Rebuilding local heritage
Conserving local heritage for generations to come is an important part of our work as we work toward delivering safer, more-reliable travel with the Epping Road Upgrade.
After the Wollert Methodist Church was preserved and rebuilt at Carome Homestead in Mernda in 2022, the Epping Road Upgrade project is now focused on reconstructing the dry-stone walls along Epping Road.
Three historic walls have been completed on the east side of Epping Road. A 90m dry-stone wall was reconstructed on the north side of Lehmanns Road over 8 weeks in March 2024. Additionally, 2 walls on the south side of Pine Park Drive—measuring 60m and 20m —were finished in October 2024 after 6 weeks of work.
Dry-stone walls are part of the European heritage in the City of Whittlesea, providing insights into the farming practices and life on the Merri-Darebin Plains' stony rises in the 19th century.
These structures began to appear in Australia following the arrival of European migrants in the mid-1800s, who came from countries with long traditions of dry-stone walling, such as England, Scotland, Ireland, and Germany. They were typically used to define property lines, separate fields, and contain livestock. They also helped reduce soil erosion by acting as barriers against wind and water runoff, stabilising soil on slopes and protecting vulnerable farmland. Dry-stone walls also safeguarded crops from grazing animals.
In the 1840s, farmers in Wollert often removed weathered basalt from their fields to make the land easier to plough and cultivate. The stones were then repurposed to construct walls and fences. The meticulous process of rebuilding involved fitting together stones of various sizes without using wet binding materials such as grout or mortar. The gravity and friction of the stones allowed the wall to settle into a single, solid structure that can last for centuries.
After dismantling the original dry-stone walls to make way for the road upgrade, the project team has called in specially trained experts to rebuild them using traditional methods. These specialists hold an International Certificate of Craftsmanship in Dry Stone Walling and carefully reassembled the walls using the original basalt stones.
By honouring the past as we build for the future, the Epping Road Upgrade demonstrates our commitment to preserving the unique character and history of our local community.