On November 11th 1929 the Shire of Eltham War Memorial Tower at Kangaroo Ground was opened. It is regarded as one of Melbourne’s most outstanding lookout towers. It commands a magnificent 360 degree panorama from Kinglake across the Diamond Valley to Macedon and the You Yangs. It is built on a peak which was once a volcano, 237 metres above sea level. After World War one a memorial cairn was erected on the site, and in 1925 a committee of public-minded citizens began to plan for a tower. Many generous donations of material and money were forthcoming so that in 1926 the Governor General Lord Stonehaven was able to unveil the plaque before a crowd of 500 people. There was some concern in the 1960s when the Forests Commission wanted to build a firespotters cabin on the top. At first R.S.L. branches opposed the idea, but it was realised that this use could combine with its use as a tourist attraction, and would ensure its maintenance for the future, Today the Kangaroo Ground tower provides one of the best views around Melbourne and is a fitting memorial to those who died in two world wars. From: Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 (EDHS collection) Red hard bound binder, 2-ring holder; 18 grey coloured page inserts (3 blank) with 7 photos. Two pages of text in white paint. Also includes inserted leaves of manila card with photocopies of relevant news clippings pasted to card. An additional photo mounted on card dated 1952 has also been inserted into album.eltham, dedication, opening day, sir dallas brooks, kangaroo ground, war memorial, kangaroo ground tower

Unveiled Saturday 13 October 1990. Russell Yeoman advised (14 Jun 2017 society meeting) that the Shire of Eltham had been given a plaque to commemorate Walter Withers and that the rock was sourced from west of Melbourne with funds from a local government grant. The initial crane to lift the rock in place was too small and another crane was arranged. This also proved too small to lift it until a third and larger crane was arranged.Colour photograph 10 x 15 cm. Supplementary material including invitation to unveiling and news clippings (incl. photocopies) of the eventarthur street, bible street, walter withers reserve, walter withers, walter withers rock

On November 11th 1926 the Shire of Eltham War Memorial Tower at Kangaroo Ground was opened. It is regarded as one of Melbourne’s most outstanding lookout towers. It commands a magnificent 360 degree panorama from Kinglake across the Diamond Valley to Macedon and the You Yangs. It is built on a peak which was once a volcano, 237 metres above sea level. After World War one a memorial cairn was erected on the site, and in 1925 a committee of public-minded citizens began to plan for a tower. Many generous donations of material and money were forthcoming so that in 1926 the Governor General Lord Stonehaven was able to unveil the plaque before a crowd of 500 people. There was some concern in the 1960s when the Forests Commission wanted to build a firespotters cabin on the top. At first R.S.L. branches opposed the idea, but it was realised that this use could combine with its use as a tourist attraction, and would ensure its maintenance for the future, Today the Kangaroo Ground tower provides one of the best views around Melbourne and is a fitting memorial to those who died in two world wars. From: Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 (EDHS collection) Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 100-5garden hill, kangaroo ground memorial, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial tower, war memorial tower, war memorials

Born Digitalavenue of honour, war memorials, plaques, main road, eltham

Born Digitalavenue of honour, war memorials, plaques, main road, eltham

Born Digitalavenue of honour, war memorials, plaques, main road, eltham

Cr Helen Coleman speaks at the dedication of the new Avenue of HonourBorn Digitalavenue of honour, war memorials, plaques, main road, eltham, helen coleman

Cr. Helen Coleman speaks at the launch of the new Avenue of HonourBorn Digitalavenue of honour, war memorials, plaques, main road, eltham, helen coleman

Minister for Veterans, John Eren at the official opening of the Eltham Avenue of Honour markers.,Born Digitalavenue of honour, war memorials, plaques, main road, eltham, john eren

Cr Helen Coleman with Minister for Veterans, John Eren at the official opening of the Eltham Avenue of Honour markersBorn Digitalavenue of honour, war memorials, plaques, main road, eltham, helen coleman, john eren

Born Digitalwar memorials, plaques, hurstbridge, hurstbridge war memorial

Born Digitalwar memorials, plaques, hurstbridge, hurstbridge war memorial

Born Digitalwar memorials, plaques, hurstbridge, hurstbridge war memorial

Born Digitalwar memorials, plaques, hurstbridge, hurstbridge war memorial

Born Digitalwar memorials, plaques, hurstbridge, hurstbridge war memorial

Born Digitalwar memorials, plaques, hurstbridge, hurstbridge war memorial

Born Digitalwar memorials, plaques, hurstbridge, hurstbridge war memorial

Born Digitalwar memorials, plaques, hurstbridge, hurstbridge war memorial

Born Digitalwar memorials, plaques, hurstbridge, hurstbridge war memorial

Born Digitalwar memorials, plaques, hurstbridge, hurstbridge war memorial

Presented to Nillumbik Shire Council by the Victorian Vietnam Veterans Community in commemmoration of the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan - 18th August 2006.Born Digitalworld war 1, war memorials, shire of nillumbik, plaque, vietnam veterans community

Plaque on stone structure acknowledging the Moor-rul viewing platform at Kangaroo Ground War Memorial Park, when it was offically opened on 17 April 2008 with details of names of men and their roles on the advisory committee 2008.Born DigitalNillumbik the Green Wedge Shire The Moor-rul Viewing Platform was opened on 17 April 2008 by Nillumbik Shire Mayor, Councillor Warwick Leeson Kangaroo Ground Memorial Park and Tower of Remembrance Advisory Committee 2008 Covenor: Harry Gilham Councillor: Cr. Warwick Leeson Members: Ken King, Neil Marshall, Alex Melichore Dean Stewart, Dennis Ward, Mick Woiwod John Haines (former member) Nicholas Pelling (former member) Architect: Dennis Ward RAIA ALIA Builder Malcorp Building Services world war 1, war memorials, shire of nillumbik, plaque, moor-rul viewing platform, knagaroo ground, names

Plaque on stone structure acknowledging the Moor-rul viewing platform at Kangaroo Ground War Memorial Park, when it was offically opened on 17 April 2008 with details of names of men and their roles on the advisory committee 2008.Born Digitalworld war 1, war memorials, shire of nillumbik, plaque, moor-rul viewing platform

View to south-east from Shire of Eltham Soldiers' Memorial Park showing the carriageway from the road to top of Memorial Park. Accompanying notes state that the entry gate was put in place in May 1921. Eltham and Whittlesea Shire Advertiser and Diamond Creek Valley Advocate Fri 21 May 1920 p 2 reported: Kangaroo Ground Memorial Park "It was decided to arrange for a working bee on Saturday, 29th inst., for the purpose of forming and gravelling the track leading to the Park, and of carrying out other necessary works." A history summary of the Shire of Eltham Soldiers’ Memorial Park • The summit at Garden Hill was a popular tourist lookout and picnic spot from the 1880s. Virtually the entire Shire of Eltham and beyond could be viewed from this location. • A local farmer, Mr Walter A. D. Wippell is credited as being the first to propose the idea of a war memorial park and offered £50 towards the purchase of the land. • The earliest public reference to this project is to be found in the local Advertiser newspaper edition of August 9th, 1918. A report of the August Council meeting records the Eltham Shire President, Cr. Robert White, saying: "some time back it was proposed that the Council obtain and place on an Honour Board in the Council Chamber [at Kangaroo Ground] containing names of the lads who had enlisted. Just recently however, it had been suggested that a more fitting memorial would be the obtaining of a piece of land on the summit of Garden Hill, Kangaroo Ground, and the formation of a memorial park in which a monument could be erected to represent the whole of Shire. If a couple of acres could be obtained a gentleman had promised to donate 50 pounds, and another one would fence it, and other contributions, he was sure, could be obtained." • Councillors were favourable of the proposal and the President, Shire Secretary and Shire Engineer were deputised to wait on Messrs Mess Bros. (the owners of the Garden Hill farm) and ascertain if they would gratuitously give the land. The Mess Bros. land adjoined the farm/stud of Mrs Fanny White (Cr Robert White’s mother), daughter of Andrew Harkness who established their property on Garden Hill around 1846. • Access to the land came in February 1919 when several Councillors and the Shire Engineer surveyed the actual two acres of '5 chains along the road and 4 chains deep'. The Engineer volunteered his services free to do this task. The Mess brothers however demanded £100 per acre but eventually agreed to take £50 per acre. • Entry from the Kangaroo Ground-Yarra Glen road was seen to be a problem and Mrs. White, who owned the land beside the park, was asked to donated a triangle of her property to allow this access. • By September 1919 returned soldiers were employed by the Shire and volunteers were called to clear the hilltop by ploughing up the rocks and clearing the area, the fencing was put into place and in May 1921 the Council erected three gates, within an archway, at the entrance to the drive and pathway to the summit. • Public subscriptions were sought through the Advertiser newspaper to beautify the site. The views of the Curator of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens were sought as to the ‘class of ornamental trees most suitable for planting in the Park area”. • The Memorial Park or Shire of Eltham Soldiers’ Memorial Park was officially opened by Mr. W.H. Everard, M.L.A., 3 September 1921. • In 1922 plans were made to place a War Memorial in the Park. Funds were donated by the Council of £250 and a challenge to the community, to match this money with contributions was met. • On Anzac Day 1923, 1,000 people gathered on the summit in the park for a memorial service. A much smaller group of about 50 people gathered around a newly constructed cairn and flagstaff in the afternoon of Anzac Day 1924 amidst rain and a squally southerly wind, the morning service being cancelled. • A meeting for those interested in establishing a War Memorial monument within the park was held in January 1924 and the Eltham Shire War Memorial League was formed and a design competition decided upon. • The Shire of Eltham War Memorial tower was built in 1926 at a cost of £1,023 and 5 shillings with locally quarried stone donated by Dr Ethel and Professor William Osborne. It was formally known as the ‘Shire of Eltham War Memorial’ and was unveiled on 11 November 1926. The large bronze inscription above the entrance to the tower states: SHIRE OF ELTHAM WAR MEMORIAL THESE MEN DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY 1914 IN REMEMBRANCE THIS TOWER WAS BUILT 1918 • The Caretaker’s hut was built in 1927 with left over from the tower construction. • A returned soldier was appointed to act as caretaker for the memorials. Tiny Carrol, a huge man, was the first caretaker and lived in the stone hut. There was a push to have alterations made at one stage to provide additional rooms for a married caretaker but was rejected. • A new Caretaker Cottage was built in 1951 at a cost £2,500. The cottage had been subjected to raids by thieves three times during construction until a guard from the Returned Servicemen’s League was posted until its opening. • The War Memorial tower was re-dedicated by Sir Dallas Brooks on 8 November 1951, unveiling new bronze plaques containing the names of those who fell during the Second World War. Sir Dallas also officiated the opening of the new Caretaker’s Cottage. • A toilet block was built in 1965. • A further dedication of the Shire of Eltham War Memorial tower took place 11 November 2001 to recognise the men who fell in subsequent campaigns up to and including Vietnam. • Four land titles are involved: o The purchase of the two acres from owners Ruth Gosling, Alexander Mess, James Johnson Mess and Joseph Mess is recorded in two actions, the first being the payment of £100 for the two acres, the second showing that the Shire of Eltham did not get a transfer of title until 14th January 1952. o The access land donated by Mrs. Fanny White is dated 26 February 1924. A further need to widen the entry came after the deepening of the road cutting and another land donation was given by Sir Herbert Gepp, title dated 15th May 1952. This would have been about the time he sold off the former White ‘Garden Hill’ property. o The land reserve to increase the area and possibly allow a circuit road to be put in place on the western side of the park was purchased by the Shire of Eltham, title dated 16th February 1973. Rare photograph of the entrance to the Shire's Memorial Park during early stages of development prior to the erection of the Shire of Eltham War MemorialSepia photograph printed with white border with slight crack lower left hand corner and three significant vertical cracks fanning from lower centre edge to upper edge Digitally enhanced version to minimise impact of crackseltham-yarra glen road, entrance gate, garden hill, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, kangaroo ground war memorial park

On November 11th 1926 the Shire of Eltham War Memorial Tower at Kangaroo Ground was opened. It is regarded as one of Melbourne’s most outstanding lookout towers. It commands a magnificent 360 degree panorama from Kinglake across the Diamond Valley to Macedon and the You Yangs. It is built on a peak which was once a volcano, 237 metres above sea level. After World War one a memorial cairn was erected on the site, and in 1925 a committee of public-minded citizens began to plan for a tower. Many generous donations of material and money were forthcoming so that in 1926 the Governor General Lord Stonehaven was able to unveil the plaque before a crowd of 500 people There was some concern in the 1960s when the Forests Commission wanted to build a firespotters cabin on the top. At first R.S.L. branches opposed the idea, but it was realised that this use could combine with its use as a tourist attraction, and would ensure its maintenance for the future. Today the Kangaroo Ground tower provides one of the best views around Melbourne and is a fitting memorial to those who died in two world wars. From: Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 (EDHS collection) On November 8th, 1951, the memorial was re-dedicated by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Dallas Brooks with the addition of the names of men from the Shire of Eltham who fell in the Second World War. Further wreaths were added subsequent to this image in time for the 2001 Reembrance Day service to commemorate the men from th shire who had fallen in the Malayan, Korean, Borneo and Vietnam campaigns. Sepia photograph showing two ladies standing in front of the towergarden hill, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground memorial, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial tower, war memorial

Showing front angle view of tower and old fire watchbox on top On November 11th 1926 the Shire of Eltham War Memorial Tower at Kangaroo Ground was opened. It is regarded as one of Melbourne’s most outstanding lookout towers. It commands a magnificent 360 degree panorama from Kinglake across the Diamond Valley to Macedon and the You Yangs. It is built on a peak which was once a volcano, 237 metres above sea level. After World War one a memorial cairn was erected on the site, and in 1925 a committee of public-minded citizens began to plan for a tower. Many generous donations of material and money were forthcoming so that in 1926 the Governor General Lord Stonehaven was able to unveil the plaque before a crowd of 500 people There was some concern in the 1960s when the Forests Commission wanted to build a firespotters cabin on the top. At first R.S.L. branches opposed the idea, but it was realised that this use could combine with its use as a tourist attraction, and would ensure its maintenance for the future. Today the Kangaroo Ground tower provides one of the best views around Melbourne and is a fitting memorial to those who died in two world wars. From: Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 (EDHS collection) On November 8th, 1951, the memorial was re-dedicated by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Dallas Brooks with the addition of the names of men from the Shire of Eltham who fell in the Second World War. Further wreaths were added subsequent to this image in time for the 2001 Reembrance Day service to commemorate the men from th shire who had fallen in the Malayan, Korean, Borneo and Vietnam campaigns.Black and white photograph showing front angle view of tower and old watchbox on topgarden hill, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground memorial, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial tower, war memorial

List of deceased local TOC H men who passed during World War 2. Historical. ResearchBronze PlaqueEastern oil Lamp with cross, on top of plaque. 1939-1945. Text below reads 'WITH PROUD THANKSGIVINGG WE REMEMBER THE GOOD FELLOWSHIP OF LOCAL "TOC H" MEN WHO JOINED THE RANKS OF THE ELDER BRETHREN DURING THE WAR.' 4 Wall mounting holes, 1 in each corner.ww2 memorial

Standing L-R: Mrs Florence Spicer, Mr Nankervis, Mrs Nankervis, Mrs Marjorie Smith Motschall, Mrs Joy Ness, Mr Alan Gardner, Mrs Marion Yeoman, Mrs Marie Ebeli, Mr Garnet Burges (in hat), Mrs McLellan, - , Mr Bob McLellan; Seated L-R: - , Mrs Eileen Gibbons, Mrs Kath Stephenson, Mrs Irvine Green, Mr Irvine Green (President, Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society), - , Mrs Bishop. The commemorative plaque explains the functions of the various items used in the Victorian 150th Anniversary Monument and Time capsule.Colour photograph1987, activities, eltham community centre, time capsule

Standing L-R: Mrs Nankervis, Mrs Marjorie Smith Motschall, Mrs Joy Ness, Mr Alan Gardner, Mrs Marion Yeoman, Mr Irvine Green (stooping), Mrs Lucy Robertson, Mrs Marie Ebeli, child, Mrs McLellan, Mr Garnet Burges; Seated L-R: Mrs Clair Renouf, Mrs Eileen Gibbons, Mrs Kath Stephenson, Mrs Irvine Green, Mrs Jean Nowlan. The commemorative plaque explains the functions of the various items used in the Victorian 150th Anniversary Monument and Time capsule.Colour photograph1987, activities, eltham community centre, time capsule