History
HISTORY GROUP
Tuesdays 20 April – 22 June
2.00pm – 4.00pm
The History group will have an open meeting each
Tuesday afternoon during term: members of the
community who are interested in local history are
encouraged to come along either regularly or as
individual needs arise. If you are interested in
helping to organise and collate parts of our
collection, undertake research, help extend our
Online Encyclopedia, or just learn about local history
you are most welcome. Individual visits are welcome
from those seeking help with family history; history
of a house; a street; or a local organisation; or other
query of local history. We look forward to welcoming
you.
Location: YGDLLC, Yarra Glen
Class Fee: $2 per visit
No. of Workshops: 10 Class Code: HG
Lighting up the town
Among the many beautiful autumn colours in the
district during the last few weeks you may have
noticed the yellow glow of the golden poplars
along the road to the Recreation Reserve.
These trees were planted in 1935 by the Yarra
Glen Progress Association in honour of Councillor
Albert Price who was instrumental in getting
electricity connected at Yarra Glen.
It took more than seven years from the first
proposal for an electricity supply to the town until
connection to the grid was achieved. In the late
1920s councillors representing the East Riding of
the Eltham Shire Council had asked that electricity
be supplied to the township of Yarra Glen,
specifically to provide street lighting. Oil-fired
lamps were then in use which one local referred to
as being as effective as ‘red hot pokers’.
The first plans included a local generation plant
but the cost was prohibitive. In the meantime the
mains grid was extended to Healesville via
Lilydale and it became feasible to install a branch
line to Yarra Glen from Yering. The local Progress
Association had the task of finding sufficient local
residents to commit to subscribing to the service
to guarantee an annual revenue of £300. With a
population of about 400 this was a challenge. It
was Cr Albert Price, who represented the South
Riding, not the East Riding of the Eltham Shire,
who did “all in his power” to help and encourage
the community to get behind the scheme. He
attended community meetings at Yarra Glen and
provided detailed information. The Eltham Shire
guaranteed £50 per annum for the operation of
ten street lights that would light up 30 minutes
after sundown until midnight.
The poles and wires were erected by February
1934 to homes and business premises. In King,
Oliver and Sayle Streets and Armstrong Grove,
the poles were 9 feet from the fence line. On the
Eltham-Yarra Glen Road the distance was 4 feet
in order to save the gum trees along the road.
Local people were now excited at the prospect of
electric lights, fans, irons, wireless sets and the
“talkies”.
On Thursday 15
th
March 1934 the town celebrated
with a function at the Memorial Hall to switch on
the electricity.
At 8:55p.m.the township presented a
dreary appearance, there being only one
oil street light burning outside the Memorial
Hall, its fitful rays illuminating the great
concourse assembled in front of the hall.
At 9 p.m. sharp there was a blaze of
illumination, the street lamps being brightly
illuminated by electric light the contrast
proving a revelation never to be forgotten
… The Memorial Hall was thrown into relief
by coloured festoons and flood lights.
Motorists and others travelling to
Healesville no doubt speculated as to
where the bright lights were situated….
Advertiser (Hurstbridge) 29 Mar 1934
A year later, at the July meeting of the Eltham
Council Mr J. P. Corkill of the Yarra Glen Progress
Association requested
…that in recognition of the
services given by Cr. A.H. Price in
regard to the installation of electricity
at Yarra Glen, the association was
desirable that an avenue of trees be
planted in the Water Reserve, and to
be known as Price Avenue.
Mr W. J. McCartney of Malvern
offered fifty or more golden poplars
for the avenue. The council granted
the request and accepted the
donation.
Advertiser (Hurstbridge) 5 Jul 1935
For 85 years these trees have been a striking
feature of the town, particularly in autumn when
their blaze of yellow brightens the southern entry to
the township or they are viewed from the vicinity of
the Grand Hotel in the main street. Only half the
original trees remain, but they still provide a lovely
avenue.
However, despite Council approval in 1935, the
Avenue has never been officially named. In 2018
the Yarra Glen & District Historical Society (now the
