A slice of Yarra Junction’s history was donated to the Upper Yarra Museum by a long time descendant.
The donation was a silver tea service which was originally used to acknowledge the efforts of William McKay, who was instrumental in developing the Yarra Junction township in the late 1880s.
In the late 1880s Mr McKay came to what is now Yarra Junction and over the next decade changed the face of the small village.
He leased 350 acres in the township and set up several businesses, before he established the football field, the Yarra Junction Primary School, and moved the Wesleyan Church from Warburton to Yarra Junction.
He was also instrumental in ensuring a railway station was built in Yarra Junction when the railway came through allowing the timber industry to flourish.
His grocery, butchery and general store also housed the first post office and telegraph.
When he left the valley in 1902 his family was presented with a silver tea service by the community in appreciation for his contribution.
The President, Mr John Bramley, said that the tea service would be put on display soon and would be able to be seen at Crank Up on 14 and 15 March, 2026.
The Museum’s exhibitions are open on Wednesdays and Sundays and volunteers are always welcome.
