Today I am very pleased to hand over to local dynamo Anne Crehan (who many of you will know through her involvement with Alphington Primary School and Alphington Bowls Club). Anne is part of the 3078 History Group that meets at ACC monthly, and has put together this article for us today, in part relying on the history documented in Sarah Miram’s book, Darebin Parklands - Escaping the Claws of the Machine.

Thanks Anne, it’s fascinating!

In 1850 when Victoria was declared a colony and gold was discovered, the population grew rapidly and Melbourne became one of the wealthiest and most expensive cities in the world.

Darebin Creek did not contain gold, and the area at the time lacked good transport to the city. As such it missed the property boom, and the gold rush. Instead the land along the creek, both on the Ivanhoe and Alphington sides flourished with productive agriculture - servicing the increased demand for fruit and vegetables across the colony. At this time in our neighbourhood vegetables became the more reliable way to make your fortune!

In 1857 Thomas Hutchins Bear purchased 35 acres abutting the Darebin Creek on the edge of Heidelberg, in an area named Ivanhoe. He built a bluestone house and created a productive farm that included orchards, an olive grove and vineyard as well as a “splendid” garden. He cut terraces into the slope of the hill down the eastern side of Darebin Creek.

In the 1880’s John Sharp Adams became one of Alphington’s earliest residents, when he purchased 24 hectares on the west side of the creek. He lived in Ivy Cottage which was located on the land that is now Darebin Parklands, whilst building a larger house called Rockleigh, on the corner that is now Separation Street and Yarana Road. A drive lined with elms swept up from Alphington railway to his house (which was demolished in 1956). On his property he ran a mixed farm of grazing, vineyards and a orchard that included olive trees, quinces, loquats, apples, plums and mulberries.

In 1882 the Thomas Hutchins Bears property was purchased by businessman Henry Rocke, who leased out the flood plains of the creek to Chinese market gardeners, planted an orange grove and put up 88 lots for sale to create the Rockbeare estate, advertised as ”the Toorak of the North”.

Again, lack of a good rail transport from the city, followed by the depression of the 1890’s, resulted in small uptake of these lots. As the 1890’s drew to a close Alphington and Ivanhoe were seen as a backwater of Melbourne.

By the turn of the century the area along the creek was known for its market gardens where the tenants went from house to house in the neighbourhood selling their vegetables.

And … for the new quarry. In 1890 John Adams and his son Thomas Adams started their quarry on the land that is now Darebin Parklands. It was to become one of the three biggest bluestone quarries in Victoria and operated for 75 years. It was sold in 1958 to Boral and closed in 1965. 

Once the quarry closed the hole created was leased to Council and used for a municipal tip, which operated from 1967 through to 1975. In 1977 that southern areas of the site, now housing Darebin Parklands, was purchased by Council.

In the forward to the book Darebin Parklands - Escaping the Claws of the Machine by Sarah Mirams, Professor Tim Flannery introduces us to the parklands with a summary of the site, describing it as,

A meeting place for Wurundjeri-willam people. A smouldering tip site. An orchard of grapes, loquats, mulberries and olives. Grazing land for dairy cows. A quarry of workers, blasting and crushing bluestone. The local park to walk the dog. A wild place for children to have adventures. This land now known as Darebin Parklands…..

How lucky we are in Alphington today to live near this beautiful creek (that is becoming healthier), this quiet piece of Melbourne that has been lovingly regenerated into wonderful parklands … and in recent years we are now seeing the former Council depot land to the very south becoming a community food hub - a place to access a fresh supply of locally grown food.

Alphington Farmers Market and a growing collective of complementary food focussed community environmental/sustainability enterprises are building a presence on the corner of Parklands Avenue and Wingrove Street.

Isn’t it is so fitting that part of this historical agricultural land has a focus once again, on locally produced food.