Photo Album - dark blue plastic covers with the letters "photo album" in raised letters, stippled finish containing 10 leaves ring bound with an adhesive surface with clear plastic sheet on each cover. Page 1 – set of 8 Last day tram tickets – 16/4/1972 and four SEC tickets rear. Page 2 – set of 10 SEC tickets and 2 backs Page 3 – 2 BTPS 10c tickets, MMTB 25c, 3 Brisbane City Council tickets, two Trittons furnishings, one WCC (Wellington?) cable car and two MMTB City Concession tickets Page 4 – Set of 9 MMTB tickets 4d, 7d city, 7d, 8d, 1/-, 1/ 4, 2/- or 20c, 2/6 and one Pensioner’s check ticket. Page 5 – Set of 9 MMTB tickets, 4c, 8c, 9c, 10c, 30c, Pensioner’s concession, two $1 City concession cards, city concession check ticket and two machine issued tickets 1c and 15c. Page 6 – set of 16 MMTB tickets that have been recovered from within trams, very dirty, check tickets, value tickets and advertising on the rear. Page 7 – various special train tickets – Stainless steel train, ARHS tours, TMSV, ARHS Farewell, ARHS SA Mile End, Ballarat trams x 2, Crich exhibition ticket and one MTT (Tas?) 30c. Page 8 – VR Windsor to Melbourne Quarterly 1940, 7 VR various country and suburban tickets and two VR Motor coach services tickets. Page 9 – two interstate reserved seat tickets, Brisbane suburban ticket and 8 various values QR Parcel tickets – very dirty. Page 10 – Two Puffing Billy guest passes, 10th anniversary ticket, 10 various card tickets for Puffing Billy and tours. Page 11 – 6 + others MTT Adelaide value tickets with adverts on rear and four AETM St Kilda Museum tickets. Page 12 – four Red Bus Rover London tickets, four Peak Tramways tickets, one toll bridge, 6 London machine issued tickets. Page 13 – One San Francisco Municipal Railway ticket, one LlafrairPG platform ticket and two MMTB Machine tickets. Page 14 – One $1 MMTB city concession card and one Parramatta Park tramway ticket issued for COTMA during 1976. Page 15 – One Emerald Park vehicle entry ticket and one PBPS opening day of the extension to Lakeside in 1975 with certificate. Page 16 – One PBPS Notice. Page 17 – not used. Page 18 – three commemorative envelopes – WA Railway Centenary, Standard Gauge to Melbourne, and Sydney to Perth. Page 19 – Brisbane tramways last day, two Last day envelopes for Ballarat and Bendigo. Page 20 – three different St Kilda Centenary – Adelaide. Contained within the album was loose tickets - see Reg Item 3970 and a pamphlet for the opening of the Transport Mural at Spencer St Station on 30 Jan. 1978.has a label on the side in punched letters on a green tape "Tickets and Postal Covers"trams, tramways, tickets, secv, mmtb, adelaide, brisbane, arhs, aetm, aeta, pbps, cotma, tmsv, victorian railways, vr, post office, envelopes, post office

Large platform scales such as these ones made by W. & T. Avery were used for weighing goods for trading and passengers' luggage. They would be used in places such as railway stations, shipping ports, customs offices and ticketing offices. Often fees would be charged to customers according to the weight of their goods and luggage. Items would be placed onto the large horizontal platform then weights would be added to the weighing bar until the bar leveled to being horizontal. The weights would be added together and the total of the weights would be used for the final figure. These scales were made in Birmingham, England, by the British company, W and T Avery. The company had its origins in the early 1700s but only became known as W and T Avery when the brothers William and Thomas Avery inherited the scale-making business from a relative, Joseph Balden, on his death in 1813. By 1885 they had three factories and In 1895, the company acquired James Watt & Co and two years later had moved to the 25-acre Soho Foundry site in Smethwick, Birmingham where James Watt had manufactured steam engines. When the last Avery family member died in 1918, the company employed over 3,000 people and had businesses all over the world. Following the highly successful introduction of the first digital retail scale in 1971, the company was taken over by the GEC Group in 1979. The business was subsequently acquired by the American company, Weigh-Tronix, in 2000 which had already acquired a competitor, Salter. The Avery name continues today in the company known as Avery Weigh-Tronix.An item that was used at the turn of the century as train platform scales or for weighing agricultural products. Made by a company that pioneered weighing equipment with offices all over the world. With many examples of this scale in museums throughout the world. Platform scales with wheels. Large cast iron, scales painted black, weight capacity to 7 CWT (hundred weight). Weight beam has markers "0. 5. 10. 15. 20. 25". Platform scale loose weight type with relieving handle; cast iron construction, fluted columns with integral weight stand, the two wheels are fitted to base at front of platform; there is a graduated steelyard 0-14bs with pear-shaped poise. Weight carrier is missing.Pressed into cast iron arm on scale, one side "W. & T. AVERY", opposite side "BIRMINGHAM", and into the platform "TO WEIGH 7 CWT, W. & T. AVERY, MAKERS, LONDON & BIRMINGHAM" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, measuring scales, weighing scales, weighing instrument, fees for goods, fees for luggage, ticket office

Technical drawing of "Proposed Station At 16Mls 38Chs 89Lks (Dublin Road)" inluding boundary line, red shaded platform with station buildings, and green shaded possible future "up" track. Surrounding streets include Dublin Road, Patterson Street, and subsequent hand-written additions of Railway Avenue, Lawrence Grove, Stanley Avenue, Wenwood Street, and Lois Street. Land title details of Patterson Street properties mainly illegible.Scale: 40'=1". Possible future (platform) extension for 8 car trains (and) extension for 10 car trains.

Showing main building at Ringwood Railway Station in 1914, including railway staff and newspaper shop on the platform.

Digital scanFrom Vicrail News magazine, April 1983. “Duplication of the five-kilometre section of line between Ringwood and Croydon is on the way. Several major works will be undertaken over the next few months so the two tracks can be brought into service later this year. Intensive work on this section follows completion of duplication works between Ringwood and Bayswater on the Belgrave line last December. The completion of this 5.17 kilometre section between Ringwood and Bayswater means that this Belgrave line is now duplicated as far out as Ferntree Gully. Commuters using the Belgrave line now have an improved service with the intro duction in January of an additional evening peak train to Upper Ferntree Gully, two additional peak hour services in the morning from both Belgrave and Upper Ferntree Gully, and with the additional tracks delays on one line will not affect trains travelling in the opposite direction. Commenting on the completion of this stretch of track the Minister of Transport, Mr. Crabb, said a further improvement had been made with the commissioning of boom barriers at the Bedford Road level crossing in Ringwood. "The installation is part of the State Government's $9.4 million four-year plan to equip 70 dangerous level crossings throughout the State with boom barriers", he said. Works to be carried out on the Ringwood/ Croydon section include laying of new track, station works at Croydon and installation of boom barriers at East Ringwood. Already completed are bridge works to cater for double tracks at both Mt. Dandenong and Eastfield Roads between Croydon and East Ringwood and construction of an island platform at East Ringwood station. At several locations alignment of the existing track will be slightly relocated. The new line is being constructed with concrete sleepers and heavyweight rails. The existing line will also be reconstructed using these heavy 60kg per metre rails. Engineering works to be completed include installation of overhead wiring necessary to supply power to trains, construction of two new station buildings and a new platform at Croydon, provision of boom barriers, and pedestrian boom barriers at Dublin Road level crossing. East Ringwood, and replacement of existing timber overhead wire support structures with steel structures. Other works in this program included installation of boom barriers at Bedford Road, Ringwood and Scoresby Road, Bayswater and provision of a new platform for trains going to Melbourne and Heathmont. A new timetable on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines will commence when the Ringwood—Croydon duplication track work is completed.”

Views of Ringwood railway station, showing signal box on Platform 1 and the laying of the third (central) track through the station. Ninecolour photographs.

Coloured photograph"Written on back of photograph" Ringwood station before development. Platform 2

Coloured photograph"Written on back of photograph" Ringwood station before development. Platform 2

Coloured photograph"Written on back of photograph" Ringwood station before development. Platform 1

Coloured photograph"Written on back of photograph" Ringwood station before development. Platform 2

These two sheets show the 1897 plans drawn up by the Victorian Railways for the erection of the Warrnambool Railway Station building. It is a two-storey building still existing today. The railway came to Warrnambool in 1890 and they must have used temporary buildings for seven years before this railway building was erected. It had offices, booking counter and public facilities on the ground floor and housing for the Station Master on the first floor. The building erected was a typical design for country town railway stations and many of similar design were erected in the 1880s and 90s. These plans are important because they show clearly the design of the Warrnambool Railway Station buildings when they were first erected in the 1890s.They will be very useful for researchers. The coming of the railway was a significant event in Warrnambool’s history and did much to make the port and shipping a less viable proposition.These are two architect’s plans and drawings of the Warrnambool Railway Station building (1897). The drawings are black and white and the first plan shows the ground floor plan and the first floor plan and the outbuildings. The second plan shows drawings of the building with its elevation to the platform and its elevation to Merri Street. There are two stamps of the Railways Department, Melbourne. These are copies, not originals. ‘Victorian Railways, Warrnambool, Station Buildings, Scale 8 feet to one inch, Contract No. 6379B (Nos. 1 and 2)’warrnambool, railway station buildings

Extinction Rebellion protest mural painted on the western wall of Platform 3095 cafe facing the railway station Prior to September 2016 a grouping of five trees were planted in the small garden bed on the western end of the cafe in two groups either side of the traffic sign which at that stage was the taller By October 2017 the five trees had doubled in height to about 1m above the roof line By April 2018 the trees were all about 2m above the roof line By August 2019 all five trees had been cut down and the wall was a mixture of paint patches from ongoing graffitti attacks By January 2020 the wall had been adorned with this mural which appears to have discouraged ongoing graffitti attacks but its message is tinged with irony that five healthy young trees were removed fay bridge collection, 2020-01-29, eltham, platform 3095, extinction rebellion

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

On Saturday September 2, 2023, Russell Yeoman led a group of 22 society members and interested others on a walk following trhe bounadries of the original Shillingalw farm. Commencing at the corner of Panther Place and Library Place, we proceeded up to Shillinglaw Cafe then the Shillinglaw trees at the former Eltham Shire Office site then along Main Road to the fire station then throughh St Laurence Lane and uinder the railway line , along Diamond Street then return via the Diamond Creek trail behind Andrew Park. The actual farm boundary went past the creek and further up the hill. The original farm comprised lot 90 of Holloway’s 1851 subdivision of Little Eltham. Its area was 30 acres lying east of the Diamond Creek and north of Henry Street. A number of stops were made to look at maps and early photos illustrating the gradual reduction of the farm area and the early history of the railway and other community uses, that occupied parts of the site.2023-09-02, activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, shillinglaw farm, 895 main road, amplifon, andrew park, andrew pocket park, arthur street, bar de tapas, barber shop, barry plant estate agent, blockbuster, bus depot, car park, carparks, central park, cleaver & co hair, commonwealth bank, crust pizza, divine bridal, dr ash constance, dudley street, eltham book shop, eltham convenience store, eltham fire station, eltham library, eltham newsagency, eltham optical, eltham railway station, eltham shops, fay bridge, fire bell, flagpole, flight centre, grill'd, information sign, iso chook, jellis craig estate agent, judge book village, kebab nation, kx pilates, la zanyas, liquorland, little drop of poison, lorraine jones & associates solicitors, luck street, machan indian restaurant, main road, mecho en mexico, missing gorilla, morrison kleeman real estate, pavilion menswear, platform 3095, playtherapy melbourne, pryor street, ray white real estate, restaurants, sage bulk whole foods, shillinglaw trees, sign, snap fitness, southern cross medical imaging, specsavers, st laurence lane, st vincents care service, thompson's pharmacy, todaro, united service station, vyve body & skin, welcome to eltham town, westpac bank, yang's kitchen, youth road

PART 1 – NILLUMBIK (00:00-07:17) Opening features various scenes around Nillumbik Shire. For 40,000 years Nillumbik was the home of the Wurundjeri people. Robert Hoddle gave the district its name. Jock Ryan, then president of Nillumbik Historical Society discusses the names Nillumbik and Diamond Creek. In the late 1830s white occupation began with gold found in Warrandyte in 1851 and 12 years later at Diamond Creek -the Diamond Reef which led to the Caledonian gold rush. Jock Ryan discusses the Diamond Creek mine, which was thriving until it burnt out in 1915. Large numbers of workmen moved into area in late 1870s to construct the Maroondah Aqueduct. With growing population of Melbourne, the nearby Yan Yean system had severely disrupted the flow of the Plenty River, forcing the closure of three flour mills there. The aqueduct came to the rescue carrying water 66km from Healesville to Preston. When the Diamond Creek gold mine burnt down the local economy suffered but fruit growing industry had already been established and Diamond Creek became a thriving fruit growing centre. Interview with Jack Powell, a long-time fruiterer at St Andrews market, his family had lived in the area for a hundred years, 3 to 4 generations, “a lot of hard work”. By the time the railway arrived fruit growing was no longer competitive. The railway brought the city closer and day trippers. The Green Wedge separates the shire from the more densely developed neighbours such as Whittlesea, Doncaster, Templestowe, Bulleen and Greensborough. Population at the time (1996) was 19,000 but links to the past remain strong. Mudbrick houses along the Heritage Trail The saving of Shillinglaw Cottage from demolition in 1963 and relocation brick by brick. PART 2 – ENVIRONMENT (07:18-14:44) Peter Brock (with Bev Brock in background) at St Andrews market discusses his childhood growing up in the district and the environment and the values it instilled upon him and his own family. The Brocks have been in the district since the 1860s. Nillumbik Shire responsible for managing three catchment areas; Diamond Creek, Arthurs Creek and Watsons Creek. Follows the course of the Diamond Creek commencing in Kinglake through the district to its confluence with the Yarra River at Eltham at Eltham Lower Park. Highlights Eltham Lower Park community revegetation program and the newly constructed (1996) viewing platform built of new and recycled timbers at the confluence of the Diamond Creek and Yarra River. Also featured are outdoor recreation on the river and at Eltham Lower Park including the Diamond Valley miniature railway. Sugarloaf reservoir and recreational activities and fishing. Aerial view of Memorial Park and Shire of Eltham War Memorial tower at Garden Hill, Kangaroo Ground. Significant tourism opportunities for the shire with 3 million potential day-trippers in metropolitan Melbourne. Council and community working together to find a way to promote the shires natural and artistic assets. At Arthurs Creek, the Brock family and neighbours working together to take care of their waterway. Peter Brock’s uncle, Sandy Brock talks about environmental management and the Arthurs Creek Landcare group and actions to eradicate blackberry problem. Having previously planted Cypress rows they are replacing them with indigenous species to improve the water supply, keeping cattle out of the creek bed to improve the quality downstream flowing into the Yarra. Eltham East Primary School Band playing “All things bright and beautiful” merges into scenes of the bushland sanctuary set aside by the school in 1980 with unidentified teacher discusses the sanctuary and their education program and school children’s comments. Plight of a family of Wedgetail eagles nesting in the path of a developer’s bulldozer at North Warrandyte and actions to save their nesting areas. PART 3 – ARTS (14:45-22:00) Arts and Jazz festival at Montsalvat featuring interviews with Sigmund Jorgensen discussing Montsalvat and its principles. Also Matcham Skipper. Clifton Pugh’s funeral at Montsalvat and his legacy at Dunmoochin near Cottlesbridge with artists in residence, at the time, Chicago artist Charles Reddington who discusses the benefits of the experience. An unidentified female artist also talks about the program and why people are drawn to the area. Unidentified man on street talking about the amount of talent in the area, artists, poets, musicians, authors. Artist Ming Mackay (1918-2009) interviewed talking about the people she mixes with on “the Hill”. Works of local artists are displayed Eltham Library Community Gallery and Wiregrass gallery with a new coffee shop at the Wiregrass making it an even more popular destination. Music at St Andrews Hotel (may be a little bit country) and the Saturday market where likely to hear anything. Sellers and patrons at the market asked about what attracts them to the market and where they came from. Scenes of poets/authors giving readings. CREDITS Music by John Greenfield from the CD Sweet Rain “The Snow Tree”, Uncle Music UNC 2001 Cameras - David Mirabella and Peter Farragher Editor – Olwyn Jones Written and Produced by Jason Cameron A Jason Cameron Proction for Nillumbik ShireProvides a record of the relatively newly created Shire of Nillumbik at the time and the features and attactions of the shire in its people arts, culture and environmentVHS Cassette (two copies) Converted to MP4 file format 0:22:00, 1.60GBvideo recording, arthurs creek, arthurs creek landcare group, artists, artists in residence, arts, arts festival, authors, blackberry, brock family, bulldozer, bulleen, bushland sanctuary, caledonian gold rush, charles reddington, clifton pugh, cottlesbridge, cypress rows, developer, diamond creek, diamond creek mine, diamond reef, diamond valley miniature railway, doncaster, dunmoochin, education program, eeps, eltham, eltham east primary school, eltham east primary school band, eltham library community gallery, eltham lower park, environment, fishing, flour mill, fruit growing, fruiterer, garden hill, gold mining, green wedge, greensborough, heritage trail, hurstbridge railway line, jazz festival, jock ryan, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground tower, kinglake, maroondah aqueduct, matcham skipper, memorial park, ming mackay (1918-2009), montsalvat, mudbrick houses, music, musicians, nesting area, nillumbik historical society, nillumbik shire, north warrandyte, old timer, orchards, peter brock, plenty river, poets, population, recreation, recreational activities, revegetation, robert hoddle, sandy brock, shillinglaw cottage, shire of eltham war memorial, sigmund jorgensen, st andrews hotel, st andrews market, sugarloaf reservoir, templestowe, the hill, tourism, viewing platform, warrandyte, water catchment area, watsons creek, wedgetail eagle, whittlesea, wiregrass gallery, wurundjeri, yarra river, jack powell

This photo was taken the same time as EDHS_04673-36 an A2-class Steam Locomotive 987 sitting on the other side of the platform at Spencer Street Railway Station. 280HP Walker Railmotor Walker Railmotors are diesel railcars, or train sets, that were designed to improve the passenger services on Victorian branchlines in Australia. They were practically a bus service on rails. These motors entered service in 1948 with the 102 hp and the 154 hp units. The 102 hp units were built until 1955 and the 153 hp units stopped being built one year before. The 280 hp units were built from 1950-1951. The engine and drive systems were built by the Walker Railcar Company in Wigan, England, and the bodies were built by Martin & King in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The railcars were put together by Victorian Railways. The railcars were, in the end, gradually replaced by a diesel electric railcar from 1978 on. Amazingly these railcars survived to this time, even though they were in direct competition with the bus service. By 1980 no Walker Railmotor cars or trainsets were in service. Very few are preserved. REF: Walker Railmotors, https://locomotive.fandom.com/wiki/Walker_RailmotorsDigital TIFF file Scan of black and white 620 format contact printgeorge coop collection, spencer street railway station, walker railmotor

Most likjely taken either arriving or departing from a visit of the display at Spencer Street Railway Station during the 1954 Victorian Railways Centenary Exhibition, 11-25 Sep. 1954 "V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition, red rattler, tait train

Churchill Street shops just visible on right of image. The grass embankment visible in the distance on the left of the track is from where another view looking down the track beside Churchill Street was taken. Shows the original building on the northern platform of the Mont Albert station. The railway line was extended out to Lilydale with work commencing in 1882. Mont Albert station opened in 1890. It is presumed that this building was demolished when the third line was constructed in 1971. At the same time the nearby Surrey Hills original station buildings were demolished. George noted that he had donated a black and white print copy of this image some years earlier to the Surrey Hills Historical Society - see SHP2018/21/6 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5d6a450a21ea670e188d05c9Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, churchill street, mont albert railway station

Murray's Bridge over the Diamond Creek on the Diamond Creek Trail just prior to demolition and replacement with a new steel bridge. Heritage advice obtained by Nillumbik Shire Council, following a suggestion by the Eltham District Historical Society (EDHS), is that the original bridge appears to have been a simplified version of the Country Roads Board’s (CRB) standard timber bridge design of the early-to-mid 1920s. In c1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with three recycled steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. During these alterations many parts of the bridge were removed, and some were replaced. Heritage advice indicates the condition of Murray’s bridge is poor. The remaining original parts are all in poor condition, with severe weathering, splitting and rot, especially to the stringers retained on the bridge. Heritage advice is that Murray’s Bridge does not have sufficient significance in the cultural history of the Nillumbik area to warrant inclusion in the Nillumbik Shire Heritage Overlay and also does not have sufficient significance as a rare survivor to warrant inclusion in the Nillumbik Shire Heritage Overlay. There are no indications in the historical record that this site was individually important to the cultural history of this area. EDHS is comfortable with the heritage advice provided to Council and has worked closely on this project with Council. EDHS has suggested some of the removed timbers be used in the vicinity of the bridge for landscaping and possibly seating, so as to retain these remnants close to the site of the original bridge, which is the last old timber bridge along the lower reaches of the Diamond Creek. Mary (Sweeney) Murray and John Wright Murray selected 80 acres, Lot C Section 16 and Lot 5 Section 17 Parish of Nillumbik, under an occupation license in 1866. John died in 1867 and freehold was granted to his son John in 1873. The farm was known as ‘Laurel Hill’. John Junior was an Eltham Shire councillor and sometime president from 1887 up until 1897. He added Lot A Section 16 to the farm in ca1888. John and his younger brother James arranged to rent/purchase Lot B Section 17, across Diamond Creek to the west, in ca1900. It appears that John and James farmed separately for a few years, with a new homestead built for James ad family on the high point of Lot B Section 17 in ca1910. John sold off Lot 5 Section 17 in 1912. When John died in 1912 James took over the land on both sides of the Diamond Creek. The old homestead on the west side of the Creek disappeared. A farm bridge over Diamond Creek from this period may have been located close to the northern boundary of the farm. John Langlands, owner of the farm known as ‘Ihurst’ on the west side of Diamond Creek to the south of the Murray’s land, died in 1907. In 1909 his land was then subdivided into 100 lots to become the ‘Glen Park Estate’. Other similar subdivisions of nineteenth century farms around Eltham in this period included the ‘Franktonia (or Beard’s) Estate’ to the northeast and ‘Bonsack’s Estate’ between Eltham and Greensborough. Soon after the opening of the railway extension line from Eltham to Hurstbridge in 1912, Glen Park and nearby residents including James Murray agitated for a railway station or siding to be located half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge, so that the Glen Park residents who used the railway daily did not have to walk into the Eltham or Hurstbridge stations. Some believed Coleman’s Corner (opposite Edendale Farm) was an appropriate spot for the platform. James Murray was among those who thought the railway should be located on his land, closer to half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge stations. The Railways Commissioners warned that the locals would have to fund these works themselves. The Glen Park Estate residents initially had difficulty accessing Eltham by road, with only an old low-level bridge over Diamond Creek at the south end of their estate. A new timber trestle bridge across the creek, now on Wattletree Road, was opened in 1915. Road access to the north was gained in 1927 when the new Murray’s Road, which crossed the Murray’s land, was built. Residents continued to agitate for a Glen Park station. By 1926 the Railways Commissioners’ preferred site was on the Murray’s land. They arranged an estimate of cost of a full-length platform. The estimate was too much for the locals, who in 1928 argued unsuccessfully for a shorter and hence cheaper platform. By 1929 Murray had agreed to donate the land, but the locals would still have to fund the works. Murray decided, unilaterally it would appear, to commence work on a timber trestle road bridge over Diamond Creek to link the new Murray Road to the proposed station. Late in 1929 he stopped work on the bridge, for reasons unknown, but started work again and completed the bridge in 1931. There is no further newspaper evidence of the campaign for the Glen Park station until 1939, when Murray and another local, Mr Maxwell, met the Railways Commissioner. The Glen Park locale now included 45 homes on the west side of the creek and 20 on the Eltham side. Most of the residents used the train every day. The Commissioner remained adamant that only a full-length platform could be built for safety reasons. It appears the campaign dissolved at this point. The increasing move to cars may have had an impact. There is no evidence of Murray’s bridge ever being connected to Murray’s Road, or of it having wide use for any purpose by locals. James Murray died in 1947 and the farm was taken over by his son James (Jim). Jim started to sell off parts of the farm in the 1980s, retaining a few acres around the ca1910 homestead and building a new house there. Recreation reserves were established along the creek. In ca1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. The old farmhouse was demolished in ca2014. * * * A theory posted on local community Facebook groups was that the bridge was built in the 1860s and was built to be more robust than was necessary for the movement of cows from one side of the creek to the other. It was suggested the robustness was necessary to support the weight of gold ore being transferred from a mine on Murray’s land to a railway siding near Murrays Bridge (presumably for transfer and processing at Diamond Creek). Perhaps this may have been one of the motivators for Murray, who really knows? Knowing when mining operations ceased on his land and how that fits the overall timeline would be useful but at the time the bridge was built, local gold production was minimal at best. The known facts are: • The railway line came to Eltham in 1902. • The extension of the railway from Eltham to Hurstbridge was constructed in 1912 so no railway line even existed through Murray's property until 1912 and the Victorian Railways maps at the time show no such siding on Murray’s property. • In 1923 a new company was formed in anticipation of the old Diamond Creek Gold Mine being re-opened. The mine had been previously closed and flooded. It was noted in the press at the time that the mine was within a mile of the railway. Nothing really came of this. • Construction of Murrays Bridge was commenced by James Murray in early 1929 in anticipation of a proposed flag station being nominated on his land, but work ceased shortly afterwards. The proposed flag station was commonly referred to as Glen Park as the residents of the Glen Park Estate wanted Option 1, located near them with the platform adjacent to Colemans corner. This was probably never going to fly as it was virtually in eyesight of Eltham station. Allandale Road was the third option, but the Commissioners' preferred option was No. 2 - on Murray's property. • The Railway Commissioners were not going to finance any such station and the works had to be funded by private landowners and residents, hence Murray investing in this himself. • Murray recommenced work two years later and finished his bridge in 1931 but unfortunately for him, the proposed flag station never eventuated. The bluestone siding you reference may well have been built by Murray as part of the proposed station platform. • Up until then, apart from the Main Road bridge, which was washed away in 1924, virtually all local crossings over the Diamond Creek were low lying bridges – Kaylocks Bridge at Brougham Street, Diamond Street bridge, Glen Park Road bridge. It is expected that Murray also had a low-lying bridge to connect his land either side of the creek. These were all washed away or severely damaged multiple times in the 1920s. Lessons were learnt, and Murrays Bridge appears to have been built in accordance with Country Road Board standards of the time. Flood damage was ongoing, and even more recently constructed raised bridges kept getting washed away, e.g., the new Wattle Tree Road bridge in 1958 just months after completion. Murray’s bridge was reinforced with steel some 30 years ago presumably to provide additional floodwater resistance, given the history of bridges disappearing in floodwaters. • In March 1932 it was reported in the Advertiser that there were still some prospectors operating around Eltham North who apart from further scarring the face of the earth over the previous two years had gained significant experience but little gold - hardly a driving factor for constructing a dedicated railway siding and bridge to transfer gold ore. It is far more probable that James Murray was hoping to have the railway station located on his property and invested his money by building the bridge to lead to it as well as a station platform. Had the station eventuated, it may well have driven up the value of his land for subdivision and new housing estates like the Glen Park Estate. That did not eventuate. Whilst the bridge was indeed old (90 years), the core structure being completed in 1931, it had been modified substantially from original and hence had no significant historic value – i.e., it was not a representative example of its type, construction, and age. Given that the bridge was not worthy of saving, the Eltham District Historical Society with Council’s support, and the Eltham Woodworkers group endeavoured to see what suitable sized timbers were salvageable to fabricate a commemorative seat. Unfortunately, the experts at the Woodworkers group were unable to salvage any suitable length/width timbers to fabricate the seat due to the presence of rot. Last remaining wooden trestle bridge on the Diamond Creek Trail just prior to demolition and replacementBorn digital image (27)diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, murrays bridge, ‘laurel hill’, john wright murray, mary (sweeney) murra, john murray jnr, james murray, john langlands, ‘ihurst’, ‘glen park estate’, beard's estate, franktonia, bonsack's estate, glen park estate, glen park railway station

Construction work on replacement of Murray's Bridge over the Diamond Creek on the Diamond Creek Trail Mary (Sweeney) Murray and John Wright Murray selected 80 acres, Lot C Section 16 and Lot 5 Section 17 Parish of Nillumbik, under an occupation license in 1866. John died in 1867 and freehold was granted to his son John in 1873. The farm was known as ‘Laurel Hill’. John Junior was an Eltham Shire councillor and sometime president from 1887 up until 1897. He added Lot A Section 16 to the farm in ca1888. John and his younger brother James arranged to rent/purchase Lot B Section 17, across Diamond Creek to the west, in ca1900. It appears that John and James farmed separately for a few years, with a new homestead built for James ad family on the high point of Lot B Section 17 in ca1910. John sold off Lot 5 Section 17 in 1912. When John died in 1912 James took over the land on both sides of the Diamond Creek. The old homestead on the west side of the Creek disappeared. A farm bridge over Diamond Creek from this period may have been located close to the northern boundary of the farm. John Langlands, owner of the farm known as ‘Ihurst’ on the west side of Diamond Creek to the south of the Murray’s land, died in 1907. In 1909 his land was then subdivided into 100 lots to become the ‘Glen Park Estate’. Other similar subdivisions of nineteenth century farms around Eltham in this period included the ‘Franktonia (or Beard’s) Estate’ to the northeast and ‘Bonsack’s Estate’ between Eltham and Greensborough. Soon after the opening of the railway extension line from Eltham to Hurstbridge in 1912, Glen Park and nearby residents including James Murray agitated for a railway station or siding to be located half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge, so that the Glen Park residents who used the railway daily did not have to walk into the Eltham or Hurstbridge stations. Some believed Coleman’s Corner (opposite Edendale Farm) was an appropriate spot for the platform. James Murray was among those who thought the railway should be located on his land, closer to half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge stations. The Railways Commissioners warned that the locals would have to fund these works themselves. The Glen Park Estate residents initially had difficulty accessing Eltham by road, with only an old low-level bridge over Diamond Creek at the south end of their estate. A new timber trestle bridge across the creek, now on Wattletree Road, was opened in 1915. Road access to the north was gained in 1927 when the new Murray’s Road, which crossed the Murray’s land, was built. Residents continued to agitate for a Glen Park station. By 1926 the Railways Commissioners’ preferred site was on the Murray’s land. They arranged an estimate of cost of a full-length platform. The estimate was too much for the locals, who in 1928 argued unsuccessfully for a shorter and hence cheaper platform. By 1929 Murray had agreed to donate the land, but the locals would still have to fund the works. Murray decided, unilaterally it would appear, to commence work on a timber trestle road bridge over Diamond Creek to link the new Murray Road to the proposed station. Late in 1929 he stopped work on the bridge, for reasons unknown, but started work again and completed the bridge in 1931. There is no further newspaper evidence of the campaign for the Glen Park station until 1939, when Murray and another local, Mr Maxwell, met the Railways Commissioner. The Glen Park locale now included 45 homes on the west side of the creek and 20 on the Eltham side. Most of the residents used the train every day. The Commissioner remained adamant that only a full-length platform could be built for safety reasons. It appears the campaign dissolved at this point. The increasing move to cars may have had an impact. There is no evidence of Murray’s bridge ever being connected to Murray’s Road, or of it having wide use for any purpose by locals. James Murray died in 1947 and the farm was taken over by his son James (Jim). Jim started to sell off parts of the farm in the 1980s, retaining a few acres around the ca1910 homestead and building a new house there. Recreation reserves were established along the creek. In ca1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. The old farmhouse was demolished in ca2014. Born digital image (5)diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, murrays bridge, ‘laurel hill’, john wright murray, mary (sweeney) murra, john murray jnr, james murray, john langlands, ‘ihurst’, ‘glen park estate’, beard's estate, franktonia, bonsack's estate, glen park estate, glen park railway station

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 23) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham, main road, art store, eltham railway station, platform 3095, restaurants, shops, wiregrass gallery

Note the EJ Holden on the station platform with trailer attached. EJ Holden Production Sedan & Station Sedan: July 1962–August 1963Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencybendigo, bendigo railway station, george coop collection, holden ej, r-704, r-class steam locomotive

Note the EJ Holden on the station platform with trailer attached. EJ Holden Production Sedan & Station Sedan: July 1962–August 1963Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencybendigo, bendigo railway station, george coop collection, holden ej, r-704, r-class steam locomotive

R704 departs Bendigo Station with what was probably the Swan Hill passenger service. Note the EJ Holden on the station platform with trailer attached. EJ Holden Production Sedan & Station Sedan: July 1962–August 1963Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencybendigo, bendigo railway station, george coop collection, holden ej, r-704, r-class steam locomotive

In this picture can be seen steam locomotive J-521 and tender to which is attached State Car No. 5. It is believed that the other support carriages have been de-attached and the train has pulled up at the front of the platform allowing room for other trains to pull in. Immediately behind on the same track at the platform is a Diesel Electric Rail Motor (DERM) and C-class bogey (luggage) then a small (articulated) rail car (articulated) then a cattle van. On the adjacent track is State Car No. 2 (Melville) and a C-van. State Car No. 2 (Melville) was used a power generation car for special trains and the Train of Knowledge. State Car No. 5 is in the design of the Spirit of Progress. George Coop advised that the occasion is the visit of the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe to Echuca in 1963. Delacombe had replaced Sir Dallas Brooks in May 1963 who had departed for England on the liner Iberia,11 April 1963 (1963 'SIR DALLAS ON WAY TO U.K.', The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), 9 April, p. 9. , viewed 27 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104249252) George believes the Governor was doing a considerable formal train ride around the State and Echuca was on the schedule. The ‘platform’ was a special creation for such purposes, located on the wharf spur line that ran behind the Echuca Civic Centre. The large notice board commemorates the Queen’s visit on March 5th, 1954 for which the platform was initially built. From time to time it would get spruced up with pot plants, fresh paint and repaired hand rails for formal functions. George attended the Civic Reception held for the Governor. A picture of His Excellency Sir Rohan Delacombe, Governor of Victoria, and Lady Delacombe about to entrain at Spencer Street for a visit to western Victoria is available on page 4 of VICTORIAN RAILWAYS REPORT OF THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS COMMISSIONERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE, 1963. (http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/annual_reports/vrar1963.pdf) More information about the Victorian Railways Royal Train https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Railways_Royal_Train State Car No. 5 https://www.pjv101.net/cd/pages/c160v06.htm State Car No. 2 (Melville) https://www.pjv101.net/cd/pages/c160v03.htmDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencycattle van, c-van, diesel electric rail motor (derm), echuca, echuca rail yard, echuca railway station, george coop collection, governor of victoria, j-521, rail car, royal train, power car, sir rohan delacombe, state car no. 2 (melville), state car no. 5, train of knowledge, victorian railways

In this picture The Royal Train is passing through a railway crossing along the Wharf Spur line. The train has been shortened comprising steam locomotive J-521 and tender to which is attached the State car. The State car is in the design of the Spirit of Progress. George Coop advised that the occasion is the visit of the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe to Echuca in 1963. Delacombe had replaced Sir Dallas Brooks in May 1963 who had departed for England on the liner Iberia,11 April 1963 (1963 'SIR DALLAS ON WAY TO U.K.', The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), 9 April, p. 9. , viewed 27 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104249252) George believes the Governor was doing a considerable formal train ride around the State and Echuca was on the schedule. The ‘platform’ was a special creation for such purposes, located on the wharf spur line that ran behind the Echuca Civic Centre. The large notice board commemorates the Queen’s visit on March 5th, 1954 for which the platform was initially built. From time to time it would get spruced up with pot plants, fresh paint and repaired hand rails for formal functions. George attended the Civic Reception held for the Governor. A picture of His Excellency Sir Rohan Delacombe, Governor of Victoria, and Lady Delacombe about to entrain at Spencer Street for a visit to western Victoria is available on page 4 of VICTORIAN RAILWAYS REPORT OF THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS COMMISSIONERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE, 1963. (http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/annual_reports/vrar1963.pdf) More information about the Victorian Railways Royal Train https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Railways_Royal_Train State Car No. 5 https://www.pjv101.net/cd/pages/c160v06.htm Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyechuca, george coop collection, governor of victoria, j-521, railway crossing, royal train, sir rohan delacombe, state car no. 5, victorian railways, wharf spur line

In this picture the Royal Train is pulled up with the State Car at the commemorative platform on the Wharf Spur line. The train has been shortened comprising steam locomotive J-521 and tender to which is attached the State car. The State car is in the design of the Spirit of Progress. The platform is lined with plants in planter boxes. Two men in suits standing to the right, one with a large camera – either press or official photographer. The sign on the platform commemortaes the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness Phillip Duke of Edinburg on March 5th, 1954. George Coop advised that the occasion is the visit of the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe to Echuca in 1963. Delacombe had replaced Sir Dallas Brooks in May 1963 who had departed for England on the liner Iberia,11 April 1963 (1963 'SIR DALLAS ON WAY TO U.K.', The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), 9 April, p. 9. , viewed 27 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104249252) George believes the Governor was doing a considerable formal train ride around the State and Echuca was on the schedule. The ‘platform’ was a special creation for such purposes, located on the wharf spur line that ran behind the Echuca Civic Centre. The large notice board commemorates the Queen’s visit on March 5th, 1954 for which the platform was initially built. From time to time it would get spruced up with pot plants, fresh paint and repaired hand rails for formal functions. A picture of His Excellency Sir Rohan Delacombe, Governor of Victoria, and Lady Delacombe about to entrain at Spencer Street for a visit to western Victoria is available on page 4 of VICTORIAN RAILWAYS REPORT OF THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS COMMISSIONERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE, 1963. (http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/annual_reports/vrar1963.pdf) More information about the Victorian Railways Royal Train https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Railways_Royal_Train State Car No. 5 https://www.pjv101.net/cd/pages/c160v06.htmDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyechuca, george coop collection, governor of victoria, j-521, royal train, sir rohan delacombe, state car no. 5, victorian railways, wharf spur line

Current Southern Cross Railway Station was originally Spencer Street Railway Station prior to upgrade and addition of wave form roof This photo was taken the same time as EDHS_05399 Diesel-electric rail cars in the Railmotor Yard on the other side of the platform at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencya2 class steam locomotive, a2-987, george coop collection, southern cross railway station, spencer street railway station

This railway station building was erected in 1887 and closed in 1990. Now a new chapter begins with a newly restored station building amd platform that re-opened in October 2010 to be used by the Wycheproof Community.The Wycheproof Railway station constructed by Hossack & Brown in 1887 is Heritage listed and is on the Government Buildings Register. This photo is one of only a few available of the early days of the Station.The complex is historically significant at a State level AHC A.4. The Railway station contains significant detailing such as in the turned timber posts and overall composition. This early photo of Wycheproof railway station, shows a construction of timber with corrugated iron clad roof,in c.1904. Features of the design are the timber verandah posts with decorative elements which include chamfers and supporting diagonal timber brackets. The gabled roof has finials on the east and west ends. Seven people pose on the platform,the staff in uniform of the times.Nilregister, , railways, wycheproof, historic buildings, 1900s