Hawthorn Historical Society

24/10/2026

What a week! Thank you to our volunteers. Thank you to everyone who came. It’s been wonderful meeting so many people who love history, want to share stories about Hawthorn, and offer their own memories. Hilda and Henry, our mascot owls, have had a field day! Many thanks to City of Boroondara for their support. John PesuttoDr Monique Ryan Wes Gault

22/10/2026

Fourth day of Hawthorn History Week, and 30 people braved the ghastly heat to hear about some of Hawthorn’s Women of Influence in the air-conditioned splendour of the Library Lounge at the Hawthorn Town Hall. See you all tomorrow - the anniversary of a special day when Hawthorn was gazetted as a city in 1890.

Lord Hopetoun, Governor of Victoria, visited Hawthorn for the celebrations marking its elevation to city status. He had turned 30 only a month earlier and had been in Victoria for less than a year. His attendance gave vice-regal recognition to an important occasion in Hawthorn’s civic life.

The occasion was commemorated by local watchmaker and jeweller Albert E. Brown of Burwood Road, who issued a medal showing Hawthorn Town Hall on one side. The reverse records both Hawthorn’s proclamation as a city and the Governor’s visit, with the date 22 October 1890.

21/10/2026

Third day of Hawthorn History Week! Huge turnout for the Talk on how to discover the story of your house today. Copious note taking by the audience and plenty of people signing up for future house research workshops. Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers. Thanks to John Pesutto for dropping in and meeting Hilda and Henry. See you tomorrow for Women of Influence at 12noon. We will be in the Library Lounge at 11am.

20/10/2026

Second day of Hawthorn History Week and our attention was on how Hawthorn changed from village to city. Society historian Liz Yewers took us on an armchair discovery of all things Hawthorn from roads to brickworks, gardens to streets and everything on between. A wonderful adventure!

19/10/2026

What a glorious first day of Hawthorn History Week! The Library Lounge at Hawthorn Town Hall looked stunning. Steady stream of people coming through and taking time to enjoy the photos, fun facts and contribute their memories to our books. Even Hilda and Henry, our owl mascots, joined in.

We are at the library lounge every day this week from 11am-2pm. Drop in. Join up. Learn more about what we do to keep Hawthorn’s history alive.

We will add more pictures gradually!

16/10/2026

Have you ever wondered about the history of your house, street, school, shop or another Hawthorn building?
Bring your question to Hawthorn History Week and talk to one of the Hawthorn Historical Society’s researchers.
We may know the answer — or at least where to start looking.
Hawthorn History Week begins Monday.
11am - 2pm
Library Lounge, Hawthorn Arts Centre,
360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn

14/10/2026

For over twenty years the talented artist Margaret Picken created pen-and -ink drawings of houses that appeared in newspaper advertisements and real estate brochures. By 2005, digital photography and internet advertising had taken over and Margaret has generously donated her work to the relevant historical societies of Boroondara. The Hawthorn Historical Society now holds hundreds of her original drawings some of which are on display at an exhibition at the Camberwell Corridor Camberwell Library from 28 September to 8 November.
We also have a mini exhibition of her work in our rooms- 25 Inglesby Road, Camberwell and will have some of her work on show at the Hawthorn History Week.
For further information about this art work read the story of our website. https://www.hawthornhistoricalsociety.com.au/drawing-hawthorn-margaret-picken-and-a-disappearing-profession/

13/10/2026

Nine seats left.

Three remarkable women. Three very different lives. All with strong connections to Hawthorn.

Meet Dame Kate Campbell, Doris Blackburn and Nancy Weir, and discover how their lives open a window onto the wider contribution women have made to Hawthorn through medicine, reform, education, civic life and the arts.

Women of Influence will make the case for a fuller history of Hawthorn, in which women’s work is recognised as part of what shaped this community.

Thursday 22 October | 12.00–12.45 pm
Library Lounge, Hawthorn Arts Centre
360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn
Tickets $10 — bookings essential
Book: https://www.trybooking.com/DOOBF

Part of Hawthorn History Week, 19–23 October 2026.

Discover the lives of three of Hawthorn’s extraordinary Women of Influence-Dame Dr Kate Campbell, Doris Blackburn and Nancy Weir- and learn more...

09/10/2026

There are buildings we walk past hundreds of times without knowing what happened there.
Businesses that disappeared.
People whose stories have almost been forgotten.
And familiar streets that once looked very different.
Come and take another look at Hawthorn during Hawthorn History Week.

19–23 October 2026
11am-2pm
Library Lounge, Hawthorn Arts Centre
360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn

09/10/2026

Have you spotted James, our Treasurer, doing flyer drops down streets around Glenferrie Road? They are a wonderful reminder of Hawthorn History Week. If you would like flyers to hand out before the Week starts, please get in touch: [email protected]