The Strange History of Barrm Birrm

Barrm Birrm, the place of many yam roots, rises behind Riddells Creek. Here you'll find 120 hectares of the original foothills vegetation fringing Melbourne's Volcanic Plains. It's right on Riddells' doorstep, but not many people know its strange history. 

In the early 1970s, owners of the land then called the Shone and Scholtz land, took advantage of an old subdivision plan from the 1890s (Crown Allotment 112 Parish of Kerrie, County of Bourke) to sell off 162 lots. You can still see the subdivision if you search "Planning Maps Online". When I was looking to buy on Gap Road, I got a shock to see the neatly delineated lots of this plan, with road names like "Prince Alfred Terrace". 

Romsey Council, which had responsibility at the time, informed purchasers that they would not be able to build. The soils were too easily eroded, and the land had high conservation value. Yet hope springs eternal in the mind of the eager investor, and the lots were all sold. For many years, some owners visited regularly and camped, and you can still find remnants of fireplaces.

Then when Romsey Council was amalgamated into Macedon Ranges Shire Council, MRSC resolved to maintain the conservation status of the area. Council has an open offer to take ownership of lots at no cost to owners, who are paying rates on land they can only walk through. Council now owns 17 lots.

From time to time, someone advertises to sell their lot – one went on the market recently with the ambitious price of $30,000 - and last year I came across someone asking after Lot 53 Prince Alfred Terrace (that's it below). 

All I could show him was a muddy track, and wish him well.