• Thurs 2 April  Meet Up and Make It craft group, from 1.30 in The Dish.  All welcome - bring a project, some mending OR just come for a chat.
• Sat 18 April  Working bee.  Meet at 43a Sherwood Road at 9.30 am.
• Wed 29 April Working bee at Ryder-Cheshire Homes, 10-14 Donaldson St Ivanhoe at 9.30 am.   Homemade cakes for morning tea afterwards, thanks to CWA Alphington.

Please note that in May and June there will no 'last Wednesday' working bees, only those on the 3rd Saturday of each month.  

This rather long newsletter contains an Invitation from the Ivanhoe Reading Circle, evidence of some colour among our work, links to a number of Banyule consultations, some history from Nilss, and of course, Dogs of Eaglemont, so keep scrolling down.

Special event for booklovers - the Ivanhoe Reading Circle is holding an open event on Tuesday 5 May, when prizewinning local author Sophie Laguna will be the guest speaker.  More information on their website https://ivanhoereadingcircle.org/ or scroll to the end of this newsletter.

Autumn Colour

Council consultations

Banyule Council is seeking feedback on:

• people to join the Dogs in Banyule Working Group (see Dogs of Eaglemont for more).  Closing Tuesday 31st March
• Banyule's Inclusive Economy Strategy, closing 1 April.
• Art in Public Spaces, closing 5 April.
• The draft library design and layout for the Olympic Leisure Centre, closing 16 April 2026.
• the concept design for the western part of Ivanhoe Park, with youth space, open to 19 April.

Visit Shaping Banyule https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/ for more on these things.

Some History from Nilss

Below is a description of an 1890s train trip from the city to Heidelberg.  This was long before you could get on or off at Eaglemont.

Dogs of Eaglemont #91

Dogs of Eaglemont #91

If you’d like to join the Banyule Council Dogs in Banyule working group you still have a couple of days to get your expression of interest in, it closes on Tuesday 31 March. For more information follow this link https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/DAMPlan

Eaglemont's VoicePippa Griffith

Ivanhoe Reading Circle

SAVE THE DATE Fellow Booklovers The Ivanhoe Reading Circle in collaboration with Yarra Plenty Regional Library-Ivanhoe Branch are delighted to invite you to two open meetings, free-of-charge in 2026.   For further information about the Ivanhoe Reading Circle meetings and syllabus please visit our website at: https://ivanhoereadingcircle.org/ We hope to welcome you to our 2026 open meetings as follows: Open Meeting No 1 Date: Tuesday 5th May 2026. Annual Speaker: Sofie Laguna Sofie Laguna has written five novels for adults. They have won numerous literary awards including the Miles Franklin Award, the Colin Roderick Award and the Indie Award. She has also been shortlisted for the Stella Prize, the ALS Gold Medal, the Voss Award, the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award. The Underworld, Sofie’s fifth adult novel was published in 2025. Sofie has also written many books for children. They have been published in the US and the UK and in translation in Europe and Asia. Many have been named Honour and Notable Books by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Website: www.sofielaguna.com Open Meeting No 2 Date: Tuesday 1st September 2026. Reading Circle Members will present a paper on Hannah Kent’s non-fiction masterpiece  Always Home, Always Homesick   A formal invitation and registration details will be shared nearer to the date Feel free to distribute widely to your family, friends, and fellow book lovers Visit our website

Copyright (C) 2026 Ivanhoe Reading Circle. All rights reserved.

If you'd like to join the Banyule Council Dogs in Banyule working group you still have a couple of days to get your expression of interest in, it closes on Tuesday 31 March.  For more information follow this link https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/DAMPlan

• Saturday 21 March will be on Alandale Road,  meet under the oak tree opposite 48 Alandale Rd.   9.30 am start.
• Wednesday 25 March meet at 43a Sherwood Rd, 9.30 am start.

Please note: this is different to the arrangements posted in the last newsletter.

Tree removal by Metro Trains in Sherwood Road

We have been advised that Metro Trains will be working close to the substation on Sherwood Road on this Saturday 21 March, removing some trees under power lines and near the rail tracks.

• Wed 25 Feb  Working Bee at Ryder Cheshire Homes, 10-14 Donaldson St Ivanhoe.  Meet at 9.30 am.  Home made cakes for morning tea afterwards
• Thurs 5 March Meet Up and Make It craft group.  Meet from 1.30 at The Dish.  All welcome, bring a project, some mending or come for a chat.
• Sat 21 March Working Bee Meet at 43a Sherwood Rd 9.30am start (back to regular time!)
• Wed 25 March Working bee 9.30am Alandale Rd - location to be advised

Thank you

Many thanks to those people who regularly turn up to our Working Bees, which at this time of year mostly involve watering increasingly stressed plants, trying to keep them alive until the next real rain.  Even though we have had a couple of rain 'events' recently (and as I write this we have just had a very welcome 10 mls) they have not been enough to make a difference to how dry the soil is, as it is now 2 months of hot and sometimes windy weather since we had any really decent rain.  And thanks also to those who do regular watering between working bees.

Banyule Volunteer Awards are open now, closing on 15 March

Do you know someone who volunteers?  Please consider nominating them for an award.  Guidelines and the link to the nomination form are available on council’s website  https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Volunteer-awards

Awards will be presented at the Banyule Volunteer Celebration event during National Volunteers Week on Wednesday 20 May at The Great Hall, The Centre Ivanhoe

More Council news:

• Consultation on the Inclusive Banyule Plan 2026-2033 closes on 1 March 2026.  There's a drop-in Information Session this Tuesday 24 February 10am - 12noon at the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub.  For more information follow this link:  https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/Inclusive_2026-2033
• Powlett St Reserve (in Heidelberg) Masterplan is being updated, and feedback closes on 1 March.  For more information follow this link https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/PowlettStReserve

From Nilss:

I found this old cardboard (Edmondson) ticket online. You could still buy tickets at Eaglemont station from a person, not a machine, in the early 1980s. With this ticket you could make a return trip by train from Eaglemont to Fairfield or Watsonia sometime between 1981 and 1983. The price of the ticket was $ 1.40.

Other Historical stuff:

At the same time as this Historical Society Exhibition, Banyule Council has paintings from the Heidelberg School, on long term load from the National Gallery of Australia, on display at the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Centre in Art Gallery 275 .  Open Tuesday-Sunday 10-5

From February 2026 to August 2027, these paintings will be displayed in Art Gallery 275 alongside a series of curated responses. These exhibitions are conceived as interpretive counterpoints, extending the significance of the historical paintings, and fostering a dialogue between historical and contemporary perspectives.

With the exception of brief periods of closure required for exhibition changeovers, the Heidelberg School paintings on loan from the National Gallery of Australia will remain on continuous display through August 2027.

Dogs of Eaglemont #90

Eaglemont’s Voice - the home of Friends of Eaglemont Village

Eaglemont's VoicePippa Griffith

Working Bee Correction: The last newsletter listed the next Working Bee as 14 February, when it will actually be on 21 February, so please adjust your diaries!  This year we have changed our regular time to the third Saturday of the month.  9am start, meeting at 43a Sherwood Road.  

And CONGRATULATIONS to Eaglemont resident Emeritus Professor Marcus Wigan AM.  Marcus was appointed Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to engineering, to road safety, and to tertiary education, in this year's Australia Day Honours List.

Other dates:

• 6 February - feedback on the budget closes
• 9 February - first Council meeting of 2026
• 14 February - Twilight Sounds at Heidelberg Park Oval

For more information on any of these visit Council's website/Shaping Banyule (for the budget).

• Wed 28 Jan Working Bee, 9 am start, meet at 43a Sherwood Rd
• Thurs 5 Feb  Meet Up and Make It craft group, from 1.30 in The Dish
• Sat 14 Feb Working Bee 9 am start, meet at 43a Sherwood Rd
• Wed 25 Feb Working Bee at Ryder Cheshire Homes 9.30 start

Happy New Year

If you haven't thrown out your Christmas cards and would like to donate them to a good cause, we will pass them on to Ryder Cheshire Homes.  A volunteer there creates brand new cards from them, as a fundraiser.  Contact Pippa on 0488091396 to arrange collection.

Volunteer awards

It was a lovely surprise to be reminded that last year we received a Jagajaga Community Volunteer award, with our picture on the front side of the 2026 flyer.  If you know a volunteer, or a voluntary group, doing great work in Jagajaga consider nominating them for this year by contacting Kate Thwaites' office.  Details on the flyer.

Banyule Council feedback

If you have feedback for Council on the Capital Works Program, Initiatives Program and the Revenue and Rating Plan, it needs to be submitted by 6 February.  More information, including a recording of an information session, on Shaping Banyule https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/buildingthebudget

Sherwood House (Ivanhoe Grammar)

Nilss found this photo on-line.  It is in the State Library Victoria collection, and the house dates from 1864/65.  This photo shows Lower Heidelberg Rd across the centre, and what must be The Ridgeway leading up to the house.  The area looks very different now!  

This link takes you to the Victorian Heritage Datatbase Report on the house. https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/31451/download-report

Dogs of Eaglemont #89

Eaglemont’s Voice - the home of Friends of Eaglemont Village

Eaglemont's VoicePippa Griffith

Reminder:  The first working bee of 2026 is coming up on Saturday 17 January starting at 9am (earlier than usual to beat the heat).  Meet on Alandale Rd opposite Wimbledon.  All welcome!   We have moved our regular Saturday working bee to the 3rd Saturday of the month.

Please help us by watering the plants.  As it has been so hot and dry for a while now many of our plants are getting stressed so if you can help with watering them please do so.  Many thanks to those who have already been doing this.

In the Village

Aniseed cafe (reduced hours) and the Organic Market have reopened following the holiday break.  The Dish will reopen on 22 January.  Eaglemont Cellars, Crave Lab Thai and Fish & Chips are open their regular hours.

Banyule Council consultations : Budget and Sporting Facilities

Budget

Feedback closes 6 February.  There will be a drop-in session where you can talk to staff at the Library in Ivanhoe on Thursday 22 January 2026 between 5pm and 6.30pm (also in Greensborough at the WaterMarc foyer 2-3.30 pm on Tuesday 20 January).  A recording of an information session, and other information can be found on the link below or on Shaping Banyule.

Sporting Facilities Users Guide and Allocation Policy

Feedback on the Sporting Facilities Users Guide and Allocation Policy closes this Sunday 18 January, for more information and the online survey follow the link below.

Building Banyule’s Budget

Give feedback on the draft Capital Works Program, the draft Initiatives Program, and changes to the way Council raises funds for services.

Shaping Banyule

Sporting Facilities Users Guide and Allocation Policy

SFUGSporting Facilities Users Guide and Allocation PolicySporting Facilities Users Guide

Shaping Banyule

• Wed 31 December   Working Bee, 9.30 am start.  Meet at 43a Sherwood Rd
• Thurs 8 Jan   Meet Up and Make It craft group  Meet from 1.30 pm at Be Good cafe, East Ivanhoe as The Dish will be closed.  All welcome, just come for a coffee and chat if you don't have a project to work on.
• Sat 17 Jan  Working Bee  9am start note slightly earlier time  Meet on Alandale, opposite Wimbledon Grove

Invitation to Christmas Day lunch

This is always popular so if you are unable to book on line at this late stage please call 8582 9501.

Eaglemont over the holiday period

• Aniseed Cafe/Artisan's Hub closed 25 Dec.  Reopening Monday 12 Jan with limited hours
• The Dish cafe closed 25 Dec, reopening Thursday 22 Jan
• Fish and Chips, open as usual except Christmas Day
• Eaglemont Cellars closed 25, 26 and 31 December and 1 January.  
• Organic Market will be open Mon-Wed 9-4.30 and Sat 9-12 from tomorrow until New Year's Eve, then closed 1-12 Jan, reopening on Tues 13th
• Crave Lab Thai closed 24 Dec reopening 2 January.

Message from our President:

I want to wish all our Friends of Eaglemont Village best wishes for a safe and enjoyable Christmas, wherever you're planning to spend the break.
I also want to send a message of thanks to all our supporters, working bee volunteers and committee members for the wonderful work you do in helping us to enhance the area around Eaglemont station and village, and help us to advocate for and promote Eaglemont.
We are fortunate to have such a wonderful community amongst Friends of Eaglemont.
We look forward to seeing you at our working bees in the new year and of course getting together for a well earned cuppa afterwards.
Best wishes and Merry Christmas
Steve Cullen President, Friends of Eaglemont Village

THANK YOU

People who have helped us with various gardening tasks include Kenna, Evelyn and Yannee.  They've spent an hour a week over several months volunteering with us for their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.  We are very grateful for their help with LOTS of weeding and some watering, planting, propagating and mulching along both Sherwood Rd and Alandale Rd.  All the lovely rain we've had this year meant the weeds grew prolifically, and the extra hands and working bee time the girls put in has meant we've been able to get some semblance of control!

Save your Christmas Cards for Ryder Cheshire Homes

Instead of putting your cards in the yellow bin after Christmas, please consider donating them to Ryder Cheshire, where they will be recycled into lovely new cards which help them raise funds.  Contact Pippa on 0488091396 about collection.  The link below takes you to the latest Ryder Cheshire Homes newsletter.

News from Ryder Cheshire Homes

FoEV has been working in the gardens of Ryder Cheshire Homes in Ivanhoe for several years now. Here is their latest newsletter. For a downloadable version scroll to the end. Ryder Cheshire Newsletter SUMMER 2025 Ryder-Cheshire Newsletter SUMMER 2025.pdf2 MB download-circle

Eaglemont's VoicePippa Griffith

And finally, a Christmasy Dogs of Eaglemont

Dogs of Eaglemont #88

Eaglemont’s Voice - the home of Friends of Eaglemont Village

Eaglemont's VoicePippa Griffith

FoEV has been working in the gardens of Ryder Cheshire Homes in Ivanhoe for several years now.  Here is their latest newsletter.  For a downloadable version scroll to the end.

In this Newsletter you will find: things happening in the Village including 3 new businesses opening; some information about Council stuff; and scroll right to the end for this month's Dogs of Eaglemont.

Coming Up:

• Thursday 4 Dec Meet Up and Make It craft group, 1.30 pm The Dish
• Sat 6 December Working bee.  9.30 start. Meet at the 90° carpark on Alandale Rd.  
• Wed 31 Dec Working bee 9.30 start, meet at 43a Sherwood Rd.

Please note that from January 2026 the Saturday morning working bee will move to the 3rd Saturday of the month, so the first one will be 17th January.

Fed up with 2-party politics?

Voices of Jagajaga, 'a grass-roots community group ... aimed at bridging the gap between people and politicians', are hosting a supporters meeting on Tuesday 2 December from 7-8.30 pm in the Eaglemont Cellars. For more information visit their website voicesofjagajaga.com.

Eaglemont Christmas Festival this Sunday

The Eaglemont Christmas Market is being held on Sunday 7 December, 10am - 2pm in the Village.  Family fun with activities for the kids, street performers, 40+ stalls, and of course, Santa and Christmas shopping!

3 new businesses opening this week!!

The Organic Market opened on Saturday for some steady trade.  Closed Mondays, open 9am - 4pm Tuesday-Saturday.

From Monday there'll be a car workshop back in the Village, and from Tuesday we will be able to get Thai food again!

Council meeting Monday 1 December - last one until February

Council is set to adopt the Bell Street Mall Masterplan & Design Guide at tomorrow's meeting, along with the Corporate Emissions Reduction Plan 2025-2029.  For the full agenda follow this link https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/About-us/Councillors-and-Council-meetings/Council-meetings/Council-meeting-agendas-and-minutes.  The Gallery is open to anyone from just before 7 and the meeting is live streamed on Banyule's website and Facebook page and recorded.

Council Consultations for feedback:

• Rosanna Parklands Management Plan.  Stage 1 consultation closes 21 December.  Follow the link below for more information, an online survey and interactive map.  Paper surveys available from the Open Space Planning Team openspaceplanning@banyule.vic.gov.au or 8673 4390.  Council staff will be out and about in the Parklands for you to give them your feedback.
• Game, set, strategy! for all you tennis lovers.  Stage 1 consultation closes 11 January 2026.  Follow the link below for more information and the online survey.  Paper survey available from Catherine Corbett, catherine.corbett@banyule.vic.gov.au or 9242 3471.  Drop in sessions at Ivanhoe Aquatic & Fitness Centre - Tues 2 December 9.30-10.30 am; Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub - Wed 10 Dec 5-6 pm; Shop 48 (The Harmony Centre - Heidelberg West - Thurs 11 Dec 9.30-10.30 am.
• Also on Shaping Banyule you can find information about The Boulevard Christmas Lights and several playground updates.

Rosanna Parklands

Share your local knowledge of Rosanna Parklands to help guide the upcoming Rosanna Parklands Management Plan.

Shaping Banyule

Tennis Strategy

Love tennis in Banyule? Help shape the future of our courts to be more inclusive, active, and fun.

Shaping Banyule

Dogs of Eaglemont

Dogs of Eaglemont #87

Eaglemont’s Voice - the home of Friends of Eaglemont Village

Eaglemont's VoicePippa Griffith