"Who would have thought that a boy born in 1889 from the Victorian Mallee would become a successful artist on New York’s Staten Island? This finely illustrated, exhaustively researched and beautifully written biography on Leason features the artist’s entire career as a painter and cartoonist renowned for his depictions of Australian society in the 1920s and 1930s. Leason’s story is a poignant one tracing his beginnings as a cartoonist, to the bohemian Melbourne art scene in the early 20th century, to his involvement in the artists’ camps of Eltham, to his important series of portraits of Lake Tyers Indigenous Australians, and his eventual move to the US where he has been acknowledged as making an enormous contribution to the New York arts scene. This story, as yet untold, fills a gap in the history of art in Australia and offers a new perspective on Australian art in the first half of the 20th century." - Thames and Hudson website A NEW HOME IN ELTHAM Once they had settled back into Melbourne, Perry and Belle began to look for a place to make a permanent home. Having enjoyed the bush setting of Mosman, they decided to explore the rural fringes of Melbourne. Each weekend they packed a picnic and travelled to the towns in the nearby hills - such as Ferntree Gully, Sassafras, Lilydale and, of course, Cockatoo Creek. Eventually deciding these places might be a little too far from The Herald office, they searched closer to the city. The Heidelberg and Box Hill regions that had inspired his old teacher McCubbin, had become busy, urban areas but further east, towards Warrandyte and Templestowe, there were still large tracts of bush. Finally they settled on Eltham, an area Percy knew very well, having often painted there with Jock Frater. Perry's old friend Dick McCann and his wife Margery had also settled in Eltham. The township was fifteen miles from Melbourne and serviced by an electric train that went to the central Melbourne station of Flinders Street, near where The Herald offices were located. Eltham was a small village in 1925, separated from Melbourne by the Yarra River, and surrounded by orchards and large tracts of bush. Small farms dotted the landscape and the main businesses revolved around ironmongers, blacksmiths, and farming supplies. Of particular appeal to artists was Eltham Park, a large expanse of bushland bounded by the Yarra River on the south side and the Diamond Creek on the east. The park included a playing field that was busy on weekends with cricket or football matches, but for the rest of the week it was mostly empty and an ideal place to paint. The scenery there provided the inspiration for many paintings by Leason, Meldrum and other artists such as Colin Colahan and Peter (A.E.) Newburv. The Leasons found a rundown old farmhouse on four-and-a-half acres of land in New Street, now known as Lavender Park Road. The site was splendid, at the top of a gentle slope which gave panoramic views east to the Dandenong hills, south over the Templestowe orchards and north to Kinglake. The front lawn was taken over by onion grass (or wiregrass as Leason called it) and scattered about the property were many wattles and gum trees. Aloe cacti covered much to the front of the house, while old quince and lucerne hedges separated the house and out-buildings from a rundown apple orchard. Here they would build a new home. ·with financial assistance from The Herald, Leason bought the property and immediately commissioned an architectural firm to design a new house in the popular bungalow style of the time. The old farm house was demolished but Percy saved the siding boards, bricks and corrugated iron for the outbuildings of his new home. The new house was a two storey, triple brick with a large, gabled, terracotta tiled roof. It was situated at the very top of the slope. The paint and varnish were barely dry when the family moved in during the summer of 1925-26 and the fumes were overpowering in the heat. Despite the house being wired for electricity, power poles had not yet reached the area and initially the family had to rely on kerosene lamps and candles. When electricity did arrive, Leason reflected on the community's reception of electricity at the expense of the old growth gum tree corridors in his cartoon, Electricity comes to Wiregrass. The family had now grown to seven. Jack was nearly nine, Jean was seven, Marjory was four, Nancy was two and the baby Patricia was seven months old. Jack and Jean were enrolled in the local primary school down the hill. A retired farmer, Jock McMillan, came to live on the property and help out with the general maintenance. Jock built himself a shack and Belle provided him with meals. He was kept occupied building structures around the property·, such as the garage, the outside toilet, garden beds, trellis arbours and a number of ponds. The elderly, bearded Scotsman with his old hat and baggy pants also provided the inspiration for one of the characters Leason regularly included in his cartoons. Like Leason, Jock smoked a straight stemmed pipe. A neighbour was employed to help Belle with domestic chores, and so the family settled down to live comfortably in their new Eltham house. Two dogs, Maginary and Wodger, completed the large and vibrant household. “Percy Leason; an artist’s life” by Margot Tasca, Thames & Hudson Australia Pty Ltd, Port Melbourne 2016, pp 63-64 Hardback Bookpercy leason, margot tasca, biography, artist, landscape

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencymelbourne, morell bridge, south yarra, yarra river

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencymelbourne, morell bridge, south yarra, yarra river

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencymelbourne, morell bridge, rowing, south yarra, yarra river

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencymelbourne, morell bridge, south yarra, yarra river

Possibly an excursion or school camp for Year 8 or 9 students from Nunawading High School to the seaside at Mount Eliza. Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencymount eliza, nunawading high school, sunnyside beach

Possibly an excursion or school camp for Year 8 or 9 students from Nunawading High School to the seaside at Mount Eliza Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencymount eliza, nunawading high school, sunnyside beach

Possibly an excursion or school camp for Year 8 or 9 students from Nunawading High School to the seaside at Mount Eliza Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencymount eliza, nunawading high school, sunnyside beach

Possibly an excursion or school camp for Year 8 or 9 students from Nunawading High School to the seaside at Mount Eliza Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencymount eliza, nunawading high school

Possibly an excursion or school camp for Year 8 or 9 students from Nunawading High School to the seaside at Mount Eliza Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencymount eliza, nunawading high school

Possibly an excursion or school camp for Year 8 or 9 students from Nunawading High School to the seaside at Mount Eliza Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencymount eliza, nunawading high school

Possibly an excursion or school camp for Year 8 or 9 students from Nunawading High School to the seaside at Mount Eliza Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencymount eliza, nunawading high school

Possibly an excursion or school camp for Year 8 or 9 students from Nunawading High School to the seaside at Mount Eliza Nunawading High School opened on Canterbury Road (near Mahoneys Road) in 1955. Enrolments grew rapidly and by 1969 there were over 1,100 students, making it one of the largest schools in the state. In 1989 it was merged with Burwood Heights High and Blackburn South High to become a junior campus of Forest Hills Secondary College. However, the junior campuses were closed in 1997, and the former Nunawading High was bulldozed to make way for a housing estate. "Lost Schools of the 1990s", Learning from the Past, http://learningfromthepast.com.au/lost-schools-of-the-1990s/ George Coop was a teacher of art, craft, wood working and graphics at Nunawading High School until it merged into Forest Hills Secondary College at which point he retired.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Safety 5062 black and white transparencymount eliza, nunawading high school

Other photos of Were St featuring the Dandy family dated 8 October 1950 show an unsealed road with concrete kerb and channeling. The surrounds look very similar but no concrete kerb and trees in footpath significantly younger and smaller in size; hence c.1940Roll of 35mm black and white negative film, sectioned into frames; copy of print photograph Ilford FP-4montmorency, railway station, were street

Colour photographstreets, bridge street, eltham, main road

Colour photographstreets, bridge street, eltham, main road

35mm Colour positive transparency Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Card(a)1964-10, bowden spur road, kinglake

35mm Colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue stepped)diamond street, eltham, road construction

Immediately prior to duplication of Main Road. Looking south towards Bridge Street.35mm Colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue stepped)bridge street, duplication, eltham, main road

Duplication of Main Road. Looking south from site of Eltham Shire offices towards Shillinglaw Cottage. Gahan house to left of Shillinglaw Cottage facing Main Road almost completely demolished. Main Road to the left and the Eltham Tip to the right.Digital file created by stitching two 35mm Colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue stepped)duplication, eltham tip, gahan house, main road, shillinglaw cottage

35mm Colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue stepped)duplication, eltham, main road, road construction

35mm Colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue stepped)lower plenty, main road, old eltham road

Looking south from near the Shire offices35mm Colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue stepped)duplication, eltham, main road, road construction

Looking south from outside Post Office35mm Colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue stepped)bp service station, duplication, eltham, main road, post office, shell service station

Article about Tony Ghosthawk a full-blood native of the Santee Sioux tribe from South Dakota who has been living at Yarrambat and touring schools and Victorian communities showcasing his native-style music, dance and culture. Photograph includes friends, Carol Bodin, Sue Nolan and Steve Stranks.Digital file only scanned by EDHS from item on loancarol bodin, pow-wow, santee sioux tribe, south dakota, steven stranks, sue nolan, tony ghosthawk

Heading south along Main Road approaching Bridge Street. Digital file only (Wes's 35mm)cobb and co, don muir collection, eltham, ersilac parade, horse drawn carriage, main road

Jock Read riding 'Popeye' south along Main Road approaching Bridge Street. Jock acquired 'Popeye' just before the outbreak of WW2. As he was already in the Royal Australian Navy, Jock named the horse after Popeye the Sailor Man. Popeye was a dapple grey, then went white as he aged. Digital file only (Wes's 35mm)don muir collection, eltham, ersilac, ersilac parade, jock read, main road, popeye (horse)

Heading south along Main Road approaching Bridge Street. Registration GIB is c.1955Digital file only (Wes's 35mm)don muir collection, heidelberg bakery display, ersilac parade, main road, eltham, c.1960

First World War letters and postcards from various (unknown) servicemen written to Lily Thompson (Lew Howard's aunty). She would write to the servicemen.Digital file only - scanned by EDHS from item on loan aif, capetown, ernest w. welsby, first world war, letters, lew howard collection, south africa, ww1

First World War letters and postcards from various (unknown) servicemen written to Lily Thompson (Lew Howard's aunty). She would write to the servicemen.Digital file only - scanned by EDHS from item on loan aif, capetown, ernest w. welsby, first world war, letters, lew howard collection, south africa, ww1