Brunswick Community History Group

23/08/2026

Our AGM on Saturday 5 September will be followed by a talk from John Kavanagh OAM. The event is at room 205, Balam Balam Place in Phoenix Street starting at 1.30pm
John is a former Mayor of Moreland (now Merri-bek) and he will speak about his family’s deep connection to Brunswick.
His talk will focus principally on his maternal grandparents, the Honourable William Peter Barry (30/6/1899-21/12/1972) and Mary Magdelan Barry (nee Moodie) (5/12/1899 – 25/11/1977). They lived at 194 Weston Street, East Brunswick, and although their names are largely forgotten their contribution to Victoria was quite extraordinary, including his grandfather’s role in establishing the Royal Children’s Hospital and the part he played in bringing the Olympics to Melbourne in 1956.
Photos from John Kavanagh show John and his grandparents Bill and Mary Barry.

23/08/2026

Progress on the restoration of the former Wesleyan Church in Sydney Road. This magnificent building dates from 1872 and is the third Methodist Church on this site. The land was donated by Thomas WiIkinson in 1839. It ceased operating as a church in about 2000 following the formation of the Uniting Church. Services were moved to the former St Andrews Presbyterian Church on the corner of Merri Street. The adjoining Sunday School building was the site of the Sydney Road Community School from 1972-2022. In 2008 the site was sold to a partner in Nelson Alexander Real estate and the church fell into disrepair. Finally it is being restored for a use yet to be announced.

17/08/2026

Labor is within striking distance of winning back Brunswick at this year’s state election, according to recent polling.

14/08/2026

History Walk - the buildings of Victor Heiberg

Victor Heiberg designed and built a number of eccentric buildings around Brunswick in the early 20th Century. This walk will be lead by local architect Adam Newman and will look at some of the buildings including the Beacon Garage and Flats and Mountain View in Brunswick Road. The buildings are notable for their mix of architectural styles and recycled building materials.
The walk is on Saturday 29 August at 11.00am. The cost of $15 includes a booklet with photos and descriptions.
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/history-walk-the-buildings-of-victor-heiberg-tickets-1997951920979

10/08/2026

A recent addition to our collection is a set of price lists from Hoffman Brick and Potteries dating from the early 20th Century. This page from 1915 show a range of products. Hoffman made not only bricks but also bottles, breadcrocks. bedpans, birdbaths and basins. Also Vases for cut flowers and gum leaves, spitoons, chamber pots and other objects no longer in use.

28/07/2026

Did you go to Southwest Brunswick Primary School in South Daly Street? The school is celebrating its centenary next year and is looking for memories and photos from past students and staff for a proposed publication. There is a survey here:

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fr%2FMGQ86X6%3Ffbclid%3DIwcGRvZgNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFPTkNXYkI1aGMwRlN3b3Y4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTE0NzcxNTY5MjI4MDYxAAEe8t9WZ_127l8Mw2eZWiIhQHxBdAWWMmnl2hrZ5zyPudj4KDNEsxqM3qyW7MY_aem_RgF1DX0jUH-YIJwR1dhUxw&h=AUDKg1s3tPUvrRPUxu46v_CTi34nmJdZ8CRjmN-6ZnTe7TnrdUDMj5dI6aZ9NmELV4inlrHHLsA5znlbUQ-2l7CwMMQ5AH-Bq7bjDsDhmGwAxbuFJM4lIlWaPq6WEEO1CMzXBC9P95WHb65Aiho

27/07/2026

An Italian Family in Brunswick
On Saturday 1 August local Solicitor Peter Russo will talk about his family in Brunswick. The story spans 4 generations since his great grandfather migrated from the Aeolian Islands in 1895. It's a story of migration, local history and social mobility reflecting Brunswick's rich Italian history. The talk will be at Balam Balam Place in Phoenix Street at 1.30 pm.
Photo from Peter Russo shows the Russo boys helping Nonno Angelo at his Sydney Road fruit shop.

21/07/2026

Prepping for our next History Tour: Simon Pryor shares a historic story about High Class Pastrycook, George Rath! Rath ran a patisserie at 165 Sydney Road, Brunswick in the 1940s. Thanks Simon!

Do you love Brunswick and its history? Find out more at an upcoming history tour!

The next tour to be delivered by the Brunswick Community History Group in collaboration with the Sydney Road Brunswick Association will be a night time tour, taking place Monday 3 August.

Find out more and book your ticket: https://bit.ly/nighthistorytour

21/07/2026

21/07/2026

An Italian family in Brunswick.

Local solicitor Peter Russo will talk about his family's long connection to Brunswick at the next meeting of Brunswick Community History Group on Saturday 1 August at 1.30pm at Balam Balam Place.

Peter's great grandfather migrated from the Aeolian Islands in 1895. In the 1920s his grandfather established a fruit shop in Sydney Road. Peter's father became a successful real estate agent in Brunswick and encouraged his lawyer son to set up a practice in Sydney Road where he has been ever since.
This is a story of migration, local history and social mobility.

Photo from State Library of Victoria shows an Italian family (not the Russo family) in Melbourne in 1928. Photograph by Mendelssohn Studios.