Heidelberg Heritage Arts and Music Walk
Heidelberg Heritage Arts and Music Walk
From the 1840s the picturesque Heidelberg area became a popular tourist and artist’s destination. Musicians and singers very soon came together, with the Heidelberg Choral Society founded in 1920.
Summary
From the 1840s the picturesque Heidelberg area became a popular tourist and artist’s destination. Musicians and singers very soon came together, with the Heidelberg Choral Society founded in 1920.
Description
The Heidelberg area of Melbourne grew rapidly especially once the railway came through from Melbourne in 1888.
Hotels and churches were the popular social centres. Before the Recreation Hall was built in Lower Heidelberg Rd in 1894, many groups met at the Sir Henry Barkly Hotel or The Old England Hotel (built by the 1860s). Heidelberg saw the construction of numerous beautiful churches – St John’s Anglican Church completed in 1851, the bluestone St John’s Catholic Church built about 1860.
Heidelberg is best remembered for the Heidelberg School of Artists who enjoyed painting in their characteristic 'en plein air' style. Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Charles Condor, Fred McCubbin, Walter Withers, Jane Sutherland, Clara Southern and Jane Price were all born in the 1850s and 1860s. The men in particular liked to gather at the Heidelberg hotels between camping on their painting trips. At times they were also employed painting portraits and stage designs for local theatre productions, to help pay the bills.
The Austin Hospital was built in 1882, with philanthropic donations from Elizabeth Austin, and was at first for patients with then incurable diseases like TB and cancer. After the World Wars it was an important hospital for treatment of veterans, along with the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital further west off Waterdale Rd. The celebrated Olivia Newton-John Centre and the Ngarra Jarra Aboriginal Health Program are now located at the Austin Hospital.
One hundred years ago in 1920 the Heidelberg and Ivanhoe Choral Society began with its first group of 100 singers performing locally, or more often in Melbourne city centres, and competing in Ballarat and Bendigo music festivals.
At first they practised in the Scots Presbyterian Church (rebuilt in 1901) near the Heidelberg station.
On 3LO radio on Sunday nights the Heidelberg and District Musical Society regularly were scheduled to sing sacred songs.
Music was an important form of entertainment in this era. The world famous soprano Marjorie Lawrence entertained the patients at the Heidelberg Military Hospital in 1944, with the concert music piped into the wards, for those who were incapable of attending in the St John’s Theatre Hall.
The Heidelberg Choral Society often sang in the St John’s Anglican Church, sometimes with the Greensborough based Diamond Valley Choral Society, in the 1960s and 1970s.
The Heidelberg Theatre Company was formed in 1952 and after 30 years settled into Rosanna premises and has since produced over 400 plays.
In the 2020s artistic pursuits continue with various Banyule Council events including the summer Twilight Sounds in Heidelberg Park at the end of Burgundy St. First Nations Wurundjeri people had populated these beautiful Yarra river flats, fishing, hunting and collecting local food, before colonisation. Situated in Olympic Park, West Heidelberg, the Barrbunin Beek gives these people a new local place to gather and build community.
635 Views
Points of Interest
1. Austin Hospital
Philanthropic funds from Geelong's Elizabeth Austin led to the Hospital development and completion in 1882. The Austin still thrives, delivering essential health services to Victorian patients.
2. Scots Church first built in 1843
The Scots Church Hall (built 1901) was the place where the foundation Heidelberg Choral Society groups met to rehearse in the 1920s. They held some concerts in the nearby Church in Hawdon St. too.
3. Sir Henry Barkly Hotel
Most early meetings and Court Sessions were held at the Sir Henry Barkly Hotel which had been built in the 1850s. The Agricultural Society, Racing Club and local business groups met here.
4. Yarra river flats
This picturesque area remains a vital community resource - a quiet space for bike riding, having picnics or playing sport.. A lengthy system of walking paths exists to relax near busy Heidelberg.
5. Heidelberg Parklands - artists inspiration
The First Nations Wurundjeri people populated the beautiful Heidelberg river flats area, enjoying their freedom to fish, hunt and collect local food in season, before colonisation from 1835.
6. St John's Anglican Church
Built in 1849 this Gothic style Church often hosted early Heidelberg Choral Society recitals. Some were fund raising concerts where people enjoyed fine organ music and the excellent acoustics.
7. Heidelberg Historical Society
Open on Sundays this Historical Society publishes innovative Newsletters documenting the heritage of the local area, and has a substantial collection of valuable material. Well worth supporting.
8. Recreation Masonic Hall
This Hall became a location for the Heidelberg Choral Society concerts, with poetry and elocution recitals also popular at the time. The Hall also served as a lending Library from 1891.
9. The Old England Hotel
Established in the 1848, this hotel was a popular starting point for recreational hunting on horseback with hounds, chasing down deer. The hotel has many interesting historic photographs displayed.
10. St John's Catholic Church, Yarra St corner
In 1909 the small 'Coreen' private school was up the hill at 77 Yarra St (near Mount St and the Orient Theatre). The first meetings to form the Heidelberg Choral Society were held here, in 1920.
11. Beautiful Federation style houses
As we ascend the hill, examples of stunning Federation homes built at the end of the 19th century can be glimpsed. Now modern apartments are also apparent, with close proximity to the station.
12. Banksia St Heidelberg streetscapes
Substantial residential development activity is evident, where views towards the Dandenong Ranges can still be glimpsed. Heidelberg School artists were drawn to this lovely area in the 1880s - 1890s.
13. Zeltner Hall
Mr and Mrs Meyer Zeltner donated funds for this Hall in 1917, for it to be used by the Austin hospital patients for concerts, reading, art, movies and singing. It remains part of the ON-J Centre.
14. Banksia St Heidelberg streetscapes
Substantial residential development activity is evident, where views towards the Dandenong Ranges can still be glimpsed. Heidelberg School artists were drawn to this lovely area in the 1880s - 1890s.
Features
Public Transport
Playground
Picnic spot
Seating available
Public toilets
Historical interest
Art and culture
Nature trail
Lake, creek, river
Park / Garden
