This archaeological survey of th Plenty Valley was conducted by Isabel Ellender in 1989 for the Ministry of Planning and Environment. The area studied is north of Greensborough to Whittlesea. A number of Aboriginal sites were identified and recommendations made for the future.103 p., illus., maps. Plastic spiral binding.plenty river, aboriginal heritage sites

The Victorian Archaelogical Survey managed this study onbehalf of the Ministry for Planning & Environment. The study was intended to provide a brief history of Aboriginal and European occupation and use of the area and an outline of the geography of the chief areas of cultural heritage concern, with recommendations for protection of significant cultural sites and recommendations for further research, survey and consultation.115 p., photocopy, unbound. Illus., mapsplenty river, fiona weaver, victorian archaeological survey

This old apple tree situated beside the Plenty River Trail at Greensborough has been associated with Melbourne Founder John Batman. The concrete block is inscribed with the date 1841, when the tree was thought to have been planted. Known as Batman's Tree, this apple tree is on the bank of the Plenty River near Leischa Court, Greensborough. It is said that Melbourne Founder John Batman may have planted the tree and later signed his treaty here with the Aboriginal people. It still bears fruit and its recorded on the National Trust's Register of Significant Trees, as the oldest apple tree in Victoria. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p7This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, greensborough, john batman tree, plenty river trail

This old apple tree situated beside the Plenty River Trail at Greensborough has been associated with Melbourne Founder John Batman. Known as Batman's Tree, this apple tree is on the bank of the Plenty River near Leischa Court, Greensborough. It is said that Melbourne Founder John Batman may have planted the tree and later signed his treaty here with the Aboriginal people. It still bears fruit and its recorded on the National Trust's Register of Significant Trees, as the oldest apple tree in Victoria. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p7 Was This John Batman's Tree? An apple tree on the bank of the Plenty River near Leischa Court, Greensborough, is believed to have belonged to Melbourne’s founder, John Batman. It could also stand where John Batman signed his famous treaty with the Aboriginal people.1 Known as Batman’s Tree, it still bears fruit and is recorded on the National Trust’s Register of Significant Trees, as the oldest apple tree in Victoria. It is ‘Believed to have been planted by either John Batman, (c1837) or Martin Batey (1841)’.2 In 1966 a Horticultural Adviser, Mr Rolfe, after extensive questioning of aged Greensborough residents, wrote: ‘it thus seems fairly certain that the old tree on the banks of the Plenty River is an original Batman apple tree’. Mr Rolfe said that the tree stood on a spot formerly called Wattle Bend: ‘one of the sites claimed to be where John Batman signed his famous treaty with the aboriginals. ‘My main source of information has been interviews with people who attended school in the Greensborough area from 70 to 80 years ago. Their parents were close to the days when Melbourne was founded so information passed on by word of mouth.’ Around 1920 the tree was struck by lightning and a concrete block was placed in the split. The concrete is inscribed with the date 1841 when the tree was thought to have been planted. Not everyone agrees with Mr Rolfe however. Former secretary of the Nillumbik Historical Society, Kevin Patterson, said there was no written evidence to support the claim. But he said the tree had been known to locals for decades as Batman’s Tree. In the 1920s a holiday resort in the area advertised: ‘Come to Greensborough and see John Batman’s tree’. Mr Patterson said it was thought that when Batman died in 1839 his land was sold and a Greensborough man Frederick Flintoff bought seedlings from his orchard for £1 each. This was the only one left.3 Mr Rolfe said: ‘If planted in 1837, or even a few years later, it undoubtedly is the oldest living apple tree in Victoria. Title records of the property on which the tree grows show that the land was a crown grant of F D Wickham in 1840. Mr Wickham was reputed to be a friend of John Batman. All the early settlers prior to the crown grants were squatters, by virtue of Batman’s treaty. This treaty was revoked by the then New South Wales Government, so it is likely that Wickham or an agent was in occupation before 1840. ‘According to Mrs Mavis Latham (John Batman – Great Australian Series, Oxford University Press) when Batman came to Port Phillip in 1835 he brought fruit trees with him. He failed to get a crown grant for his selection on Collins Street, which included 20 acres (eight ha) of orchard and cultivation. His residence became the Government Office and Melbourne grew from wild bushland in 1835 to a town of over 20,000 people by 1841. It is possible Batman visited Wickham and presented him with a tree.’ However a Flintoff descendant in 1933 said Frederick Flintoff ordered his bailiff Martin Batey to transplant the Batman Tree from the Spencer Street orchard to its present site as a memorial to his friend Batman.4 Mr Rolfe spoke to many people, including descendants of the Bateys and Flintoffs and pupils at the Greensborough Primary School. Many had gained their information from a ‘very highly respected’ head master Lewis Amiet at the Greensborough School from 1895 to 1917. He must have gained this information from residents in the district and had this information been incorrect, the parents of the children would have promptly corrected him.’ One woman who attended the school before Mr Amiet’s appointment, said the previous teacher also taught that the tree on the Plenty River was a Batman tree, Mr Rolfe said.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, greensborough, john batman tree, plenty river trail

King James Bible published Aug. 1934 Family Bible of Robert William Whatmough and Mary Whatmough (nee Hill), married August 4, 1839 in Manchester, Lancashire, England and migrated to Australia with baby daughter Jemima, arriving Port Phillip Bay 19 February 1841. Inscribed in ink on inside front cover: Jemima Whatmough born January 18th 1840 on Saturday Hemmet Whatmough born March 26th 1842 on Saturday Job Whatmough born May 11th 1844 Saturday Died April 12th 1845 Sarah Whatmough born September 17th 1845 James Whatmough born June 28, 1847 Died February 1st 1848 Margaret Whatmough born June 15th 1848 Died March 24th 1850 Jessy Whatmough born January 26, 1851 Inscribed in ink on inside front cover facing page: William Jordison’s Thirty knoul (?) Bok (?) 25th – 1839 ROBERT WHATMOUGH BOOK Presented by Mr. Ferguson Robert Whatmough Presented By the Teacher Mary Ann Whatmough born September 4th 1853 Died November 11th Friday 1853 Benjamin Whatmough born 25 July 1854 Died January 2 1855 Inscribed in ink on inside rear cover facing page over: 1852 This Book Belongs to Mr. Robt. Whatmough On the River Plenty September 16th And in pencil: presented by mr sanger Jemima Whatmough married Robert Fielding on June 23, 1859 at Fitzroy, Victoria According Steve Whatmough (and sister Barbara, email 5/10/2024), Hemmet Whatmough was known as Robert Emmett Whatmough and was always refered to as Emmett within the family.benjamin whatmough, holy bible, james whatmough, jemima fielding (nee whatmough), jessy whatmough, job whatmough, margaret whatmough, mary ann whatmough, mary whatmough (nee hill), robert whatmough, robert william watmough, sarah whatmough, tom fielding collection, plenty river, pioneer family, hemmett whatmough, robert emmett whatmough

A series of talks held October - December 2005 at the Eltham Living and Learning Centre which allowed Nillumbik Historical Societies to record the verbal history of the area with some of the well known residents of Nillumbik and surrounds Recorded and edited by Marie Ryan of Plenty Valley FM Speaker: Neisha Forbes 15th November 2005 This session covers the early settlement of Plenty. Learn about the mills situated on the Plenty River from the 1840s. Early industry such as fruit growing, poultry farming, goldmining, rabbit skinning and how they contributed to the development and employment of the area and in the case of rabbit skinning the development of other industries in Victoria during the Depressionvideo recording