bourke St, supplied the sanctuary fittings. Rev.J Dalton superior of the jesuits, preached an eloquent sermon on the day, he concluded by warmly congratulating Father Finn of Heidelberg and his Lilydale congregation for having erected so fine a structure. Lilydale was at this time part of the Parish of Heidelberg which meant that the priests rode on horseback to attend services in those early days. When this photo was taken it was said that this was the largest gathering to date in the region. Sources: Advocate, Sat 9 July 1870, p1. Leader, Sat 25 March 1871, p12. Notes of Ed Burgi, File St Patrick’s Church. 00280 Parishioners gather on foot and horseback outside after the official opening of St Patrick’s Church, Lilydale corner of Jones and Clarke St, Lilydale 1871.

18.01.2022 Historical Society’s are treasure troves of information be that photos, letters, newspaper articles, maps, books and genealogies. They hold knowledge of towns how they were built , lived in and what influenced there changes. We have opened a file and it has been scanned during Covid lockdown so you may access it and read about 50-60 yrs of collected information on the Lilydale ByPass. https://lilydalehistorical.com.au/lilydale-bypass-lilydale/... Visit our website via the link. We would also like to thank our volunteers that have spent many hours at home during Covid lockdown working on projects, dealing with zoom meetings, emails, query’s and phone calls. Even though our doors are shut at home and the Old Lilydale Court House our volunteers are still working sharing information to our members, followers and the general public.

17.01.2022 As the society’s contribution to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Rotary, we have combined with Lilydale Rotary to run a special cemetery tours on the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dame Nellie Melba in May 2021. The tour will include Rotarians who are buried at Lilydale Cemetery. If you know the family of any of the men listed below,could you please message their details to us so we can tell thier story during the tours. We already have information and a file o...n Ken Hawkey. ANDERSON, Ken ( butcher ) ARNOLD, Charlie ( electrician ) FRASER, K.H. Keith ( bus company proprietor ) GROVER, R.H. Jim ( food and grain retailing ) MAGGS, I.C. Ivor ( Govt services, municipal services ) MORECROFT, L.C. Len ( footwear retail ) See more

16.01.2022 The Lilydale & District Historical Society was formed on the 11 March 1971 to help plan and mount suitable displays for the Shire of Lilydale’s Centenary. So we have reached our Fiftieth anniversary!! Fifty years of volunteering and believing that history matters.... Congratulations to all the past and present volunteers and members who have kept us going. What an achievement. Thank you. Source: the first 3 photos are the minutes taken fifty years ago. Last 2 photos are of our General meeting last Saturday March 6 2021. Members, Volunteers and a bit of Zoom. Care of Joy Gothe.

12.01.2022 A pet kangaroo in the gardens of the manager’s home at Cave Hill greets Madame Melba and her brother Charles Mitchell during her welcome home to Lilydale and Cave Hill November 8, 1902. Would you like to know more about Madame Nellie Melba and her life, come and follow Nellie Melba Museum on Facebook and @nelliemelbamuseum on Instagram.

12.01.2022 This is the community’s chance to have input into the future development of our town. People have until December 18, 2020 to make their submissions.

11.01.2022 We have had some followers ask about where the Mafeking Tree is in Lilydale. Have a look on our website at the Interactive Map the pin is not on the tree but on Melba Park. Or when your out and about you will find it behind the Athenaeum Theatre and Yarra Ranges Regional Museum in Castella Street.

07.01.2022 Madame Melba and her party outside St Hubert’s prior to welcome home civic reception in Lilydale on November 8, 1902.

05.01.2022 This is a photo of Dora Lempriere and her daughter Helen. Dora Elizabeth Octavia Mitchell was born May 20 1873 at Doonside, Richmond to David & Isabella Mitchell. Dora was the fifth of seven surviving children, like her sister Helen ( Melba ) she possessed considerable artistic talent. She spent time before she was married travelling with her sister Melba. Dora married Charles Algernon Lempriere at Scots Church, Melbourne in 1906. Their daughter Helen was born December 12 190...7 Melbourne. Dora Lempriere purchased land in November 1926 part of the Cave Hill estate and built her home ‘ Towri ‘ on Edinburgh Road Lilydale, currently were Edinburgh College is. Her daughter Helen inherited the talents of both sides of the family she studied sculpture and painting and became a famous artist. * Charles Lempriere’s grandfather Thomas James Lempriere was an artist in Tasmania. Scan 06455.3 Sources: Nellie Melba Museum Punch Thur 19 July 1906 p25. An Interesting Wedding. The Age Sat 17 Sept 1938 p27. Mr C.A.Lempriere. Design & Art Australia Online Thomas James Lempriere b.11 January 1796.

03.01.2022 This is another picture of the Mafeking Tree in Melba Park looking west, in the background is Melba Hall and a court of the Lilydale Tennis club. We were wondering wether some of our followers had memory’s of Melba Hall, a meeting you may have been to or a party that had taken place. Many local clubs used it for meetings. Melba Hall was opened on the 29 October 1927 and the hall was damaged by fire on 17 February 1990. Slide No 5330

03.01.2022 They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.... Lest we forget

03.01.2022 Another unfortunate act of vandalism has occurred in Melba Park. The Firewheel tree Stenocarpus sinuatus grove that are now situated behind the public toilets on Market Street, 3 of the 5 trees have been hacked. One of our members came across this devastation and took photos on Sunday 15 November 2020. It has been reported to the Yarra Ranges Council and local police.... The Society is bewildered that this could happen and that a person or people feel justified to destroy trees that were planted to enhance and reflect community and civic pride. If you know or have any information please inform the police. Source photos: Maree Phelan

02.01.2022 With Christmas rapidly approaching why not do something different this Christmas and give family and friends one of our pre-loved books? These books have been given to us by various Lilydale families who are happy for us to sell them to help raise funds for our work. Some of the books are out of print and one the scrapbook of artist Blamire Young is one of only 3 copies printed and includes articles he wrote about arts shows, artists and various events.... There are histories on various local schools, the Billanook book and many more. Simply follow the link below and when you find a book, click on the buy form and complete your purchase. https://lilydalehistorical.com.au/other-merchandise-lilyda/ While on our site make sure you check out our shop section and look at our own books and CDs.

01.01.2022 Main Street , Lilydale looking West from Anderson Street. We have an amazing collection of photos some are dated and some have ca. ( Circa - meaning around, about, roughly, approximately.) This photo has ca.1911 attached to it, so with some cross referencing with other photos that we have and research that has been done on Main Street we can now say that this photo was taken between 1906 to 1908.... The fire bell tower in the middle of the picture was erected in Main Street in 1906. The bowling club built a bowling green in the gap were there are no trees towards the fire bell tower in the centre of the picture. The works for the bowling green were commenced in June 1908. So our picture should be ca. 1906-1908. Source: Lilydale’s Public Places Public Lives 1860s to 1970s. LDHS. 00161 Main Street, Lilydale looking West from Anderson Street ca.1911.