First star rises- Inset: Coloratura soprano Stephanie Gibson. 64204

NATIONAL treasure Dame Nellie Melba, who left a piece of her heart in the Yarra Valley, will be remembered this month with a special tribute celebrating what would have been her 150th birthday on 19 May.
Lilydale’s Athenaeum Theatre will again be alive with opera and memories of the Queen of Song when the Lilydale and District Historical Society hosts Memories of Melba, featuring coloratura soprano Stephanie Gibson and Professor Mel Waters.
Ms Gibson will perform several arias and songs made famous by the great Diva at the venue where Melba performed several times to raise money for local organisations, while Professor Waters will accompany Ms Gibson and also narrate aspects of Melba’s musical story from her autobiography.
Society secretary Sue Thompson said Memories of Melba was the culmination of months of planning which has included a series of walks, talks and tours celebrating Melba’s contribution to the local community.
“The society is so appreciative of the support from the Athenaeum Theatre as it was in the then Athenaeum Hall that Melba brought international stars to share her music with her fellow residents,” Ms Thompson said.
“Memories of Melba is not a concert but rather a personal, local tribute to one of our residents who ruled the world stage but never forgot her country and her own local community.”
Ms Thompson said while Melba was born in Richmond in 1861, her links with the Yarra Valley began at an early age when her father David Mitchell purchased a property at Steele’s Flats where the Mitchell family spent their holidays.
Later he established Cave Hill Quarries and Cave Hill Farm at Lilydale.
Melba left Australia in 1886 and returned to her homeland an international star in 1902 and one of the first places she visited was Lilydale where she received a hero’s welcome.
It was while at Lilydale in 1909, that Melba purchased the property at the corner of Maroondah Highway and Yarra Glen Road, Coldstream.
Melba named the property Coombe Cottage, which became her home and the home of her family – son George, his wife Evie and daughter Pamela Armstrong.
Melba died on 23 February 1931 in Sydney but as was her wish, she was returned to her beloved Lilydale and was laid to rest near her parents and siblings at Lilydale Cemetery.
Memories of Melba starts at 1.30pm at Lilydale’s Athenaeum Theatre for a gold coin donation. To book call Lorraine Smith on 9735 1104.