Hawthorn Historical Society

03/06/2026

The southern end of Yarra Street as it slopes down steeply to the river now ends in greenery. This was one of the very earliest tracks around Hawthorn marked on an 1843 map. This spot provided reasonable access to the river for water and was also a possible crossing for horses if the river wasn't in flood. It was on the boundary of Crown Allotments 18 (owned by Thomas Power) and 19 (owned by Sir James Palmer), and it was close to the site where Power had his boiling-down works. These works later probably became Treacey's Tannery but then the tannery closed after the railway to Hawthorn cut through the property in 1860.

30/05/2026

Here is another of Hawthorn's Lovely Ladies. This one at 74 Elgin Street. It was built around 1877 -1879 and was originally one of three built by Henry Carter who lived at No 70.

27/05/2026

Do you have an interest in local history and or pulling together those items and loose threads of your family history but don't know where to start or what resources may be available? Well this WORKSHOP is for you!
Join us on June 18th at 2.00pm.

Reserve your place and bring along a friend:

Hawthorn Historical Society and PMI Victorian History Library are delighted to present our first ever collaborative discovery workshop. Come along...

24/05/2026

Hawthorn is well known for its heritage architecture. which we often overlook when we drive or walk past in a hurry. It's always fun to look up to catch the details.
Where would you find this lovely feature?

21/05/2026

This week - National Volunteer Week - we celebrate and recognise everyone who gives their time freely to the Society.

Whether it’s the volunteers who come in every Tuesday and Wednesday to scan and upload materials to our archives, or who answer the many emails from people wanting information on all matters Hawthorn; or who develop and run events; or our committee which makes sure the Society is governed well, we thank them all.

We are a true team.

If you would like to become a volunteer or learn more about what it means, please email us: [email protected]

19/05/2026

Hope you can join Hilda and Henry, our mascots, at our History Lovers’ Coffee this Thursday 21 May at St Helen’s cafe, Riversdale Road from 10.30am to 12noon.

Bookings:

https://www.trybooking.com/DKECJ

17/05/2026

Have you ever checked Hawthorn’s timeline on our website?

In 1926:

Burke Road river bridge was rebuilt.
A motor bus operated from Canterbury to Richmond via Liddiard Street and Grace Park.
Bridge Road bridge was strengthened for electric trams
Ward boundaries were changed.

https://www.hawthornhistoricalsociety.com.au/history/timeline/

14/05/2026

Worry Worms Random acts of crochet kindness
Now as time moves on and covid lockdowns are just a part of the past we would like to know how you kept productive, were you virtually unaffected or was your whole world turned upside down. Did you take up a new hobby such as painting, knitting, or writing? Did you learn a new language, archive those precious photos or manicure your garden or maybe spend endless time scrolling?
An individual has come to the attention who as a child never really grasped crocheting and frustrated her mother to no end, so during lockdown when scrolling YouTube videos they came across a video from Random acts of crochet kindness / crochet worry worn pattern
What an easy and fun tutorial. After a couple of attempts, a cute worm was complete, the first of many and these were bundled with a little note as per the tutorial. Some were given to friends and family that needed a little support and others were left in public spaces to be found by passers-by.
Thanks to the random acts of crochet kindness team for a lovely idea and we hope it was a nice little surprise for anyone who found the worms.

11/05/2026

Before telephones, before SMS, how did you make arrangements with others?

https://www.hawthornhistoricalsociety.com.au/social-media-in-the-1900s/

08/05/2026

Our next event- History Lovers Coffee coincides with the Biggest Morning Tea for the Cancer Council. Come along and support both. We will have a history insight into Riversdale Road too.