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25.01.2022 Time for today's Moonee Valley Heritage Moment, via our Pinterest pages ... Note, there were only a few more inhabitants of the Borough of Flemington and Essendon than there were folks temporarily crewed on Shipping vessels in #Melbourne in 1871 (although the district beyond harboured many many more souls). For its proximity to town Flemington was arguably the slowest-developed of the listed suburbs. Melbourne's preference for eastward expansion was already an etablished pa...ttern, just 40 years after settlement. Source: Victorian Yearbook 1874 p65

25.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... The Former Georges Hay Store at 363 Mount Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale, seen here before its conversion to an Autobarn. Georges Hay Store was one of the earliest stores in the area- dating to the 1860s, where most retail strips werent established for another 2 decades - these buildings may not be the original 1860s structure. At minimum the buildings corner section appears to have been (re-)built c. early 1880s, these buildings are at least that old, and are today protected by HO363.

25.01.2022 Shots fired outside Escargrill on Mt Alexander Rd! Often wondered about this joints clientele ...

25.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Essendon Post Office and Royal Hotel, in 1945. Looking Sth across Russell St. Bot of these buildings have since been demolised, although their replacment buildings retain an association. The Post Office has moved one door to the right, and the new Royal Hotel (which is hardly an improvement) stands on the site of the old today.

24.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... The house now known as Garryowen, constructed c.1886 and first occupied by Sarah Edmondsen, at 689 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds (fence is non-original). A rare surviving example of a villa residence erected in Moonee Ponds during the land boom. While a number of these villas were erected many have now been demolished and the significance of this house is enhanced by its rarity value.

23.01.2022 Facebook friends, were EXTREMELY pleased to report that Cr Nicole Marsall will be putting forward the following motion to Council this week, moving towards prohibiting the deliberate/effective demolition of a heritage property by neglect in Moonee Valley. Its an unfortunate loophole in our heritage laws that this is currently only technically criminalised for properties listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, which leaves the majority of our local heritage buildings...Continue reading

23.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Its #Newmarket Railway Station in #Flemington with its original (non-DDS compliant) access ramp, from Graeme Butlers 1985 #heritage survey. Note how much more pleasant the station surrounds are today with all the trees Metro Trains wanted to remove ...

23.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Looking south across Moonee Ponds Junction, #Melbourne c.1910. Electric trams first arrived in 1906 and originally included an extension along Puckle Street to the railway station (seen here, removed 1924). Trams ran in double track to the junction then in single track along Pascoe Vale Rd to Nth Essendon. The network was taken over by the MMTB in 1922.

23.01.2022 Time for todays heritage pic, via our Pinterest page >>> Its a ... Map showing residential subdivision of the "Township of Essendon", late 1850s. Mt Alexander Rd is labelled with the short-lived alternative name of the "Melbourne Turnpike". "Metalled throughout" means the road was formally surfaced. The facade of the Farmers Arms Hotel indicated at cnr Buckley St still exists today as a residential conversion.

22.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Former Maribyrnong Sand Co. Jetty & Tramway Loading Chute, Maribyrnong River - approx. cnr The Boulevard & Vida St, West Essendon. Sand was mined from this location from early 1900s by the company & transported by barge for use in the ceramic, concrete and glass production downstream. A stone jetty/landing remains evident on the rivers edge, along with a stone retaining wall directly above (approx 4 m up) which was used as a loading chute to dump tram-loads of sand into waiting barges.

21.01.2022 Unfortunately for those who decline to Murdoch, the article is paywalled, but the fight to save Essendons historic North Park Mansion from redevelopment made BOTH the Herald-Sun and 3AW yesterday. Help us spread the word, with objections to Council closing this Thursday. Find out how YOU can have your obection heard via the campaign website: https://savenorthpark.com/

21.01.2022 BREAKING: The Premier has just announced Postcodes 3032, 3042 are to re-enter COVID lockdown from midnight tomorrow until at least July 29. The Premier is asking and reminding residents in these locations to "assume you may be infectious - and act accordingly." Were wishing everyone in the Moonee Valley community, locked down or otherwise the very best health and welfare through these troubled times. Please note local businesses that are impacted and already registered thro...ugh the Business Support Fund or receiving payroll tax reductions will be eligible for a new $5,000 grant to assist them. And we encourage and remind everyone that THIS is how serious the situation remains, and we MUST all continue to maintain best practices for the sake of EVERYONEs welfare. Stay safe and stay well, friends.

18.01.2022 Council has released this flyover video of the proposed ne Flemington Community Hub- design and heritage wise there are no issues here from our perspective. What do readers think? https://bit.ly/33j23aP

17.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Former prince of wales hotel, mt alexander rd, Asot Vale. A smaller hotel of the same name occupied this site from 1854-1924, when it was rebuilt to the present style by owners the McCracken family. Its unclear if any of the original fabric remains. Closed following a fire in 2009, protected.

16.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... The former "Essendon Hotel" was built in 1936 at 1140 Mount Alexander Road, Essendon, on the site of an earlier hotel of the same name, for Richard Hancock. It is historically important as the principal hotel in the Essendon North shopping centre, recalling the former hotel on this site, established during the gold rush period and associated with the well known hotelier Mary Wood. It is aesthetically important as a distinguished example of a hotel in the Streamlined Moderne style.

16.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Datum House, Ascot Vale - A Contemporary House Reinterprets Its Federation-Era Neighbours. What do readers think? Successful or not?

16.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Looking Sth over Moonee Ponds Junction, #Melbourne c.1970s, on L is the Junction Hotel, which was thoroughly abominated, early 1980s. Much everything else is still with us today. Image via Ascot Vale Good Karma Network Facebook.

15.01.2022 Moonee Valley Council to investigate a special list of properties with likely heritage significance that have not been individually assessed as part of previous gap studies

14.01.2022 Heritage lovers, we need your help. Arguably Essendons most significant heritage site (a stoush with the WBG incenerator would decide it) is UNDER THREAT - and YOU CAN HELP the campaign to save it. The magnificent North Park Mansion has stood on the highest point in Essendon watching over the city as it grew, and lending its grandeur to the skyline for the whole community to enjoy for over 130 years. Now, the propertys owners, St Columbans Mission Society are planning to... subdivide the propertys magnificent heritage-listed grounds, build a series of three storey townhouses around the perimeter and drive a series of new access roads through the property. This intensive development will result in more traffic on busy Woodland St, more pressure on our local neighbourhoods, and ruin the heritage values of this highly significant property. But the Save North Park group are fighting back, and you can help us. The development proposal will be coming before Moonee Valley Council soon, and objections to the proposal are NOW OPEN. Weve put together a campaign website which explains for the whole community what is being proposed, why the outcomes will be so bad for the entire Essendon region, and exactly how your voice can be heard in objection to the plans. Follow the link here to learn more, to have your voice heard, and to help us stop the threat of inappropriate development at one of Moonee Valleys most important heritage properties - one of only 24 sites in the borough listed as being of "State-level" significance. Please help by sharing this post with your own networks and spreading the word in your community.

13.01.2022 Freinds and supporters, it is CRUNCH TIME for objections to the subdivision and redevelopment of the historic North Park Mansion and Estate in Essendon. Objections are DUE WITH COUNCIL tomorrow. Weve had a tremendous response from the community so far, but the work remains to be done. If you have not yet done so, please take a moment to visit the OBJECTIONS page of the campaign website, where we walk you through how you can find out what is being proposed,and easily ra...ise your objection to Council online (or via other means) in under 5 minutes. Follow the link today to learn more, and please help by sharing to your own networks.

13.01.2022 When we suggest that North Park Masion on Woodlands Drive in Essendon/Strathmore may well be Moonee Valleys most significant heritage site, we do not make these statements lightly. This is not any old heritage battle about any old building. This is one of only a handful of Moonee Valley properties cited on the State Heritage Register as being of significance to the entire state of Victoria. And so local figures of consequence are called upon to assist in taking this battle b...eyond the mere boundaries of Moonee Valley, and elevating the issue at both a State and Federal level, so that a long-term PUBLIC use can be found for the site if St Columbans Mission insist ownership of the property is too big a burden on them. Which is why we applaud very loudly this intervention in the battle from the Hon. Bill Shorten as local member. There has been recent talk of the need for a Melbourne residence for the Prime Minister, and given its proimity to the airport, North Park must be an absolute prime candidate. We look forward to any assistance Mr Shorten may be able to render in advancing that agenda. And, just to be clear - yes, we were haranguing everyone to have their objections in by deadline, its much better to have everything in on time. But Council WILL actually still accept obections to the proposal. It is NOT too late, if you havent done your bit to help and that were maybe weighing on your conscience at all The link walks you through how you can easily raise your objection in just FIVE MINUTES and walks you through the key arguments .... https://savenorthpark.com/objections/ And a big thanks to Bill Shorten for his contribution here. We do try not to wear our political colours on sleeve, but are drawn to reflect that only this week we voted for Bill in a journalists Twitter poll on "The Best Prime Minister Australia Never Had". And its NOT too late ...

12.01.2022 Time again, punters for a Moonee Valley Heritage Snap, via our Pinterest page... Today its ... the reconstruction of Flemington Bridge station in 1944, looking across Mt Alexander Rd towards Flemington. The current station building, with an asbestos cement roof, was provided in 1944, and at the same time, the stairs were replaced by asphalted ramps. ... The heritage station remains UNPROTECTED by Moonee Valley Council on the up side, and City of Melbourne on the down, and this needs urgent reparation. Especially considering Council has supposedly already concluded a "gap study" that should have identified both the station and the rail bridge for protection.

12.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... The Henley on Maribyrnong, #Melbourne was an annual water carnival run by the Essendon River League from 1912-1965, to raise funds for their work protecting, improving and beautifying the river. It featured rowing, swimming, novelty events and fairground attractions. The first event drew a crowd of over 20,000, and it was a major event on the local social calendar. In 1931, this bank was replaced by the "Henley Terraces" and the river straightened. The terraces reamin, protected, today. SLV

12.01.2022 Time for Todays Moonee Valley Heritage Snap via our Pinterest page, completing our mini-series on Flemington, its .... The 1872 Subdivision Map of the Flemington Estate, in the "Parish of Doutta Galla" (Flemington was still formally part of the Borough of Essendon at this time, not gaining its independence until 1882). It was around 1885 before many of these lots were populated, with the 1876 opening of Debneys (aka Buntingford) Tannery bringing much needed employment to the area, and a number of other industrial establishments soon followed along Mt Alexander and Racecourse Rds, both of which were established much earlier (c.1850s), the early population grew slowly mostly along these two routes. https://bit.ly/30jwPyM

11.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Its Essendon Railway Station (built 1909), island platform, seen here c.1930s with gasolier lighting. The station is significant for being an effective prototype for later building styles along the line, and for numerous innovative building techniques, including concrete filled columns supporting the underpass.

11.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Detail from 1910 map of Melbourne rail network showing rail and roads around the Dynon Rail Yards, clearly showing freight sidings running from Sth Kensington Station to both the former abbatoirs and the Younghusbang Wool Stores (since demolished). Additional sidings (which still exist) were added to the Manildra Grain Silos in 1911, Four & Twenty Pies factory & the Kenstore (WWII military warehouse on Kensington Rd) along the abbatoir sidings, 1940s. These private sidings have now all closed.

11.01.2022 Moonee Ponds is Melbournes 5th most liveable suburb - Crown of the North AND West! Are we feeling it, Ponds Dwellers? I know people are concerned about the impact of the towers, but this author has to declare that walking the streets around Moonee Ponds Central, found himself entirely unprompted, thinking "this is the best, human-scale suburban shopping centre anywhere in Melbourne". In no small part because of all the little bits of different fabric (very little of it with ...any heritage protection), in tandem with Puckles reasonably well preserved heritage streetscape. By the time the bombsites are filled, it will be in some dimension a testament to good planning. But the Junction really does need some work done. With dynamite ....

10.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Photograph produced for British Paints, (who have presumably just done this lovely job redecorating) the exterior of the Moonee Ponds Hotel, looking S along Mt Alexander Rd in 1955. The building was appallingly abominated in the 1980s in one of Moonee Valleys worst ever heritage crimes, robbing the Junction of this buildings grandiose presence.

10.01.2022 Time for todays Heritage Snap, via our Pinterest Page. Today its ... A Map showing original subdivision of land along Riddell St in "Camiestown", which is today part of the suburb of Westmeadows, #Melbourne, c.1852. Raleigh St runs right through the middle of this map today, Victoria St is Shadford St today, and the northern portion of the map including the less formal goldfields route has been completely realigned. NB the "Moonee Ponds" are also not yet regarded as a formal "Creek".

10.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale, c.1890s, with former English, Scottish & Australian (E S & A) Chartered Bank (L) and row of shops still with us today, and PROTECTED. The bank was designed by Terry & Oakden architects, 1884 replacing an earlier 1875 bank. The E S & A amalgamated ith the ANZ Bank in 1970. The building continued to operate as bank until June 1972, now private offices. The rose/thistle/gumnut motifs in the stone spandrels are a reminder of the buildings Scottish/Australian heritage.

10.01.2022 Not really sure how useful these breakdowns of active COVID cases by LGA are? Is it, for instance, the case that the majority of Moonee Valley cases are likely in the northern suburbs of the borough abutting the other probelm LGAs? That would be useful data for residents to know - otherwise its all just "scary numbers", what are we supposed to do about it??

09.01.2022 Poor Garryowen. Constructed c.1886, and first occupied by Sarah Edmondsen, this rather grand two storey Victorian with attractive polychrome brickwork is a reminder of the types of grand land boom era villas on large sites that once populated this stretch of Mt Alexander Rd, but of which this is really the last remnant until you get much closer to Essendon. Situated by the corner of Homer St, this is of course a zone that is slated for high density development. However, we...re pleased to report that the tower that was proposed for the neighbouring corner site was rejected by Council this week, with heritage cited as one of the grounds (unanimous bar Cr Sipek). Not that were opposed to towers, and particularly not in these sorts of locations, but this one really did quite aggressively fail to acknowledge the interface with the neighbouring heritage place, and probably represents an overdevelopment of such a small and heritage-sensitive site. The blocks in this section are at an angle, and so it becomes impossible to effectively preserve sightlines to the heritage property with such a rigidly square geometry being built effectively to the property boundary. We hope the architects will now be going back to the drawing board, rather than to VCAT, who precedent says wont give two hoots about sightlines to a neighbouring heritage property, particularly when you get seriously disppointing stuff like this from Council Planning OFFICERS ... "Heritage Advisor: No objection. The wall behind the open area underneath the podium has been straightened from being a flowing line to a straight line. This allows for a more effective view line to the historic building next door. The architectural expression has become stronger with a muscular podium and lighter materials above." Wed suggest very few of those statements are actually supportable. Wed suggest the correct heritage position here is to suggest the entire front right hand corner needs to be hewn from the proposal to create a properly angular sightline, and the building needs to step back from Mt Alexander Rd as the height rises (and blow me down, if the Design and Development Overlay for the Moonee Ponds Activity Centre doesnt already prescribe that, then irrespective of there being a heritage context, we have many other sizable problems in waiting). Council planning staff seem to routinely to lack training in assessing interfaces with heritage places, although they do seem do scoot off to developer-friendly training sessions like "better apartment design" with routine regularity (although this is far from just being an issue for Moonee Valley). It needs to be understood that these unleelcted people are effectively building our future, because VCAT looks at Councillors overriding their supposedly professional advice quite dimly, so no confidence at all we still wont wind up eventually seeing this building plonked here in this precise form. What do readers think of this one?

08.01.2022 Readers will recall we foreshadowed this upcoming battle to save the State Heritage-listed North Park Estate in Essendon from the threat of subdivision and redevelopment some months back. As one of one of only 24 Moonee Valley properties on the Victorian Heritage Register, this is one of, if not the most significant heritage site in the entire borough. Things have come to a head quicker than expected, with the developers submitting a surprise planning application to Coun...cil in ADVANCE of the anticipated decision from Heritage Victoria (now delayed due to COVID-19). This means its now BATTLESTATIONS, friends and supporters, in what is set to be one of the biggest heritage flashpoints to come before this Council. The campaign has already garnered over 7,000 supporters via our online petition. BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP. Objections are now due, so please watch this space tomorrow for information on how you can assist in that process. A great start would be to please share this post to your own networks here on Facebook and other social media. In the meantime, the campaign has hit its media straps, and you can read all about what is happening here - with The Ages Carolyn Webb penning this excellent summary of whats afoot. If readers have any questions about whats going on, please dont hesitate to shout out, otherwise, please watch this space closeley over the coming weeks for information on what you can do to help save one of Melbournes true heritage gems.

07.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Moonee Ponds Station with steam train in 1906

07.01.2022 It's technically just outside Moonee Valley, but we have a watching brief on developments at the Younghusband Wool Store redevelopment in Kensington. Readers keen to learn about the latest plans can register for a webinar on October 21 at 6pm - see the link for more info.

07.01.2022 This is a final reminder to everyone that objections against the subdivision, redevelopment and sale of North Park Mansion in Essendon/Strathmore, arguably Moonee Valleys most significant heritage property ARE DUE WITH COUNCIL TODAY. See below for the article which this week featured in the Herald-Sun (and indeed on 3AW). See the following link to go to our website where we make it EASY for you to raise your objection in 5 simple minutes. Anything friends can do to assist i...n the campaign to save this treasured property is appreciated. We need to demonstrate to Council the strength of community sentiment around this issue ... https://savenorthpark.com/objections/ See more

06.01.2022 Heritage-lovers, weve been keeping quite a bit of good news from Council from you, just pending the signing-off on objections to the North Park development, and a BIG THANKS to everyone who helped out there... Today were very pleased to announce that at last weeks Council meeting, Cr Nicole Marshall moved a motion based on research from MVHA and local heritage buff David Harper which identified significant gaps in heritage coverage that have resulted from Councils previ...ous gap studies. And were very pleased that all Councillors unanimously supported the motion to have a number of likely significant properties which have never been properly individually assessed to now receive that proper professional assessment. The photogallery here highlights a smattering of the sorts of propeties that are now going to be assessed for protection. They include obvious heritage such as Flemington Bridge station, the shops at 637 Mt Alexander Rd, and the former Milk Bar at 55 Bent Street, and a number of significant Victorian and Federation properties in particular in Ascot Vale and Moonee Ponds, and to a lesser extent, Essendon. We thank Cr Marshall for sponsoring the motion, and all Councillors for their strident support for heritage issues throughout their current Council terms. Council will move shortly into caretaker mode, and we will NOT be endorsing any candidates at the coming poll, but we will be issuing a heritage questionnaire to all candidates and publishing the results, and we will gladly state alongside those assessments for any Councillors seeking re-election that their track record on heritage to date has been exemplary. Thankyou to all Councillors, who do a real labor of love on behalf of the community. Its hard and often thankless work at unreasonable hours, but you ALL ultimately leave a better legacy for future Moonee Valley through your support for motions like THIS. And this Council leaves a proud legacy.

06.01.2022 The results are in for Moonee Valley Council elections. We congratulate all the following incoming councillors (and we've annotated the list to give you a better idea what is going on) BUCKLEY WARD Cam Nation Returning Councillor Narelle Sharpe, Moonee Valley Council, Buckley Ward Returning Councillor... Ava Adams Moonee Valley Buckley Ward Independent MYRNONG WARD Jacob Bettio Independent for Myrnong - Moonee Valley Liberal Rose Iser - Moonee Valley Blog Independent Katrina Hodgson for Moonee Valley Council ALP ROSE HILL WARD Samantha Byrne - Moonee Valley Council Candidate - Rose Hill Ward Returning Councillor John Sipek for Rosehill Ward - Moonee Valley City Council Returning Councillor Pierce Tyson - Labor for Moonee Valley ALP So only four of the nine sitting councillors have been reelected. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Rebecca Gauci Maurici - for Buckley Ward, Moonee Valley City Council, Andrea Surace, Richard Lawrence 4 Moonee Valley Council - Essendon Strathmore Aberfeldie Jim Cusack and @Nicole Marshall (who did not stand for re--election, and whom Facebook is not letting us ping for some reason) for their service, and the TREMENDOUS achievements of the outgoing Council on the heritage front. And importantly, we would like to congratulate ALL of the incoming Councillors on their election, and look forward to working with the new council to continue the fight to preserve our community's precious heritage. If anyone is questioning Jacob Bettio Independent for Myrnong - Moonee Valley's status as a "Liberal", he may not be formally so, but was running an explicit anti-Labor, anti-Greens line, and what walks like a duck, in our experience ... you know ... he may need to do a little more work than most to earn this group's future support, but we will judge him based on how he votes on heritage issues.

06.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... The Cross Keys Hotel on Firebrace St (today Pascoe Vale Rd), North Essendon (today Strathmore), c.1870s. This building stood on the site of todays Cross Keys, and was demolished in 1929 for the building we know today (although itself since much modified).

06.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... Looking east towards Sth Kensington Station from Footscray Railway Bridge, 1940s. Newells paddock bottom right, Dynon Rd on right of image. Kensington and Hobsons Rds run off to the left, the triangle section they formed became infill housing c.1990s. Manildra Grain Silos (built 1911) at top to R of rail line. Remainder of that area became the North Dynon Goods Yard. Yes, as recently as 1940, much of Kensington and West Melbourne/Docklands was still just open meadows. #Melbourne #heritage

05.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... VR 53 waiting at the terminus Ascot Vale Rd, Moonee Ponds Junction, #Melbourne, November 1967. Ascot Vale Rd to R, Mt Alexander to L, former Caltex service station at rear.

05.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage moment, via our Pinterest page ... A 1971 Essendon Historical Society image shows the Ascot Vale Hotel from the north-east before the faade was covered by a giant metal screen to support a billboard (NB the original ground floor verandah has also been infilled). Built c.1877, replacing a more temporary 1875 structure here. The hotel was likely either extended by two bays along Maribyrnong Rd in 1901 upon sale by McCracken City Brewery (owners, 1891-1901), or less likely wholly rebuilt at that time.

05.01.2022 Council are seeking your input on the "pocket park" which is set to replace the already bulldozed A J Automotive/former Triggs Service Station building at the corner of Wellington & Mt Alexander in Flemington, which of course Council should have been protecting rather than demolishing, but what's done is done ... Please exercise your own minds of course, but we are mounting a mini-campaign to have it at least named Trigg's Park, as some small hat-tip to the site's heritage, and would be great to have your support in this. Follow the link in Council's post below to have your say.

04.01.2022 Time for another Moonee Valley Heritage Snap, via our Pinterest pages .... Presenting ... Flemington Bridge, looking W along Mt Alexander Rd, showing the former Debneys Tannery, on L c.1920. The road bridge was the first reinforced concrete tramway bridge in Victoria, and incorporated some of the iron girders and columns from the third bridge, constructed here in 1868 combined with reinforced concrete deck, piers, girders, and handrails supported by decorative cast iron sta...ndards added in 1913. A bluestone wall in front of the south abutment may also be part of the 1868 bridge. The rail bridge was reconstructed when the station was rebuilt in 1944. The tannery was a major source of local employment, but closed in the late 1930s and the land sold to Council for landfill, which later became part of todays Debneys Park. The first walkup flats were constructed in Victoria St in 1957 (demolishing an entire streetscape of heritage buildings - not quite depicted in the second image, but we can see asimilar row of buildings which made way for the Primary School) and the towers followed in the early 1960s.

04.01.2022 We do not wish to go too far on record in support of the Sustainable Australia Party, as their overall economic policies would crash the entire nation into a permanent ditch. However, we're happy to go on record that Clifford Hayes has been an absolute trooper on this issue. We HOPE that this enquiry, which unanimously passed the upper house yesterday, will look in some detail at how COUNCILS in particular (with Moonee Valley having been MUCH better than most) have failed in... their role as protectors of heritage, and how we might put in place a better regime. We've got a blog's worth of ideas on this front, we'll be sharing with folks shortly. In the meantime, we fullt support this enquiry an will be looking to contribute constructively.

03.01.2022 Readers, we said we were sitting on some good news here ... well, many of you will recall the sorry saga of Charles Street Ascot Vale, where Council had been persuaded through dodgy processes to remove protections from a swathe of properties along this street. We argued that this had in fact served the areas heritage poorly, and the impact was a number of significant properties were left unprotected. 2 properties that Council later decided were significant have already b...een demolished. You can update yourself of the background via these blog posts ... https://bloodiedwombat.vicheritagenetwork.com.au//moonee-v https://bloodiedwombat.vicheritagenetwork.com.au//moonee-v We were most immediately concerned with the fate of #81 Charles St, whose owner was one of the prime agitators for removal of the heritage overlay - a planning professional himself with direct links to the Council Planning Dept. The property was slated to be levelled for townhouses (see below). Well, we can report today that the Planning Minister has just signed off on interim heritage protection for the property, meaning it is now largely a formality that this house will now stand protected for future Ascot Vale to appreciate now in theory for all tme. This is a MAGNIFICENT outcome, and we thank all Councillors for their tremendous community advocacy in standing up for proper process and remedying the failures of previous Councils. And we thank all our supporters here for their assistance in the battle .... THIS IS YOUR VICTORY LAP TODAY, THANK YOU FRIENDS - THIS IS HOW POWERFUL WE CAN BE WHEN WE STAND TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY! And weve got even MORE good news coming for you TOMORROW ...