Place is where history happens!
Explore the history of where you live, work and play at the library this October. Yarra Plenty Regional Library is hosting a series of walks, talks, guest speakers and more exploring the question what are the places that made us. Places limited. Booking recommended.
Whittlesea’s origin story is told through the eyes of the women who lived it. Stories of women of the past were so often left unheard.
Meet local historians and authors Gwen Hawke and Maureen Doyle who will discuss their book Whispers of History: Pioneering Women of Whittlesea prior to 1945.
Friday 2 October, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Whittlesea Library
Steven Barlow of the Heidelberg Historical Society will outline the artists who came to Heidelberg in the 1880s and 1890s to paint local landscapes and what the local area was like.
Yarra Birrarung: Artists, Writers and the River, by Dr Judith Buckrich is an illustrated history of life on the Yarra. Join the author, who will share her insights into one of Yarra Plenty Regional Library’s local rivers.
Tuesday 20 October, 7.00pm - 8.00pm
Watsonia Library
Tours and Walks
We will reveal stories behind the covers of Eltham's iconic and well-loved library.
Tuesday 6 October, 11.00am - 12.00pm
Eltham Library
Explore the local community and learn more about sites of historical interest and cultural significance.
Tuesday 6 October, 11.00am -1.00pm
Lalor Library
We will stroll along Edgars Creek to the historic precinct of Westgarthtown and return.
Wednesday 7 October 10.00am - 12.00pm
Thomastown Library
Workshop
Ever wanted to travel back in time? Imagine walking virtually down the streets of your hometown or any other location, but in 2002. Using VR headsets and programs, experience the world in a different era.
Tuesday 13 October, 11.00am -1.00pm
Mill Park Library
Our four local history collections at Diamond Valley, Eltham, Ivanhoe and Mill Park Libraries include information about the history of where you live.
Search the catalogue for entries on our newspaper index and for photos and documents in our digital archive, including Stories from the YPRL Archive collection and more.
Resources
Other resources for your local history research include:
Search Trove to explore collections from Australian libraries, universities, museums, galleries and archives. Access digitised historical newspapers, Government Gazettes, maps, magazines and newsletters. Or books, pictures, photographs, archived websites, music, interviews and more.
Discover more about our state through easy access to collection items and collection-based stories including from local historical societies at Greensborough and Eltham.
VHD contains a diverse range of heritage information, including a list of the state's most significant heritage places, objects and historic shipwrecks and known historical archaeological sites.
Other events in the community for History Month include:
- Sunday 4 October: WW2 Veterans of Arthurs Creek, Arthurs Creek
- Sunday 11 October: Eltham High School celebrates 100 years including historical displays
- Sunday 11 October: Yarrambat Heritage Museum Open Day
- Saturday 17 October: Eltham District Historical Society meeting with guest speaker Sue Ballantyne on history of the Diamond Valley Community Hospital, Greensborough
- Sunday 18 October: Nillumbik Historical Society is hosting a walk and talk at Nillumbik Cemetery, Diamond Creek. Bookings requested.
- Sunday 18 October: Whittlesea Historical Society AGM with guest speaker Rach Cottle "The Spirit of Progress - women on the footplate".
- Sundays 2pm - 5pm Old Heidelberg Court House Museum and exhibition, open.
- Sundays 12noon - 3pm Kinglake Heritage Centre
Local History Month is a celebration of Victoria’s many histories, told through the places that hold them. For more events visit the Royal Historical Society of Victora’s History Month website.
Read these recently published titles available for loan
- Walking the Kurrum Yallock (Plenty River) : History, Heritage and Environment by Anne V. Paul, 2026
- Whittlesea Chinese Association: 20th Anniversary 2006-2026 by Whittlesea Chinese Association, 2026
- The Sweeney Family of “Culla Hill” Eltham by Peter Cuffley, 2025
- The Valley Voice: Eltham’s newspaper of the times 1978-1979, photographs by Bill McAuley, 2025
Explore this curated collection today!