Moonee Valley Family & Local History Blog

The Moonee Ponds Library Service has a collection of family records from the Thomson family who lived at the family home " Colares ", Eglinton Street, Moonee Ponds from the 1870's until Mr John Thomson's death in 1905. Mr. Thomson arrived in Melbourne in 1852 and shortly after his arrival he joined the staff of the Bank of Victoria, on which he served for about 30 years. Among these local treasures are invitations to the official functions celebrating the opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia dated 1901. Other items include memorial cards for Hannah Thomson dated 1890 and Olive Thomson dated 1876, 1 booklet celebrating the Centenary of Melbourne, 1835-1934, a book of common pray belonging to J.G. Thomson and photographs of the Thomson family. Currently some of these items will be displayed at the Sam Merrifield Library in conjunction with the Travelling Treasures event on Thursday 25th February.

This free event will coincide with The Independent Type exhibition currently at the Sam Merrifield Library. The Travelling Treasures is a program from the State Library's collections which provides rare access to some of the State Library's extraordinary books, documents and artefacts. A curatorial talk about these items will be held at the Sam Merrifield Library on Thursday 25th Feburary commencing at 6pm - 7.30pm. Free event but bookings are essential.

The Sam Merrifield Library will be displaying this exhibiton from the 6th February to Sunday 7th March, 2010 as part of the State Library of Victoria Touring Exhibition . The library will be displaying books published by Hugh Anderson who started Rooster Press based in Ascot Vale from the 1970's through to 2000. Hugh Anderson has focused on local history, folk songs, colonial history and local identities such as the poet Bernard O'Dowd and the career of John Pascoe Fawkner. The exhibition will be launched on Saturday February 13th at 2pm by author Barry Dickins who will be talking about his latest book " Unparalleled sorrow: finding my way back from depression" the event is free to book please phone 8325 1950.

The National Archives of Australia at the Victorian Archives Centre will be having a day of activities on Tuesday 23rd February 2010 from 9.30 am - 4pm. The day will include talks, preservations workshops, demonstrations and introductory research training. The NAA will also launch their new book Keeping Family Treasures.