EXPLORING THE UPPER YARRA (Newsletter No. 105, November 1995, by Bettina Woodburn) We enjoyed the Spring Excursion, this year "Exploring the Upper Yarra" - in spite of the constant rain and the countryside under the cloud cover, especially in the valleys, being mainly shiny shades of green. The occasional fields of buttercups, clumps of arum lilies and splendid rhododendron and other flowering bushes became very special. The Cobb and Co coach was warm and a cosy retreat as we zig-zagged on the highways and byways to glimpse the Yarra River, upstream and down, its secret places, and particularly the many bridges. Russell excelled as 'Poet Laureate', reading from Dacre Smyth's book. This 1979 publication includes paintings of all the bridges along the river with poems and brief descriptions of each one. Some of the bridges are in out of the way places and are not very well known. We looked forward to hearing the poetry as much as seeing the ' constructions'…Big Pat (was he short or tall, lean or fat? He did win the two hundred pound reward for discovering gold and had the creek named after him), about the 'Eddies'?, and the disliked 'meccano' bridge in Warburton, etc. etc. The hot roast lunch in the old Reefton Hotel was also most welcome. It was easy to imagine it peopled by miners and early settlers. Starting by crossing the new (1974) concrete bridge at Warrandyte we headed through Wonga Park with views to the Christmas Hills and to the escarpment of the Yering Gorge, which causes flood waters to back up through the Yarra Glen plain, so avoiding disasters downstream. At the end of a long driveway we found the wooden, privately owned Henley Bridge (1935 after the 1934 floods). This facilitates access to different parts of Henley Farm and to Lilydale. Everard Park, named after Blanche Shallard's father, a State Member for 17 years, below the Highway Yarra crossing was in need of care. It is 10 miles from Yarra Glen by road but, as "Yarra Marra” canoeists well know, 32 winding miles down by water. After more delightful countryside scenes we joined the Warburton Highway at Woori Yallock. From the old Railway Station at Launching Place the Centennial Trail for walkers, cyclists and ' horse riders has replaced the rails. The line from Lilydale was opened in 1901, and the last diesel freight train ran to Warburton in 1965. It continued to rain as we had morning tea in Warburton in a shelter between footbridges. From here we continued upstream past the Bridge to O'Shannasy Lodge and Reservoir, Starvation Creek, and the Peninsular tunnel (miners dug it as at Pound Bend) which we visited (scrambling down those steps!) on our return after lunch. Our furthermost point was the Upper Yarra Dam Reserve (and vast catchment area). Finished in 1957 after ten years work and 100 years after Yan Yean, it supplies much of Melbourne's water. After crossing the 30m Launching Place Bridge to the Eltham side of the Yarra and Healesville, we saw in the distance the Yarra Glen Timber Trestle Bridge over the river flats "the longest for years in the land it was said!" Harry's dream of "better weather over the Divide" unfortunately didn't come true, but I'm sure we 36 members will retain happy memories of a day that was wet and green and filled with Bridges. Bettina Woodburn - October 1995 Record of the Society's history of activities - Spring 1995 excursionColour photographactivities, upper yarra dam, 1995, peter bassett-smith

Sauntering along the freshly mown grassy pathways, we noticed Bill Pellings Grave, marked with a Bronze plaque with pink artificial roses beside the inscription. Marion Erswell who with her husband Ambrose lived in Eltham at Willandra, their poultry farm where the Judge Book Village is now . She had taught Bill at school and said he was one of her brightest students at Dandenong. Bill later became Chairman of Kraft Foods. We were reminded of our wanderings in the cemetery at Worthing, England, where we discovered Pelling graves when hunting for Henty ones. A brief collection of reminscences by Diana Bassett-Smith of locals who are buried at Kangaroo Ground Cemetery along with 17 photographs following a visit on1 October 2001.Colour photograph printedward oswald (bill) pelling, kangaroo ground cemetery

Four colour photographs of the former Brinkkotter Poultry Farm, Main Road, Research depicting the 'Regency Acres' real estate development of 22 lots advertised for auction 19 April 1988. The four photographs are shot by Peter Bassett-Smith in a panoramic sweep of the estate from Eltham College to the Research Primary School.poultry farm, main road, research vic., brinkkotter

Four colour photographs of the former Brinkkotter Poultry Farm, Main Road, Research depicting the 'Regency Acres' real estate development of 22 lots advertised for auction 19 April 1988. The four photographs are shot by Peter Bassett-Smith in a panoramic sweep of the estate from Eltham College to the Research Primary School.poultry farm, main road, research vic., brinkkotter

Four colour photographs of the former Brinkkotter Poultry Farm, Main Road, Research depicting the 'Regency Acres' real estate development of 22 lots advertised for auction 19 April 1988. The four photographs are shot by Peter Bassett-Smith in a panoramic sweep of the estate from Eltham College to the Research Primary School.poultry farm, main road, research vic., brinkkotter

Four colour photographs of the former Brinkkotter Poultry Farm, Main Road, Research depicting the 'Regency Acres' real estate development of 22 lots advertised for auction 19 April 1988. The four photographs are shot by Peter Bassett-Smith in a panoramic sweep of the estate from Eltham College to the Research Primary School.poultry farm, main road, research vic., brinkkotter

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100kangaroo ground

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100kangaroo ground

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100kangaroo ground

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100kangaroo ground

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100kangaroo ground

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100kangaroo ground

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100kangaroo ground

Eltham District Historical Society's 50th Anniversary dinner held at St Margaret's Hall, Pitt Street, Eltham, 27 October, 2017Born Digital50th anniversary, eltham district historical society, st margarets anglican church

Eltham District Historical Society's 50th Anniversary dinner held at St Margaret's Hall, Pitt Street, Eltham, 27 October, 2017 Diana was also associated with the Pny Club and Eltham Rural GroupBorn Digital50th anniversary, eltham district historical society, st margarets anglican church, eltham rural group, horse and pony club

Eltham District Historical Society's 50th Anniversary dinner held at St Margaret's Hall, Pitt Street, Eltham, 27 October, 2017 Gwen Orford was Treasuer at the time the LHC was established and she oibtained the furnitureBorn Digital50th anniversary, eltham district historical society, st margarets anglican church

Eltham District Historical Society's 50th Anniversary dinner held at St Margaret's Hall, Pitt Street, Eltham, 27 October, 2017Born Digital50th anniversary, eltham district historical society, st margarets anglican church

L-R: Harry Gilham, Bruce Ness, Diana Bassett-Smith, Peter Bassett-Smith, Russell YeomanColour photographactivities, 30th anniversary, eltham district historical society, peter bassett-smith, harry gilham, bruce ness, diana bassett-smith, russell yeoman

The Eltham Courthouse annex was the venue for the Society's 40th anniversary celebration lunch on Saturday, 14th July 2007. Guests included: L-R: - Ron Gordon (Nillumbik Historical Society), Judy Wadham, - , Lilas Scale, Peter Bassett-Smith, Diana Bassett-SmithColour photo print 100 x 150mm40th anniversary, celebrations, diana bassett-smith, eltham courthouse, eltham district historical society, judy wadham, peter bassett-smith, 40th anniversary, celebrations, ron gordon, diana bassett-smith, judy wadham, peter bassett-smith, lilas scale, eltham district historical society, eltham courthouse annex

L-R: Bruce Ness, Diana Bassett-Smith, Peter Bassett-Smith, Russell Yeoman The Shire of Eltham sign came from the Living and Learning CentreColour photographactivities, 30th anniversary, eltham district historical society, peter bassett-smith, bruce ness, diana bassett-smith, russell yeoman, eltham living and learning centre, harry gilham

Fold-out program printed both sides, 10 pages, including map (2 copies)One copy (Diana and Peter Bassett-Smith Collection) marked on cover in red pencil "1977"1977, diana and peter bassett-smith collection, eltham festival, program

The Eltham Courthouse annex was the venue for the Society's 40th anniversary celebration lunch on Saturday, 14th July 2007. L-R: - Ron Gordon (Nillumbik Historical Society), Lilas Scale, Peter Bassett-Smith, Diana Bassett-Smith, Vicki Court (Royal Historical Society of Victoria)Colour photo print 100 x 150mm40th anniversary, celebrations, ron gordon, lilas scale, peter bassett-smith, diana bassett-smith, vicki court, eltham courthouse annex, eltham district historical society

Including Gwen Baker, Liz Dimanski and mother, Joan Acland, Bruce Ness, Diana Bassett-Smith and Gwen OrfordOpening ceremony of the new home of Eltham District Historical Society Colour photographeltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, opening day, peter bassett-smith, diana bassett-smith, liz dimanski, gwen baker, joan acland, bruce ness, gwen orford

Colour photograph printkangaroo ground cemetery

L-R: Peter Bassett-Smith, Opal SmithColour photographactivities, 30th anniversary, eltham district historical society, peter bassett-smith, opal smith

L-R: - , Peter Bassett-Smith, Harry Gilham, Margaret Ball , Alison Delaney, Wal DelaneyColour photo print 100 x 150mm40th anniversary, alison delaney, celebrations, eltham courthouse, eltham district historical society, harry gilham, margaret ball, peter bassett-smith, wal delaney

People include Diana Bassett-Smith, Jo McCormick, Joh Ebeli, Doug Orford, Irene GerardColour photo print 100 x 150mm40th anniversary, celebrations, diana bassett-smith, doug orford, eltham courthouse, eltham district historical society, irene gerard, jo mccormick, joh ebeli, russell yeoman

L-R: - , Peter Bassett-Smith, Harry Gilham, Margaret Ball , Alison Delaney, Wal DelaneyColour photo print40th anniversary, alison delaney, celebrations, eltham courthouse, eltham district historical society, harry gilham, margaret ball, peter bassett-smith, wal delaney

People include Diana Bassett-Smith, Jo McCormick, Joh Ebeli, Doug Orford, Irene GerardColour photo print40th anniversary, celebrations, diana bassett-smith, doug orford, eltham courthouse, eltham district historical society, irene gerard, jo mccormick, joh ebeli, russell yeoman

L-R: Irene Gerard, Jim Connor, David Essex, Fay Shepherd, Peter Bassett-Smith, Harry Gilham Colour photo print 100 x 150mm40th anniversary, celebrations, david essex, eltham courthouse, eltham district historical society, fay shepherd, harry gilham, irene gerard, jim connor, peter bassett-smith