Walter Withers was a significant Australian landscape artist and a member of the Heidelberg School of Australian Impressionists. In 1903 Withers bought 'Southernwood', a house on 2½ acres (1 ha) at Eltham, to which he added a studio. Because of ill health, he lived during the week at his studio in Oxford Chambers, Melbourne, and on weekends and holidays with his family at Eltham until his death in 1914. The Eltham rail bridge is a unique and valuable historic relic of an earlier steam locomotive transport era in the Diamond Creek Valley and has long formed an important part of a magnificent Eltham landscape. When built in 1902 it was close to the terminus point of the Heidelberg-Eltham rail extension, on the route of the proposed Diamond Valley Railway that was then planned to continue much further up the valley towards Kinglake. This bridge is situated in attractive river-valley parkland amidst the tall and spreading manna gums and candlebarks of the Diamond Creek Valley. The Alistair Knox Park river-valley landscape, of which the timber trestle bridge is an important visual component, has been classified by the National Trust. Large manna gum and candlebark trees adorn the adjacent creek banks, and historic Shillinglaw Cottage is also part of this much-prized Eltham landscape. Eltham is home to a historic wooden railway trestle bridge. Mainly of timber-pier and timber-beam construction, but varied by a few longer steel-joists spans on timber piers at the main stream channel, this substantial bridge has almost two hundred metres of timber deck. Built in 1902, it is the only railway bridge of predominantly timber construction that is still in regular use as an integral part of Melbourne's metropolitan electric railway network and one of extremely few timber rail bridges in the State that still carry trains. Apart from its important continuing social function as a carrier of rail transport for the Hurstbridge line, this impressive bridge and its beautiful parkland environs contribute much to the character of Eltham township and that town's special reputation as an historic centre of environmental and conservation concerns. This section of the Diamond Creek Valley was the subject of a Walter Withers painting in the earliest years of the twentieth century and has strong historic links with our Heidelberg School of painters. Watercolour painting on paper of Eltham's Trestle Bridge in the middle of the day. A small section of the wooden bridge is located to the left of the painting. The focus is predominately on the wattle, manna gum and candlebark trees that is to the right of the bridge. The golden hues typically represent the australian sunlight and landscape. "W.W" in gothic script on the lower right side of the painting. Not dated. withers, eltham, trestle bridge, railway, watercolour

Reproduced ‘Pioneers & Painters’ pp 52-53. Picnickers enjoying a Sunday outing in the fields opposite Eltham Railway Station. Looking north towards Research along Main Road near the intersection with Dudley Street. Luther Hayley’s Bakery and General Store on left promoting refreshments and summer drinks. With the opening of the railway to Eltham in 1902, Melbourne residents would regularly enjoy a Sunday excursion journey on the train to Eltham for a day’s outing to the countryside. Possibly the annual State schools picnic held by the Board of Advice at Haley's Paddock near Eltham railway station on 11 March, 1904. Haley’s Paddock (now occupied by Eltham shopping centre) was capable of accommodating 10,000 people, with ample shade and hilly surroundings, an ideal place for any gathering. The main foreground is the site of the present day Eltham Village and Coles Shopping Centre. This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg Print 20 x 25 cmshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, main road, bakery, eltham village reserve, general store, haley's paddock, luther haley, luther haley general store, picnic, pioneers and painters, railway store, summer drinks

Contents: • Next meeting, The Nillumbik Arts and Heritage Trail; A workshop presented by Dennis Ward • February Meeting • Society Program 1999 • The Other Elthams • Annual General Meeting • Andrew Ross Museum • The Eltham Railway Bridge • Some Other Snippets • 1976 ‘Save the Trestle Bridge’ Poster 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 photocopied newsletter distributed to membersnewsletter, eltham district historical society, shire of eltham historical society

Society members preparing for the parade in Youth Road behind Eltham Railway Station, Eltham Festival, 11 November 1989. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float

Society members preparing for the parade in Youth Road behind Eltham Railway Station, Eltham Festival, 11 November 1989. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float

Society members preparing for the parade in Youth Road behind Eltham Railway Station, Eltham Festival, 11 November 1989. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float

Society members preparing for the parade in Youth Road behind Eltham Railway Station, Eltham Festival, 11 November 1989. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float

Society members preparing for the parade in Youth Road behind Eltham Railway Station, Eltham Festival, 11 November 1989. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.fay bridge collection, 895 main road, 2018-03-04, margaret jennings, nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves protest rally, save our reserves

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (8)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (15)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (16)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (10)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (13)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (8)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (4)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (19)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (3)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (3)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (3)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (9)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (3)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

Protest rally against Nillumbik Shire Councillors' proposal to sell off 17 community reserves. Held at the site of the former Shire of Eltham offices, at 895 Main Road, which were demolished in August 1996, followed by a march along Main Road finishing at the Eltham Railway Station car park at Luck Street. Estimated attendance was approximately 3,000.Born digital image (58)nillumbik shire council, parks, save community reserves, protest rally

View looking up from near the Eltham Railway Trestle Bridge over what was to become the Eltham Common at Shillinglaw Cottage in its new location prior to restoration. The former Gahan house, seen in the background was demolished in 1968 when the Main Road was duplicated in this section. The Eltham Common was taken over with the construction of the new Eltham Library which opened in 1994.Shillinglaw Cottage is itself historically, aesthetically and socially significant to the Shire of Nillumbik and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Database. This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book, "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, shillinglaw cottage, eltham shire office, gahan house, derril, gahan, george w. bell collection, houses, main road

Postcards scanned from the collection of Michael Aitken on loan to EDHS, 13 Feb 2018 Reproduced ‘Pioneers & Painters’ pp 52-53. Picnickers enjoying a Sunday outing in the fields opposite Eltham Railway Station. Looking north towards Research along Main Road near the intersection with Dudley Street. Luther Hayley’s Bakery and General Store on left promoting refreshments and summer drinks. With the opening of the railway to Eltham in 1902, Melbourne residents would regularly enjoy a Sunday excursion journey on the train to Eltham for a day’s outing to the countryside. Possibly the annual State schools picnic held by the Board of Advice at Haley's Paddock near Eltham railway station on 11 March, 1904. Haley’s Paddock (now occupied by Eltham shopping centre) was capable of accommodating 10,000 people, with ample shade and hilly surroundings, an ideal place for any gathering. The main foreground is the site of the present day Eltham Village and Coles Shopping Centre. 1904 'STATE SCHOOLS' PICNIC.', Record (Emerald Hill, Vic. : 1881 - 1954), 19 March, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165173087Digital file only Postcards scanned from the collection of Michael Aitken on loan to EDHS, 13 Feb 2018michael aitken collection, postcards, eltham, main road, bakery, eltham village reserve, general store, haley's paddock, luther haley, luther haley general store, picnic, pioneers and painters, railway store, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, summer drinks

This drill was used in the construction of the Eltham-Hurstbridge Railway extension in 1911. The device was placed over the wooden sleeper to drill holes for the iron spikes which held the rail down. Example of tools needed to build railway in early 20th Century in the Diamond Valley.Drill mechanism mounted on wooden frame. Mechanism tilts to enable holes to be drilled vertically (normal) or at angles up to 45 degrees using double hand cranks and gears. A rack can be engaged to raise and lower the mechanism and drill bit. Mechanism appears original. Base frame replaced recently. #drill, #railwayconstruction, #sleepers, #tilting, #handoperated

Shillinglaw Cottage was relocated in 1963 from its former site a few hundred metres up Main Road to make may for new shire offices built in 1964. It was situated near the Eltham Railway Trestle Bridge on a site that was developed into the Eltham Common. The new Eltham Town Park was constucted opposite on the other side of what was to become Panther Place. In 1993/94 the new Eltham Library was constructed on the Eltham Common. This picture, though out of focus still gives a reasonable impression of the cottage at the time.35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham common, shillinglaw cottage

Photocopy publication: Eltham Methodist Church One Hundred and Twenty-Five Years 1850-1975, Chris Allan editor. History of early Eltham, railway, schools, churches by A Bird. Map of Eltham with sites of significant buildings. Maps church site. Plan of church. Reminiscences by Edna Bill, Val Gangell, Don Brown. Notes by Ken Eckersall, Peter Gray, Ron Hubery. Newspaper article: Lessons in history, Diamond Valley News, 2 August 2000. Newspaper article: Parents stop teachers, Diamond Valley News, 2 August 2000, State-wide preschool teachers strike and Hurstbridge pre-school.main road, eltham, eltham methodist church, eltham uniting church, josiah holloway, hurstbridge pre-school, kinglake national park, churches

Contents: • Our Past, Present and Future by Jim Connor • A Peal of Bells by Mal Harrop • Eltham's First Policeman by Jim Allen • Eltham NSW - Railway Cottage by Richard Pinn • Our Christmas Function • Contacts for the Eltham District Historical Society 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 photocopied newsletter distributed to membersnewsletter, eltham district historical society, shire of eltham historical society

Shillinglaw Cottage on its original site (present day 895 Main Road) showing old picket fence c.1964. The cottage and land were purchased by the Shire of Eltham as the site for a new shire office building. The cottage was destined for demolition but members of the community concerned at losing one of the areas earlist buildings (built c.1859) initiated a fund-raising campaign to save the cottage. In 1964 the cottage was dis-assembled, all the bricks numbered and reassembled several hundred meters to the south on a site between the Gahan house and the Eltham Railway Trestle Bridge (present-day Panther Place), which bcame known as the Eltham Common.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, shillinglaw cottage, fences, george w. bell collection, houses, main road