In 1955, we left our family home in Healesville to move to Melbourne where my parents believed there were some better education opportunities for the four of us. The home we lived in consisted of living accommodation plus what was then called a roadhouse – a milk bar/café combination – which my mother ran. With the move, we rented out the property.
I remember many times the six of us would climb into the car – a 1949 FX Holden, and later a 1956 FJ – to drive to Healesville to collect the rent. This meant driving from Clayton through Ringwood and onto the Maroondah Highway, across the Yarra River, through Lilydale and finally into Healesville.
One clear memory is of the approach to Lilydale, driving down the hill overlooking the limestone quarry then over the railway line.
My sister always got to be in the front seat – she claimed she would be “carsick” if she was in the back seat. Occasionally my older brother used that excuse, and managed to be in the front seat. My younger brother and I never got that coveted position. I was never sick, so it was considered that it was not necessary.
One clear memory is of the approach to Lilydale, driving down the hill overlooking the limestone quarry then over the railway line.
The roads were not quite the same as they are today of course. The crossing of the Yarra River was at an area that we all called the “Yarra Flats”. It was in fact the flood plain for the river. The road was pretty much at ground level – today it has been raised much higher, above the flood level. I remember one occasion when we headed off to Healesville, I assume during late winter or early spring. There had been a lot of rain and the Yarra River was in flood. We arrived at the “Yarra Flats”, only to find that the road was under water. Another car had come across from the opposite direction successfully. I cannot remember who was driving, my mother or father, but they tried to drive through the water. Cars were even more susceptible to water, and the car engine stopped. Fortunately, there was a car that had come through who was able to help us. Needless to say, we turned around and went back home – no travel to Healesville that weekend!
Joy Shirley, July 2017
I remember many times the six of us would climb into the car – a 1949 FX Holden, and later a 1956 FJ – to drive to Healesville to collect the rent. This meant driving from Clayton through Ringwood and onto the Maroondah Highway, across the Yarra River, through Lilydale and finally into Healesville.
One clear memory is of the approach to Lilydale, driving down the hill overlooking the limestone quarry then over the railway line.
My sister always got to be in the front seat – she claimed she would be “carsick” if she was in the back seat. Occasionally my older brother used that excuse, and managed to be in the front seat. My younger brother and I never got that coveted position. I was never sick, so it was considered that it was not necessary.
One clear memory is of the approach to Lilydale, driving down the hill overlooking the limestone quarry then over the railway line.
The roads were not quite the same as they are today of course. The crossing of the Yarra River was at an area that we all called the “Yarra Flats”. It was in fact the flood plain for the river. The road was pretty much at ground level – today it has been raised much higher, above the flood level. I remember one occasion when we headed off to Healesville, I assume during late winter or early spring. There had been a lot of rain and the Yarra River was in flood. We arrived at the “Yarra Flats”, only to find that the road was under water. Another car had come across from the opposite direction successfully. I cannot remember who was driving, my mother or father, but they tried to drive through the water. Cars were even more susceptible to water, and the car engine stopped. Fortunately, there was a car that had come through who was able to help us. Needless to say, we turned around and went back home – no travel to Healesville that weekend!
Joy Shirley, July 2017
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