Moonee Valley Family & Local History Blog

Feeling cooped up? Try taking a virtual walk. Google Street View allows you to explore places without actually going anywhere. The perfect solution during lockdown! To use Google Street View, go to Google Maps, https://www.google.com.au/maps, and search for a place or address. A map of the place will appear, and down in the far right-hand corner there will be small yellow person icon. Click and drag this icon, and drop it onto the map at the place you'd like to begin your explorations. A photographic representation of the place will appear, and you can click on arrows to navigate around the area. Street View is great for exploring where your ancestors lived. For example, many of my ancestors lived in a town named Mandal in Norway. I've never been actually been there, yet I've enjoyed taking a peek at the pretty lanes, streets and waterways from the comfort of home. Or explore closer to home. Flemington, for example, is an excellent candidate for random roaming. It is so fu...

Maribyrnong River , photograph (c. 1910-1930) Robert Macedon O’Brien, courtesy of State Library Victoria. As restrictions start to ease during these pandemic times, we're all pretty ready to stretch our legs and get out and about (safely, and practicing proper social distancing of course!). The fine folk at Victoria Walks have compiled a fantastic collection of guided walks throughout Victoria, with many in our own Moonee Valley. Click here to see the walks available in your local area. You can enjoy a stroll along the Maribrynong River, a walk through the streets of Ascot Vale, explore the trails throughout around Woodlands and Napier Park and many more. Learn a little more about your area by exploring it on foot- the walks may take you down paths you've never wandered before, or help you to see familiar sights with fresh eyes. There's plenty of other walks throughout Victoria on the Victoria Walks website, so if you feel like venturing further afield, Victoria Walks is ...

The Essendon Historical Society will be leading historical walks through two different areas of Moonee Valley this January. Each walk costs $10 and includes tea or coffee. The walks take about an hour and a half and return close to their respective points of departure. On 11 January go on A Stroll Through North Essendon . Meet at 2pm at Max's Coffee and Wine Bar on the corner of Mt Alexander Rd and Leake St in North Essendon. And on 18 January, enjoy a walk that takes in Travancore Treasures . Meet at 1.30pm at The School Gates on the corner of Flemington St and Mt Alexander Rd, Flemington. Booking is recommended. Contact EHS on 9370 4607 or esshissoc@mail.com

The National Trust's Heritage Festival is running nationwide through-out April and May, with talks, walks, tours, train trips, exhibitions and all sorts of other events. For example, the Essendon Historical Society are running a couple of heritage walks in Moonee Ponds. I've done some of their heritage walks in the past, and I highly recommend them as a great way to discover all kinds of historical secrets about the area that you would never guess. Check out the Heritage Festival program online . Julia

Hotham History are hosting a history walk this Saturday in North Melbourne which allows people to Rrtrace the steps of pioneers, follow part of the route they took to the goldfields, and listen to historical stories as they walk through North Melbourne. Meet at the seats at St Mary Star of the Sea in Victoria St, North Melbourne at 1.50pm. For more information see the events page of Hotham History website . And if you are interested in North Melbournian local history check out their page for more. Julia