making history in belgrave

My congratulations go to the team at BRAG for their tireless work in seeing the Belgrave Self Guided Historical Walking Tour come to fruition.


Cr Samantha Dunn with the BRAG team and the Year 9s
from Sherbrooke Community School outside one of
Belgrave's most iconic heritage buildings, Jorgensen House,
now trading as Earthly Pleasures Organic Cafe.

A project in the making for some years, it was terrific to share the inaugural walk with the Year 9's from Sherbrooke Community School as well as Liz and Ian from BRAG and Elaine from the Southern Sherbrooke Historical Society.



Students learnt about the history of Belgrave and
gained a greater insight into the life in this once
burgeoning township in the heart of the Dandenongs.
This site (the current Puffing Billy Cafe) was the
Tarax Bar, which operated for over 20 years
providing a social place for teenagers of the day.

Funded through a Yarra Ranges Council Community Grant in 2011 as well as funding from the state government and the Belgrave Trader's Association, the team at BRAG have been able to design and install 16 plaques throughout Belgrave, complete with guide, to celebrate and rediscover the history of the town.

Students learnt about our two iconic heritage listed buildings, Jorgensen House (now Earthly Pleasures Cafe) and the Cameo Theatre, still with its original art deco light fittings in cinema 1, as well as numerous other significant sites in Belgrave. There was also plenty of stories about the founding families of the region.



Elaine from the Southern Sherbrooke Historical Society
moved into the area in the 50's. She had some great
insights into how the town had developed with stories
of some of the key characters who played a major
part in the development of Belgrave.

The Self Guided Historical Walking Tour Guide will be available at various outlets in Belgrave as well the Tourist Information Centre in Upper Ferntree Gully. It's a great way to learn more about Belgrave at your own leisurely pace.