Mont Albert and Surrey Hills Heritage Trail
Leafy streets, elegant architecture, a village atmosphere - no wonder locals love Mont Albert and Surrey Hills. Whether you are a long-time resident or a first-time visitor of the area we hope you enjoy your journey through Mont Albert and Surrey Hills.
Take a walk around the area and discover the suburb's rich heritage and fascinating stories - stories of transport, ambitious housing developments, Empire Day parades, precarious golf holes, and much more.
The trail commences at Mont Albert Village Shopping Centre and finishes at the site of the former Surrey Hills Fire Station on Balmoral Crescent and is best undertaken by car, although there are parts of the trail you may wish to walk.
Interpretative panels are located at specific sites on the trail and are marked on the map. Take care when driving and walking around the area and remember to observe parking restrictions. The trail takes you along a number of residential streets so please respect the privacy of residents.
Mont Albert and Surrey Hills Heritage Trail Map
1. MONT ALBERT VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTRE
Hamilton Street, Mont Albert
The land now occupied by this shopping centre was first subdivided in the 1880s, and in 1912-1913 the first purpose built shop, 'Pope and Moran, Grocers', opened on the north-west corner of Mont Albert Road. The shop later became Tom Morris' Grocery and became an intrinsic part of the shopping centre, with its long wooden counters and chairs for customers to sit on, brass scales to weigh biscuits, flour, sugar and rice, and sacks of wheat, bran and chaff in another room. By 1930 shops stretched along both sides of Hamilton Street and partly along Churchill Street and a village atmosphere developed. Pastrycooks, milliners, estate agents, hairdressers, bootmakers, butchers, florists, grocers, dressmakers, the post office and a bank have all been part of the shopping centre at various times. It remains one of the most intact Inter-War shopping centres in the City of Whitehorse.
2. MONT ALBERT RAILWAY STATION
1 Churchill Street
Mont Albert Railway Station is an integral part of Mont Albert Village. Although the railway line extended through the area in 1882, it wasn't until 1890 that the first station was built, after a syndicate of local landowners raised the funds for its construction. But even that was no guarantee that the trains would stop. The Railway Commissioners imposed a fee of 5 shillings per train on the syndicate - which they refused to pay - resulting in the trains not stopping at Mont Albert Station for some time. On frosty mornings the train occasionally slipped backwards on the hill to Mont Albert. The building on the south side of the railway line was built in 1910-1911 and was designed in the Arts and Crafts style by chief architect J. W. Hardy. It remains the oldest surviving railway building in the City of Whitehorse.
3. CHURCHILL STREET RESIDENTIAL PRECINCT *
Churchill Street
The Churchill Street precinct is one of the most intact streetscapes of large Edwardian and Inter-War houses in the City of Whitehorse. The land was first subdivided in 1882 with advertisements describing the undulating land, proximity to the railway station and available services. In 1900 brothers Thomas and George Rowell created the Churchill Street area, naming it to conform to the surrounding British inspired street names. The magnificent avenue of trees that span Churchill Street and the railway line can be attributed to the efforts of Thomas Rowell and the Mont Albert Progress Association. Built on large blocks with wide frontages, many of the houses in Churchill Street feature Arts and Crafts detailing with immaculate gardens, complementing the tree-lined street.
4. FORMER H. E. BREHAUT PTY LTD
781-791 Whitehorse Road opposite Hood Street
Founded by H. E. Brehaut and G. D. Brehaut, the Brehaut factory commenced operations on this site in early 1940 and initially concentrated on the production of equipment to support the war effort, including ammunition boxes, bomb tails and radio chassis. During the war, 800 people were employed in three shifts. The company later focused on grinding machines, metal castings, large electric motors, irrigation equipment and general engineering components. An electrical substation was also located on the site to support the operation of their equipment.
5. FORMER SURREY HILLS GOLF COURSE
South of Whitehorse Road between High Street and Trafalgar Street, north of Whitehorse Road between Elgar Road and Melrose Street
The Surrey Hills Golf Club was established in 1892 in an area known as 'Harston's Paddock' between Trafalgar Street, High Street and Whitehorse Road. The original nine-hole course was rough. Cows and children often damaged the greens. Players had to negotiate fences, cows, potholes, and the 12 feet deep road cutting in Whitehorse Road, known as the 'coffin hole'. In 1895 the course expanded to 18 holes extending across to Whitehorse Road and east to Elgar Road. An official clubhouse opened in Trafalgar Street in 1900 and by 1901 the club had a flourishing membership, a professional coach, and a formidable pennant team. Unlike other clubs, women were entitled to full membership, could vote at meetings, and play on any day. Subdivisions in the area forced the relocation of the Surrey Hills Golf Club to Camberwell, where it was renamed Riversdale Golf Club. The club is now situated in Mount Waverley. Only the official clubhouse, now a private residence, remains in Trafalgar Street as a reminder of the Surrey Hills Golf Club.
6. MONT ALBERT RESIDENTIAL PRECINCT *
Marlborough, Trafalgar, Wolseley, Earl, High and Beatty streets, Victoria Crescent and Zetland Road
The story of land development from the 18805 Boom to the Inter-War period can be found within this precinct, north of Mont Albert railway station. The land was first subdivided in the prosperous 1880s. Professional and business people were enticed to the area with descriptive advertisements. Victorian villas and mansions were soon built along the tree-lined streets. A mixture of Californian Bungalows and other Inter-War styles can be found in later subdivisions. A network of well-worn paved laneways spreads out amongst the houses. A snapshot of British history is represented by some street names, including Victoria Crescent, Trafalgar Road, York Street and Marlborough Street.
7. ORMISTON HOUSE
St John's Avenue, Surrey Hills
Ormiston Girls' School was one of many private schools for girls operating in Surrey Hills between the 1880s and 1930s. The school was run by Anna and Elizabeth Singleton, who moved the school to Mont Albert in 1900. The sisters were well respected and were remembered by their long black dresses and the white caps they wore on their heads. In 1964 the site was taken over by Camberwell Church of gland Grammar School and is now known as the junior campus of Camberwell Anglican Girls Grammar School.
8. WINDSOR PARK ESTATE
Windsor Crescent
Windsor Crescent was created as part of the Freehold Investment and Banking Company's Windsor Park Estate subdivision in the 1880s. A two-storey tower in what is now Tower Street enabled potential buyers to view the sweeping curves and streets lined with Pin Oaks and English Oaks. Brothers Joseph and Harley Tarrant surveyed the estate. Harley lived at Colinruby, in nearby Canterbury Road, and is known as the man behind the Tarrant car, the first petrol driven car to be produced and sold in Australia.
Prior to 1920, the land at the corner of Windsor Crescent and St George's Road was known as a resting place for stock on their way to the abattoir. The sweeping curves were popular with children on their billy carts. In 1885 the first Surrey Hills Athletic meeting was held near this site to celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Wales.
9. SURREY HILLS PRIMARY SCHOOL*
2 Beatrice Avenue, Surrey Hills
Surrey Hills State School No.2778 was built on this site in 1890 and was designed by Public Works architect J. T. Kelleher in the Queen Anne/Arts and Crafts style. The new school building provided accommodation for 100 students, with additions made in 1909 and again in 1925, as student numbers increased. The school had its own cadet corps and the wide corridors in the building were considered one of the 'finest features', enabling the cadets to drill in wet weather. Local paddocks were used to play games and sport, with the senior boys playing hockey with home made sticks and goals marked out with stones or sticks.
10. ST STEPHEN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH *
SE corner of Canterbury and Warrigal roads
Prior to the establishment of St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, this site on the corner of Canterbury and Warrigal roads was open farmland situated in a sparsely populated district criss-crossed by a few surveyed roads and several dray tracks. In 1854 it was part of 22 acres purchased by Moeller, a vigneron, and in the 1860s the Klepper family owned 5 acres, which they developed into an orchard and vineyard. In the 1880s James and Elizabeth Rayment established a dairy farm on the property.
The first Presbyterian Church services in Surrey Hills were conducted by Toorak minister, the Reverend John F. Ewing, in the Recreation Hall in Windsor Crescent. A timber church was built on this site in 1889 at a cost of 556 pounds, later replaced by this brick Presbyterian church built in 1910. Many religious and social activities were held at the church, including gymnasium exercises in the early 1900s. Originally known as the Surrey Hills Presbyterian Church, it was rededicated St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in 1947, the Church's Diamond Jubilee.
John Blogg
Local wood carver John Blogg created the elaborately carved wooden pulpit, the Hogg Memorial, and the Honour roll in St Stephen's Presbyterian Church. John Kendrick Blogg, industrial chemist, woodcarver and poet, once lived in Albany Crescent. Blogg was born in Canada in 1851 and migrated to Australia in 1877. In 1884 he established his own company, producing such products as liquid ammonia for refrigeration, acetic acid, perfumes, eucalyptus oil, shoe polish, baking powder and non-alcoholic drinks. In later years Blogg became well known as a wood carver, a hobby he began after the death of his first wife in 1893. Blogg kept dried specimens, including gumleaves, gumnuts, roses, and wattle to use as inspiration for his elaborately carved pieces. Over 30 years he carved more than 300 pieces. Blogg's work also appears in Surrey Hills Uniting Church, and the war memorial in Surrey Gardens. A beautifully carved relief of gum leaves is included in the City's Art Collection.
11. BROUGHTON PARK ESTATE
Between Broughton, Canterbury, Elgar & Riversdale roads
The first subdivision of this estate was developed in 1883 when mansions and villa sites from one to ten acres in size and with superb views across to the city were sold to eager bidders following the sale of Delaney's Paddock. Dennis Delaney the first settler in the area in 1839 established the Royal Hotel in 1856 with an adjoining paddock where local horse races were held. He chose his spot well, on the brow of a long hill where exhausted drovers would quench their thirsts after a long and dusty ride. Canterbury Road, known then as Delaney's Road, was one of three known timber and cattle routes to the Melbourne Market.
* signifies City of Whitehorse Heritage Review Classification.
Location
Hamilton Street, Mont Albert Map
