Event Horizon Trail Pub Trail
Event Horizon trail - a trip around the black hole that is the 'dry area' for pub trailing in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
It's an area bounded by what was once two districts: Nunawading and Booroondara, which lay about 15km east of Melbourne.
Why are there no pubs in this area?
Well it all goes back to 1920, when prohibition was declared in the United States, and the area was decreed a dry area. But the movement goes back a lot further too. The area surrounding Box Hill was very much governed by churches in the area, which lead to the forming of a Rechabite Society in 1870. Their efforts promoted temperance, and eventually, in 1906, with the passing of an Act, significantly reduced the number of liquor licences in the State.
But the area in question, was land owned by these influential parties, and to this day, the area still has no pub!
However, it is extraordinary, the number of licenced grocers, bottleshop outlets, BYO and licenced restaurants exist in the area.!
So where do PubTrailing explorers go? Well, around the edge - they're all there........
DRY AREA
We've laid out the current outer area where hotels actually exist. But the DRY AREA is a much smaller area, and is bounded by what used to be the two original council areas in 1920.
- The former Nunawading area (Box Hill), is bounded by Middleborough Road in the east, Koonung Creek to the North, and Highbury Rd to the south.
- The former Booroondara district (Camberwell) is bounded by Burke Rd to the west, Whitehorse Rd to the north, Riversdale Rd to the South, and Warrigul Rd (the latter being the joiner to Box Hill district down the centre)
Naming Note: White Horse Road (named back in the 1860's) became Whitehorse Rd in 1940's and later: Maroondah Highway (all but the section from Burke Rd to Heatherdale Rd)
Happy Pub trailing in Melbourne!
Gaz
Gary Pope
0408994799
Introduction: What are Pub Trails?
Want more local trails?
refer to: An Overview of Pub Trails in Victoria
Event Horizon Trail Pub Trail Location Map
Melbourne - Camberwell
Here, in the middle of Camberwell, is the Palace Hotel, boldly positioned right on the border of the Event Horizon Trail which starts on the footpath on the opposite side of the road, next to the Camberwell Railway Station.
The adjacent map shows the hotels in operation (2008) that lay closest to the original DRY AREA (which is in a far smaller inner area)
From this starting point, head north up Burke Rd, over Canterbury Rd, until you come to Whitehorse Rd (Balwyn). At this point head east along Whitehorse Rd, where you are heading for Box Hill, where we'll take a round about way up through Doncaster, before getting back to Blackburn (which is on Whitehorse Rd again).
overview of the Horizon Event trail, showing the Hotels that lay closest to the DRY AREA.
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Palace Hotel »893 Burke Rd |
Melbourne - Doncaster
Box Hill to Doncaster and then to Doncaster East
Time for a little deviation in Box Hill to see two northerly pubs, and then come back to Whitehorse Rd again, on the way to Blackburn.
We'll get there shortly, but first a little history, before that diversion up through Doncaster and Doncaster East....... so slow down at Box Hill (at Elgar Rd and then afterwards at Station St, both are corners of Whitehorse Rd).
On the SE corner of Elgar Rd and Whitehorse Rd, was where the infamous White Horse Hotel once stood. You'll see a replica of the "White Horse" statue in a moment, as you head on east into the city of Box Hill where the road widens and has parking in the middle of the lawned area of the road. The statue faces you at that point.
Then get ready to turn north into Station St.
Whilst travelling west along Whitehorse Rd on the way to Box Hill there is the opportunity to slip to the north, up Station St (which becomes Tram Rd, and then Williamson's Rd), to the Shoppingtown Hotel at Doncaster. (not far over Doncaster Rd intersection - which you come back to in a moment, to pick up the trail east to Doncaster East.)
The views to the city of Melbourne from here are superb on a clear day and at sunset, you'll see the sun go down right over the Melbourne skyline.
Looking south from the corner of Doncaster Rd and Williamson's Rd corner you can see about 5kms south and can still spot the white Town Hall of Box Hill on the eastern edge of the town. (looks a bit like the White House doesn't it, from this far away!)
Just east of the corner, heading towards Doncaster East, you pass the Municipal Chambers of the Doncaster Council - also on prominent high land.
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Hotel Shoppingtown »13- 21 Williamsons Rd, |
Melbourne - Doncaster East
Doncaster to Doncaster East - Doncaster Rd
Time to travel east along Doncaster Rd from the corner of Williamson's Rd until you reach Middleborough Rd where you'll find the Doncaster Inn Hotel.
The hotels in Doncaster, and Doncaster East, are pretty much along the Doncaster Rd stretch, and, combined with the Blackburn Hotel, are the nearest Pubs to this dry stretch of Whitehorse Rd around the Box Hill area.
At Middleborough Rd, head south, back down to Whitehorse Rd to continue east to Blackburn.
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Doncaster Hotel »855 Doncaster Road, |
Melbourne - Blackburn
Doncaster East, Box Hill towards Blackburn - Whitehorse Rd
Travelling from Camberwell, you reached Whitehorse Rd (named Cotham Rd going west, Whitehorse Rd going east). Whitehorse Rd, eventually becomes Maroondah Highway, and heads on out through to Lilydale.
The townships of Balwyn, Mont Albert and Box Hill - are all dry along Whitehorse Rd.
You have to travel right though to Blackburn to catch a hotel from here: The Blackburn Hotel.
So, a little history....
Further east along Whitehorse Rd, over Blackburn Rd, and nearly to Springvale Rd, once stood the Whitehorse Hotel in Nunawading. This hotel in Nunawading was demolished in the 1980's to make way for all the furniture shopping outlets in the area. Don't confuse the name of that former pub, with two others bearing the same name - also now long gone. Way back in Hawthorn in Burwood Rd (opposite the Hawthorn Railway Station, once stood a Whitehorse Hotel - demolished in the 1990's to make way for an apartment building.
The real original White Horse Hotel (two words!) was opened way back in 1853, closed during prohibition, when it was used as a boarding house, and then demolished in 1933. It was located on the corner of Whitehorse Rd and Elgar Rd, in Box Hill.
The Statue of the White Horse in the middle of Whitehorse Rd as you go through Box Hill, was actually donated from the Hotel when it closed.
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Blackburn Hotel »111 Whitehorse Road, |
Melbourne - Mitcham
Blackburn to Springvale Rd - Burwood, Glen Waverley
Time to slip south down Springvale Rd, but first a word about Mitcham and Ringwood to your east......
Just for your information, travelling up Maroondah Highway, you reach Springvale Rd, Nunawading - the NW corner of this trail. A little further up Maroondah Highway is Mitcham, which has the Mitcham Hotel, and Ringwood lays beyond with two hotels.
ALSO NOTE: At this point you are a fair way from the original DRY AREA eastern border, which was in fact Middleborough Rd. Yet since 1920, there have been no attempts to build hotels along Middleborough Rd - nor along Blackburn Rd.
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Mitcham Hotel »556 Maroondah Hwy, |
Melbourne - Ringwood
Whitehorse Rd - to Ringwood
Just a note on Ringwood though......
Ringwood lays beyond, further up Maroondah Highway with hotels at each end of the town. But that is not part of this trail, except to mention that Whitehorse Rd changes name to Maroondah Hwy at Heatherdale, just prior to reaching Ringwood.
But it is time to get back on the trail, by heading south down Springvale Rd, the western border of this trail.
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Daisey's Hotel »Daisey's Hotel is adjacent to the lake on Mt Dandenong Touist Rd corner of Maroondah Highway at the eastern end of town. |
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The Coach & Horses Hotel »Coach and Horses hotel, right on the East-Link exit ramp at the western end of the township of Ringwood |
Melbourne - Burwood East
Springvale Rd - south to Burwood
Heading south down Springvale Rd, the eastern border of the trail, you have to travel to Burwood Highway, East Burwood, to reach the Burvale Hotel on the NE corner.
You'll be passing the original Channel 0 (now channel 10) complex on the west side of the road, and as you reach the hotel, you start to see the industrial business parks that were once part of the large Tally Ho estate on the SW corner at Burwood intersection.
Burwood Rd is a major arterial road that can take travellers east, up past Knox City Shopping Centre in Wantirna, and beyond there to Ferntree Gully and to the end of Burwood Rd in Belgrave. These towns feature as part of the Silvan Dam trail and The Dandenongs trail - so there's something for another day!
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Burvale Hotel »Cnr Springvale Rd & Burwood Hwy, |
Melbourne - Glen Waverley
Springvale Rd - Glen Waverley
Coming in from the south down Springvale Rd, over Highbury Rd, you reach Glen Waverley, and the Mountain View Hotel, positioned on the eastern side of the road.
Now further up the road, just beyond the big shopping complex of "The Glen", is the Novatel Hotel Motel which is built on the western side of the Springvale Rd
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Mountain View Hotel »Mountain View Hotel. |
Melbourne - Mulgrave
Ferntree Gully Rd, Mulgrave (Brandon Park.)
The corner of Springvale Rd and Ferntree Gully Rd, marks the South East corner of the trail. Yet this is still a fair way from the true SE corner of the Dry Area.
Here, you'll find the Village Green Hotel, right opposite the Brandon Park Shopping Centre.
If you were to travel out of this trail, further to the East, you reach the Wheeler's Hill Hotel, or further south down Springvale Rd, there are any number of hotels in either direction from the corner of the Prince's Highway.
But - back on the Event Horizon Trail.....
You are about to take a turn into Ferntree Gully Rd, and you start to travel along the southern border of the trail, and pass the entrance to the Monash Freeway just past the Village Green Hotel.
(But you may want to check a little deviation east of here before you do......)
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Village Green Hotel »Corner of Springvale and Ferntree Gully Rds |
Melbourne - Wheelers Hill
Ferntree Gully Rd, slip up and back to Wheelers Hill
The corner of Springvale Rd and Ferntree Gully Rd, really marks the South East corner of the trail. But if you're interested in a quick drive east to Wheelers Hill, you'll be well rewarded with not only some great views of the distant Mt Dandenong Ranges, but you'll enjoy them from the Wheeler's Hill Hotel, steeped in history of the area. The original pub and the new venue complex are worthy of a look.
So slip east up Ferntree Gully Rd, and then come back again to this corner, and head west for Notting Hill, back on the trail.
Historical part of Wheelers Hill hotel
The modern venue facilities
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Wheelers Hill Hotel »Corner of Jell's Rd and |
Melbourne - Notting Hill
Ferntree Gully Rd - Notting Hill
Travel west along Ferntree Gully Rd over Blackburn Rd till you finally reach the next port of call: The Notting Hill Hotel on the corner of Gardiner Rd.
Conveniently located not far from the Monash University, and right in the middle of a well established business park area, this hotel has a huge regular patronage...... not to mention a great history! This hotel, first built in 1891 has been under the ownership of Kath Byer personally since 1936! Now that's an effort.
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Notting Hill »260-262 Ferntree Gully Rd |
Melbourne - Oakleigh
Warrigal Rd - Oakleigh to East Malvern
Ferntree Gully Rd merges into Prince's Highway at Oakleigh just east of the major intersection of Warrigal Rd. (Not to be confused with the spelling of the country town of Warragul, about 130kms east from Melbourne!)
The main township of Oakleigh is actually south from the corner of Warrigal Rd and Princes Highway, and easily reached by travelling south from the Forrester's Arms Hotel, if you want to check it out.
But otherwise, time to head north along Warrigal Rd.
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Ashley's Forester's Arms Hotel »Forester's Arms Hotel on the Prince's Hwy in Oakleigh. 1529 Dandenong Rd |
Melbourne - Chadstone
Warrigal Rd - East Malvern
Turning north out of Prince's Highway into Warrigal Rd, leads you to East Malvern where you pass the Matthew Flinders Hotel which is adjacent the East Malvern Golf Course which follows the Gardiner's Creek and where the Monash Freeway is now built over it.
This marks a midpoint in the Event Horizon Trail, as the border swings along the creek.
Waverley Rd/Malvern Rd - Glen Iris
Drop back to Waverley Rd and head along to where it meets Malvern Rd, and brings you back onto Burke Rd. That position marks the South West corner of the trail. You can then travel north up Burke Rd to the commencement point, back in Camberwell again.
Burke Rd - Camberwell
So that concludes the round trip of the trail. It is quite a wide area compared to the actual Dry Area defined back in 1920, and controlled by way of an Election Option under the auspices of the City Of Box Hill these days.
Some historical Pub Trivia in the area......
And what other hotels were (now no longer) in the area prior to the 'dry' being announced back in 1920?
- White Horse Hotel (SE cnr Elgar and Whitehorse Rd Box Hill)
- Delaney's Royal Hotel (Broughton/Canterbury Rd Mont Albert)
- Grand Hotel in Canterbury Rd, Surrey Hills
- Moloneys Hotel in Canterbury Rd, Canterbury.
- Railway Hotel was on South West Corner of Whitehorse Road and Station Street in Mitcham.
- Balwyn Hotel (building only) is still on the North-West corner of Balwyn and Whitehorse Rd in Balwyn.
- Harkaway Hotel on Burwood Highway (west of Tally Ho) in Burwood East.
In the Dry Area!
Happy Pub Trailing!
Gaz
Gary Pope
0408994799
Introduction: What are Pub Trails?
Want more local trails?
refer to: An Overview of Pub Trails in Victoria
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Matthew Flinders Hotel »667 Warrigal Road, |