Moonee Valley Family & Local History Blog

The Royal Historical Society Victoria's History News is now available at the Sam Merrifield Local History Room or may be viewed on their website . Their website has recently been updated, it is easier to navigate, they will be constantly updating the content and improving access to information on events.

A new eight-part series hosted by archaeologist Adam Ford looks at the history of houses in Australia.  The series is about what lies behind the bricks and mortar of homes.  Equal parts detective show, social history and archaeology, the series uses archives, databases, family albums and experts to uncover what may not always be in history books. The first episode is about a derelict house in Ballarat, starting on Monday 28th November, 8pm, ABC 1.

The topic for tonight's meeting is 'Glimpses of Early Essendon 1911-1926' .  Marilyn Kenny will present a commentary on several local film clips from the National Film and Sound Archive. Free, all welcome. Date 22nd November, 2011 from 7.30pm until 9.30pm. Location - The Old Courthouse, 768 Mt. Alexander Road, Moonee Pond 3039 Contact - Secretary 9370 4607 Email - EssHisSoc@mail.com

The National Library of Australia is pleased to announce that the following newspaper titles have been added to Digitised newspapers and more on Trove: Victoria Oakleigh Leader (North Brighton, Vic. : 1888 - 1902) Oakleigh Leader and District Record (Brighton, Vic. : 1887 - 1888) Sunbury News and Bulla and Melton Advertiser (Vic. : 1892 - 1900) The Benalla Ensign and Farmer's and Squatter's Journal (Vic. : 1869 - 1872) The Coburg Leader (Vic. : 1890 - 1913) The Elsternwick Leader (Brighton, Vic. : 1888) The Elsternwick Leader and Caulfield and Balaclava Guardian (Brighton, Vic. : 1887) The Elsternwick Leader and District Record (Brighton, Vic. : 1887 - 1888) Elsternwick Leader and East Brighton, South Brighton, Cheltenham, Mentone, Mordialloc, Oakleigh, Sandringham, Balaclava & Caulfield Record (Vic. : 1887) The Kerang Times (Vic. : 1889 - 1890) The Kyabram Union and Rodney Shire Advocate (Vic. : 1894) Healesville Guardian and Yarra Glen Advocate (...

The contents of the lastest journal include the following - Thomas Lidbetter - A Sea Faring Man by Tom Maguire The Set of The Sails (Tle Life of Alan Villiers) by Betty Knight James Watson - Squatter of Flemington by Bob Chalmers Recollections of Mrs. Mary Ovens (extracts from the Essendon Gazette of 8/6/1911 Memories of Robert Ovens (extract from McJunkin's History of Essendon) Recollections of my Childhood Days in Essendon by Mrs. Jessie William (nee Bottoms) Edward Byam Wight of Kensington - Father of the Borough by Bob Chalmbers Smugglers Cave and the Wine Hall by Peter Willoughby The journal is available for use in the Sam Merrifield Library, Local History Room.

Learn more about searching for birth records on Ancestry with their guide GOOD TO KNOW: SEARCHING FOR BIRTH DETAILS .  The Ancestry database is available at all Moonee Valley Libraries.

Share in the history and stories of Keilor Village on these historical walking tours.  The walking tours depart from Keilor Municipal Office at 11am, 11.15am & 11.30am, this Sunday 6th November.  The 'Tour de Keilor' is organised by Keilor District Leadership Group with support from the Keilor Historical Society .