Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p181 The rare Eltham Copper Butterfly, Paralucia pyro-discus, was saved from near extinction by a community campaign in the late 1980s. Thanks to that effort, the butterfly, a form of the Fiery Copper Butterfly, with a wing span of only 2.5cm, can be seen in parts of Eltham and Greensborough from late November to April. As late as 1987 the butterfly was thought to be near extinction. But that year, entomologist, Michael Braby, found several colonies, including two major ones in natural bushland on Diosma Road, Eltham. However these were threatened with destruction, as their habitat was to be destroyed by a development of 71 houses. The colonies were on a 14 hectare subdivision owned by Esanda Finance, an ANZ Bank subsidiary. It would cost around $5 million, to reimburse the bank for the land. The butterfly, which depends on woodland, a stunted form of the Sweet Bursaria bush, and the Notoncus ant, was considered too fragile to relocate. Braby’s discovery led to a sometimes fiery two-year campaign, which even became an election issue. It involved the local community, local and state governments and the developer, before a compromise was reached. The larvae have an intricate relationship with the small black ant, Notoncus. During the day, the larvae shelter in nests made by the ants around the base of the trunk and roots of the Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa). The ants are thought to protect the larvae from predators and parasites, as they attend them from the nests to feed on the Bursaria leaves at night. In return, the larvae excrete a sugar solution, which the ants love to eat. The butterfly was first recorded in Victoria in 1893, and first collected scientifically from Eltham in 1931. But it was only officially named in 1951, by Victoria’s then top butterfly expert, David Crosby.2 However, from 1970, rapid housing development in Eltham destroyed much of the butterfly’s habitat. The discovery of several major colonies in 1987 met with great excitement, and 250 people attended the first local public meeting. The State Government commissioned Crosby to investigate how to protect the butterfly, and the council froze development for three weeks. Then Esanda agreed to suspend development for several months, until a compromise was reached. Crosby recommended that 62 of the 71 lots be kept to ensure the butterflys’ survival. However this would cost $1 million to $1.5million in compensation to Esanda. Greensborough MP Pauline Toner, launched a $1million fundraising campaign and many artists donated their works to the appeal. Toner offered Clifton Pugh’s painting Eltham Copper Country to millionaire Alan Bond for $1 million, after having heard that he had offered $6 million for the Van Gough painting Sunflowers. However Bond did not accept. The butterfly was considered a ‘hot’ election issue during the by-election, following Pauline Toner’s resignation. Liberal party candidate, Margaret Brown, was accused of falsely saying she had been involved in the butterfly campaign so as to win votes. Sadly, the $1million appeal fell short at $426,000, so a compromise was reached. The State Government donated the Education Department site on Eucalyptus Road, but only nine lots of the Diosma site were bought, and the rest of the development went ahead. On March 3, 1989, Ms Toner died, and the Eucalyptus Road site was named in her honour. Around 2000 the butterfly was further threatened by proposed developments on Pitt Street, facing the Pauline Toner Reserve and between Diosma and Nyora Roads. Fortunately the Friends of the ECB, with the Shire of Nillumbik, ensured that more habitat was made available. The butterfly now survives in seven sites in Eltham and Greensborough, including the main sites at the Pauline Toner Reserve on Eucalyptus Road, the Western and Eastern colonies on Diosma Road, and the Yandell Reserve in Greensborough.The butterfly survives also in Castlemaine and in the Kiata and Salisbury areas. However, it remains endangered.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham copper butterfly, sweet bursaria

John Deason born 1829 on island of Tresco in the Scilly Isles. 1841 worked in Cornish tin mine. 1851 married Meg Davis, along with Richard Oates travelled to Bendigo Goldfields. By 1858 Meg and the four children were dead. John married Catherine McAndrew 28 October 1858. Left the Bendigo Goldfields for Bulldog Gully Moliagul. Discovered the Welcome Stranger nugget 5 February 1869. Newspaper article from The Bendigo Monthly October 2020 Page 25, Includes copies of photographs and other newspaper articles within the story. Story of John Deason, and the discovery of the Welcome Stranger Gold Nugget.

The Gem The Poseidon Rush. Tarnagulla, Saturday. Article - The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW : 1871 - 1938)Friday 8 February 1907 - Page 43 The Poseidon Rush. Tarnagulla, Saturday. Several indicators and quartz leaders on the Woolshed Hill have received considerable attention during the last fortnight. In some claims the stone looks very promising, and nice tracings of gold have been obtained. Wragg Brothers struck it rich yesterday. At a depth of 12ft. on the bedrock they discovered a nugget specimen 206oz. in weight, which has been christened the 'Port Arthur. The party also had the good fortune to find two other specimens close, by, one weighing 23oz. 15dwt. and the other 24oz.These were named 'The Twins,' the Wragg Brothers bearing that distinction. In this claim about eight weeks ago the Gem (88oz.) was unearthed. THE POSEIDON RUSH. Article Illustrated - Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918, 1935)Saturday 29 December 1906 - Page 33 THE POSEIDON RUSH. It is only about five weeks since this rush was opened by John Porter, but since that time a marvellous change has taken place. The quietness of the bush has given place to a scene of wild excitement, and each week this is intensified by the discovery of large nuggets. When Smith, Rogers and Stephenson picked out their slug on election day, no one dreamed that larger ones were lying only a few feet away, but such was the fact. On Tuesday afternoon two immense slugs, one of which weighed 960 oz., and the other 373 oz., were found in adjoining claims within a few minutes of each other. The finding of these created a scene which it is difficult to describe. "I've got one, “was shouted from the claim of Bert Williamson and T. Stephenson, two men just entering into manhood. They were seen excitedly digging round a lump of gold, one of them with a double-ended pick, the point-of which he broke in his anxiety to unearth it. This slug is nine inches long by seven inches by 43 inches, and is very similar in appearance and size to the big nugget got previously in the adjoining claim. It has been cleaned and smelted, and has yielded 306 oz. of pure gold of the best sample. Before the excitement caused by the discovery of the last nugget had sub-sided, there was a shout from an adjoining claim. Sam Woodall, a Llanelly miner, felt his pick strike a hard yielding sub-stance, and, satisfied that he had struck a nugget, called the attention of his mates to the fact. He soon levered it out of the ground with his pick. Taking it up in his arms he staggered out of the claim with it, and in a minute or two was sur-rounded by hundreds of men who rushed from all over the field to view it, and to feel its weight. It was certainly a magnificent specimen, and the fortunate miners were congratulated on all sides. Its weight was guessed to be a hundredweight, and probably in its then dirty state it would nave turned the scales at that. In a few minutes the crowd was so dense that it was impossible to get a close inspection. The nugget was first taken to Newbridge under escort, then through Llanelly to Tarnagulla, where it was lodged in the Union Bank. It was found that the bank scales were not sufficiently large to weigh the mass. By tying a number of large weights together, and suspending them from a steel bar, a fairly accurate weight was obtained, and it just balanced 80 lb., or 960 oz. The nugget measures 16 in. x 10 in. x 5 in. The party was cheered as it drove up the main street here, and the sight of an armed escort was quite a novelty. The nugget was held aloft in a tin dish for inspection by the crowd. These nuggets were found in the shallow workings, and neither of them were a foot under the surface. The ground is a black loamy soil; there was no appearance of wash whatever, and no one knowing anything of alluvial mining would think of searching for gold in such a spot. All those who have claims on the hillside are breaking out all the dirt in a face from the surface to the reef, which is a mixture of lime and sunstone, and searching for nuggets. The ground is carefully pulverised so that nothing shall be missed. Some are puddling the whole of it, but it is hardly payable. Where the big nuggets are now being found, the ground has been pegged out and abandoned more than once since the rush started, and shares in the claims have been purchased for small amounts. Smith was given a third share in the claim where the first nugget was found for puddling the dirt big lump was discovered, by Woodall, Condron, Brooks and Eva, two of them sold a sixth share for £5 a few days ago to a man named Woods, who only worked a few days and sold out again for 50/. Some fancy prices are now being offered for shares in the claims in the vicinity. Woodall holds a third share, Condron and Brooks three-quarters of a share each, and Eva a sixth share. The largest nugget has been christened "The Poseidon." The names given to the other nuggets obtained previously are as follow: — Wragg Bros., 88 oz. nugget, "The Gem"; Smith and party's 378 oz. nugget, which was unearthed on election day, has been fittingly named "The Federal"; Jackson and Hughes 152 oz.specimen, "The Little. Beu"; Williamson and Stephenson's 373 oz. nugget is said to be called "The Christmas Box." A representative from the (Mines department has been at the bank during, the week taking models for the museums and schools of mines. )A replica of the "Gem" gold nugget that was discovered on 29.11.1906 on the Poseidon Lead at Tarnagulla at the depth of 9 feet. Found on the bedrock by the Wragge Bros. Weight 88 ozs. Value of $126,358 in 2016. (See additional Research.)mining, models, plaster model of victorian gold nugget