Thursday, December 15, 1949, the quiet little bank was embroiled in an infamous wild shoot-out between a daring thief and two bank officers. Today, the building still carries the scars ; a bullet hole remains visible in a cedar bench testifying to the events that played out that day. 3.30 a.m., Friday, December 9. The manager of the Commercial Bank branch at Greensborough, Mr Harry Wallace and his wife are asleep in their bedroom of the little house behind the branch. Harry is awakened by a noise and sees an intruder in a corner of the bedroom. He calls out but the intruder who has switched off the power in anticipation flees through a side door and scarpers down Main Street. Harry summons the police but a search by First Constable Thomas of the Greensborough Police assisted by a wireless patrol car is unsuccessful. A report is filed noting the theft of a .25 calibre pistol from the wardrobe. Thursday, December 15th. It is 1pm and the Commercial Bank has just opened. The branch is only open Mondays and Thursdays from 1-3pm. The morning started off a little cool with some scattered showers but it has fined up and the temperature is now around 61 degrees (16 C). A new grey Singer sports car with soft-top pulls up on the opposite side of the road and a young man, neatly dressed in a dark blue suit, wearing a grey hat and carrying a brief case exits the vehicle. He looks around then crosses the road and walks up the steps and through the door into the bank. There are three people inside; Mr. Jack Burgoyne whose grocery store is situated just 50 yards up the road, Mr. Lindsay A. Spears, the Eltham Agency Receiving Officer and by chance, Mr Harry Wallace, manager of the Greensborough branch. Jack Burgoyne takes note of the young stranger; thinking to himself he appears nervous. The man approaches the counter and introduces himself as John Henderson of Greensborough and explains that he wishes to open a new account. He places his hat and £3 on the counter. Mr Spears attends to the paperwork. He asks the young man to sign two forms, which he does but then he withdraws from the counter and starts walking towards the door. Suddenly he spins around pulling an automatic pistol from his right-hand pocket. He exclaims forcefully; “The game’s on! I’ll take the lot!” Spears appears to comply by pretending to open a drawer. The man shouts loudly, “Keep your hand away from that drawer.” Spears instead reaches for a pistol in his pocket and challenges the man, “Here it is. Come and get it!” At the same time, Harry Wallace pulls a pistol from his pocket as well. The bandit fires a shot but misses, the bullet striking the counter. Both Spears and Wallace open fire and Jack Burgoyne ducks for cover. As the bandit turns and runs for the door leaving his £3 behind, he fires another shot, which strikes the ceiling. Spears fires back, and thinks he may have hit him in the foot. The bandit flees the bank and heads for the grey Singer car, registration NO-106, parked opposite. Wallace and Spears pursue him to the door and open fire again, striking the car three times around the driver’s door. Spears lets off eight shots and Wallace, seven before his gun jams. The getaway car initially heads slowly down Main Road towards Bridge Street. About 100 yards down the road, Dave Adams, a PMG employee, who has heard the shots, throws a steel manhole step at the driver. It hits the roof of the car nine inches above the driver’s head and tears the hood. Another witness claims to have seen the door blow open and the driver raise his hand. The car gathers speed and swings left into Bridge Street racing along at about 60 miles an hour careering recklessly past council employee, Mr. Percy Williams, who is driving a dray along Smarts Road [believed to be Bridge Street]. At the end of the road the Singer fails to get round the sharp turn and crashes into an embankment skidding to a stop outside the home of Mr John Clifford. One side of the car is wrecked. Mr Clifford, an aircraft engineer hears the fast travelling car bump heavily into the road bank at about 1.25 p.m. Hearing the whine of an engine he goes outside to find the grey Singer parked at the side of the road. Jack George also lives at the corner and hears the car crash. “The bandit opened the car door, ran 50 yards, and suddenly turned back,” exclaims Jack. “He took something from the car. It might have been a gun.” In his haste, the bandit drops his grey felt hat, size 6 7/8, on the road and dashes up Sherbourne Road for about 200 yards then disappears into the scrub carrying a brief case and a bundle in which a sailor’s cap can be seen. About 3 p.m., Mr H.D. Pettie of Mountain View Road, Montmorency is looking through his field glasses and notices a young man walking through thick scrub on private property some distance from his house. The man is wearing a sailor’s cap and disappears along the railway track toward Montmorency. As the day progresses, ten police cars, one motor cycle, and about 40 police led by Det. Sgt. McMennemin of Malvern CIB are searching for him. They believe he is hiding in thick scrub along the bank of the creek about half-a-mile outside Eltham township. Wireless patrol cars, four mobile traffic cars and the CIB area cars from Malvern and Kew are taking part. Police check the thief’s car and discover it was stolen from Helen Baxter, of Doncaster Road, North Balwyn from outside Victoria Barracks. Harry Wallace informs the police that he believes he recognised the bandit as the man who took his pistol from his bedroom the previous Friday morning. As night falls, armed police are posted at strategic points in the Eltham-Greensborough district. Police in cars are watching the roads. Others are searching the bush and checking passengers on trains. Little do they realise the young man has already slipped out of the net. SEQUEL YOUTH OF 19 CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY OF BANK AT ELTHAM Weekly Times, Wednesday 15 February 1950, page 6 Detectives who raided a house in Bell St., Coburg, Melbourne, charged a 19-year-old youth, of South Yarra, with attempted armed robbery at the Commercial Bank’s Eltham (Vic.) receiving depot on Dec. 15. Police say they recovered a loaded automatic pistol, diamond and signet rings worth more than £200, a complete set of house-breaking instruments, a sailor’s uniform, and chloroform gauze in the raid. The youth was charged that while armed with an offensive weapon, he attempted to rob Lindsay George Spears of a sum of money. He was further charged on six counts of breaking, entering and stealing. Police allege that the person who tried to hold up Mr Spears in the Commercial Bank receiving depot at Eltham on December 15. escaped in a stolen car, after Mr Spears and Mr Henry Wallace, manager of the bank’s Greensborough branch, had fired at him. After the car crashed, he escaped into thick scrub and is alleged to have changed into a sailor’s uniform. On December 9 an automatic pistol was stolen from Mr Wallace’s bedroom at the Greensborough bank. The chloroform pad recovered is alleged to have been stolen from the Dental Supply Company, Plenty Road, Preston. The rings are alleged to have been taken in a £513 burglary from the shop of James Paton. Sydney Road, Coburg. Det. Sgt. H. McMennemin conducted the investigations with Senior Dets. R. Newton and M Downie, Detectives l. Dent, R. Rayner, P. Pedersen and M. Handley and First Constable A. Thomas. The youth will appear at Eltham Court on February 22. Manager’s Gun Used in Holdup at Bank The Age, Thursday 23 February 1950, page 4 It was stated in Eltham court yesterday that a youth who robbed a bank manager of his pistol, later used it in an attempt to hold-up the bank. Kay Arthur Morgan, 19, draftsman, of Castle-street, South Yarra, was committed for trial on charges of breaking and entering, and stealing a pistol and attempted robbery while armed with an offensive weapon. He pleaded guilty. The manager of Eltham branch of the Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd., Henry Clifton Cabot Wallace, said he disturbed someone in the bedroom, in which he and his wife were sleeping, at 3 a.m. on December. 9, 1949. Later he found that his automatic- pistol was missing. On December 15 a youth, who said his name was John Henderson, entered the bank and opened a new account. As the youth was leaving the bank he turned round with a pistol in his hand and said: — “I want the lot.” Spear indicated a drawer under the counter; and said.— “Here it is. Come and get it.” The youth said:— “Keep your hand away from that drawer.” Witness said Spear then drew his pistol from his hip pocket. The youth fired at them, and Spear returned the fire. “I pulled my pistol and fired, too” said witness. The youth fired again, ran out to a car and drove off. Witness and Spear fired several shots at the car. The youth was the accused Morgan, sitting in court, witness said. Evidence was given that one bullet was found in the celling and the other in the bank. Morgan was allowed £100 bail on each charge. Morgan ended up serving three years for the failed armed robbery and became a notorious criminal. He had twin sons, Peter and Doug and even though only ten years old, Morgan would get his sons to act as lookouts whilst he committed burglaries. The lads became building contractors but when the industry suffered a downturn in 1977 and they were short on cash, they returned to the family business. Over the following 23 months they undertook 24 raids on country and outer-suburban TABs and banks. Whilst robbing one country bank for the third time, just like their father, it all went wrong ending up with a police officer shot. They were nick-named the “After-dark” bandits and are considered to be Australia’s last bushrangers. They were convicted and served 17 years in prison.5 x A4 photocopied pagesbank hold-up, cba bank, det sgt mcmennemin, eltham, h.d. pettie, harry wallace, jack burgoyne, kay arthur morgan, lindsay a. spears, main road

Author Alan Marshall lived at Eltham from 1955 to about 1981. Alan owned land at Research and often lived there in his caravan while he was writing. A story about this land is told by John Morrison in "The Writer and the Swagman", which appears in his book "Australian by Choice." Local people also remember Alan living in his caravan beside an old house occupied by his friend, artist Neil Douglas, which was situated on the site of the present-day Eltham College oval and owned by the Pelling family at that time. It is understood that the land owned by Alan Marshall was nearby in Cassells Road. Vivienne Turner of Eltham recalled that her family had a photo of Alan and his caravan at Research and a copy was provided to EDHS in 2003. The caravan was a Sunliner model. See EDHS Newsletter No 151 July 2003Black and white photograph, injet print on paper alan marshall, caravan, research (vic.), eltham college, neil douglas, pelling family, turner family, sunliner caravan, ek holden special station sedan, cars, 1962

This photograph is from the Max Harris Collection held by the Ballaraat Mechanics' Institute. Please contact BMI for all print and usage inquiries.ballarat, sturt, trams, bikes, cars, robur, suttons, thorntons, mechanics' institute, town hall, post office

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 issue include:- Page 2 - Falls Creek has 3 tows: Nissen Tow, Gordon Muller's Myrtleford tow and Bob Hymans' American portable tow. Kevin Shoebridge also reported that Bogong Ski Club has purchased a new vehicle, a 4 x 4 ex-Army blitz waggon. Page 27 - By Car to Falls Creek - it has been suggested that a convoy of private authorised cars could leave the top gate at Mt. Beauty at midnight on Fridays to enable Melbourne SKier to leave Melbourne at 6 p.m. and get to their accommodation at Falls Creek in the early hours of Saturday.cars at falls creek, falls creek tows, kevin shoebridge, bogong ski club

This Unibic Limited Edition ANZAC Biscuit tin is one of a series produced in 2014 to commemorate 100 years 1914 - 2014 of World War 1, focusing on the Victoria Cross, The Anzac Biscuit Story and The RSL Story. The included paper sheet explains the Victoria Cross in full detail. The RSL and Modern Baking Pty Ltd in Broadmeadows provided this product.A medium sized rectangular Limited Edition green and gold lidded Anzac Biscuit Tin with an old brown and grey toned photograph image of soldiers of the 5th Division in a motor car. The lettering for the tin is stamped in red and white at the top of the lid with Limited Edition in gold. At the bottom of the tin is written - Australian 5th Division 500g including a gold coloured embossed Rising Sun Badge. There is a brief explanation about the 5th Divisional Motor Car's location on one side of the tin as well as an explanation of the meaning of the Rising Sun Badge on the other side. The back of the tin has information about The Anzac Biscuit Story and a recipe. Inside the tin there is a folded brochure about the seven 2019 Limited Edition Tins that were available at the time.As stated above there is the name of the tin 'Limited Edition ANZAC Biscuit' with details of the tin's meaning for the Australian 5th Division. '500g Net' All of the tin has information about the soldiers who served in WW1 and WW2 and the relevance of the Anzac Spirit and biscuits.war, world war 1, world war 2, containers, tins, commemorative tins, rsl

Newspaper clipping from the North and West Melbourne News December 2004, titled: 1 - "115 years on and engine house faces...what? - Article with photo on the forthcoming sale of the former Abbotsford St North Melbourne Engine House. Gives a brief history of the cable trams, the engine house. Notes the future of the building was uncertain, conversion into apartments, was passed in at $2.5mil. Article written by Jullian Ball and Geoff Gaff. 2 - "By the Bylands - in search of cable car history" - article on the TMSV at Bylands and its cable tram collection, the opening hours and historical sources. Has a photo of a lady sitting on Grip car 436 and Russell Jones and Graham Jordan undertaking track work. Article written by Jullian Ball.trams, tramways, cable trams, abbotsford st, north melbourne, engine houses, tmsv, bylands, tram 436

Radio transcript - 10 foolscap sheets, typed, titled "Wireless address 3LO by Mr Alex Cameron, Chairman MMTB 12 Jan 1930 - 745pm - Our Trams and Safety". Introduction refers to a request from the Safety Council of Australia, about safety around trams. Notes braking systems, tramcar maintenance, Preston Workshops, training, medical examinations, accident statistics, cable trams, more accidents with cable cars, knock downs mainly in the city, step accidents, crowding on trams, passengers knocked down by motor cars, tram stops, safety zones, traffic regulation, motor traffic, motor vehicle licencing, parking, and lane markings. Has a lists of don't for motorists, pedestrians and passengers.trams, tramways, radio stations, accidents, behaviour, driver training, brakes, safety, medical, cable trams, statistics, motor vehicles, traffic control

Set of six tramcar signs as listed, wrapped in brown paper and marked in Keith Kings handwriting: "Spare Interior Notice Plates (ex Preston W/s 1/9/72)" Package had not been open. The adhesive tape was loose when opened. Contains items: Reg Item - short description and condition: 2418 - To stop car pull left hand.... - tarnished 2419 - Wait until car stops - tarnished, paint marks and remnants of tape. 2421 - No Smoking - tarnished 2423 - Entering or leaving - 56H x 254W (different to that collected) - dirt marks 2427 - Passengers must not stand - heavily tarnished and dirty 2429 - Passengers are not allowed - has been partly bent - tarnished. Retain in paper bag.trams, tramways, signs, tramcars, tramcar bodies, mmtb, new trams

This particluar bag (Japara water bag) was used to hold seal skin soles or straps, which were placed onto skis.The first skiers that came to Falls Creek used these. These types of bags were also used to carry water. They were used by scouts and other campers and were to be seen hanging from cars and caravans. This is historically significance because it shows how the first people who skied at Falls Creek used early skiing equipment. This bag and seal skin soles are also significant due to their association with the first winter traverse of Mt Bogong. This item has good interpretive capacity due to its connection with the seal skin soles, skiis, boots that were used at the same time. It is also very rare and is the only one in our collection. Japara water bag has a square base and four upwright panels with cord handles. It can be folded flat. The bag has a zip closure. Originally the bag is a water bag used by campers, currently it is used as a container for a pair of seak skins soles, which are attached to skiis and used during skiing.sport, falls creek, ski, winter, snow, water, scouts, seal skins, camping bag

Looking northwest in the direction of Eltham to Greensborough. The car is a Ford Prefect A493A which was manufactured in Australia between 1949-1953. The vehicle is fitted with Victorian registration plates which appear to be PG-216. AA-NNN style registration plates were replaced in 1953 with AAA-NNN plates. Registration PG would be about 1952.Printbridges, railways, sherbourne road, montmorency, eltham

Market gardening was an integral part of the development of the area now known as Kingston. In this image there are two men standing beside a truck loaded with vegetables. Painted on the truck are the words South Rd, A & H Marriott, indicating these men are from the Marriott family. The truck appears to be a Republic Commercial Car by Republic Motor Truck Co, Michigan, c. 1916.The Marriott family arrived in Port Phillip in 1857. It wasn't until 1876 that the family purchased 30 acres with a four-roomed house in East Boundary Road, in the area then called East Brighton.Black and white image of two men standing in front of a truck fully loaded with vegetables intended for market. There are also two children standing in front of the truck.Handwritten in black ink on a round red sticker on the reverse: X18 Handwritten in red ink on reverse: 35%

Geelong Tramcar No. 18, freshly painted, in Corio Tce. with Strachan & Co's wool store in the background. The car has been converted for one man operation but retains the MESCo's double lineouts that were replaced by single yellow lines in the 1940s. It is likely that the photographs were taken to display the conversion in 1939. See also Item 9242.Black and white print on paper12-6 and GRS170/12/1/6 printed on reverse in pencil. No. 1 in a circle printed on the reverse in pen.geelong tramcar, geelong tramcar no. 18, strachan and co. wool store, geelong, tramcar one-man operator conversion

Geelong Tramcar No. 18, freshly painted, in Corio Tce. with Strachan & Co's wool store in the background. The car has been converted for one man operation but retains the MESCo's double lineouts that were replaced by single yellow lines in the 1940s. It is likely that the photographs were taken to display the conversion in 1939. See also Item 9230.Black and white print on paper.No. 1 inside a circle and 13-8 printed on the reverse in ink. GSR710/13/1/8 printed on the reverse in pencil.geelong tramcar no. 18, geelong tramcar conversion to one man operation, mesco lineouts

Rose Series postcard No. P 3942, Collins Street looking west, shows a view from Exhibition Street with several motor cars. A W2 class tram with route number boxes is in the far distance, and some pedestrians, including a lady in a white habit or uniform. The T&G building sports its original tower as built in 1929. Yields information about Collins St. mid to late 1930s.Postcard - printed real photograph with Rose Stereograph Co. name on the rear.trams, tramways, collins st, w2 class

Colour print of MMTB tram V class 214 at night. The tram began life as NMETL No. 13 in 1906, used as Freight Car 17, reconstructed back to V class 214 by the MMTB in 1978 and in 2006 repainted as NMETL 13. Date of photograph and photographer unknown. Could be from a postcard. This tram is on display at the Melbourne Tram Museum.Yields information about the tram that entered service in Melbourne in 1906.Colour print adhered to a black sheet, of MMTB Tram V class 214.trams, tramways, mmtb, v class, tram 214, nmetl

Photo shows the inbound tram stop pole on the Northwest corner of Sturt and Drummond Streets in Ballarat. Note the vertical "End Section" sign along with the usual "End of Section" and "Cars stop here" sign at this compulsory tram stop. Another stop can be see on the other side of Drummond St along with No. 14 on its way to the City. Yields information about the tram stop at the corner of Sturt and Drummond St and signage.Black and white Negative - 120 sizetram stops, tramways, sturt st, drummond st, end of section sign, tram stop, sign

1 - C1 3032 at Collins and King St. Note the Collins St over bridge and the tram stops at King St intersection. 2 - City Circle car 925 at corner of Spencer and Collins Sts 3 - C1 3024 westbound at corner of King and Collins St. 4 - W7 1021 (Route 12) in Collins StYields information about Collins Street services and the City Circle tram.Set of four colour Sides - white Kodak KodachromeSlide marked with date and details.tramways, trams, tram 3032, king street, spencer street, c1 class, tram 3024, tram 1021, route 12, tram 925, city circle, collins st

Colour prints showing two of the service cars running route 82 on the day of the closure of the Footscray local routes 10-2-1962: 1 - W5 750 (Moonee Ponds, route 82) at the Footscray terminus in Leeds St. 2 - VR 52 (Moonee Ponds, route 82) turning from Ballarat Road into Gordon St.Yields information about route 82 service cars on the day of the closure of the Footscray local routes. Set of two Colour print on Kodak Royal paper.trams, tramways, ballarat road, leeds st, footscray, w5 class, vr class, tram 52, tram 750

Photograph shows a line of trams at the corner of Bourke and Swanston Sts during the 1960s. L 105 is the rear car, showing a route number 4B. In the background are Jeffries, Swanston building, Leviathan, and Bradman's. Note the "No Centre Turn" sign above the route number box of 105. A Hawthorn Taxi trucks vehicle is on the right side of the photo.Yields information about Swanston St and the use of L class trams.Photograph - Black and whiteHas TMSV Sales stamp on rear.trams, l class, tram 105, route 4b, bourke st, swanston st

The photograph shows a Northcote cable tram set - grip car and trailer No. 3. The trailer is lettered - Clifton Hill - Northcote & Preston. The background has been whited out though possibly a conductor and the gripman can be seen. For the story of the Northcote line, see the Museum's article - Northcote: the on again, off again cable tramway in the references.Yields information about the Northcote cable trams before they were merged with the MMTB.Photograph, black and white, plain papertrams, tramways, cable tram, northcote, clifton hill, tram 3

Rose Series postcard No. P 981 titled "Bourke Street Melbourne Vic,". The photo looks east from Queen St. Several cable trams are in the view. There are signs for Osram lamps and valves, a car park, BGE, Film House, Commercial Bank and Thomas Evans Pty Ltd. See item 8076 for a similar image.Yields information about Bourke St c1940.Postcard - printed real photograph with Rose Stereograph Co. name on the rear.trams, tramways, cable trams, bourke st

Photo shows Flinders St Railway Station with a W class tram heading north, a G class on the east side of Swanston St and a four wheel car waiting on the west side. Very busy view with many pedestrians. Photographed at 1215, possibly a Saturday. See item 7218 for a enlarged version of the G class tram.Yields information about Flinders Station, mid to late 1920sBlack & White Photograph of a postcard made by the TMSV Sales.trams, tramways, flinders st, swanston st, w class, flinders st station, g class

Photograph shows W7 class 1002 in South Melbourne Depot yard with trolley pole raised, showing destination 'South Melbourne Depot 4' but without Run Number. At the rear of the tram, a low loader is working with several bystanders watching. The yard features stacks of wooden sleepers and rails with one wall of the car shed seen at right.Yields information about South Melbourne Depot Colour photographsouth melbourne depot, tram 1002, w7 class, depot yard, car shed

Photograph shows bogie car VR tram 29 waiting on UP track with trolley pole raised, destination 'St Kilda Rly', driver's cab vacant, all windows closed and all off-side weather blinds open. Port Philip Bay is in the background and a partially obscured Road Closed sign is at the left of the photo. Yields information of Railways tramcar 34 and St Kilda Railway Station Black and white photograph with note on rear.In red biro: 'VR "Ricketty Kate" 29 Brighton Beach Baths Terminus Jan 58 D Print'victorian railways, vr tram 34, st kilda railway station, fitzroy st, m&mtb

Provides a set of rules for horse drivers and conductors for the Ballarat Tramway Co. Note the spelling for the company name with a single "a" rather than the "aa" in Ballarat. Has two tear-out slips that were to be signed by either the conductor or the car driver. Gives 17 rules for drivers and 18 rules for conductors. Printed by F W Niven of Ballarat.Yields information about the rules that the conductors and drivers of the Ballarat horse trams operated under.Bound book, green gold block titled "Ballarat Tramway Company, Rules for Drivers and Conductors", 12 pages + two perforated sheets that could be torn out and signed. Was bound with a cotton thread and centre staples.secv, tramways, horse trams, ballaarat tramway company, rules

This album is a history of the Probus Club of Greenwood from its foundation in August 1994 to February 1996. Compiled by photographer Jean Watt and the Club's historian Inge Car, this volume includes lists of members, photographs of tours and leaflets collected on these tours, Club newsletters and annual reports. The Club is now known as Greenwood Community Social Club.Volume 1 of 17, depicting the history of this local club.Large photo album containing photographs with captions, itineraries, newsletters and leaflets. Housed in blue cotton bag, embroidered with title of album.Captions throughout.probus club of greenwood inc, greenwood probus club, watsonia, greenwood community social club

The photograph shows an unidentified Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board W class tram in Glenferrie Rd, possibly passing the tram depot. The tramcar is in the mid ground and Glenferrie Rd is lined with retail shop verandahs on the ground floor and the Embassy Theatre on the right. A large number of motor cars are seen along the roadway and adult pedestrians in summer clothes.Yields information about Glenferries Rd and M&MTBBlack and white photograph with writing on the rear.Printed Post Card by Rose Stereograph, Armadale glenferrie rd, melbourne and metropolitan tramways board, w class, retail shop verandahs, embassy theatre, tram depot