Tours

Driving Melba’s Yarra Valley

Led by Sue Thompson who has spent 20 years researching, writing and speaking about Dame Nellie Melba. This tour is idea for bus tours where a guide will join the bus. For car clubs, it will be driving to the various points of interest.
Lilydale’s most famous resident Dame Nellie Melba is the focus of Lilydale & surrounding area.

Places stopped at include:

• The Athenaeum Theatre was the scene of many triumphant Melba concerts.
• Former Shire of Lillydale Council offices now Yarra Ranges Regional Museum.
• Melba Park was named in Melba’s honour.
• Lilydale Main Street the scene of Melba’s triumphant return to Lilydale in 1902.
• Cave Hill Quarry, established by Melba’s father David Mitchell in the 1870’s, led to Melba’s lifelong love of the Yarra Valley.
• Coombe Cottage, often referred to as the home behind the hedge was Melba’s country home.
• Lilydale Cemetery is Melba’s final resting place and that of her father, mother and some siblings.

All tours start and finish at the Old Lilydale Court House, 61 Castella Street, Lilydale
The cost is $5 per person and includes morning or afternoon tea and a tour book.

All bookings are through the Lilydale & District Historical Society and can be made by calling Lorraine Smith on 9735 1104.
Please note we will not be going into Coombe Cottage.

Cemetery Tours

The Lilydale & District Historical Society has several cemetery tours

• Tour One visits the graves of early families, characters and artists.
• Tour Two traces the lives of farming families and the Sisters of Mercy.
• Tour Three focuses on the early pioneering families of the district.
• Melba and Amazing Other Women
• Melba and Her Mates tour visits the graves of people with a close association with Melba.
• Melba and Her Family focuses on family members also buried at Lilydale Cemetery.
• Lilydale’s Military History traces the lives of several local men who fought in World War 1.

The tour is 1¼ to 1½ hours or a length of time to suit you.
Each walk is led by an experienced guide from the Lilydale & District Historical Society.
During summer our Twilight Tours begin at 7pm.
Throughout the year, the society organises tours on selected Sunday afternoons. We cater for groups wishing to organise their own tour.
All tours start at the main entrance of Lilydale cemetery, the corner of Nelson and Victoria roads, Lilydale.
We recommend 10 to 15 people per tour.
The cost is $10 per person which includes a tour book and afternoon tea afterwards at the society’s home the Old Lilydale Court House, 61 Castella Street, Lilydale.
The graves of Dame Nellie Melba and David Mitchell are visited on all tours.