Moonee Valley Family & Local History Blog

Ancestry database has added some important 19th century records covering critical periods prior to and following the Irish Potato Famine. Griffith's Valuation, 1848-1864 This index has approximately one million individuals who occupied property in Ireland between 1848 and 1864.Griffith's Valuation is an invaluable reference for family historians with ancestors in Ireland in part because no census material from the nineteenth century has survived. It is the only detailed guide to where in Ireland people lived in the mid-nineteenth century and what property they owned or leased. Tithe Applotment Books, 1823-1837 These record the results of a unique land survey taken to determine the amount of tax payable to landholders to the Church of Ireland, the established church until 1869. This data set represents a virtual census for pre-famine Ireland. Since it covers all of Ireland and is important in terms of constructing, not just an image of a particular family line, but of wider so...

Recently the State Library of Victoria has digitised over 500 Victorian maps. Over the coming months this figure will increase to several thousand. These will include the Victorian Parish maps, auction plans, and other major series of Victorian maps (early topographics, aerial surveys etc). The maps are out of copyright and can be freely downloaded in JPG and TIFF format. For more information visit the SLV Family Matters blog.

Our Changing Community: Chung On Restaurant The Chung On Chinese restaurant served customers on Mount Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds for over fifty years. When the cafe first opened its doors in 1953 there was little competition: the pubs closed at six o'clock, the White Australia policy was still in place, and meat and three veg was the staple home diet. By the time Chung On closed in late 2007, Moonee Ponds had a multicultural population and a diverse selection of restaurants, cafes and bars. Andrew Junor , a researcher in the field, charts the story of this restaurant and its relationship with a suburb undergoing great cultural and economic change. It is the story of evolving community tastes, the development of a new kind of suburban dining, and one family's transition from migrants to civic leaders. Sam Merrifield Library Wednesday 6 April, 7pm Free, but bookings necessary. Call 8325 1950

The Moonee Valley Family and Local History blog has received another award , once again it is a great way for the blog to continually gain more exposure in the world of genealogy.

Saltwater in the ink: voices from the Australian seas by Lucy Sussex. This is a collection of letters from English and Scottish travellers voyaging from Northern Europe to Australia in the 1800's. These letters bring alive their everyday experiences during a journey which took 70-100 days on clipper ships; and later on steam-powered vessels less than two months. Social Media for Family Historians by Carole Riley This book is for anyone interested in learning more about social media and how to use this new media when researching your family history. Carol Riley explains what is social media, discusses the advantage and disadvantages, why use it and lots more. Women of the diggings, Ballarat 1854 by Dorothy Wickham. The first detailed account of the lives and roles of women on the Victorian Goldfields. The books is presented in two parts. The first part comprises 10 chapters of detailed accounts of women on the Victorian goldfields. Part 2 lists around 1,500 biographies of women ...

Brimbank City Council and Keilor Historical Society Inc. are delighted to be holding an open day on Saturday 26th March, 2011 12 noon - 4pm. The programme will include the exhibition Keilor Village Centaph: the story behind this memorial will be available for viewing. Curated by Susan Jennison and Dorothy Minkoff. 1.30pm Official welcome. Entry will be by donation with the proceeds going to the KHS. Afternoon tea will be offered during the Open Day. Harrick's Cottage , Harrick Road, Keilor Park (Melway ref:map 15 A 7) Harrick's Cottage Open Day is sponsored by Brimbank City Council. Enquiries Christine Love on 9743 7493