Heidelberg Historical Society

20/06/2026

Fancy a nice Sunday afternoon drive? Why not come out to Heidelberg Historical Society Museum on Sunday between 1.00 and 5.00 p.m. to see our 'Heidelberg of the Heidelberg Artists' exhibition. We're located on the corner of Jika Street and Park Lane Heidelberg, opposite Heidelberg gardens. Entry is $5.00 with members and children under 16 free. Last entry is at 4.30 p.m.

Hopefully you'll be warmer and drier on your trip than these motoring stalwarts in what was said to be the first car in the Heidelberg district, travelling along the Eaglemont end of Maltravers Rd. Note the post and rail fence and the heavy planting of pine trees which may have been part of the 'pinetum' planted by William Ferguson for John Henry Brooke who purchased Eaglemont Estate in 1859. In 1861 it was said to be the largest pinetum in the colony, with 81 conifers from all over the world.

03/06/2026

TALK: ARTHUR AND NORA STREETON
On Tuesday 9th June 2026 Heidelberg Historical Society welcomes the Honorable Julie Dodds Streeton KC to our June meeting to speak on the life and times of Arthur and Nora Streeton.

Thirty years ago, Julie and her late husband Roger took over Longacres, the Olinda retreat and gardens of Roger’s grandfather Sir Arthur Streeton, one of the ‘Heidelberg Artists’ who spent their summers painting in Eaglemont. Longacres was a country house and garden designed and built by Arthur Streeton in 1921– 24 as a retreat for himself and his wife Nora, an internationally renowned, Canadian born violinist. The story of the gifted original occupants, their family histories, great romance, remarkable circle of friends and brilliant careers is an interesting part of Australia’s cultural heritage.

Please join us on Tuesday 9th June at 7.30 p.m. at the Ivanhoe Uniting Church Community Centre, Seddon Street Ivanhoe. Free, and all welcome.

Image source:H. Walter Barnett Arthur Streeton with Nora Streeton and Pat the dog platinium photograph 15.3 × 20cm

Photo: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

28/05/2026

Our 126-year old Courthouse is looking beautiful since our recent painting and concrete repair work to the exterior of the building.

Jamie from PBE Solutions gave the woodwork a fresh coat of paint, and cleaned and painted the concrete work on the gables of the roof and other surrounds of the building.

We are very grateful to DEECA for the funding provided to undertake this work, enabling us to keep this jewel of 'old Heidelberg' in such good condition.

23/05/2026

We have become accustomed to our three plastic rubbish bins but 100 years ago, the introduction of a metal garbage tin was a new thing.
In 1922 Heidelberg Shire Council passed by-law No. 60 that directed that garbage had to be placed in a covered bin. The council made available for sale a number of 5 gallon oil drums that were compliant with the by-law.
In 1926 there was a crackdown on people putting their bins into the street or footpath: instead they had to place the bin inside the fence within 10 ft of the gate.
It took a while for garbage collection to be extended to 'new' suburbs. For example, the Berlin Estate bounded by Bell St, Edwin St, Banksia St and Upper Heidelberg Rd was subdivided in the 1910s but it did not receive a rubbish collection until 1926- and even then it was only on the first Friday of each month.
Until about 1923 rubbish was burned at the Council Depot in Waterdale Rd until there were so many complaints about the smell that they decided to bury it there instead.

We have lots of information about daily life in Heidelberg, Ivanhoe and surrounding suburbs in our Research Room. Why not visit us on a Sunday between 2.00 and 5.00 p.m. and check out our collection and view our current exhibition 'The Heidelberg of the Heidelberg Artists'.
Entry $5.00, children under 16 and members free.

09/05/2026

The Rosanna Rd/Burgundy Street intersection in the 1980s, prior to the construction of Warringal Shopping Centre. The large building at the rear the Ampol Service Station was the Granny Davis Bread factory, which faced onto Cape Street. The smell of freshly baked bread wafted over Heidelberg every day. The building on the right of the petrol station facing onto Rosanna Rd was Associated Seals.

You can stand outside our museum and look across at the same intersection today, with all of these buildings demolished and replaced by Warringal Shopping Centre. In fact- you could do it this Sunday while visiting our 'Heidelberg of the Heidelberg Artists' exhibition! We're open every Sunday 2.00-5.00 p.m. $5.00 entry, free for members and children under 16.

30/04/2026

If you regretted missing the Enid Gilchrist talk, you can view it on our YouTube channel. See more details at:
https://www.heidelberghistoricalsociety.com.au/hhs/hhs.php?action=showblog&Blog_ID=229

23/04/2026

Cemetery Tour Melbourne General Cemetery.

This two hour tour will introduce you to the Chinese graves of this historic cemetery. Stories about some of these graves will provide you with an understanding of the history of Chinese migration to Melbourne and the impact of the Chinese on the local culture and society.

You will be shown the locations of the Chinese graves, and some hidden ones and learn about the tales that they could tell. Researchers or family historians might find it interesting to learn about how to interpret the writing on the headstones as well as about Chinese burial customs.

The walking distance will be about 3kms, mostly on flat ground but may include some uneven surfaces. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

This tour is part of the Australian Heritage Festival and run in partnership between the Museum of Chinese Australian History, Chinese Australian Family Historians of Victoria and Southern Memorial Cemeteries Trust.
Introduction by Mark Wang, CEO Chinese Museum

Saturday 9 May 2026
2 sessions
10 -12pm
1 - 3pm

Melbourne General Cemetary
College Cres, Parkville VIC 3052

Bookings via

This two hour tour will introduce you to the Chinese graves of this historic cemetery. Stories about some of these graves will provide you with an...

09/04/2026

TALK: Tuesday 14 April 2026 7.30 p.m.
Ivanhoe Uniting Church, Seddon Street Ivanhoe

Meet Enid Gilchrist OAM: Popular fashion designer, magazine
contributor and Heidelberg local from the 1940s to the 1970s.

A leading Melbourne fashion and homewares designer, Enid Gilchrist OAM shaped Australian home dressmaking from the 1940s to the 1970s. Her patterns appeared weekly in The Argus and later New Idea, and she published 66 pattern magazines that sold millions of copies locally and overseas.

A pioneer of practical and sustainable fashion, Enid empowered home dressmakers through simple drafting methods, clear instructions and affordable, durable designs. As a working mother, she championed adaptable clothing, reuse and DIY creativity.

Enmeshed in her Heidelberg community, she employed neighbours and family, used local children as models, and contributed to public service and charity, including work with the Infant Welfare Division and the Red Cross.

Our speaker, Dr Annette Shiell is a curator, historian and educator specialising in arts and heritage, with a focus on collections and overlooked histories.

All welcome.

02/04/2026

Staying close to home this Easter? Why not be a holiday tourist in your own city and visit the Heidelberg Historical Society this Sunday between 2.00 and 5.00 p.m. (Last entry 4.30). You can catch the train to Heidelberg, take a gentle stroll down Burgundy Street and visit our museum, have a walk through Heidelberg Gardens then face the slightly-more-energetic stroll back up the hill to the station.
Your $5.00 entry includes our 'Heidelberg of the Heidelberg Artists' exhibition and access to the thousands of photographs, maps and brochures in our archives.

31/03/2026

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/my-suburb-is-so-safe-that-if-i-collapse-a-doctor-will-trip-over-me-on-their-way-to-get-coffee-20260320-p5rb5s.html

Quote: "Just up the road from the court and police station is a building that houses the quaint Heidelberg Historical Society, open for three hours every Sunday thanks to passionate volunteers..."

Did you see us in The Age on Tuesday 31 March? Why not follow Nicolas Brasch's example and come to visit us at the Old Heidelberg Court House museum, Jika Street Heidelberg. Entry is $5.00, free for children under 16 and members. You can see our wonderful 'Heidelberg of the Heidelberg Artists' exhibition and access our maps, photos, brochures and more.
We're open this coming Easter Sunday between 2-5 p.m.

I live surrounded by hospitals and medical centres. I know because I’ve been to many of them. I’ve even walked to emergency, rather than call an ambulance because it was quicker.