Our newspaper

The Warrandyte Diary was established in 1970 as a small, local newsletter. Although it has developed over the years into a tabloid newspaper with professional production standards, it has retained its strong community character. The Diary is produced by volunteers and has a single aim: to serve the community.

Financed solely through advertising, it jealously guards its non-profit, non-commercial status and its independent voice. The Diary carries a strong editorial bias towards the people, environment and character of the place it serves. 

A special place

Warrandyte (approx. population 8,000) is situated on the Yarra river, some 35 km from Melbourne. The site of the first official gold discovery in Victoria--in 1851--it soon established its character as a small, isolated community situated in a beautiful river valley.  Around the year 1900 the miners, orchardists and small farmers were joined by a number of young painters who were founding the Australian nationalist arts tradition. 

Although now a commuter suburb of Melbourne, the natural beauty, community spirit and sense of independence of Warrandyte has been largely retained. The Warrandyte Diary is the voice and true expression of this spirit.

The night the star was thrown

The Wurundjeri dreamtime story told how Bunjil, the great eagle, the all-powerful, ever-watchful creator of the world, had once gazed down upon his people from the star Altair and seen their wrongdoing. Awaiting their return, he, with a mighty crash of thunder, hurled down a star to destroy them. Where the star struck it created the gorge we see today. Bunjil's Warrandyte, the place where Bunjil had hurled down the star to punish his people.