Moonee Valley Family & Local History Blog

The Genealogy in New South Wales blog has posted a guide to the Top 10 Social Sites for Family Historians put together by Carole Riley. The alphabetical listing has a short description about each site. Try some out and see what you can find, happy searching.

This event will come to Melbourne on the 12th and 13th November, 2010 at The Centre, Ivanhoe, 275 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe. Speakers from overseas and Australia, as well as trade exhibitions. The Genealogical Society of Victoria will be having an offsite bookshop. For more details and to pre book visit Unlockthepast website.

Diamond Valley Leader photojournalist Andy Drewitt's feature "A trail of lost souls" is the story of Melbourne genealogist Kath Ensor and her research into the records of mental institutions. Her work into the effects of institutionalisation as a PhD student at Monash University in Clayton, Ms Ensor found that the lost lives were a reality of the modern-day mental health system. Her focus was on two men, Frank and Norman and their battles with schizophrenia. The article may be viewed on the Newsbank database via the library's Online Library.

The Essendon Historical Society announces the launch of The Fine Homes of Essendon and Flemington (1846-1880). This 96 page book traces the stories of 36 manison homes of the district and the families that occupied them. Lavishly illustrated with rare photographs that evoke the elegance of the era. Fully indexed. Cost $25.00 postage $4.00. The launch is at 10am Monday 25th October at The Old Courthouse, 768 Mt. Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds. Professor Miles Lewis, AM, Professor in the Faculty of Architecture, University of Melbourne will speak at the launch. Morning tea provided. RSVP by 20th October on 9370 4607.

Once again The Victorian Historical Society of Victoria has put together a great program from the 24th - 31st October to celebrate the history of Victoria's past. Please make sure you jump online http://www.historyweek.org.au/ and have a look at the interesting and varied activities that are available.

This new CD is an index of 49,552 names in the Melbourne Hospital (now The Royal Melbourne Hospital) Ward Books. There are 451 Ward Books which have been indexed for this CD. These books are held at the Public Records Office Victoria (PROV). Every indexed name is hyperlinked to a set of details extracted from that patient's medical records in the Ward Book. To access this information you need to book the Local History PC at the Sam Merrifield Library , Moonee Ponds Ph. 8325 1950.

London has the Thames, Paris the Seine, New York the Hudson and Melburnians living in the north west have the other river the Maribyrnong River one of Melbourne's major urban waterways. The name is derived from mirring-gnay-bir-nong, said to mean "I can hear a ringtail possum' in the local Woiwurrung language. The Maribyrnong winds through Keilor, Sunshine, Essendon and Footscray, then flows into the Yarra near Port Melbourne. For many years it has been a source of industry, recreation, vegetation and Aboriginal archaeological sites. In 1940, an Aboriginal Skull was found during excavation on dry creek near the Maribyrnong in Keilor; it has been dated to about 15,000 years old. Further investigations have unearthed evidence of campsites as old as 40,000 years. Prior to this discovery the explorers James Fleming, Charles Grimes were on a survey of Bass Strait and Port Phillip in February, 1803 when they launched a small rowing boat from their ship and made their way up the...

The library is currently undertaking a review of the vertical file in order to make it more accessible to library users. This is a long term project that involves weeding, adding key word searches and re-cataloguing of some items in the collection. Any ideas or feedback would be welcome.

Free Talks and Open Day Seniors card and bookings essential Monday October 4th Researching Scottish Ancestors 11.00am-12midday Wednesday October 6th Researching Irish Ancestors 2.00pm-3pm Saturday October 9th Family History Library Open Day including Beginners Talk 10am-4pm The GSV is located at Level B1, 257 Collins Street, Melbourne Ph: 662 4455 Fax: 9663 0841