Heidelberg

Heidelberg is principally famous for its associations with a crucial aspect of Australia s art history. In the mid-1880s a loose association of painters, including Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubbin, C.D. Richardson, Charles Conder, Walter Withers, Jane Sutherland, Clara Southern and Emma Boyd (the wife of Arthur Boyd) began adapting the ideas of the French impressionists to Australian conditions.

Often painting in the open air to capture the nature of Australia s light, colour and atmosphere, they initially carried out much of their experimental work at Box Hill. The group (with the exception of McCubbin) moved on to Eaglemont at Heidelberg later in the decade, thus acquiring the name The Heidelberg School . It was largely through Tom Roberts that the new pictorial ideas, theories, techniques and sensibility were imported from Europe.

Location: Heidelberg is 18 km by road north-east of Melbourne's CBD.

Bundoora Park Children's Farm: Children can encounter, feed and cuddle farmyard animals, enjoy hayrides and pony rides, and meet some unique Australian wildlife at Bundoora Park which is adjacent Plenty Road at Bundoora, just north of Heidelberg. The Historical Centre focuses on the area s heritage, tel: (03) 9462 4079.

Alpine Toboggan Park: Plenty Rd continues north to Whittlesea where the Whittlesea Show is held annually in November. On the western side of the road is Alpine Toboggan Park which features a 1.2-km toboggan slide, two waterslides, mini-cars, an 18-hole mini-golf course, electric barbecues, picnic areas with undercover seating, a playground and a kiosk, tel: (03) 9716 1078.

Toorourrong Reservoir Park: At its northern end Plenty Rd feeds into the Whittlesea-Yea Rd. 5 km along this road is a signposted turnoff on the left to Toorourrong Reservoir Park which is located in a tranquil setting at the foot of Mt Disappointment within the Great Dividing Range. It has picnic, barbecue, disabled and playground facilities, toilets and walking trails, tel: 131 963.

Yan Yean Reservoir: Continue north along scenic Yan Yean Rd for about another 6 km to the intersection with Arthurs Creek Rd. Turn left to access the main facilities of Yan Yean Reservoir Park which is located in the foothills of the Sherwyn Ranges. There are excellent views, picnic areas, disabled facilities, walking trails, an historic dam wall, many waterbirds, eastern grey kangaroos, barbecues and toilets, tel: 131 963.

History

The rich river flats drew attention from pastoralists, market gardeners and orchardists soon after Melbourne was established in 1835. The first land sales occurred in 1838 and Heidelberg was already well settled by 1841 with timbercutters at work, dairy farmers along the creeks and gentleman farmers on larger estates.

The natural vegetation of the area was soon displaced by the trees and plants of England. Small farmers moved in, growing first wheat then, later, oats, potatoes, vegetables, barley, lucerne, maize and hops and establishing market gardens, orchards and vineyards. Even tea plants were grown at Eaglemont in the 1860s. Sheep, cattle and horses were also grazed on the local estates. Hedgerows of hawthorn divided the fields in the early years although fencing emerged later in the century.

An interesting footnote to the history of Heidelberg is the fact that a famous 100-minute film about the Kelly gang was filmed at the local Charterisville  estate in 1905. A three-minute remnant was rediscovered in the 1980s.

Heidelberg was declared a city in 1931. West Heidelberg was opened up when the Housing Commission contracted A.V. Jennings to subdivide the area in 1945. The Olympic village was built there in 1956 to provide accommodation and training for Olympic competitors. In recent years, some light and general industry has been established at West Heidelberg although the character of Heidelberg, as a whole, is primarily residential. However, it has retained pockets of the natural beauty which made it such an attraction in the 19th century.