Paradise Lost

We take our local landscape for granted nowadays.

Familiarity breeds contempt sort of stuff.

It was not always so.

Following on from our recent articles on the Yarra, and the hapless Boulevard road works, Nilss of Innsbruck has tracked down this 1949 ode to Ivanhoe and Eaglemont written by the motoring writer of the Herald.

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The Herald, 15.12.1949, Page 13

‌‌MOTOR TOURS—No. 3

‌‌Unfinished Yarra Boulevard‌‌

By DOUGLAS DAY, Manager of The Herald Touring Club.‌‌

Very few motorists have discovered the unfinished section of the Yarra Boulevard between Burke Road North and Banksia Street.‌‌It is the most picturesque part of Australia's most scenic drive and certainly our best local run.‌‌

Many motorists have covered odd sections, others have given up in despair at trying to negotiate uncompleted sections at Kew and Alphington.‌‌

This is a pleasant afternoon or day run of 35 miles of delightful river views with numerous picnic spots and even a children's playground.‌‌

Follow Alexandra Ave. from St. Kilda Road past the Botanic Gardens, across Church Street bearing left at Como Park to Grange Road.‌‌ This prelude along the Yarra provides atmosphere for the Boulevard, which begins just after crossing the Grange Road Bridge.‌‌

The sweeping course of the Yarra is followed, and after passing under the Swan Street Bridge, well-kept lawns make an attractive setting to Bridge Road, Richmond, which ends the first section.‌‌

After crossing the Bridge Road Bridge, the tram lines are followed to the left along Church Street to Kew Junction, 1 1/4 miles distant, where an acute left turn is made along Studley Park Road.‌‌

One mile further on, just after passing "Raheen," Dr. Mannix's home, bear left along Nolan Avenue to Walmer Avenue. Turn left along Walmer Avenue, then right to rejoin the Boulevard.‌‌ A children's playground is half a mile further on.‌‌

After passing under Studley Park Road, one is confronted with a panoramic view of the green Yarra Bend Golf Links, attractive homes seen through steep cuttings with the willowed river banks.‌‌

This is one of the most photographed Boulevard sections.‌‌ There is a drive off to a natural picnic spot 1 1/4 miles past Studley Park Road.

This four mile section of Boulevard ends at a "T" junction with the Chandler Highway.‌‌ Turn left across the Yarra then right along Heidelberg Road. The Boulevard is rejoined about 100 yards after crossing the Darebin Creek Bridge.

The bitumen surface ends at Burke Road North.‌‌ The unfinished sections, from Burke Road North to Banksia Street provides an alluring picture of green river flats set against the River with the blue hills through Templestowe and Warrandyte in the background.‌‌‌‌

The run home may be made by way of Heidelberg or Burke Roads. Some motorists may prefer to retrace the Boulevard.

"It is the most picturesque part of Australia's most scenic drive and certainly our best local run."

High praise indeed.

Forget your sparkling Sydney Harbour, sandstone and ferries. Forget winding up to a snowcapped Mt Wellington. The expansive views of gulf, beaches and plains from Adelaide's Mt Lofty are relegated.

"The unfinished sections, from Burke Road North to Banksia Street provides an alluring picture of green river flats set against the River with the blue hills through Templestowe and Warrandyte in the background.‌‌‌‌"

Aaaah the tranquility, the ambience, the serenity of our local river environment.

When did we stop appreciating it?

Our "neighbourhood character" is about to be assessed, at the very least, and possibly assailed, by parties more concerned for the interests of "future residents" than with current invested residents.

Remember our neighbourhood character is not restricted to the fences, verandahs, porches and gargoyles of the built environment.