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YOUR HISTORY Alive for future generations in Mulgrave – Waverley – Monash, Victoria through the Waverley Historical Society (WHS). Know your home turf? Think again. Its secrets surround you, waiting for rediscovery. Local train commuters pass the motherlode daily, unaware that a treasure trove of over 160 years of pioneering spirit and district development is across the road from Mount Waverley railway station, above the Monash Public Library branch at 41 Miller Crescent, and is waiting to be tapped. WHS is here to promote and preserve the history of the Mulgrave/Waverley/Monash area and assist interested people with historical research.

St.Stephens celebrates 158 years 1865 - 2023. The oldest church in Monash City.

The Darling – Glen Waverley railway line will be 95 years old in May 2024

Next Event

Historical Talk

Tony Lee will speak about Robin Boyd’s Small homes service and how it applied to Waverley in the 1950s

2pm Sunday 26th November
WHS Rooms are above MW Library

Access by stairs or lift

Please register your planned attendance before 19th November by email: waverleyhsvic@gmail.com   

The WHS has much pleasure in announcing the publication of Then and Now 2– A Pictorial History of the City of Monash. The book, published in Aug 2020 commemorates the 50th  birthday of the WHS.

This A4 book comprises 60 pages of Then and Now (B&W and colour) images, maps and text of scenes within the City of Monash. This book complements Then and Now (1).

Available from the WHS rooms or by post.  Click here for further details and order form.   Also available from Peppercorn Gifts, Hamilton Place, MW.

Once There Was Jordanville by local historian Jeffrey Turnbull. This A4 sized book of 170 pages, describes the history of the settlement of the district by the Jordan Family through to the development of the suburb and the creation of the Housing Commission estate. This most readable text is complemented with many maps and (B&W and colour) images of the area.

Available from the WHS rooms or by post.  Click here for further details and order form.  Also available from  Peppercorn Gifts, Hamilton Place, MW.

My Glen Waverley  by longtime resident Les Bailey.  This A4 sized book contains fifty years of anecdotes and reminiscences of life in the rural township of Glen Waverley (1940-1990). These are entertainingly narrated by an eye witness and child of some early farming families (Herriot, Dunscombe and others). Click here for further details and order form. Available from the WHS rooms or by post.   

Open Days

The Waverley Historical Society Victoria invites you to join us on our OPEN DAYS, which are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month (except December and January) from 2-4 p.m. Come and visit us to browse our collection including old maps, early Waverley Gazettes, photos. Come and share your story or ask a question. Other Wednesdays 1-5 p.m. are by appointment for specific research requests. Above the Mt Waverley branch of the Monash City Public Library 41 Miller Crescent.

The Society has a number of maps, early sub-division plans and aerial photographs of the district. Many of the streets in the Waverley area originate from our early pioneers, while the name “Waverley” and some particular streets relate back to Walter Scott’s Waverley novels. If you are searching for the locality: Amstel, Ashwood, Black Flat, Brandon Park, Brentwood, Burwood, Chadstone, Clayton North, Glen Waverley, Jordanville, Mount Waverley, Mulgrave, Notting Hill, Pinewood, Springvale North, Syndal, Talbot Colony, Tally Ho, Waverley Park, Wellington, Whitburn or Wheelers Hill, then maybe we have the information you seek.

Historical Societies

Please note that the City of Monash is covered by two historical societies. For queries about the Oakleigh district and surrounds please visit our sister society History Monash.

History Monash Inc is the former Oakleigh & District Historical Society Inc., established in 1961. Their volunteers are dedicated to studying, collecting, preserving, exhibiting and publishing local history within the City of Monash, especially that of Oakleigh and surrounding districts such as Hughesdale, Huntingdale and Clayton.

Street Names

You can search the origin of street names in the Waverley area by accessing the on-line database accessible via the Monash Library. Enter the street name in the Full Catalogue. (If you can add to the street information we would welcome your contributions).