A map of historic Emerald is giving the community a glimpse into its past.
The heritage groups in Casey Cardinia launched the map at their quarterly meeting on 2 August.
Graeme Legge produced it by hand.
It shows places of Indigenous significance, the location of the original diggings, geographical features, local townships and early buildings.
Mr Legge is well qualified to produce such an historic resource having a long connection to the town of Emerald.
He has spent his whole life there and his parents ran a general store in Main Street.
He attended Emerald State School before later teaching there for 17 years and has been involved in many community groups such as the Emerald Scouts, Emerald Fire Brigade and Emerald Ambulance Auxiliary.
Mr Legge was also a Cardinia Shire Councillor for 15 years and was Cardinia’s Senior Citizen of the Year in 2015.
He has a passion for the history of the Emerald region and this hand-drawn map reflects that.
Casey Cardinia Libraries’ local history librarian Heather Arnold launched the map.
She likened it to an old-fashioned treasure map, not only because of its style but because it records the treasures of Emerald’s history in an interesting and creative way.
For a copy of the map, email glegge@southernphone.com.au or call 0418 318 392.
