Moonee Valley Family & Local History Blog

In 2013 Essendon High School, now part of Essendon Keilor College, is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. Essendon Keilor College was founded in 1992 from the amalgamation of Queens Park Secondary College (formerly Essendon Technical School), Essendon High School, Niddrie High School and Keilor Heights Secondary College.  Essendon High School is one of the oldest High Schools in Melbourne, and planning for it began in 1910. The Foundation Stone for the school was laid by the then Premier of Victoria, W. A. Watt, and the school was opened to staff and students in 1913.  The Local History Room at Sam Merrifield Library  has copies of Essendon High School: the 75th Anniversary 1913-1918 and A History of Essendon High School 1910-1932 by Margaret Vines. You can view both books in the library.  School  histories can be a useful source of information and pictures for people who are researching family and local ...

Moonee Valley Thematic Environmental History (TEH) is available to view online or in hard copy at your local library. The TEH has been prepared in consultation with  a range of community members and Living Histories, and creates a framework for identifying local iconic features, places, people and stories in Moonee Valley. The study provides information on a variety of different themes including migration, farming, recreation, transport, communications, banking and finance, and is a great source for anyone interested in the history and development of Moonee Valley over the last 200 years.

Moonee Valley Library Service has several magazine subscriptions that may be of interest to anyone researching their family history.   Ancestor: quarterly journal of the Genealogical Society of Victoria Australian Family Tree Connections Family Tree Magazine: your ancestors, your history All three magazines have a great mix of history and tips and apart from the latest issue are available to borrow. Check them out for yourself at Sam Merrifield Library. JM

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 Borough of Essendon and Flemington was proclaimed on December 27th, 1861. The first public meeting was held at the Moonee Ponds Hotel at 3 p.m. on Saturday 25th January, 1862 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Edward Byam Wight of Kensington who was appointed by the Governor. The names of some of that first councillors are still in evidence in street names today - Smith, McCracken, Hoffman, Grant, Leake, Filson. On the 17th March, 1882, Flemington and Kensington left the borough of Essendon, Essendon was proclaimed a Town on January, 10th 1890 and in 1909 Essendon was proclaimed a City on April 16th.