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Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Ledger, Copy Title Book Vol. 1, Late 19th and early 20th centuries
This ledger is Volume One of a series of Copy Title Books that contain certificates of land titles from the Warrnambool district in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It came from the former premises of the Warrnambool legal firm, Mackay Taylor. This firm originated in the 1890s when George Mackay established a legal practice in Kepler Street, Warrnambool. In 1893 he bought the legal business of James Fletcher, following the death of the latter and the practice became known as Fletcher and Mackay. In 1926 John Taylor became a partner with George Mackay (who died that year) and Mackay, Taylor and Co continued on until 1999 when the firm merged with Tait Solicitors and became Tait Taylor. In 2010 it was renamed Taits Legal. This ledger is of great importance as it contains early certificates of titles of land and property in the Warrnambool district. The information contained therein will be of significant importance to researchers of local history.This is a hard cover book of 200 pages with a mottled green cover and black binding. The index is typed and the contents include certificates of land and property titles and some sketch maps.warrnambool land and property, mackay taylor, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Documents, Late 20th, early 21st centuries
These ten documents (maps, plans, photographs) mostly come from the Warrnambool City Council and most contain information on sub-divisions and titles of properties in areas around the Central Business District of Warrnambool. The dates range from 1986 to 2006. These maps, plans and photographs are of some interest as they give historical details of subdivisions in Warrnambool and date from the late 20th century. .1 This is a laminated map of the boundaries of Local Governments in Victoria. It is Sheet I of 2 and has red and blue pencil markings and black boundary markings. .2 This is a copy of a plan of a survey in black and white markings on paper. .3 This is a plan of the title details of Section 19 Warrnambool. It has black printing on buff-coloured paper. .4 This is a plan of the allotments in part of the Central Business District of Warrnambool. It is printed in black and white. .5 This is a 2006 coloured aerial photograph of the harbour at Warrnambool – Breakwater etc. .6 This is a 2006 coloured aerial photograph of the Lake Pertobe area in Warrnambool .7 This is a coloured aerial photograph of Warrnambool’s streets over-stamped with road numbers in large blockings. .8 This is a plan showing the title details of Section 11 in Warrnambool. It has black printing on buff-coloured paper. .9.1 This is a plan of sub-divisions in parts of Crown Allotments 38 & 39 in Warrnambool. It has green, pink and yellow markings with black printing. .9.2 This is a plan of the sub-divisions in parts of Allotments 38 & 39 in Warrnambool. It has pink, yellow and blue markings with black printing. It is somewhat faded. warrnambool c.b.d. maps and plans, history of warrnambool -
Port of Echuca
Colour photograph, Approx 1979
... been used to house a wine tasting businesses, cafe and local ...Customs building: built 1884 to handle goods entering Victoria up to 1901. Building classified B by National Trust.Customs houses, of similar design, were built along the Murray river to collect taxes on goods transported from N. S. W. to Victoria. The taxes were collected up until Federation in 1901. The Victorian railways used it as an office until about the 1960 when it became a private dwelling. The Customs House at Echuca is now owned by The Port of Echuca and has been used to house a wine tasting businesses, cafe and local produce retail and art gallery.Colour photograph of Customs House at Echuca port.In ink on reverse: "8A"customs house, echuca, echuca historical buildings, echuca, port of (customs history) -
Port of Echuca
Colour photograph, 1977
... been used to house a wine tasting businesses, cafe and local ...Customs building: built 1884 to handle goods entering Victoria up to 1901. Building classified B by National Trust.Customs houses, of similar design, were built along the Murray river to collect taxes on goods transported from N. S. W. to Victoria. The taxes were collected up until Federation in 1901. The Victorian railways used it as an office until about the 1960 when it became a private dwelling. The Customs House at Echuca is now owned by The Port of Echuca and has been used to house a wine tasting businesses, cafe and local produce retail and art gallery.Colour photograph of Customs House at Echuca port.In ink on reverse: Dec.77-M: Print made by Kodak: Kodak. In pencil Customs Housecustoms house, echuca, echuca historical buildings, echuca, port of (customs history) -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Scales, Early 20th century
These scales would have been used for weighing small items (e.g. letters and packages) in a home or business. These scales have no known local provenance but are retained for display purposes.1 The beam balance scales have a brown wooden rectangular base with four metal screws and indents for weights. The scale mechanism has a round metal dish for weights and a rectangular metal dish to hold the object to be weighed. .2 A circular metal weight 8 oz. .3 A circular metal weight 4 oz. .4 A circular metal weight 2 oz. .5 A circular metal weight 1 oz. .6 A circular metal weight ½ oz. .7 A circular metal weight with a smaller top for ease of holding ½ oz. .8 A circular metal weight 4 drams .2 8 oz. .3 4 oz .4 2 oz. .5 1 oz. .6 ½ oz. .7 ½ oz. .8 4 drams weights and measures, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Melbourne University Press, The Blackburns, 2019
This book by Carolyn Rasmussen contains biographical material on Maurice Blackburn and his wife Doris. Maurice Blackburn was the founder of the Melbourne legal firm with a business still operating today under that name. Maurice and Doris Blackburn were prominent 20th century independent Labor politicians and community activists, influencing conscription laws, benefits for working men and women, atomic bomb tests, civil rights and indigenous recognition. They had friends in Warrnambool and enjoyed visiting the city on a regular basis. This book is of historical interest as a biographies of two well-known Victorian politicians of the 20th century and is of minor local interest as the Blackburns were regular visitors to Warrnambool. This is a hard cover book of 400 pages. The black cover has red lettering on the spine and the dust cover is black, red and grey with photographs of a man’s suit and a man and a woman. The book contains fourteen chapters of text and black and white photographs.The Blackburns Private Lives Public Ambition Carolyn Rasmussen maurice and doris blackburn, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Newspaper, Warrnambool Standard July 1, 1905, 1905
The Warrnambool Standard newspaper was started in 1872 by William Fairfax and Henry Laurie. It continues in that context today as a daily newspaper for the Western District. This copy is dated July 1 1905 and covers items of interest and advertisements for current businesses many which continued as household names until the latter part of the 20th Century. These include the following: J Younger, E Battarbee, Beattie and Phillips,Wm Ardlie, H G Wilkinson Cramond & Dickson, F Tozer, Wm Swinton, Bruce & McClure. There are reports covering items of local, national and International news events.This paper provides a snapshot of history in the given era from a Warrnambool perspective. It shows the wide range of businesses operating at the time 1905 and the general interests of the people.Four pages of newsprint with the mast head of the Warrnambool Standard . the paper is dated Saturday July 1, 1905. The Warrnambool Standard with which is incorporated the Warrnambool Examiner, circulating throughout the Western District of Victoria. Price -One Penny. The words printed on a banner run below the masthead groups of cattle horses and sheep and reads "By these we thrive". Advance Australia is similarly written underneath a Coat of Arms. warrnambool standard 1905 -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Booklet - Souvenir Booklet, Warrnambool Landscape Seascape Buildings, c. 1920
souvenir booklet of WarrnamboolThis is a booklet with a green cover with black and gold printing and ornamentation. The pages contain 24 black and white photographs and are tied together with string.non-fictionsouvenir booklet of Warrnamboolwarrnambool vintage tourist souvenirs, walter davies -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Administrative record - Ledger, 1878-1883
The person or business that used this ledger in Warrnambool is unknown. It contains accounts for sale of goods (one person per page) from 1878 to 1883.This ledger is of some interest because of the local 19th century Warrnambool names it contains but unfortunately the business name is unknown.This is a 19th century ledger of 888 pages. It has a hardboard cover that is tattered. It once had a red-coloured spine. The pages contain handwritten information in ink. warrnambool business ledger -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Administrative record - Ledger, Day Book, early 20th century
The business connected to this ledger, dated from 1904 to 1907, is unknown. There are some local Warrnambool and district names but most refer to other places in Victoria and interstate. The entries mostly deal with the sale of produce - onions, potatoes, barley, oats etc. and the names of ships are usually appended . One can guess that the ledger comes from a Steamship Company, a produce buyer or a cartage contractor.This ledger is of minor interest and is retained for research purposes.This is a ledger of 755 pages. The cover is charcoal-coloured hard board with brown leather on the spine and the edges of the cover. The spine has a red label with gold-coloured lettering. The pages have ruled red lines and handwriting in black ink. The ledger is much stained and tattered at the edges.Day Bookwestern district produce -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Administrative record - Chemists' Prescription Books, late 19th and early 20th centuries
These three items are prescription books from a local Warrnambool chemist or chemists. The dates are 1895 to 1905, 1915 to 1918 and 1931 to 1935. The ledgers are untitled but at least one may come from the firm of R.F. Kennedy & Co, with this business situated in Timor Street. Richard Frank Kennedy commenced business in Warrnambool in 1880 as a wholesale, retail and manufacturing chemist and built up a large and important business. He died in 1903 but the business continued for many years with various chemists operating the business known as R.F.Kennedy and Co.These prescription books are of considerable interest as they contain many local names and the prescriptions give us an insight into aspects of community health early in the 20th century.1 A ledger of 502 pages with a hardboard cover, remnants of a spine with a red label, ruled pages with handwritten material in ink and an alphabetical index at the front. .2 A ledger of 502 pages with a tattered cover and leather binding and gold lettering on the spine. The pages are ruled with handwritten material in ink and an alphabetical index .3 A ledger of 500 pages with a hardboard cover. The spine is almost completely missing. The pages contain an alphabetical index, ruled red lines and handwritten material in ink.Prescription Bookwarrnambool chemists -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Artwork, other - Sketch, E. Foreman, Old property at Eltham Station, c.1980
Situated at 965 Main Road adjacent to the Eltham Railway Station, the Country Art Store was originally a hairdresser and Tattersalls agency In 1968 Pam Robinson and Caroline Shenton opened a small shop on the corner of Main Road and Napoleon Street. Four months later a damaged fire hyrdant flooded the store and ruined all their stock. The pair moved to the former hardresser shop at 965 Main Road, adjacent to the Eltham Railway Station, opposite the Stationmaster's house and opened the Country Art Store and adjacent gallery. At the time the only other shop selling pottery was the Potters Cottage in Warrandyte. During the 1970s the gallery was the Wiregrass Gallery. In 1993, after 25 years operating the Country Art Store, the pair decided to sell up and move to warmer climates. During the course of their business a number of craft shops and galleries opened and closed in Eltham. One such shop was Bimbadeen, next to Ansell and Muir's chicken shop opposite Eltham Lower Park. That business run by Don Brown, then a local artist was taken over as River Clay run by Leo Haanappel and Coeny Dommers but ultimately sat in a flood plain and was demolished. When the Country Art Store became available in 1993, Leo Haanappel and Coeny Dommers took it over. The premises became Platform 3095 cafe around 2015.Old Property at Eltha Station E. Foremanart store, country art store, country art store (eltham), eltham railway station, platform 3095, restaurants, shops, wiregrass gallery -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Folder, Connor, Jim
Eltham resident for more than 42 years, consultant in access and aged care issues, former Eltham Shire Councillor (1994), former member of Nillumbik Planning Special Committee (1996), community advocate, bike rider and President of Eltham District Historical Society from 2010 to present (2023) 1. How to Vote pamphlet: Lets make Eltham an even better place, Jim Connor for Eltham Council Central Riding - stood as an independent candidate against Nick McGowan 2. Newspaper article: Eltham's plans draw support; publication unknown (1994) - continuation of article about proposed realignment of Council boundaries and includes photo showing Cr Connor 3. Business Card: Jim Connor and associates, Consultant in Access and Aged Care Issues 4. Report: Meeting the challenge - we're well on the way! Nillumbik Budget 2005-2006 report card (8 page A4 report) featuring a photo of Nillumbik councillors and community members reviewing aerial photo of Eltham (includes Mayor Cr Greg Johnson, Cr Michael Young, Jim Connor, Russell Yeoman and two others) 5. Newspaper clipping, Local Knowledge, Diamond Valley Leader, November 2, 2011, p2 - interview with Jim Connor about living in the Diamond Valley 6. Consideration of an Honorary Life Membership for Jim Connor, Eltham District Historical Society 7. A Celebration of Community Historians at the RHSV's AGM, RHSV News, June 2019, p4 - presentation of RHSV Merit Award by RHSV President Richard Broome to Jim Connor 8. Newspaper article: Tree change a positive move, Why I love My Suburb, Diamond Valley Leader, July 24, 2019, p4 - interview with Jim Connor 9. Photo: B&W A4 print of Jim Connor with his e-bikeFolder of information on Jim Connoreltham district historical society, eltham shire council, jim connor, nillumbik shire council, royal historical society of victoria, council elections -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Document - Folder, Marshall, Robert
Robert Marshall grew up on a small farm in Panton Hills in the 1950s and became an architect, designing in an Australian style, sometimes working with Alistair Knox. Marshall first stood for local council in 1974, having to overcome a childhood stutter by relaxation techniques. He was active in the formation of Nillumbik shire; after 20 years as councillor, he was elected president for 1978 and 1979. In February 1997, his adopted son Stewart Anthony Marshall died as the result of a drug mix-up. He lived in St Andrews and his business was in Hurstbridge. Contents Newspaper article: "Rob Marshall: fist of steel in a glove of green", The Valley Voice, 24 January 1979, describing Robert Marshall's childhood and his thoughts about house design and conservation. Newspaper article: "Councillor marshals energy for next round", Diamond Valley News, no date, Robert Marshall plans to stand again for council after the amalgamation of council, describing. his vision for the district citing Alistair Knox and Don Maling as pioneers. Newspaper article: "...and your new shire president", Diamond Valley News, March 1997, Former Eltham councillor Robert Marshall elected Nillumbik Shire president. Newspaper article: "Drug mix-up led to death: court told", unknown newspaper, 28 May 1997, Report of Coroners Court hearing into death of Stewart Anthony Marshall, Robert Marshall's son. Newspaper article: "Shire chief set to pay outstanding rate bill", Diamond Valley News, 30 July 1997, Robert Marshall had not paid rates in protest during government-appointed commissioners were in power but was paying off the debt. Newspaper article: "An architect for a better way of life", Diamond Valley News, 11 August 1981, Describing Robert Marshall's travels after qualifying as an architect, his early life and his philosophy on conservation. Newspaper article: "He presides over the city's last green belt. But was does Robert Marshall make the State Government see red?" The Age, 10 January 1998, Describing dispute between Nillumbik Shire president Robert Marshall and CEO Barry Rochford, and Rochford's termination package and Marshall's environmental campaigns including the old Eltham Shire Office site. Newspaper letter: "For good governance", letter from Robert Marshall, following his defeat at recent council election after 25 years in local government, comments on his actions as president and wishes new councillors well. Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcrobert marshall, panton hills victoria, alistair knox, stewart anthony marshall, ross ray qc, vauclause hospital, benny monheit, adam bernhaut, geoff pittaway, metropolitan ambulance service, ambulance service victoria, eltham gateway action group, barry rochford, eltham shire offices site, frank lynch, eltham chamber of commerce, barry miller, rob maclellan planning minister, green wedge, don maling -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Document - Newspaper article, Eltham's growth has been rapid in recent years, c.1960
ELTHAM’S GROWTH HAS BEEN RAPID IN RECENT YEARS Unknown local paper c.1960s Recent years have seen a rapid change in the appearance of Eltham’s business centre - so rapid, in fact, that the growth of premises has been almost 300%. For more than thirty-five years Eltham had little more than a dozen traders - the town's business area spreading from Pryor Street in the north, to Pitt Street in the south. The greatest density of businesses - no more than a handful of shops - were situated in the present shopping centre but other essential services such as the Post Office, were located half a mile away. As the town's population grew and the need for more shops became apparent, the growth was centralised around the railway station and Shire hall. Few of the old premises are used for their original form of business today, though many are still in existence. One of the oldest (seen clearly in the illustration) still in use is now Ferrari's Greengrocery. This shop was Eltham's butchery in early days, conducted by Jim Ryan. Up to twenty years ago, Mr. Ryan ran his business from the shop. whilst his son toured Eltham in his horse and cart, cutting his customers' orders as he went from door to door. Another business - one of the few still trading in the same goods-was Burgoyne's Hardware. This is now owned by Mr. R. Clinton, a new shop has recently been added and shortly the old premises will disappear completely. The Burgoyne family were well known to Eltham's population. The Post Office and Store (then in Main Road, near Bridge Street) was run by Mr. and Mrs. Burgoyne. The Post Office was later moved, and attached to the hardware store. OLD HOTEL In this same area was the old Eltham Hotel, almost opposite the present hotel. The building still stands, but has been converted into a house. The hitching rail can still be seen by the roadside. Back in the township was Barber's Blue Gum store, later conducted by Mrs. Burges (mother of Garnet Burges) and claimed to be Eltham's oldest shop. Further down the road, just past the hardware store, was the barber shop and billiard saloon. Next door was E. J. Andrew's news agency, library and State Savings Bank. Eltham's original chemist's shop, or dispensary as it was called, is now an electrical repair shop. On this side of the street too, was Mrs. Monteith - Draper. Mr Monteith was the owner of Eltham' s bus service. This bus service had no regular route, but deposited passengers at the point nearest their homes - a. door to door taxi service. Next to Mrs. Monteith stood another grocery - and general store, and next again, the local blacksmith. Another of Butcher Ryan's sons was Eltham's blacksmith and obviously an enterprising man he conducted a timber business next door to his smithy's shop. These two premises are still run by one man - Garnet Burges. BOOM STARTS Twenty years ago, when Thompson's took over Eltham's pharmacy they occupied the old shop adjoining the Shire hall. The building of Thompson's new premises, from which· they operate today, was the beginning of Eltham's recent growth and development. With another grocery store and a bakery at the corner of York Street, a butcher near Franklin Street, a cobbler's shop opposite the State School (did you ever wonder what that-little building attached to one of Eltham's oldest houses had been?), and an estate agency conducted by Mr. Clark, now Eltham Real Estate - only one trader remained - and today, still carries on, the only original owner of one of Eltham's .oldest established businesses - Mr. Dave Lyon, of Lyon Bros. Garage, which was formerly located in what was later used as Chenowyth's Foundry in Main Road. From the early twenties until little more than six or seven years ago that was the picture of Eltham. Some businesses had changed hands - many years before Mr. C. Rains had acquired Andrew's news agency, Mrs. Monteith's drapery had become Mrs. R. Smith's home-made cake shop, to change again and again to many other types of business. But generally, Eltham was unchanged, for nearly thirty years. Then suddenly new shops mushroomed. The new news agency and drapery, the chemist and adjoining shops, a new butcher, a green grocer and several more. POPULATION DOUBLED In the space of a few years, fifteen new shops, two banks, a restaurant and a post office were built at Eltham. New types of businesses found a ready market in an area which was quickly almost doubling its population. A little over twelve months ago, another wave of progress hit Eltham. Since then eight more shops have been built - a cake shop and fish shop in Dalton [sic – Dudley] Street - for building areas are unprocurable in the Main Street shopping centre now – have been built by Mr. D. Kimball; a new ladies’ and children’s wear shop has been opened by Rains; Eltham Dry Cleaners have another of these new shops, and Mr. R. Clinton has built elaborate new premises. Further down the road, Mr. C. Campbell has built a new butcher's shop, and next door, at present under construction, are a self service store and a shop which Mr. J. Hodges will open on completion. In addition to these new shops, Mr. J. Millett has extended his grocery to almost twice its original size. FLOURISHING Outside the central area, other businesses are flourishing. Latimer's felt factory is being developed in a picturesque rustic setting; P. J. Timber and Trading Company have recently completed a large showroom and timber yard, and in the town itself Nicholson and Merritt are now completing the extension of their foot wear factory to double its former area. This is Eltham today. Progress is moving rapidly in this rural area on the fringe of the metropolis. Less than a decade has seen vast development. The years to complete that span of time will see even greater changes and greater prosperity in this heart: of the Diamond Valley. OLD LANDMARK GOES Perhaps the most famous landmark in Eltham's' business section disappeared last Wednesday when the towering blue gum in Pryor Street at the rear of Main Road shops was felled. The tree, stated to be more than 80 feet high, was the one for which the adjoining café was named, when that business was Eltham’s only provision store, long before the turn of the century. Mr. J. Millett, who now owns the property on which the tree stood, deeply regretted its removal, but was mindful of the need for expansion in the business area. The "Old Blue Gum" was removed by Mr. A. Wilson, expert tree feller, from Heidelberg. Its proportions might be assessed by these facts – it took a gang of experienced men two days to completely fell and clear the tree, and, falling sections being brought down by cable tipped electricity wires on the opposite side of Pryor Street.andrew's news agency, bakery, barber shop, barber's blue gum store, billiard saloon, blacksmith, blue gum, burgoyne's hardware, butcher, cake shop, chemist's shop, chenowyth's foundry, cobbler's shop, dave lyon, dispensary, draper shop. mr monteith, dudley street, e. j. andrew's news agency, electrical repair shop, eltham bus service, eltham butchery, eltham dry cleaners, eltham hotel, eltham railway station, eltham real estate, eltham shire hall, eltham shopping centre, eltham shops, eltham town centre, estate agency, expert tree feller, ferrari's greengrocery, fish shop, foot wear factory, franklin street, garnet burges, general store, grocery, heidelberg, horace clark, jim ryan, ladies’ and children’s wear shop, latimer's felt factory, library, lyon bros. garage, main road, mr. a. wilson, mr. c. campbell, mr. c. rains, mr. d. kimball, mr. j. hodges, mr. j. millett, mr. r. clinton, mrs. burges, mrs. monteith, mrs. monteith's drapery, mrs. r. smith's home-made cake shop, nicholson and merritt, p. j. timber and trading company, pitt street, post office, pryor street, self service store, shopping centre, state savings bank, taxi service, thompson's pharmacy, york street -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Document - Property Binder, Eltham Village Shopping Centre, 950 Main Road, Eltham
Newspaper Advertising supplement: "Earn a black belt in chop" and "Fresh produce, quality service"; Get to know... Your Local Traders in Eltham, Eltham Village Shopping Centre, Valley Weekly, 22 June 2005. Newspaper article: Diamond Valley Leader, 27 February 2019, Bank branch shuts doors.main road, eltham, shops, businesses, anz bank, biba, brumby's eltham, eltham goumet poultry & game, eltham travel, eltham village shopping centre, froot 2 boot, melbourne taekwondo centre, pro-health, travelscene eltham -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Stewart & Co, Elizabeth and Mary Shillinglaw, c.1908
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ann Shillinglaw born August 15, 1879 at Bundoora, Victoria was the fith child of Phillip Shillinglaw and Sarah Ann (nee Kidd). She commenced school at Eltham State School No. 209 (Register No. 391) in 1883 at age 3 years, her final year being 1892. She was engaged to a local Eltham lad who enslisted in the First World War and presented her with a gold ring with Lizzie inscribed on it. He never returned from war and Lizzie never married. Lizzie was quite involved with the local Methodist church where father Phillip was a Lay Preacher. She also had a dress making business in Smitrh Street, Collingwood. At the time of her father's death in 1914 she was living at 18 Stanley Street, Richmond. She returned to Wattle Brae in Eltham where she and her unmarried sisters, Mary and Ada and brother Ernest Samuel continued to live. Mary Shillinglaw born November 5, 1880 at Bundoora, Victoria was the sixth child of Phillip Shillinglaw and Sarah Ann (nee Kidd). She commenced school at Eltham State School No. 209 (Register No. 423) in 1885 at age 4 years. Mary did not marry and spent most of her life at Wattle Brae (Shillinglaw Cottage). In his Will, Phillip Shillinglaw provided that any of his unwed sisters would be able to live at Wattle Brae, rent free. When Eltham Shire Council aquired the property in 1963 to build new Shire Offices, both Mary and her sister Lizzie (also unmarried) were still living at the cottage. Council paid for the women to relocate. Mary moved to Elizabeth House, a nursing home in Ivanhoe but found it very hard to adapt to her new surroundings and living condtions. She died there only a few months after departing Eltham on October 29, 1963 at age 83 years. Lizzie died June 28, 1972 at age 93 years."Mary Shillinglaw"marg ball collection, 1908, elizabeth (lizzie) ann shillinglaw (1879-1972), mary ann shillinglaw (1880-1963), stewart & co photographers bourke st melbourne -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Elizabeth Shillinglaw in middle, possibly sister Mary on right, c.1925
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ann Shillinglaw born August 15, 1879 at Bundoora, Victoria was the fith child of Phillip Shillinglaw and Sarah Ann (nee Kidd). She commenced school at Eltham State School No. 209 (Register No. 391) in 1883 at age 3 years, her final year being 1892. She was engaged to a local Eltham lad who enslisted in the First World War and presented her with a gold ring with Lizzie inscribed on it. He never returned from war and Lizzie never married. Lizzie was quite involved with the local Methodist church where father Phillip was a Lay Preacher. She also had a dress making business in Smitrh Street, Collingwood. At the time of her father's death in 1914 she was living at 18 Stanley Street, Richmond. She returned to Wattle Brae in Eltham where she and her unmarried sisters, Mary and Ada and brother Ernest Samuel continued to live. Mary Shillinglaw born November 5, 1880 at Bundoora, Victoria was the sixth child of Phillip Shillinglaw and Sarah Ann (nee Kidd). She commenced school at Eltham State School No. 209 (Register No. 423) in 1885 at age 4 years. Mary did not marry and spent most of her life at Wattle Brae (Shillinglaw Cottage). In his Will, Phillip Shillinglaw provided that any of his unwed sisters would be able to live at Wattle Brae, rent free. When Eltham Shire Council aquired the property in 1963 to build new Shire Offices, both Mary and her sister Lizzie (also unmarried) were still living at the cottage. Council paid for the women to relocate. Mary moved to Elizabeth House, a nursing home in Ivanhoe but found it very hard to adapt to her new surroundings and living consdtions. She died there only a few months after departing Eltham on October 29, 1963 at age 83 years. Lizzie died June 28, 1972 at age 93 years. Post Card printed on back with photographer's details: W. Mason & Co., 144 Bridge Road, Richmond. W. Mason & Co. operated from this adress from 1903-c.1932 POSTCARD 1905-1940s Like the carte-de-visite, postcards enjoyed a collecting craze by large numbers of people, and were often kept in albums through which the interested visitor could browse. Postcards were posted or exchanged in huge numbers. Postal authorities in Australia only allowed the private printing of postcards from 1898. At this time the back of the card was reserved for the address and postage stamp, and the front was used for the message and a picture. In 1902 British authorities allowed a "divided back", so that the left side could be used for the message, the right side for the address and stamp, and the whole of the front was devoted to the picture. France followed suit in 1904, Germany and Australia in 1905, and the United States in 1907. - Frost, Lenore; Dating Family Photos 1850-1920; Valiant Press Pty. Ltd., Berwick, Victoria 1991marg ball collection, postcard, 1925, elizabeth (lizzie) ann shillinglaw (1879-1972), elizabeth docherty (nee shillinglaw 1861-1942)*, mary ann shillinglaw (1880-1963), reading -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Document - Folder, Neil, Don
Don Neil sold his shoe business to care for properties and be involved in local Eltham politics as a Councillor. Contents Newspaper article: "Farmer Don: success with social conscience", The Valley Voice, 2 May 1979. Background of Don Neil. Newspaper article: "And the building begins...", The Valley Voice, 2 May 1979. Alistair Knox outlines the establishment of Dunmoochin Artists'Society.Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcdon neil, to neil, eltham shire council, shoe manufacturing, green wedge, alistair knox, dunmoochin artists' society, cilfton pugh, myra skipper, joe hannan, cottrle's bridge, belot family -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Postcard, The Great Tokyo Earthquake on September 1st, 1923: The business disctrict, Ogawamachi Street, Kanda, Tokyo, 1923
The Great Kantō Earthquake of 1 September 1923 devastated the major cities of Tokyo and Yokohama, as well as five other surrounding prefectures and was one of the world’s worst natural disasters of the early twentieth century. In terms of loss of life and material damage, with an estimated 140,000 deaths and countless homeless, it is still Japan’s worst national disaster. Nearly 90% of the newspaper printers were destroyed in the earthquake. These postcards were not produced for aesthetics but as a major tool for the spread of information. Seeing how newspaper companies were left with their offices in shambles, postcard publishers tried to fill the gap hence some were in three languages. A very small number of publishing companies were fortunate enough to survive, one of them being Mitsumura Printing, which took advantage of its remaining resources to churn out postcards. When the Ōsaka Mainichi Shinbunsha published its bilingual three-volume photographic pictorial of the Great Kantō Earthquake just two weeks after the event, the calamity had already been captured in thousands of images that circulated on a national and international media highway. Commercial photographers and photojournalists produced the most abundant and immediate images of the quake, which were transmitted in newspapers, special-issue newspaper pictorials, commemorative photography collections, illustrated survivors’ accounts, and sets of commemorative postcards. These photographic images functioned as both news and souvenirs, rendering their consumers/viewers, inside and outside the devastated locale, into both witnesses and voyeurs. Images in the news media and those issued by respected publishing houses carried the visual authority of supposed facticity. As such they both produced and became the historical record of the event. Since the vast majority of 1923 disaster postcards that survive have no writing on them, they were likely treated more as collectibles than as a form of postal communication. Many were put into albums, creating new ways to combine images and create visual cultures of disaster for home viewing. Accordion-style albums allowed for personalized, serial organization of images that produced unique, imagistic narratives of the event. The album pages were also two-sided and could be stretched out to view a series of images on recto and verso. References: Imaging Disaster: Tokyo and the Visual Culture of Japan’s Great Earthquake of 1923 震災をイメージ化する 東京と1923年関東大震災のヴィジュアルカルチャー - The Asia. (2024, March 31). Retrieved from https://apjjf.org/2015/13/6/gennifer-weisenfeld/4270 The Great Kanto Earthquake: Postcards of Tragedy. (2024, March 31). Retrieved from https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/japanese-culture/the-great-kanto-earthquake-postcards/ See also: Postcards from Hell – Glimpses of the Great Kantō Earthquake; M. William STEELE (International Christian University, Japan) 14th Conference of the European Association of Japanese Studies: Visual Culture and Postcard Research Papers – East Asia Image Collection Blog. (2024, March 31). Retrieved from https://sites.lafayette.edu/eastasia/2014/09/01/14th-conference-of-the-european-association-of-japanese-studies-visual-culture-and-postcard-research-papers/] And https://icu.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/4503/files/ACS44_01Steele.pdfThis item, a souvenir from Japan from between the wars (circa 1923) was brought home to Research, Victoria by Bill Teagle who was serving in the Royal Australian Navy (1919-1945). Bill Teagle's sister Violet Amelda Teagle had married Theodore (Curly) Feldbauer in 1933. Bill's brother-in-law Curly was taken as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese and died at Sandakan in March 1945. The family did not learn of Curly’s death till months later and Bill's sister, Violet, herself could never forgive the Japanese for what happened to Curly. Curly is remembered on the Eltham Roll of Honour Board and his son, Albert Feldbauer (Bill’s nephew and youngest child of the children of the soldier fathers attending a school in the district), was given the honour of turning the first sod for the Eltham War Memorial Infant Welfare Centre Building. Despite this, the family maintained this cherished souvenir from a time of previous foreign friendship with Japan. The item was possibly given by Bill Teagle to his sister Margaret Rose (formerly Ingram) who later married Richard Edward (Eddie) Fielding in early 1948. (Eddie had been engaged to someone else before he went to war, but his fiancée broke it off before his return to Australia.) It was cared for by the Teagle/Fielding family for approximately one hundred years. It is of particular significance given the family's connection to the Eltham War Memorial and the significance of that memorial to the local community and represents that despite the horrors of war, former friends then foes can become friends again.tom fielding collection, japanese postcard, postcard, 1923, great kanto earthquake, japan, tokyo, yokohama -
Glen Eira Historical Society
Document - Beauville Estate
Promotional material for the Beauville Estate Murrumbeena 65th Heritage Celebration held 10/03/2001. This comprises, a leaflet about the launch of the Glen Eira Heritage Draft Guidelines with features of the Estate and addresses listed, a special invitation to the unveiling of the heritage plaque by Glen Eira Mayor Veronika Martens, and a Leader newspaper advertisement dated 12/02/2001 for the event, giving brief history of shops and resident anecdotes by Bev Baxter of Murrumbeena Pharmacy.beauville estate, murrumbeena, lindsay avenue 40-44 (even), 229-233 murrumbeena road, beaville avenue, gloucester court, dalny road 5-25 (north side only), 232-242 murrumbeena road (even), glen eira heritage draft guidelines, murrumbeena pharmacy, a v jennings, 227-235 murrumbeena road, barker ann, martens veronica, baxter bev, heritage festivals, plaques, quinn miss, webb rosemary, webb roy, cleave edna may, quirk john, quirk eva, ritchie, kirkbride thomas, beauville, glen eira port phillip pulse small business awards 2000, architectural features, brick houses, shops, residential development, tennis courts, housing estates, builders, building regulations, local government, commercial development, children’s playgrounds, advertisements, invitations, pharmacies, grocers, dentists, greengrocers, butchery shops, sweet shops -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Journal, Peter Doughtery, ArtStreams: News in arts and cultural heritage; Vol. 3, No. 1, Feb-Mar 1998, 1998
Vol. 3, No. 1, Feb-Mar 1998 CONTENTS MUSICAL MURAL Billie Holliday, Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton appearing in Eltham 2 OBITUARY Pioneer painter and landscape gardener Peter Glass 5 SHORT STORY A place for heroes by David Gothard 7 MONTH OF FESTIVALS Souvenir guide to festivals of Banyule, Templestowe Village, Pettys Orchard Antique Apple and Warrandyte 9-24 A SENSE OF PLACE Exhibition of banners depicting a lifestyle 23 CLEM CHRISTESEN, WRITER & EDITOR Publication of poetry covering 30 years of life and work 25 THEATRE IN 198 Playbills for Eltham Little Theatre, Heidelberg Theatre Company and Sherbrooke Theatre Company 26 CERAMICS How ceramicists mix business and art 27 ART AWARD FORUM Do art awards meet current needs? 28 IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER Busy month of theatre in Melbourne 29 BOOK REVIEWS 30, 31 "Peter Dougherty has been involved in the local art scene for many years. As publisher and editor of the arts magazine Artstreams, his comments on the various branches of the arts are widely respected. His "The Arts" column in the Diamond Valley Leader presents a brief summary for a much wider cross section of the local community. Peter also operates his own gallery and the Artstreams Cafe at the St Andrews market. Peter has a wealth of knowledge about present day and historical aspects of local art and artists." - Eltham District Historical Society Newsletter No. 161, March 2005Colour front and back cover with feature articles and literary pieces with photographs and advertisements printed in black and white. 36 pages, 30 cm. Vol. 1, no. 1 (Nov. 1996) - Vol. 10, no. 5 (summer ed. 2005/06) art streams, volumes, jazz mural, vladimir bykovec, peter glass, john street, david gothard, banyule festival, arts on burgundy, ward sagar, montsalvat, were street cafe, rosanna fire station community house, bibby's bahnhof cafe, templestowe village festival, pool & spa care centre, la piazza restaurant bar & cafe, recherche bespoke framers, warrandyte festival, margaret roadknight, mezze restaurant warrandyte, food for all seasons, rivergum gallery warrandyre, potters cottage, pettys orchard antique apple festival, fleur de feliss, allwood neighbourhood house, llobex image wizards, victorian artists supplies, ray liversidge, dynamic vegies, jackie wilson, boroondara litfest, mia mia gallery, eltham banners, geoff mosley, clem christesen, nina christesen, julie reiter, nillumbik art award, carolynn pickett, bulleen art & garden centre, hugh tolhurst, andrew sant, lucinda mcknight, drusilla modjeska, amanda lohrey, robert dessaix, michele lonsdale, volumes, eltham little theatre, heidelberg theatre company, doncaster theatre company -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Daniel Rutter Long, Bridge over the Diamond near Eltham, Daniel Rutter Long, 1855
Daniel Rutter Long was born in England, after training as a pharmacist he, his wife and family emigrated to Port Phillip, Victoria in 1840. By 1843 he had his own chemist shop in Bourke Street, later erecting a well known pharmacy on the corner of Bourke and Exhibition streets. During the gold rush of the 1850s he purchased gold at the shop for shipment to a Quaker syndicate in London. Retiring from the business in 1857 Long took up painting, sometimes returning to his original profession. He painted hundreds of landscapes in other colonies as well as in Victoria. Long participated in local affairs and was one of the earliest members of the municipal council. Later he was elected mayor and instrumental in the in the erection of Prahran Town Hall. He was also a member of the Police Court Bench for many years. Daniel Long died at the age of eighty-three in 1886. (State Library of Victoria)This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 35mm B&W negativeshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, bridge, daniel rutter long, diamond creek (creek), eltham, sepp -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide, Grand Parade, Eltham Community Festival, 17 Oct. 1981
The 1981 Eltham Community Festival was held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society had participated in the parade and a display for the festival, winning prizes for the Society’s float in 1979, 1980 and again in 1981 with a prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. Peter Quirke provided the use of his truck as a float. Peter had formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and in 1981 opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with assistance from other members decorated the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of the Society’s 1981 parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge, which added to a highly successful day. Society member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read also won an award for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse were a feature of Eltham parades for many years and he also established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades. 35 mm colour positive transparency (1 of 5) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotseltham festival, parade, parade floats, pioneers of eltham, shire of eltham historical society, cecil street, victorian folk music club -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide, Grand Parade, Eltham Community Festival, 17 Oct. 1981
The 1981 Eltham Community Festival was held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society had participated in the parade and a display for the festival, winning prizes for the Society’s float in 1979, 1980 and again in 1981 with a prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. Peter Quirke provided the use of his truck as a float. Peter had formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and in 1981 opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with assistance from other members decorated the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of the Society’s 1981 parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge, which added to a highly successful day. Society member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read also won an award for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse were a feature of Eltham parades for many years and he also established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades. 35 mm colour positive transparency (1 of 5) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotseltham festival, parade, parade floats, pioneers of eltham, shire of eltham historical society, cecil street, garnet burges, jack hodson, jock read -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide, Grand Parade, Eltham Community Festival, 17 Oct. 1981
The 1981 Eltham Community Festival was held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society had participated in the parade and a display for the festival, winning prizes for the Society’s float in 1979, 1980 and again in 1981 with a prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. Peter Quirke provided the use of his truck as a float. Peter had formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and in 1981 opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with assistance from other members decorated the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of the Society’s 1981 parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge, which added to a highly successful day. Society member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read also won an award for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse were a feature of Eltham parades for many years and he also established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades. 35 mm colour positive transparency (1 of 5) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotseltham festival, parade, parade floats, pioneers of eltham, shire of eltham historical society, cecil street, russell yeoman, bruce ness -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide, Grand Parade, Eltham Community Festival, 17 Oct. 1981
The 1981 Eltham Community Festival was held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society had participated in the parade and a display for the festival, winning prizes for the Society’s float in 1979, 1980 and again in 1981 with a prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. Peter Quirke provided the use of his truck as a float. Peter had formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and in 1981 opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with assistance from other members decorated the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of the Society’s 1981 parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge, which added to a highly successful day. Society member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read also won an award for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse were a feature of Eltham parades for many years and he also established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades. 35 mm colour positive transparency (1 of 5) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotseltham festival, parade, parade floats, pioneers of eltham, shire of eltham historical society, cecil street, victorian folk music club -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide, Grand Parade, Eltham Community Festival, 17 Oct. 1981
The 1981 Eltham Community Festival was held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society had participated in the parade and a display for the festival, winning prizes for the Society’s float in 1979, 1980 and again in 1981 with a prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. Peter Quirke provided the use of his truck as a float. Peter had formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and in 1981 opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with assistance from other members decorated the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of the Society’s 1981 parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge, which added to a highly successful day. Society member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read also won an award for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse were a feature of Eltham parades for many years and he also established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades. 35 mm colour positive transparency (1 of 5) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotseltham festival, parade, parade floats, pioneers of eltham, shire of eltham historical society, cecil street, victorian folk music club -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Newspaper clipping, Supermarket next on old site, Diamond Valley Mirror, Wed. Feb 17, 1965, p5, 1965
In February 1965, Staffs Railway Store, the oldest business premises in the Eltham shopping district was demolished. Formerly a self-service grocery, restaurant and electrical repair shop, the building for many years housed Eltham’s only ‘family’ grocer and feed store. Earlier it had appeared to have been the town’s bakery. The building had been purchased in late March 1939 by Mr Eric N. Staff. At the time of E.N. Staff’s purchase there were huge bakers’ ovens located at the rear and the building also had a well and four toilets for employees. When the ‘pictures’ came to Eltham with the opening of the Eltham Public Hall across the road in 1941, Mr E.N. Staff extended the business and opened a milk bar and sweet shop. Further extensions re-established the tea rooms of days gone by. Mr E.N. Staff conducted business for about 15 years before handing over the reins to his son, Ray Staff. When his son Ray took over, the milk bar and tea rooms were closed for several years but the milk bar and was later re-opened and subsequently became a greengrocers and later again, a restaurant. The tea rooms section was converted to an electrical repair shop about 1955. Electoral Roll records for 1967 record Raymond Charles Staff at 929 Main Road, Eltham, grocer, and in 1968 at Lot 4, Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham, taxi truck operator. So it would appear that Ray continued to run the business for approximately two years after the original store was demolished and a new supermarket was built. Today, 929 Main Road is the Nongkhai Thai Restaurant and is precisely where the original Staffs store stood. Even though the facade has been modified at eye level with new larger windows, the upper facade is identical to that of the new Eltham Big Star Food Centre of 1965/66. But how did the original building, the oldest premises in the 1965 era shopping centre come about? On August 12th, 1902 at the Eltham Courthouse, appearing before T. Smallman, Esq,. Police Magistrate, and Messrs. W. Duncan and W.J. Taylor, Justices of the Peace is Luther Haley, baker. Wilfred Henry Johnston, by his agent Stanley Ernest Elder had applied for a warrant of ejectment under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1890 against Luther Haley from the bakery premises at the corner of Main Road and York Street. From the evidence presented we learn that Mrs Burgoyne of Eltham had purchased the property some months earlier from Mr Johnston, which consisted of a store and bakery establishment at Eltham occupied by Mr. Luther Haley, and whose lease expired some little time back, and up to the present time, Mr. Haley was not prepared to leave. He informed the court that he is unable to secure at Eltham a suitable house in which to carry on his business, but was building a place near the railway station which he expected to be done in about three weeks time, and he is then prepared to give up possession of the premises he now occupies. Mr Smallman informed the defendant, Luther Haley, that he will have to quit the premises in three weeks from the present date, and that a warrant of ejectment would be issued. However he also informed Mr Haley that he would order the warrant to lie in the office for three weeks from that date. The premises under construction referred to by Luther Haley in court were situated on the western side of Main Road, near the railway station slightly opposite present-day Arthur Street. It was opened around September 1902 as a General Store, Bakery and Tea Rooms. This was the original building in the present-day shopping precinct. At the time the only thing nearby was the railway station. Luther Haley’s business appeared to prosper and he would have catered to not only the locals abut also day visitors by train on Sundays coming up from Melbourne, offering fresh baked produce, tea rooms and summer drinks. The fields across Main Road running between present day Arthur Street and Luck Street were known as Haley’s Paddock and at times were used for community festivities and picnics. A newspaper report on the annual State schools picnic held at Haley’s Paddock on March 11, 1904 described it as “quite close to the railway station, and is quite capable of holding comfortably 10,000 people. With its ample shade and hilly surroundings, it is an ideal place for any gathering.” Luther Haley successfully ran his general store, bakery and tea rooms until 1917 when he and his family departed the district and moved to Westgarth Street in Northcote where he changed careers and became a publisher. It was then taken over by Hannah Lloyd and became known as Lloyd’s Railway General Store from 1917 to 1920. From then it had a succession of owners, one as short as two months until March 31, 1939 when the Grocery Business formerly carried on by Mr. T.K. White of Eltham for the previous eight years was purchased by Mr Eric N. Staff of Research and became known as E.N. Staff’s Railway Store. The ownership timeline for the store is as follows: Luther Haley Sep 1902-1917 Hannah Lloyd 1917-c.Feb 1920 Messrs J.R. & N.E. Lee 1920-Sep 1922 A. & E. Copeland Sep 1922-Sep 1925 Mr Price Sep 1925-Nov 1925 Mr Warren Nov 1925?-Nov 1926 A.W.J. Edwards Nov 1926-1931 T.K. White 1931-Mar 1939 Eric Staff Apr 1939-c.1954 Ray Staff c.1954-Feb 1965 then demolished Ray Staff Eltham Big Star Food Centre c.1965-1967 Digital file only from scan of copy on loan to EDHSa. copeland, a.w.j. edwards, big star food centre, e. copeland, eltham, eric staff, general store, hannah lloyd, j.r. lee, lloyd's general store, luther haley, main road, n.e. lee, price, ray staff, staffs general store, supermarket, t.k. white -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Eltham Big Star Food Centre, Main Road, Eltham, c.1966
In February 1965, Staffs Railway Store, the oldest business premises in the Eltham shopping district was demolished. Formerly a self-service grocery, restaurant and electrical repair shop, the building for many years housed Eltham’s only ‘family’ grocer and feed store. Earlier it had appeared to have been the town’s bakery. The building had been purchased in late March 1939 by Mr Eric N. Staff. At the time of E.N. Staff’s purchase there were huge bakers’ ovens located at the rear and the building also had a well and four toilets for employees. When the ‘pictures’ came to Eltham with the opening of the Eltham Public Hall across the road in 1941, Mr E.N. Staff extended the business and opened a milk bar and sweet shop. Further extensions re-established the tea rooms of days gone by. Mr E.N. Staff conducted business for about 15 years before handing over the reins to his son, Ray Staff. When his son Ray took over, the milk bar and tea rooms were closed for several years but the milk bar and was later re-opened and subsequently became a greengrocers and later again, a restaurant. The tea rooms section was converted to an electrical repair shop about 1955. Electoral Roll records for 1967 record Raymond Charles Staff at 929 Main Road, Eltham, grocer, and in 1968 at Lot 4, Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham, taxi truck operator. So it would appear that Ray continued to run the business for approximately two years after the original store was demolished and a new supermarket was built. Today, 929 Main Road is the Nongkhai Thai Restaurant and is precisely where the original Staffs store stood. Even though the facade has been modified at eye level with new larger windows, the upper facade is identical to that of the new Eltham Big Star Food Centre of 1965/66. But how did the original building, the oldest premises in the 1965 era shopping centre come about? On August 12th, 1902 at the Eltham Courthouse, appearing before T. Smallman, Esq,. Police Magistrate, and Messrs. W. Duncan and W.J. Taylor, Justices of the Peace is Luther Haley, baker. Wilfred Henry Johnston, by his agent Stanley Ernest Elder had applied for a warrant of ejectment under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1890 against Luther Haley from the bakery premises at the corner of Main Road and York Street. From the evidence presented we learn that Mrs Burgoyne of Eltham had purchased the property some months earlier from Mr Johnston, which consisted of a store and bakery establishment at Eltham occupied by Mr. Luther Haley, and whose lease expired some little time back, and up to the present time, Mr. Haley was not prepared to leave. He informed the court that he is unable to secure at Eltham a suitable house in which to carry on his business, but was building a place near the railway station which he expected to be done in about three weeks time, and he is then prepared to give up possession of the premises he now occupies. Mr Smallman informed the defendant, Luther Haley, that he will have to quit the premises in three weeks from the present date, and that a warrant of ejectment would be issued. However he also informed Mr Haley that he would order the warrant to lie in the office for three weeks from that date. The premises under construction referred to by Luther Haley in court were situated on the western side of Main Road, near the railway station slightly opposite present-day Arthur Street. It was opened around September 1902 as a General Store, Bakery and Tea Rooms. This was the original building in the present-day shopping precinct. At the time the only thing nearby was the railway station. Luther Haley’s business appeared to prosper and he would have catered to not only the locals abut also day visitors by train on Sundays coming up from Melbourne, offering fresh baked produce, tea rooms and summer drinks. The fields across Main Road running between present day Arthur Street and Luck Street were known as Haley’s Paddock and at times were used for community festivities and picnics. A newspaper report on the annual State schools picnic held at Haley’s Paddock on March 11, 1904 described it as “quite close to the railway station, and is quite capable of holding comfortably 10,000 people. With its ample shade and hilly surroundings, it is an ideal place for any gathering.” Luther Haley successfully ran his general store, bakery and tea rooms until 1917 when he and his family departed the district and moved to Westgarth Street in Northcote where he changed careers and became a publisher. It was then taken over by Hannah Lloyd and became known as Lloyd’s Railway General Store from 1917 to 1920. From then it had a succession of owners, one as short as two months until March 31, 1939 when the Grocery Business formerly carried on by Mr. T.K. White of Eltham for the previous eight years was purchased by Mr Eric N. Staff of Research and became known as E.N. Staff’s Railway Store. The ownership timeline for the store is as follows: Luther Haley Sep 1902-1917 Hannah Lloyd 1917-c.Feb 1920 Messrs J.R. & N.E. Lee 1920-Sep 1922 A. & E. Copeland Sep 1922-Sep 1925 Mr Price Sep 1925-Nov 1925 Mr Warren Nov 1925?-Nov 1926 A.W.J. Edwards Nov 1926-1931 T.K. White 1931-Mar 1939 Eric Staff Apr 1939-c.1954 Ray Staff c.1954-Feb 1965 then demolished Ray Staff Eltham Big Star Food Centre c.1965-1967 Research and copy: Peter Pidgeon (EDHS) Digital file only from scan of copy on loan to EDHSa. copeland, a.w.j. edwards, big star food centre, e. copeland, eltham, eric staff, general store, hannah lloyd, j.r. lee, lloyd's general store, luther haley, main road, n.e. lee, price, ray staff, staffs general store, supermarket, t.k. white