Tales from the Birrarung No. 1

Posted on Sunday, 8th November 2026 by Janine Rizzetti

How about a passenger service along the Yarra? Well, it existed in 1895 when you could pay sixpence to cover the 8km. journey from Studley Park Kew up to the boat landing in Alphington on a specially designed boat. The boat landing was located on the banks of the Yarra/Birrarung between what is now Alphington St and Yarraford Avenue.

In 1904 Edmund Cook established ‘Rudder Grange’ on the site, with a new landing, boat house and tea rooms. Floods were a frequent problem, and in 1913 a new two-storey residence, including boatsheds and cafe were erected. It was surrounded by gardens, a special feature of which was a large fountain constructed with clam shells.

During and after World War II Rudder Grange was used for boat hire and repair, and the building of canoes and small speedboats. Flooding continued to occur and by 1959, Rudder Grange was quite derelict. It was finally demolished in 1963.

You can see more ‘Tales from the Birrarung’ at our new exhibition: Yarra Birrarung: The Ribbon Through Heidelberg at the Heidelberg Historical Society Museum. This exhibition combines panels from Dr Judith Buckrich’s exhibition “Yarra Birrarung: Writers Artists and the River’ which was previously on display at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, along with images and objects from our own collection about the Heidelberg connection with the river. Open Sundays 2-5 (last entry 4.30p.m) $5.00 entry, free for members and children under 16.

Image: “Rudder Grange” Fairfield., State Library Victoria.