Take a break from the hectic pace of life and join us for a week of events that celebrate our stunning green spaces. Discover the rich history of the abundant parks and leafy gardens in our municipality as part of Whitehorse City Council’s annual Heritage Week.
There will be more than 15 events on offer during the week, with something to delight everyone from the most serious history buff right through to our littlest garden fans. Events include guided walks through Wattle Park, Bellbird Dell Reserve and Blackburn Lake Sanctuary, a tour of Box Hill Cemetery, as well as talks on the Vermont Garden Club and discovering your family history.
Below are some of the highlights of the week or download the full brochure for more information.
Download the Heritage Week 2018 Brochure (1.10MB) for more information.
Let's go to:
Celebrating 40 years! When: Thursday 13 September, 10am–12noonWhere: Near Bell Street - between Pope Road and Francis Street, BlackburnCost: FreeBookings essential: 9262 6555
Take a guided tour of this important green space. Discover the scale and significance of Cootamundra Walk’s conservation, one of the last remnants of bushland in Whitehorse.
When: Thursday 13 September, 10.30amWhere: Box Hill Town Hall Portico, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box HillCost: FreeBookings essential: 9262 6555
Take a wonderful walking tour of the public art treasures in downtown Box Hill. View the original ‘White Horse’, marvel at the scale of ‘The Performers’ and delight in the street art in Birds’ Lane.
When: Friday 14 September, 10amWhere: Box Hill Town Hall Foyer, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box HillCost: Gold coin donation to the Field Naturalist Club of VictoriaBookings essential: 9262 6555
Take a tour of the iconic Box Hill Town Hall and head down memory lane to when horticultural shows were a regular event in the stately Main Hall. Be transported back to the days when Council meetings were held in the Chambers and take a seat in the Mayor’s chair. Presentation and morning tea included.
When: Friday 14 September, 1pm–3pmWhere: Horticultural Centre, 82 Jolimont Road, Forest HillCost: FreeBookings essential: 9262 6555
The Nunawading Community Garden was the first community garden in Australia, and remains an important communal green space. Volunteers will lead a guided walk through this wonderful garden and share stories of its creation and development.
When: Saturday 15 September, 10am–4pm Where: Box Hill Town Hall – Lower HallCost: Gold coin donation to the Box Hill Historical Society Inc.
Enjoy this stunning recreation of the Box Hill Horticultural Society’s old style garden shows, which were a treasured event in days gone by. Floral arrangements, heirloom vegetables and historic exhibits will be on display. There will also be stalls by various gardening groups and speakers on a variety of gardening subjects.
When: Sunday 16 September, 11am–4pm Where: Schwerkolt Cottage and Museum Complex, Deep Creek Road, MitchamCost: FreeFurther information: 9873 4946 (Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.)
Join us at Schwerkolt Cottage for a day of fun and laughter. Free activities include pony rides, face painting, an animal farm, balloon artistry, Meccano and electric train displays and oldfashioned games on the Cottage lawn.
Enjoy the music of Brumbies Bush Band, Devonshire tea and cake stall, coffee and a sausage sizzle. Wander through the cottage, museum and orchard display shed or take a guided tour.
Wonderful craft and trade demonstrations include knitting, lace-making, spinning, weaving, Chinese brush painting, woodturning and blacksmithing.
Box Hill Historical Society – General Meeting When: Sunday 16 September, 2pm–4pmWhere: 1st Floor, Meeting Room 1, Box Hill Library, 1040 Whitehorse Road, Box HillCost: Gold coin donation (Bookings not required)Speaker: William Orange
An insightful presentation on Mr Orange’s great-grandfather, Thomas Pockett OBE, who was a landscaper, designer of municipal gardens and internationally acknowledged chrysanthemum propagator.
When: Monday 17 September, 10am–12noonWhere: Wattle Park Chalet, 1012 Riversdale Road, Surrey HillsCost: $20 towards Box Hill Historical Society Inc.Bookings essential: 9262 6555 (phone bookings attract a $4 fee)
Explore the landscape around Wattle Park. Learn how the surrounding land has evolved since pre-European settlement to the gorgeous parkland oasis it is today.
Plantsmen and gardeners all – lives inspired by the outdoors When: Monday 17 September, 2pmWhere: Box Hill Cemetery, Middleborough Road, Box Hill Please meet at the roundabout on Second Avenue inside the Cemetery groundsCost: $20Bookings essential, limited numbers: 9262 6555. (phone bookings attract $4 fee).
Conducted by members of the Box Hill and Surrey Hills Historical Societies, this tour will visit graves of individuals associated with notable parks, gardens and open spaces. Wheelchair accessible.
From then to now When: Tuesday 18 September, 10am–12noonWhere: Bellbird Dell Reserve, George Road Entrance, Vermont SouthCost: FreeBookings essential: 9262 6555
Enjoy a guided walk through Bellbird Dell Reserve and discover its transformation from pre-settlement to today. View an informative display on the history of the local area and see the results of extensive tree planting and landscaping over the park’s 40 year history.
General Meeting When: Tuesday 18 September, 8pmWhere: Maitland Room, Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre Cottage, 1 Bedford Avenue, Surrey HillsCost: $4.50 includes supperSpeaker: Dr Celestina Sagazio, Historian and Manager of Cultural Heritage, Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust
Learn about the history, heritage value and conservation of cemetery plantings.
Walk Down Memory Lane When: Wednesday 19 September, 10am–11.30amWhere: Blackburn Lake Sanctuary Visitor Centre, Central Road, BlackburnCost: FreeBookings essential: 9262 6555
Step back in time to when the surrounding parkland was abundant with wildflowers and native birds and picnic crowds would gather for a day’s outing of rowing and entertainment.
Light refreshments provided.
When: Wednesday 19 September, 2pm–3pm Where: Nunawading Library, 379 Whitehorse Road, NunawadingCost: FreeBookings essential: 9872 8600 or www.wml.vic.gov.au
Through photos and other media explore creatures and plants that are still residing in our municipality’s beautiful parklands.
When: Wednesday 19 September, 7.15pm–9pmWhere: Family History Connections, 1/41 Railway Road, BlackburnCost: FreeBookings essential: 9877 3789 or info@familyhistoryconnections.org.au
Do you have an Edna Walling or Capability Brown in your family tree? Get expert help to start your research or take your existing research to new levels. Offering an extensive library with incredible resources as well as friendly and knowledgeable volunteer library assistants.
Help is at Hand When: Thursday 20 September, 10am–12noonWhere: Vermont South Library, Pavey Place, Vermont SouthCost: FreeBookings Essential: 9872 8650 or www.wml.vic.gov.au
Learn about the Vermont Garden Club’s 80 year history, from its humble beginnings as the local Scouts Carrot Club to today’s fully fledged garden club. They will also talk about indigenous plants and attracting wildlife.
The Streeton Legacy When: Thursday 2 August to Saturday 15 September Tuesdays to Fridays 10am–4pm Saturdays 12noon–4pmWhere: Whitehorse Artspace, Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box HillCost: Free
Sir Arthur Streeton was of Australia’s best known and most influential landscape painters and a key member of the Box Hill Artists’ Camp – Australia’s first Impressionist group. Two sweeping landscapes by Streeton will be shown alongside significant landscapes from the Whitehorse Art Collection. Posthumously printed works by Arthur Streeton will be displayed for the first time in Melbourne, courtesy Queenscliff Gallery and Workshop.
379-397 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading, Victoria 3131Australia
Tel: (03) 9262 6333 Fax: (03) 9262 6490Email: customer.service@whitehorse.vic.gov.au
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