The Norman Lane Heritage Walk

The Norman Lane Heritage Walk created by AStirrat

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Summary

This walk has been developed as part of a project to connect people to their neighbourhood by walking, gopher, wheelchair, bicycle, scooter and pram and includes journeys to public transport.

Description

Take the journey around part of the Norman Lane Precinct starting at Labuan Square with your friends, family and children or go on your own and discover some points of interest around your place.

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Points of Interest

1. Labuan Square Forster St

Named after Baron Forster Governor General of Australia from 1920-25. He was the founder of TocH in Australia which is a place for people to refresh after dealing with the tragedies of war

2. 53 Forster St

This is an example of the prefabricated timber houses that were imported from Austria.

3. Keats St

Named after the english Romantic Poet John Keats. His poem 'A song about Myself' makes references to him coming back to the North.

4. Corner of Tallis and Forster St

This is an example of the prefabricated cement sheet houses that were imported from Holland

5. North Shore Station

Completed in 1857 and named Cowies Creek. It brought many people from Melbourne to the You Yangs which was a popular picnic spot of the time.

6. Tragedy at the Crossing

William Palmer and his daughter Marie were killed after their horse drawn carriage collided with an express train to Melbourne. Their vehicle was thrown into a cattle pit and filled with water

7. Ford Comes To Town

In 1925, Ford announced that Geelong would be the Australia's headquarters for Ford. The 'Whole town is smiling' was the newpaper headlines with the prospect of increasing employment for the area.

8. 48 & 34 Brooks St

These houses are examples of the rendered concrete prefabricated houses built and designed at Holmesglen and erected on site to house workers and the influx of displaced persons from WW2.

9. Stradbroke St

Named after the Third Earl of Stradbroke who was the Governor of Victoria from 1921-26. His families motto was 'I live in Hope'

10. Waverly Reserve

Land for Pocket Parks was allocated in new public housing subdivisions of the time.

11. Pettitt Cresent

The Pettitt family farmed the land in this area. The Pettitt Bros. also manufactured and patented farm gates. Both John Senior and Junior were Corio Shire councillors and were community minded.

12. 23 Tennyson St

This is an example of the large number of prefabricated timber houses that were imported from France.

13. Labuan Square

This precinct was first time public housing was established outside of Melbourne. The shopping square was designed for localised shopping as most people had difficulty getting into the City.