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Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Painting - PAINTING OF W.C. VAHLAND
... , in the Bendigo area. These included the Town Hall, Shamrock hotel..., in the Bendigo area. These included the Town Hall, Shamrock hotel ...William Charles Vahland (1828-1915) was born in Germany and came to Bendigo in 1854. He married Jane Barrow in 1859. He was an architect responsible for over 200 building, both public and private, in the Bendigo area. These included the Town Hall, Shamrock hotel, and Fortuna Villa. He was a director and committee member of many Bendigo institutions.Oil painting, in ornate gold frame, of W.C. Vahland. On bottom of frame is a brass plaque on which is engraved written 'W.C. Vahland, Pioneer Bendigo Architect' Painting by Ruth Ellis. Donated to BHS by Licensee of Shamrock Hotel. Given to Jim Evans. No paperwork. The painting was originally hanging in the Shamrock Hotel. Deframed -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - VIEWS OF BENDIGO: LOOKING EAST FROM RESERVE, 1875
... Town Hall, Shamrock Hotel', 'Welch, Typo'... Synagogue, Buckley's Flour Mills. Oddfellows Hall, City Town Hall ...Sepia photograph of views of Sandhurst, looking east from reserve. Inscriptions: (on card) 'Views of Bendigo, No 1, Sandhurst East, with a portion of the City Reserve, N J Caire, Photo, Sandhurst, JW Forbes, Agent' (key to buildings in photo L to R) 'Jewish Synagogue, Buckley's Flour Mills. Oddfellows Hall, City Town Hall, Shamrock Hotel', 'Welch, Typo'N J Caire, Sandhurstprevious acc. no. 'mp134'. see also 2001.392.01 and 2001.390.01 see 'views of bendigo' by n.j.caire -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Postcard, "Pall Mall Bendigo", 1910
... with the Alexandra Fountain, the Beehive building, Town Hall, the Shamrock... with the Alexandra Fountain, the Beehive building, Town Hall, the Shamrock ...Printed postcard of a busy scene at Charing Cross with two ESCo trams in the view. Many people are in the view along with the Alexandra Fountain, the Beehive building, Town Hall, the Shamrock Hotel, and on the left side a mine poppet head. The card was printed in GermanyDemonstrates a Bendigo postcard featuring Charing Cross and Pall Mall.Postcard black and white- divided back - used.in ink - dated 25/12/1910 from Arthur Grofrey wishing the receiver, J H Hooke - Bank of Australasia in Leongatha a Happy New Year.tramways, trams, bendigo, alexandra fountain, charing cross, esco, pall mall -
City of Ballarat Libraries
Photograph, 8 Hours Day Procession, Ballarat circa 1893
... of the buildings seen in the photo are Mechanics Institute, Town Hall..., Town Hall and the Unicorn Hotel. celebrations 8 hours day ...This procession was conducted in Sturt Street. The picture insert is of the statue 'Flight from Pompeii'. Some of the buildings seen in the photo are Mechanics Institute, Town Hall and the Unicorn Hotel.celebrations, 8 hours day, streetscape, buildings, commerical, public, town hall, mechanics' institute, unicorn hotel, statue, flight from pompeii, sturt street, ballarat -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Postcard, Valentine & Sons Publishing Co, "Pall Mall Bendigo", c1910
... 15, along with the mine poppet head, the Town Hall..., along with the mine poppet head, the Town Hall, the Shamrock ...Printed colour postcard with a view from the City Family Hotel of Pall Mall Bendigo, Two ESCo trams, one possibly tram 15, along with the mine poppet head, the Town Hall, the Shamrock Hotel, and Henderson & Goodisson Beehive building. Card by Valentine & Sons, printed in Great Britain. Yields information about Charing Cross c910Postcard coloured - divided back - used as a letterHas the "K J Magor No. " stamp along the bottom edge on the rear and short note from a M Law.tramways, trams, bendigo, esco, town hall, pall mall, tram 15 -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - EASTER MONDAY FAIR, early 1900's
... on stand in centre. Town hall and Shamrock Hotel in background... procession horse drawn carriage Shamrock Hotel Bendigo Town Hall Town ...Black and white copy of photo of Easter Procession in Pall Mall. Bandsmen, marchers, horse drawn vehicles. Group of flags on stand in centre. Town hall and Shamrock Hotel in background. Inscriptions: in image - printed 'Easter Monday Fair, Bendigo'. On back - 'Bendigo Historical Society Inc' typed on adhesive label on back. In image 'Hotel Shamrock'. Date: Between 1900 - 1908place, streetscape, pall mall, bendigo, pall mall, bendigo easter procession, horse drawn carriage, shamrock hotel, bendigo town hall, town hall, streetscape, easter monday fair, history, clubs and associations, buildings, entertainment, event -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Slide - 35mm slide/s, Peter Moses, 21/08/1971 12:00:00 AM
... trams. Has National Mutual, Town Hall and Craigs Hotel... Hall and Craigs Hotel in the background. Tram is showing ...Photo of No. 42 waiting to turn from Lydiard St. North to Sturt St. on 21/8/1971, while running the ARHS/TMSV special trams. Has National Mutual, Town Hall and Craigs Hotel in the background. Tram is showing "Special" and is fitted with SEC roof advertisement "Everything's is under control in my all electric kitchen". Kodak cardboard mount slide, taken by Peter Moses 21 August 1971.On the rear of the slide in black ink "Ballarat / ARHS special from Lydiard St into Sturt St." and "P. Moses" in the bottom right hand corner.tramways, trams, arhs, lydiard st north, sturt st. -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Panorama of Stawell from Big Hill with Whims & Poppet Heads Victorian Views Collection C Herbert c.1880s
... formerly Castlemaine Hotel , Town Hall visible... formerly Castlemaine Hotel , Town Hall visible stawell panorama ...Views from Big Hill Sloane Street Fisher Street areas looking towards West. Mining in foreground of photo. Upper Main Street and Patrick Street Streetscapes visible. Mathers and Franklin. Agnew Draper. J R Franklin? Draper. Coffee Palace formerly Castlemaine Hotel , Town Hall visiblePanorama of Stawell from Big Hill showing Sloane's St. / Fisher St. areas. The photo has Whims & Poppet Heads in the foreground. There are around 6 copes of the photograph. Victorian Views. C. Herbert. Photo. Copyright Registered. Stawellstawell, panorama, mining, streetscape -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - THIRTEEN COLOURED BENDIGO PHOTOGRAPHS
... Office & Shamrock hotel, Town Hall, Charing Cross & Cenotaph... park, Post Office & Shamrock hotel, Town Hall, Charing Cross ...Foldout postcard containing Bendigo coloured photographs . Alexandra Fountain, Lake Weeroona, Sound Shell Rosalind park, Post Office & Shamrock hotel, Town Hall, Charing Cross & Cenotaph, Post Office & Law Courts, White Hills Botanic Gardens, Conservatory & Law Courts, Scene Queens Gardens Pall Mall, Lookout Tower, View from Lookout, Pall Mall View, Sacred Heart Cathedral.Nucolorvue Productions PTY Ltd, Moorabin Vicbendigo, buildings, heritage buildings -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Drawing - WES HARRY COLLECTION: ELEVEN BLACK PEN ART WORKS BY JAN NEIL 1972
... Bendigo Town Hall 1972 156I Shamrock Hotel 1972 156J Fortuna... Bendigo Town Hall 1972 156I Shamrock Hotel 1972 156J Fortuna Villa ...eleven art works in black pen sketches of Bendigo by Jan Neil dated 1972- 1977 156A Bendigo Pottery, Bottle Kiln, Epsom 1972 156B Gold Mines Hotel, Bendigo 1972 156C Bendigo Post Office 1972 156D National Bank 1973 156E Birney Car & Central Deborah Mine 156F Law Courts 1973 156G Law Courts 1980 156H Bendigo Town Hall 1972 156I Shamrock Hotel 1972 156J Fortuna Villa, Chum Street1980 156K Fortuna Villa 1977Jan Neil -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Black & White Photograph/s, Victorian Railways, late 1930's (1938?)
... are a street side Garage, a bakery, Golden City Hotel, Town Hall, St... City Hotel, Town Hall, St. Patricks Church and Harry Davies ...Black and White photograph, copy print of Reg. Item 2741, of Sturt St, looking east from the Ballarat City Fire Station tower, late 1930's, possibly 1938. Photo has two trams east bound in the photo, along with a few motor vehicles. In the photo are a street side Garage, a bakery, Golden City Hotel, Town Hall, St. Patricks Church and Harry Davies & Co. Drapers and importers. Has title "Sturt Street, Ballarat". Victorian Railways Photograph - now held by State Library. Original photo will have copyright provisions. Print made by John Phillips c1998 from negative of Reg. Item 2741 on Kodak paper.tramways, trams, sturt st, golden city hotel, st patricks -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Black and White photograph/s - mounted, Victorian Railways, 1938?
... , Town Hall, St. Patricks Church and Harry Davies & Co. Drapers... are a street side Garage, a bakery, Golden City Hotel, Town Hall, St ...Black and White photograph mounted onto heavy cardboard, original Victorian Railways Print, of Sturt St, looking east from the Ballarat City Fire Station tower, late 1930's, 1938? Photo has two trams east bound in the photo, along with a few motor vehicles. In the photo are a street side Garage, a bakery, Golden City Hotel, Town Hall, St. Patricks Church and Harry Davies & Co. Drapers and importers. Has title "Sturt Street, Ballarat" printed onto a label and fixed to the print. Victorian Railways Photograph - now held by State Library. Original photo will have copyright provisions. On rear of photograph, notes print ex ARHS, ex carriage 30AV, and in top right hand corner date 1938. On rear of photograph in top right hand corner "1938", central area of photo "725" in pencil, and lower central portion of the photo (in Warren Doubleday hand writing), "From A.R.H.S ex 30 AV".trams, tramways, sturt st, gold city hotel, st patricks, victorian railways -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Illustration/s, Ballarat Views, 1950's mid
... Sts looking towards Town Hall and Craig's Hotel. Photo... high, photo of north east Ballarat from Town Hall, looking out ...Single sheet of printed paper, collected from a magazine (p59/60) with two black and white photos of Ballarat and one colour of Bendigo. Photo 1 - 260mm long x 122mm high, photo of north east Ballarat from Town Hall, looking out to Black Hill. Photo similar to Reg. No. 102, but buildings on corner of Grenville and Bridge St has a Plume sign instead of a Mobilgas Ad. This indicates early to mid 1950's. One tram in loop in one in Bridge St. Also has a "Neptune" sign in photograph. Photo 2 - 195mm long x 75mm high - from north east corner of Sturt and Lydiard Sts looking towards Town Hall and Craig's Hotel. Photo includes SEC bogie at tram stop and the front end of bus travelling east in Sturt St. Photo 3 - 230mm long x 156mm high - colour printed photo of Pall Mall, Bendigo from west side (by Post Office), looking towards the Shamrock Hotel. Photo includes signs for "COR Motor Spirit", "Tanox Paint" and the rear of a Bendigo to Huntly bus. See item Reg. No. 102trams, tramways, ballarat, bendigo, pall mall, oil companies -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - VISION SPLENDID BENDIGO, 1986
... State School, Stone cottage Harvey Town, Eaglehawk Town Hall..., Town Hall, Post Office, Shamrock Hotel, Camp Hill State School ...Vision Splendid Bendigo. Cream coloured paper 56 pages, with line drawings of landmark buildings of Bendigo. Drawings by Jan Neil. Vision Splendid Introduction, Wesleyan Church Golden Square, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Central Deborah Mine, Marlborough House, Fuse factory, Goldmines Hotel, Fortuna Villa, Bon Accord, Heinz Butcher Shop, Long Gully State School, California Gully State School, Stone cottage Harvey Town, Eaglehawk Town Hall, Caradon, Eaglehawk State School, Victoria Hotel, Bendigo Pottery, Eucalyptus Distillery, St Luke’s, Lake Weeroona, Joss House, Benevolent Home, Lansellstowe, Kaithness, Malmo Valentine Street, Dudley House, Rifle Brigade Hotel, Fire Station, Masonic Hall, Temperance Hall, Old Post Office, Wesley Church, St. John’s Church, Alexandra Fountain, Commercial Bank View Point, State Bank, St Paul’s Cathedral Railway Station, National Bank, Town Hall, Post Office, Shamrock Hotel, Camp Hill State School, Police Barracks, Law Courts, Specimen Cottage, Technical College, St. Kilian’s Church, Tram Depot, St. Aidan’s OrphanageJan Neilbendigo, buildings, heritage buildings, heritage, heritage buildings, bendigo. -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Nola (Nettie) Maher, 27 April 2000
Nola (Nettie) Maher was born in Beechworth on 31st December, 1935. Her father returned from World War One and purchased a miner’s cottage in 1919 where Nettie lived in for the majority of her life. Nettie worked for ten years at the Pittman’s Shoe Factory, once located on Ford Street, which was in operation from 1 July 1947 to 28 August 1961. She fondly recalls the camaraderie amongst the staff and certain managers, and details the factory processes, union activities and the work she continued to do once she was married and had children. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. Nola Nettie Maher’s account of her personal and working life in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. She details important details about life and working in the region post World War Two, including insights into women’s working roles, as well as the social aspects of town life. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book ‘Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.’ While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town’s residents during the 20th century, many of which would have been lost had they not been preserved. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Nola Maher /beechworth, nola maher, nettie maher, listen to what they say, jennifer williams, oral history, hospital, private hospital, birth, miner’s cottage, kerosine, eucalyptus, rabbit, laundry, dressmaking, dressing certificate, dry cleaners, hotel, shoe, leather, shoe factory, uppers, pittman, ford street, charlie king, union, wages, new years eve, dance, memorial hall, married women, flexible hours, ice cream, milk bar -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photograph, Vogt, Stanley, 1910 - 1920
In 1884 J.A. Petterson built the first Orbost Club Hotel with the licence in the name of Thomas Maguire (his stepson). This hotel was the first in the area and cost 1,400 pounds to build (ref. In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall) and was actually built before Orbost was proclaimed a township - April 17 1885. T.a. Marshall was the proprietor about the time the photograph was taken. This is the bottom pub in Orbost known as the Club Hotel.The Orbost Club Hotel was the first hotel built in the Orbost district and was an important hub for the township with many whole town meetings held there.A black / white photograph on a brown buff card with embossed decorations. It is of the Orbost Club Hotel, a large two-storeyed building with verandahs on both levels. In the foreground are two motor vehicles and a group of men dressed in suits, hats and overcoats facing the camera.on back - "Mrs Mustard"orbost-club-hotel -
Orbost & District Historical Society
wall clock, c. late 19th century
The clock was the original clock located over the bar in the Orbost Club Hotel. In 1884 J.A. Petterson built the first Orbost Club Hotel with the licence in the name of Thomas Maguire (his stepson). This hotel was the first in the area and cost 1,400 pounds to build (ref. In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall) and was actually built before Orbost was proclaimed a township - April 17 1885 The R A on the pendulum stands for: retard/advance. It is a common pendulum bob, used by many manufacturers, worldwide. Regulator clocks, sometimes referred to as pendulum clocks, were invented in the late 18th century in a quest for greater timekeeping accuracy. They were weight-driven devices. The pendulum on this clock appears to be German made. .The Orbost Club Hotel was the first hotel built in the Orbost district and was an important hub for the township with many whole town meetings held there.A wall clock with Roman numerals inside a dark brown wooden case. It has a brass pendulum and the key is inside the case.R A on the pendulum.wall-clock orbost-club-hotel -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Historical Notes, Historical Notes for Doncaster, Templestowe, Croydon, Ringwood, Nunawading (undated) - Ringwood Historical Research Group, 2-Nov-68
Programme of exploration of interesting historical buildings etc. in Ringwood, Croydon and Doncaster Templestowe areas including Doncaster Inn Hotel Schramm's Cottage, Wicklow hills, Croydon, Coolstore, Clocktower and Town hall in Ringwood and Schwerkolt's Cottage Nunawading. Programme of the tour by people from Mornington on 2-Nov-1968Historical notes 7 pages of notes convened by Ringwood Hist. Research Group in conjunction with Croydon. Nunawading and Doncaster Templestowe Hist. Societies +Additional Keywords: Pullin,R.A. / McGivern, M / Field, J. (Mrs.) / Greene,I -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Pamphlet, Ringwood Walk - Points of Historical Interest, 1979
Sketch of walking route for 17 historical points of interest organised by the Ringwood Historical Society for St. Paul's Church Centenary Celebrations - 14 October 1979, estimated duration 2-1/4hours.1 - Start 2 - Cnr Braeside Avenue, old township, brickworks 1881-1916, Guests, Herrys, Hills 3 - Club Hotel, Ringwood Hall, 1st site of C of E church corner 4 - Ringwood Lake, Anthony Ford - pioneer 5 - Opposite Bardia Street, Sandy Gully, Duncan's Hotel 6 - Opposite Pratt Street, 2nd site of C of E, 2nd fire station, Bentleys, old shopping centre 7 - Warrandyte Road, Former Clocktower site, Pratts butcher shop, Bamfords 8 - End of Pitt Street, building viaduct 9 - Bedford Road, Webdales, old crossing, railway station 10 - Station Street, views over railways 11 - Station entrance, old shopping centre, 2nd Postoffice, 2nd blacksmiths, Mechanics Institute, Town Hall 12 - Clocktower, 3rd State School, coolstores, 3rd Postoffice, market, Kenworthys 13 - Opposite market, 3rd site of C of E, Ringwood views 14 - Adelaide Street, Dickens, 1st fire station, Ringwood Reserve 15 - Opposite squash courts, Matlocks, Salvation Army 16 - Opposite library, bowling club, old baths 17 - Outside C of E, Ringwood views, Brittens, Glamorgan -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Ringwood Hall, Mount Dandenong Road, Ringwood - circa 1900, Circa 1900
Ringwood Hall was located near the Club Hotel in Mount Dandenong Road prior to construction of Mechanics Institute/Town Hall in Maroondah Highway in 1909.Black & white photo of crowd gathered at original Ringwood Hall, Mount Dandenong Road, Ringwood. "Old Ringwood Hall nr. Club Hotel, later burnt down approx 1909". "Old Ringwood Hall prior to Mech Inst of 1909". -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Posters - "Tawonga Remembers" x 7, 2016
The town of Tawonga is in the Kiewa Valley surrounded by farmland. It is adjacent to Mt Beauty (built from 1946), an SECV town built for the workers on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme which was being constructed from 1911 to 1961. Tawonga consisted of essential amenities including a store, school, Butter factory, sporting facilities, post office, hall and hotel. Activities involved sport, social get togethers eg. dances, fund raising, CWA etc.The posters are a collection of historical photos, documentation and information regarding the history of the town of Tawonga, which is the centre of a farming community in the Kiewa Valley. Posters framed with thin black plastic strip, covered by glass. Each one has a title re 'Tawonga Remembers' and includes print and photos. 1. Tawonga Bowling Club 1953 includes 5 B&W photos on black background. 2. Bogong Hotel 4 B&W photos on black background. 3. Bogong Hotel 1970s - 2011 3 B&W photos and 3 coloured photos on black background 4. Tawonga Butter Factory 3 B&W photos on sepia background. 5. Tawonga Store 2 B&W photos on black background. 6. Post Office 3 B&W photos and 1 coloured photo on sepia background. 7. Debutante Balls held in the Hall 2 B&W photos on sepia background.tawonga, photos of early tawonga, kiewa valley, tawonga remembers -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Posters - "Tawonga Remembers" x 5, 2016
The town of Tawonga is in the Kiewa Valley surrounded by farmland. It is adjacent to Mt Beauty (built from 1946), an SECV town built for workers on the SECV's Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme, which was being constructed from 1911-1961. Tawonga consists of essential amenities including a store, school, post office, butter factory, sporting facilities, hall and hotel. Activities involved sport, social get togethers eg. dances, fund raising, CWA etc.The posters are a collection of historical photos, documentation and information re the history of the town of Tawonga, which is the centre of a farming community in the Kiewa Valley.Posters framed with thin black plastic strip, covered by glass. Each one has a title re "Tawonga Remembers" and includes print and photos in black and white. These have a beige background. 1. Tawonga 1907; 2. Tawonga 1962; 3. Tawonga State School- 1880-1929; 4. Tawonga Primary School -1960; 5. The Beginning of Change: 1930-1970tawonga, photos of early tawonga, kiewa valley, tawonga remembers, tawonga school -
Port of Echuca
A black and white photograph, The Bridge Hotel, in 1896, showing Silky Oak trees, 1970's
The Bridge Hotel was built by Henry Hopwood to house visitors to the town crossing the Murray River on his punt crossing, which was situated just below the Bridge Hotel on the Murray River. The accommodation was spacious and grand! In the right back corner of the photograph, the 'lantern' roof of the St Georges Hall can be seen. The street is level with the front entrance to the Hotel, which is very different to what it is today.The photograph shows hotel activities and accommodation in the late 19th Century.A black and white photograph of the Bridge Hotel taken from the Hopwood Gardens. The photograph shows four silky oak trees growing along the front of the building. There is an empty flag pole outside the front of the building. The right wing advertises billiards, whilst the left wing apparently was a bar.Written on the building can be seen the words; HOTEL and BILLIARDS. Written in pen on the back of the photograph are the words "Bridge Hotel. Probably 1896, showing Silky Oak trees.bridge hotel, henry hopwood, silky oak trees, lantern roof, st georges hotel -
Port of Echuca
Photograph, Approx. 1970's
The Bridge Hotel was built by Henry Hopwood to house visitors to the town crossing the Murray River on his punt , which was situated just below the Bridge Hotel on the Murray River. The accommodation was spacious and grand! In the right back corner of the photograph, the 'lantern' roof of the St George's Hall can be seen. The street is level with the front entrance to the Hotel, which is very different to what it is today.The photograph shows hotel activities and accommodation in the late 19th Century. The Bridge Hotel was a very busy place as can be seen with women on the balcony, a stage coach full of people, laden carts and buggies.The Bridge Hotel Echuca - photo taken looking south towards front of building. Four people can be seen on the balcony and several gathered under the verandah. In the foreground are several horse-drawn carriages. The road in front of the hotel is unmade and very wide, with the roof of St.George's Hall seen over the right (western) wing of the hotel. Verso: Bridge Hotel, 1860s? St. George's Hall in background.bridge hotel, henry hopwood, lantern roof, st.george's hall, 1870s -
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
Newsclipping, Eltham, Report by Andrew Mckay, Pictures by Noel Butcher, The Herald, 26 July 1975, pp 21-22, 26 Jul 1975
Digital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.alistair knox, alma road, arthur munday, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, cameron jackson, carina hack, charlie macgillicuddy, charlie stevenson, circus, clifton pugh, david stephens, dorian le gallienne, eltham, eltham college, eltham hotel, eltham living and learning centre, eltham town square, eltham village, george paul, graham bell, great hall, green wedge, harold holt, jazz, jim chinaman's road, justus jorgensen, kangaroo ground, lower plenty, marcus skipper, matcham skipper, montmorency, montsalvat, mud brick construction, mudbrick, myra skipper, professor dick downing, professor macmahon ball, professor richard downing, research (vic.), roger bell, shire of eltham, shire president, shopping centre, swiper's gully, tim burstall, white cloud cottage -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Joy Chapman, Miss Eltham, April 1965, Apr 1965
My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days". SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Joy Chapman parading before the judges, Miss Eltham 1965, Apr 1965
My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days". SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Joy Chapman, Miss Eltham 1965 with other contestants, Apr 1965
My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days". SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Peter Pidgeon, The original Miss Eltham 1965 sash, 17 May 2019
My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days". SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Born digitalalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river