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Kiewa Valley Historical Society
VHS Tape - Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme x2, Kiewa, Circa 1990
This VHS was produced by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, to show the pristine state of the Kiewa River and Valley post the completion of the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme (Circa 1950s), The late 1970s on wards was the beginning of deeper social scrutineering by pro environmental groups such as the Australian Wilderness Society (1976) and the Greens (political Party), before, during and after the construction phases of any man made structures in forest/bush areas which may or could damage or adversely affect the natural flora and fauna of sites. This promotional VHS, which was produced in the 1990s, was to project that unlike the Tasmanian State Electricity Commission (Franklin Dam issue), the Victorian State Electricity Commission acted in a way to protect the environment to the maximum level possible. With the passage of time since, and the issue of the global push to minimise carbon pollution, and as an alternative to coal fired power stations, the use of hydro electricity can now be seen as a highly efficient alternative to "coal powered" electricity. This VHS is a snap shot in time (1990) when the Kiewa Valley was still relatively under populated and holiday houses owned by city bound workers was still relatively insignificant. As more and more holiday makers retire to a small but friendly region(Kiewa Valley and Mount Beauty) the increase in visitor numbers will affect the local rural bush scene more and more. The changes that will occur (in time) can be measured against the scenes presented in this video. The additional resources provided by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria of "alpine bush" fire control and management, together with an ongoing educational scheme for school children in learning about what constitutes the Alpine country's unique environment, are a very important offshoot, benefitting to both the communities within the Kiewa Valley and regional Victoria.This VHS tape is stored within its own plastic cover which has a front side covered by a coloured photograph(both front and back cover) of the Kiewa River, just to the north east of the Mount Beauty township. The VHS tape is nestled within a formed inner structure which not only prevents the tape from moving to and fro but also unnecessary intrusion of foreign particles.Front cover "KIEWA" on the spine top circle with lines projecting out and below this "SEC". Middle of spine "KIEWA" and bottom of spine "VHS"secv, kiewa valley, dale-bromley, cy-duff, chris- harding, michael-glucz, forestation education, wilderness photography, nature film. -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
DVD - Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme, KIEWA, Circa 1990
This DVD is a digital reproduction of a VHS produced by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, to show the pristine state of the Kiewa River and Valley post the completion of the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme (Circa 1950s), The late 1970s on wards was the beginning of deeper social scrutineering by pro environmental groups such as the Australian Wilderness Society (1976) and the Greens (political Party), before, during and after the construction phases of any man made structures in forest/bush areas which may or could damage or adversely affect the natural flora and fauna of sites. This promotional VHS, which was produced in the 1990s, was to project that unlike the Tasmanian State Electricity Commission (Franklin Dam issue), the Victorian State Electricity Commission acted in a way to protect the environment to the maximum level possible. With the passage of time since, and the issue of the global push to minimise carbon pollution, and as an alternative to coal fired power stations, the use of hydro electricity can now be seen as a highly efficient alternative to "coal powered" electricity. This item provids a snap shot in time (1990) when the Kiewa Valley was still relatively under populated and holiday houses owned by city bound workers was still relatively insignificant. As more and more holiday makers retire to a small but friendly region(Kiewa Valley and Mount Beauty) the increase in visitor numbers will affect the local rural bush scene more and more. The changes that will occur (in time) can be measured against the scenes presented in this video. The additional resources provided by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria to "alpine bush" fire control and management, together with an ongoing educational scheme for school children in learning about what constitutes the Alpine country's unique environment, are a very important offshoot, benefitting to both the communities within the Kiewa Valley and regional Victoria. The DVD is nestled within a formed inner structure (case), which not only prevents the disc from moving to and fro but also unnecessary intrusion of foreign particles.This DVD is a TDK data/video recordable single sided 4.7 GB disc.It is a 1-16x speed."KIEWA" on disc.secv, kiewa valley, dale-bromley, cy-duff, chris- harding, michael-glucz, forestation education, wilderness photography, nature film. -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Photographs and copies of photographs of the pack horses and early horsemen who transported supplies to outposts in the Bogong High Plains, via cattle tracks before access roads were made
In the mid to late 1930’s survey outposts were established to plot the early stages of the Kiewa Hydro Electric System for the SECV in the Bogong High Plains. Before any roads were built, the old cattleman’s tracks were used with packhorses to deliver supplies, wages and mail and collect timesheets and correspondence from the workmen and dam builders living in canvas tents and at the outlying survey posts. The trip up the mountain was long and hard and dangerous for both horse and man Most of the men of the survey teams were not bush-men and were often ill equipped for the harsh weather and living conditions of bush camping, often arriving in their city clothes ready for work. The tent city at Bogong was destroyed by bush fires in 1939 after which an access road was built from Mt Beauty to transport building materials for more permanent dwellings for workmen. Pack horses continued to be used for transporting goods etc. to workers further up the mountain.Without the work of horsemen and their pack horses providing supplies and communications for outlying outposts, surveying and early planning for the Kiewa Valley Hydro Electric scheme could not have gone ahead and the dams and power stations which support the system could not have been constructed. The Hydro-electric scheme, and the workers who planned and built it play a major part in the early history of the Kiewa Valley and many original families still remain living, or have ties with the local area.: Set of 21 black and white photographs and copies of photographs depicting the pack horses and the men who handled them, transporting supplies and correspondence to the outlying camps and survey posts in the Bogong High Plains, via the rough cattlemen’s tracks. Photographs also show the early tent camps of the workers. Some photos mounted on A4 white paper. Some photos enlarged to A3 poster size for display1. Handwritten on back – Max Lawrence 2. -8 No inscriptions 9. Handwritten on back- Packing in supplies for early workers of the Kiewa Hydro scheme. There were no roads in the early days of the scheme 10. Printed on bottom of photo- Roper’s cattle on road below Howman’s Gap 11. Handwritten on back – Roper’s et al about to leave for the high plains 12. Printed under photo- Syd Ryder at the Pretty Valley Cut-Out (JBR) 13-16. No markings 17. Printed under photo- Gwen Talbot visits the Camp area. 1937 18. Handwritten on back- 14/1 Barbara Talbot 19. No markings 20-21. No markings 22. Printed under photo- STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA. Date: 15-3-45 Time: 8.0pm No: K 1838 Kiewa Hydro-Electric Works, Investigations 1944-1945 – Survey Camp at Young’s Hut pack horses; bogong high plains; survey posts; supplies delivery -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Leaflet - Kiewa, Welcome to Kiewa
The State Electricity Commission of Victoria constructed the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme from 1938 to 1961. The Scheme included three power stations, dams, tunnels and was becoming a popular tourist destination with Falls Creek Ski field within its boundaries.This leaflet was published by the SECV to ensure all visitors to the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme were made aware of safety measures with regard to their driving and to bush fires. These were necessary as the area was unique with driving on mountainous roads, changeable and extreme weather and the threat of bush fires. The gatehouse existed during construction, when the SECV was in charge, as a restriction to entry to the Scheme for SECV workers and those with permission to enter. The SECV controlled the area so in case of accident, the SECV was the body to contact not eg. the police.Small white and green leaflet made from one sheet of glossy paper and folded in half. Front cover has the title in the middle, the SECV emblem at the centre top and across the bottom is a message to read the inside pages which are safety messages for driving and bush fires. The back cover has a RACV road map of Kiewa and its 'works' including the Gatehouse which was the entrance to the scheme.The map also has an insert of the main roads & nearby cities. state electricity commission of victoria; kiewa hydro electric scheme; gatehouse; safety rules; kiewa -
Fire Services Museum of Victoria
Book - The Fire Brigade Handbook, The Fire Brigade Handbook by James Compton Merryweather
Personal copy of Captain James Kelly of the Prahran City Fire Brigade. Captain Kelly was killed at a fire in Melbourne in 1890. He was an advocate of brigade consoldiation and personal developmentHistoric: This book is a very early (1888) instruction manual and was the personal copy of Captain James Kelly of the Prahran City Fire Brigade. Published in England by James Compton Merryweather, of the Merryweather fire engine and equipment manufacturing company. It is the only known copy in MelbourneThe Fire Brigade Handbook by James Compton Merryweatherfire-brigade-organization capt-james-kelly prahran-city-fire-brigade merryweather fire-brigade-training fire-brigade-equipment -
Fire Services Museum of Victoria
American La France 100 ft Turntable Ladder
American Style Ladder, built by the American LaFrance Company, of Elmira, New York, as Lend Lease Appliances, during World War 11 The genesis of the vehicle is the City Service JO Series Ladder, which in this form became the JOX, - X for Export, model, as some items of equipment were not requested in the U.S. Treasury Department specification for these vehicles. Seven of them came to Australia in 1942 / 43, and all bar two are still in existence / preservation, in various States. Initially, they were supplied to the MFB, and later transferred to the CFBB / CFA. -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Pamphlet, F.P. Dwerryhouse, Town Clerk and Treasurer, Ringwood Council's Annual Report To The Ratepayers - December 1966, 1966
City of Ringwood community information annual report for 1966, including sections covering Finance, Sanitary Service Charge, Municipal Library, Memorial Clock Tower, Reserves, Civic Centre, Maroondah Highway Reconstruction, Other Road Works, Building Activity and Development - Education, MacRobertsons Pty. Ltd. & Travellers' Facilities (Ringwood Station), Appreciation - Decimal Currency Conversion, Annual Special Clearance of Refuse, Garbage Removal, Fly Control, Immunisations, Infant Welfare Centres, Retention of Native Flora, Home Help Service, Dogs, Horse Riding, Fire Hazards and Burning Off, Secondary School Grants, and list of Council Representatives.rinx -
Victoria Police Museum
Police Stations (Ascot Vale)
Ascot Vale is an inner suburb 6 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in the local government area of the City of Moonee Valley. Ascot Vale police station was opened on 31 October 1887 in the Melbourne Police District. From 1900-1905 it was located at 54 Parade, Ascot Vale; from 1910-1925 at 71 St Leonards Road; from 1930-1953 at 37 St Leonards Road. In 1953 it was relocated to government owned premises at 111 Union Road until the police station closed on 1st May 1970 and the Sub-district was divided between Flemington and Moonee Ponds police stations. The former police station was used by the Crime Car Squad until about 1987 when the premises were damaged by fire. The police station at 37 St Leonards Road was described as a six-roomed brick dwelling with slate and iron roof on land measuring 150' x 50'. There was also a bathroom and W.C., wash-house, office and lock-up with one cell. It was staffed by one second-class sergeant and four foot constables. The purpose-built police station at 111 Union Road included a four-roomed residence with the exterior clad in rough cast Conite and a tile roof. There was also a kitchen, bathroom, laundry and separate garage. 4 black and white photospolice stations; ascot vale police station -
Port of Echuca
Black and white photograph, 1973 or 1974
The P.S Pevensey was built in 1910 in Moama by the Permewan Wright Co. Initially she was a barge, called the Mascotte, but by May 1911 she had been converted into the P.S.Pevensey. Initially the P.S.Pevensey was used as for transporting wool from the Murrumbidgee River Stations. In 1932 the P.S Pevensey carried the largest load of wool ever from the Murrumbidgee River. This record was 2600 bales of wool. She was destroyed by fire at Koraleigh Landing later in 1932, but was soon rebuilt.By 1939 she was running a regular service between Morgan and Mildura. By 1958 it was reported that she was moored above Renmark and not working. In 1967 she was sunk by vandals. In 1968 she was bought by Bill and Norm Collins. They refloated her, restored her and moored her at Mildura. The City of Echuca bought the P.S. Pevensey from the Collins Family in 1973, for $20,000. The P.S. Pevensey came to Echuca Wharf in July 1973 along with Kevin Hutchinson OA., a shipwright who stayed with the P.S. Pevensey for the rest of his life. The P.S Pevensey currently works as a Tourist paddle steamer taking cruises from the Echuca Wharf every day. (Ref. Parsons, R. "Ships of the Inland Rivers. P. 116.)This photograph is significant because it shows the wharf in 1973, being converted into a Tourist precinct. The roof of the cargo shed is being repaired. The P.S Pevensey is tied up to the wharf and looks as if it needs more repairs. The buildings in the background are still used as business venues. The Shamrock Hotel can be seen in High Street. A train can also be seen parked on the wharf.A black and white rectangular photograph of the P.S Pevensey tied up at Echuca Wharf during a high river probably taken in 1973 or 1974.On the Bond Store in Murray Esplanade can be seen the words SHACKELL. On the front of the building can be seen the words "Panel & Paint."p.s pevensey, echuca wharf, hutchinson, kevin, collins, norm, collins, bill, city of echuca -
Hume City Civic Collection
Badge, c1970's
This badge was worn by Bill Houston when he became Sunbury District Cub Leader whilst with the 1st Sunbury Cubs in the 1970's. The Cubs met in the Old Fire Station (now demolished) in Evans Street, Sunbury.A small black plastic badge with Bill Houston's name on it."SUNBURY/DISTRICT CUB LEADER/Bill Houston"1970s, houston, william, joan, 1st sunbury cubs, george evans collection -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, c1980s
The ruined bluestone building was the former Bulla Post Office and general store which was gutted by fire in1989. The building was demolished after the fire and the post office was relocated to a service station about 1km away.Until it was burnt down, the post office and general store was an important hub in the small town for local residents.A coloured photograph of a ruined and roofless bluestone building on a roadside. -
Hume City Civic Collection
Phortograph, 1989
The building is the former Bulla Post Office and general store which was damaged by fire in 1989 and never rebuilt. A private house now occupies the site. The post office was relocated to a service station about 1km away. For many years the former Bulla Post Office and store was the focal point in the small township.A coloured photograph of a bluestone building by a roadside which has been gutted by fire. There is no roof but the chimney is intact. -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph
This photograph was taken in Evans Street, Sunbury near Sunbury Square. The wooden structure was the home of the Country Fire Authority and the bell tower was used to raise the alarm for fires.A black and white photograph of a weatherboard fire station next to a metal tower with a bell on top and a ladder leaning against it.sunbury fire brigade, country fire authority, bell towers, fire stations, evans street, sunbury, george evans collection -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph
The Sunbury Fire Station began in......A black and white photograph of a Sunbury Fire truck with a driver and four young identified men standing at the back.country fire authority, firefighters, sunbury fire brigade, sunbury, keays, john, mitchell, malcolm, metrevic, vilnis, baird, ian, fire engines, george evans collection -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, 1970-1979
The Sunbury Fire Station had demonstrations in......A black and white photograph seven young identified men standing with a fire hose and reel at the Fire Brigade Demonstrations.country fire authority, firefighters, sunbury fire brigade, sunbury, keays, john, muir, kevin, mccarthy, ron, wertich, andrea, baird, ian, fire engines, fire fighting equipment, george evans collection -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, 1933
The Sunbury Fire Station participated in competitions with other fire stations in......A black and white photograph five men from Sunbury Fire Brigade in their uniforms at the Fire Brigade members competition held in Warnambool in 1933.written on back WARNAMBOOL 1933country fire authority, firefighters, sunbury fire brigade, sunbury, lupson, winston, barr, clyde, uniforms, george evans collection -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, 1933
The Sunbury Fire Station participated in competitions with other fire stations in......A black and white photograph of ten men from Sunbury Fire Brigade at the Fire Brigade members competition held in Warnambool in 1933.written on back: No 3 / WARNAMBOOL 1933country fire authority, firefighters, sunbury fire brigade, sunbury, wileman, herb, barr, clyde, george evans collection -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, 1933
The Sunbury Fire Station participated in competitions with other fire stations in......A black and white photograph of six men from Sunbury Fire Brigade at the Fire Brigade members competition held in Warnambool in 1933.written on back: WARNAMBOOL 1933 / 4country fire authority, firefighters, sunbury fire brigade, sunbury, wileman, herb, barr, clyde, george evans collection -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, Early 1970s
The old Sunbury CFA station was situated in Evans Street where part of the Sunbury Shopping Square has been built. It was opened on that site in 1914. In 1969 a newer fire station was built in Evans Street on the opposite side of the road and closer to Macedon Street. From 1969 until 1978 the old fire station became a scout hall. In the early 2000s two new fire stations were built away from the main shopping area. One was built in Jackson Street, opposite the Ball Court Hotel and the other one was built on the corner of Gap Road and Elizabeth Drive. By locating them out of the immediate shopping centre which had become quite busy, it meant that access in and out of the new stations was quicker. The butter factory in Horne Street is on the RHS and the former public tennis courts are on the LHS of the photograph.A coloured photograph of the CFA firemen standing outside the former CFA building. The bell tower is on the LHS of the building.country fire authority, fire fighters, sunbury fire station, butter factory, tennis courts, george evans collection -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, late 1980s
A coloured photograph of the corner of Brook Street and Evans Street, Sunbury, looking towards Macedon Street.post offices, royal hotel, hotels, fire stations, toyworld, businesses, brook street, evans street, sunbury, the corporate personality, george evans collection -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, Early 1990's
Sunbury Shopping Square now occupies the railway land which was once the football ground, scout hall, boys club, fire station and tennis courts for Sunbury residents.A coloured photograph taken at the T intersection of Macedon and Evans Streets. The Sunbury Shoping Square and car park is on the RHS of the photograph. There is a blue car on the intersection and 3 white cars are approaching the intersection from Evans Street.shopping centres, sunbury shopping square, coles supermarket, liquourland, evans street, macedon street, george evans collection -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Denmark Street, Kew, 1972
The Engineer's Department of the former City of Kew had an extensive collection of photograph of sites in Kew requiring documentation to inform public works. It also kept images of engineering practice in other parts of Melbourne, and overseas, that could be used as models for local activity. Many of these photographs (and plans) were donated to our collection in the 1980s. A number of the photographs are annotated, either on the image itself or on the reverse.This photograph, and others sourced from the City Engineer's Department of the former City of Kew, qualifies as an important record of local streets, public works, street beautification, and engineering techniques of the period. Original black and white photographic positive of automobiles and buildings in Denmark Street, Kew, immediately before the road enters Kew Junction. On the left is McKeon Motors and a retailer of Insulwool, while in the distance is the pharmacy on the corner of High Street and Princess Street (later demolished during the widening of Kew Junction). Notable are the bluestone guttering and what appears to be vacant land on the apex of the triangle of land bounded by High Street South, Denmark Street and Barkers Road. This site was the original location of O'Shaughnessy's 'Kew Hotel', and after the destruction by fire of the latter, the location of a service station. [It is now the site of the Cresco Reserve].Annotation verso: "Indicating the existence of a vehicular entrance at Denmark St abuttal of No.188 High St prior to reconstruction of channeling &c 1972."denmark street -- kew (vic.), kew junction, luestone gutters, mckeon motors, insulwool -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Journal, Kewriosity : April 1984
Information sharing in Kew - Public Meeting (Kewriosity Editorial Committee] / p1. Hay's Paddock - something for everyone / p1. Kew Citizens' Band Concert Tour / p2. 3MBS-FM: Kew's own radio station / p2. Community artists / p2. Public meeting [Shrublands, Children with disabilities] / p2. Financial counselling [Care Force, Citizens' Advice Bureau] / p3. Kew Recreation Centre / p3. Children's Services / p3. Fires and incinerators / p4. New Building Regulations / p3. Eggshell spectacular [Kew Library] / p3. Kew East Primary School [history] / G.F. Lindsay p4. Heritage Week - Historical Photograph Collection / p5. Renaissance dancing / p5. K.G.C. leaves no stone unturned [Kew Garden Club] / p5. Native Plant Group / p5. Exercise the rhythmic way / p5. Kew Young Liberals / p5. Rheumatism and arthritis / p5. Traffic management / p6. Drivers and jockeys wanted [Meals on Wheels] / p6. Delivering Kewriosity / p6. Hyde Park Fellowship / p6. Rate payments / p6. Information officer / p6. Trash and treasure [Carnsworth Garoopna] / p6. Youth Resource Centre / p7. Kew City Bowmen / p7. Scrabble [The Scrabble Club] / p7. Billabong Club / p7. Kew (Daytime) Garden Club / p7. Mayoral Comment - Media Merger; Role of Council / Cr Jill O'Brien, Mayor [of Kew] / p8. Coming events / p8.Kewriosity was a local newsletter combining Kew Council and community news. It was published between November 1983 and June 1994, replacing an earlier Kewriosity [broad] Sheet (1979-84). In producing Kewriosity, Council aimed to provide a range of interesting and informative articles covering its deliberations and decision making, together with items of general interest and importance to the Kew community and information not generally available through daily media outlets.non-fictionInformation sharing in Kew - Public Meeting (Kewriosity Editorial Committee] / p1. Hay's Paddock - something for everyone / p1. Kew Citizens' Band Concert Tour / p2. 3MBS-FM: Kew's own radio station / p2. Community artists / p2. Public meeting [Shrublands, Children with disabilities] / p2. Financial counselling [Care Force, Citizens' Advice Bureau] / p3. Kew Recreation Centre / p3. Children's Services / p3. Fires and incinerators / p4. New Building Regulations / p3. Eggshell spectacular [Kew Library] / p3. Kew East Primary School [history] / G.F. Lindsay p4. Heritage Week - Historical Photograph Collection / p5. Renaissance dancing / p5. K.G.C. leaves no stone unturned [Kew Garden Club] / p5. Native Plant Group / p5. Exercise the rhythmic way / p5. Kew Young Liberals / p5. Rheumatism and arthritis / p5. Traffic management / p6. Drivers and jockeys wanted [Meals on Wheels] / p6. Delivering Kewriosity / p6. Hyde Park Fellowship / p6. Rate payments / p6. Information officer / p6. Trash and treasure [Carnsworth Garoopna] / p6. Youth Resource Centre / p7. Kew City Bowmen / p7. Scrabble [The Scrabble Club] / p7. Billabong Club / p7. Kew (Daytime) Garden Club / p7. Mayoral Comment - Media Merger; Role of Council / Cr Jill O'Brien, Mayor [of Kew] / p8. Coming events / p8. publications -- city of kew (vic.), kewriosity, council newsletters, community newsletters -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Article, Crossing Plan under fire, 2016
Blackburn Station Shopping Centre traders and the Whitehorse Council have criticised the State Government for its short-sighted vision for the Blackburn Road level crossing removal project.Blackburn Station Shopping Centre traders and the Whitehorse Council have criticised the State Government for its shortsighted vision for the Blackburn Road level crossing removal project.Blackburn Station Shopping Centre traders and the Whitehorse Council have criticised the State Government for its short-sighted vision for the Blackburn Road level crossing removal project.blackburn station shopping centre, city of whitehorse, blackburn railway crossing -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Joy Chapman, Miss Eltham, April 1965, Apr 1965
My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days". SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Joy Chapman parading before the judges, Miss Eltham 1965, Apr 1965
My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days". SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Joy Chapman, Miss Eltham 1965 with other contestants, Apr 1965
My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days". SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Peter Pidgeon, The original Miss Eltham 1965 sash, 17 May 2019
My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days". SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Born digitalalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Joy Chapman in rear playground of Eltham High School, 1959
My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days". SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Joy Chapman (left) with Dianne Bell in HMS Pinafore, 1960
My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days". SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river