Tohme Lawyers – Trusted Lawyers Close to Keilor
Tohme Lawyers is a successful legal practice based in Essendon Fields, just 7.5km from Keilor.
If you are looking for a lawyer in Keilor, consider Tohme Lawyers—we are conveniently located nearby, just off the Western Ring Road.
Tohme Lawyers recognises and values the history, development and landmarks of Keilor.
Indigenous History
Keilor sits on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.
Archaeological discoveries, including 14,700-year-old human remains and stone tools found near Dry Creek, confirm one of the longest periods of continuous habitation in Australia.
The Wurundjeri camped along the Maribyrnong River, relying on its abundant resources, including fish, eels, and plant foods. Silcrete stone tools from ancient quarry sites provide further evidence of their presence.
By the time European settlers arrived in the 1830s, the Wurundjeri population had been significantly impacted by disease and dispossession.
European Settlement and Early Development
European exploration of Keilor began in 1803 with Charles Grimes and later, the Hume and Hovell expedition in 1824.
Permanent settlement followed in the late 1830s when Scottish pastoralist James Watson established a landholding, possibly naming “Keilor” after his father’s property in Scotland.
The discovery of gold in 1851 transformed Keilor into a key stopover for prospectors traveling to the goldfields in Bendigo, Ballarat, and Castlemaine.
Inns and businesses flourished, including the Keilor Inn (built in 1841, later rebuilt in bluestone in 1861).
Philanthropist Caroline Chisholm also established a shelter for women and children heading to the goldfields.
By the 1860s, Keilor had developed a local government structure, first as a Road District (1863) and later as a Shire (1871).
Infrastructure improvements included a toll bridge over the Maribyrnong River (1854) and a more permanent iron bridge in 1868, which still stands today as a historic landmark.
Keilor settled into a quiet agricultural district, with farmers growing hay, grains, and fruit.
Wealthy landowners, including Edward Wilson (co-founder of The Argus newspaper), established large-scale farms like “Arundel.”
Tohme Lawyers – professional lawyers near me in Keilor
Close to Keilor is Tohme Lawyers, a professional legal firm with a broad range of services, including commercial law, conveyancing, contracts, family law, litigation, employment law, and more! If you are looking for a Keilor lawyer (aka Keilor solicitor), look no further!
Growth and Suburbanization
A defining feature of Keilor was Overnewton Castle, built in 1849 by Scottish settler William Taylor. Originally a modest bluestone homestead, it was expanded in 1859 into a grand Scottish baronial mansion.
Overnewton Castle remains Keilor’s most iconic heritage building today.
The breakup of large estates in the early 1900s saw Keilor shift towards smaller farms, particularly orchards and market gardens, with irrigation initiatives boosting productivity.
Post-World War II, Keilor experienced rapid suburbanization.
The 1950s population boom was driven by affordable land and job opportunities in nearby industrial hubs like Sunshine.
Between 1947 and 1954, Keilor’s population tripled as farmland gave way to housing estates.
By 1961, Keilor had attained city status, and by the 1980s, its population exceeded 80,000.
Infrastructure projects such as the Calder Freeway (connecting to Bendigo) and the Tullamarine Freeway (built in the late 1960s) improved connectivity.
The establishment of Essendon Airport (1920s) and Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) in 1970 cemented Keilor’s strategic importance in aviation and transport.
Landmarks and Heritage
Keilor remains home to several historical landmarks.
Overnewton Castle is a preserved 19th-century mansion offering tours and events.
The 1868 Keilor Bridge, located in Horseshoe Bend Park, is a rare surviving relic of Keilor’s gold rush era.
Other notable sites include the Keilor Court House (built 1857) and the Keilor Hotel, both remnants of its past as a busy traveler’s stop.
The Keilor Archaeological Site, near Dry Creek, protects ancient Indigenous artefacts and is a reminder of the area’s deep Aboriginal heritage.
Organ Pipes National Park features striking basalt formations and fossils from prehistoric megafauna, adding another layer to Keilor’s rich geological and human history.
Contact Keilor Lawyer – Tohme Lawyers
For expert, professional legal advice, contact Tohme Lawyers, who are close to Keilor in Essendon Fields.
