Carronbank (demolished) in Marshall Avenue, Kew was once the home of the Rev Graham Henty Balfour. It had extensive grounds, including a tennis court at the rear of the property. It remained a private residence until c.1960. The Department of Education purchased Carronbank as a school for partially sighted children, opening in February 1961 as State School No 4483. During the period 1961 to c.1980, the building housed a number of services. From 1969 to 1974, it was the site of Carronbank State School, later renamed Carronbank School for Deaf-Blind Children. In 1973, the Department established the Visiting Teacher Service for the Visually Impaired at the site. Its aim was to support teachers working in Victorian Government, Catholic and Independent Schools. From 1983 the school operated as Statewide Resource Centre for Visiting Teachers of the Vision Impaired. In 1988, the amalgamation of Princess Elizabeth Junior School for Deaf Children, the Monnington Centre and Carronbank School for Deaf Blind Students allowed the Victorian Government to sell each of the sites. Monnington [Adeney Avenue, Kew] reverted to private ownership, while Glendonald and Carronbank in Marshall Avenue were demolished and subdivided.The donor, Mr Murray Osler, was Principal of the Monnington Special Education Centre in Adeney Avenue (Kew) from 1976. This photo, and an accompanying drawing of 'Monnington' are important primary resources for the delivery of education to and for deaf-blind children in Victoria.The photograph, framed under perspex, shows the tennis court of Carronbank which had been converted into a play area for the students of the school. The flat roofed building may have been a toilet block, added for the school. The garage brick wall belongs to No 11. Grass is growing on the original asphalt court and there is equipment and tunnels for play. When sold the property was divided into three separate building blocks.carronbank -- marshall avenue -- kew (vic.), schools -- kew (vic.), carronbank

The Armstrong Cannons were originally placed at Fort Gellibrand, located at the southernmost tip of the Williamstown peninsula. The Fort was developed during the 1850s as part of a defensive system for the city and port of Melbourne. The importance of the Fort batteries declined from the 1890s, when they were effectively replaced by new facilities at Queenscliff and Point Nepean, but they were still used for gunnery practice. Local residents, through the Williamstown Town Council, complained to the Acting Minister for Defence that the concussion from the guns damaged windows, walls and foundations of buildings. The Armstrong Cannons were moved from Fort Gellibrand to the Gardens in 1906. A primary source of evidence of the cannons being in the Gardens. The cannons are remembered fondly as play equipment for the local children. Many tales have been told of climbing over them and pretending to be shot out of them A collection of seven black and white photographs documenting the removal of the cannons from the Gardens Photo 1 (a) Black and white landscape image. View is looking through the main gates looking at the front of the truck, which has the name Walter Wright across the front bumper, the crane and canon. The gates and fence are painted a light colour, probably white. Photo 2 (b) Black and white landscape image. Back of loader with cannon on it. Man standing on top of the cannon bending over either tying or untying ropes. Trunk of a palm tree is on the left side of the photo with a top of a palm tree in the background. Photo 3 (c) Black and portrait white image. A cannon being loaded by the crane on to trailer. Palm tree is in the background and fronds from a palm tree can be seen in the right top corner. Photo 4 (d) Black and white landscape image. Side on view of a cannon on the truck parked outside the grounds of the Gardens. The logo of the name of the trucking company is on the door of the truck above the words ‘WALTER H WRIGHT / TRANSPORT PTY LTD / S SCHULZ ST WEST MELB’. A second cannon can be seen in the background. A bus is in the background on the middle right side of the image. Photo 5 (e) Black and white landscape image. Truck with cannon on the back leaving the ground of the Gardens. Tree on the right side of the image and power pole is behind the truck. The logo of the name of the trucking company is on the door of the truck above the words ‘WALTER H WRIGHT / TRANSPORT PTY LTD / S SCHULZ ST WEST MELB’. ‘WALTER WRIGHT’ is on the front bumper Photo 6 (f) Black and white landscape image. Cannon tied down on the back of the truck as it is being driven across the street. Three houses in the background and two cars, one is a Volkswagen Photo 7 (g) Black and white landscape image. Cannon on the back of the truck which is parked over the street from the Gardens. Three houses are in the background. Two trees bare of leaves. The front of a car in in the foreground – it has a sun visor and the steering wheel is a light colour.armstrong cannons, williamstown botanic gardens, hobsons bay city council, 1970, walter h wright / transport pty ltd

Images collected by donor for Williamstown High School archives and scanned by Lindy Wallace for Botanic Gardens archiveThe images demonstrate the social value of the Gardens to the local community and how they used as a place for meeting, playing and celebrating with friends and family. Image 2014.007c also demonstrates the changes over time to the Gardens structures: for example when the gates and fence was painted white. Colour image of approximately 18 children sitting in front of and drawing dates of the Gardens. Most have blue jumpers on over the top of their light blue school uniforms. The gates, posts and picket fence are painted white. They are students of Williamstown High School Art Class. The name of the teacher is unknown. williamstown botanic gardens, hobsons bay city council, williamstown high school

The sisters were born in New Zealand. They travelled not only around Australia and New Zealand but around Europe, the British Isles and Canada in a caravan performing songs, dances and tales they collected. Often there was little scenery. They established a Theatre of Youth (T.O.Y.) near Circular Quay in Sydney and later founded the Australian Children's Theatre. Mavis Thorpe Clark (1909-1999) began her writing career as a schoolgirl. She was educated at Methodist Ladies College in Hawthorn. Her first story for children was published as a serial in The Australasian newspaper when she was 14 years old. Her first book was written when she was 18 and published in 1930. She was a prolific writer. She wrote mainly for children and teenagers, but also authored several biographies, a number of non-fiction titles, and many articles, short stories and scripts for newspaper, magazine and radio. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s she travelled extensively in South Australia and Western Australia gathering material for her stories. In 1967 she won the Children's Book Council of the Year award for The Min-Min which was set in outback South Australia.164p illus. This history details the careers of the New Zealand born sisters, Joan and Betty Rayner.(ms) joan rayner, (ms) betty rayner, australian children's theatre, children's play, (ms) mavis thorpe clark, theatre of youth (t.o.y.)

Children in photo identified as John Colin Reaburn, also known as Jack, and his young brother, Wallace James Reaburn. The Reaburn family came to Surrey Hills in the 1890's and first lived in Russell Street. John Colin Reaburn (B 1899 in Russell St, Surrey Hills; D 1987, Box Hill) and Wallace James Reaburn (B 1910; D 1996) were the children of John Reaburn (1873-1963) and his wife Jane (Jeannie) Nelson Harkins (1875-1959). They has a sister Winifred Jean Reaburn (1904-1983). The family later lived in Union Road on the SW corner of Guildford Road. The house was called 'Fairbank'. John completed his education to eighth grade of Surrey Hills State School, going on to University High School and became an accountant. He later moved away from the area but when the collection of local history commenced in the 1970's, John was living near Belmore Road and became involved. He had a clear recall of early days and played a valuable part in recording details of early Surrey Hills.B/W photo (photo dark) of two young children. The boy standing is dressed in long pants and a jacket with a wide collar like a sailor suit. He is carrying a wide brimmed hat. The other child is seated and wearing a lacy coverall over a dress. 5 tabs / residual glueclothing and dress, surrey hills, children, mr john reaburn, mr john colin reaburn, mr wallace james reaburn

Events that occurred during the year : further expansion of nursery with 3 children under the age of 3 admitted, first Aboriginal child (Alexander Marks) was admitted, children gained 23 swimming certificates, some Scouts met Lady Baden Powell, Board approved revised sketch plans for 42 acre site at Box Hill, doubling of Talking Book Library service with additional 60 machines purchased at a subsidised cost courtesy of the Nuffield Foundation, Alberta Tutton is taking a break from Auxiliary President duties with J. A. Duncan filling the temporary vacancy, thanks to Mabel Nelson for acting as accompaniste to concert artists, resignation of Alban Whitehead as a Country Concert Party manager and appointment of Denis Bandel in the position, outgoing Council member Cr. W.J. Wrens was recognised as Companion of the Order of the British Empire, and Captain Semmens and crew of 'Triaster' provided play equipment for playground. Dick Sutcliffe led the blind orchestra as it played 'There'll Always Be An England" as Queen Mother drove by the Institute and stopped when she saw the crowd of blind children and workers waiting for her, accepting a bouquet of gardenias from Margaret Oliphant.1 volume of text and illustrationsannual reports, royal victorian institute for the blind

Boys classes were held each Friday night in nine various locations around Melbourne. It gave the opportunity for Junior Legatees to meet and be involved with activities they may have missed out on due to the death of their fathers. Legacy clubs ran classes for junior legatees for many years. It was part of providing for the children of their deceased comrades. Activities included basketball competitions, gymnastics, boxing, judo and swimming lessons. There were annual sports days when groups came together for friendly competition. Estimated date of 1970s.A record of the type of activities Legacy provided for the Junior Legatees.Black and white photo printed on cardboard of boys playing with medicine balls at a sports day.Stamped in purple ink 'The Property of Melbourne Legacy'. junior legatees, boys classes

A letter from Pat Hanna to Frank (presumably L/- Frank Doolan) about his request for information for Legacy's archive project. He mentions some of the outstanding events in the early days of Legacy were the wonderful holidays the children had at Somers Camp and outings for widows and their children to Luna Park. Pat posed for the iconic image of a digger taken by photographer Jack Cato in 1932. Pat wrote down his experience in a moving two page document 'The Story Behind the Picture', it tells how he was moved to imagine the action in France when posing (see 01400). This letter and another copy of the photo was stored with other items - see items 01400 to 01403. Pat Hanna was an entertainer, comedian, artist and producer of reveues, plays and movies. One of his first revues was performed just after the armistice in France. A popular stage show was 'Diggers' that performed in many towns in Australia post-war and was adapted into a film in 1931. He was born George Patrick Hanna, 18 March 1888 in Whitianga, New Zealand and served in the First World War, was a founding member of Melbourne Legacy and was involved with Legacy for many years.Pat Hanna was a founding member of Melbourne Legacy and an artist and producer. Legacy kept some of his works in the archive.Letter on Pat Hanna's letterhead in June 1972.Signed 'Pat' in black ink.hanna, solider

Children played 'Mother and Fathers' when young so a dolls pram was very common as it still is today. A plastic white wicker dolls pram with orange and tan trim on the hood and carriage, and is held together by metal staples. It has a long curved cane handle and a wooden dowel frame. The base is wooden with four red plastic wheels with black trims for tyres. dolls prams, toys, dolls accessories

In 1857, tanner John Pearson purchased three and a half acres of land in Little Eltham, at the western end of Pitt Street, with a 70-foot frontage to Maria Street (Main Road) and stretching down to the Diamond Creek for £100. He contracted Benjamin Oliver Wallis to build house for him. Wallis, a mason by trade who originated from the Cornish village of Newlyn, migrated to Melbourne in 1853 and was shortly engaged by Richard Warren to build the Eltham Hotel, which opened in 1854. When Warren fell into financial difficulty in 1858, Wallis purchased the hotel. That same year, Pearson constructed a tannery below the house with access to the water in the Diamond Creek. When Pearson became bankrupt in 1867, Wallis similarly acquired the house from Pearson’s creditors in 1868 and lived there until his death in 1896. For some of this time the house was in the name of Wallis’s son Richard but following his death in 1888, ownership reverted to his father. It was purchased by retired teacher Richard Gilsenen in 1899. Gilsenen was made acting head teacher at the Eltham State School in 1906 following the sudden death of head teacher John Brown. In the 1950s the house was bought by retired engineer Dr Alfred Fitzpatrick and his wife Claire who made various modifications to house goats and poultry as well as structural modifications to the house. In the early 1970s, Eltham Shire Councillors Frank Maas and Don Maling proposed an extended communities’ activities program be set up and the Commonwealth Grants Commission was approached for financial assistance. In 1974 a $50,000 Commonwealth Grant was received by the Shire Council to acquire the Fitzpatrick property as part of the planning to establish an extended communities’ activities program. The Fitzpatricks moved next door and Claire taught at the new Living and Learning Centre, which began in 1975, one of the first community education centres in Victoria. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p59 It’s a centre for sharing knowledge and friendship and it stands on the former hub of Eltham’s original township near Pitt Street. The Eltham Living and Learning Centre, with around 2000 participants a year, began in 1975 as one of the first Community Education Centres in Victoria. Classes ranging from macramé to wine making to environmental living have enriched the lives of thousands of people through the generosity of tutors sharing their skills free of charge. The centre’s heart is the brick cottage, built in 1858 by tanner John Pearson. He bought the three and a half acre (1.4ha) allotment fronting Maria Street (now Main Road) and stretching down to the Diamond Creek. The allotment formed part of a 316 acre (127.8ha) subdivision, owned by Josiah Holloway, called Little Eltham, north of the original Eltham Reserve.1 The allotment then passed through the hands of several speculators before it was sold to Pearson for £100 in 1857. Mr Pearson’s children attended the Eltham Primary School from 1864 to 1867. But creditors took possession of the property when his tannery folded in 1867. It was then sold to publican Benjamin Wallis, who owned the Eltham Hotel at the corner of Pitt Street and Main Road. In 1899 the property was bought by Richard Gilsenan, who became acting head teacher of the Eltham Primary State School in 1906. In the 1950s, retired engineer Dr Alfred Fitzpatrick and his wife Claire bought the property, and made structural changes. Claire, a journalist and community campaigner, modified and built pens for goats and poultry, a stable, a garage and planted fruit trees and a vegetable garden. In the early 1970s a young woman called Carina Hack approached Gwen Wesson at the Diamond Valley Learning Centre (Victoria’s first Community Education Centre) about starting a community centre. Following Wesson’s suggestion, Hack spoke to Shire President Alistair Knox ‘one bleak rainy afternoon, sipping hot drinks and discussing life’.2 Eltham Shire Councillors Frank Maas and Don Maling proposed a community activities program and the council received a $50,000 Commonwealth Government Grant for this venture.3 The Fitzpatricks sold their property to the council and moved next door and Claire taught at the new centre, which Hack named. Eltham obviously wanted such a centre as Hack recalls. ‘During the next two months we had about 50 volunteers working day, night and weekends, scrubbing down, plastering and painting walls, replacing floors, repairing fences, recycling furniture, sewing curtains and cushions, donating furniture, toys, equipment, clean-ing and gardening…’4 The first enrolment day saw a queue stretching up the driveway nearly to the gate and the first sessions attracted 270 people a week. Soon the outbuildings were converted into pottery studios and a large workshop. From 1979 the Eltham Art and Craft Market was held in the centre’s grounds and the Friends of the Centre ran it from 1980. A former program coordinator, Margaret Johnson, remembers enrolment day in the late 1970s and 1980s, when hundreds of people would queue – and some even camped overnight! Overnighters were greeted in the morning with fresh tea and toast. Another tradition was The Enrolment Day Cake with Recipe, given to volunteers. ‘One happy Enrolment Day fell on February 14 and let’s just say that St Valentine found some willing participants, paying $2 for a kiss.’5 Meanwhile the participants’ children could play at the Council Eltham Lower Park house in Hohnes Road, later in Susan Street. But the centre has had difficulties too. In 1990 a fire destroyed the stable and the police suspected arson. However the pavilion was built in its place.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, benjamin oliver wallis, claire fitzpatrick, don maling, dr alfred fitzpatrick, eltham living and learning centre, frank maas, john pearson, richard gilsenen, tannery