Books Publications Lilydale Historical Society

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Books

Throughout its history, the society has endeavoured to produce publications about historical events and places to foster and interest in our history and also generate income for continued research and new publications. Below is the list and year of publications presently available.

Be sure to also visit our duplicate and surplus pre-loved copies or our CDS.

If you wish to order any of our publications either those below or our pre-loved copies, please click to order via our merchandise form.

Lilydale

Guide to Heritage in the Yarra Ranges

Download your free copy of Guide to Heritage in Yarra Ranges compiled by the members of the Yarra Ranges Heritage Network and reprinting by the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum.

One Hundred years of Witness – Lilydale Baptist Church Centenary, C.E. Gray ISBN 0 9594036 1 2.      .50c.
The history of the Lilydale Baptist Church.

The Naming of Lilydale - Leigh Blackburn

The Naming of Lilydale, Leigh Blackburn, 1987, ISBN 0 947261 0 1.      $1.00.
Leigh Blackburn discovered there are several versions on how Lilydale was named.

Prosperity & Progress (1889 – 1989) The History of the former Shire of Lillydale Offices, Sue Thompson, 1989, ISBN 0 947261 04 4.      $5.00.
Published to celebrate the centenary of the building this book traces the history of the building, the establishment of the Shire of Lillydale and the personalities of the shire staff and councillors.

Our History Our Heritage Walk - Sue Thompson - Sandy Ross - Lynn Wales

Our History Our Heritage Walk, Sue Thompson, Sandy Ross, Lyn Wales, 1995, ISBN 0 947261 09 5.      $2.00.
Walk around Lilydale and see the buildings of today featured side-by-side with those of the past.

Bricks by the Million A Brief History of Lilydale’s Brick Making Industry, Sandy Ross, 1995, ISBN 0 947261 10 9.
Lilydale boasted several clay pits which produced bricks and pipes for local and Melbourne buildings and projects. Cost $5.00. E-book version also available $5.00.

A Walk Back In Time - Sue Thompson - Myrna McBain

A Walk Back In Time, Sue Thompson, Myrna McBain, 1997, ISBN 0 947261 11 7.      $5.00.
This small book lets locals and visitors walk and learn about the history of Lilydale’s buildings and features at their leisure.

Lilydale Band Rotunda - A Lilydale Landmark - Sue Thompson

Lilydale Band Rotunda A Lilydale Landmark, Sue Thompson 1997, ISBN 0 947261 12 5.      $3.50.
From the early 1900s to the 1960s, Lilydale’s landmark band rotunda in the heart of Main Street was a key feature. Now re-built at Lilydale Memorial Park, the rotunda is a reflection of an era now past.

Reminiscences of Life - Notes and memories of Lilydale residents - Sue Thompson

Reminiscences of Life Notes and memories of Lilydale residents, edited by Sue Thompson & Myrna McBain 2003, ISBN No.0-947261-22-2.      $14.50.
Residents of the 1920s and 1930s were invited to write about their day to day lives.

Reminiscences of Life - Volume 2 - Ruby Kwijas and Sue Thompson

Reminiscences of Life Notes and memories of Lilydale residents Volume 2, Ruby Kwijas & Sue Thompson 2012, ISBN 978-0-947261-25-2.      $12.00.
inspired by our first volume, other residents came forward to write their own personal stories.

30 Years of History, (1971-2001) Compiled by Sandy Ross.      $3.00.
This publication records some of the highlights of our society’s history in the its first 30 years.

What's Behind the Name - The history of 50 names of Lilydale - Sandy Ross

What’s behind the name, 2005 by Sandy Ross. ISBN 0-947261-23-0.      $7.00
This book was produced after the society received so many inquiries about our street names. Sandy has carefully researched the people who gave their names to our streets.

The Growing History of Lilydale’s Trees compiled by Sandy Ross. ISBN 0-947261-15-X.      $5.00
Thanks to the efforts of our forebears and their annual Arbor Days, Lilydale township has magnificent trees along its major roads. Sandy has carefully researched and recorded when each street was planted. Today, we use this book and the size of the trees to help us date photographs.

The Foundation of Lilydale Fire Brigade - Pauline Phillips

The Foundation of the Lilydale Fire Brigade, 1987 by Pauline Phillips. ISBN 0-947261-00-1.      $1.50.
We all take our local CFA from granted but the establishment of Lilydale’s brigade was a real battle as re-told by Pauline Phillips.

Lilydale Icon - A History of Lilydale's Athenaeum Building

Lilydale Icon A History of Lilydale’s Athenaeum Building, AJ McAleer      $20.00 set of 3 volumes.
Volume 1: 1888 – 1919, 2005 ISBN 0-9578915-8-X.
Volume 2: 1920 – 1959, 2005 ISBN 0-9578945-7-1.
Volume 3: 1960 – 2002, 2005 ISBN 0-9578915-6-3.

Eileen Finlay's Caravan Passes Again - A Biography and Collection of Miniatures of Life - Sue Thompson

Eileen Finlay’s Caravan Passes Again A biography and collection of miniatures of the life, Sue Thompson,2005, ISBN 0-9581358-4-3.      $10.00.
A popular author in the late 1940s and 1950s, Eileen Finlay nee Moroney grew up in Lilydale and this book includes her family history, photos loaned by the family and stories about people and places in Lilydale.

Lilydale Primary School No 876 Pupil’s Register from January 1905 to February 1964.      $40.00.
A valuable primary source for families wanting to trace members whose children grew up in Lilydale.

Gun Alley - The Forgotten Story of Lilydale's Back Streets 1880 to Today - Sue Thompson

Gunn Alley, The Forgotten Story of Lilydale’s back Streets 1880 to today, Compiled by Sue Thompson 2013, ISBN 978-0-947261-26-9.     $40.00. The story of the people and buildings of John Street, Lilydale known had Gunn Alley to the people who lived there.

Lilydale’s Public Places Public Lives 1860’s to 1970’s, Christine Armstrong, John Brown, Ray Dodson, Jeanette Dodson, Joy Gothe, Kristyn Jackson, Judy Macdonald, Jo Pritchard, Florence Shaw, Sue Thompson, Marg Tull, 2018, ISBN 13:978-0-947161-03-0.      $25.00.
Lilydale township’s public places Melba Park, Athenaeum Theatre, Yarra Ranges Museum, Recreation Reserve, Old Market site, Olinda Creek, Lillydale Lake, Lilydale Main Street, Dame Nellie Melba, Lilydale Industries & Lilydale Railway Station.

Lilydale Cemetery Publications

A Tour of the Lilydale Cemetery 1861 – 1994 Volume 1, Sandy Ross 1995, ISBN 0 947261 08 7.      $3.00.
This booklet gives a brief history of the development of the cemetery and features some of the locals buried there.

Lilydale Cemetery Tours - Volume 2 - Ruby Kwijas and Keith Lithgow

Lilydale Cemetery Tours Volume 2, Ruby Kwijas & Keith Lithgow.      $3.00.
More of the pioneers of the district are featured in this booklet.

Lillydale Cemetery Tours Volume 3, Ruby Kwijas & Keith Lithgow.      $3.00.
Other pioneers are included in this booklet.

Lilydale Cemetery Tours - Melba and Other Amazing Women - Lorraine Smith

Lilydale Cemetery Tours Melba & Other Amazing Women, Lorraine Smith      $3.00.
Lorraine tells the stories of some of the women buried at Lilydale Cemetery, including Dame Nellie Melba.

Lilydale Cemetery Tours Melba & Her Mates, Keith Lithgow      $3.00.
Although Melba was an international star she never forgot her home town of Coldstream and the people of the district. Some are featured in this booklet.

No Tombstones Unmarked Graves at Lilydale Cemetery, Sue Thompson, Lorraine Smith, Val Sheehan and Myrna McBain, 1998, 0 947261 13             $3.50c.
Many of our pioneers lay in unmarked graves and this booklet highlights just a handful of those families.

Dame Nellie Melba

Melba Lilydale's Queen of Song - Sue Thompson

Melba Lilydale Queen of Song, Sue Thompson 1990, ISBN 0 947261 05 2.      $1.00.
A small booklet about the district’s famous international opera singer Dame Nellie Melba.

Melba - Important Dates of her Life - Sue Thompson and Wanda McPherson

Melba: Important Dates of her Life, Sue Thompson and Wanda McPherson, 2000, ISBN 0 947261 16 8.      $2.00.
Only a small booklet this took many years of research to compile the key events in Melba’s life. Includes role images and a list of Melba’s 22 operas and roles.

Melba - A Family Memoir - Pamela Lady Vestey (Melba's Granddaughter)

Melba: A Family Memoir, Pamela Vestey Reprint 2000 ISBN 0 6464 392 77 8      $20.00.
As Melba’s only grandchild, Pamela Vestey was uniquely placed to write this beautiful book about her famous grandmother. The hardcover book includes lots of images held by Melba’s family and her letters to her family.

David Mitchell a Forfar Man, 1992 by Pamela Vestey. ISBN 0-646-10497-7.      $10.00.
Pamela Vestey’s first book and the only book published about Melba’s entrepreneurial father David Mitchell. What Melba did for music David Mitchell did for the development of Victoria’s industry and agriculture from the 1850s to the 1920s. This has been reprinted three times.

Melba Pays Homage to the Belgians - Sue Thompson

Melba Pays Homage to the Belgians, Sue Thompson,      $5.00.
Melba made her operatic debut in Brussels in 1887 and never forgot the support the Belgians gave her throughout her life.

A Diva’s Day Out Nellie Melba’s Return to Lilydale November 8, 1902, Sue Thompson, 2002 ISBN 0-9581358-1-9.      $5.00.
When Melba returned to Australia in 1902 after a 16 year absence, she was treated like a pop star and Lilydale, where she had spent holidays laid out the red carpet as only country people could. This book records that welcome home through the eyes of the local, state and national media.

Coldstream, Gruyere, Yering and Killara

As It Happened - The History of Coldstream, Gruyere, Yering and Killara - Volume 1

As It Happened – The History of Coldstream, Gruyere, Yering and Killara, Volume 1 Settlement to 1900, Val Sheehan 2001, ISBN 0-947261-17-6. $30.00.
Val Sheehan spent many years scouring the Lilydale Express newspaper and other newspapers gathering articles for this book which are reproduced in full in each volume. This volume covers from the first settlement at Yering through to 1900.

As It Happened – The History of Coldstream, Gruyere, Yering and Killara, Volume 2 1900 to 1920, 2003 ISBN 0-947261-23-0.      $30.00.
This volume features the years 1900 to 1920. A must for social historians wanting to read about descriptions of work, weddings, funerals, accidents and day to day happenings.

As It Happened - The History of Coldstream, Gruyere, Yering and Killara - Volume 3

As it Happened – The History of Coldstream, Gruyere, Yering and Killara, Volume 3, 1920 to 1940, Volume 3 ISBN 0-947261-24-9.      $30.00.
Volume 3 covers from 1920 to 1940 and included the Depression and its effects and the outbreak of World War II.

As it Happened – The History of Coldstream, Gruyere, Yering and Killara, Volume 4, 1941 to 1960. Val Sheehan, 2017. 2 parts ISBN 978-0-947261-01-6 and 978-0-0947261-02-3.      $30.00 for both.

Montrose

A History of Montrose Street Names

A History of Montrose Street Names, Jeanette M Dodson.      $5.00.
A must for Montrose residents who want to know the origin of their street’s name.

The Dandenongs

Dandenong Volcano Book Cover

The Dandenong Volcano and Settlement in the Great Forest, John Lundy-Clarke, 1976, reprinted 1986, ISBN 0 9594036 4 7.      $2.00.

Chirnside Park

Chirnside Park – The Very Early Days, Leigh Blackburn, 1987, ISBN 0 9594036 5 5.      $5.00.
The story of the district’s only suburb created from the subdivision of a large parcel of land – Mooroolbark Park, originally selected by Gardiner and Fletcher.

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