The c1920 brick shop and side dwelling is one of just three early 20th century shop buildings left in Eltham and one of just two that have intact facades. These shops are physical links with the country village of Eltham at that time and their siting in isolated locations along the street reflects that village era. Since the 1950s Eltham's main street has changed dramatically and the intact pre 1940 buildings such as this shop are key components of the section of Main Road south of Henry Street which still has a streetscape recognisable from that earlier time. The side dwelling illustrates the common practice of that time for shopkeepers to live at their premises. In the 1990s this was an antique Shop and in 2010 “Eltham Cycles”. It is now a popular eatery – Zen Den. 35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 23) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham, main road, antiques and old wares, cafe zen den, restaurants, second hand dealer, second life decor pty ltd, shops

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 23) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham, main road, eltham hotel, pitt street

In 1981 the Shire of Eltham Historical Society was asked by the Victorian Place Names Committee to comment on a proposal by the Shire of Eltham to assign names to parklands in Eltham as follows:- "Eltham Common" - the area between the municipal offices, Main Road, the Eltham railway -line, and Panther Place and containing Shillinglaw Cottage. The Shire has advised that this name has been used locally for the site since about 1975. "Alistair Knox Park" - the area bounded by the Eltham railway -line, Panther Place, Main Road, Bridge Street, and Susan Street, and through which flows the Diamond Creek. The area has been known locally as "Eltham Town Park" The proposed name "Alistair Knox Park" had created some local controversy with a number of reversals of the Council's decision and letters to the local paper both for and against the proposal. The society was reluctant to be drawn into this controversy particularly as there were known to be members with strong views both for and against the proposed name. The society appreciated the work done by Alistair Knox both in the formulation of the park concept and in its development but because of the controversy generated by the proposed naming and also because of the wide general use of the park by the public·, the name Eltham Town Park was felt more appropriate. The society noted that there was no outstanding historical associations with the land comprising the park which would warrant naming the park after any particular person, place or event. No objection was raised to the Eltham Common proposal as set-out above. The decision was made in the knowledge that Alistair Knox had been associated with the society over many years and was a prominent figure in the recent history of Eltham. He was regarded as a key figure in the environmental building movement and in particular was renowned for his use of mud bricks as a building material. He served as a councillor of the Shire of Eltham from 1971-1975, his final year as Shire President. It was during these years that the proposals to create the park in its present form were shaped and Alistair played a leading part in the decision to make it a landscaped passive recreational park rather than a sporting area. The parklands comprise a section of the Diamond Creek valley. The creek itself flows through the centre of the area which is overlooked by steep hills on each side. The parks form part of the land purchased from the Crown in 1851 by J.M. Holloway and then subdivided into allotments and called "Little Eltham". While most of the area was subdivided into residential lots the creek valley was subdivided into lots suitable for small farms. Some further subdivision took place over the years and the whole of the parks now comprises eight separate titles. A list of some of the former owners has been compiled but exhaustive research on all owners has not been carried out. The ownership of one parcel has been traced back to when it was purchased from Holloway by John Hicks Petty in 1874, long after it was subdivided. Other families owning land within the area over the years included Lyon, Rees, Clark, Waterfall, Carrucan, Graham, Hill and Morant. The character of the valley area has remained rural while development occurred on each side. Early photos show the area as orchard and grazing land. In 1901 the railway was constructed through the area resulting in the timber trestle bridge across the Diamond Creek. which is an important feature of the park landscape. A memorial obelisk to the Eltham servicemen killed in World War 1 was erected at the south eastern corner of the park. The site is now within the intersection of Main Road and Bridge Street and the memorial was shifted in the 1950s to the Eltham R.S.L. clubrooms. Following the financial failure of the local sub-branch, the memorial obelisk was again relocated to the Eltham War Memorial building precinct in 2011. During the early 1960's the Council started purchasing the land which now comprises the parks. In the late 1960's the area to the east of the Diamond Creek was used as a garbage tip and filled above the flood plain of the creek. When this area was filled the tip was transferred to the west side of the creek. From the early 1970's the area has been progressively developed as a park for passive recreation with ornamental lakes, extensive tree planting and landscaping. The character of the valley before the days of the tip has been recreated and this has earned a Landscape classification from the National Trust, an unusual honour for a man-made landscape. The parks are not only attractive in appearance. The large number of people using them, particularly at weekends and holidays is evidence of their popularity and the foresight and careful planning of local residents, Councillors and Council Staff. 35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 23) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham, main road, alistair knox park, eltham town park

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 23) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcess Date MAY 88Mbrougham steet, eltham, main road, marcella's, restaurants, 1988-05, franco and co, mount - kodak ektachrome, scan - 35mm positive

35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whitediamond street bridge, eltham

35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whiteeltham, roads, stanhope street

35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whiteeltham, stanhope street, clay nuneham

35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whiteeltham, houses, john street, mudbrick

35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whitearthur street, eltham, roads

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 8) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsdalton street, diamond creek trail, eltham

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAR 89Meltham, porter street, porter street reserve

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAR 89Meltham, porter street, porter street reserve

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAR 89Mbolton steet, brougham steet, eltham, southernwood

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAR 89Meltham, dalton street, diamond creek trail

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAR 89Meltham, st margaret's church, pitt street

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAR 89Mdalton street, eltham, eltham state school no. 209, headmaster's resience

The monument with time capsule was established by the Shire of Eltham Historical Society to commemorate Victoria’s 150th anniversary and mark the former location of the Eltham Town Centre, which existed along this section of Main Road, then known as Maria Street. The unveiling was conducted 10 November 1985 by Cr. Mary Grant (Shire President). The monument was constructed with a concrete base and the main feature is an old tyring plate or disc. The Time Capsule Ceremony involved lowering the sealed time capsule into place, bolting down its container lid and then concreting over the lid. The capsule contains items relating to present day (1985) Eltham and its people including a video film made by Joh Ebeli and also details of families and organizations who have contributed to construction of the monument. It is to be opened in the year 2035. The Society received an excellent response from local people, firms and organizations by way of assistance with this project. Graham Beyer, who originated the project, arranged many of the donations. He and his firm, Package Handling Equipment, donated the time capsule itself and carried out fabrication of sections of the monument. The design of the monument was adapted by Graham Beyer from drawings by Joh Ebeli. Charmac Industries donated the container for the time capsule and a cast gun metal name plate for the monument. BMG Concrete donated concrete for the base which was constructed by Caridi Construction Company. Northbourne Garden Supplies donated materials for the paving around the monument. Robert Becker from Eltham Apex directed construction of the paving by Society members. Terry Hutchinson donated the use of his crane to lift the tyring disc into place. Financial contributions were also made by the Eltham Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Eltham. In 1987 in commemoration of the Society’s 20th Anniversary, Joh Ebeli suggested the commissioning of a plaque to be added which explains the functions of the various items used in the Society’s Victorian 150th Anniversary Monument and this was unveiled by its designer, Joh Ebeli, on October 10, 1987.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAR 89Meltham, eltham community centre, monument, time capsule

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAR 89Meltham, main road, bridge street, roads

Part of a slide show presentation "Bridges & Waterways of the Shire" by Russell Yeoman to the 13 September 1989 Society meeting. The presentation included slides of historic photos from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers collections as well as several recent views.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 33) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsProcess Date Sep 1989brougham street bridge, eltham

Part of a slide show presentation "Bridges & Waterways of the Shire" by Russell Yeoman to the 13 September 1989 Society meeting. The presentation included slides of historic photos from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers collections as well as several recent views.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 33) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsProcess Date Sep 1989bridge street bridge, eltham

Part of a slide show presentation "Bridges & Waterways of the Shire" by Russell Yeoman to the 13 September 1989 Society meeting. The presentation included slides of historic photos from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers collections as well as several recent views.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 15) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsbrougham street bridge, eltham

Part of a slide show presentation "Bridges & Waterways of the Shire" by Russell Yeoman to the 13 September 1989 Society meeting. The presentation included slides of historic photos from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers collections as well as several recent views.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 15) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsbrougham street bridge, eltham, footbridge

Part of a slide show presentation "Bridges & Waterways of the Shire" by Russell Yeoman to the 13 September 1989 Society meeting. The presentation included slides of historic photos from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers collections as well as several recent views.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 15) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotseltham, footbridge, bridge street

Part of a slide show presentation "Bridges & Waterways of the Shire" by Russell Yeoman to the 13 September 1989 Society meeting. The presentation included slides of historic photos from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers collections as well as several recent views.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 15) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotseltham, footbridge, dalton street footbridge

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 36) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsst andrews market, proctor street, st andrews

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 36) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsst andrews market, proctor street, st andrews

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 36) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsst andrews market, proctor street, st andrews

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 36) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsroads, peter street, eltham

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 36) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsroads, eltham, bolton street

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 36) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsroads, montmorency, were street