Originally a race course, the park has brought the community together with a variety of activities. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p45 Once used for horse racing, which attracted visitors from Melbourne, the Eltham Lower Park has brought the community together with a wide range of activities. Horse riding is now enjoyed as a recreation in the park as are other sports. The park also includes the Diamond Valley Railway miniature trains and a sanctuary for the rare and vulnerable Eltham Copper Butterfly. Eltham Lower Park, with other parks, forms an almost continuous green band from Eltham’s centre, along the Diamond Creek to the Yarra River.1 Before European settlement the Wurundjeri people met on this land, particularly at the junction of the Diamond Creek with the Yarra River, which they called Birr-arung. This is commemorated by the sculpture, Not just a Pretty Place by Aleks Danko, winner of the 2000 Nillumbik Art in Public Places Award. The first European to settle here was probably Henry Foley, who in 1841 used it as part of his pastoral run. Foley sold his leasehold to Joseph Wilson in 1845, who soon after sold it to Frederick Falkiner. During the 1840s the future park was part of a government square mile (2.6 sqkm) reserve, north of the Yarra, within the Parish of Nillumbik, later named Eltham. Soon the land was used for horse racing after nearby residents cleared ten acres (4ha) in the early 1850s. A three-quarter of a mile (1.2km) race secured the winner the £10 Publican’s Prize. In response to popular demand, the newly formed Eltham District Road Board petitioned the Surveyor General of the Colony of Victoria, in 1856, for 36 acres (14.6ha) of crown land for a racecourse and recreation. By 1858 the Eltham races had become an institution. ‘Many skirmishes occurred and the way home was paved with temptation, with sly-grog for sale.3 In the early 1870s, two jockeys were sons of the police officer in charge of the Eltham Police Station, Miles S Lyons. Another ten acres (4ha) was added to the area in 1866 and 12 acres (4.8ha) – Hohnes Hill – in 1870. In 1866, two acres (0.8ha) on the creek banks became an animal pound with William Walsh the pound keeper in 1870, but this was later incorporated into the park. By 1877 the area was called a public park but horse racing and training continued into the 1920s. In the mid-1900s trotters were trained on a circuit road. In 1953 the Eltham Pony Club was established and used a cross-country course on Hohnes Hill. From the mid 1950s the club held the Eltham Easter Fair at the park, later to include a procession along Main Road from the town centre to the park. The park also attracted picnic parties and campers from the inner suburbs as did Wingrove Park, and businesses catering for visitors, sprang up on the opposite side of Main Road. Bus-loads of school children visited the park for Gould League bird days in the 1960s. In 1979 the Eltham Shire Council bought Lenister Farm, linking the park with the Yarra River. The Lenister Farm wetland includes a bird hide, viewing platform and interpretive signs.5 Pioneer Henry Stooke, later Road Board chairman, bought the 11 acres (4.5ha) - later to become Lenister Farm - from the Crown in 1862. Stooke never lived on this site and the two houses at Lenister Farm were built in the 20th century. Since its formation in 1871, the Council has controlled this crown land, which it named Eltham Park. But in the 1920s Eltham Council bought land near the town centre for a park, which it named Eltham Central Park. To avoid confusion the Council renamed Eltham Park, Eltham Lower Park. Since 2004 the Yarra footbridge has linked the park with the Yarra Valley Metropolitan Park and the Main Yarra Trail.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 lower park, eltham park

This Butcher’s shop was opened by J. Edwards. It adjoined G. Dickie’s bakery in Main Sreet. Later occupants of the premises included Beardmore, Clark, Bence and Ramsey.Small sepia 'carte de viste' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. The image depicts a butcher’s premises in Main Street Bacchus Marsh. The butcher and another man stand on the verandah in front of the shop. Behind them meat for sale is seen hanging from a rack. Two other people stand under the verandah at the front of the dwelling which runs along the side of the shop. In the street are two other people, one of whom holds a delivery basket, mounted on horses.Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE.stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, butchers, butcher shops

Set of three documents regarding the formation and operation of the Sorrento Tramway Co. (See Reg Item 1991 for a book by A P Winzenried) .1 - Information on the financial formation of the company, shares and Mr George Coppin. Has notes on a battery tram operated by the North Metropolitan Tramway Co. in London. .2 - Series of extract from newspapers and Council reports regarding the tramway - visitor guides, reports, Council purchase, revenue, passenger numbers and council debates. .3 - Documents related to the sale of the company, assets and liabilities, performance. Undated source. Yields information about the Sorrento Tramway and its performance and sale.Set of three documents regarding the Sorrento Tramway Co. - all typed. .1 - two quarto sheets .2 - four blue foolscap sheets .3 - two blue foolscap sheets.3 has on both sheets in blue ink "Printed October 1965"tramways, trams, sorrento, horse tramway, battery trams, morgage sale, george coppin

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Coloured flag, red and yellow field divided diagonally with badly faded 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles crest superimposed at centre.vmr, victorian mounted rifles, flag

Contents: • Recording Our History by Jim Connor • Our Next Meeting - 2.00pm Saturday 10th June 2023 • Heritage Walk - Saturday 1st July 2023 - Research Valley South Side • Eltham Horse and Pony Club by Tony Brocksopp • What’s Happening by Liz Pidgeon • Frank’s New Shoes by Jim Connor • Many Hands Make Flags Fly!! By Terry Beaton • A Catalogue of Killings by Richard Pinn • Early Land Sale Documents • Annual General Meeting - Saturday 15th April 2023 • Eltham Cemetery Stories by Liz Pidgeon o Anne Hunniford, (Burgoyne) nee Hamilton, 1813-1899, Pioneer o Anne Jane Hunniford 1855-1927, Post Mistress The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 newsletter distributed to members (Digital and A4 photocopy)newsletter, eltham district historical society

Documents related to the sale of 33 Fifth Street Black Rock, including two colour photocopies with the external and internal views of a shed said to be a former tram shed associated with the Sandringham to Black Rock horse tram line. Includes the City of Bayside heritage report and Hocking Stuart sales sheets for an auction on Saturday 4 August 2007. It would appear from Google Earth that all buildings were demolished.Yields information about the sale of a property said to be associated with the Black Rock tramway.Four A4 sheets - two colour and one colour sheet providing auction details.trams, railways, vr trams, sandringham, black rock tramway, sale of land, 33 fifth st black rock

Black and white copy of photographTyped below photograph: "White Horse Road" and statement underneath reads, "Photo of the new Savings Bank recently erected at Ringwood. An evidence of the progress of the District. Buildings like this are more eloquent than pages of Newspaper Talk."

Black and white photographWritten on back of photograph: "Land values - Main Street, Ringwood - land worth £50 pounds a foot." Image is taken from a land sale brochure and shows cars and horse drawn vehicles parked in front of buildings.

Newspaper clipping from The Age, Saturday 27-8-1977, Real Estate section, titled " 'Gentleman Jim' to sell the old Riversdale" about the sale of Riversdale Hotel at the corner of Auburn Road and Riversdale hotel. Article includes a photograph of the Hawthorn horse tram in front of the hotel and the ownership history of the hotel - been owned by the same family since 1934.trams, tramways, auburn rd, riversdale rd, hotels, horse trams

Black and white negative, by Wal Jack, of U class 211 after the body has been sold to the former North Melbourne Men's home (advised by Ron Scholten August 2020) on the corner of Arden and Langford Streets. Would appear that it is being used as a hay shed or store. The City of Melbourne yard, next door, would have had horses. Photo Wal Jack c1954. See Reg Item 5157 for a 120 size neg.trams, tramways, u class, sale of trams, nmetl, scrapped trams, tram 211

Black and white negative, by Wal Jack, of U class 211 after the body has been sold to the former North Melbourne Men's home (advised by Ron Scholten August 2020) on the corner of Arden and Langford Streets. Would appear that it is being used as a hay shed or store. The City of Melbourne yard, next door, would have had horses. Photo Wal Jack c1954. See Reg Item 5089 for a 125 size neg.trams, tramways, u class, sale of trams, nmetl, scrapped trams, tram 211

Thomas Heath built this shop for his saddlery business around 1875. In 1926 after 58 years operating his saddlery in Bacchus Marsh he retired and the assets of his business were sold in a clearing sale. The building was located close to the current day location of 192 Main Street and has been demolished. Apart from his services in saddlery his premises was known to be a gathering place for much discussion. Heath was known to openly express his political opinions and his saddlery premises was known by many in the community as the 'Parliament'.Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. The photo is of a double-fronted weatherboard building with a shingle roof. The front gabled section stands directly on street level and is flanked by a picket fence. The door and overhead window and the side window with arched panels may indicate that this was the shop section, with a dwelling to the rear. Items which may be for sale can be seen hanging in the windows. The recessed side section of the building with a twelve-sectioned window, chimney and a back extension was probably the dwelling used by the family. On the footpath stands the saddler with three children, two boys and an older girl, probably Mr Thomas Heath and three of his five children. A hitching rail runs along the front of the workshop. Indicating the type of business Mr Heath ran, are a saddle placed over the rail and two horse collars and reins hanging either side of the workshop door. On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. saddleries, saddlers, thomas heath 1842-1930 saddler

Before the construction of the Wodonga Municipal Saleyards which opened in 1935, there were four private saleyards which operated in Wodonga. They were owned by Gippsland & Northern Co-Operative Co. Ltd., Dalgety & Co., New Zealand Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. Ltd. and Younghusband Ltd. When Mrs Julia Ronan nee Arundel lost her husband John to tuberculosis in 1906, she quickly decided to move from their small farm into Wodonga with her 3 children. She was granted the lease of the ground she needed to establish her eating house at one shilling per year in a shed on the Dalgety's saleyard block. Two established merchants Albert Schlink and John Whan and butcher Jack Garrett agreed to allow her credit which enabled her to open Ronan's Dining Rooms at the Saleyards. It was often a challenging environment, with drovers, and horse- breakers, auctioneers and bushmen bringing huge mobs of cattle and horses to the saleyards. Stories of the premises include the unexpected arrival in the passage of a lively bullock which finished up on the girls' bed. Mrs Ronan persevered and beat all obstacles to finally move from the saleyards to the Wodonga Coffee Palace in High Street, beside the railway gates in 1921.This item is significant because it captures one of the private saleyards which operated prior to the establishment of the Wodonga Municipal Saleyards.A black and white image of the sale yards at Wodonga c1907 with the dining room operated by Mrs Ronan on the right.Beneath image: View of Wodonga Mrs Ronan's Dining c1907 Wodonga Sale site, Corner Elgin (Melbourne Road) and Smythe Street, replaced by Municipal Saleyards in 1935. Photo: Bob Prentice, Donated by Mrs Val Phefleywodonga saleyards, mrs julia ronan

Circa late 1800's to early 1900s. A horse-drawn furrow plough was the most common type of agricultural implement used by the pioneer market gardeners, in Moorabbin Shire, of the 1800s and continued on into the 1940s when motorised tractors came into use. This plough is an example of a single-mullboard plough which would have been pulled by horse. The long handle was used to lower the silver plate, (mullboard), to the chosen depth of soil. Following 'Dendy's Special Survey' of 1841 and the Crown Land Sale in 1852, land allotments were bought by pioneer settlers who established or rented allotments for market gardens in the area and they supplied produce to the markets in St Kilda and Melbourne. During the gold-rush of the 1850s the rapidly increasing population of Melbourne saw a huge demand and a rise in prices for all foodstuffs, including the vegetables and fruit grown in the Shire of Moorabbin. An "Oliver" single mull-board plough in good condition with faded manufactures markings on shaftsPainted on shaft "MANF'D BY/OLIVER CHILLED PLOW WORKS/Southend Ind. USA/" Engraved on blade " 13 OLIVER"brighton, moorabbin, plough, dendy henry, east bentleigh, market gardens, horse drawn plough, plow, mullboard

The photograph shows a Northcote 6 window cable tram trailer being hauled by two horses to a new home - to act as a summer house for Cr. Plant of Northcote. The tram was replaced by larger cars when the MMTB took over the Council-operated tramway. The photo appeared in The Sun News-Pictorial on 11/5/1923 - page 20 - see second image. Also appeared in Trolley Wire Dec 1985 issue.Yields information the disposal of a former Northcote Council cable tram trailer.Black and white photograph with a plain back and digital image.tramcars, tramways, cable trams, northcote, sale of trams