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Oral Histories

Listen to interviews from the Local History Archive of Connected Libraries. Conducted by Debbie Stephan, former Historical Officer (for the City of Berwick, then City of Casey), and Berwick Secondary Students, the interviews have been digitised from the original audio tapes. All interviews are available with permission from the interviewees and the Local History Archive of Connected Libraries, which holds the original tapes.

The files have been digitally edited to improve quality, but no content has been removed from the original interviews.

Beaconsfield and Upper Beaconsfield
Discover the history of Beaconsfield and Upper Beaconsfield through the recollections of the people who lived there, from settlement, through the Great Depression, and during the War. Includes history of the Upper Beaconsfield RSL and the Beaconsfield Baptist Church..

Berwick
Explore the history of Berwick through the voices of the people who lived there, from the early days, through the Great Depression, and during Wartime. Interviews includes a lecture by Cameron Rocke on the Old Cheese Factory, the historic homestead in Berwick

Narre Warren and Narre Warren North
Learn about the history of Narre Warren and Narre Warren North through the stories of the people who lived there, from settlement, through the Great Depression, and during the War. Includes reminiscences of the Araluen Homestead.

Other Towns
Find out about the history of Cranbourne, Endeavour Hills, Hallam, Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang, Pakenham, Rythdale, Tooradin, through the reminiscences of the people who lived there, from settlement, through the Great Depression, and during the War.

Community Groups and Organisations
Hear the story of local churches, hospitals, clubs, social groups and more in the region, including the Berwick Mechanics Institute.

Council
Learn about the growth of Berwick and Narre Warren through Reminiscences of a former CEO, councillors, city planners, engineers from the City of Berwick. Includes interviews with Barry Simon (first Mayor of the City of Berwick) and Ruth Simon (Mayoress, City of Berwick)

War
Discover the history of World War II through the stories of returned servicemen, including airforces and infantry. Includes reminiscences of civilian life in Berwick during this period.