Local facilities and attractions

Ashburton Stories: A History of the Melbourne Suburb now available.

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Dec 1315 min read

2024: Ashburton in Retrospect

Its the end of 2024! Join me for a round up of local news.

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Dec 68 min read

A brief history of Wattle Park – Part 2

In Part 2 of the history of Wattle Park, how it acquired a Lone Pine, Clock and the famous Tram shell picnic shelters.

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Nov 2211 min read

A History of Wattle Park: Part 1

Let’s examine how Wattle Park’s creation involved the murder of an inconvenient peacock.

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The Nine Rules of the Halloween Lolly Harvest … in Ashburton

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Oct 245 min read

The Nine Rules of the Halloween Lolly Harvest … in Ashburton

The cheat's guide to doing Halloween in Ashburton.

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In honour of History Month: the vital significance of Burwood Bulletin

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Oct 119 min read

In honour of History Month: the vital significance of Burwood Bulletin

How a few community-minded friends got together in 1981 to create the custodial publication of local history: Burwood Bulletin.

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Sep 207 min read

Meals on Wheels in Ashburton

The untold story of Meals on Wheels in Ashburton

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Kooyong Koot (Gardiner's Creek) in Pictures

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Aug 143 min read

Kooyong Koot (Gardiner's Creek) in Pictures

The collection of photographs and pictures I have acquired concerning Kooyong Koot/Gardiner's Creek.

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Oct 12, 202311 min read

The Tragedy of the ‘Chadstone Sniper’

The story of a how a kind, highly intelligent and well-loved young man became known as the 'Chadstone Sniper'.

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Why is the Matthew Flinders Hotel a local institution?

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Mar 23, 202315 min read

Why is the Matthew Flinders Hotel a local institution?

How beer, AC/DC, violence and pokies created a local institution.

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Ashburton's Icons: J & T Electrical Services

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Feb 23, 20236 min read

Ashburton's Icons: J & T Electrical Services

Update 5 May 2024: After 47 years, J & T Electrical Services in Ashburton closed its doors for the last time. Wishing Peter a long and...

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Dec 9, 20223 min read

Ashburton's icons: Ken Ross Jewellers

Over the summer – should that ever arrive – I hope to run a series on some of Ashburton’s longest continuously operated shops. On High...

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The Stocks Family and the Ashburton Dairy

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Nov 22, 20228 min read

The Stocks Family and the Ashburton Dairy

If you’re a reader of a certain age, you may remember waking up very very early in the morning – far too early for your mother’s liking –...

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The History of the Outer Circle Linear Park/Anniversary Trail

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Oct 17, 20229 min read

The History of the Outer Circle Linear Park/Anniversary Trail

In this post, I’m taking a break from writing about Ashburton’s growing list of murderers to cover something far more pleasant: the...

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For Book Week: a brief history of Camberwell and Ashburton libraries

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Aug 25, 20229 min read

For Book Week: a brief history of Camberwell and Ashburton libraries

It’s Book Week! Or, as I call it in my house, F#@king Book Week. I love books. I love them so much I wrote one. You don’t become a...

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The battle to play sport in Camberwell on Sunday

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Jul 29, 202213 min read

The battle to play sport in Camberwell on Sunday

I recently presented on this topic at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. Just as High Street turns down the hill towards Glen Iris...

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Ashburton and the rise of Chadstone Shopping Centre

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Jul 8, 20228 min read

Ashburton and the rise of Chadstone Shopping Centre

This is the second post in my series on interesting things I find in Ashburton’s old community newspaper Progress Press (1946-63) In the...

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Eight new things I learnt about Ashburton reading Progress Press (1946-56)

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Jun 17, 202210 min read

Eight new things I learnt about Ashburton reading Progress Press (1946-56)

Once upon a time in Ashburton, there was a community newspaper called Progress Press. This was a locally produced and edited publication...

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Mar 28, 202223 min read

A History of Ashburton’s Green Spaces

Recently, I’ve begun doing some research for the Ashburton Willows Cricket Club. My role in the research is more on the “Ashburton” side...

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A Short History of the Development of Ashburton

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Sep 5, 20216 min read

A Short History of the Development of Ashburton

Having walked the streets of Ashburton for days and weeks now (or is it months - what is time anyway during these lockdown days?) it...

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Sep 5, 202118 min read

Ashburton Street Name Encyclopaedia

If you know anything about your street and it’s not here I’m very open to suggestions and updates. Also, if I have forgotten your street,...

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