WHAT’S ON: Castlefield Estate celebrations
The centenary of the Castlefield Estate, Hampton, will be celebrated by an event at the Castlefield Oval , Ludstone St, Hampton on Sunday, March 23 at 11am, to be opened by Margaret Gardner, Governor of Victoria.
In the 1850s, the Castlefield Estate site was an 87-acre property with a grand residence, ‘Castlefield’, built during Victoria’s Gold Rush.
In 1920, the War Service Homes Commission acquired much of the property to build affordable homes for First World War veterans.
Established in 1924-25, Castlefield Estate became the second-largest war service housing development in Victoria, featuring architecturally significant Californian bungalows.
In 1989, the Estate was declared a heritage precinct by the Sandringham Council.
Nine streets in the estate are either named after war victories, or Rouen is named after the largest war hospital.
The original Castlefield mansion and the remaining 10 acres was sold to Haileybury College in the 1930s and now forms part of its Castlefield campus.
Felicity Frederico (pictured) who lives in the Hampton Castlefield Estate, has obtained funding to facilitate the special centenary celebration.
Felicity says the objective of the Castlefield Estate Centenary Project is: “To raise awareness of the historical significance of the Castlefield Estate as a ‘living memorial’ to its original residents.”
The Royal Australian Navy Band will entertain, and the event will be attended by former and current Estate residents, local schools, community members, MPs, Mayors and Councillors and the – state and local.
The event will be celebrated through the installation of interpretative signage in each street (nine plaques are being installed at the beginning of each street), a centenary party for residents and the Bayside community (BYO picnic lunch) and a webpage to enhance access to information on the Estate.
Event details: Sunday, March 23 at 11am
Venue: Castlefield Oval, Ludstone St., Hampton
Cheryl Threadgold