Mooroolbark - History & Heritage

01/09/2026

Footage has just come to light of the unveiling of the Mooroolbark War Memorial - 1997 version.
It is now on Youtube courtesy of the Lilydale RSL.

Part 3

Unveiling of the Mooroolbark War Memorial - Part 3 of 3 - April 27,...

01/09/2026

Footage has just come to light of the unveiling of the Mooroolbark War Memorial - 1997 version.
It is now on Youtube courtesy of the Lilydale RSL.

Part 2

Unveiling of the Mooroolbark War Memorial - Part 2 of 3 - April 27,...

01/09/2026

Footage has just come to light of the unveiling of the Mooroolbark War Memorial - 1997 version.
It is now on Youtube courtesy of the Lilydale RSL.

Part 1

The unveiling of the Mooroolbark War Memorial - Part 1 of 3.April ...

30/06/2026

Typical residence as suburbia reached Mooroolbark in the early 1900s.
One of Australia's nursing heroines, Grace Wilson (later Campbell) stands proudly at her home on the Arnwood Estate.
The nameplate said "Arnwood 1910".

08/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/187dH7DGtf/

The Lilydale RSL is very proud to invite you to the launch of our latest book - 'Asian Encounters - From Hiroshima to Ho Chi Minh'.
It is Volume 5 in the series 'The Shire of Lillydale & its Military Heritage' and deals with the years 1945 to 1970.
It doesn't include the Vietnam War as this will be its own volume.

The book will be launched -
Sunday May 24th
2.00pm
at the Yarra Ranges Civic Centre (Shire offices)
15 Anderson St, Lilydale

ALL WELCOME.

03/03/2026

If you are ever visiting Canberra and the Australian War Memorial - look out for this photo of Roland Griffiths-Marsh - the first man from Mooroolbark to enlist in the Second World War.

20/02/2026

You may have noted the recent passing of Hollywood acting legend Robert Duvall.
Over the past few days much has been made of his role in the brilliant mini-series 'The Lonesome Dove', in fact Duvall himself has been quoted as saying that was his best work.
You may be interested to know that much of that series was edited right here in Mooroolbark.
The series director, Simon Wincer, lived in Mooroolbark at the same, in the Bickleighvale Estate, and because of time constraints ended up editing much of the series in the studio he built on the property.

07/01/2026

Can you help?
Did you live in any of the following towns during the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s?
Lilydale, Wonga Park, Coldstream, Gruyere, Wandin, Seville, Silvan, Monbulk, Olinda, Kalorama, Mt Dandenong, Montrose, Kilsyth, Mooroolbark, Mt Evelyn.
If you did, would you be interested in answering a series of questions?
I am currently looking at the political and historical aspects of this area during those decades and would like to send you a questionnaire.
Please email me at – [email protected] and I will forward it to you
Regards,
Anthony McAleer OAM

04/12/2025

The extraordinary 19th Century mansion 'Airlie' in South Yarra has a number of connections to this district.

1. There was once a vineyard on the site and Hubert de Castella arranged to take cuttings from here to start up his own vineyard at St Hubert's in Yering. At one stage he named the wine produced 'Airlie'.
2. George Chirnside owned the property for a number of years. He later purchased the property Mooroolbark Park and when it was sold, it was turned into the suburb we now known as Chirnside Park.
3. During World War Two the house was the headquarters of Z Special Forces. The first man from Mooroolbark to enlist in the Second World War was Roland Griffiths-Marsh, he served with the 2nd AIF in the Middle East and Greece before returning to Australia. Because he could speak Malay and French he was recruited by Z Special Forces and had to undertake an interview here. He was later dropped behind the lines on Borneo.

Unfortunately, the house is not open to the public and has been owned and run by the Victoria Police as a conference centre.