A historic location – 19 Sydney Street, Kilmore

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October 21, 2025

A historic location – 19 Sydney Street, Kilmore

A LOCAL Historical Society recently added new plaques to buildings of historical significance in Kilmore, Victoria’s oldest inland settled town dating back to 1841.

Kilmore has a rich history of early European settlement and already many of its buildings have a small blue oval plaque attached to their facades to recognise their historical importance, stimulate local history and become a point of interest for tourists and weekend historians.

The Kilmore Historical Society carefully curated its information for all to see.

The recently installed plaques are a second project led by the Kilmore Historical Society in partnership with Mitchell Shire Council with their cost generously funded by the Inland Rail Project.

19 Sydney Street — its plaque reads:

Former Kilmore Advertiser Office c1850

Built by Samuel Down, stonemason, who may have initially operated it as a restaurant. It was temporarily occupied by the Colonial Bank of Australasia in 1858.

Then it became a Butchers with Plumber and Wigg as occupants during the next decade.

Butchers, including Plummer and Wigg, were occupants during the 1860’s, followed by the Kilmore Guardian Newspaper 1870 to 1873.

The Kilmore Advertisers Office was located here from 1885 to 1934 until it taken over by the Free Press and relocated.

Later businesses included William Lingard’s bicycle shop, William McKenzie’s bicycle. watchmaker and gift shop 1936-c1953.

A committee member of the Kilmore Historical Society, Rose King said locating the plaque on the bluestone building proved difficult.

“We had a lot of trouble [fixing] with that one,” Ms King said.

“Because we couldn’t fix it to the building, because of the irregularity of the bluestone, so it is actually on a little stand in the window.”

Since 2020, former Assumption College history and philosophy teacher Rod McCracken operates a goods and services business for purchasing an acoustic or electric guitar and guitar lessons. The business is unique for Kilmore as its also a dedicated woodworking studio for people to build their own guitar or to have their pride and joy restored or repaired.

Mr McCracken’s own custom-made guitars are sold under a label inspired by The County of Dalhousie, which was proclaimed in 1849.

New appointment to address crime

The North Central Review

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October 21, 2025

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THE State Government appointed Dr Emma Cassar PSM as the new Secretary of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) last Tuesday.

Dr Cassar currently serves as Deputy Secretary for Social Policy at the Department of Premier and Cabinet and previously led Victoria’s prison system as the state’s Corrections Commissioner.

With more than 25 years of experience across justice and social services, Dr Cassar has extensive operational, management and policy expertise, and holds a Doctorate in Forensic Psychology from the University of Melbourne.

She also served as Associate Secretary at the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs, where she led Australia’s immigration and citizenship program throughout 2024.

In the private sector, Dr Cassar was a Partner at KPMG, where she headed the National Justice and Security practice, and has held leadership roles in several social service organisations.

Her appointment marks a significant milestone as for the first time, half of Victoria’s departmental secretaries are women.

Premier Jacinta Allan said community safety was the government’s foremost priority in choosing the public servant for the role.

“Community safety is our top priority, and I congratulate Emma on her appointment,” she said.

“I am confident that her leadership, operational and policy experience will lead the Department. DJCS has a critical role in advising the Victorian Government and implementing our community safety initiatives, including bail reforms, youth justice responses and anti-hate laws.”

Inland Rail Project; Up it goes!

News

The North Central Review

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October 21, 2025

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INLAND Rail has reached a milestone moment in its project to construct new bridges in Broadford as road closures will be necessary to position bridge beams at Short Street and Hamilton Street over the weekend.

Inland Rail Short St bridge Broadford 1068w WebRdy — GIVE US A LIFT: A 650 tonne crawler crane will lift the already assembled bridge into place at Short Street later this month.

The Short Street bridge will be closed on Sunday, October 26, between 8am and 12pm during its power pole and powerline works.

The bridge will be installed on Monday, October 27, between 4.30am to 7.30pm and contractors, John Holland advise there will be delays for traffic using the bridge between 4.30am to 6am.

The Hamilton Street bridge will be closed for 24 hours from Monday, October 27 from 4am to Tuesday, October 28 for its beams to be installed.

Outside of the closure, current but temporary traffic changes will continue, including the single lane shuttle flow over the new section of the bridge.

Commuters can expect to use detours via Sunday Creek Road, or the Hume Freeway and commuters are urged to allow an additional 20 minutes travel time or 30 minutes during the peak hours.

Site preparations are continuing at the Marchbanks Road bridge site, whilst at Wandong there will also be extended works on Monday, October 27 between 4.30am and 7.30pm in preparation for its new bridge on Rail Street.

Inland Rail representatives advise residents that works can sometimes take longer than anticipated or be cancelled at short notice and rescheduled, however should this occur, impacted residents will be notified.

Residents are urged to contact the Inland Rail community engagement team 24 hours a day, seven days a week if they need to talk to a community stake holder representative.

Inland Rail would also like to thank the community for their patience and cooperation while the milestone works are carried out.

To talk to a team member, phone 1800 732 761 or email inlandrailvic@inlandrail.com.au.

Men’s Shed open day

The North Central Review

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October 21, 2025

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THE Kilmore Men’s Shed Open Day is the perfect opportunity to peek inside its workshop as there is lots to see and do at their jumble sale on Saturday, October 25.

Along with tomato seedlings and other varieties, there is an assortment of machinery, tools and miscellaneous items to buy when the shed doors open from 9am to 1pm, at 2 Hunts Road, Kilmore.

There will be plenty of parking spaces in the yard or on Hunts Road and entry is via a gold coin donation. Tea and coffee are free and the BBQ will be fired up for a tasty sausage sizzle.

The Kilmore Men’s Shed is one of the biggest sheds in Victoria with around 100 participants meeting twice a week to get on the tools and check on each other’s health and wellbeing.

For more information, phone Paul McAlister on 0402 940 199.

Wandong CFA’s open day

The North Central Review

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October 21, 2025

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On Saturday October 11, Wandong Fire Brigade proudly opened its station doors to the wider community for a fun and informative Open Day.

The event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the station, vehicles, equipment, and firefighting skills, while sharing vital fire safety information with visitors.

As a 100 per cent volunteer brigade, Wandong Fire Brigade prides itselves on maintaining top-tier training and operational excellence, all while fostering a warm, friendly and welcoming environment.

The day was packed with activities for all ages. Visitors explored the fire trucks, learned important fire preparedness tips, discovered volunteering and recruitment opportunities, and enjoyed plenty of hands-on fun. Kids loved the huge jumping castle, painting, and photo booth, and there was no shortage of smiles throughout the station.

A highlight of the day was the visit from Ambulance Victoria, whose presence was a major hit with families. There was also some friendly rivalry between the junior and senior brigade members, showcasing the teamwork and spirit that makes Wandong Fire Brigade so special.

The Wandong Fire Brigade welcome people from all walks of life, proving that anyone with drive and passion can become a volunteer firefighter or support member.

Online crime forum

Jo Kubeil

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October 21, 2025

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AN upcoming Victoria Police Neighbourhood Policing Forum will be exploring issues of concern around Local Police Service Areas (PSA) for a safer Victoria.

Local services and community members are encouraged to attend the online Mitchell PSA forum; it incorporates Mitchell and Strathbogie Shires.

Its format positions residents to meet with local experts and ask questions throughout its two-hour duration and also to hear and exchange views on crime and areas of interest including current crime trends and crime prevention strategies, family violence, road policing, drugs and drug related crime, and young people.

Acting Inspector and Mitchell Local Area Commander (LAC) Darron Huffer has worked in rural areas for most of his career with Shepparton being his station prior to moving to Kilmore.

Inspector Huffer said that crime in Mitchell has increased but it depends on how you interpret the crime.

“It is important to look a little deeper at what is driving those numbers,” he said.

“Car thefts are up, but it is not a significant increase, we have seen a small increase in vehicles stolen over the past year.

“We have more Police on patrol and this leads to more crimes being detected.

“Retail theft is up, and we attribute that to it being reported more, and as a result we are processing and prosecuting more offenders.

“Serious assaults (not Family Violence related) are down by 50 per cent and home burglaries are the second lowest level in a decade.

“Theft from cars has also dropped and this indicates that residents are heeding our message to look, lock and leave.

“We have local police members and we have a unit dedicated to prosecuting drug, cultivating and tracking offences. Less than 15 percent of crimes are committed by young people, that means that 85 per cent of crime in our area is committed by adults.

“Although the recent crime data has some positives, we are not crime free, and any crime statistics are of concern to us, our community know this. The Crime Statistics Data reflects that we are on the fringes of metropolitan Melbourne and currently we are conducting local operations regarding retail thefts with an increased Police presence.”

Local Police are also participating in the 16 days of activism campaign next month to raise awareness about respect and to say, No to violence!

The Victoria Police Neighbourhood Policing Forum will be held on Thursday, November 13 from 6pm to 8pm and registration is a must as a team’s link will be emailed to attendees on the day.

To register, visit eventbrite.com/e/mitchell-psa-neighbourhood-policing-online-forum-tickets-1677510933359?aff=oddtdtcreator

Big boost for Cloverton

The North Central Review

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October 21, 2025

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A $2.6 MILLION dollar commitment from the Australian Government has boosted the Cloverton Precinct, with Mitchell Shire Council (MSC) welcoming the announcement.

The funding, delivered through the Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program, will support the Pioneering Urban Innovation: Planning a New City in Melbourne’s North project – a regional partnership between Hume City Council, Mitchell and Whittlesea councils, Stockland, and Wurundjeri (Registered Aboriginal Party).

The project will explore the creation of a mixed-use activity centre on Cloverton Boulevard, unlocking new opportunities for housing, employment, and transport across Melbourne’s northern growth corridor.

It comes after the three councils co-signed a Regional Partnership Agreement in 2023 to formally commit to the collaborative planning and delivery of the proposed new city, which will service a regional catchment of approximately 380,000 residents and support around 50,000 jobs once complete. Cloverton will become the primary employment and service hub for the growing areas of Beveridge and Wallan.

The Council partnership was created to work together to ensure Cloverton will be effectively developed as a new city for the north of Melbourne.

MSC Mayor Councillor John Dougall said the announcement was set to provide a big boost to the development of Cloverton.

“By working together, our three councils, alongside Stockland and Wurundjeri, can make sure Cloverton develops as a well-connected, sustainable and liveable city,” he said.

“Mitchell Shire is proud to be a key partner in planning this new regional city. With Beveridge and Wallan set to experience significant growth, this project will be critical to ensuring our residents have access to jobs, services and community facilities close to home.

“The Federal Government’s support for this partnership helps us take a major step towards delivering a sustainable and connected future for Melbourne’s north. This is about planning smart, inclusive growth – not just for one municipality, but for an entire region.”

Win for commuters on main roads

The North Central Review

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October 21, 2025

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ROAD maintenance works are coming to the Mitchell Shire Council through the Victorian Government’s Victorian Road Maintenance Program.

The program will run throughout 2025-26 and will focus on three roads in four locations.

Epping-Kilmore Road is a big winner, with two separate locations earmarked for works, between Kelby Lane and South Mountain Road in Wallan, and between Caladenia Court and Broadford-Wandong Road in Heathcote Junction.

The Northern Highway will receive extensive works through Kilmore, Moranding and Pyalong, as well as the Hume Freeway at Waterford Park.

The focus will be on repairing potholes, the resurfacing of pavements and improving safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

The works come after two Notices of Motion were addressed at the August Council meeting, with engagement with the Department of Transport and Planning to address these issues since.

Whittlesea Youth Council waiting in the wings

The North Central Review

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October 21, 2025

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APPLICATIONS have officially closed for the City of Whittlesea’s 2026–2027 Youth Council, which will give a new group of young leaders the opportunity to help shape the future of their community.

The outgoing Youth Council has left an impressive legacy, having led The Bitter Truth campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of vaping, contributed to the development of Council’s Youth Strategy, and advocated for stronger action on mental health, education, employment, and environmental sustainability.

Their efforts have ensured that youth perspectives are reflected in Council priorities, while bringing greater attention to issues such as climate change, wellbeing, inclusion, and accessibility.

Throughout their term, Youth Councillors met monthly to provide advice on matters affecting young people, create opportunities for youth engagement with Council, and offer input on issues before formal decisions were made.

City of Whittlesea Mayor, Councillor Martin Taylor, said he looked forward to welcoming the next cohort of young leaders.

“The City of Whittlesea Youth Council is a place where young leaders can shape the future of our city,” Cr Taylor said.

“By sharing their perspectives, they help us build a community that is more inclusive, vibrant and responsive to the needs of the next generation.”

“Through the Youth Council, young people have a direct voice in local decision-making. They provide advice, raise issues that matter to them, and play an active role in driving positive change across Whittlesea.”

Outgoing Youth Mayor Kaynat Virk said serving on the Youth Council had been a life-changing experience.

“Over the last two years, I’ve not only grown in confidence and leadership but have seen every Youth Councillor develop their voice, their skills, and their ability to advocate for meaningful change,” she said.

“To those who applied, know this: the Youth Council is a place where you will grow, connect, and truly see the difference young people can make.”

Cr Taylor said the new Youth Council members would be announced in the coming weeks.

Mitchell Shire Charity in Action

Jo Kubeil

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October 21, 2025

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LOVE in Action, a charity supporting residents in the Mitchell Shire under financial strain to put food on the table, are thrilled that its president, Sarah Brewer has been rated Westfield’s 2025 local hero.

Along with the rating, Westfield Plenty Valley Shopping Centre donated a whopping grant of $20,000 to the charity last Tuesday at a live announcement.

“I don’t know exactly who nominated me,” she said.

“I met the two other nominees yesterday and the calibre of people I was up against was amazing.

“Every Westfield has a local hero; all over Australia. It’s nice to see an organisation like that put their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting their community.”

Love in Action was founded ten years ago in the living room of Mrs Brewer’s parents, Jeremey and Susan Scrivens.

The couple wanted to give back to the community after they supported them through their son’s brain cancer journey.

Since then, the organisation has enlisted the help of friends and volunteers to make Love in Action what it is today – a juggernaut charity with its core operations happening live on Facebook.

Sarah Brewer 1068w WebRdy — Sarah Brewer helps families in Mitchell Shire put food on the table.

Mrs Brewer has lived in Wallan for 14 years and shares the joy of volunteering with both her husband and daughter. During business hours, Mrs Brewer is a secretary to a surgeon at the Epworth hospital in Richmond.

“I couldn’t do what I do without my amazing team of 15 volunteers who do the most amazing everyday work of getting food to people,” she said.

“I just do the behind-the-scenes stuff. I don’t know whether this [Love in Action] would happen in some of the bigger areas across the state.

“Our purpose as humans is to be able to help each other, and to see that it is not lost, that people still want to help their fellow neighbours, is massive.

“Although $20K is mind blowing, it has to be stretched across 12 months due to the sheer amount of volume of what we are trying to achieve.

“We will still need a lot of help this Christmas. We like to give all the kids on our books, (and parents), a brand-new gift. Something that has never been used because there is nothing like waking up on Christmas Day to a brand-new gift.

“We’ll be able to use a portion of the funds to help with our Christmas, Mother’s Day and Easter food hampers and we also have an annual Christmas gift appeal.

“To give you some sort of idea, this Christmas alone we are looking to help 200 to 300 local families in the Shire and some of them have four or five children each, a rough estimate is we need 900 gifts to give this year.”

People can help by donating non-perishable food items, which are not out of date, to any of the Love in Action containers located at businesses around the Shire, including the Review.

To learn more, contact the charity on their webpage, loveinactionwallan.com