Naming of Lilydale
LILYDALE (ORIGIN OF NAME)
From Minutes of Lilydale Council meeting North Eastern Advertiser 10/11/1944
Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Lilydale council, the clerk stated that during the month he had been asked by scholars at the Lilydale area school the reason why the district was given the name Lilydale, the date the name was altered and who suggested the alteration.
Lilydale was formerly known as Upper Piper and the council clerk said he could not supply the information so he wrote to Mr LW Loewe of Launceston who is an authority on the early history of Lilydale. In his letter Mr Loewe said the change of name was made in 1887 and the Tankerville Road Trust as the only public body in the district at that time was probably responsible. Mr E Kowarzic was chairman of the road trust.
Mr Loewe further stated the district was always famous for flowers and at anniversary services there was always a fine display of Christmas lilies in the churches so Mr E Kowarzic made the remark that the town should be called Lilydale. This was opposed by Mr John Somerville, Jacob Marx and LW Loewe who favoured “Tankerville” which is an old English name. One objection made was that there was a Lilydale in Victoria and letters are miscarried. Although it is 67 years since the name was changed letters are frequently sent to the wrong town.
