The land-use history of the Coburg Hill development site is surprisingly well documented. The traditional owners of the Merri Ck area, Wurundjeri-Willam (part of the Kulin Nation), have left a legacy of stories and artefacts, although their lands were drastically changed in the first few decades of the settlement of Melbourne. Archeological evidence of daily traditional life remains in numerous locations through the northern suburbs despite massive urban and industrial development in the area for over 150 years.

In 1995, a motion was put forward to nominate the Merri Creek for Heritage values on the National Estate, due to its cultural and archeological values. One document suggests that present day Northcote is where the European authorities (John Batman) and the traditional land owners (Kulin Nation elders) signed a treaty worth 243,000 hectares in exchange for European goods in 1835. Interestingly, this treaty was not upheld and declared invalid by the British Crown as did not recognise any land ownership ('terra nullius') in Australia, allowing colonisation to occur.

Growing up in Coburg, Cassy Twomey (nee McKay), explained her family's history of the area:
It began in 1887, when Cassy's great-grandfather purchased the land around Coburg Hill. John Mckay, a dairy farmer,  then passed it down to his son William in the 1920's. It was known as Hillcroft or Newlands Farm. The farming of this land was practised until 1977, when Kodak purchased the site, when the house and most of the buildings were removed. The McKay's then purchased farmland where Craigieburn is now located, however development of this region soon ensured its sale.


REFERENCES:
Faithfull., T (ed.) 2001, People of the Merri Merri,Merri Creek Management Committee, Brunswick

McKay homestead, Hillcroft farm, 1974,
just prior to demolition

William McKay, Hillcroft Farm, 1898