Starting at the Victoria Street carpark at Ruffey Lake Park, points of interest for this heritage walk focus on the influence of German settlers who became orchard growers and created the Waldau Village legacy.
Four German Lutheran families arrived here in the 1850s and saw great potential for a spiritual community and a good life. They cleared the land and planted a network of orchards. As far as the eye could see there were pears, apples, cherries, peaches and lemons, all ripening for the prosperous Melbourne market.
They called their home ‘Waldau’, a German word for ‘a clearing in the forest’. Their families grew and the close knit community thrived for more than 100 years.
As you walk in their footsteps, you will see reminders of their heritage, learn stories of their lives and feel the strength of their spirit.
- Time: 1.5 hours
- Distance: 4.5 kms
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Suitable for: Active families, Seniors & strollers, Pleasure walkers, Circuit, Dogs welcome
- Location: Start and finish at the carpark at Ruffey Lake Park on Victoria Street, Doncaster East.
- Google Maps - Melway Reference 33 J10
- Public Transport:
- Metlink Buses: t 131 638 www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au
- Ventura Buses: t 9488 2100 www.venturabus.com.au
Parking: Carpark at Ruffey Lake Park on Victoria Street, Doncaster East.
Your walk begins by taking the path downhill towards the edge of Ruffey Lake.
From Berries to Pears: This very old Black Achan pear tree is a lasting reminder of the Waldau residents. Gottlieb Thiele planted it in 1853. Gottlieb had tried growing berries under the tutelage of his good friend Ferdinand von Mueller, the first director of Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens. But the soils suited fruit trees better.
‘Friedensruh’, 10 Waldau Court: The Thiele family built ‘Friedensruh’ after they arrived here in 1853. Johann and Phillipine Thiele took up market gardening and planted a large orchard on the surrounding hills. ‘Friedensruh’ is one of the two oldest buildings in Manningham. It began life as a small two room cottage and then expanded as the family grew. You will notice that the house seems to be a collection of individual dwellings with differing building materials and roof lines.
The walls were made using lath and mud construction—a system of nailing battens horizontally to form a surface onto which mud is applied. It forms a solid wall that can last for 100 years. Most importantly, the house had a stone cellar. With no refrigeration the Thieles relied on their ‘income’ remaining as cool as possible.
Orchard Workshop
This brick house tells the contemporary story of the Crouch orchard. Henry Crouch moved into the area in 1862 and planted orchards to the west of where you stand.
His grandson Archibald Crouch built a home here in 1917 and then his son, Gordon, built this brick house in 1954 and planted more orchards. In the 1970s Council acquired Crouch’s property to establish Ruffey Lake Park.
Old Cart Track
The Thiele family cut this small road in the 1850s to haul quarried stone from Ruffey Creek to build the foundations of their home ‘Friedensruh’.
When you come to Victoria Street there is a designated pedestrian crossing. You turn left, then right, then right again to find yourself in front of the entrance to Schramms Cottage.
Schramms Cottage, Muriel Green Drive: The German families who settled here were strict Lutherans. They opened the doors of their wattle and daub church on Boxing Day, 1858. Wattle and daub is a process of lacing wattle saplings together to form a wall to which mud (daub) is applied. It is a rudimentary way of building when little else is either available or affordable. The church was replaced by the much more substantial and impressive Trinity Lutheran Church on Victoria Street (stop eight on this walk). However, the cemetery remains and was used between 1854 and 1888. There were 125 burials at the site of which almost two-thirds were children. A grim reminder of the hardships our early pioneers endured. Schramms Cottage belonged to Max von Schramm the church’s pastor. It was relocated from Doncaster Road to this present site in 1975. The museum is open on Sunday afternoons and public holidays (except Christmas Day and Good Friday)
Finger’s Fruits: Rieschiecks Reserve, George Street: This well restored Victorian house was originally built in 1890 for the district’s most successful lemon grower, John Finger. His father had lived in Waldau since 1870. The house, named ‘Heimat’ still has its original cellar. Finger’s large dam was once located where the athletics track is now. You can stay on this side of George Street to view the next heritage home.
The Uncrowned Pear King, 88 George Street: As orchards became competitive some orchardists specialised in fruits, particularly apples and stone fruits. Reinhold Dehnert became so well known for his delicious pears that he was known as the ‘Uncrowned Pear King’. His home at 88 George Street was built in 1897 and remained in the family for the next 70 years. It originally had an external bathroom and laundry. Please use the pedestrian lights to cross the street.
Trinity Lutheran Church, 53 Victoria Street
By 1891 the cost of keeping the crumbling wattle and daub church was too much and a new church was commissioned. It opened in 1892 and its beautifully symmetrical proportions are as enchanting today as they were back then. The church has been carefully preserved. Note how the white wooden bellcote and the slate roof contrast with the bright red brickwork. The front pointed arch Gothic windows are neatly balanced with the drama of the leadlight rose window.
Fromhold’s Home, 176 George Street
Our final house was built in 1897 for orchardist Henry Fromhold. The Victorian Italianate home was set facing Victoria Street, not George Street. It would be many more years before George Street was extended past Victoria Street. Fromhold’s orchards began here in the 1850s.
Your walk now takes you back to your starting point.
This finishes your walk. Time to relax and plan your next adventure.
Your walk begins by taking the path downhill towards the edge of Ruffey Lake.
Download the A Clearing in the Forest Guide (1.45 MB) for a map and more information.
Source: Manningham Council - A Clearing in the Forest Walking Guide (May2021)
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