promoting heritage in whitehorse
‘I didn’t know that about Whitehorse’
I came across this statement many times while researching the history of the significant houses on this website. Many of the local residents did not know that the European history of Whitehorse began in 1837 (two years after Melbourne was founded) or the existence and location of heritage homes and precincts in Whitehorse or the existence, history and location of Schwerkolt Cottage and the Woodhouse Grove Chapel. The lack of people’s awareness of our heritage inspired me to put together a few ideas that Whitehorse Council and others interested in our heritage should implement.
Whitehorse Heritage and Artist's Trail map
Whitehorse Council is to be commended for developing and implementing a map that shows the location of heritage sites around the City of Whitehorse.
Although the map shows the locations of some buildings and sites of heritage significance, it does not show Heritage Precincts or homes.
Whitehorse council and others interested in our heritage should look into identifying heritage precincts and homes on the map.
To view the Whitehorse Heritage and Artist's Trail map please click on the following link:
Whitehorse Heritage and Artists' Trail - Google My Maps
Heritage Trails in Whitehorse brochures
I was recently tidying up some papers when I found a brochure that was published by the Whitehorse council in 2001 titled ‘Heritage Trails in Whitehorse – Box Hill’. This pamphlet lists approximately 41 heritage sites and places of historical significance/interest in Box Hill.
In the Whitehorse Council minutes of July 11, 2022 mentions ‘In 2001 Whitehorse Council received a Federation Grant from the Commonwealth Government to identify and establish Heritage Trails within the municipality. A working party was established comprising of Council Officers and representatives from the Whitehorse and Box Hill Historical Societies to select historical sites of significance. In the process of this consultation a number of sites were examined and assessed for their historical significance. Six trails were developed covering the surrounding areas of Blackburn, Box Hill, Burwood, Mitcham and Nunawading, Mont Albert and Surrey Hills, Vermont and Forest Hills, with 141 sites identified in the Heritage Trail brochures’.
I recently found a brochure at the Nunawading Civic Centre titled ‘Whitehorse - Discover and Experience’. This pamphlet lists hospitals, roads, tram, train and bus routes, shared paths, libraries, Police etc and only four heritage sites and places of historical significance/interest in Whitehorse. These are Schwerkolt Cottage, Box Hill Cemetery, Burwood Cemetery and Wattle Park Chalet.
The pamphlet that was published in 2001 not only informs local residents and visitors of the locations of historical significance/interest but also promotes the heritage of Whitehorse.
Is Whitehorse council and others interested in our heritage considering publishing new and updated brochures that show where heritage sites and places of historical significance/interest are located?
Heritage precincts signage
The Bayside Council has areas like Whitehorse that are classified as ‘Heritage Precincts’. The street signs within these heritage precincts show the name of the street as well as the name of the heritage precinct. This not only informs local residents and visitors of the locations of the heritage precincts but also promotes the heritage of the area. Whitehorse council and others interested in our heritage should implement a similar strategy.
Names of significant people
The Hobson’s Bay, Moreland and Yarra City Council’s include a brief description of the person a significant street was named after on their street signs. This not only informs local residents and visitors of the history behind the name but also promotes the heritage of the area. Whitehorse council and others interested in our heritage should implement a similar strategy.
History of parks in Mont Albert and Mont Albert North
In Mont Albert (north of Whitehorse Rd) and Mont Albert North there are three parks two of which were named after local residents who made contributions to the built heritage and culture of Whitehorse.
The Ashmole Reserve - Mont Albert North
The land where Ashmole Reserve (33 Strabane Ave) is located was donated to ‘the Mayor, Councillors and Citizens of Box Hill’ by Betsy Ashmole in 1957 after her husband Williams death in 1953, the land has been used as a local park ever since. The Ashmole family lived at 'Allambie' at 32 Strabane Ave in Mont Albert North, the c1915 built house was demolished in 2021.
The Gawler Chain Reserve - Mont Albert North
The land that makes up the Gawler Chain Reserve was named after local resident John S Gawler. John was Mayor of Box Hill and Councillor and a well known Australian Architect. He designed the current Box Hill Town Hall, the Woodhouse Grove shopping centre (cnr Station St and Woodhouse Grove in Box Hill North), the plinth for the famous Whitehorse statue on Whitehorse Rd in Box Hill and St Augustine's church on the corner of Rostrevor Pde and Bundoran Rd in Mont Albert as well as other buildings around Melbourne.
John's son David Gawler followed in his father's footsteps and became an Architect. He worked in his father's Architectural firm of Gawler, Churcher and Boardman and served as a Nunawading Councillor and Mayor (1971 to 1972).
The Nunawading Arts Centre was designed by David Gawler and construction started in 1985, a time capsule was buried on the site and the Arts Centre opened in 1986. It operated for 35 years until it was demolished in 2020.
The Kingsley Gardens - Mont Albert
The land that makes up the Kingsley Gardens was once owned by business partners Augustus Tuxen - a well known Melbourne surveyor and Alfred Hodgson - a solicitor and land speculator. The land they owned in Mont Albert was bordered by Victoria Cres in the north, Whitehorse Rd in the south, Elgar Rd in the east and Inglisby Rd in the west.
In 1882 Augustus and Alfred subdivided their land into 68 lots and named the subdivision the Elgar Park Estate. As part of the subdivision three new roads were created – Victoria Cres, Kingsley Tce (now Kingsley Cres) and Howard Rd (now Hotham Rd). It would seem that this was the first time the street names of Howard Rd and Kingsley and Victoria Crescent’s appear in this part of Mont Albert.
In regards to the naming of Kingsley Cres and Kingsley Gardens I can find no evidence or possible links to the members of the first landowner's families to a Kingsley but this does fall within the time period during which Queen Victoria’s ‘her Majesty’s Chaplains in Ordinary’ Charles Kingsley being very influential and renowned throughout the British Empire at that time. At that time as well as being influential in his views Charles Kingsley was Queen Victoria’s chaplain, tutor to the Prince of Wales, author (Water Babies and Westward Ho), close friend of Charles Darwin and Cannon of Westminster Cathedral. There was a prominent and lengthy obituary to Charles Kingsley in The Argus on January 27, 1875, which indicates the esteem to which he was held within the colony of Victoria at that time. This may have resulted in the naming of the street and gardens.
In regards to the naming of Victoria Cres I can find no evidence or possible links to family members of the first landowner's families to a Victoria. Therefore, it is highly likely that Victoria Cres was named after Queen Victoria.
I have been unable to find out whom or where the name Howard came from - this requires further investigation.
In 1888 Edward Tacey established his butcher's business on the northwestern corner of Elgar and Whitehorse Rd’s on Lot’s 68 and 69 of the Elgar Park Estate subdivision. The site consisted of house, an abattoir building, stables and a Butchers shop which was located on the site of the current Ace car park.
In 1895 Edward Tacey sold his business, as well as the land which would eventually become the Kingsley Gardens to Edward Lloyd Snr.
In 1913 Edward Snr. subdivided the land he owned into 60 lots and named it the Lloyd Estate. The subdivision was bounded by Kingsley Cres in the east, the W Creek in the west, and Whitehorse Rd in the south and Victoria Cres in the north. The subdivision also included the southern half of what would eventually become the Kingsley Gardens and eight lots on the northern side of Victoria Cres at the northern end of Kingsley Cres.
Two new roads were created in the Lloyd Estate subdivision - George and Gilbert St’s. These new roads may have been named after Edward Snr’s son’s George and Edward Jnr’s middle name Gilbert.
It was reported in January 1922 that Edward Snr. had coordinated the sale of lots 44 to 48 (northern end of Kingsley Gardens) at a price of £260 and offered the remaining land (southern end of Kingsley Gardens) at £1240 to the Nunawading Council who accepted the offer.
In 2020, 11 new wards were created in Whitehorse and according to Whitehorse Council ‘the ward names have been inspired by significant parks and open spaces in our municipality’. It would appear that the Kingsley ward was named after the Kingsley Gardens in Mont Albert.
In 2022 the Kingsley Gardens turned 100.
There are no 'heritage interpretation panels' in or around either of these parks to inform local residents and visitors of the history behind the names. Whitehorse council and others interested in our heritage should implement a strategy of installing heritage interpretation panels in these parks.
Heritage interpretation panels and QR codes
There are heritage interpretation panels around the Box Hill CBD which the Whitehorse council is to be commended for creating and installing. They can be found at the following locations:
- 1 on the centre island at the intersection of Whitehorse Rd and Station St on the northern side of the community notice board
- 1 on the southern side of the Box Hill Gardens
- 1 on the western side of the Box Hill Gardens
- 5 in Pioneer Park on the corner of Station and Harrow St’s
- 1 on the northwest corner of the intersection of Whitehorse Rd and Station St
Although the two heritage interpretation signs in the Box Hill Gardens are in a high pedestrian traffic area the other’s do not seem to be. Boroondara Council recently introduced new and updated heritage interpretation panels in a high pedestrian traffic area such as the Balwyn Shopping precinct on Whitehorse Rd in Balwyn.
QR codes could also be placed on each panel to help local residents and visitors learn more through videos, quizzes and games.
Whitehorse council and others interested in our heritage should look at placing heritage interpretation panels as well as a Heritage Interpretation panel map in high pedestrian traffic areas so as to promote the heritage of Whitehorse.
Heritage trails and QR codes
The French city of Amiens has recently introduced a 16 stage heritage trail that is connected to sites that inspired some of the works by well known French author Jules Verne. QR codes have been placed at each stage to help local residents and visitors learn more through videos, quizzes and games.
Whitehorse council and others interested in our heritage should implement this simple similar strategy.
Heritage plaques
Stonnington, Melbourne and Ballarat Council's place Heritage plaques near significant and historic places. This not only informs people of the history of the site but also promotes the heritage of the area. Whitehorse council and others interested in our heritage should implement a similar strategy.
Box Hill Golden Jubilee/Whitehorse Hotel memorial cairn
On the southeastern corner of Elgar and Whitehorse Rd's (808 Whitehorse Rd) there is a memorial cairn and plaque.
The cairn was erected in 1977 to identify the location of the Whitehorse Hotel and to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the City of Box Hill.
The cairn in situated in a well maintained pocket park but there are no heritage interpretation panels to inform local residents and visitors of the history of the Whitehorse Hotel or information about the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Whitehorse Council and others interested in our heritage should look into placing a heritage interpretation panel in the park so as to promote the heritage of Whitehorse as well as placing the location on the Whitehorse Heritage and Artists Trail map. The current location of the Whitehorse Hotel on the Whitehorse Heritage and Artists Trail map is incorrect.
Schwerkolt Cottage signage
There is almost no public road signage/promotion of this historic site in Whitehorse apart from in front of the Cottage itself –there is only one blue sign on Whitehorse Road, and this only has the words ‘Schwerkolt Cottage’ and a small arrow (just after Heatherdale Rd when driving west) and no signs when driving east.
Whitehorse Council could install new signs that include a description, distance and directional arrow for example ‘Schwerkolt Cottage - Historical site 1 km ahead’, as this would at least promote and inform local residents and visitors as to where and what Schwerkolt Cottage is.
Classifying Mont Albert as a Heritage Precinct
The area of land in Mont Albert bounded by Whitehorse, Elgar, Kenmare and Barloa Rd’s should be considered for classification as a ‘Heritage Precinct’ as there are a number of homes from the late 19th to early 20th century that maybe of heritage value to Whitehorse.
The way the Box Hill CBD is developing has created demand for development sites in Mont Albert north of Whitehorse Rd to increase. As a result, developers are buying homes not to live in but to demolish and build multi-unit apartments. This may lead to a further increase in significant homes of possible heritage value for Whitehorse being demolished. This spread from the Box Hill CBD can currently be seen in streets such as Whitehorse Rd, Kingsley Cres, Bundooran Rd, Gilbert St, Strabane Ave and Victoria Cres - these streets are within one kilometer of the Box Hill CBD.
‘Infill is destructive of the existing suburban streetscape,
both of its tree and shrub canopy and its low density built heritage’
Melbourne 2030 – Planning Rhetoric Versus Urban Reality
In February 2020 a planning application was made by a developer to demolish the 1907 built ‘Verona’ at 2 Gawler Crt, Mont Albert and build two double storey units. There were 14 objections to the development and a Consultation forum was held.
On October 18, 2021 Whitehorse Councillors voted eight to three to approve the planning application.
This is one of the first houses to be built in this part of Mont Albert and is where people who were connected to prominent Melbourne families lived, the daughter of a well known Melbourne philanthropist and founder of a support group for destitute children lived as well as where a celebrated Australian architect lived, and it will now be demolished – this is a tragic loss not only for Whitehorse but Australia.
To read the council minutes in regards to 2 Gawler Crt please click on the following link:
Minutes of Council Meeting - 18 October 2021 (infocouncil.biz)
HERITAGE EVENTS
Victorian Heritage Festival
Each year the National Trust conducts the Australian Heritage Festival - Victoria is a community driven heritage festival. The 2024 festival runs for two weeks from the 18th of April to the 18th of May. The Whitehorse council and those who are interested in promoting the heritage of Whitehorse should look at participating in this national event. To find out more about the Australian Heritage Festival please click on the following link: Victoria – National Trust
Heritage Week 2023
Whitehorse council is to be congratulated for promoting Heritage Week in September each year. To find out more about the Heritage Week please click on the following link:
Heritage Week | Whitehorse City Council
Light Up Glenferrie 2022
The Boroondara Council promoted the Glenferrie Road Hawthorn Precinct through their ‘Glenferrie Hawthorn’ website. This website listed the latest as well as upcoming events, venues, restaurants and retail outlets along Glenferrie Rd.
One event which was held once a year is called ‘Light Up Glenferrie’. This event involved lighting the facades of some of Glenferrie Rd’s most iconic/heritage buildings. Whitehorse Council and those interested in promoting our heritage should look into this simple strategy.
To find out more about the ‘Glenferrie Hawthorn’ website please click on the following link:
COUNCIL HERITAGE AWARDS
Councils in Victoria and around Australia run Heritage award programs. This not only informs local residents and visitors of the history of the area/site but also promotes the heritage of the area and its preservation. Whitehorse council and others interested in our heritage should look into these simple strategies.
Mornington Peninsula Shire -Awards for Heritage Projects
Heritage Awards recognise those in our community who have demonstrated excellence in preservation, restoration and reuse of our heritage places.
Mornington Peninsula Shire and National Trust of Australia (Victoria) are proud to announce the 2023 Mornington Peninsula Heritage Awards. These awards recognise those in our community who have demonstrated excellence in preservation, restoration, enhancement, interpretation and reuse of our heritage places.
Our heritage includes public and private places, buildings, gardens and objects. Heritage places are an integral part of the Mornington Peninsula community, and the Heritage Awards highlight our commitment to celebrate and promote our heritage.
The aim of the awards is to recognise excellence in heritage conservation and to encourage community awareness of our heritage. The awards are open to domestic and commercial projects, from both government and non-government sectors
To find out more please click on the following link:
Heritage Awards - Mornington Peninsula Shire (mornpen.vic.gov.au)
City of Greater Geelong
The annual Heritage Awards were held at Little Creatures Brewery in March 2023 celebrating local efforts to restore, retain or interpret heritage places in the region.
Held by the Geelong and Region Members Branch of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), in conjunction with the City of Greater Geelong, the Heritage Awards have been held every year since 2009.
Awards are presented in the following categories:
- Restoration of a Heritage Place
- Creative Reuse of a Heritage Place
- New Work/Development within a Heritage Area
- Sustainability and Greening of a Heritage Place
- Public access to a Heritage Place
- Conservation or Interpretation of a Heritage Place, Historic Collection or Tradition
To find out more please click on the following link:
Geelong Heritage Awards - City of Greater Geelong (geelongaustralia.com.au)
City of Ballarat
The Ballarat Heritage Awards recognise those who work hard to sustain Ballarat’s heritage and help it to thrive. Nominations for the 2019 Ballarat Heritage Awards close in April.
To find out more please click on the following link: Heritage Awards | City of Ballarat
Cumberland Council - New South Wales
The Cumberland Local Heritage Awards aim to show Council’s appreciation for those who have an active role in preserving and maintaining Cumberland City’s heritage, and to those who demonstrate an interest in learning about local history.
- Category 1 showcases the Best Maintained Heritage Property.
- Category 2 recognises the best Restoration & Development (including adaptive re-use).
- Category 3 celebrates those passionate residents Researching Our Local History.
- Category 4 encourages children to learn about and engage with our local area through the Keeper of the Stone Children’s Heritage Award colouring competition.
To find out more please click on the following link:
Cumberland Local Heritage Awards | Cumberland City Council (nsw.gov.au)
City of Onkaparinga - South Australia
Our History and Heritage Awards recognise positive contributions in the promotion, conservation or understanding of the region’s European history and built heritage.
The awards shine a light on best practice in the conservation of heritage places and seek to foster a stronger awareness of design and heritage within the community.
To find out more please click on the following link:
History and Heritage Awards City of Onkaparinga (onkaparingacity.com)
City of Stirling - West Australia
The incredible efforts of people across the community striving to preserve local heritage were in the spotlight with the announcement of the 2022 City of Stirling History and Heritage Awards winners.
Held every two years, the awards call on City of Stirling residents, business owners and groups to enter projects that preserve or promote local heritage in the community. The City presented awards in the following categories:
- The Heritage Category honoured conservation of built environment including houses and private gardens, as well as the education and promotion of heritage across the community
- The History Category showcased pre-1990 photographs taken in the City of Stirling.
To find out more please click on the following link:
History and Heritage Award 2022 Winners - City of Stirling
Those interested in Heritage protection and Town Planning maybe interested to see what other Councils are doing: Heritage and development - City of Stirling
You are welcome to use the information on this website, but please acknowledge its source and the author.