Historical information

Yarra River Conference
History Segment
[Noted on VHS tape jackets "Due to unavoidable circumstances, the quality of these tapes in some setions is less than desired."]

The Yarra River Conference, organised by the Board of Works as part of the Centenary Celebrations, was held in the Board's Head Office Theatrette from 13-16 April, 1991.

A segment of the Conference focussed on the role that the Yarra River has played in relation to the historical development of Melbourne. Conceived and presented by a group of prominent historians as a chronological 'trip down the river in time', and profusely illustrated with slides, this segment traced the various impacts that urban and rural growth, development of marine commerce, recreational uses, and environmental problems have had on the Yarra during a century and a half of European occupation.

As no formal written paper of this combined presentation is available, these two video-tapes provide a record for anyone who has an interest in tis fascinating aspect of the Yarra's history.

The speakers who combined to present this segment are identified on the cover of Tape 2.

Tape 1 (2 hours)

1838-1863 Deputy ?? to Utility
Early navigators of the Yarra River; developing the port of Melbourne; the gold rush and its effect on the new colony; punts and bridges; water supply; pollution of the Yarra; the discovery of gold and early settlement of the Yarra valley; floods of 1839 and 1863.

1863-1891
Formation of the Harbour Trust; Coode Canal; pollution of the Yarra by industry; aborigines, gold miners, timber getters in the Upper Yarra areas; bridges; the flood of 1891.

Tape 2 ( 1 1/2 hours)

1892-1934: People Begin to See Beauty and Romance to the River
Henley-on-Yarra; realignment of the Yarra; MMBW is responsible for a sewerage system; new docks to cope with increased overseas trade; development of recreational parks; new reservoirs; timber production and timber tramways; bushfire; flood of 1934.

1935-1970: The River is Neglected Still, Except When it Proves Useful
Bushfirs of 1939; the end of many sawmills; birth of tourism; increased interest in conservation and preservation of land for open space; further augmentation of water supply system; birth of containerisation changes the port; environmental concerns gain momentum.

Speakers
Dr Tony Dingle *, Department of Economic History, Monash University
Dr Carolyn Rasmussen *, History Consultant
Prof. Graeme Davison, History Department, Monash University
Mr. Tom Griffiths, Lecturer in Public History, Monash Uiversity
Mr. Patrick Miller, History Consultant
Mr. Colin Jones, Author and Historian
* Co-authors of the Board's history, 'Vital Connections'.

Physical description

DVD (Marked DVD 3) converted to MP4 (This is VHS Cassette Part 1)
4:3 / 702 x 574
01:27:24 duration
1.73GB
Also two VHS tapes
Part 1
01:26:52 duration
5.11GB

Part 2
02:10:54 duration
11.0GB