Walk Yarning Circle

Listen to the Wurundjeri Wandoon story of the Yarning Circle

 

Transcript:

My name is Doreen Garvey-Wandin. I’m a Wurundjeri Senior Elder and Wandoon Senior Elder. Also, Director of both organisations. 

We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners, the Wurundjeri people and other Kulin Nations, as the custodians of the lands across the Yarra Ranges on whose unceded lands our work in the community takes place. We pay respect to all Aboriginal community Elders, past and present, who have resided in the area and have been and always will be an integral part of the story of the region.

Art and Sole. Walking on Country, connecting with our history, nurturing our body, mind and sole.

Yarning Circle

The yarning circle has been used by Indigenous peoples for centuries, to learn from a collective group, to build respectful relationships to preserve and pass cultural knowledge.

Listen to the David Mitchell and Melba Avenue historical narrative:

The views from the Melba Avenue level crossing are stunning. East is Deschamp’s Hill while turning northward the ranges of the Great Divide form a magnificent backdrop across the Olinda Creek flats.

At the Entrance of the former Cave Hill Quarry and Farm are the Memorial Gates dedicated to the men from Cave Hill who so gallantly served their country in WW2. The two wrought iron gates display the estate monogram DME (David Mitchell Estates) in red and are attached to pillars constructed of Cave Hill stone. On each pillar are brass plaques bearing the names of 73 former and present employees. The gates were officially opened by Mrs C J Mitchell, on November 16, 1947 at an impressive ceremony.

Melba Avenue was named after Dame Nellie Melba in 1955. It was formerly known as the Three Chain Road then the Old Gippsland Road which previously stretched from Mooroolbark Road through to the now Swansea Road roundabout and on to Warburton. 

The Melbourne to Lilydale Railway line was officially opened on December 1,1882 and was built across David Mitchell’s land, one of only two railways in the state to be built across private land. The quarry soon had its own siding to transport its limestone into Melbourne.