Foreword: Back in 1996, I was contacted by Progress Leader about writing weekly articles on Boroondara history, which I had previously done as 'History Watch' in 1992/3 for the then Progress Press. It was always such fun, with the articles then as 'Reflections', 'Heritage' and 'Memory Lane', sometimes edited - with new headings, extra snippets, ideas, or photographs taken by Leader staff or from Boroondara libraries - then often followed with requests for more information about people, places and names. I must say that I really enjoyed the opportunity, and was very grateful to the many people involved with the newspaper over the years - like Steve Foley, Stuart Howie, Jackie Mackay, Brendan Gifney, Greg Best, Russell Robinson, Anne Styles, Wayne Buttner, and photos by Steve Tanner, Valeriu Campan and Renae Payne.
Some months ago I came upon copies of some of the articles, and thought that with additional pictures, and photographs by my husband Ian, we could produce a booklet which people - probably of our generation, or even international students - might enjoy, and we have recently received some encouragement from editors Scott Abrahams and Dimity Barber.
Contents: Boroondara 1. Birds of a Feather 6. Bell Birds 8. Gardiner, and a Cairn 10. Glen Iris School 13. Elgar’s or Elgin’s Road 15. From Hill to Aisbett 17. Bees and Barker – and then a Seal 19. The Lady with the Alligator 21. Nothing like a Dame 23. The Remains of a Winters Day 24. Beswicke Brilliance 26. Land for Sale 27. Scarred Plaque 28. Rain, Rain Go Away 29. Right Records 30. Trams and Drains 31. Baths and Bodies 32. Pirates of Port Phillip 33. The Chapel with the Chimney 34. A Boroondara Store 35. Holloways Pills 37. Bonwick’s Boroondara 38. Palmer’s Road 40. Ballyhoo … 43. Boundary Roads 45. Illawarra or Irilbarra 46. Ashburton 47. From The Ridge 49. Wills 50. Willsmere 51. Wurundjeri Poppies 52. School Days 53. A Serpell 54. Star Bright Streets 55. Contents Page. The Surrey Hills 56. Shrinking Violets 57. Windsor Park 58. Maraquita 59. A Casino for Camberwell ? 60. Old houses 63. What Prospect ? 64. Hentys Ho 65. Swinton, Raheen, Clifton, or Studley 67. The Grave 69. Fire Bells 71. Stawell’s Gift 72. Elms 73. Gold in Them Thar Hills 74. Macintyre’s Oak Street 75. Christmas Cheer 78. Whitehorse Road 79. The Toon Clerk [John Toon, Town Clerk] 80. A Village 81. Molesworth Streets 83. Frognall 84. A Wiseman, or Wise Men 85. Highton 86. Greythorn 87. Lennox Street 88. The Maranoa Man 89. Dog Parks and Laws 91. Fordholm and Fairview 93. Glenferrie 95. Maling 96. Bridged 97. Boundary Bridges 99. Cole's Corner 100. Row Houses 101. Index 103.