Longwood: War Memorial, Churches and Local History

Discover Longwood through tangible traces of its local history: a memorial in the Railway Reserve, historic churches, a cemetery in use since at least 1880, and a collection of gemstones and jewellery. On 24 April 1885, Longwood was declared a town at a ceremony at the railway station. This date provides a point of reference for the town’s history; each place and building adds its own focus, from war remembrance to architecture and family history.

Remembrance in the Railway Reserve

The Boer War Memorial was erected in 1903 in the Railway Reserve on Hill Street. The memorial includes a cannon and commemorates the Boer War of 1899 to 1902. The year it was erected and the period of the conflict refer to different things: the memorial was built after the war and keeps its memory alive in Longwood. The Longwood Fire Station operated in Hill Street, in the Railway Reserve, from 1952 to 1975. The corrugated iron shed known as the Longwood Fire Station 1952–1975 stands there near the Boer War Memorial. The station was associated with Victoria’s first registered Bush Fire Brigade. Thus, the same reserve bears witness both to the memory of the war and to local firefighting history.

Churches as architectural history

St Andrew’s Church at 5 Jean Street was designed in 1901 by W. A. Dalton, a Melbourne-based architect. It is considered a significant part of the Longwood Precinct. St Patrick’s Church at 33 Hurley Street was built in 1895. It is a Catholic timber church with decorative bargeboards and Gothic pointed-arch windows; its entrance porch was originally smaller. Bargeboards form decorative finishes along the gable, while pointed-arch windows reflect the Gothic style. The two churches have distinct architectural features: at St Andrew’s, the design and its significance to the precinct take centre stage, while at St Patrick’s, the building material and specific design details stand out.

A cemetery with local family histories

Longwood Cemetery has been in use since at least 1880. Many people who played a significant role in Longwood’s development are buried there, including members of the Henck, Searcy, Entzminger, Hartely, Hooker and Clouser families. The cemetery thus adds families to the town’s history, alongside buildings and public memorials. Its use since at least 1880 dates back to before the ceremony at which Longwood was declared a town in 1885.

The Rockery Gemstone Museum

The Rockery Gemstone Museum has nine rooms containing a collection of jewellery, crystals and polished gemstones. Numerous display cases also contain jewellery, crystals and carved objects offered for sale. Alongside Longwood’s architectural and local history, minerals, worked stones and jewellery feature as subjects in their own right. If you plan to include a museum visit in your trip, it is advisable to check visiting arrangements in advance.

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