ON APPROACHING EMERALD YOU'LL BE TAKEN BY THE MAJESTIC COLOURS AND LANDSCAPE THAT SURROUNDS YOU.

THIS WALK HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO SHOW YOU SOME OF EMERALD’S EXISTING HERITAGE BUILDINGS.

YOU CAN MEANDER THROUGH THE LOCAL STREETS, PURCHASE A COFFEE ON THE WAY AND SEE SNAPSHOTS OF WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. THERE IS MUCH TO EXPLORE AND THE SCENIC ATMOSPHERE MAKES IT AN EASY AND PLEASURABLE WALK

BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY AT ANY LOCATION, FINISHING AT THE DYNAMIC EMERALD & DISTRICT MUSEUM THAT IS LOCATED WITHIN THE HISTORIC NOBELIUS HERITAGE PARK.

WALK THE HISTORY

EMERALD’S HISTORY

1858 Gold rush after gold is discovered around the Menzies, Sassafras and Woori Yallock Creeks.

1859 Gold rush brings over 2,000 prospectors to the area. Miners fed themselves on native wildlife including koalas, which they thought were Monkeys.

1861 Emerald is named after the Irishmen who came to the diggings from the Emerald Isle.

Photograph above showing a water race diverted from the Menzies Creek was used for sluicing on the diggings.

1850 1860

1876 Bosisto establishes his eucalyptus oil distillery in Emerald and Macclesfield, which is still available on market shelves today.

Emerald State School opened in temporary premises in Old Gembrook Rd.

1934Emerald Township connected to mains electricity with official 'switching-on' ceremony.

1941Emerald Voluntary Fire Brigade formed.

Emerald Lake Park opened.

1947Dr Ian McLeod Murphy retires to Emerald and becomes first resident doctor.

1953Puffing Billy railway closed due to landslide.

1955Emerald Mechanics Institute (Hall) destroyed by fire.

Baby Health Centre was built, Art Deco Style.

1904Emerald Football Club was established. Original colours were green and gold, which later changed to red and black.

1905Emerald Mechanics Institute was opened in Old Gembrook Road, where all local social events were held.

Bullock teams were the main transport in the hills. They delivered supplies from Narre Warren to the goldfields, then later for the timber industry.

1915Emerald Cricket Club was established. The team were premiers in 1921 & 1922.

1929Emerald Country Club and Golf Course were completed, having been established by a wealthy group of Melbourne businessmen.

1879 More land released for further settlement, leading to increased clearing and logging, as well as agricultural and farming development in the region.

1886 Carl Axel Nobelius purchases 25 hectares to begin the Nobelius Nursery. Nobelius was involvedin the opening of the narrow gauge railway in 1900.

Blacksmith shop opened in Emerald. Meat was delivered by packhorse; animals were killed under licence from Council.

1898 Andrews’ Store was the first ever general store to open in Emerald, and was located where Woolworths now stands.

Severe bushfires surrounded Emerald and the Dandenongs, devastating local agricultural industries.

The Wurundjeri and Bunurong peoples are the traditional inhabitants of the Dandenongs, who hunted, fished and camped in the cool mountain air during summer. They also met to socialise and hold meetings at secret and sacred places that are scattered throughout the landscape. We acknowledge these peoples as the traditional custodians of this land and also pay respect to their Elders both past and present.

Emerald and District Garden Club formed.

1962Narrow gauge railway restored and re-opened as Puffing Billy Tourist Railway.

1966 Emerald, Cockatoo and Gembrook Water Board formed,converting the area from tank to mains water.

1973 Cardinia Reservoir opened for water supply to the Melbourne.

1979 Emerald State School centenary, “Back to Emerald"celebrations.

1993 New Emerald Museum building opened in NobeliusHeritage Park.

1998 Emerald Township Village Committee established.

First publication of Signpost, a community magazine produced by St Marks Community Church.

2012 Nobelius Heritage Park and Nobelius Packing shed registered on the Victorian Heritage Register as a place of cultural heritage significance.

2013 23rd anniversary of the opening of Emerald MuseumBuilding.

Nobelius Heritage Park is 25 years old.

1985Emerald Secondary College opened.

OUR CREATIVE HERITAGE

EMERALDHERITAGE WALKEMERALD IS THE OLDEST TOWN IN THE DANDENONG RANGES. THIS WALK HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO SHOW SOME OF EMERALD’S EXISTING HERITAGE BUILDINGS

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE

ORIGINAL INHABITANTS

OF THESE LANDS

WERE THE WURUNDJERI

AND BUNURONG PEOPLE

DISCOVER THE BEAUTIFUL & SECLUDED NOBELIUS

HERITAGE PARK, A BEAUTIFUL PLACE FOR A PICNIC OR JUST SOME TIME OUT

{A HISTORY BEGINNING IN 1858}

EXPLORE OUR EARLY SETTLEMENT & RAIL HERITAGE

D ISCOVER ING EMERALD

COME SEE & DISCOVER THE HERITAGE OF THEOLDEST TOWN IN THE DANDENONG RANGES

EXPLORE, WALK, ENJOY &...

LEARN ABOUTTHE FIRST

POLICE LOCKUP

1870 1880 1890

1900 1910 1920

1930 19501940

1981 Emerald Museum opened in Community Hall and the last remnant of Nobelius Nursery was purchased by the Shire of Sherbrooke and the State government as a community heritage landmark two years later.

1960 19801970

2006A photographic history of Emerald was published called‘Emerald in Focus’.

1990 20102000

1957Emerald Hall rebuilt with funds raised by the communityand opened by the Governor-General, Sir William Slim.

1870

magazine produced

Community Church.

Blacksmith Charles Stapleton

LITERARY TRADITIONThe Dandenongs enjoy a rich literary tradition. A number of Australia’s �nest writers have lived and worked in the hills over the years. Vance and Nettie Palmer, Katherine Susannah Prichard, Leonard Mann, Hilde Knorr, Louis and Hilda Esson and Jeanie (Mrs Aeneas) Gunn among them. But few have chosen the Dandenongs as the setting for their work, particularly those of �ction. One exception is John Morrison, who’s well known for his short stories and is a master of the genre. His two lesser known novels: The Creeping City (1949) and Port of Call (1950) – are very much novels of the hills.

ARTISTSHans Knörr (pictured below) was a notable abstract sculptor who lived in Emerald for around sixty years and was founder of the Emerald Gallery. Hans’ �rst love was wood, but he also worked with bronze, aluminium, glass and other mediums to produce striking sculptures of interesting shape and texture. His work can be seen in many churches and schools across Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and Hong Kong. Hans’ wife Hilde was also a notable writer of the region, penning several works including �ction, poetry and an autobiography.

VANCE PALMER NETTIE PALMER

ANNA TOWNSENDANNA@ANNATOWNSEND.COM.AU

0408 302 878

EMERALD COMMUNITY HOUSEEMHOUSE@IINET.NET.AU

5968 3881

THE MUSEUM IS OPEN:SUNDAY 1.30-4.00PM, WEDNESDAY 10.00AM-3.00PM

AND BY APPOINTMENT. GROUP VISITS WELCOME.ENQUIRIES@EMERALDMUSEUM.ORG.AU

03 5968 2152 WWW.EMERALDMUSEUM.ORG.AU

PROUDLY PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EMERALD COMMUNITY HOUSE AND ANNA TOWNSEND

If you would like to �nd out more about Emerald’s diverse heritage, make your way into the Emerald Museum and speak to our friendly volunteers or

purchase some local history books.

NOBELIUS HERITAGE PARK

EMERALD & DISTRICT MUSEUM

CRICHTON RD, EMERALD VIC 3782

The Emerald Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government and Public Record Office Victoria for making this

project possible.

printing proudly supported byCardinia Council.

EMERALDHERITAGE WALKROUND TRIP TAKES 50 MINS(APPROXIMATELY) AT A LEISURELY PACEPLEASE TAKE CARE WHEN CROSSING ROADS

EMERALD MUSEUM & NOBELIUS HERITAGE PARK. Set in the beautiful and historic Nobelius Heritage Park, Emerald Museum tells the story of Emerald’s colourful history through displays of memorabilia, photographs and documents dating from early occupation to the present day. The Museum collection contains approximately 6,000 photographs, memorabilia, documentary records and family histories relevant to Emerald and surrounding districts.

This four and a half hectare Heritage Park was part of the world-famous Nobelius Nursery, established in 1886 by Swedish immigrant Carl Axel Nobelius, which once covered more than 650 hectares at its peak just before WWI. At this time the Nursery employed 80 people and was the largest exporter of fruit and ornamental trees in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Nursery operated under the business name of Gembrook Nurseries because Emerald was part of the Parish of Gembrook and is credited with being the single and most important factor in Emerald’s early economic and social development.

The park is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register as a remnant of this historic enterprise, with several original and rare plantings remaining. Both the Emerald Museum and the Nobelius Heritage Park are managed by a volunteer committee under the authority of Cardinia Shire Council.

2

4

9

TO EMERALD LAKE >

TO EMERALD LAKE >

TO EMERALD LAKE >

NOBELIUSMEMORIALSUNDIAL

PICNICGROUND

POLICESTATION

WORRELLRESERVE

6

KEY

3

5

11 10PUFFING

BILLYPARK WALKING

TRACK UNDER

DEVELOPMENT

RSL

GEMCOPLAYERS

COMMUNITYTHEATRE

SCOUTHALL

ST MARKSCHURCH

EMERALDPRIMARY SCHOOL

HOGANSPARK

D ISCOVER ING EMERALD

| | | |

| | | | | | | | | |||||

| | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

| | | || | |

| | || | |

| || |

| || |

| || |

| || |

| || |

| || |

| || |

| || |

| || |

| || |

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

1

EMERALD STATIONPuffing Billy Railway

1900 saw the first narrow gauge train, Puffing Billy, run from Ferntree Gully to Gembrook. Carl Axel Nobelius successfully lobbied the government to install the line to service the import and export of plants and trees from his nursery. The Station was built in 1901 and later had a kiosk added to provide refreshments to travellers.

FIRST BABY HEALTH CENTRECurrent Infant Welfare CentreIn March 1940 the Baby Health Centre was officially opened, which is commemorated by a plaque that sits on the front of the building. This is one of Emerald’s first brick buildings and is still in its original Art Deco style. It is unique for having operated continuously for its original purpose and in the same place for over seventy years.

FIRST PHARMACY Mrs Meg Mickelburough established Emerald’s first pharmacy here in this cottage on Belgrave-Gembrook Road, working from the front enclosed veranda of her home and using the kitchen as her dispensary.

FIRST POST OFFICEMail was first sorted from Andrews’ Store, corner of Monbulk & Main Rds. The first official Post Office operated out of a private house here on Main Rd for ten years from 1910. It was then relocated to next to the Community House Hall.

FIRST BUTCHERThe first butcher in Emerald was Robert Couper. It was established here in 1900 where the second-hand store is now located. This became the residence of the Madigan family who purchased the business in 1921. This photograph shows Jim Madigan and nephew Bill Mansfield with his delivery van.

EMERALD SIDING & PACKING SHED The volume of freight produced by Nobelius Nursery was so great that in 1904 Nobelius was granted land for a railway siding and packing shed here. This photo shows bare-rooted trees packed into bundles and loaded onto the narrow gauge railway for transport to many parts of the world. The packing shed also served as an office and was the first building in Emerald to be connected to the telephone network.

SUNNYSIDE (LOOK OUT) Notable landowner Alexander Crichton built this historic house, on Beaconsfield Road in the 1920s for a resident authoress. Subsequent owner and local butcher Jim Madigan, who used the land to hold his cattle before they were transported to the abattoirs, named the property ‘Sunnyside’. The land was later used to cultivate potatoes until it was purchased by the State government as a community heritage landmark.

EMERALD STATE SCHOOL NO 3381This is the site of Emerald School built in 1910 for the enrolment of 70 local children, it was constructed after a great deal of lobbying by parents who were dissatisfied with the temporary building located in Sherriff Rd that had a dirt floor. The original school opened in Avon Rd, Avonsleigh (then called East Emerald) in 1879, which was later replaced by the temporary building. This historic photograph was taken of the school children in the 1930s.

FIRST POLICE STATIONThis building was the residence of the Emerald Township’s first formal policeman – Constable William Rogers – from 1909. Note the small “lock-up” on the left rear side of the building where prisoners were held. During 1858-1859 only one policeman William Stuart was on the gold diggings. Records show that constable Patrick Moylette while on patrol from Dandenong police station, disappeared riding his horse to the Britannia gold fields. He was never found.

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Current Community House Hall

This early building, the former Church of Christ, was built in 1914 and two inaugural members were Mrs CL Nobelius and Mrs Jas. Legg who were both members of early pioneer families. It was used as an annex for State school children in the 1930s and 1940s. It is now the Emerald Community House Church Hall and has been restored to its former glory.

KILV

ING

TO

N D

RIV

EF

ER

RE

S R

OA

D

BELGRAVE-GEMBROOK R

OAD (MAIN

ROAD)

BELGRAVE-GEMBROOK ROAD

EMERA

LD-M

ONBU

LK RD

HEROES AVENUE

$

$

$

$

HEROES A

VENUE

KINGS R

OAD

EMERALD LAKE ROAD

BEACONSFIELD-EMERALD ROAD

-EM

ER

ALD

RO

AD

CRICHTON ROAD

PR

INC

ES

S A

VE

NU

E

RA

ILWA

Y R

OA

D

ME

MO

RIA

L A

VE

NU

E

HERITAGE WALKWheelchair access

Not Wheelchair friendly

PUBLIC TOILETS

ACCESSIBLE TOILETS

PEDESTRIANCROSSING

MEDICAL CENTRE

ATM

PUFFING BILLYRAILWAY

WALKING TRACK

CENOTAPHANZAC Walk(Opening 2015)

PLACES TO EAT

BUS STOP

PETROL STATION

CHEMIST

BE

AC

ON

SF

IEL

DBENSON ST

$

7

8