St Albans Stud homestead is coming on the market A historic Geelong mansion that played a big part in one of the most famous Melbourne Cup stories of all time is being prepared to hit the market St Albans Stud has a direct link to 10 Melbourne Cup winners and another 13 through breeding lines but the eastern Geelong property’s role in Phar Lap’s 1930 victory is probably its most famous Legend goes that Phar Lap trainer Harry Telford quietly asked then-owners whether he could hide the famous horse in secret at St Albans Stud after an apparent shooting attempt on Derby Day RELATED: Landmark Newtown ‘trophy home’ commands top dollar $90m apartment project on Barwon River approved Ex-public housing reaps nearly $9m in northern suburbs sell-off That year ‘Big Red’ had won his first Cox Plate and was looking unbeatable for the first Tuesday in November But at Caulfield on the Saturday before the race the champion thoroughbred was returning to the stables after trackwork when he was apparently shot at from a nearby vehicle Whether it was connections to notorious gangster Squizzy Taylor or bookies who stood to lose big time when the short-priced favourite won or whether there was even a gun has been subject of much debate but there is no doubting St Albans Stud’s early pedigree The grand veranda is one of the home’s most striking features The mansion designed by Melbourne architect James T Conlan and built in 1873 for prominent horse trainer James Wilson and plays a big role in the suburb to this day from the original gatehouse intact on Wilsons Rd nearby streets named after Melbourne Cup winners and several significant trees dotted around the area leading to a VCAT heritage ruling in 2024 surrounding a landmark tree that marked a gravesite potentially affected by a subdivision proposal in a nearby neighbourhood Geelong businessman Dean Montgomery has owned the 30-room brick mansion since 2010 who is preparing to list the mansion for sale said it’s a special home which the owners had maintained and improved This Homestead Drive historic property is coming on the market An interior photo shows the grandeur of St Albans Homestead from when it was last sold He really is a true custodian to those period-style homes,” Mr Fort said “What he has done is countless amount of maintenance works carried out on the property as well the stable area and the gardens being improved dramatically “It’s got a good pedigree and a historical significance to stained glass windows honouring celebrated horses the property is expected to hit the market with price hopes circa $7m-$7.5m third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. It’s Hedgehog Awareness Week between May 4-10 and probably everyone is aware of how Britain’s favourite mammal is in trouble The hedgehog was red-listed as ‘Vulnerable to Extinction’ in 2020 In the 1950s there were estimated to be around 50 million hedgehogs in Britain The number of hedgehogs in the countryside has declined significantly in the last couple of decades Intensive mono-culture farming has seen both the removal of hedgerows and the increased use of insecticides which means no food or habitat for hedgehogs The hedgehog’s last safe haven is our own gardens but even in suburbia their numbers are going down In St Albans it is noticeable that you don’t even see as many hedgehog casualties on the roads which is in itself an indication that there are fewer of them around Roads are of course one of the biggest killers of hedgehogs with hundreds of thousands killed every year in the UK But there are many other reasons that hedgehogs are struggling Hedgehogs can travel over a kilometre a night visiting 20-30 gardens to find food (and mates!) which means having to travel further and cross more roads caterpillars and worms is also becoming more difficult to find slug pellets and rat poisons contributes to hedgehog fatalities And then there is the contentious issue of injuries to hedgehogs by suburban foxes whose numbers locally have increased in recent years Over half of the admissions to the London Colney Hedgehog Rescue last year were due to fox attacks but they are hard-wired to hunt small mammals and although not all foxes will attempt it many can’t resist snapping at a hedgehog’s spindly back legs as it runs there are very simple steps we can all take to help the hogs: Make a gap of a couple of inches under existing fencing If you are replacing a fence with one with concrete running boards ask the contractor to put in a hedgehog hole Leave a couple of metres at the end of your garden to go wild: don’t cut the grass An old pallet piled with your garden cuttings is a great place for a hog to nest and find food slug pellets or leave rat poison at ground level or in the open They are lethal to birds and amphibians as well as hedgehogs make sure there is a ramp or shallow edge to enable a hedgehog to get out They are apex predators that do not need human intervention as it artificially increases the fox population and leads to territorial shrinkage offer dry cat biscuits with high animal protein inside a hedgehog house that can’t be accessed by foxes or cats Clear rubbish and netting from your gardens If there’s anything a hedgehog can fall in or get stuck in grassroots wildlife organisation ‘Wilderhood Watch’ runs various initiatives to help boost biodiversity at the local level encourages neighbours to get together to make their gardens accessible and hedgehog friendly while alerting motorists to the presence of hedgehogs in that area with hedgehog traffic signs More information can be found at https://wilderhoodwatch.org/projects/hedgehog-street/ Hedgehogs first evolved 15 million years ago Jill Stevens is a volunteer at London Colney Hedgehog Rescue and a member of Wilderhood Watch You can help keep quality local journalism alive by making a one-off donation or set up a regular direct debit Any contributions will help ensure the long-term future of the St Albans Times ©2025 St Albans Times. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Website by Moxie The Supersaints managed to overcome Geelong West in under-18s grading footy Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later Any Questions? Please call 1800 070 535 Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST) We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50 a social group founded by Sophie and Lisa for women looking to meet new people make friends and enjoy the great outdoors: @womenwho_walk a lovely circular walk and it’s always very quiet Sophie: You can find us in The Boot whenever there’s live music on And The White Swan for more ‘late night’ music Lisa: Love the Ye Olde Fighting Cocks when they have music outside in the garden Play country!” is the most used phrase in my house Where do you most like to have a picnic in St Albans Watching people come and go whilst eating Silver Palate sandwiches watching the photographers trying to snap the Kingfisher What’s the first thing you do after you’ve woken up in the morning Sophie: Feed my two cats and make a green tea What’s your favourite place to have breakfast in St Albans What’s your favourite hidden gem in the district it’s not such a hidden gem but there’s a walk there I love from Sandridge and it always feels so good when you see the Brocket Arms after hiking through fields to get there Lisa: Punchin’ Palooka’s secret garden St Albans lost its last clash with Geelong West by 139-points But it is more than just the result that proves the Supersaints have turned the corner Hertfordshire County Council – St Albans District – candidates for Thursday 1 May 2025 elections Asterisk*  - denotes a sitting Councillor standing for re-election in the same ward candidates for by-election in the Redbourn ward on Thursday 1 May ** The two candidates with the most votes will be elected There are ten county divisions in the district and all county councillor seats are up for election Poll cards will be issued in late March and voters are asked to check to see which polling station they should attend as there may have been a change.  there are also by elections taking place in the below areas you’ll receive two poll cards and (if you’ve applied for a postal vote) two postal vote packs Each ballot paper will clearly indicate which election it relates to and how many candidates you can vote for.  •    St Albans City & District Council (Redbourn ward) - 1 vacant seat•    Harpenden Town Council (Harpenden North town ward) - 1 vacant seat•    Harpenden Town Council (Harpenden South town ward) - 2 vacant seats•    Harpenden Town Council (Harpenden West  town ward) - 1 vacant seat  You must be on the electoral register in order to vote. If you've recently moved, it's important that you register at your new address. Visit our Electoral register and voting page for details of how to register See the key deadlines section below for information on the registration deadline.  Voters are required to show photo ID when voting at a polling station. Visit our Elections Act and Voter ID page for more information.  With the Easter bank holiday weekend (18 – 21 April) falling shortly before polling day residents who are going to be away around the bank holiday or election may wish to apply for a postal or proxy vote Postal vote packs are due to be despatched between 11 April and 22 April (depending on the date the postal vote was applied for) and must be completed and returned by 10pm on 1 May Visit our Electoral register and voting page for details of how to apply. See the key deadlines section below for information on the postal and proxy vote application deadlines.  Below are the deadlines for registering to vote (if you're not already on the electoral register) and (if you don't have photo ID) applying for a Voter Authority Certificate.   Notices related to the 1 May 2025 elections will appear below.  you will be sent a poll card which contains the address of your polling station Polling stations may change depending on the election. In the run-up to an election, you can also find details of your polling station by using Democracy Club’s polling station finder If you have any questions about this election, please take a look at the questions below and on our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ page. Information is also available on the Electoral Commission’s website If you can’t find an answer to your question below Email: elections@stalbans.gov.ukTelephone: 01727 819294 The Electoral Commission’s Candidate or agent pages contain comprehensive guidance for candidates.  Nomination packs for the Hertfordshire County Council elections will be available below to download To assist with calculating candidate spending limits the 1 March local government elector totals will be published below per county division.  Completed nomination papers can be submitted from Friday 21 March and must be received by no later than 4pm on Wednesday 2 April. Nomination papers must be delivered by hand to: the Deputy Returning Officer Candidates are encouraged to submit their nomination papers for checking as early as possible so that there is time to correct any mistakes For further information, and to arrange an appointment to submit nomination papers, please contact Electoral Services on 01727 819565 / 819554 or elections@stalbans.gov.uk Once the nomination period has closed (4pm on Wednesday 2 April 2025) please see the "Statement of Persons Nominated" under the Election Notices section above The results will also be displayed at: St Albans City & District Council Offices you will need to bring an acceptable form of photo ID This requirement was introduced as part of the Elections Act 2022 For more information about acceptable forms of photo ID, and what to do if you don't have photo ID, please visit our Elections Act and Voter ID page.  The first two digits of your year of birth are pre-printed on your postal voting statement The digits are pre-populated in the first two boxes of the year of birth based on your date of birth This is done to assist electors to complete this section of the postal voting statement correctly If you live in an area with multiple elections you might receive a separate postal voting pack for each election / referendum If you aren't able to return your postal vote pack in time via Royal Mail you can return it via reception at the Civic Centre offices (during office hours) or at your polling station on polling day You will only be able to hand in your own postal vote and the postal votes of up to five other people Political campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives or someone they provide regular care for.  Anybody handing in a postal vote in person at the council offices or at a polling station must complete a short form.  Postal vote packs are usually sent out around two weeks before election day If you've not received your postal vote pack by four working days before election day contact Electoral Services on 01727 819294 or elections@stalbans.gov.uk We can only issue a replacement before 5pm on election day.  A teller is a volunteer working for a candidate or a political party They stand outside polling stations to record who has voted They do not work for the Returning Officer Tellers can:• Ask for your elector number• Wear a small coloured rosette to show which candidate or party they work for Tellers can't:• Intimidate electors or demand their elector number• Prevent electors from entering the polling station• Attempt to influence how electors vote Harpenden MP Victoria Collins is calling for urgent action to address the growing problems of litter across the town and the surrounding villages Littering in Harpenden was first raised by pupils from St Dominic’s Primary School when they visited Parliament and mentioned their litter picks with Victoria Residents across the constituency have since raised serious concerns about the state of the local environment with one constituent describing driving along local roads as “like driving through a landfill site.” Alarming statistics have reinforced the urgency of this issue – 48 per cent of people admit to dropping litter and More than two million pieces of litter are dropped every day across the country Victoria has identified several factors contributing to this crisis including reduced council waste management budgets increasing fast food consumption leading to more disposable packaging and a general lack of public awareness about the environmental impact of littering Roadside litter collection is carried out by SADC as part of a contract with Veolia and residents who see litter are advised to report it to use the Recycling Rubbish and Street Cleaning page on their website Victoria said: “People are rightly upset about the amount of rubbish they encounter everywhere from roadsides that look like rubbish dumps to litter-strewn public spaces but a serious environmental and social problem.” Victoria has praised the exceptional work of local volunteer groups: “I view the litter picking teams in our constituency “These groups give me the confidence that many constituents not only highly value our environment but have the desire to take action to protect it Some of these groups have been running for years and serve an important role in the community and I know there are many more who would like to help I would encourage those interested to join these groups.” and countryside should not be spoiled by litter This can be a solvable problem with the correct resources making our communities and roads spaces that we can be proud of.” Strong debuts from a handful of recruits and a barnstorminng performance from a key midfielder has helped St Albans end a longstanding round 1 voodoo Any Questions? Please call 1800 070 535. Monday to Friday 7:30am – 6:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST) The 2025 season is just around the corner so EDFL Media will be previewing each club heading into Round One. Next, we chat to St Albans coach Zammy Muhtari who provides some insights on their 2025 campaign. "Our main focus has been around identifying areas of improvement, as well as experimenting with players in different roles for season 2025." "We have added some players that will complement the group. There's also been great development of some of the young lads coming through." "Kyan Kretiuk is one of the young guys that’s pushing for that senior spot after a strong pre-season." "One of the lads (Billy) has some challenges for the group to build connection that they all support and enjoy." "Our main goal on and off the field is to make each other better every day." Would be Josh Klaromenos and Bailee Revell. Player most likely to become a coach one day? We are always learning, don’t be hard on yourselves. Who’s one opposition player you’d love on your side? What match are you most looking forward to in 2025 and why? Good Friday against Hillside. It’s a great day on the calendar where two teams represent a special day for the local football community! Out: Majok Bol (Lara), Lincoln Phillips (Altona), Brayden Brodie (Newport), Derick Yuga (Sherwood Districts), Imanuil Afiuo (East Keilor), Jason Johns (Albanvale), Yoel Fessehaye (Braybrook), Jesse Drake (Albanvale), Tyson Maiava (Mernda), Tyler Bell (Port Melbourne Colts), Adeola Akintola (PEGS), Victor Micallef (Wallan), Anthony Zanti (Tullamarine), Brodie Lyons-Jones (Parkside). Ladder Prediction: Double chance territory. A St Albans man has been charged after a pedestrian was allegedly hit by a car and left unconscious on the road in St Albans on Tuesday. It’s alleged the pedestrian was struck on Main Road East between Branston Road and Wahgunyah Drive at 4.11am on February 11. It’s alleged the driver hit the man with his vehicle and continue to drive without stopping. The pedestrian, a 41-year-old Hillside man, was located by another driver with serious injuries and emergency services were called. The Hillside man was transported to hospital where he is in a critical but stable condition. A 46-year-old man from St Albans was arrested this morning after attending a police station. He was subsequently charged with fail to stop and fail to render assistance following a serious injury collision. He has been bailed to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on June 2. Share to FacebookShare to LinkedinSt Albans Mayor will lay a wreath at the City’s war memorial to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day senior Council officers and representatives of the Royal British Legion Everyone is welcome at the event at the memorial in St Peter’s Street at 9.30am on Thursday 8 May It will be an opportunity for the community to come together and pay their respects to the millions of victims of the Second World War will join more than 300 criers across the UK and Commonwealth and read the VE Day 80 Proclamation VE Day occurred on 8 May 1945 when Nazi Germany surrendered to Britain and its allies bringing an end to the Second World War in Europe will take place at St Albans City and District Council’s main offices from 10.30am after the wreath laying Any veteran wishing to attend should email mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk with family and friends welcome to do so on their behalf The Union flag will be flown from St Albans Museum + Gallery where a new display exploring the varied wartime experiences of local people launches in the Assembly Room at 10am This display highlights the unique personal stories of eight individuals from across the District with topics ranging from evacuation to life as a Prisoner of War there will be a free performance of wartime songs by a local choir on Saturday 10 May when the community group The Monday Choir will sing the hits of Vera Lynn and other 1940s favourites.  The Charter Market on Saturday 3 and Wednesday 7 May will be VE Day-themed with traders encouraged to put up red white and blue bunting as well as other appropriate decorations It is a great honour to lead the District’s celebration of VE Day 80 I hope many of our residents will join me at the war memorial as a wreath is laid in memory of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and way of life There are many other events people can attend and I would urge them to go along to the Museum + Gallery to see the VE Day display and listen to the choir I am particularly looking forward to hosting a coffee morning for our veteran servicemen and women This will be a chance for me to meet people from our District and thank them for their service to the country Among the other events taking place around the District to mark the historic occasion are beacon lightings at Highfield Park This is part of a national initiative with more than 1,000 beacons being lit at 9.30pm across the country begins at 8.30pm with the Town Crier reading the proclamation at 9.20pm there will be a short service at St Mary’s Church at 8pm followed by the 9.30pm beacon lighting at the village’s war memorial This is being organised by Redbourn Parish Council people will be encouraged to join in the communal singing of  I Vow To Thee My Country and the National Anthem the Parish Council is organising a free VE Day exhibition at Marford Memorial Hall uniforms and other artefacts to bring to life the wartime stories of residents and evacuees There will also be a street café selling 1940s style cakes and other treats there will be a special Choral Evensong at 5pm Everyone is welcome and the event will include prayers for peace across the world will join the nationwide Ring Out celebrations with a glorious ringing of the bells Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727-819533;  john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.  Forty-five-year-old Gavin Gost has always had artistic flair and studied art and photography at Oaklands College in 1995 but a moment in lockdown rekindled his desire for being behind the camera and his passion for taking pictures is developing But it was reaching out to an old friend that set him off on a path to a new way of life founder of Shoesmiths (now Timpsons) – The Maltings Shopping Centre’s key cutters – needed some help at his shop and asked Gavin if he would give it a go and shoe repair but it was the people I met that made me really love the place.” He elaborated: “I enjoyed talking to the customers There is such an eclectic mix of people walking in daily I’ve met some amazing people while working at the shop.” He said it gave him a deeper awareness of the human connection and made him want to get involved in local projects and go to places he hadn’t been to before “Walking past every day on my way to work really made me want to take amazing photographs so I popped in and chatted with gallery owner Olesya who was so generous with her time We talked about what I could do with them in order to move forward She gave me lots of advice and said I should just keep snapping and get out there.” he took photos at a celebrity event at the gallery last month and got some great shots of Jake Wood and Ray Winstone He visited a community group too: “Shelley Hayles invited me down to her Tuesday group at Cottonmill Community Centre for people from different generations to connect got to know them and took tons of pictures Now I go weekly not to take pics but just to sit and chat and spend time with them “Right on our doorstep here in St Albans there are some brilliant places to snap: market day full of history and the aged architecture is breathtaking.” He also enjoys what he calls the “unexpected consequences” of taking a picture: “A customer came into the shop to have his boots repaired and as we chatted I really noticed something about him as we talked that I wanted to capture “I showed him some of my pictures and asked if I could take his portrait for my portfolio “His wife loved the photo and sent it off to a London modelling agency and he is now working as a model I’m so glad that I captured a moment that made an impact in that way.” Gavin added: “Working in a shop has helped me to discover and be a part of what is a really strong community in St Albans.” He is keen to get out and take more photos locally so do get in touch with him if you would like to be part of his journey Any contributions will help ensure the long-term future of the St Albans Times.