Correspondence relating to 'Winding Up' of AB - a. Letter from Treaurer AB to Commissioner of Taxation re being an income taxx exempt charity 25/5/2002; b Letter (26/4/2005) informing Dep. Commissioner of Taxation of cessation of AB 30/12/2001 ''in accordance with its Constitution''; c. Letter from AB to Manager, Bendigo Bank dated 29/11/2001 re winding up of AB account.bendigo, entertainment, arts bendigo inc.

BHS CollectionBlack and white photograph of mining landscape with poppet head, chimney and mining sheds (plus timber in stack) in foreground. Other mines in bare landscape on LHS background and housing on RHS background. Inscriptions: on front - 'The Hustler's Line of Reef from Redan Hill Hustler's Tribute Coy', 'Gt. Extended Hustler;s Claim', 'The Old Hustler's Claim, Gt. Hustlers (Late Latham & Watson's). On back - 'A Richardson, 29 Harrison Street, Bendigo'.mine, gold, hustlers reef mine, bendigo, mines and mining, mine, mines, mining, landscape, mining landscape, redan hill, poppet head, old hustlers, mining cottages

Photocopy - 15 pages - of "Appendix 2 - Depot Allocation of Trams", providing a set of 8 different MMTB depot tramcar fleet lists; Dated 24/3/1928 9/6/1934 30/6/1938 11/9/1948 29/1/1954 Jan. 1961 1/1/1977 28/10/1991 Similar in style to Don Story version from 1928 to 1991 - See Reg Item 840.trams, tramways, tramcars, mmtb, lists, depots, depot allocation

Photocopy of a letter (four A4 pages of an unknown number of pages), from the English Electric Co Ltd of Bradford dated 29/6/1938, addressed to the MMTB via Heap and Ryley London. Follows the visit of Mr Bell and Mr Spencer to the Bradford works. Has notes on Tramway Motors, controllers, notch regulators, multi-notch remote control, trolley slider heads and Bow collectors. Refers to enclosures but not found with the document.trams, tramways, english electric, motors, controllers, trolley poles, bow pantograph

Letter to Woorayl Shire from the City of Burnie thanking Shire for their best wishes on occasion of Proclamation of City of Burnie on 29 April 1988. Sealed with Common Seal and signed by two aldermen and Town Clerk. Dated 2 May 1988. Note: Item approved for deaccession August 2023. SGSC will now follow deaccession procedures as outlined in the Arts and Civic Memorabilia Collection Policy - https://www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/downloads/file/2763/arts_and_artefacts_collection_policy_c69.

The original certificate was issued to Colin McLaughlin by the Education Department, Victoria on 30.11.1945. Colin Francis McLaughlin was born January 5, 1933 in Orbost and died May 2, 2008 in Ringwood. He was the son of Phillip Henry McLaughlin and Ethel Olive Morgan . This copy was produced by John Phillips for the Orbost Secondary College Centenary Celebration 28/29 April 2102.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. This certificate is representative of its history.A laminated copy of a merit certificate presented to Colin McLaughlin No 443282 for Form !! Course of Study. 30.11.1945. It is signed by J.R.Jones (head teacher) and F. Whelpston (inspector of schools)On back : Produced by John Phillips for the Orbost Secondary College Centenary Celebration on Saturday 28th April and Sunday 29th April 2012certificate education orbost

The Warrnambool Shire commenced in 1863 and was 613 square miles in area and had a population of about 8000. It was divided into three ridings each with three councillors. Its industries were dairying, general farming, cheese and butter making, wool growing, sheep and cattle raising. There are more than 20 parishes and more than 29 small townships in the area The industries, agriculture, and people of the Warrnambool Shire provided substantial support to the city of Warrnambool over a long period of time. Three audio reel to reel tapes two in green and white boxesShire Centenary meeting 1963 tape1, 2, 3. depth. Two tapes stored in grey and white cardboard box, Irish recording tape, a product of AMPEXwarrnambool, warrnambool shire council, warrnambool shire centenary

Print document, dated 15/02/2004, about a boating accident at Lake Tyers on 29/12/1921, in which Alexander Finlay of Kumalong in Kooyong Road, and Darrell Ray died. They were later buried at Brighton Cemetery. Includes references. A photograph (248mm x 150mm) of the grave of Samuel Masters, taken by John Bergin, date unknown.brighton cemetery, finlay alexander kennedy, finlay eileen, moroney eileen, kooyong road, ray darrell dysart mackintosh, caulfield south, kumalong, brighton general cemetery, masters samuel

JAMES PATTERSON MCCALL No 6401 enlisted on 17.10.1916 in the 18th reinforcements 22nd Batt AIF age 29 years 1 month. Embarked for England 25.4.1917. Promoted L/Cpl 19.9.1917, awarded the Military Medal (MM) on 19.5.1918 at Ville-Sur-Ancre near ALBERT, WIA 6.8.1918 Gas Burns. Returned to unit 4.10.1918, KIA 4.10.1918.Memorial Scroll WWI from the King to Cpl James Patterson McCall MM, 22 Bn AIF. Shards of broken glass removed.“Cpl James Patterson McCall MM 22 Bn AIF”documents - memorials, military history, scroll

Sarah Price was the mother of Mary Partington. After Mary's death in 1900, Sarah came to Willis Vale to help with Mary and Will's small daughter Eva. Sarah stayed at Willis Vale until her death on 29/9/1927. Will married Annie Medhurst, who had four children. Sarah helped with the children while Annie helped Will on the farm.A pioneer Greensborough familyDigital copy of black and white photograph.sarah price, willis vale, william partington, eva partington

"Having a monthly circulation of 211,670 copies, the Victoria "School Paper" is claimed by the Education department to form the staple provision for leading matter in the elementary schools." -( December 29, 1920, The Argus). In Victoria the Education Department's School papers were compulsory reading for children until the 1930s when the Victorian readers became compulsory and the School Papers supplemented them. This item is an example of a school text book used in the very early 20th century. School textbooks reflect the development of education in Australia.From them we can understand what was taught and how children learned in Australian schools in earlier times.A collection /compilation of The School Paper magazines. It has a hard cloth cover with string binding. The front cover is brown and the spine has blue and white stripes. Pasted on the inside cover is a photo of a school group.education reader the-school-paper-1902

Advertising, Program and Poster for the first production by members of the City of Heidelberg Repertory Group. A Lady Mislaid was performed at the Eisteddfod Hall in Ivanhoe which on the poster was advertised as being at the rear of Hoyts picture theatre.The poster lists the cast, the tcket price, 3/- with Children Half Price. There were two performances, on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 February, 1952. Advertising for first production by members of the City of Heidelberg Repertory Group. A Lady Mislaid by Kenneth Horne, currently known as the Heidelberg Theatre Company Inc.Scan of original poster, white paper, black type, red highlights. Original Program, white paper, black type. Original newspaper review and article.gwenythe bode, joyce carthew, lois james, wally glassborow, mel morgan, len tonge, dorothy waller, eisteddfod hall, heidelberg theatre company inc., city of heidelberg repertory group, directed by reg rudd

The Widow and Children statue was installed in the Legacy Garden of Appreciation at the Shrine of Remembrance on 29 September 1988. Sculptured by Louis Laumen a Melbourne artist. It symbolises the work that Legacy does with the families of deceased veterans since 1923. The artwork is a sketch of the statue and does not have a artist name on it. Put on display on Level 1 reception when Legacy House was remodelled in 2020.A record that the statue is a symbol of Legacy's work with the families of veterans.Black and white sketch of the widow and children statue in a black and gold frame.statue, widow and children statue

Legacy organised many events and activities for Legacy widows to enjoy. This is a day trip to Mt Dandenong Hotel on 29 May 1992. Names of most of the ladies are known, including Molly Thiele, Dorothy, Iris, Charlotte, Beryl and Peggy. Newsletters of the time show the number and variety of activities that Legacy provided for the widows. Example attached is from January 1993.A record of activities for widows to attend and enjoy together.Colour photo x 2 of widows trip to Mount Dandenong Hotel in 1992.Handwritten on 01936.1 'Mt Dandenong Hotel Iris, X, Dorothy, Charlotte, Molly, Peggy, Beryl 28/5/1992' in blue pen. Handwritten on 01936.2 'Mt Dandenong Hotel 28/5/1992' in blue pen.widows, daytrip, activities, widows outing

The Lodge operating today as the Mt Franklin-St George Lodge No 12 (UGLV) was founded on 10 September 1857 as Mt Franklin Lodge of Hiram and Lodge of St. George on 29 April 1889. Lodge No12 continues to meet at the Daylesford Masonic Centre. These two Lodges merged in 1943. The Lodge celebrates a history of being one of the oldest Lodges in Victoria daylesford masonic lodge, mt franklin-st george lodge, mt franklin lodge of hiram, lodge of st. george

19th century Irish linen Christening gown and matching petticoat donated by Ruth Starkey. The Christening gown and petticoat have been in the family for around 170 years, passed to generations. They were sewn by Eliza Lynon in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. The following history has been provided by Ruth Starkey: • Town of origin is Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, sewn by Eliza Lynon. • The gown came to Australia with Eliza Lynon on the Red Jacket in 1855. • Eliza married Joseph Dobbyn (who was a member of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Regiment) at Christ Church Geelong. • They built a home at 150 McKillop St, Geelong. Melrose was the name of the home. • Family name Dobbyn - Joseph Wilson Dobbyn b. 07/04/1844 - d 12/10/1892 and Elizabeth (Eliza b 12/03/1847 d 26/08/1934) and passed to Eliza Jane, Jessie Victoria Mary and Lucy Ellen Dobbyn (sisters). • Lucy Ellen nee Dobbyn, married Herbert Blunt, Boatbuilder Geelong at Christ Church Geelong • All lived at 150 McKillop St Geelong over the years • Passed to Marjorie May Fearn born nee Blunt who was baptized at Christ Church Geelong 29/5/1915 • Passed to Ann Rosemary Starkey nee Fearn • Passed to Ruth Norelle Starkey (me) I was baptized at Christ Church Geelong. • I am the great- great granddaughter of Joseph and Eliza and the great granddaughter of Herbert and Lucy.Irish linen Christening gown with cutwork anglais. Cutwork along hem is scalloped with a central motif going down the centre front of the body. Bodice is embroidered in a v shape at the front and has cutwork embroidered sleeves. Skirt is attached to the bodice with cartridge pleats.irish linen, christening, religion, children's clothing, ceremonial, church, geelong, red jacket ship, enniskillen, christ church geelong, northern ireland

19th century Irish linen Christening gown and matching petticoat donated by Ruth Starkey. The Christening gown and petticoat have been in the family for around 170 years, passed to generations. They were sewn by Eliza Lynon in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. The following history has been provided by Ruth Starkey: • Town of origin is Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, sewn by Eliza Lynon. • The gown came to Australia with Eliza Lynon on the Red Jacket in 1855. • Eliza married Joseph Dobbyn (who was a member of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Regiment) at Christ Church Geelong. • They built a home at 150 McKillop St, Geelong. Melrose was the name of the home. • Family name Dobbyn - Joseph Wilson Dobbyn b. 07/04/1844 - d 12/10/1892 and Elizabeth (Eliza b 12/03/1847 d 26/08/1934) and passed to Eliza Jane, Jessie Victoria Mary and Lucy Ellen Dobbyn (sisters). • Lucy Ellen nee Dobbyn, married Herbert Blunt, Boatbuilder Geelong at Christ Church Geelong • All lived at 150 McKillop St Geelong over the years • Passed to Marjorie May Fearn born nee Blunt who was baptized at Christ Church Geelong 29/5/1915 • Passed to Ann Rosemary Starkey nee Fearn • Passed to Ruth Norelle Starkey (me) I was baptized at Christ Church Geelong. • I am the great- great granddaughter of Joseph and Eliza and the great granddaughter of Herbert and Lucy.White Irish linen bodiced petticoat with three sets of three pin tucks at hem. Skirt is attached with cartridge pleating and constructed with French seams. The bodice ties at the back with drawstrings at the neck and waist.irish linen, christening, religion, children's clothing, ceremonial, church, geelong, red jacket ship, enniskillen, christ church geelong, northern ireland

These are visitor’s cards for the Warrnambool Boomerang Club. This club was a social club that was formed some time in 1934 and continued until at least 1956. By the late 1930s there were nearly 200 members who took part in social activities that included balls, dances, dinners, Christmas parties and picnics. Profits from the Boomerang Club functions were donated to local charitable organizations. These are significant items as examples of visitor’s tickets from the Boomerang Club, an important social group in Warrnambool in the mid 20th century. These are two visitor’s cards for the Warrnambool Boomerang Club. One is a pink card and the other is cream-coloured. The printed material on both is enclosed in an ornamental edging and an ornamental pattern is included in the writingBoth cards: ‘Boomerang Social Club, Visitor’s Ticket, T.A.Tinker, President, E.E. Thurlow, Hon. Sec.’warrnambool boomerang club, warrnambool

Grace Ada Burrows (b. 1931 nee Ingram, died 3 Nov. 2009), daughter of Albert John Ingram and Lilian Grace Baldwin. She marrried Peter John Burrows in England in 1954 and they retuned to Australia Dec. 1954 and had four sons, John Douglas (1956), David Roger (1957), Andrew Peter (1960) and Mark Paul (1967)On back "We took this in front of your place a few weeks before David was born"pam thoonen (nee ingram) collection, grace ada burrows (nee ingram), mobile fruit supply, vw kombi, john douglas burrows

Could this flag have flown at the 1956 Olympics on Lake Wendouree ??? Probably not because the current tricolour came into use in 1946. The flag would have been made during the reign of King Victor Emmanual III. If you are able to assist with any information on this flag, including why it would be held in a Ballarat collection, please email is via the link on the lower right . The State flag, and state and naval ensign. It is a vertical tricolour of green, white, and red, defaced with the arms of Savoy and crown. This was the first national flag after the unification of Italy. Proportion 2:3 Adopted 1861 (proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy) Relinquished 1946 (birth of the Italian Republic) The flag without the crown woul the the design adopted by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia in 1848 The flag has been stitched in 5 places. Stamped in ink on edge 'November [1930] Torino" A note with the flag states: "Old Italian Flag - (Before independence in 1946) his flag was made in 1930 in Torino- Italy? This flag Shows the royal insignia displayed in the white area and was designed around the time of Napoleon (by him) in 1840s Red "Flags" book V D'Angri"flag, italy, italian flag, italian army flag, turin, torino, house of savoy, savoia, crown

David Conolly was lay reader at the Mission in 1956-57. He's photographed here with Harry Sanderson, self (D.Conolly), "Nobby Clark", Alec Grice and "Ms" Kirkland. According to a list of his ships' visits he maintained the Neleus was in port in August 1957. On his list of names, he had written: (T) Chris Alling, Jan Wilkinson, (P) Brian Mickham.David Conolly has a long standing connection with the Mission .Black and White Gloss print photograph of David Conolly with Crew of M.V. Nordic. The original photograph indicates the ship is actually M.V. Neleus.Hand written in black texta; David Conolly (Lay Reader) visiting Crew of M.V. Nordic Circa 1957 On the back of the original picture: Harry Sanderson, self (D.Conolly), "Nobby Clark", Alec Grice and "Ms" Kirkland on board M.V. "Neleus"lay reader, m.v. nordic, david conolly, ship crew, mission to seafarers, mission to seamen, melbourne, harry sanderson, nobby clark, alec grice, mr kirkland

Looking north east to the orchard at Blackjack. The Robinson family (left to right): James, Peter, Paul, Andrew and father Frank. The Blackjack property, house and acres of fruit orchards ran down to the Plenty River off Hume Street Greensborough and was the home of the Robinson family to late 1956. The photographs were taken as slides by Frank Robinson and digitised by his son James in 2015.Digital copy of colour photograph.blackjack, robinson family

This particular food mincer was manufactured by Enterprise Manufacturing Company. Located in Philadelphia, this company specialized in making hardware products. The company was especially known for its cherry pitters, apple peelers, and coffee mills. The company was founded in 1864 and was located on the corner of Dauphin, 3rd, and American Streets. Enterprise Manufacturing Co. remained in business until 1956 when it was bought by Silex Co.A mass produced early domestic item made for home food preparation this item's first patent design was approved in 1897. Manufactured by a well known company in the USA the "Enterprise Manufacturing Company” up until 1956. They specialised in making kitchen appliances of various types for domestic use and for export. Food mincers of the subject items design are still being produced today under the brand name of "Universal" made by Universal Trading Inc USA.Food mincer, metal, clamp on bench style, with rotating wooden handle. Inscriptions stamped on metal.Marked "Enterprise tinned Meat Chopper" "No. 10" "Enterprise MF'G Co. PHILA. USA" "PAT. JAN.30.83" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, mincer, food mincer, meat mincer, food preparation, kitchen utensil, domestic object, enterprise manufacturing company, kitchen appliance

The Blackburn High School opened on 1st February 1956 with 128 Form 1 pupils and a staff of 8. The 20-acre site on the corner of Williams and Springvale road was surrounded by orchards and pine trees. The trees inspired the school motto: ' Ad licem crescimus' - 'We are growing towards the light'. The first headmaster was Mr V. Percy. The school had a reputation for musical excellence.Coloured photograph of the Blackburn High School in Springfield Road facing north 2012blackburn high school, schools

Slide - set of 29 - 35mm - white plastic mount of various heritage trams at Bylands. .1 - Recovered A class ? body stored at Bylands .2 - front of 980 .3 - interior of 52? or 980? .4 - Recovered A class ? body stored at Bylands .5 - VR52 .6 - Ballarat Jelbart Roller .7 - Ex U class car as a stores delivery form. .8 - Interior .9 - Interior W3 or W2 .10 - W3 667 .11 - W3 667 .12 - W4 interior .13 - general view inside depot .14 - not used .15 - interior of 902 .16 - VR car .17 - ditto .18 - ditto interior .19 - ditto interior .20 - sign about not travelling on running boards .21 - VR car .22 - W2 .23 - interior of 844 .24 - interior of W1 427 .25 - ditto .26 - W1 427 .27 - interior of X1 467 .28 - X1 467 .29 - Grinder .30 - W3 667trams, tramways, bylands, w1 class, w2 class, w3 class, w4 class, w6 class, pcc, vr trams, jelbart, tram 667, tram 673, tram 980, tram 52, tram 902, tram 467, tram 427, tram 844

Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :250 Project : MELBOURNE OUTER SUBURBS PROJECT Run : 18 Frame : 94 Date : 02/1956 Film Type : B/W Camera : EAG9 Flying Height : 10000 Scale : 12000 Film Number : 1176 GDA2020 : 37°42'30"S, 145°09'44"E MGA2020 : 338008, 5824963 (55) Melways : 22 C3 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes