So, Mount Evelyn. At 225 metres, it’s more a hill than the name implies and easy to walk up to pick up the Saturday Age.
My wife and I moved here in 1986, looking for more space, less noise and less travel for work. Surprisingly, whenever we gave our address on the phone, there would be people who thought we meant Mount Martha on the peninsula. Near the Yarra Ranges, we would say. Yes … there were wineries. No, few hippies we knew of and hopefully no religious sects.
Now, there’s a Methuselah of wineries and one known exclusive religious group in the vicinity. There are a few hippies, but the air up here smells clean, free of odd aromas, man. Well, so long as no one is burning off their prunings – yes, burning off to reduce fire material is allowed in certain zonings.
The fire threat is real, especially in lower Mount Evelyn. As are fallen trees blocking roads after strong winds, taking out the power with it. The Big Blow in June 2021 was the scariest night for everyone around the Dandenong Ranges. No power for days, generators adding their buzz to the sound of multiple chainsaws clearing the roads and driveways (if your garage has electric doors, get the car out quick!).
When the fire danger is extreme or catastrophic, we pack the car and prepare to flee. Fire prevention strategies are essential here. In 40 years here, we’ve had one scary day and left, but the CFA had two burning trees under control quickly. At least there are multiple exit roads to choose from if necessary. Nonetheless, it’s the trees – that olive green tint to the scenery – that create the calmer feel and draw you here, when it’s not blowing like politicians at election time.
What attracted us to this Yarra Valley suburb 40 years ago has changed little: the affordable community that felt semi-rural and quiet back then remains affordable though semi-urban today. And a little louder, thanks to increased traffic, a trend apparently felt everywhere in Melbourne. Heck, some days after the school bell, it takes at least 10 minutes to drive one kilometre up York Road, past one set of lights, to the top of the hill.
Mt Evelyn now has nearly 10,000 people, but the zonings reflect that semi-urban bushland feel – low-density residential housing at the top, where the views are long and green, and larger blocks in the lower parts where old gum trees mingle with wattle.
Many native animals remain – kangaroos, wallabies, possums, echidnas, perhaps a platypus in the creek, so too many birds of various hues and cries. In August, the place is sun-yellow with plump clouds of pom-pom wattle everywhere, as too in the surrounding suburbs of Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Montrose and Silvan. Happily, and unlike the first two, the ever-increasing trend to build townhouses or apartments on previously family-sized home blocks is only slight in Mount Evelyn, where nearly all properties have enough room for some vegetables and fruit trees.
Happy too for the rabbits. Come spring and it feels like the rabbits and ducks outnumber the natives, which makes it a battle over who gets the bigger share of those vegetables. The sound of an echidna rustling in the grass outside the bedroom at 2am is reassuring though – if only there were more of them.
Why Evelyn? It was long-rumoured that the original Evelyn was the daughter of a Victorian premier, but the name probably comes from the Evelyn family, who were prominent in the 19th century. The name became attached to a train service from Lilydale to Warburton that opened in 1901. Originally Olinda Vale, the station was renamed Evelyn in 1907, then Mount was added after World War One, apparently to add appeal to its healthy “mountain” air, the local history group records.
The rail made this a place to holiday, along with neighbouring Montrose, and soon there were guest houses and camps for people to enjoy the mountain air. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip even travelled here by rail back in 1954. The train platform remains, but the last train for Warburton ran in August 1965. One downside here remains the lack of public transport, but the buses are reliable and take you to the Lilydale line.
Just because we’re on a mountaintop doesn’t mean we’re deprived up here. The shops at the top include an IGA, a butcher and baker, a variety of health providers and a good supply of essential trade folk. At last count, there were eight coffee spots, along with a range of other tastebud tempters. Bowens, a hardware store that’s been a part of the town’s history since 1894, has grown with us. There are numerous schools for a suburb that has more under-20s than most, and three very busy nurseries along York Road, down in front of Olinda Creek.
Like our creek that begins in the Dandenongs and ends in the Yarra itself, life here is one of connection. The wonderful owner of our Red Robin lolly shop – “Amigo”, a name given to him by all those he called amigo – was a constantly smiling fellow who locals loved to chat with as they bought sweets and/or the paper. When he died recently, there was a great outpouring of grief. The local federal MP even spoke warmly of him in parliament. Much to everyone’s joy, not just children’s, the shop and its sweet sense of welcome and friendly conversation continue.
You can easily walk and ride around Mount Ev and beyond, as in any local area, but the special thing about living here is the many treed walking tracks near your door, whether the Lilydale to Warburton rail trail, the charming aqueduct trail or many smaller local paths. Nearly all paths are on cleared and easily accessible tracks away from roads. Folk tend to smile and greet one another as they pass by.
Mountain bike tracks twist and climb all about and are as popular as the main drag up Inverness Road to Kalorama and beyond for weekend bike-racing groups to practise hill climbing. A few vintage car rallies go through here on their way up to Mount Dandenong. Some set up at the York hotel or tram car cafe/nursery for a Saturday morning show-and-tell.
Mount Ev is quieter, perhaps slower paced than more urban towns, with a joint valuing of community and caring about what we have. This was best shown in 2024 when a McDonald’s was proposed for our town. Almost overnight, a local campaign of crowded meetings and letter writing began. Soon, signs went on every business window, appeals were voiced to decision makers to stop any such store setting up here. And we won.
So Mount Evelyn.
Kevin Mulvogue is a resident of Mount Evelyn.
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