Historic walks
There are a number of historic walks throughout Maroondah that highlight historic buildings and celebrate our rich history.
Alto Heritage Walk(PDF, 371KB)
Croydon Central Historic Walk(PDF, 547KB)
Croydon Hills Historic Walk(PDF, 356KB)
Heathmont Historic Walk(PDF, 626KB)
Ringwood Central Historic Walk(PDF, 311KB)
Ringwood East Historic Walk(PDF, 276KB)
Ringwood WW1 Armistice Heritage Walk
Cultural and heritage sites
Wyreena Community Arts Centre
Wyreena Community Arts Centre is of historical and cultural significance to the area. There are two gracious 1920s buildings on the 4 acre estate; these host a large variety of arts and lifestyle courses and community events. Walk through the spacious grounds and visit the majestic 80 year old evergreen Algerian Oak; have a coffee at the Conservatory Cafe, see the current art gallery exhibition and gift shop windows.
More about Wyreena
Maroondah Federation Estate
Maroondah Federation Estate is a community, cultural and arts facility located at 32 Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood, on the site of the former Ringwood Primary School. The Estate incorporates a Cultural Centre, a Lifestyle Centre and the Maroondah Access Gallery. Maroondah Federation Estate is surrounded by beautiful gardens and throughout the site there is a range of innovative artistic features such as a sensory time trail, public art sculptures and an all abilities sensory playspace AMazing Space. For further details please see Maroondah Federation Estate
William Barak commemorative monument
Brushy Park, Maroondah Highway, Croydon North
William Barak was an important Indigenous person who features significantly in Melbourne’s history. He was born in the early 1820s into the Wurundjeri tribe at Brushy Creek (which is now known as North Croydon).
The Woi-wurrung language group, specifically the Wurundjeri people, occupied the Melbourne area prior to European colonisation.
William Barak was the last traditional great Ngurungaeta or leader of the clan, who witnessed the signing of the ‘treaty’ between the Woi-wurrung and Boonerwrung Elders and John Batman. The Ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri clan at the time was his father Bebejan, from whom Barak inherited the title. He was a strong, powerful and intelligent man who led his people, communicated between the clans and the early settlers of the time. He was an influential spokesman for Aboriginal social justice and an important teacher of Wurundjeri culture. He was also a painter and several paintings by Barak are in the National Gallery of Victoria and the Melbourne Museum.
Barak died on 15 August 1903 from blood poisoning after a burn. At the time of his passing he was said to be the most famous indigenous person in Victoria. A memorial garden to honour Barak, last Chief of the Yarra Yarra tribe, is taking shape around the commemorative monument erected by the Croydon Historical Society in 1985.