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

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2024: Ashburton in Retrospect
Its the end of 2024! Join me for a round up of local news.

scraze
Dec 13, 202415 min read
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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.

scraze
Dec 6, 20248 min read
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A History of Wattle Park: Part 1
Let’s examine how Wattle Park’s creation involved the murder of an inconvenient peacock.

scraze
Nov 22, 202411 min read
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The Nine Rules of the Halloween Lolly Harvest … in Ashburton
The cheat's guide to doing Halloween in Ashburton.

scraze
Oct 24, 20245 min read
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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.

scraze
Oct 11, 20249 min read
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Meals on Wheels in Ashburton
The untold story of Meals on Wheels in Ashburton

scraze
Sep 20, 20247 min read
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Kooyong Koot (Gardiner's Creek) in Pictures
The collection of photographs and pictures I have acquired concerning Kooyong Koot/Gardiner's Creek.

scraze
Aug 14, 20243 min read
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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'.

scraze
Oct 12, 202311 min read
1,198 views
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Why is the Matthew Flinders Hotel a local institution?
How beer, AC/DC, violence and pokies created a local institution.

scraze
Mar 23, 202315 min read
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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...

scraze
Feb 23, 20236 min read
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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...

scraze
Dec 9, 20223 min read
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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 –...

scraze
Nov 22, 20228 min read
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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...

scraze
Oct 17, 20229 min read
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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...

scraze
Aug 25, 20229 min read
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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...

scraze
Jul 29, 202213 min read
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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...

scraze
Jul 8, 20228 min read
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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...

scraze
Jun 17, 202210 min read
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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...

scraze
Mar 28, 202223 min read
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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...

scraze
Sep 5, 20216 min read
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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,...

scraze
Sep 5, 202118 min read
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