Last week, Mayor John Dumaresq, along with representatives from the Eltham District Historical Society Inc. and Yarra Plenty Regional Library, officially launched two local history projects outside Eltham Library: a newly installed Listening Post and the Little Eltham Heritage Walking brochure.
These initiatives bring to life the history, culture, and community of the area in an accessible and exciting new way. Visitors manually wind a handle to hear stories about Eltham via the Listening Post.
Cr Dumaresq said the area now known as Nillumbik has always had a rich and varied history, and that these projects are a reflection of the pride we all have for our Shire's heritage.
He also thanked the Eltham District Historical Society, which has been pivotal in shaping both projects, and Plenty Valley FM who provided the studio to record the audio for the Listening Post.
The Listening Post is the first of its kind in Victoria, and a new way of sharing the stories of our Shire. It is low-maintenance and does not require electricity to function.
The themes and subjects listeners can learn about include:
- The history of the Shire of Eltham and the Shire of Nillumbik Shire Council
- Alistair Knox Park, features and history
- Shillinglaw Cottage and history
- Early small farm activities along the Diamond Creek valley
- Historic Trestle Bridge
- The award winning Eltham Library and Alan Marshall sculpture
- The Diamond Creek Trail
- History along the Diamond Creek Trail
The self-guided walking brochure allows visitors to step back in time and explore our living history. There are more than 20 sites of historical and cultural significance in the brochure, and all are accessible on this short walk, which starts and ends at the Eltham Library, where the brochure can be picked-up. It can also be downloaded from nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Explore/About-the-Shire/Local-history
