Illalangi campsite has been owned by the 2nd/6th Mordialloc Scout Group (Mentone, Victoria) for 70 years. The Ion L. Idriess Rover Crew based at 2nd Mordialloc (1st Mentone) Scout Group started the campsite under the leadership of their first Rover Leader, Mr C. Hulme. He arranged for the Scout Group to aquire the property in mid 1938, and the Crew went quickly to work to turn it into their own piece of bush.
Huts existed on the property, but they were replaced over time with new huts built by the Rovers. First came the Rover hut, then a short time later a log cabin was built for use by the Scouts. Over the years the campsite was known by many names including "The Block", "Wombat Ranch" or just "The Ranch".
In the early 1940s, entries in the Crew Log refer to the site being called Illalangi, an aboriginal term for 'hut on the hill'. This name has stuck and the site is now refered to as Illalangi. Many camps were held at the site over the years, most memorable of which would have to be the summer camps held from just after Christmas, often for two weeks into January.
An account by Don Southerland will appear shortly about his time at Illalangi as a Scout in the 1950s. |
