By JESSE GRAHAM
THE history of Healesville will be on permanent display later this year, with Rotary working with community groups to establish a heritage walking trail.
The Historic Walk, which is expected to open late November, is a project being undertaken by the Rotary Club of Healesville, the Healesville and District Historical Society and Healesville 150.
Using the town’s 150th year as a platform, the walk will consist of plaques at 25 different locations with historic information and photographs.
Stretching the old Courthouse (now the Visitor Information Centre) through to the Mechanic’s Hall and including the Timber Tram-line, the Palais and more, the four kilometre walk will be accompanied by a booklet with more information.
Rotarian John Robinson said he was inspired to get the walk happening after seeing a similar project in Perth years ago.
“I thought ‘what a great idea – that’d be good for Healesville’,” he said.
After a meeting with council representatives and the Historical Society, the local project began moving.
Mr Robinson said last week he picked up the first production run of the plaques – which will be mounted on posts and covered in enamel.
He said he expected the final plaques to all be installed before the end of November, just in time for the end of the 150th year, and that the walk would offer tourists and residents a glimpse at the history of the town.
“I just think it’s an ideal way of teaching tourists a little bit about the town – particularly the history of it,” he said.
“It gives you a bit more of an understanding of what a town was and is, rather than just looking at how it is today.”
Healesville and District Historical Society president Kevin Mason said the walk would be a ‘marvellous’ addition to the town.
“Lots of folks like to know some of the background to these older buildings we have – or what was there before,” he said.
“This is going to give a great opportunity for those folks to relive those days of yesteryear.
“It’s going to be a real asset for tourism in Healesville.”
For more information about other projects celebrating Healesville’s 150th birthday, visit healesville150.org.
