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  • Darebin Memories - Oral history transcripts

Memories of Darebin

  • Darebin Memories - Oral history transcripts
  • Darebin Memories - Oral history recordings
  • Darebin Memories - The migrant stories
  • Darebin Memories - Family histories
  • The stories of Mernda - Bobby the horse
  • The stories of Mernda - The District Road Boards
  • The stories of Mernda - Watson and Paterson
  • The stories of Mernda - Mr Harmer
  • Darebin in World War One
  • Sports in Darebin
  • Darebin Community

Darebin Memories - Oral history transcripts

Oral histories

Image - Photo. Ralph Hadley Nelson

These collections of oral histories reflect the lives of average working people living in Darebin in the 1930's, 40s and 50s.   Their stories reflect their shared experiences and values.   It also reflects the primarily white, Anglo-Saxon composition of Darebin during those years.

  • Oral History - Alex Gray (173.4 KB)
  • Oral history - Alf Mundy (85.1 KB)
  • Oral History - Alf Tierney (110.3 KB)
  • Oral History - Arthur Howard (22.8 KB)
  • Oral History - B. Lawrence (66.7 KB)
  • Oral History - Cyril Stafford (166.7 KB)
  • Oral History - Doris Butcher (88.5 KB)
  • Oral History - Doug McDonald (236.4 KB)

The first oral history project was undertaken in the 1980s by the Northcote Historical and Conservation Society.  Much thanks goes to Arthur and Jesse Howard who took such a leading role in coordinating these interviews.

These largely centred on residents in Alphington, Fairfield and Northcote. 

  • Oral History - E. Luly (1.41 MB)
  • Oral History - Edith Hendry (114.6 KB)
  • Oral History - Edna Daniels (79.5 KB)
  • Oral History - Elsa Ford (25.1 KB)
  • Oral History - Fred Moran (129.1 KB)
  • Oral History - George Henwood 1 (86.7 KB)
  • Oral History - George Henwood 2 (64.1 KB)

In the 1990s more oral histories were acquired, primarily from Preston and Reservoir in a joint project between the Preston Historical Society and Preston Library Service. 

  • Oral History - Harold Harles (76.3 KB)
  • Oral History - Hazel Christie (727.9 KB)
  • Oral History - John Dennis (36.7 KB)

In recent years Darebin Libraries has conducted more interviews, capturing the voices of people who lived in Darebin in the 1940s and 50s.  

  • Oral History - Laura Jean Phillips (55.0 KB)
  • Oral History - Lexie Luly (56.9 KB)
  • Oral History - Lexie Luly (early interview) (136.2 KB)
  • Oral History - Mal Mooney (27.8 KB)
  • Oral History - Margaret McDonald (47.9 KB)
  • Oral History - Mr Fry, Griffiths and Briony (39.7 KB)
  • Oral History - Mr Martin (124.9 KB)
  • Oral History - Mr O'Keefe (54.1 KB)
  • Oral History - Mr Reilly (25.8 KB)
  • Oral History - Mrs Bade (45.5 KB)
  • Oral History - Mrs C. Jones (18.9 KB)
  • Oral History - Mrs Dickinson (12.6 KB)
  • Oral History - Myra Bostock (12.0 KB)
Image - Photo - B. Johnson, Mayor of Northcote 1912-13 and 1928-29

We will continue to collect oral histories to ensure that we capture the voices of all generations that live, work and play in Darebin

  • Oral History - Norman Outram (62.0 KB)
  • Oral History - Phoebe Townsend (1.12 MB)
  • Oral History - Phyllis Mackennal (15.1 KB)
  • Oral History - Ron George 1 (253.1 KB)
  • Oral History - Ron George 2 (150.1 KB)
  • Oral History - Ronald Kerr (89.3 KB)
  • Oral History - Roy Keeble 1 (71.3 KB)
  • Oral History - Roy Keeble 2 (149.2 KB)
  • Oral History - Slyvia Cooke (103.3 KB)
  • Oral History - Slyvia Wayman (79.7 KB)
  • Oral History - Unknown (47.5 KB)
  • Oral History - W. B. McInnes (245.9 KB)
  • Oral History - Walter Pizzey (715.3 KB)

Preston and Reservoir in the 1930s' and 40s

Image - Photo - Howe's tannery

Recently the library completed another round of oral history interviews and collected a range of stories of Preston and Reservoir in the 1940s and 50s.

  • Oral history - Les Atkins (377.5 KB)
  • Oral history - Don Baker (53.7 KB)
  • Oral History - Don Baker and Walter Dey (25.3 KB)
  • Oral history - Donald Thompson (323.1 KB)
  • Oral history - Joan Clinnick (322.5 KB)
  • Oral history - Lexie Luly (2002) (56.9 KB)
  • Oral history - Mer Lia (2002) (199.9 KB)
  • Oral history - Maurice O'Keefe (54.1 KB)
  • Oral history - Marjorie Wheeler 01 (37.6 KB)
  • Oral history - Marjorie Wheeler 02 (65.1 KB)
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