Progress doesn’t have to mean letting go of the past.
Artefacts recovered during works to remove the dangerous and congested level crossings at Manchester Road, Mooroolbark and Maroondah Highway, Lilydale have been preserved and donated to the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum for future generations.
Some of the artefacts were discovered during an archaeological dig to build the new Mooroolbark Station. Along with uncovering the footings of the station master’s house, dating back to 1887, the dig turned up a number of children's toys.
The donated items, including toy horses, a doll and knucklebones or “Jacks”, date from 1940 to 1960 and likely belonged to the 8 children of Station Master Andrew Bell and his wife Vera, who occupied the house for 21 years from 1940.
The dig also found significant transport-related objects such as railway spikes and large bolts used to secure the rail tracks.
A key find was a dog spike, a large, heavy-duty iron spike used to secure railway tracks to wooden sleepers. The name "dog spike" comes from the 2 lugs or "ears" on the head of the spike, which resemble a dog’s head. Spikes were crucial in the early development of railways, ensuring that the tracks remained in place and provided a smooth and safe path for trains.
In nearby Lilydale, the dig near the former Lilydale Bridge uncovered remains of the original timber structure built in 1882, and a brick and concrete structure from 1925. The bridge was in use until the mid 1980s, after which it was buried.
Among the finds was a horseshoe found within the bridge's structure. Based on its size, the horseshoe likely belonged to a draft horse, which were introduced to Australia in the 1850s and played a vital role in farming, building and railway construction in the area.
The donated objects will be catalogued by Yarra Ranges Regional Museum staff and added to the collection.
Museum collections curator Ruth McLean said the donations would help “tell the story of the continued development of the local railway service and the changes it has undergone over the years”.
“These items are significant due to their association with the Melbourne to Lilydale railway line, which played an important role in the development of Lilydale and Mooroolbark and the economic development of the broader region,” she said.
"We are grateful that the effort was made to conduct archaeological digs and that significant items were then passed on to Heritage Victoria and Yarra Ranges Regional Museum to care for them on behalf of the community."
The Level Crossing Removal Project removed the level crossings at Manchester Road, Mooroolbark, and Maroondah Highway, Lilydale in November 2021, constructing rail bridges over the roads and building the new Mooroolbark Station and Lilydale Station.
