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

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

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

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

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

The original St Peter’s was built in 1922 as a World War memorial church. It burned down on Black Saturday, February 7, 2009. This folder includes brief research on the local World War One Anzacs of Kinglake remembered at the church including the names Farlow, Ford, Ingham, Jarvis, Lawrey, Mains and North some of whom are remembered on the Shire of Eltham War Memorial at Kangaroo Ground. Also, information how to research WW1 veterans, brochure om Shrine of Remembrance and newspaper article on firespotting at the Kangaroo Ground TowerNewspaper articles, website printouts and handwritten notes HG Booklet 114harry gilham collection, st peter's kinglake, ww1, ford, samuel farlow, john henry ford, jarvis, francis ingham, george mains, c. north, fire spotting, kangaroo ground, shrine of remembrance

Stories of courage, inspiration and healing in the wake of the North East Victorian bush fires. Photographer Viv Mehés spent more than 3 years taking photographs and talking with local people about the 2009 firestorm and its legacy. Includes first-hand experiences of people affected by these fires — the stories here are their stories. - https://www.blacksaturdaymuseum.com/SpiritOfTheSpine.htm Includes map of area covered. black saturday, bushfire, victorian bushfires - 2009, viv mehes

A pictorial journey through Bruno's sculpture garden in Marysville with an additional section of photographs taken post-2009 Black Saturday bushfires.A pictorial journey through Bruno's sculpture garden in Marysville with an additional section of photographs taken post-2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Bruno's Sculpture Garden is one of Marysville's popular attractions. There is a sculpture garden as well as a gallery of artworks. Both the garden and gallery were destroyed during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Some of the sculptures were totally destroyed though a few did survive the fires. Bruno made the decision to re-sculpt the lost sculptures and re-built his gallery and re-open his garden to visitors to Marysville. This book is a new edition of a book that has been published as a symbol of the re-birth of both Marysville and Bruno's Sculpture Garden. Hardback. Front cover has a photograph of a sculpture of a large hand with a waterfall flowing from it. There is also a sculpture of a girl kneeling by the waterfall capturing water in her hands. The back cover has a photograph of a sculpture of two figures holding hands, one of whom is carrying a water jug.To this wonderful planet Earth/ Our experiences and stories are the colours of our life Acknowledgement/ I would like to express my gratitude to Iris and Andrew for their great work and enthusiasm toward this project/ and to all the people who have inspired me, especially my wife Marleen. Also many thanks to Jerome and Linda/ for all their generous support and to Ron Patterson for making it possible./ Bruno Torfsbruno torfs, bruno's art and sculpture garden, gardens-design, marysville, victoria, sculpture, australia, sculpture garden, sculptors, 2009 black saturday bushfires

The history of how and why the Triangle Community Steelbands were formed Paperback. Front cover has a drawing of a steelband.ABOUT THIS BOOK Following the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009 in/ Victoria, the Triangle Community Steelbands were formed/ in late 2009 as a way to assist in the recovery process. This book documents the First 5 Years of Triangle/ Community Steelbands, from is genesis in mid-2009 till/ the end of the 2013-14 concert season, including the/ formation of four individuals steelbands, Pans on Fire, Hot/ Pans, Jammin' and the Buxton Primary Steelband.triangle community, steelband

The history of how and why the Triangle Community Steelbands were formed Paperback. Front cover has a drawing of a steelband.ABOUT THIS BOOK Following the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009 in/ Victoria, the Triangle Community Steelbands were formed/ in late 2009 as a way to assist in the recover process. This book documents the First 5 Years of Triangle/ Community Steelbands, from is genesis in mid-2009 till/ the end of the 2013-14 concert season, including the/ formation of four individuals steelbands, Pans on Fire, Hot/ Pans, Jammin' and the Buxton Primary Steelband.triangle community, steelband

The story of the regrowth of the Marysville community after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfirePaperback. Front cover has two colour photographs. One is a blurred photograph of a silhouette of a tree with fire behind it. The other is of a plant just starting to grow. Back cover has the symbol depicting Maryville's 150 anniversary in 2013. Stamp of Marysville & District / Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779marysville, black saturday, bushfire, community, triangle community, regrowth

The story of the regrowth of the Marysville community after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfirePaperback. Front cover has two colour photographs. One is a blurred photograph of a silhouette of a tree with fire behind it. The other is of a plant just starting to grow. Back cover has the symbol depicting Maryville's 150 anniversary in 2013. Stamp of Marysville & District / Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779marysville, black saturday, bushfire, community, triangle community, regrowth

The story of the regrowth of the Marysville community after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfirePaperback. Front cover has two colour photographs. One is a blurred photograph of a silhouette of a tree with fire behind it. The other is of a plant just starting to grow. Back cover has the symbol depicting Maryville's 150 anniversary in 2013. Stamp of Marysville & District / Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779marysville, black saturday, bushfire, community, triangle community, regrowth

The story of the regrowth of the Marysville community after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfirePaperback. Front cover has two colour photographs. One is a blurred photograph of a silhouette of a tree with fire behind it. The other is of a plant just starting to grow. Back cover has the symbol depicting Maryville's 150 anniversary in 2013. Stamp of Marysville & District / Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779marysville, black saturday, bushfire, community, triangle community, regrowth

A black and white postcard of the Crossways historic inn in Marysville in Victoria. The Rose Series P. 4826. The Crossways was built in the early 1920s and is the oldest building in Marysville. The Crossways historic inn survived the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires thanks to the efforts of its c-owner Greg Cherry and, in the days after the fires, provided a much-needed refuge to the Marysville community and firefighters. This postcard was produced by the Rose Stereograph Company as a souvenir of Marysville.A black and white postcard of the Crossways historic inn in Marysville in Victoria.THE ROSE SERIES P. 4826/ COPYRIGHT "CROSSWAYS," MARYSVILLE, VIC. POST CARD The "Rose" Series/ De Luxe A Real Photograph/ Produced in Australia Published by the Rose Stereograph Co./ Armadale, Victoria. 30.5-34 Dear Shirley/ How are you all getting along/ I got your letter a long time ago. You/ got a lot of presents you ought to have/ another one soon. This is the place where/ I work you cannot take a picture of the/ front of the place because it's big trees./ This is the back photo the kitchen is on the/ right. There is no news. Hoping Mum & Dad & Arch/ are all well Yours Lovingly Fred xx xx/ I'll give him a knock in the eye for Archie xxxxmarysville, victoria, australia, crossways historic inn, accommodation, 2009 black saturday bushfires, rose stereograph company, rose series, p. 4826, postcard, souvenir

A black and white postcard of the Crossways in Marysville in Victoria published by Murray Views. The Crossways was built in the early 1920s and is the oldest building in Marysville. The Crossways historic inn survived the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires thanks to the efforts of its c-owner Greg Cherry and, in the days after the fires, provided a much-needed refuge to the Marysville community and firefighters. This postcard was produced by Murray Views in Gympie in Queensland as a souvenir of Marysville.A black and white postcard of the Crossways in Marysville in Victoria published by Murray Views.POST CARD STAMP REAL PHOTOGRAPH PRODUCED IN/ AUSTRALIA BY MURRAY VIEWS, GYMPIE, Q.marysville, victoria, australia, postcard, souvenir, crossways cabaret, crossways historic inn, crossways country inn, murray views no. 18, accommodation, 2009 black saturday bushfires

A colour photograph of The Crossways in Marysville. The Crossways was built in the early 1920s and is the oldest building in Marysville. The Crossways historic inn survived the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires thanks to the efforts of its c-owner Greg Cherry and, in the days after the fires, provided a much-needed refuge to the Marysville community and firefighters. A colour photograph of The Crossways in Marysville.marysville, victoria, australia, photograph, the crossways cabaret, the crossways, crossways, crossways country inn, crossways historic inn, 2009 black saturday bushfires, accommodation

A colour photograph of the Crossways Country Inn in Marysville. The Crossways was built in the early 1920s and is the oldest building in Marysville. The Crossways historic inn survived the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires thanks to the efforts of its c-owner Greg Cherry and, in the days after the fires, provided a much-needed refuge to the Marysville community and firefighters. A colour photograph of the Crossways Country Inn in Marysville.marysville, victoria, australia, photograph, the crossways cabaret, the crossways, crossways, crossways country inn, crossways historic inn, 2009 black saturday bushfires, accommodation

A colour photograph of the front picket fence at Past Favorites in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph of the front picket fence at Past Favorites in Marysville in Victoria. Past Favorites was a bric a brac shop in Marysville in Victoria that was situated in Murchison Street. The building, along with most of the town, was destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. The only part of the building that survived the fires was a section of the cream picket fence that surrounded the building.past favorites, marysville, victoria, murchison street, bric a brac, 2009 black saturday bushfires

A colour photograph of the front picket fence at Past Favorites in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph of the front picket fence at Past Favorites in Marysville in Victoria. Past Favorites was a bric a brac shop in Marysville in Victoria that was situated in Murchison Street. The building, along with most of the town, was destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. The only part of the building that survived the fires was a section of the cream picket fence that surrounded the building.past favorites, marysville, victoria, murchison street, bric a brac, 2009 black saturday bushfires

An advertising brochure for Bruno's Art and Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria.An advertising brochure for Bruno's Art and Sculpture Gardens in Marysville in Victoria. Bruno's Sculptures Garden is one of Marysville's popular attractions. There is a sculpture garden as well as a gallery of artworks. Both the garden and gallery were destroyed during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Some of the sculptures were totally destroyed though a few did survive the fires. Bruno made the decision to re-sculpt the lost sculptures and re-built his gallery and re-open his garden to visitors to Marysville.bruno torfs, gardens-design, marysville, victoria, sculpture, australia, sculpture garden, sculptors, advertising brochure, bruno's art & sculptures garden, 2009 black saturday bushfires

An advertising brochure for Bruno's Art and Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria.An advertising brochure for Bruno's Art and Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria. Bruno's Sculptures Garden is one of Marysville's popular attractions. There is a sculpture garden as well as a gallery of artworks. Both the garden and gallery were destroyed during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Some of the sculptures were totally destroyed though a few did survive the fires. Bruno made the decision to re-sculpt the lost sculptures and re-built his gallery and re-open his garden to visitors to Marysville.bruno torfs, gardens-design, marysville, victoria, sculpture, australia, sculpture garden, sculptors, advertising brochure, bruno's art and sculptures garden, 2009 black saturday bushfires

An advertising brochure for Bruno's Art and Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria.An advertising brochure for Bruno's Art and Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria. Bruno's Sculptures Garden is one of Marysville's popular attractions. There is a sculpture garden as well as a gallery of artworks. Both the garden and gallery were destroyed during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Some of the sculptures were totally destroyed though a few did survive the fires. Bruno made the decision to re-sculpt the lost sculptures and re-built his gallery and re-open his garden to visitors to Marysville.bruno torfs, gardens-design, marysville, victoria, sculpture, australia, sculpture garden, sculptors, advertising brochure, bruno's art and sculptures garden, 2009 black saturday bushfires

A colour photograph of Bruno's Art and Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria. A colour photograph of Bruno's Art and Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria. Bruno's Sculptures Garden is one of Marysville's popular attractions. There is a sculpture garden as well as a gallery of artworks. Both the garden and gallery were destroyed during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Some of the sculptures were totally destroyed though a few did survive the fires. Bruno made the decision to re-sculpt the lost sculptures and re-built his gallery and re-open his garden to visitors to Marysville.bruno torfs, gardens-design, marysville, victoria, sculpture, australia, sculpture garden, sculptors, bruno's art and sculptures garden, 2009 black saturday bushfires, photograph

A digital copy of a colour photograph of Bruno's Art and Sculpture Gardens in Marysville in Victoria.A digital copy of a colour photograph of Bruno's Art and Sculpture Gardens in Marysville in Victoria. Bruno's Sculptures Garden is one of Marysville's popular attractions. There is a sculpture garden as well as a gallery of artworks. Both the garden and gallery were destroyed during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Some of the sculptures were totally destroyed though a few did survive the fires. Bruno made the decision to re-sculpt the lost sculptures and re-built his gallery and re-open his garden to visitors to Marysville.bruno torfs, gardens-design, marysville, victoria, sculpture, australia, sculpture garden, sculptors, bruno's art and sculptures garden, 2009 black saturday bushfires, photograph

A colour photograph taken of a sign at then entrance to Bruno's Art & Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph taken of a sign at then entrance to Bruno's Art & Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria. Bruno's Sculptures Garden is one of Marysville's popular attractions. There is a sculpture garden as well as a gallery of artworks. Both the garden and gallery were destroyed during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Some of the sculptures were totally destroyed though a few did survive the fires. Bruno made the decision to re-sculpt the lost sculptures and re-built his gallery and re-open his garden to visitors to Marysville.Welcome to Bruno's Art & Sculpture Garden Hidden amongst the trees of the small Victorian village of/ Marysville is a world full of fantasy, beauty and humour./ Surrounded by the magical rainforest setting. Bruno Torfs has created one of the world's most unique and/ deeply inspiring experiences for art and garden lovers of all ages. With over three hundred paintings and sculptures to discover, a/ journey to Bruno's is one of Australia's most special attractions. Take a Tourbruno torfs, gardens-design, marysville, victoria, sculpture, australia, sculpture garden, sculptors, bruno's art and sculptures garden, 2009 black saturday bushfires, photograph

A colour photograph of a sculpture in Bruno's Art & Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph of a sculpture in Bruno's Art & Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria. Bruno's Sculptures Garden is one of Marysville's popular attractions. There is a sculpture garden as well as a gallery of artworks. Both the garden and gallery were destroyed during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Some of the sculptures were totally destroyed though a few did survive the fires. Bruno made the decision to re-sculpt the lost sculptures and re-built his gallery and re-open his garden to visitors to Marysville.bruno torfs, gardens-design, marysville, victoria, sculpture, australia, sculpture garden, sculptors, bruno's art and sculptures garden, 2009 black saturday bushfires, photograph

A colour photograph of a sculpture in Bruno's Art & Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph of a sculpture in Bruno's Art & Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria. Bruno's Sculptures Garden is one of Marysville's popular attractions. There is a sculpture garden as well as a gallery of artworks. Both the garden and gallery were destroyed during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Some of the sculptures were totally destroyed though a few did survive the fires. Bruno made the decision to re-sculpt the lost sculptures and re-built his gallery and re-open his garden to visitors to Marysville.bruno torfs, gardens-design, marysville, victoria, sculpture, australia, sculpture garden, sculptors, bruno's art and sculptures garden, 2009 black saturday bushfires, photograph

A colour photograph of a wooden carved statue in Bruno's Art & Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph of a wooden carved statue in Bruno's Art & Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria. Bruno's Sculptures Garden is one of Marysville's popular attractions. There is a sculpture garden as well as a gallery of artworks. Both the garden and gallery were destroyed during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Some of the sculptures were totally destroyed though a few did survive the fires. Bruno made the decision to re-sculpt the lost sculptures and re-built his gallery and re-open his garden to visitors to Marysville.bruno torfs, gardens-design, marysville, victoria, sculpture, australia, sculpture garden, sculptors, bruno's art and sculptures garden, 2009 black saturday bushfires, photograph

A colour photograph of a sculpture in Bruno's Art & Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph of a sculpture in Bruno's Art & Sculptures Garden in Marysville in Victoria. Bruno's Sculptures Garden is one of Marysville's popular attractions. There is a sculpture garden as well as a gallery of artworks. Both the garden and gallery were destroyed during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Some of the sculptures were totally destroyed though a few did survive the fires. Bruno made the decision to re-sculpt the lost sculptures and re-built his gallery and re-open his garden to visitors to Marysville.bruno torfs, gardens-design, marysville, victoria, sculpture, australia, sculpture garden, sculptors, bruno's art and sculptures garden, 2009 black saturday bushfires, photograph