Stuchbery Farm was situated on the Plenty River bounded by Smugglers Gully to the north and La trobe Road, Yarrambat, to the east. Alan and Ada Stutchbery moved to the valley in 1890, first living in a tent where four children were born. Alfred built a home and outbuildings around 1896. They planted an orchard, then a market garden and developed a dairy. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p179 The dramatic steep-sided Plenty Gorge lies along the divide of two geological areas, and separates the Nillumbik Shire and the City of Whittlesea. On the Nillumbik side are undulating hills and sedimentary rock, and in Whittlesea, lies a basalt plain formed by volcanic action up to two million years ago. This provides the Plenty Gorge Park with diverse vegetation and habitats, making it one of Greater Melbourne’s most important refuges for threatened and significant species. The park, established in 1986, consists of around 1350 hectares, and extends 11 kilometres along the Plenty River, from Greensborough to Mernda. It provides a wildlife corridor for around 500 native plant and 280 animal species.1 The area’s plentiful food and water attracted the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people and then European settlers. By 1837 squatters had claimed large runs of land for their sheep and cattle. The Plenty Valley was among the first in the Port Phillip District to be settled - mainly in the less heavily timbered west - and was proclaimed a settled district in 1841.2 But by the late 1880s, the settlers’ extensive land clearing for animal grazing, then agriculture, depleted the Wurundjeri’s traditional food sources, which helped to drive them away. Many Wurundjeri artefacts remain (now government protected), and so far 57 sites have been identified in the park, including scarred trees, burial areas and stone artefacts. Pioneer life could be very hard because of isolation, flooding, bushfires and bushrangers. Following the Black Thursday bushfires of 1851, basalt was quarried to build more fire-resistant homes. Gold discoveries in the early 1850s swelled the population, particularly around Smugglers Gully; but food production made more of an impact. In the late 1850s wheat production supplanted grazing. In the 1860s the government made small holdings available to poorer settlers. These had the greatest effect on the district, particularly in Doreen and Yarrambat, where orchards were established from the 1880s to 1914. Links with a prominent early family are the remains of Stuchbery Farm, by the river’s edge bounded by Smugglers Gully to the north and La Trobe Road, Yarrambat, to the east. The Stuchberys moved to the valley in 1890, and the family still lives in the area. In 1890, Alfred and Ada first lived in a tent where four children were born, then Alfred built the house and outbuildings around 1896. They planted an orchard, then a market garden, and developed a dairy. The family belonged to the local Methodist and tennis communities. Their grandson Walter, opened the Flying Scotsman Model Railway Museum in Yarrambat, which his widow, Vi, continues to run. Wal was also the Yarrambat CFA Captain for 22 years until 1987. Walter sold 24 hectares in 1976 for development - now Vista Court - and in 1990, the remaining 22.6 hectares for the park. Remaining are an early stone dairy and remnants of a stone barn, a pig sty and a well.3 Until it was destroyed by fire in 2003, a slab hut stood on the Happy Hollow Farm site, at the southern end of the park. The hut is thought to have been built in the Depression around 1893. This was a rare and late example of a slab hut with a domestic orchard close to Melbourne. Emmet Watmough and his family first occupied the hut, followed by a succession of families, until the Bell family bought it around 1948. There they led a subsistence lifestyle for 50 years, despite encroaching Melbourne suburbia.4 The Yellow Gum Recreation Area includes the Blue Lake, coloured turquoise at certain times of the year. Following the 1957 bushfires, this area was quarried by Reid Quarries Pty Ltd for Melbourne’s first skyscrapers, then by Boral Australia. However in the early 1970s water began seeping into the quarry forming the Blue Lake and the quarry was closed. The State Government bought the site in 1997 and opened it as a park in 1999.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, ada stuchbery, alan stuchbery, dairy, stuchbery farm, farm buildings, yarrambat, plenty gorge park

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

Vol. 8, No. 4, Sep-Oct 2003 CONTENTS Short Story by Ian J. Meadows 3 John Jenkins on Jenni Mitchell 7 Clive Dickson interviews Gabrielle Alexander 10 Student Review: Nillumbik Prize 2003 12 Dawn Fitzpatrick: Cloth artist 14 Ros McMillan on Percy Grainger 17 Peter Oysten on the Open Studio Program 18 Book Review 20 Exhibitions 21 Ev Hales on painting the rhythm of life 23 CD Reviews 25 Artin' About 27 Wining & Dining 30 Listings 32 "Peter Dougherty has been involved in the local art scene for many years. As publisher and editor of the arts magazine Artstreams, his comments on the various branches of the arts are widely respected. His "The Arts" column in the Diamond Valley Leader presents a brief summary for a much wider cross section of the local community. Peter also operates his own gallery and the Artstreams Cafe at the St Andrews market. Peter has a wealth of knowledge about present day and historical aspects of local art and artists." - Eltham District Historical Society Newsletter No. 161, March 2005Colour front and back cover with feature articles and literary pieces with photographs and advertisements printed in black and white. 36 pages, 30 cm. Vol. 1, no. 1 (Nov. 1996) - Vol. 10, no. 5 (summer ed. 2005/​06) art streams, thompsons amcal pharmacy, j. meadows, eltham wiregrass gallery, arts on burgundy, mercers restaurant, john jenkins, sushi wushi eltham, bundoora homestead, jenni mitchell, antarctica, clive dickson, gabrielle alexander, nillumbik prize, jessica wheeler, bahnhof cafe, montsalvat, dawn fitzpatrick, warrandyte cafe, percy grainger, dynamic vegies, eltham fullife pharmacy, nillumbik artists' open studios, neil douglas, heide museum of modern art, kerry kaskamanidis, city of banyule works on paper art award, ev hales, eltham gourmet poultry & game, st andrews hotel, latrobe university, il primo restaurant carlton, bulleen art & garden centre, hurstbridge nursery, northcote pottery, bendigo bank, hurstbridge & districts community bank branch, robert dessaix

Cr L P Mitchell was a councillor with the Shire of Whittlesea from 1947 until the 1970s. He was Shire president in 1954. The Laurimar estate on Yan yean road Doreen is named after the Counillor and his wife - Laurence and Mary.4 components of this collection: compact, medal, dress and documentsCompact inscription: Presented to Mrs L P Mitchell from Debs 1955 Medal inscription: Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria. Not transferrable 1958. (member no) 1996

Whittlesea Council has received a variety of awards, commedations and plaques. There are currently over 100 awards in the collection.Example: CH11/0097 - Best Internal Communications Award 2011 for Find Your Balance Campaign.

Council has a number of objects that commemorate various visits and events

The History of the Formation of the Shire of Whittlesea chronicles the establishment of the Darebin, Epping, Morang, Merriang and Whittlesea road districts and shires, and their eventual formation into the Shire of Whittlesea. It also includes stories about early pioneers, local institutions, buildings and a brief account of the development of local government in Victoria. The history was compiled at the direction of the Shire of Whittlesea in 1961, by Mr. S.T.Grey. Several of the items in the manuscript were published as articles in the Whittlesea Post in 1961.Manuscript, paper, carbon copied typed text

Banner, issued by the Shire of Whittlesea. Circa 1876 to 1938. White Cotton banner, black printShire/of/whittlesea/notice/is/hearby/given/that/a/reward/of/£5/will/be/paid/for/information/that/will/lead/to/the/conviction/of/any/person/or/persons/found/damaging/or/interfering/with/bridges/or/culverts/in/this/shire./By/order/of/the/council/Jas/Ryan/Shire/Secretary./shire of whittlesea, james ryan

Corporal Phillip Edward Cook, 4470, 46th Battalion AIF Over 300 men from the Shire of Whittlesea enlisted during WWI. One of these was Corporal Cook, son of the Rev. Richard and Elizabeth Cook, and husband of Jessie May Cook of Whittlesea. On 27 July 1915, at the age of 33, Phillip Cook enlisted in the AIF. He was killed in action at Bullecourt on 11 April 1917. Corporal Cook had no grave, but is remembered with honour at the Villers-Bretenneux Memorial, Somme, France.Illuminated address, framed - Record of Admiration and appreciation to Corporal PE Cook killed in action in 1917, during WWI. Produced by Shire of WhittleseaInscription: He Answered His Country's Call - The President, Councillors, and Ratepayers of the Shire of Whittlesea - Hereby place on record their Admiration and Appreciation of and thanks for the gallant conduct of - Corp. P. E. Cook - who served his King and Country in the Great War, which commenced 4th August, 1914 - In Witness Whereof the Corporate Seal of the Municipality - is hereto attached in the presence of - Leslie W. Clarke President - James Ryan Secretary - Dated 6. 12. 1918

Letter from Ellison, Hewison & O'Collins Solicitors, Melbourne to the Shire of Whittlesea in reponse to a request for the names and addresses of the purchasers of blocks of land on the Station Entrance Estate and Railway Platform Estate, Thomastown. Both estates where originally subdived and sold in the mid 1920s. The collection includes a letter, a list of owners and their address details and the lot they own, and plans of both estates, which have been cut out of the original estate sale posters. Streets include High Street (Epping Road), Mount View Road, Pleasant Road, Central Avenue, Highlands Road and Main Street, ThomastownLetter, paper 3 pages, 2 plans. Letter from Ellison, Hewison & O'Collins Solicitors, Melbourne to the Shire of Whittlesea in reponse to a request for the names and addresses of the purchasers of blocks of land on the Station Entrance Estate and Railway Platform Estate, Thomastown.

Poster, paper. Black and red text. Poster for the sale of the sub-divided Argyle Estate Epping 29th October 1913

Bridge over Darebin Creek, Settlement Road Bundoora. Looking west towards Thomastown, April 1967. Bridge post includes Australian Labor Party election poster for Greensborough Electorate. Bob Fell was the ALP candidate at the 1967 state election which he lost.Photographs, black and white print on paper. Bridge over Darebin Creek, Settlement Road Bundoora 1967.

South Yan Yean Football Club premiers 1909 - 1911. The South Yan Yean Football Club was formed in 1891. South Yan Yean was renamed Mernda in 1913.Photographs, black and white print on paper. Yan Yean South Football Club 1909South Yan Yean Football Club Premiers 1909 - 10 -11yan yean, mernda, football

In 1851 Moses Thomas purchased 400 acres, including a half mile frontage to the Plenty River, at Mernda (then known as Morang) where he operated a farm, inn and other business. In 1865 Moses Thomas was appointed Engineer, Clerk and Collector for the Morang District Road Board. In this role he would have been responsible for overseeing the collection of local property rates and the maintenance and construction of local roads and drains. Road District Boards were one of the earliest forms of local government in Victoria. The Morang or Upper Plenty Road District was established in 1862. It covered part of what is today Mernda, Doreen, South Morang, Mill Park and Bundoora. In 1875, the area merged with the Whittlesea Road District to form the Shire of Whittlesea. Moses Thomas briefly served as a Councillor with the Shire of Whittlesea until his death in 1878. Correspondence. Letter, paper, handwritten text with seal. Letter from James Ryan, Shire Secretary, Shire of Whittlesea to Mrs Moses Thomas on the death of Moses 18 May 1878.

On Tuesday 28th September 1937, to the applause and cheering of a crowd of more than 300 people, a ceremonial ribbon was cut with a ‘beautiful pair of silver scissors’ by Mrs W H Everard, wife of local MP William Everard. The ribbon cutting ceremony was to officially turn on the mains electricity supply to Whittlesea and district. The moment the ribbon was cut there was a ‘blaze of light’. There were initially 78 customers, including the Shire of Whittlesea which had contracted the SEC to supply street lighting in Whittlesea, Yan Yean, Mernda and South Morang (Advertiser, Friday 1st October 1937, page 1). This ribbon is possibly a fragment of the official opening ribbon that was stamped with the date and details of the switching on of electricity in Whittlesea and given to patrons. Commemorative Ribbons. Silk ribbon, white, stamped with details commemorating the switching on of electricity in Whittlesea on 28 September 1937.Whittlesea / 28 Sep 1937 / Electric Light / Official Switching on / Ceremony electricy supply, w h everard, whittlesea district

Map was produced as part of Municipal Association of Victoria report on Metropolitan Government, 18 May 1936. Map shows proprosed groupings of municipalities for election of representation to the MAV Board. Map includes net annual value of rateable property within each municipality. The net rateable value for metropolitan area of the Shire of Whittlesea in 1936 was £20,102. Maps, paper. Produced as part of Municipal Association of Victoria report on Metropolitan Government, 18 May 1936. Map shows proprosed groupings of municipalities for election of representation to the MAV Board. council, municipal association of victoria

Digital copy of photograph of the Whittlesea Agricultural Society's Show Committee 1913Inscription on back of photograph: Mr J Thomas Whittlesea Show Committee 1913

Digital copy of school group photograph Doreen State School, also called the Hazelglen School

Digital copy of school group photograph Mernda State School No 488 1927

Digital copy of school group photograph Reservoir State School No 3690 1921

Digital copy of school group photograph Mernda State School No 488

Digital version of school group photograph of Scrubby Creek School 1904Pupils and H. T. Parker

Digital version of school group photograph of Scrubby Creek School 1916 with namesBack row: Olive Dawson, Jean Callander, Doris Wisler, Leigh Dawson, Bill Beattie, Charlie Callander. Middle Row: Lorna Owen, Minnie Parker, Charlie Thomas, Ettienne Roussac? Tom Dawson, Mick Parker, Hector? Owen, Jack Dawson. Front Row: Dulcie Owen, Willie Parker, Dud? Owen, Frances Dawson, Mary Parker, Maggie Patterson, Doris Beattieclass photos, scrubby creek, school photos

Moses Thomas standing with 2 children, Walter Thomas in wagon at the Bridge Inn Hotel Mernda possibly late 1860s early 1870s

inscription on original " Moses and Ann Thomas "Mayfield", Mernda

Bluestone bridge across the Plenty River, Mernda. Commissioned by Moses Thomas, Secretary Morang District Road Board 1867bridges, moses thomas, mernda, bridge inn road

yan yean reservoir

May all who visit this park / enjoy the happiness and pleasure / we all had whilst living here / a gift to the residents / of this / Shire of Whittlesea / from / Edna, Vita, Beryl, Hubert, Les, Roy / Ivan, Wes, Clive & Alan the family of the late William & Barbara Guthrie / who owned and farmed this land / March 1981norris bank reserve

Shire of Whittlesea / Notice is hereby given that as / is likely to be seriously injured by traffic - to wit / soil, clay, sand or stone carting / The Council of the Municipality of the Shire of Whittlesea has decided to / stop all carting on such roadway as from the - day of / - 196 - , to the - day of - 196 - , / both dates inclusive / Any person who contravenes or fails to observe the provisions of this / notice shall be liable to a penalty of not more than forty dollars ($40) / By order / R G C Cook, Shire Secretary / Reservoir Printing Workspublic notices