In 1978 Diamond Valley Shire recognised the need for a new public hall in Diamond Creek. Council considered the Bini shell form of construction which was in operation overseas and in use in New South Wales as libraries, gymnasiums, sports centres and multi-purpose centres. The Council gave the go-ahead. A site was chosen opposite the Hotel and close to the railway line. One day in - the following year, in 1979, activity stood still in Diamond Creek as school children and other excited spectators watched the one-hour inflation of the Bini Shell. This unusual method of construction was invented by Italian industrial designer and architect Dante Bini. The construction pneumatically raises a level of reinforced concrete from ground level which has not been set, using an internal balloon. The inner membrane inflates and compresses the mesh and concrete against the outer membrane. A net of flexible steel rods was laid on the building’s circular base, on the top of a fabric bladder. 300 tonnes of reinforced concrete were poured onto the mesh and a sealed cover laid over the concrete making a sandwich of cover, bladder and mesh. Compressed air was pumped into the bladder and the sandwich slowly began to rise and become a massive self-supporting dome. After inflation and removal of the outer membrane workmen filled in any holes. It was some days before pneumatic drills pecked out the first opening. The ceiling of the concrete dome was lined with fluffy insulating material. The dome was 36 metres in diameter at the base and 12 metres high in the centre with a usable floor space of 670 square metres. An opening night dinner was held to celebrate the new facility on March 12, 1980. Shire President Ron Pata made a speech and unveiled a plaque. It was the first public building in Victoria to be erected using the Bini Shell design method of construction The facility could cater for up to 400 people and in 1980 a fee for use was $100 for up to 200 people, $150 for up to 300 people and $200 for up to 400 people. For the next ten years or so, locals attended the hall for marital arts classes, basketball and netball games and school discoes and various other activities. After pieces of concrete fell off a Bini shell interstate due to a construction fault, the Council closed the centre. Demotion took place during the Diamond Creek Town Fair in 1991, as part of the annual Town Fair’s program. Research by LP January 2022This was the first public building in Victoria to be erected using the Bini Shell design method of construction.Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1983, bini shell, diamond creek

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, bible street, houses, streets, 1989

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, bible street, houses, streets, 1989

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1991, yarra glen

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1991, yarra glen railway station

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1991, yarra glen railway station

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1991, yarra glen, houses

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1991, eltham, flora, plants

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1991, eltham, flora, plants

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1991, eltham, flora, plants

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1991, eltham, flora, plants

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1991, eltham, flora, plants

Became the Bank of Melbourne then Westpac.Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, eltham, 1992, main road, pryor street, state bank of victoria

Became the Bank of Melbourne then Westpac.Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, eltham, 1992, main road, pryor street, state bank of victoria

Became the Bank of Melbourne then Westpac.Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, eltham, 1992, main road, pryor street, state bank of victoria

Became the Bank of Melbourne then Westpac.Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, eltham, 1992, main road, pryor street, state bank of victoria

Shire of Eltham 18th Community Festival.Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, eltham, 1992, eltham festival, k-153, steam engine, steam train, steamrail, trestle bridge

Shire of Eltham 18th Community Festival.Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, eltham, 1992, eltham festival, k-153, steam engine, steam train, steamrail, trestle bridge

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1996, alan marshall, art in public places, eltham library, sculptures, marcus skipper

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1996, eltham library

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1996, eltham library

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1996, eltham shire office, main road, shire offices, demolition

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1996, eltham shire office, main road, shire offices, demolition

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1996, eltham shire office, main road, shire offices, demolition

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1996, eltham shire office, main road, shire offices, demolition

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1996, eltham shire office, main road, shire offices, demolition

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1996, melbourne, yarra river

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1996, melbourne, yarra river

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1996, arts precinct, southbank, st kilda road

Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1998, dutch elm beetle, eltham, trees