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Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Document - Folder, Newman, Charles
... Andersons Station on the Yarra River... settler on the Yarra River at Templestowe after serving in India... settler on the Yarra River at Templestowe after serving in India ...British army officer Major Charles Newman was an early settler on the Yarra River at Templestowe after serving in India in the East India Company. Later be married and moved to Tasmania, farming at Black Brush near Pontville. In 1835 he came to the Port Phillip District and explored the Yarra River, returning with his family. David Crockett and Hazel Poulter researched, respectively, Charles Newman and the Templestowe area, identifying the Newman house, Pontville, on the Yarra banks. David Crockett also researched James and Anne Anderson. Contents Newspaper article: "David fills in the gaps", Diamond Valley News, 16 December 1986.29 October 1985, p62. Story of Charles Newman and of David Crockett and Hazel Poulter's researches. Letter, A (Tony) B Owen to Eltham Historical Society, 12 March 2018, enclosing information about Major Charles Newman. Email, Eltham District Historical Society to Tony Owen, acknowledging receipt of information about Major Charles Newman. Photocopy of pages from "Glimpses of Life in Victoria", pp38-43. Flier, "Heritage Events in Nillumbik, 2005". Photocopy of pages from unidentified volume, chapter headed "The Bush", and part chapter IV "Bushrangers". Warrandyte Historical Society publication "The Wurundjeri Clan of the Kulin". Whitehorse Manningham Heritage Network search results for "Andersons Station on the Yarra Yarra", "A brief history of Warrandyte", "The branch is broken", "Melbourne's historic home", "Land with infamous past", "Charles Newman's original grave at Monckton", and "Site of Major Newman's land". Photocopy of pages from "Templestowe - a folk history", Hazel Poulter, 1985,: "The squatter, Major Charles Newman".Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etccharles newman, british east india company, templestowe vic, warrandyte vic, david crockett, hazel poulter, james anderson, anne anderdon, a b owen, wurundjeri clan of the kulin, andersons station on the yarra river -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive (Sub-series) - Subject File, Kew Historical Society, GRIMES, Charles, 1962
... yarra river - history... the lower reaches of the Yarra River. The archival file contains... exploration - kew (vic) yarra river - history Charles Grimes ...Various partiesReference, Research, InformationSecondary Values (KHS Imposed Order)Charles Grimes was acting Surveyor-General of the Colony of New South Wales. He was the first European cartographer to map the lower reaches of the Yarra River. The reference file contains both research on the ‘exploration’ by Grimes as well as information on a re-enactment, sponsored by the Kew Historical Society in 1978, to mark the 175th year of his party’s arrival in the area of what is now Dight’s Falls. In the file is a 13-page handwritten document to be used as a script for a speech during the reenactment, which also includes details of the costumes to be worn. There are additional unpublished manuscripts in the file about Grimes and his ‘journey’ by Mr Chinner and Mavis Rolley. The file also includes newspaper articles/clippings as well as sundry published articles.charles grimes, commemorations - kew (vic.), european exploration - kew (vic), yarra river - historycharles grimes, commemorations - kew (vic.), european exploration - kew (vic), yarra river - history -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Bend of Islands, c.1926
... yarra river... at a bend of the Yarra River near Watsons Creek. It is located near... at a bend of the Yarra River near Watsons Creek. It is located near ...Bend of Islands is named after a group of small islands at a bend of the Yarra River near Watsons Creek. It is located near the town of Kangaroo Ground. The locationn was a long time favourite spot for locals and visitors to fish and swim in the river. This is one of a series of four photographs that depict a mainly young group of people recreating in the area, particularly enjoying horse riding. Possibly weekend campers. Photos taken about 1926-1928. In 1938 "The Argus" advertised weekend cabins at the Bend of Islands estate 5-are Yarra Yarra frontage in the Christmas Hills Gorge ideal for weekend cabins. "Bathing, fishing, canoeing, shooting may be enjoyed in ideal surroundings". This photo seems to be depicitng women waiting to use the shower near the river, or are they going swimming?Black and white photograph (reproduction)Bend of Islands, c.1926 bend of islands, camping, shower block, yarra river, swimming -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Flooding of the Yarra Valley at Kew East, 1974
... yarra river... of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916..., was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River ...Flooding of the Yarra Valley, including that section of the Yarra bordering Kew and Kew East in the north and west of the municipality, was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916, 1923 and 1934. The Municipality of Kew's response to these floods was to enact planning decisions restricting residential development in flood prone areas following the floods of 1916, 1921 and 1934. While floods continued after the development of the Upper Yarra Reservoir (construction 1948-57), the regularity and extent of these inundations diminished. During the nineteenth century, the land abutting the south side of the Yarra in Kew was devoted to dairy farming. In the twentieth century, before and after the construction of the Eastern Freeway, much of this low-lying area was used as golf courses and public parks.Late example of the capacity of the Yarra Valley at Kew to flood, even though drainage works and the Upper Yarra Reservoir had reduced their regularity.Original black and white print photograph of the low-lying land at East Kew under floodwater on 16 May 1974. The vantage point of the photographer is at Willsmere Road. The road itself is underwater.Annotation verso: "Willsmere Rd / Same as No.7 / 16 May 1974 11.15am"floods, yarra river, willsmere road -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Flooding of the Yarra Valley at Kew East, 1974
... yarra river... of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916..., was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River ...Flooding of the Yarra Valley, including that section of the Yarra bordering Kew and Kew East in the north and west of the municipality, was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916, 1923 and 1934. The Municipality of Kew's response to these floods was to enact planning decisions restricting residential development in flood prone areas following the floods of 1916, 1921 and 1934. While floods continued after the development of the Upper Yarra Reservoir (construction 1948-57), the regularity and extent of these inundations diminished. During the nineteenth century, the land abutting the south side of the Yarra in Kew was devoted to dairy farming. In the twentieth century, before and after the construction of the Eastern Freeway, much of this low-lying area was used as golf courses and public parks.Late example of the capacity of the Yarra Valley at Kew to flood, even though drainage works and the Upper Yarra Reservoir had reduced their regularity.Original black and white print photograph of the low-lying land at East Kew under floodwater on 16 May 1974. The photograph is of Hyde Park looking north-east.Annotation verso: "Hyde Park looking nth-east / Flood Level / 16 May 1974 11.15am / R.L. 46.61"floods, yarra river, hyde park -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Flooding of the Yarra Valley at Kew, 1974
... yarra river... of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916..., was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River ...Flooding of the Yarra Valley, including that section of the Yarra bordering Kew and Kew East in the north and west of the municipality, was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916, 1923 and 1934. The Municipality of Kew's response to these floods was to enact planning decisions restricting residential development in flood prone areas following the floods of 1916, 1921 and 1934. While floods continued after the development of the Upper Yarra Reservoir (construction 1948-57), the regularity and extent of these inundations diminished. During the nineteenth century, the land abutting the south side of the Yarra in Kew was devoted to dairy farming. In the twentieth century, before and after the construction of the Eastern Freeway, much of this low-lying area was used as golf courses and public parks.Late example of the capacity of the Yarra Valley at Kew to flood, even though drainage works and the Upper Yarra Reservoir had reduced their regularity.Original black and white print photograph of the low-lying land at East Kew under floodwater on 16 May 1974. The photograph is taken from 43 Kellett Grove.Annotation verso: "Kellett Gve No.43 / Flood Level / 16 May 1974 11.40am"floods, yarra river, kellett grove -
Marysville & District Historical Society
Flyer (item) - Information Flyer, Forests Commission, Victoria, Cumberland Scenic Reserve, 1918-1983
... yarra river..., a tributary of the Yarra River which provides water for the Melbourne... of Armstrong Creek, a tributary of the Yarra River which provides water ...An information flyer that was produced as a guide to the Cumberland Scenic Reserve by the Forests Commission of Victoria. The Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) was the main government authority responsible for management and protection of State forests in Victoria, Australia between 1918 and 1983. The Commission was responsible for ″forest policy, prevention and suppression of bushfires, issuing leases and licences, planting and thinning of forests, the development of plantations, reforestation, nurseries, forestry education, the development of commercial timber harvesting and marketing of produce, building and maintaining forest roads, provision of recreation facilities, protection of water, soils and wildlife, forest research and making recommendations on the acquisition or alienation of land for forest purposes″. The Cumberland Scenic Reserve is set in the heart of the mountain forests of Victoria and is 16km east of Marysville on the Cumberland Road. This reserve forms part of the catchment of Armstrong Creek, a tributary of the Yarra River which provides water for the Melbourne area. The reserve is a prime mountain ash area in which is set the old Cambarville sawmill and village site.An information flyer that was produced as a guide to the Cumberland Scenic Reserve by the Forests Commission of Victoria. 423Aforests commission victoria, cumberland scenic reserve, marysville, victoria, cambarville, the big tree, cora-lyn falls, barton's lookout, cumberland falls, sovereign view, armstrong creek, yarra river, mountain ash -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Print, Dight's Mill, Yarra Yarra
... yarra river... included 26 acres of land along the Yarra River for £481... acres of land along the Yarra River for £481 at the Port Phillip ..."In 1839 John Dight purchased Melbourne block 88, which included 26 acres of land along the Yarra River for £481 at the Port Phillip land sales held in Sydney. Dight was already in the business of flour milling and had a mill near Campbell Town in New South Wales called ‘Ceres’. In April 1840, he notified his customers through The Sydney Herald that he was leaving to go to Port Phillip. The first steam powered flour mill was constructed in Melbourne in 1841. Dight built his water powered mill, soon after, from bricks bought over from Tasmania. Dight used the river to power his mill: Water flowed along an inlet channel to turn an undershot water wheel. In order to regulate flow or to ensure flow for times when river levels were low, Dight constructed a rough stone weir. " (https://www.melbournewater.com.au/whatwedo/projectsaroundmelbourne/Documents/A_Short_History_of_Dights_Falls_Fact_Sheet.pdf) This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.An engraving of Dight's Mill on the Yarra. The image was originally published in Sands & Kenny, Melbourne & Sydney. Dorothy Rogers reproduced the print in 'A History of Kew' (1973). It faces page 8.Published by Sands & Kenny, Melbourne & Sydney, 1856dight's mill, dorothy rogers, dight's falls, yarra river, kew, john dight -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph, J F C Farquhar, Dight's Falls, 1891
... yarra river... the disastrous flooding of the Yarra River in July 1891, the greatest... where we live photographic books henry kellett yarra river ...At the beginning of the 1890s, the Kew businessman and Town Councillor, Henry Kellett, commissioned J.F.C. Farquhar to photograph scenes of Kew. These scenes included panoramas as well as pastoral scenes. The resulting set of twelve photographs was assembled in an album, Kew Where We Live, from which customers could select images for purchase.The preamble to the album describes that the photographs used the ‘argentic bromide’ process, now more commonly known as the gelatine silver process. This form of dry plate photography allowed for the negatives to be kept for weeks before processing, hence its value in landscape photography. The resulting images were considered to be finely grained and everlasting. Evidence of the success of Henry Kellett’s venture can be seen today, in that some of the photographs are held in national collections.It is believed that the Kew Historical Society’s copy of the Kellett album is unique and that the photographs in the book were the first copies taken from the original plates. It is the first and most important series of images produced about Kew. The individual images have proved essential in identifying buildings and places of heritage value in the district.Dight’s Falls in Studley Park is an artificial weir built on a natural rock bar across the Yarra. The weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the ‘Ceres’ flour mill, one of the earliest industrial sites in Melbourne. The falls were later to be named after the owner of this mill. In 1888, William Guilfoyle, Director of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens had called for fresh water to be piped from above the weir to the Botanical Gardens, using a pumping station on the Kew side of the Falls, a holding reservoir in Walmer Street and a series of pipes from there to the Gardens. This system was opened in May 1891. Farquhar’s photograph of the man-made weir obscures the industrial activity on both sides of the Falls and focusses solely on the river and the surrounding natural vegetation. The photograph probably predates the disastrous flooding of the Yarra River in July 1891, the greatest to have occurred in the Colony since the foundation of Melbourne.Dight's Fallskew illustrated, kew where we live, photographic books, henry kellett, yarra river -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Certificate, Town of Kew, Thomas Evan Rand : Roll of Honor of the Town of Kew, 1918
... yarra river...: the rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens at left, and boating on the Yarra... australian flying corps alexandra gardens wwi yarra river Thomas Evan ...Thomas Evan Rand was born at Hawthorn. He enlisted for service during World War One as an almost 20 year old engineering student, serving with the Australian Flying Corps.A commemorative certificate documenting the war service of Thomas Evan Rand of ‘Urangeline’, Barkers Road, Kew. Thomas Rand was an engineering student when he enrolled as a private in the Australian Army. He embarked on HMAT Orsova A67 on 16 March 1916. He was enlisted in the No 1 Squadron, Flying Corps. The formal certificate records that ‘ Thomas Evan Rand served Australia and the Empire in the Great War and in grateful recognition of his voluntary response to his Country’s Call his name is inscribed on the Roll of Honor of the Town of Kew’. The then Mayor and Town Clerk signed the certificate. [Kew did not become a ‘City’ until 1921]. The certificate highlights emblems and symbols of Australia and Great Britain, and includes the coats of arms of the allies in the war. The certificate is customised with two black and white photographs of Kew: the rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens at left, and boating on the Yarra River at right.Thomas Evan Rand served Australia and the Empire in the Great War and in grateful recognition of his voluntary response to his Country's Call his name is recorded on the Roll of Honor Town of Kew on behalf of the Mayor, Councillors and Burgesses. 1.8.18. E.P. Wynne [Mayor] H. Harrison [Town Clerk]roll of honor (kew), thomas evan rand, world war one, thomas rand, urangeline, kew, australian flying corps, alexandra gardens, wwi, yarra river -
Yarra Glen & District Historical Society
Sepia postcards, Railway Station Yarra Glen
... -ranges yarra glen river view yarra glen railway station railway ...Faded sepia photograph of the Yarra Glen Railway Station taken from a point south west of the buildings. In the centre of the photograph is the railway station and platform. To the right is a goods shed. In the background is 'River View'.On the back at the top "POST CARD". Below that is "FOR CORRESPONDENCE" to the left and "FOR ADDRESS ONLY" to the right. Centre right is a stamp "YARRA GLEN/Mrs. E. Smith/SYMONDS STREET/YARRA GLEN 3775"yarra glen, river view, yarra glen railway station, railway station, railway platform, goods shed -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, HMAS Yarra
... at the Moyne river wharf ship boat sea river Hmas yarra moyne river ...H.M.A.S. Yarra on goodwill visit to Port Fairy 1921A rare image of a war ship anchored at the Moyne river wharfBlack& White photographship, boat, sea, river, hmas yarra, moyne river -
Freemasons Victoria - The Lodge of Australia Felix No 1
Melbourne 1839
... Melbourne Viewed from the south bank of the Yarra River... from the south bank of the Yarra River Melbourne 1839 ...Painting of Melbourne at the time the Lodge held it's inaugural meeting on 23 December 1839 Melbourne Viewed from the south bank of the Yarra RiverThe Lamb in inn the painting is the first meeting place of the Lodge of Australia Felix on 23 December 1839 felix, australi felix, uglv -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph, J F C Farquhar, The Yarra in Hyde Park, 1891
... yarra river... was cut off from the Yarra River by the construction... where we live photographic books henry kellett yarra river ...At the beginning of the 1890s, the Kew businessman and Town Councillor, Henry Kellett, commissioned J.F.C. Farquhar to photograph scenes of Kew. These scenes included panoramas as well as pastoral scenes. The resulting set of twelve photographs was assembled in an album, Kew Where We Live, from which customers could select images for purchase.The preamble to the album describes that the photographs used the ‘argentic bromide’ process, now more commonly known as the gelatine silver process. This form of dry plate photography allowed for the negatives to be kept for weeks before processing, hence its value in landscape photography. The resulting images were considered to be finely grained and everlasting. Evidence of the success of Henry Kellett’s venture can be seen today, in that some of the photographs are held in national collections.It is believed that the Kew Historical Society’s copy of the Kellett album is unique and that the photographs in the book were the first copies taken from the original plates. It is the first and most important series of images produced about Kew. The individual images have proved essential in identifying buildings and places of heritage value in the district.Hyde Park is now a small recreation reserve bordered by Willsmere and Kilby Roads and White Avenue. In 1982, Hyde Park was cut off from the Yarra River by the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The building of the latter was to transform the natural landscape, including the Yarra, as well as Hyde Park. The construction of the Freeway makes it difficult to view the scene with the photographer’s eye. Today’s Hyde Park is located on land purchased in 1847 by John Cowell, and in 1851 Catherine Cowell, yet the scene selected by the photographer may well have been located on farmland owned by the Wills family. Farquhar’s point-of-view emphasises both the pastoral and recreational elements of the scene: the grazing cows, three boys, and in the distance two figures, seated on the bank with a parasol. By 1891, an environmental consequence of human activity, including farming, was deforestation, leading to the erosion of the south bank of the Yarra. In contrast, the land on the Alphington side of the river in 1891 included remnant bushland.The Yarra in Hyde Parkkew illustrated, kew where we live, photographic books, henry kellett, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Liz Pidgeon, Heritage Excursion; Eltham Lower Park Walk and Talk, 1 July 2017, 1 July 2017
... yarra river... location at the junction of the Diamond Creek and the Yarra River... location at the junction of the Diamond Creek and the Yarra River ...Newsletter No., 234, June 2017 Heritage Excursion - Saturday 1st July - Eltham Lower Park - Walk and Talk Eltham Lower Park has played an important part in the history of our area since the early days of European settlement when it was used by local residents as an informal racecourse. Prior to that its location at the junction of the Diamond Creek and the Yarra River made it an important meeting place for the Wurundjeri people. The park combines formal elements and sporting facilities with remnant bushland that is of environmental significance. It is home to sporting and horse riding clubs, popular play spaces and the Diamond Valley Miniature Railway, which attracts large numbers of visitors. The park will be the venue for our July excursion which will comprise a walk of about 3.5 km around the park and adjacent areas. Along the way we will discuss the history and natural history of the area. The path along the creek and the river provides a pleasant and scenic walk. This walk on Saturday 1st July is about 3.5 km in length and will take 2 to 2.5 hours. It will start at 2pm at the Main Road car park at the front of the park. (Melway ref 21 H 10). Born Digitalheritage excursion, activities, eltham district historical society, eltham lower park, yarra river, reflection -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Liz Pidgeon, Heritage Excursion; Eltham Lower Park Walk and Talk, 1 July 2017, 1 July 2017
... yarra river... location at the junction of the Diamond Creek and the Yarra River... location at the junction of the Diamond Creek and the Yarra River ...Newsletter No., 234, June 2017 Heritage Excursion - Saturday 1st July - Eltham Lower Park - Walk and Talk Eltham Lower Park has played an important part in the history of our area since the early days of European settlement when it was used by local residents as an informal racecourse. Prior to that its location at the junction of the Diamond Creek and the Yarra River made it an important meeting place for the Wurundjeri people. The park combines formal elements and sporting facilities with remnant bushland that is of environmental significance. It is home to sporting and horse riding clubs, popular play spaces and the Diamond Valley Miniature Railway, which attracts large numbers of visitors. The park will be the venue for our July excursion which will comprise a walk of about 3.5 km around the park and adjacent areas. Along the way we will discuss the history and natural history of the area. The path along the creek and the river provides a pleasant and scenic walk. This walk on Saturday 1st July is about 3.5 km in length and will take 2 to 2.5 hours. It will start at 2pm at the Main Road car park at the front of the park. (Melway ref 21 H 10). Born Digitalheritage excursion, activities, eltham district historical society, eltham lower park, yarra river, reflection -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Motor launch at Princess Walk, circa 1953
... yarra river... and Yarra Rivers in Melbourne were a major tourist attraction... Commercially-operated boat tours on the Maribyrnong and Yarra Rivers ...Commercially-operated boat tours on the Maribyrnong and Yarra Rivers in Melbourne were a major tourist attraction, especially in the first half of the twentieth century. A number of companies ran ferries and motor-launches to locations such as the Riverview Tea Gardens (1909-1947) at Ascot Vale, and the Hawthorn Tea Gardens on the corner of Power Street and Riversdale Road. One of the families which ran these services was Hicks Bros, which from circa 1921 operated a ferry service from Princess Walk (Melbourne) to Studley Park. This is one of a series of 17 black and white undated photographic proofs donated to the Kew Historical Society in 2013 by the Queenscliffe Historical Museum. The series includes images of individuals, tea rooms, ferries, motor launches, ocean liners and tugs. In 1953, the owner of Hicks Bros was involved in an inquest into the drowning of a Ukrainian tourist on a ferry operated by Melbourne Ferries, a rival firm. In published reports of the inquest, reference is made to a number of photographs taken by Robert Irvine Atchison, part-owner of Hicks Bros. As the reverse of the photographs indicates copyright is held by the State of Victoria, the collection may have derived from that year.Historically significant and rare image of one of the major tour boat services which operated on the Yarra River.Faded black and white photographic positive proof of a moto launch (tourist ferry) at Princess Walk. The undated photographic positive was probably taken in the 1950s.tugboats, melbourne, motor launches, ferries, hawthorn tea rooms, hicks bros launches, princess walk, yarra river, tourism, transport -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Plan - Subdivision Plan, Riversdale Estate, 1939
... College and the River Yarra and The Boulevard.... Station, Scotch College and the River Yarra and The Boulevard ...The Kew Historical Society collection includes almost 100 subdivision plans pertaining to suburbs of the City of Melbourne. Most of these are of Kew, Kew East or Studley Park, although a smaller number are plans of Camberwell, Deepdene, Balwyn and Hawthorn. It is believed that the majority of the plans were gifted to the Society by persons connected with the real estate firm - J. R. Mathers and McMillan, 136 Cotham Road, Kew. The Plans in the collection are rarely in pristine form, being working plans on which the agent would write notes and record lots sold and the prices of these. The subdivision plans are historically significant examples of the growth of urban Melbourne from the beginning of the 20th Century up until the 1980s. A number of the plans are double-sided and often include a photograph on the reverse. A number of the latter are by noted photographers such as J.E. Barnes.The Riversdale Estate in Hawthorn created a subdivision of 20 allotments bordering on Riversdale Road and Riversdale Court (which was created by the subdivision). The Locality Plan at right lists the major public buildings in the area: Burnely Horticultural Gardens, Hawthorn Tram Depot and Railway Station, Scotch College and the River Yarra and The Boulevard.subdivision plans - hawthorn, riversdale estate -
University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus Archives
Slide, Alan L. Mitchell, 1934
... Floods in Orchard 1934 from Yarra River.... orchard Floods in Orchard 1934 from Yarra River. Slide Alan L ...Floods in Orchard 1934 from Yarra River.alan l. mitchell, burnley gardens, floods, orchard -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Postcard, Victoria Street Bridge, Collingwood, 1905-1913
... postcards -- Yarra River... bridge over the Yarra River completed in 1884 to a design... over the Yarra River completed in 1884 to a design by Fraser ...Victoria Bridge is a riveted and welded steel Warren truss bridge over the Yarra River completed in 1884 to a design by Fraser & Chase following a controversial design competition held in 1880. Funds for the bridge's construction were provided by the councils of Collingwood, Hawthorn, Kew and Richmond. The contract was awarded to Mr P. Platt. Charles Rowand was officially appointed Supervising Engineer in 1883. The winning design was based on the theoretical work of William Charles Kernot (1845-1909) who campaigned for economy in public works design and the application of scientific principles in engineering. ... The bridge was widened in 1890 by the addition of a third line of truss on new piers on the up stream side to carry horse trams. Work commenced in 1914 to convert the horse tramway to an electric tramway by the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust, part of the Trust's extension of its tramway into the eastern suburbs between 1913-18. In 1915 the bridge was further strengthened to accommodate the extra weight of electric trams and widened by the addition of two six feet cantilever footpaths. During this period the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust erected two ornamental gantries over the roadway to support overhead wires for the electric tramway. Further widening and reconditioning of the bridge took place in 1933, including the addition of four new welded trusses, two intermediate and two on the outside. The latter were supported on new cantilevered truss cross beams attached to the top of the piers. (Source: Heritage Victoria)Early and rare postcard of the Victoria Street Bridge linking Victoria Street and Barkers Road.Polychrome postcard of the Victoria Street Bridge which links Richmond and Abbotsford with Kew and Hawthorn.View from Harrison Cres embankment / former Xavier College boatshed on site of tree in foreground. / Chimney left corner - Wool Scoring Mils in Victoria St. / On horizon - Studley Villa, Studley House circa 1880s, Studley Hall / Chinese gardens to be seen behind three set of columns / M.J. Slatterypostcards -- yarra river, postcards -- bridges. -- greater melbourne (vic.), victoria street bridge -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Digital Image, Kevin O'Reilly, series of three images of the Hawthorn Bridge over the Yarra, c1930, c1930's
... Yarra River... south along River St towards Bridge Road, with the Yarra River... Trams tramways Hawthorn Yarra River Burnley Richmond Hawthorn ...Image from CD (Compact Diskette for use in computers) - see Reg Item 135. A series of three images of the Hawthorn Bridge over the Yarra, c1930, during the era with problems with the bridge. See separate article for more details. Richmond 6, Richmond, Richmond 3 on the CD as original files. .1 - Looking from the south west, at the Hawthorn bridge with the temporary wooden bridge being constructed on the south side. Has the cable tram depot in the photo and part of the Burnley racing course. Temporary track on the north side of the steel bridge and crossings can be seen. .2 - Looking along Bridge Road to the east with Hawthorn Bridge in the middle of the photograph. Shows the industrial and residential areas, Hawthorn Railway Station and part of the Burnley Race course, the cable tram depot building. W class tram in Church St Hawthorn and W class tram crossing the bridge on the north side temporary track. Note the cable tram used as a shelter on the north east corner of the bridge. .3 - Looking south along River St towards Bridge Road, with the Yarra River and Hawthorn Bridge on the left side of the photograph. Shows the industry in the area at the time, wool and skin Merchants, north side of the cable depot, housing and the outlook to the river!trams, tramways, hawthorn, yarra river, burnley, richmond, hawthorn bridge -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Postcard - Photograph postcard, The Rapids, Devils' Bank, Eltham, 1907
... Yarra River.... It is probably the section along the Yarra River where there are a series.... It is probably the section along the Yarra River where there are a series ...Devils' Bank was situated some two miles from Eltham. It is probably the section along the Yarra River where there are a series of rapids stretching past Petty's Orchard to Griffiths Park and the confluence with the Diamond Creek. Only three properties existed in this area in 1945 aerial maps, Worlingworth and the adjoining property on the bank of the Diamond Creek in Banoon Road and No. 2 Kent Hughes Road. Devils' Bank. The death of Ann Edwards, 77 years, an old resident of the district was reported who lived in an old hut at Devil's Bank who had been found dead in her bed on 13 May 1897 FOUND DEAD IN BED. (1897, May 28). Evelyn Observer, and South and East Bourke Record (Vic. : 1882 - 1902), p. 2 (MORNING.). Retrieved September 3, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60696388 A very similar view was published in the Leader paper in January 1908 - Devil's Bank Falls, Eltham VIEWS ON THE UPPER YARRA. (1908, January 11). Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918, 1935), p. 28. Retrieved September 3, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198106006 On the reverse of the postcard it appears to be postmarked Eltham, Dec 27, 1907 addressed to Mrs Christie Millmoss of Bull Street, Bendigo "Arrived here 10.45 am - ? ? raining cause of ? - ? till evenings it is lovely - but quite fresh after the (rain - crossed out) great ? - I may assume it all go well"Digital file only Postcards scanned from the collection of Michael Aitken on loan to EDHS, 2 Sep. 2022michael aitken collection, devils bank, eltham, postcards, rapids, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Film - Video (VHS), IMP Productions, The Shire of Etham - The Evergreen Shire (Series 69, Item 4), c.1985
... yarra river... with a population of around 40,000. Scenes include Yarra River, rural... with a population of around 40,000. Scenes include Yarra River, rural ...Shire of Eltham Archives: Series 69, Item 4 This video was produced for the Shire of Eltham by IMP Productions and provides a description of the shire, 277 square km on a north/northeast axis, some 25 km northeast of the centre of Melbourne with a population of around 40,000. Scenes include Yarra River, rural settings and urban settings, housing estates, Shillinglaw Cottage, Pigeon Bank at Kangaroo Ground, the Eltham Railway Trestle Bridge with reference to the fight by locals in the 1970s to save it from replacement, Montsalvat, mudbrick making and its use as a building material, the use of mudbrick in the Eltham Community Centre blending harmoniously with the environment. Emphasises people living in the area due to the qualities of life provided. Also the Living and Learning Centre, St Andrews Markets and other local markets, the Eltham Leisure Centre, cricket and horse riding at Eltham Lower Park, the Infant Welfare Centre (part of the Eltham War Memorial), how residents are mindful of protecting their historical heritage, the CBA bank and Allwood House at Hurstbridge, Tracey Naughton about the Eltham "As we are" Community Banner project and the “River of Life banner”, the Parks and Gardens office in the former Police Residence building (now the Local History Centre), Alistair Knox Park, road planning and types of roads, tree canopy, Peck's Dam, green carparks, road drainage, Gordon Ford's garden and natural landscapes, and Were Street shops in Montmorency. Planning for shopping facilities and carparks with a population of 40,000 growing to 55,000, Arthur Street Mall and carpark, local village feel in the shopping centre. Councillors and Council staff featured include Mary Grant, Bob Manuell, Rodney Roschellor, John Cohen, Alan Baker. Also scenes of Commercial Place, Diamond Valley Railway, Eltham Galley, Riverclay and canoeing on the Yarra intermingled with images of the shire from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph collection.VHS Video cassette Converted to MP4 file format 00:11:56; 79MBshire of eltham, video recording, shire of eltham archives, alistair knox park, allwood house, arthur street, arthur street mall, bob manuell, canoeing, carparks, cba bank, commercial place, council staff, councillors, cr. mary grant, cricket, diamond valley railway, eltham community banner project, eltham community centre, eltham galley, eltham leisure centre, eltham living and learning centre, eltham lower park, eltham railway trestle bridge, eltham war memorial, gordon ford garden, horse riding, housing estates, hurstbridge, infant welfare centre, john cohen, kangaroo ground, local history centre, montmorency, montsalvat, mudbrick, parks and gardens, peck's dam, pigeon bank, police residence, river of life banner, riverclay, road drainage, road planning, rodney roschellor, shillinglaw cottage, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, st andrews market, tracey naughton, tree canopy, were street, yarra river, alan baker -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Illustration, c1916
... of the river Yarra, Flinders St railway yard, the viaduct, the swing... reproduced in a magazine of the river Yarra, Flinders St railway yard ...Illustration from a photograph reproduced in a magazine of the river Yarra, Flinders St railway yard, the viaduct, the swing basin, the wharves and Queens Bridge. Has a number of cable cars and trains in the view. Taken prior to the construction of the second or duplicate viaduct which was completed during 1915. Construction of the second viaduct on the south side of the original can be seen.in ink in bottom right hand comer "By 1916"trams, tramways, flinders st, railways, shipping, cable trams -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph, J E & B L Rogers, 'Swinton', Swinton Avenue, c.1960
... the Yarra River.... the Yarra River. 'Swinton', Swinton Avenue Photograph Photograph J E ...'The land on which 'Swinton'was later built was first purchased by John Bakewell in 1851 and later sold to Edmund Laskey Splatt in 1858. Splatt was a member of the first provisional committee of the National Bank of Australia in Melbourne and built the first house on the land naming it 'Laskey Villa'. By 1863 the house was occupied by Herbert Henty. The Johnson family connection with the property began with the marriage in 1858 of Annabella Johnson to David Syme, owner of the Áge' newspaper and owner of the adjacent property 'Blytheswood'. Annabella's brother, Francis Johnson, bought the villa in 1876 and renamed it 'Swinton' after his birthplace in Yorkshire. The property was later owned by the artistic Colquhoun family. The house is one of the earliest examples of the Italianate style in Victoria - the outstanding element being the tower with its cantilevered walkway and heavily bracketed pryamidal tower.' Source: Victorian Heritage RegisterThis work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical SocietySwinton in Kew and its tower. This side of the house faces the Yarra River.swinton, laskey villa, swinton avenue, kew, dorothy rogers -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Film - Video (VHS), Nillumbik Shire Council, The Nillumbik Story, 1996
... Yarra River... the district to its confluence with the Yarra River at Eltham at Eltham... the district to its confluence with the Yarra River at Eltham at Eltham ...PART 1 – NILLUMBIK (00:00-07:17) Opening features various scenes around Nillumbik Shire. For 40,000 years Nillumbik was the home of the Wurundjeri people. Robert Hoddle gave the district its name. Jock Ryan, then president of Nillumbik Historical Society discusses the names Nillumbik and Diamond Creek. In the late 1830s white occupation began with gold found in Warrandyte in 1851 and 12 years later at Diamond Creek -the Diamond Reef which led to the Caledonian gold rush. Jock Ryan discusses the Diamond Creek mine, which was thriving until it burnt out in 1915. Large numbers of workmen moved into area in late 1870s to construct the Maroondah Aqueduct. With growing population of Melbourne, the nearby Yan Yean system had severely disrupted the flow of the Plenty River, forcing the closure of three flour mills there. The aqueduct came to the rescue carrying water 66km from Healesville to Preston. When the Diamond Creek gold mine burnt down the local economy suffered but fruit growing industry had already been established and Diamond Creek became a thriving fruit growing centre. Interview with Jack Powell, a long-time fruiterer at St Andrews market, his family had lived in the area for a hundred years, 3 to 4 generations, “a lot of hard work”. By the time the railway arrived fruit growing was no longer competitive. The railway brought the city closer and day trippers. The Green Wedge separates the shire from the more densely developed neighbours such as Whittlesea, Doncaster, Templestowe, Bulleen and Greensborough. Population at the time (1996) was 19,000 but links to the past remain strong. Mudbrick houses along the Heritage Trail The saving of Shillinglaw Cottage from demolition in 1963 and relocation brick by brick. PART 2 – ENVIRONMENT (07:18-14:44) Peter Brock (with Bev Brock in background) at St Andrews market discusses his childhood growing up in the district and the environment and the values it instilled upon him and his own family. The Brocks have been in the district since the 1860s. Nillumbik Shire responsible for managing three catchment areas; Diamond Creek, Arthurs Creek and Watsons Creek. Follows the course of the Diamond Creek commencing in Kinglake through the district to its confluence with the Yarra River at Eltham at Eltham Lower Park. Highlights Eltham Lower Park community revegetation program and the newly constructed (1996) viewing platform built of new and recycled timbers at the confluence of the Diamond Creek and Yarra River. Also featured are outdoor recreation on the river and at Eltham Lower Park including the Diamond Valley miniature railway. Sugarloaf reservoir and recreational activities and fishing. Aerial view of Memorial Park and Shire of Eltham War Memorial tower at Garden Hill, Kangaroo Ground. Significant tourism opportunities for the shire with 3 million potential day-trippers in metropolitan Melbourne. Council and community working together to find a way to promote the shires natural and artistic assets. At Arthurs Creek, the Brock family and neighbours working together to take care of their waterway. Peter Brock’s uncle, Sandy Brock talks about environmental management and the Arthurs Creek Landcare group and actions to eradicate blackberry problem. Having previously planted Cypress rows they are replacing them with indigenous species to improve the water supply, keeping cattle out of the creek bed to improve the quality downstream flowing into the Yarra. Eltham East Primary School Band playing “All things bright and beautiful” merges into scenes of the bushland sanctuary set aside by the school in 1980 with unidentified teacher discusses the sanctuary and their education program and school children’s comments. Plight of a family of Wedgetail eagles nesting in the path of a developer’s bulldozer at North Warrandyte and actions to save their nesting areas. PART 3 – ARTS (14:45-22:00) Arts and Jazz festival at Montsalvat featuring interviews with Sigmund Jorgensen discussing Montsalvat and its principles. Also Matcham Skipper. Clifton Pugh’s funeral at Montsalvat and his legacy at Dunmoochin near Cottlesbridge with artists in residence, at the time, Chicago artist Charles Reddington who discusses the benefits of the experience. An unidentified female artist also talks about the program and why people are drawn to the area. Unidentified man on street talking about the amount of talent in the area, artists, poets, musicians, authors. Artist Ming Mackay (1918-2009) interviewed talking about the people she mixes with on “the Hill”. Works of local artists are displayed Eltham Library Community Gallery and Wiregrass gallery with a new coffee shop at the Wiregrass making it an even more popular destination. Music at St Andrews Hotel (may be a little bit country) and the Saturday market where likely to hear anything. Sellers and patrons at the market asked about what attracts them to the market and where they came from. Scenes of poets/authors giving readings. CREDITS Music by John Greenfield from the CD Sweet Rain “The Snow Tree”, Uncle Music UNC 2001 Cameras - David Mirabella and Peter Farragher Editor – Olwyn Jones Written and Produced by Jason Cameron A Jason Cameron Proction for Nillumbik ShireProvides a record of the relatively newly created Shire of Nillumbik at the time and the features and attactions of the shire in its people arts, culture and environmentVHS Cassette (two copies) Converted to MP4 file format 0:22:00, 1.60GBvideo recording, arthurs creek, arthurs creek landcare group, artists, artists in residence, arts, arts festival, authors, blackberry, brock family, bulldozer, bulleen, bushland sanctuary, caledonian gold rush, charles reddington, clifton pugh, cottlesbridge, cypress rows, developer, diamond creek, diamond creek mine, diamond reef, diamond valley miniature railway, doncaster, dunmoochin, education program, eeps, eltham, eltham east primary school, eltham east primary school band, eltham library community gallery, eltham lower park, environment, fishing, flour mill, fruit growing, fruiterer, garden hill, gold mining, green wedge, greensborough, heritage trail, hurstbridge railway line, jazz festival, jock ryan, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground tower, kinglake, maroondah aqueduct, matcham skipper, memorial park, ming mackay (1918-2009), montsalvat, mudbrick houses, music, musicians, nesting area, nillumbik historical society, nillumbik shire, north warrandyte, old timer, orchards, peter brock, plenty river, poets, population, recreation, recreational activities, revegetation, robert hoddle, sandy brock, shillinglaw cottage, shire of eltham war memorial, sigmund jorgensen, st andrews hotel, st andrews market, sugarloaf reservoir, templestowe, the hill, tourism, viewing platform, warrandyte, water catchment area, watsons creek, wedgetail eagle, whittlesea, wiregrass gallery, wurundjeri, yarra river, jack powell -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Print - Reproduction, Petition, The Photography Department (Jeremy Dillon), Captains' Petition, 2016
... yarra river...' petition to build a Central Institute on the Yarra river...' petition to build a Central Institute on the Yarra river ...This is a reproduction of the original 1897 Captains' petition to build a Central Institute on the Yarra river. "To the Executive Committee of the Victorian Seamen's Mission, Melbourne. "Ladies and Gentleman, "We, the undersigned captains of several ships now lying at the Melbourne wharves think it most desirable that the Victorian Seamen's Mission, being the mission that has for so many years shown a most part their interest in the spiritual, moral, and social well-being of the seamen of all nationalities, shall him on the banks of the Yarra an institute such as that at Port Melbourne, where sailors of every grade could profitably and pleasantly spend their evenings. At almost every other seaport in the world such institutions are being provided for seamen, and we are satisfied from our opinion of the Melbourne public that the matter needs only to be prominently brought under their notice to be accomplished. We are confident that the good work of the mission is being hampered by its not having such a place near the shipping at the Melbourne wharves. Our crews are at present placed at a great dis advantage through not having an institute more convenient to the scene of their labours than that at Port Melbourne, which, on a very wet or a very hot, is not easily reached. If a site could be obtained immediately above the Gasworks but on the other side of Flinders street extension, that is to say, on the lower part of the land on which the Harbour Trust offices are built, it would be most convenient for the shipping on both the north and south side of the river. Trusting that it may be possible to do some thing to meet this long felt want, We suscribe ourselves, Yours respectfully, Geo.H Steven, master ship Dharwar; Thos. Curd, master ship Narcissus; James Horne, master ship Loch Garry; T.Tait, master ship Loch Ryan; T. Nilsen, master ship Hebe; G. Ch Christian, master ship Anna; R.E. Peasley, master ship Seminole; Wm. Martin, master ship Loch Ness; T.C. Martin, master ship Loch Tay; W.H. Bennett, master ship Loch Vennachar; J. Raglan Brodie, master s.s. Warrnambool; James E. Coles, master ship Mermerus; J. H. Walker, master ship Hinemoa; R.J. Johns, master ship Ariel; D. Gorchem (sic. Gerckens), master ship Matador; H. Petersen, master ship Nesaia; Wm. J. Reid, master s.s. Star of New Zealand; A. F. Svhanstrom, master ship Hermes; Alex. Smith, master ship Sophocles; W. Y. Bunn, master ship Carmanian; William Anderson, master ship Loch Katrine."Framed and mounted reproduction of Captains' petitionpetition, seamen's mission, yarra river, captains, victoria, melbourne, ships, australia-wharf, signatures, 717-flinders-street-docklands, maritime welfare services, mission to seafarers, mission to seamen, mermerus, captain coles, sir john coode, loch line, loch ness, loch gary, loch ryan, ss warrnambool, loch tay, loch vennachar, matador, nesaia, d. gerckens, h. petersen, a.f. svhanstrom, hermes, ariel, loch katrine, william anderson, dharwar, narcissus, hebe, anna, hinemoa, sophocles, carmanian, early origins, 2016, exhibitions -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Photo postcard, J.H. Clark, Yarra at Eltham, c.1910
... yarra river...This card depicts the Yarra River at Eltham circa 1910... melbourne This card depicts the Yarra River at Eltham circa 1910 ...This card depicts the Yarra River at Eltham circa 1910. It was addressed to "Mr J. L. Brown, "Elthamville", Tinning Street, Brunswick" most probably from an extended family member. From the same collection as accession no 00779, (Pond near Eltham Park) and no. 00780 (Eltham, J.H. Clark Photo - dated 20 May 1911). Sending postcards to family and friends including short messages was a common form of communication in the early 20th century. Photographer: J.H. Clark John Henry Clark was the youngest of three boys born to William Henry Clark (1823-1877) and Maria White (1843-1914). He and his brothers, William Charles Clark (1872-1945), Clement Kent Clark (1874-1912) operated a photography business (Clark Bros.) from 25 Thomas Street, Windsor near Prahran during the period c.1894 to 1914. Following death of Clement in September 1912 and their mother in 1914, the Clark Bros business appears to have dissolved, the premises demolished, and a new house was under construction in 1915. John set up business independently in 1914 operating out of 29 Moor Street, Fitzroy where he is registered in the 1914 and 1915 Electoral Rolls. By 1916 John had relocated to Eltham where he continued his practice as a photographer and took many of the early images around the district of Little Eltham. Around 1930 John changed professions and opened a small cobbler's shop in 1931 near the pond opposite Dalton Street adjacent to the Jarrold family cottage. He never married and continued his profession as a bootmaker from this little shop, maintaining a close relationship with Mrs Jarrold for the rest of their lives. His bootmaker shop remains today beside the Whitecloud cottage and is one of only three remaining shops in the area from the early 20th century. There are a couple of images of Eltham taken by Clark Bros. in the Eltham District Historical Society collection, one such example being Hunniford’s Post Office with Miss Anne Hunniford out front (EDHS_00140 - marked on the back of the print, Clark Bros., 25 Thomas St. Windsor), which would date this image between c.1894 and 1914. Other early images of Eltham taken by John Henry Clark are marked on the face “J. H. Clark Photo” and it is assumed these are dated between 1914 and 1930. It is noted that the Grant of Probate for John H Clark of Eltham South dated 5 April !957 (513/387) records his occupation as "X Photographer".Sending postcards to family and friends including short messages was a common form of communication in the early 20th century.Postcard in very poor condition which has been removed from an album. Glue residue and album page adhering preventing information being readFront: Yarra at Elthameltham, yarra river, brown family, j.h. clark photo -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Fay Bridge, Old footbridge, 195 Laughing Waters Road, Eltham, n.d
... Yarra River... on Laughing Waters Road. Situated between the Yarra River and Overbank... on Laughing Waters Road. Situated between the Yarra River and Overbank ...This old footbidge is situated close to the shack that Gordon Ford built on the Yarra at Laughing Waters Road. Bernie Bragg also used to live there for a period of time. Gordon Ford and photographer Sue Winslow were married in 1965. They set up home in an old log cabin on the property Gordon had purchased in 1954 on Laughing Waters Road. Situated between the Yarra River and Overbank Road, Gordon had built a small mud-brick shack on the river and a pontoon. Over the decades the shack has been locally referred to as “the love shack”, the “rooting shack” or simply “Gordon’s shack”. Gordon and Sue commissioned local builder Graeme Rose to do a wattle and daub renovation and extension to the old log cabin on the north side of Laughing Waters Road. The work had only just been completed in 1965 when a bushfire swept through the area and destroyed the cabin. Gordon and Sue relocated to his property, Fulling, in Pitt Street, Eltham. In 1970 work started on a new house at the Laughing Waters property. Originally known as the Banana House, it is now known as Boomerang. Designed by Alistair Knox, the mud-brick house includes iron window grilles made by Matcham Skipper that puncture the curved mud walls. The grilles were made from ‘off-pressings’ from the Sidchrome tool works in Heidelberg. Gordon, Sue and family moved into the house in 1972. Their marriage fell apart and Sue moved to Sydney with the children around the same time Gordon commenced building Birrarung just below Boomerang on the Laughing Waters Road block. After the Fords moved out, Boomerang it was rented out to various share households of students, musicians, artists and environmentalists for twenty-four years. Gordon Ford sold Birrarung and Boomerang to Melbourne Water in 1999. The Laughing Waters Artist in Residence Program was developed as a partnership between Parks Victoria and Nillumbik Shire Council. Boomerang was deemed unfit for habitation so was used as a day studio only. By 2001 Boomerang was in a poor state of repair and by 2002 the last artist in residence was to use the house as a studio. Nillumbik Shire Council had been granted funds from the Melbourne Community Fund to restore both Boomerang and Birrarung but it was apparent in early 2003 that the funds would be insufficient to restore both houses. Boomerang was infested with termites which presented a risk to any occupants and so the decision was made to close Boomerang and concentrate funding on Birrarung. Boomerang was fenced off for safety and to prevent intrusion and remains ‘caged’ today (2023). However, it is readily apparent the property has been occupied by squatters over the years. By 2023 it was clear that the squatters had abandoned the property and sections of the roof structure have given away in some areas and collapsed internally. For a more in-depth description and history of the property and that of Gordon and Sue Ford, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.fay bridge collection, bernie's hut, birrarung, footbridge, gordon ford, gordon's shack, laughing waters road, love shack, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Fay Bridge, The Love Shack, 195 Laughing Waters Road, Eltham, April 2016
... Yarra River... the Yarra River and Overbank Road, Gordon had built a small mud... the Yarra River and Overbank Road, Gordon had built a small mud ...Gordon Ford built this shack on the Yarra at Laughing Waters Road. Bernie Bragg used to live there for a period of time. Gordon Ford and photographer Sue Winslow were married in 1965. They set up home in an old log cabin on the property Gordon had purchased in 1954 on Laughing Waters Road. Situated between the Yarra River and Overbank Road, Gordon had built a small mud-brick shack on the river and a pontoon. Over the decades the shack has been locally referred to as “the love shack”, the “rooting shack” or simply “Gordon’s shack”. Gordon and Sue commissioned local builder Graeme Rose to do a wattle and daub renovation and extension to the old log cabin on the north side of Laughing Waters Road. The work had only just been completed in 1965 when a bushfire swept through the area and destroyed the cabin. Gordon and Sue relocated to his property, Fulling, in Pitt Street, Eltham. In 1970 work started on a new house at the Laughing Waters property. Originally known as the Banana House, it is now known as Boomerang. Designed by Alistair Knox, the mud-brick house includes iron window grilles made by Matcham Skipper that puncture the curved mud walls. The grilles were made from ‘off-pressings’ from the Sidchrome tool works in Heidelberg. Gordon, Sue and family moved into the house in 1972. Their marriage fell apart and Sue moved to Sydney with the children around the same time Gordon commenced building Birrarung just below Boomerang on the Laughing Waters Road block. After the Fords moved out, Boomerang it was rented out to various share households of students, musicians, artists and environmentalists for twenty-four years. Gordon Ford sold Birrarung and Boomerang to Melbourne Water in 1999. The Laughing Waters Artist in Residence Program was developed as a partnership between Parks Victoria and Nillumbik Shire Council. Boomerang was deemed unfit for habitation so was used as a day studio only. By 2001 Boomerang was in a poor state of repair and by 2002 the last artist in residence was to use the house as a studio. Nillumbik Shire Council had been granted funds from the Melbourne Community Fund to restore both Boomerang and Birrarung but it was apparent in early 2003 that the funds would be insufficient to restore both houses. Boomerang was infested with termites which presented a risk to any occupants and so the decision was made to close Boomerang and concentrate funding on Birrarung. Boomerang was fenced off for safety and to prevent intrusion and remains ‘caged’ today (2023). However, it is readily apparent the property has been occupied by squatters over the years. By 2023 it was clear that the squatters had abandoned the property and sections of the roof structure have given away in some areas and collapsed internally. For a more in-depth description and history of the property and that of Gordon and Sue Ford, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.fay bridge collection, 2016-04, bernie's hut, birrarung, gordon ford, gordon's shack, laughing waters road, love shack, yarra river