Grace Mitchell, a talented artist in later life and baker managed a pastry shop business near the corner of Mt Pleasant and Main Roads Eltham in the 1950’s. Shortly after her marriage to Arthur Mitchell in 1948 he had an accident that caused a head injury and was unable to work. Grace realised she needed to be home to care for her husband as well as earn an income. She managed the bureaucracy of council permits, made modifications to her home with savings to get the business off the ground without having to borrow money. Grace and Arthur were avid gardeners and would grow, wash and mince vegetables for pasties while Grace hand made and rolled the pastry. They cooked and minced their own meat for the pies and the fruit for the sweet pies came from their orchard at the rear of the property. She also baked scones and cakes. Grace operated her pastry shop for over 16 years. She supported the Shillinglaw Cottage Preservation Campaign to preserve the cottage through its Flavour of Eltham community cookbook published in 1964 and hosted cooking classes in the new Living and Learning Centre. Grace Mitchell passed away aged 95 years in 2011.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 strips and associated colour print 10 x 15 cmFuji 100classes, eltham, living and learning centre, pottery class, eltham living and learning centre, grace mitchell, ursula dors, teaching, learning

John Box 1841 - 1913 the 4th son of George and Mary Box, was born in Withyham, Sussex England and came to Australia in 1856 with his parents. He lived and worked on his fathers market garden in East Brighton ( now Bentleigh) for several years and then rented a property in Tucker Road in 1862. John married Martha Sheldrake and they had 10children who were all born in East Brighton ( now Ormond ). After Martha died 1895 John Box married Eleanor Rushall c1900 Eleanor (Nellie) Rushall b 1866 in Fitzroy daughter of George Rushall b 1823 in London and Mary Ann Jones b 1823 in Battersea, who arrived in Portland 1849 and later settled in Fitzroy. George was an Auctioneer and was elected to Council 1874 becoming Mayor of Fitzroy 1875 and the family enjoyed the benefits of their prosperity. She had singing lessons with Dame Nellie Melba. His business foundered during the 1892/93 Bank Crash. However Nellie is recorded as the owner of the 10 roomed Terminus Hotel in Williamstown a favoured watering hole for the sailors from the many ships that came to the port. Nellie had a daughter Lavilla who sadly died aged 1 year in 1898. Nellie is then recorded as a housekeeper to a medical doctor in Cockatoo and later working for John Box, in Brighton. She married John Box in 1900 and they had 3 children Nellie, Jack and Alexander. After John Box died 1913, Nellie rented a house on the family estate in Oakleigh. She raised 2 other children Ray and Thelma and received some income by caring for several welfare children. In her later years Nellie lived with each of her children who had inherited from the John Box Estate when they turned 21 years. John Box is the brother of William Box who, with his wife Elizabeth Box, lived in Box Cottage . John Box was a pioneer market gardener in East Brighton now Bentleigh. He married Martha Sheldrake and they had 10 children. The eldest daughter Rebecca was a Methodist Missionary in China and Alonzo, their 9th child, served in the Army WW1 at Gallipoli, France and Flanders. Rebecca sent the hand embroidered Chinese silk material for the Wedding Dress worn by Mary Closter at her marriage to Alonzo Box 1918. After Martha died he married Eleanor Rushall and they had 3 children. John was well respected by the community and also a Methodist lay preacher. Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who, with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children, lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841. Inscribed in Album “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of Eleanor Rushall b1866 the 2nd wife of John Box 1841 -1913F.C Burman Photos / 196 Smith St. Fitzroybox william, box elizabeth, box george, box john, sheldrake martha, box alonzo, box mary, box rebecca, rushall eleanor, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, ormond, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, withyham sussex england, rushall george, fitzroy melbourne, dame nellie melba, helen porter mitchell, terminus hotel williamstown, williamstown melbourne,

The memorial service held at the Bentleigh Recreation Reserve on Sunday, December 8, 1918. It was largely attended. The president of the Sire, Cr. D. White, was introduced to those present, by Cr T Marriott. Mr O. R. Snowball, M.L.A., unveiled the memorial tablet, which was inscribed as follows :-- “To the memory of Bentleigh boys who died for their country in the Great War 1914.18,. Greater love hath no Man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” OUR FALLEN HEROES Austin, R J, (M.M.); Mitchell, R A; Baker, O R; Manfield G S; Bevis, D E; Norris, H; Crutchfield, C; Odgen, A.; Dodson, H E; Perry, L.; Dunigan, F J; Sharpin, G; Hill, G; Searle, J H; Jones, C; Smith, E R Bentleigh residents remembers the "Bentleigh Boys" that were killed in World War One, the sons of pioneer familiies of the districtFour page Programme, for the Memorial Service and unveiling of memorial Table to the Shire of Moorabbin's fallen Soldiers.world war one, wwi, memorial, bentleigh recreation reserve, moorabbin, bentleigh, shire of moorabbin, austin, mitchell, baker, manfield g s, bevis, norris, crutchfield, odgen, perry, dunigan, sharpin, hill, searle, smith, dodson

Land sales in the Municipality of Moorabbin increased when the train line from the City to Frankston was electrified.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinThe train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Golden Square Estate, Bentleigh - J. D. Graham, Stott & Burke - 25 business sites and 112 home sitescentre road, brewers road, jasper road, robert street, mitchell street, daley street, bendigo avenue, auction, real estate, moorabbin, bentleigh

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleGrewar Estate Bentleigh - 73 Home Sites - H.C. Costello & W. H. Woodbentleigh, real estate, auction, grewar, mitchell street, daley street, brewer road

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for salenorth road, moulden street, george street, garden road, bruce street (now bethwyn street), boundary road (now east boundary road), murrong avenue, bay view street, rochford street, mitchell street, lancaster street, east bentleigh, real estate

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified in 1922 which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleGolden Square Estate, Bentleigh 25 business and 112 home sites for auction Saturday April 28 1923centre road, brewers road, jasper road, robert street, mitchell street, daley street, bendigo avenue, bentleigh, real estate, auction

Loose page book contains photos and descriptions of cast iron verandah's deemed worthy of preservation in the City of Bendigo. Buildings include: shamrock Hotel, Dr. Long's surgery, Cnr. Mundy and McCrae Sts., Batchelder, 346 McCrae St., Bendigo, Favaloro's, 139 Pall mall, Bendigo Jockey Club, pall Mall, View Point Hotel, Johnson, 274 High St.,Hopetoun Hotel, 147 Mitchell St., Cumberland Hotel, 279 Williamson St., Limerick Castle Hotel, Williamson St., BUFS Dispensary, 75 View St., Rifle Brigade Hotel, 137 View St., Goldmines Hotel, Marong Road, Manchester Arms Hotel, 302 Eaglehawk Rd., Victoria Hotel, 48 High St., Eaglehawk.cottage, miners, bendigo, heritage, verandahs, cast iron work, wrought iron

Black and white photograph taken from St. Paul's, Mitchell runs from left corner. Cathedral spire in centre. T.V. towers in background. Central Deborah poppet head far left ? Ian Wild 7.2000 ' photo - Peter Hyett 1995 - ? From St. Paul's. Mitchell St. runs across photo - intersection with Edwards St. on left ';Peter Hyettcottage, miners

Positive Castlemaine Market Building. Councillors and others standing in front of the building who from left are; Acton, Pearce, Mitchell, Greenhill, McGregor, Dunstan, Holmes, Cooper, Cornish, Finlason, Fitzgerald.cottage, miners, castlemaine market building., castlemaine market building.

Negative print. Castlemaine Market Building. Councillors and others standing in front of building are from left; Acton, Pearce, Mitchell, Greenhill, Yandell, McGregor, Dunstan, Holmes, Cooper, Cornish, Finlason, Fitzgerald.cottage, miners, castlemaine market building., castlemaine market building.

Image shows Mall under construction, with trucks and cars on site.On back ' Monday March 1st. A.m. looking at Mall across Mitchell St. Rd.cottage, miners, bendigo, hargreaves mall.

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop . 1 - 1896 - Letter from Mitchell, Nevett & Robinson, Solicitors, Ballarat. 2 - 1896 - Letter from Richardson, Muir & Co, Auctioneers Kerang. Mentions Smith Patrick. 3 - 1896 - Letter from Jones H, Gobarup?. 4 - 1896 - Memo from Kerang Office to Bendigo Office re Ferguson to Curnow. 5 - 1896 - Letter from Rogers E, Kyabram. 6 - 1896 - Letter from James John for James Edward, Wychitella. 7 - 1896 - Memo from Kerang Office to Bendigo Office re Scriven Bros - Harry. 8 - 1896 - Letter from Cameron W, Norwood Park, Boort. 9 - 1896 - Letter from Ladson George, Mincha West. 10 - 1896 - Letter from Swan Hill Office to Bendigo Office re Court and re Morris v Dehne. 11 - 1896 - Letter from Melbourne Office to Bendigo Office re Fuffe to Tatchell. 12 - 1896 - Letter from Dennis William, Long Gully, Bendigo regarding character reference of Palmer James re Clerk position.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, mitchell, nevett & robinson, richardson, muir & co, smith p, jones h, ferguson curnow, rogers e, james j, james e, scriven bros, harry, cameron w, ladson g, morris, dehne, fuffe, tatchell, dennis w, palmer james

Document. Various legal papers. 1 - 1894 - Court Summons between Clegg Bridget, Carpenter St, Back Creek, Married woman (Informant) and (Eliza) Canning, Mitchell St, Hopetoun Hotel, Bendigo re insulting words. 2 - 1895 - Court Summons between Sheahan James, Constable of Police, Bendigo (Informant) and Canning James (Defendant) re animal cruelty and using obscene words in a public place (High Street). 3 - 1896 - Notes to Canning John Moore re the late Canning James. 4 - 1893? - Note marked 13A at top re Canning Deceased. States 'Testator died 26/1/93. 5 - 1896 - Canning Sr v Canning T. Letter from Roberts J B, Barrister and Solicitor, Building Society Chambers, Bull St Bendigo to Canning Thomas Esq, Manchester Arms Hotel, Long Gully requesting that Canning Thomas pay his father, Canning John, monies owed. 6 - 1893? - In the Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Esther Isabell, late of Golden Square in the City of Bendigo, Hotel Keeper. Draft Affidavit of Executors states Canning Esther Isabell died 26 Nov 1893 at Golden Square. Her Will was dated 29 Oct 1893 at Golden Square and appointed Stone, Henry, Sheepwash Creek, Eucalyptus Manufacturer and Tatchell, George Henry, Williamson St. Solicitor as Executors.. Contains an attached memo from Canning Esther Isabell dated 5 Jul 1893 stating 'It is my last wish that my son Canning James Nesbitt shall not marry a Roman Catholic. It is also my desire that the money being left to the Benevolent asylum shall be call the 'Esther Nisbett Canning Fund' and the benefit there from? Is for old and decrepit women only. As to my grave limit the expense to 30 pounds - a separate Tombstone for me - Guttering? To erected but no fence.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell and dunlop, clegg bridget, canning eliza, sheahan james, canning james, canning john moore, canning sr, canning t, roberts j b, canning esther isabell, stone henry, tatchell george henry, canning james nisbett, benevolent asylum

Document. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Accounts - Estate of Esther Isabelle Canning. 1 - 1893 - Acc from Oakley W H, Bridge St Bendigo. Furnishing Undertaker, Established 1853, to Mr Canning for the late Mrs Canning. Contains details of funeral expenses. Also contains receipt from Courtier? Sidney, Sexton, Kangaroo Flat Public Cemetery for Interment charges of Esther Isobel Canning. Independent Section, Label No 2221. 2 - 1895 - Acc from W Beebe & Son, Steam Granite, Marble & Stone Sawing Works, Mitchell St and Lyttleton Terrace, for supplying and fixing red gum edging etc at Kangaroo Flat Cemetery. Dated Apr 1st 1895. 3 - Blank paper titled Canning's Estate Receipts. 4 - 1894 - Receipt from Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop for allowance to Canning John. Dated Feb 6 1894. 5 - 1894 - Receipt from Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop for allowance to Canning John dated Mr 3 1894. 6 - 1894 - Receipt from Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop for allowance to Canning John dated Mar 31 1894. 7 - 1894 - Receipt from Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop for allowance to Canning T? dated May 19 1894. 8 - 1894 - Receipt from Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop for allowance to Canning Thomas dated Apr 21 1894. 9 - 1895 - Receipt from Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop for allowance to Canning John dated Jan 14 1895. 10 - 1895 - Receipt from Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop for allowance to Canning John dated Mar 12 1895. 11 - 1895 - Receipt from Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop for allowance to Canning John dated Apr 8 1895. 12 - Receipt from Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop for allowance to Canning John dated May 7 1895.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, oakley w h, mr canning, mrs canning, courtier? sidney, kangaroo flat public cemetery, w beebe & son, canning john, canning thomas

Document. Accounts of Estate of Esther Isabelle Canning. 1 - 1894 - Account from Hinchcliffe Edwin, M. D., View Street Bendigo. 2 - 1894 - Account from Jones T R, Chemist & Druggist, Hargreaves Street, Sandhurst. 3 - 1894 - Ac. From William Bruce & Sons, B. B. Brewery, Bridge St. Bendigo, Brewers, Aerated Waters and Cordial Manufacturers, 2 April 1894. 4 - 1894 - Ac. From William Bruce & Sons, B. B. Brewery, Bridge St Bendigo, Brewers, Aerated Waters and Cordial Manufacturers. 1 March 1894. 5 - 1893 -Ac. From Burt, E Mrs, Nurse. 6 - 1894 - Receipt from Phoenix Fire Office of London, Victorian Branch, 60 Market St, Melbourne. Insurance from Fire for Property - Cottage, High St. 7 - 1893 - Receipt from Phoenix Fire Office of London, Victorian Branch, 60 Market St, Melbourne. Insurance from fire for property - Hotel, high St. 8 - 1894 - Ac from S. P. Co-Operative Co, Mitchell St, Bendigo, General Grocers, Tea and Provision Merchants. 9 - 1894 - Ac from Forbes T, Surveyor, View St, Bendigo. Subdivision of Allotment 5, Section 29A at Golden Square. 10 - 1893 - Ac from Mackay & Co, Bendigo Advertiser Office, Market Square, Bendigo. 11 - 1893 - Ac from Pritchard Geo, Aerated Water and Cordial Manufacturer, Arnold St Bendigo. 12 - 1893 - Receipt from McKenzie R C. 13 - 1894 - Ac from C H Hobson & Co, General Auctioneers, Bendigo Arcade Auction Rooms, Hargreaves St Bendigo.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, hinchcliffe edwin, jones t r, william bruce & sons, b b brewery, burt e mrs, phoenix fire office of london, s p co-operative co, forbes t, mackay & co, bendigo advertiser office, pritchard geo, mckenzie r c, hobson c h

Document. Business sized envelope marked 'Old notes & jottings of the late Alexander Rankin? Of Pooncaira re Eureka Stockade Ballarat 1854'. Envelope has stamped on bottom left corner - McColl, Rankin & Stanistreet, Chartered Accountants (Aust), Royal Bank Chambers, 70 Elizabeth St, Melbourne. Envelope contains three documents. Document 1 is about part of the Eureka Stockade and mentions Scobie, Wise, Denovan, Campbell, Peter Lalor, Grant Vern? And Paddy O'Connel?. Document 2 is titled 'Little Dedlingtron and the Pump Handle' and mentions Mitchell, King John of Pooncaira, Citizen Nelson, Citizen Rankin, Citizen Ofarrell? And Alick Foo Chow (Grand Mandarin from the Court of Foo Chow Foo. It mentions about a representative gathering and says 'look place re site for new Govt. Officers/offices. Document 3 is dated 3 Jan 1901, 1902 or 1907 and appears to be written from Pooncaira by a John Chambers. The document talks about Pooncaira and mentions the funeral of Bob Bayley after Christmas time. The document appears to be written for inclusion in a newspaper. See enclosed transcriptions of the three documents and additional information on an Alexander Rankin of Pooncaira who may be the Alexander Rankin of Pooncaira mentioned on the envelope. Also enclosed information on Scobie and Wise mentioned in document 1 about the Eureka Stockade. Eureka Stockade document is of historical importance.cottage, miners, old notes & jottings of the late alexander rankin? of pooncaira, eureka stockade

The pump was restored by Alan Mitchell who was an employee of Zerbe Engineering, Ashburn Place, Blackburn. The work was carried out by Alan in their workshop.The pump was patented by Joseph W. Douglas, Middletown Conn. and the patent was assigned to W & B Douglas.A reconstructed well of red bricks. Circular, dome shaped, it has a grill on the flat top of the dome on which the force pump is situated next to the grill. It circulates the water which is held in a tank beneath the brick structure. The force pump is hand operated with a replacement handle made c1965 by Alan Mitchell who restored and donated the pump. The well is located outside the kitchen door of Schwerkolt Cottage.Patented 1842 M--D Conn.civil engineering, water supply, machinery, pumps

Booklet owned by Arthur Baggaley, Fruiterer, who lived at 15 Forest Street, Bendigo. His business 'C.A. Baggaley & Son' was at Covent Garden, Mitchell Street, Bendigo. Arthur was born in Bendigo in 1903 to Charles Arthur Baggaley and Ada (Mallon). He married Evelyn May Grigg. Arthur died in September, 1993.Seven page booklet. On front cover: 'Laughable Dialogues. For School and Public Entertainments, social gatherings &c, &c., free from objectionable language and incident, No. 36, 'Love in a Cottage, for sic males and four females' Baggaley Collectionfruiterer, confectioner, business, mitchell street, covent garden, entertainment, play script

Many of the Henty's of the Western District of Victoria also owned houses in Kew, Victoria. Stephen Henty, referred to on the reverse of the postcard, lived while a member of the Vitoria Parliament at 'Findon' in Kew. Kew Historical Society also holds a nationally significant collection of costumes belonging to three generations of Henty women.Monochrome, blue tinted 'real photo' postcard of Housen's Richmond Hotel, Portland. Two women stand on the steps of the hotel at left, with the rose garden in front of them. Behind them is a church spire. The hotel and its significance is outlined in two columns of blue coloured text on the reverse.Printed reverse: "THE RICHMOND is the most historical building in the State. On the site of today's building Edward Henty, the founder of permanent settlement in Victoria, commenced his first house February 19, 1835, finishing the work in two months. He had landed in Portland on Nov. 19th, 1834, and turned the first plough furrows in Victoria where the Hotel now stands on the 26th of the following month. It was also here that Major Mitchell ended his explorations from Sydney, meeting the Hentys on August 29th, 1836. In December of the same year Mrs S. G. Henty joined her husband, their son Richmond, the first male white child in Portland, being born in the Henty cottage. The present Richmond Hotel was built in 1840, and became the home of Stephen Henty until his departure from Portland in 1869. Though Edward Henty's first house was demolished in 1840, to make room for the new surveyed town streets, part of his wool store remains in the Hotel grounds, and is used as a wood shed. This is about the oldest building in the State : in it was held the first christening service in Portland on September 26th, 1841. On the site of the Richmond Hotel all the early visiting celebrities were entertained - Mitchell, Wedge, La Trobe, Fyans, Sir John Franklin, Capt. Stokes, etc. No other hostelry in Victoria can give you the historical atmosphere of the RICHMOND. / THE ORIGINAL HOME OF THE HENTYS."henty family, richmond hotel -- portland (vic.), stephen henty, edward henty, richmond henty, henty houses -- victoria, portland, postcards

Articles in the annual report include: opening two field offices in Riverina and North Coast, C.L.D. Mears awarded in awarded Companion of Order of Australia, Technical Aids for the Disabled provided switchboard simulators for vocational training programs, review of Lighthouse and Community Cottages is required, Roselands Nursing Home cared for 104 residents, installation of computerised book and circulation system, the workshop area began trading as Mitchell Manufacturing, and the creation of a biennial Royal Blind Society National Sculpture award sponsored by James Hardie and the Visual Arts Board. Please note: page 21 is not scanned. Titled 'Extra curricular involvement of staff' the Braille on the reverse side impacted upon the visibility of the text.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Ski-Horizon is the official journal of the Federation of Victorian Ski Clubs which began publication in 1949. The were 26 original member clubs which included Albury Ski Club, Bogong Ski Club, Myrtleford Ski Club, Tallangatta and District Ski Club and Wangaratta Ski Club. Two pioneers of Falls Creek, Tom Mitchell, M.L.A., and Martin Romuld were Vice-Presidents of the Federation.This Journal is significant because it documents the early development of skiing in Victoria.The journal features stories and events chronicling developments in Victoria and internationally. Items related to the Falls Creek Area in this publication include:- Page 2: - Falls Creek was the focus of many important visitors including Hon. T. W. Mitchell, Victorian Attorney General. Tom Mitchell delivered a message of welcome to the New Zealand visiting Ski Team from the Premier of Victoria, - The Albury Ski Club team returned from New Zealand in August. Their team of Bob Howe, Skippy St, Elmo and Mr & Mrs. Bob Cutts were winners of the friendly race competition. - Joking report about Kevin McDonald getting himself fully equipped an attached to the tow at Falls Creek - except for his skis! - A successful meeting at Toni St Elmo's cottage with N.E.D.S.A. officials.ski history victoria, federation of victorian ski clubs, skippy st elmo

BHS CollectionClipping showing electric tram in Mitchell Street looking from Hargreaves Street corner towards Charing Cross. J.H. Knight dentist rooms visible on corner of Bath Lane and Mitchell Street, Lazarus Building corner Hargreaves and Mitchell Streets extreme right. Printed underneath image 'Mitchell Street, Bendigo'.unknowncottage, miners

Newspaper article. Remember These? Includes a rare picture of Bendigo's tram service in the early years of this century (20th) . B T Miller's hobby is collecting prints and information on old tram services. Picture includes Double Decker Tram, hauled by electric cars. Double Deckers were formally used in Ballarat with horses. In the photograph the trams are banked up on Mitchell Street hill to handle a peak loading on the occasion of the annual railway picnic from Melbourne to Bendigo. Article possibly post 1972.cottage, miners

Walter Withers once lived at the corner of Bolton and Brougham Streets, Eltham. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p105 Walter Withers, one of Australia’s most famous artists, once lived in Southernwood, the weatherboard house at the corner of Bolton and Brougham Streets, Eltham. Withers, one of the first prominent artists to live in Eltham, was known for his lyrical paintings of the Australian bush and is associated with the Heidelberg School of artists.1 Withers was born in 1854 at Handsworth, Warwickshire, England, the grandson of an artist. He studied art at the Royal Academy of Arts, London. But in 1882 his father, opposing an artistic career for Withers, ordered him to go to Australia. However, after working as a jackaroo on several country properties for 18 months, Withers resumed painting in Melbourne, where he enrolled in evening art classes at the Melbourne National Gallery school of painting under G F Folingsby. Employed as a draughtsman by William Inglis & Co, then by Ferguson & Mitchell, lithographic printers, Withers produced portraits in black-and-white for several periodicals. His work was exhibited in the Old Academy, Melbourne. At this time he met and became life-long friends with artists Frederick McCubbin, Tom Roberts and Louis Abrahams.2 In 1887 Withers went to England and married Fanny Finn. They lived in Paris for awhile, where Withers studied at the Academie Julian. After his return to Melbourne in 1889, Withers lived at the artist camp at Eaglemont, then moved close to the Charterisville mansion, where he established a studio and sub-let cottages to other artists. Around 1892 Withers opened a Collins Street studio, had his first exhibition, and started giving painting classes. One of his pupils was Norman Lindsay,3 also to become a prominent artist. Withers had long been attracted to Eltham, but had to wait until 1903 to live there, after the railway line was extended to Eltham in 1902. He could then commute to the painting classes he gave in Melbourne.4 Withers lived on the two and a half acres (1.0ha) Bolton Street property with his wife and five children. They were joined for a short time by prominent painter Sir Hans Heyson who took lessons from Withers. Withers added a studio to the Queen Anne/Edwardian style seven-bedroom home, which had been built in 1891. Each bedroom included a fireplace and most rooms had 12 foot high (3.6m) ceilings. The house retains several fine leadlight windows. Withers painted his largest canvas The Return from the Harvest in 1905, at his Eltham studio. He is represented in national, state and regional galleries, and in many private collections in Australia and abroad. In 1904-05 Withers was president of the Victorian Artists’ Society. Withers at times stayed during the week at his studio in Oxford Chambers, Melbourne, and on weekends and holidays with his family at Eltham. Withers lived in Eltham until his death in 1914, aged 60 years. He had been plagued by rheumatism and in later life by heart and lung disease. It is said he died of a stroke peacefully in a rocking chair in front of the lounge-room fire. He is buried at St Helena in the St Katherine’s Anglican Church cemetery.5 In 1983, the auction of the house sparked fears that it would be pulled down, or substantially altered. Fortunately the new owners decided to retain the house. Some security was given to the house’s future when it was later included in the Heritage Overlay to the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. The property is also important because it is one of only a few left in the district, which were once owned by noted artists. These include three in Warrandyte: one formerly owned by Penleigh Boyd, another by Frank Crozier, and the other by Danila Vassilieff; and two in Eltham: Percy Leason’s in Lavender Park Road and Justus Jörgensen’s Montsalvat. A small park at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham is named in Walter Withers’ honour.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, bolton steet, brougham steet, eltham, southernwood, walter withers house