A history of Eltham Post Office. Australia Post: Gold brought life to the township - Diamond Valley News, Tuesday July 2, 1985, p17 On February 1, 1854, the first Eltham Post Office was established, commencing an association between the township and the Postmaster-General's Department that has continued for 131 years. At that time, the number of permanent residents would have been fairly small, probably less than 200. The discovery of gold in June 1851, at Anderson’s Creek, some five miles away, and later at Caledonia Diggings, Queenstown (now known as St Andrews), about 14 miles to the north-east, brought large numbers of prospectors passing through the township, hopefully culling the creeks and gullies for the precious metal. This additional "floating population" brought a greater demand for supplies and for communication with the outside world, and so it helped in the development of Eltham. Today, Eltham is a thriving township. It boasts an excellent shopping centre, municipal offices, court house. post office and many other amenities. Eltham continued to develop at a leisurely pace. During 1860, a total of just over 8000 postal articles were handled at the Eltham Post Office. By 1862, the mail route was "to and from Melbourne by way of Eltham and Kangaroo Ground, three times a week, by coach". There was also a branch mail that operated between Eltham and Greensborough, three times weekly. This was also conveyed by coach. Some time between 1864 and 1868 the management of the post office passed from Thomas Hunniford to his daughter, Miss Anne Hunniford, who managed the Eltham Post Office until her death in 1928. A big improvement in communication was provided for Eltham residents when a telegraph office was established at the post office in 1877. During 1923 a manual telephone exchange was provided at Eltham, the first two subscribers being J.J. O’Connor and Eltham Police Station. In 1949 the manual exchange was replaced by an automatic exchange and there were some 150 subscribers. Following the death of postmistress Miss Anne Hunniford in 1928, B.M. Burgoyne was placed temporarily in charge of the office. In 1929, J. N. Burgoyne was appointed postmaster, and he in turn was succeeded by H. C. Burgoyne in 1951. The post office was moved to a new site in 1954, but continued under the charge of Mr Burgoyne. In January 1958 there was a further change of site when the post office was raised to official status and transferred to new premises in Main Rd. William Donoghue was acting postmaster when the new office was opened. In March 1958 Mr W.E. Tovey was appointed postmaster, followed by Douglas McG. Gilmour in 1959. William Donoghue was fully appointed in 1966 and Barry Reichelt followed in 1973, prior to the present postmaster, Peter Jolly in November 1982. Peter is a young man with 18 years' experience. He commenced his training as a postal clerk at the training school in Melbourne in 1968 and was promoted to postal clerk at the Brunswick Post Office in 1969. He was finally transferred as postmaster to Fawkner Post Office in 1980. He has been at Eltham Post Office for the past 2½ years. He is married with one child and lives in Montmorency. The Eltham Post Office employs a staff of 21, of whom seven are indoor staff, 12 are postmen and two are drivers. The postmen in Eltham have an uphill battle delivering mail because of the hilly terrain. Nine of the postmen deliver mail on motorbikes, and the two delivery vans are both four wheel drives. Eltham Post Office services basically a residential area, with deliveries to 5600 homes. This is growing at the rate of 600 homes every 18 months, i.e. about 32 homes per month. At the present rate we will need a new postman every 18 months.Digital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.anderson's creek, anne hunniford, b.m. burgoyne, barry reichelt, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, eltham police station, eltham post office, eltham post office history, gold, h.c. burgoyne, j.j. o'connor, j.n. burgoyne, peter jolly, postmaster, telephone exchange, thomas hunniford, w.e. tovey, william donoghue

Memories of Mrs Irene "Rennie" HarrisonDigital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.1939 bushfire, alf isherwood, annie bremmer, arthur munday, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, bible street, bremmer's flat, buses, butcher, cheddar black, clarrie white, collis, dalton street, eltham hotel, eltham kindergaten, eltham lower park, eltham primary school, eltham railway station, eltham south kindergarten, eltham tea rooms, farmer walsh, franklin street, freddie griffiths, greengrocer, grocers, eltham infant welfare centre, irene rennie harrison, jack carrucan, josie shannon, justus jorgensen, len harrison, main road, markets, matcham skipper, metery road, milk bar, montsalvalt, mount pleasant road, shirley harrison, st margaret's church hall, wingrove park, reminscences

Sgt Karl ChristensenDigital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, hurstbridge police station, karl christensen

Digital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, eltham courthouse, eltham police station, local history centre, police residence

Rodda family except two boys, Arthur and Fred. Back Row L-R: Herbert Rodda, baby Walter held by Mary Jane (nee May), cousin Annie Walker Front Row L-R: Father "Joseph", Ettie, Grandpa Rodda Nicholas holding Eva, Minnie and Edwin, and Mother-in-law Esther Chun Grove was located on Main Road opposite the present BP service station at cnr of Beard StreetDigital file only - Color photo reprint (15 x 20 cm) and A4 photocopy of reverse on loan for scanning by EDHSannie walker, chun grove, edwin rodda, eltham, esther may, ettie rodda, eva rodda, grandpa rodda, herbert rodda, joseph rodda, mary jane rodda (nee may), minnie rodda, nicholas rodda, rodda, walter rodda

The Rodda family home, Chun Grove, was located on Main Road, Eltham opposite the present BP service station at the corner of Beard Street.Digital file only (74) - Cover and pages 64-136 and explanatory letter of self published book (1992) on loan for scanning by EDHSchun grove, eltham, family history, gwen rodda, nicholas rodda, research (vic.), rodda

Tait (Red Rattler) train bound for Mordialloc at McKinnon Road level crossing, McKinnon Railway Station, Frankston line, c. Feb. 1964 The level crossing is the old McKinnon Rd. level crossing right at Mckinnon Railway Station on the Melbourne-Franston line. It no longer exists as the level crossing was amongst the first to be removed in the State Govt. grade separation programme c 2015. The line now runs under Mckinnon Rd in a cutting that holds the new station as well. The folding metal lattice gates were the only ones of their kind in Victoria and fairly rare anywhere else in Australia as well.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencyfrankston line, george coop collection, level crossing, mckinnon railway station, mckinnon road, mordialloc, red rattler, tait train

Tait Red Rattler approaching Mont Albert Railway Station from Box Hill, c. Feb. 1964 See also EDHS_05402-2 both taken from the same location. adjacent to the end of present day Trafalgar StreetDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencygeorge coop collection, red rattler, tait train, mont albert railway station

Climbing the hill from Surrey Hills having just crossed Mont Albert Road.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencygeorge coop collection, harris (blue) train, mont albert railway station

Behind the train on the rear walls of buildings are advertising for Haydn Real Estate, Victoria Insurance Co. Ltd and K&M Murray selling Toppa Ice Cream.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencygeorge coop collection, harris (blue) train, advertising, haydn real estate, k&m murray, toppa ice cream., victoria insurance co ltd

A T-class diesel-electric locomotive can bee seen through the window hauling a Tait train. Also advertising on the buildings facing passing train passengers including 'Dialyn's Theatre Shoppe for Nightingale Tightlets & Leotards'. This is not a conventional suburban Tait ‘Red Rattler’ service. It may have come from Lilydale where trains from both Warburton and Healsville were combined to continue the run into Melbourne, a normal service for them at the time. It is unusual as the train is hauled by a diesel which also suggests it may have been a special excursion train from either of those two towns. Normally these combined trains would be hauled by two swing door ‘Red Rattlers’ motor coaches from Lilydale, the start/end of electric service. Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencygeorge coop collection, box hill railway signal box, box hill railway station, signal box

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencygeorge coop collection, box hill railway signal box, box hill railway station, signal box

VR Commissioner's Special train, steam locomotive D3-639 filling up with water at the coal hopper, Echuca Railway Station, 1962. The tender has been all polished up. THE ECHUCA COALING STAGE. Locomotives would stop alongside to receive coal dropped into their tenders from small overhead rail mounted tipping trays. Water could be obtained from either the elevated tank at one end or the connected standpipe at the opposite end. Locomotive firebox contents could be dumped into pits between the rails from locomotives once they were carefully positioned above them. Such locomotives then could move onto the Engine Shed area for overnight parking. Firebox fires would be re-lit when the locomotive was next needed in a day or so.Digital TIFF file Scan of black and white print enlargement on textured paper (14.5 x 21 cm)coal hopper, d3-639, d3-class steam locomotive, echuca railway station, george coop collection, vr commissioner's special train

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, j-516, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), railway turntable, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, n-464, n-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, d3-629, d3-class steam locomotive, railway turntable

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, k-162, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), railway turntable

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, railway turntable, n-464, n-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, railway turntable, d3-629, d3-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, railway turntable, d3-629, d3-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, railway turntable, d3-676, d3-class steam locomotive, k-186, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, railway turntable, n-464, n-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, b class diesel-electric locomotive, b85, scan - 35mm negative, t-class diesel electric locomotive., t-326

THE ECHUCA COALING STAGE. Locomotives would stop alongside to receive coal dropped into their tenders from small overhead rail mounted tipping trays. Water could be obtained from either the elevated tank at one end or the connected standpipe at the opposite end. Locomotive firebox contents could be dumped into pits between the rails from locomotives once they were carefully positioned above them. Such locomotives then could move onto the Engine Shed area for overnight parking. Firebox fires would be re-lit when the locomotive was next needed in a day or so.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca railway station, k-185, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), railway workshop

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca railway station, railway workshop, j-508, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-185, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), r-727, r-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca railway station, railway workshop, k-185, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca railway station, railway workshop, j-508, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-185, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

Image dated as November 1963 based on similar image in Port of Echuca collection (frame 33 of film) (print 19.5 x 24.5cm) On reverse in blue pen:" Photo by: George L. Coop Nov 1963". In pencil : " R Class goods 1948" (circled). Crossed out, in black pen: "563a" https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/59debc6021ea6f12dcaa22adDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyechuca railway station, george coop collection, r-727, railway workshop, r-class steam locomotive

Image dated as November 1963 based on same image in Port of Echuca collection (frame 33 of film) (print 19.5 x 24.5cm) On reverse in blue pen:" Photo by: George L. Coop Nov 1963". In pencil : " R Class goods 1948" (circled). Crossed out, in black pen: "563a" https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/59debc6021ea6f12dcaa22adDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyechuca railway station, george coop collection, r-727, railway workshop, r-class steam locomotive

The Centenary-Jubilee Train. The Centenary-Jubilee train was one of the outstanding successes of the Centenary and Jubilee celebrations in Victoria. The train, attractively painted green and gold, consisted of eleven cars, and toured Victoria to take to people in the country exhibits of interest associated with the celebrations. National Art Gallery paintings, rare manuscripts and pictures were displayed, as well as models showing the history of gold production, and models and illustrations of national projects controlled by the various departments of this State. The Commonwealth section included displays by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Post Office; a war materials exhibit from the Supply Department; and diagrams and maps of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric scheme. The Railways exhibit portrayed the century's growth and development of railways in Victoria and their influence on the prosperity of the State. During its 6,000 miles tour, from 1st February to 30th June, the train visited 168 stations and was inspected by 547,978 people. An entertainment unit accompanied the train and gave 100 performances which were attended by 96,400 people. Source: Report of The Victorian Railways Commissioners for the Year Ended 30th June 1951Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, n-430, n-class steam locomotive, victorian centenary jubilee 1951