Lalor

In 1946 a group of returned diggers who'd obviously served under both the Australian and Eureka flags in World War II banded together to form a self-help group they named after the leader of the Eureka Stockade rebellion, Peter Lalor.

The objective of the Peter Lalor home-building Cooperative Society was to provide cheap homes for ex-servicemen at a time when high demand was being stymied by a shortage of materials.

Town planner Saxel Tuxen was engaged and the garden suburb of Lalor was born 17km north of the Melbourne CBD. The World War II connection was underpinned by a decision to name most of the streets after Victoria Cross winners.

The suburb has outgrown its co-operative beginnings and is supported by a full range of community facilities including several schools and a shopping centre.

Today Lalor is part of the northern Melbourne municipality of Whittlesea which is set in the rolling hills of the Plenty Valley and the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges where you can relax in tranquil Yan Yean Reservoir Park or take a horse ride through the network of rural trails.