Digitised video (2.68GB). Duration: 85 minutes. Recorded October, 2023 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)In this presentation, Ringwood and District Historical Society President Russ Haines talks about Ringwood's Irish Immigrants - a brief overview of their ancestry, why they came here, and how these pioneers added to our culture.

Digitised video (3.17GB). Duration: 56 minutes. Recorded June, 2023 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Wren Lakeman has a Bachelor of Archaeology and Masters in Professional Archaeology from LaTrobe University, finishing in 2018. She has been working as a sub-contractor for many different archaeology companies and with tickets in excavation, now works for Archstone Archaeology, providers of machinery and operators to archaeological sites all over Australia. For this talk, Wren talks about her work and outlines results of earlier excavations carried out in Ringwood.

Digitised video (3.19GB) Duration: 75 minutes. Recorded May, 2023 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Past-President of RDHS, Richard Carter, is the guru when it comes to researching properties. South Side Story examines the often forgotten - but important - part of Ringwood from Wantirna Road to Olive Grove on the southern side of Maroondah Highway, Ringwood, Victoria.

Digitised video (3.04GB) Duration: 40 minutes. Recorded August, 2018 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)In March 2017, Rachael Cottle commenced an internship with Museums Victoria. Working in the Humanities department, Rachael worked with a collection of 154 items from a World War II RAAF air crewman, Norman Henry James. Rachael shares her story of interning and volunteering at Australia’s largest public museum organisation.

Digitised video (3.80GB) Duration: 51 minutes. Recorded October, 2018 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Croydon Historical Society Vice President Geoff Arnott is an active writer and researcher of heritage, having written the history of Wedderburn and many Croydon-related books. In this talk, Geoff provides a background of his family, why he decided to look into it, and the dark secrets revealed. His story is typical of many Australian family that began with migration from the “old country” during the 1850s, trying to seek their fortune and a new life in a new country.

Digitised video (5.14GB). Duration: 61 minutes. Recorded May, 2018. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Peter Le Get, together with his wife, Mary, have been one of the few families to purchase, and live in, four homes in the suburb of Heathmont. The Le Get’s came to Heathmont when pioneer orchardists were beginning to sell their properties, which led to the sub-division of land into housing blocks. It was the time of a new community coming together, with sporting clubs starting up, churches and schools built, roads being defined or asphalted, and the proliferation of new shops and businesses.

Digitised video (4.78GB). Duration: 54 minutes. Recorded November, 2018. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)The Rogers family have been involved with the Ringwood Field Naturalists Club since its inception back in 1961. The Club has promoted natural history in the local area, through excursions, meetings and presentations to local schools. Without them, our sense of appreciation of local flora and fauna would be much poorer. Past-President Peter Rogers takes us through its wonderful history.

Digitised video (4.06GB). Duration: 48 minutes. Recorded February, 2019. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Gerry Robinson is the convenor of the Heathmont History Group (HHG). Heathmont has changed over the years and this has been detailed in HHG’s award-winning books, The 48 Courts of Heathmont, From apples to Coffee, Heathmont Street Names, and many more. This talk draws a line in the sand, looking back where we’ve been and where Heathmont is today.

Digitised video (4.04GB). Duration: 74 minutes. Recorded March, 2019. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)In this talk, Ringwood and District Historical Society President Russ Haines presents an insight into the naming of some of the district's streets.

Digitised video (2.72GB). Duration: 50 minutes. Recorded April, 2019. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Ringwood and District Historical Society were privileged to have military historian Anthony McAleer present this talk on the Monash Militia camp operating in Lilydale in February, 1914 - six months before the start of World War One - for 3000 citizen soldiers including some from Ringwood. The camp was commanded by John Monash, later General Sir John Monash.

Digitised video (339MB). Duration: 6 minutes. Recorded May, 2019 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)In this talk, Ringwood and District Historical Society President Russ Haines takes us through a brief history of George and Annis Bills horse troughs, manufactured in Australia and installed to provide relief for working horses in the first half of the 20th century. Around 700 troughs were originally distributed throughout Australia and overseas, some still existing locally today.

Digitised video (3.86GB). Duration: 75 minutes. Recorded May, 2019. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Bronwyn Koll grew up on her family’s orchard in Wonga Park. In this historical perspective on the first industry of Ringwood, Bron talks about her orchardist roots and highlights the seriousness of looking after crops with the ongoing threat of insect pests in the district, including backyard gardens.

Digitised video (4.05GB). Duration: 40 minutes. Recorded June, 2019. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presentation: Members of Heathmont History Group address a meeting of RDHS with a reading of a play telling of destruction of orchards in the 1950s/60s and the resistance of change to the landscape and family lifestyles with the onset of residential developments.

Digitised video (4.25GB). Duration: 70 minutes. Recorded July, 2019 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)In this talk, Ringwood and District Historical Society President Russ Haines takes us through East Ringwood's fascinating transition from early roots going back to working class families - some still in the area - to the village of today. East Ringwood is still seen as a quiet place, having resisted large-scale development although many larger blocks now include multiple unit dwellings.

Digitised video (2.52GB) Duration: 46 minutes. Recorded July, 2023 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Simon Elliston talks about his walking group visits to historic sites around Victoria, including an overview of Wombolano Park in Heathmont, once visited by acclaimed celebrities such as Dame Nellie Melba and Agatha Christie.

Digitised video (1.97GB). Duration: 46 minutes. Recorded August, 2019 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Helen Doxford Harris is a professional genealogist and historian of more than thirty years standing. Her interest in history was first developed when she commenced researching her family history. She has written many texts on various subjects relating to Victoria Police, the Indigenous and women’s fields of study. Helen is also current Secretary of Box Hill Historical Society. In this presentation, Helen presents a great talk on Women in Politics, highlighting the difficulty in achieving equality in representation on the political stage.

Digitised video (1.82GB). Duration: 38 minutes. Recorded September, 2019. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presentation: DNA testing is a very important tool for the family historian. It can help to verify your family tree and provide helpful clues to inform the future direction of your research. It can also sometimes help to break down those long-standing brick walls. In this talk, Peter Fry unravels the mystery of family ties using DNA.

Digitised video (1.89GB). Duration: 25 minutes. Recorded October, 2019 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)In this presentation to Russ Haines in recognition of distinguished service to history in Victoria, David Harper - RDHS Vice President, Don Garden - immediate past President of the Royal Historical Society, Jim Connor - Eltham District Historical Society, and Richard Carter - former RDHS President, speak of Russ’ untiring efforts for RDHS and other history groups during his twelve years as RDHS President.

Digitised video (6.64GB). Duration: 82 minutes. Recorded September, 2017 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Dr Gary Presland is a long-standing member of the Archaeological and Anthropological Society of Victoria, as well as a number of local historical societies, including Box Hill where he serves as President.

Digitised video (6.13GB). Duration: 80 minutes. Recorded October, 2017. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Paul Kennelly has held positions in the Bus and Coach Society of Victoria as an Archivist and has served on the committee for many years including terms as Secretary and President.

Digitised video (4.46GB). Duration: 62 minutes. Recorded November, 2017. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter - David Thompson, RHSV Archivist and contributor as curator or assistant to the curator of successive exhibitions. David curated the RHSV's most successful exhibition "Nail Can to Knighthood: the Life of Sir Macpherson Robertson" in 2015, and presents this talk on the Australian philanthropist, entrepeneur and founder of chocolate and confectionery company, MacRobertson's.

Digitised video (4.41GB). Duration: 63 minutes. Recorded March, 2018. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Gary Presland is an Australian archaeologist and writer who studied history at LaTrobe University, 1973-76 and archaeology at the University of London, 1977-79. He was a staff member of the Victoria Archaeological Survey from 1983 to April, 1988. His research interests are in the Aboriginal and natural history of Melbourne.

Digitised video (932MB). Duration: 10 minutes. Recorded October, 2018. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Ringwood and District Historical Society President Russ Haines presents this up close and personal look at, in and around Ringwood’s replica Memorial Clocktower some years after it’s re-location along Maroondah Highway from Warrandyte Road to Wantirna Road corner.

Digitised video (5.02GB). Duration: 65 minutes. Recorded June, 2018. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Sue Thompson is a well-known historian associated with Lilydale and Dame Nellie Melba and has held positions on the Lilydale & District Historical Society Committee and RHSV. Sue presents this talk about Melba's father, David Mitchell, who was born in Scotland in 1829. After completing a stonemasonry apprenticeship, he arrived in Melbourne in 1852. Rather than join the gold rushes, he set up business in Richmond as a building contractor. His first major contract was for the masonry for St. Patricks Cathedral in 1856, and from then on his busines thrived as Melbourne building boomed as a result of the gold. By 1878, Mitchell had established his estate near Lilydale and opened the limestone quarry. Introduction by Russ Haines, President, Ringwood and District Historical Society.

Digitised video (2.07GB) Duration: 50 minutes. Recorded July, 2023 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Ken James is a prolific historical writer and is a regular to our Society's meetings. In this presentation, Ken talks about another book he is writing, involving the Chinese community in the small town of Lyal, between Castlemaine and Heathcote. In 1861, there were more than 24,000 Chinese immigrants on the goldfields of Ararat, Ballarat, Beechworth, Bendigo, Castlemaine and Maryborough. The Chinese were particularly industrious, with techniques that differed widely from the Europeans. This and their physical appearance and fear of the unknown led them to being persecuted in a racist way that would be regarded as untenable today.

Digitised video (1.52GB) Duration: 34 minutes. Recorded March, 2023 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Peter Fry, automotive historian.

Digitised video (3.05GB). Duration: 58 minutes. Recorded September, 2024. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)This month's guest speaker, Peter Le Get, RDHS Secretary, has had a life full of studying and participating in many different sports. He has toured the world mostly competing in Masters athletics and counts as one of his favourite sporting hightlights - carrying the Olympic torch through Melbourne CBD as it neared the final leg in the opening ceremony of the 1956 Games at the MCG, where in later years he has also shown many visitors around as a tour guide.

Digitised video (1.63GB). Duration: 36 minutes. Recorded August, 2024. (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)In this presentation, long time RDHS member and Treasurer, Peter Fry, provides this month's informative talk on a brief history of the neighbouring hamlet of Park Orchards, and the Barro Family's association with Ringwood and Pronto Concrete.

Digitised video (4.64GB). Duration: 85 minutes. Recorded October, 2024 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)In this presentation, Ringwood and District Historical Society President Russ Haines introduces a brief history of the South Warrandyte area and focuses on the community spirit and collective support amongst women of the district.

Digitised video (1.90GB). Duration: 35 minutes. Recorded March, 2023 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Ringwood and District Historical Society President Russ Haines presents this talk on Bamford’s timber yard following the donation to the Society of the account books dating from the business’s inception in 1908 until the mid-1950s.