Aug 29, 2023 2 min read

Community Involvement Through Progress Associations

Progress Associations were local communities pulling together

Council bought the land, Eaglemont Progress Association bought and installed the original play equipment at The Righi Reserve playground

Our area has a long tradition of Progress Associations that operated as both advocacy bodies to authorities and to directly undertake public works.

These Progress Associations provided genuine community engagement with the formal local government structures and activities, with politicians and with the State public service.

Despite early misgivings the Heidelberg Council saw the value of the Progress Associations, which were genuine community organisations operating at a local level.

The railways were frequently approached on all manner of fares, timetables, facilities - and even noise complaints!

Records of the several local Progress Associations held by Heidelberg Historical Society are fragmented but fortunately the various local newspapers regularly published reports of their meetings and endeavours.

💡

The Argus, 22.02.1929, page 12

HEIDELBERG ROAD WORKS.

The Country Roads Board has informed the Heidelberg Council that an additional £l,000 has been allocated for purposes of maintenance on the Heidelberg-Eltham road. The council is also considering the construction of a roadway between Eaglemont station and Studley road. The Ivanhoe Progress Association has urged that this work should be undertaken.

Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser, 19.01.1940, Page 7
Diamond Creek

PROGRESS ASSOCIATION MEETING

Affiliation With Central Committee
Sixteen members of the Diamond Creek Progress Association met in the Public Hall last Thursday night for the first meeting to be held since November last.
The President (Mr. H. Alston) who occupied the chair, expressed deep appreciation of the presence of Cr. Jessop, of Greensborough.

A letter was received from the Secretary of the Heidelberg District Association Central Committee, setting out the aims of the Central Committee and asking if Diamond Creek intended to affiliate.
Cr. Jessop: "Greensborough has decided to join the Central Committee and although the meeting place (Mr Kingston's home at Eaglemont) is a bit far for your representatives, I would advise Diamond Creek to affiliate."
"This Central Committee is just starting and it is quite possible that when it is functioning smoothly the Heidelberg City Council will find a room for it in the Town Hall. Councils once frowned upon Progress Associations, but we do not do so now."
"The council appreciates the Association's efforts to improve the district and welcomes any of your suggestions. We realise that we councillors are not the only people with bright ideas."
Mr. H. Alston: "We should join because if we do not we may miss some good opportunities to get our share of improvements."
Mr. N. Gillies: "Yes, and if we don't join, the Central Committee might decide to do something, unknown to us, which would be detrimental to Diamond Creek."
A motion by Mr. S. Ward, seconded by Mr. N. Gillies, that the Diamond Creek Progress Association affiliate with the Heidelberg District Central Committee was carried.