March Excursion - Eltham Cemetery Artworks Newsletter No 236 October 2017 contained a report on the unveiling of a significant new art project at the Eltham Cemetery. Titled “Our Eltham – Artistic Recollections” it features 31 ceramic panels containing artwork with a local history theme. The work is the joint creation of artist Nerina Lascelles and ceramicist Linda Detoma, supported with stonework by Leigh Wykes and steelwork by Neil Carter, all skilled local Nillumbik artisans. The main purpose of our excursion on Saturday 3rd March 2018 at 2.00pm will be to view the panels and will include readings from the interpretive booklet published by the Cemetery Trust. There will also be the opportunity to inspect other artworks within the cemetery. - EDHS Newsletter No. 238 February 20182018-03-03, eltham cemetery, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, our eltham artistic recollections, public art, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection

May Excursion – Edendale Environs Edendale Community Environment Farm in Gastons Road, Eltham now operates as Nillumbik Council’s environmental centre. The historic homestead has undergone a significant restoration and there is on-going development of the site consistent with its community education purpose. The house and the gateway sculpture “The Fences Act” are covered by a Heritage Overlay in the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Our May excursion will comprise a walk through the farm property and will radiate to other nearby places of historic interest. These will include the site of the Eltham North Adventure Playground to discuss its history and destruction by fire (see page 1 article). Also nearby is Colemans Corner where the early road system has undergone some unusual changes. If time permits we may visit some other nearby places of interest. - EDHS Newsletter No. 239 April 2018fay bridge collection, 2018-05-05, edendale community farm, edendale farm, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, activities

Brochure, collected May 1979, The Eltham Barrel: History, menu information, Sunday lunch family day (from collection of Peter and Diana Bassett-Smith).main road, eltham, businesses, eltham barrel

Newspaper article: Jaqui's dream comes true ... to a tea, Diamond Valley News, 5 November 1985. about Ballara tea room, history of property, claims scenes from 1932 film The Sentimental Bloke filmed in house, earlier life of now owner Jaqueline Robins in England. Newspaper advertisement: Diamond Valley News, 5 November 1985. Eltham Community Festival Concert, lists performers.main road, eltham, businesses, ballara tea rooms, jaquiline robins, the sentimental bloke, the head family, david john kerr maurice, dyasons family, maria grobner, johannes pietzcka, ray robins, kim robins, sebastian jorgensen, tony hadjon, rodger treble, john norten, eltham community arts council

Handwritten notes, undated, on A & G Bills horse trough Main Road Research. Handwritten notes, undated, "Annie and George Bills" listing locations of other Bills horse troughs. Typed notes by Dianna Basset-Smith, July 2003, her memories of the Bills trough at Research. Letter, RSPCE to Andrew Lemon, 17 December 1993, lists other horse troughs known to the RSPCA, use of money from Bills estate managed by John Crook. Newspaper article: Legacy is set in concrete, The Weekly Times, 25 June 2003, history of Bills horse troughs from 1930s, biography of George Bills and Annis Swarm [correctly Swann], quoting Barbie Roach, Gorge Bills' great-grandneice, notes locations of other Bills troughs. Newspaper article: No drought in water troughs, Weekly Times, 9 July 2003, Response to 25 June 2003 article, readers reporting Bills troughs in their area, photograph of trough at Korong Vale. Newspaper article: The horse lover, (photocopy, no publication details), Decaying Bills horse tough in Geelong council yard proposed to be moved to RSPCA, history of George Bills, Annis Bills (nee Swann), legacy, great-grandneice Judith Crook writing Bills history. Email exchange, Eltham District Historical Society and Geraldine Sanderson 2015: enquiry re Bills trough at Research for planned history of Bills trough, and provision of EDHS-held information.Annis Elizabeth Swannmain road, research (vic.), horse troughs, annis and george bills, bills trough, audrey bills, annis bills, george bills, barbie roach, royal society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, judith crook, audrey morton, kathleen wood, acclimatisation society, john lugg, ian stacey, harry bills, annis swann, james boreas crook, william buesst, myer emporium, richard bills, buesst and bills brothers, daisy bills

Typed sheets (2 pages): History of Research State School No. 2959, Principal F P Sheehan, historian M Allwood,main road, property, houses, shops, businesses, research (vic.), research state school no. 2959, caledonian gold field, swiper's gully, wallaby town, research gully, discovery gold plenty ranges, fountain of friendship hotel, ray morris, alice russell, norma family, bettison family, reynolds family, william west, joseph m makey, henry james cole, mary jane rodda, florissa milton, f p sheehan, m allwood, research hotel

Photocopies newspaper articles re pistol stolen from National Bank, Greensborough by Kay Arthur Morgan: The Argus 10 December 1949, The Age 16 December 1949, The Age 17 December 1949, The Canberra Times 14 February 1950, The Argus 23 February 1950, The Argus 23 February 1950. Newspaper article: Community's colorful shop, Diamond Valley News, 8 December 1951, agency of Heidelberg branch of Commercial Bank of Australia, built by Mr Stebbins, line drawing from pre-1900 photograph of building and streetscape. Photocopy newspaper article: Long golden history, Diamond Valley Leader, 1 August 1997, built by George Stebbing, currently an opportunity shop.main road, eltham, businesses, pistol theft, commercial bank of australia, kay arthur morgan, george stebbing builder, senior constable n forbes, senior detective m mcennamin, h d pettie, detective sergeant k hubbard, inspector f hobley, senior detective r newton, detective p pedersen, senior detective l dent, senior detective j oakes, l a spear

Shire of Eltham Heritage Study 1992 prepared by David Bick and Carlotta Kellaway; Garden Evaluation by John Patrick and Planting Evaluation by Ken Wallace Volume One: Recommendations, Conservation Areas, Identified Places Volume Two: Environmental History and Bibliography Volume Three: Culturally Significant Themes and the Evaluations of the Individually Identified Places that Illustrate the ThemesProvides the foundation for future planning assessments in the Shire of Eltham.90 A4 pages (double sided), contyained in black PVC 2-ring binder.background history, carlotta kellaway, conservation areas, culturally significant themes, david bick, garden evaluation, heritage study, identified places, john patrick, ken wallace, planting evaluation, recommendations, shire of eltham heritage study

Famous Swiss landcape painter Louis Buvelot came to Melbourne in 1864 and set up a portrait photography studio which he operated for one year only in 1865. This photograph is believed to be the oldest photo in the Shillinglaw Family Album collection. It is believed that the subject is a young Phillip Shillinglaw, without beard, at age 22 or 23. Phillip Shillinglaw was born Melbourne, August 7, 1842. He married Sarah Ann Kidd in Heidelberg, Victoria, February 28, 1872. In 1881 Phillip and Sarah and their small family moved to Eltham and made home in what was later to become known as Shillinglaw Cottage but which Phillip named 'Wattle Brae'. Shillinglaw Cottage is significant to Eltham’s local history. It is one of the earliest known buildings still in existence. Records suggest that the cottage was built circa 1859 by a man named Cochrane, believed to be Thomas Cochrane, in conjunction with George Stebbings though it is not known what Stebbings’s contribution was. It is believed Stebbings owned the cottage between 1874 and 1888. According to Margaret Ball’s (2017) book Shillinglaw Family of Eltham 1660-2007, Thomas Cochrane and family lived there from 1867 to 1874 however this is contrary to the records of assessable rates levied by the Eltham District Road Board, established in 1858, which shows Cochrane was the owner occupier (in Little Eltham) of approximately 25 acres of cultivated land and 25 acres of pastureland upon which a hut was sited in 1860. It is suspected that George Stebbings may have acquired the property from Cochrane in 1874 as it is noted that he had a tenant for a period, James Rossiter, who was the editor for the Evelyn Observer in Kangaroo Ground in 1874 (LATE SHIRE OFFICE AT KANGAROO GROUND (1934, February 16). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 5. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56743657). In 1881 Phillip Shillinglaw became the ratepayer for the cottage though Stebbings retained ownership until 1888 at which time it was transferred to Shillinglaw. Photographer: Louis Buvelot Swiss landscape painter and portrait photographer, settled in Melbourne in 1864, admired by the artists from the Heidelberg area such as Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton who bestowed him with the accolade of 'Father of Australian painting’. In the 1870s, his work increasingly drew elements from Australian landscape such as the bush land in works like Lilydale (1878) and Bush Track. "Louis Buvelot :: biography at :: at Design and Art Australia Online." Daao https://www.daao.org.au/bio/louis-buvelot/biography/. Accessed 9 Mar. 2023. On arriving in Melbourne in February 1865 Buvelot bought a photographer's studio at 92 Bourke Street East and took portraits for a year. In 1866 he moved to 88 La Trobe Street East and resumed his painting while Caroline-Julie gave French lessons to help Buvelot to establish himself as an artist in Melbourne. "Biography - Abram-Louis Buvelot." Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/buvelot-abramlouis-3132. Accessed 2 Dec. 2022. CARTE-DE-VISITE (cdv) 1857-1890 Cartes-de-visite (cdv's) are the most common form of photograph from the nineteenth century, generally measuring two and a half inches by four and an eighth inches (6.3 x 10.5 cm) when mounted, sepia toned, mounted on a card which was generally printed with the photographer's name and address on the back or beneath the portrait. - Frost, Lenore; Dating Family Photos 1850-1920; Valiant Press Pty. Ltd., Berwick, Victoria 1991marg ball collection, shillinglaw family photo album 1, 1865, l. buvelot photographer, louis buvelot, phillip shillinglaw (1842-1914), unknown

Photographer: Richards & Co. Portrait Parlours operated from 19 Sturt Street, Ballarat from 1881-1921 but with "Under Royal Patronage" appears to be 1881-1885. Phillip Shillinglaw was born Melbourne, August 7, 1842. He married Sarah Ann Kidd in Heidelberg, Victoria, February 28, 1872. In 1881 Phillip and Sarah and their small family moved to Eltham and made home in what was later to become known as Shillinglaw Cottage but which Phillip named 'Wattle Brae'. Shillinglaw Cottage is significant to Eltham’s local history. It is one of the earliest known buildings still in existence. Records suggest that the cottage was built circa 1859 by a man named Cochrane, believed to be Thomas Cochrane, in conjunction with George Stebbings though it is not known what Stebbings’s contribution was. It is believed Stebbings owned the cottage between 1874 and 1888. According to Margaret Ball’s (2017) book Shillinglaw Family of Eltham 1660-2007, Thomas Cochrane and family lived there from 1867 to 1874 however this is contrary to the records of assessable rates levied by the Eltham District Road Board, established in 1858, which shows Cochrane was the owner occupier (in Little Eltham) of approximately 25 acres of cultivated land and 25 acres of pastureland upon which a hut was sited in 1860. It is suspected that George Stebbings may have acquired the property from Cochrane in 1874 as it is noted that he had a tenant for a period, James Rossiter, who was the editor for the Evelyn Observer in Kangaroo Ground in 1874 (LATE SHIRE OFFICE AT KANGAROO GROUND (1934, February 16). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 5. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56743657). In 1881 Phillip Shillinglaw became the ratepayer for the cottage though Stebbings retained ownership until 1888 at which time it was transferred to Shillinglaw. CARTE-DE-VISITE (cdv) 1857-1890 Cartes-de-visite (cdv's) are the most common form of photograph from the nineteenth century, generally measuring two and a half inches by four and an eighth inches (6.3 x 10.5 cm) when mounted, sepia toned, mounted on a card which was generally printed with the photographer's name and address on the back or beneath the portrait. - Frost, Lenore; Dating Family Photos 1850-1920; Valiant Press Pty. Ltd., Berwick, Victoria 1991marg ball collection, shillinglaw family photo album 1, phillip shillinglaw (1842-1914), 1881-1885, 1885, richards & co. photographers 19 sturt st ballarat

non-fictionConference staged by the Board of Works to present a range of papers examining the river's environment, recreational uses, natural resources, development, commerce and land use. Conference delegates included representatives from Eltham Shire Council and was held in April 1991. Session 1 Heritage and Environment: Flora and fauna / Paul Gullan. -- Geology and topography / Brian Finlayson. -- Aboriginal culture / Margaret Gardiner. Session 2 History. Session 3: Management plans and policies : overview of responsibilities / Dr Colin Leigh. --Role of the media / Peter Cole-Adams. -- Urban development / Paul Jerome. -- Port of Melbourne area / Leigh McKay. -- Recreation / Ken Marriott. Session 4: Perspectives - the current view. Session 5: Issues, challenges, potential solutions.yarra river, melbourne

58 p. : ill., fascsims., geneal. table ; 30 cmnon-fictionAn autobiography by Otto Rupp (1904 -1993). Transcribed by the Yarrambat Historical Society from the original manuscript in 1993. Otto Rupp was born in Switzerland in 1904. He migrated to Australia in 1927 and after working in the South Australian outback bought land in Yarramabt. He married Edna Young in 1935. This diary includes recollections of his life from 1927 to 1983. Bachelor Days, 1919-1935: Murray Bridge, Karoonda, Wirrabara, Appilia, South Australia, Central Australia, Tancks Corner (Yarrambat), Balranald, and Yarramabt. Married Life, Gold in Yarrambat, Times, People and Memories, 1943-1987.otto rupp, edna young, yarrambat, tancks corner victoria, autobiography, migrant

497 pagesnon-fictionA collection of sad, funny, warm and tragic real stories. Author Alan Marshall lived in Eltham for some of his life and wrote the history: "Pioneers & Painters: One Hundred years of Eltham and its Shire" published in 1971.short stories

93 pagesnon-fictionHistory of the Rooks family and farm, located at 167 Allendale Road, Diamond Creek. The property was first settled in 1865 and held by four generations of the family always retaining its rural landscape. Family archives and historical newspaper reports supplemented with photographs from the collection of Nillumbik Historical Society have contributed to the telling of this family history and history of the property. Hailing from Cambridgeshire England, the Diamond Creek pioneer settler was Isaac Rooks. He, his brothers and descendants are all profiled. The story of the Maroondah Aqueduct which passed through the property is also discussed including the recent development of the Aqueduct trail. More recently managed by Eric Rooks whose story is also represented, Eric donated the property to the National Trust upon his death in 2020 with the condition that a Reserve would be established.diamond creek, rooks family, isaac rooks, maroondah aqueduct, maroondah aqueduct trail

Newspaper advertisement: Diamond Valley Leader, 2 December 2009, history, staff. Newspaper article: Diamond Valley Leader, 21 November 2018, about Eltham Veterinary Practice, photograph of Karly Cooper and Steve Pryor. Newspaper article: Diamond Valley Leader, 14 August 2019, residents of Eltham Gateway zone against Eltham Veterinary Practice's proposal for cattery. Newspaper article: Diamond Valley Leader, 2 December 2009, storm damage across Diamond Valley, photographs of Melissa Kingston and John Rose, Haddon Court, Eltham station walkway flooded.main road, eltham, property, businesses, veterinary practices, haddon court eltham, eltham railway station

Newspaper article: Diamond Valley News, 1 September 1981, Pioneer cottage rich in history by Marguerite Marshall, recollections of Sonia Skipper re Jarrold Cottage in Main Road, also small shop in grounds leased by Jarrold family to a bootmaker, previously used as temporary police station; Jarrold Cottage later owned by Lena Skipper, mother of Matchem Skipper, currently occupied by Adam Skipper and Sue Thomas. [On reverse side "New library in 5 years: shire chief" Diamond Valley News, Tuesday, September 1, 1986, p9, concerning Watsonia Library and the Heidelberg Regional Library. Also includes a photo of Ian Hamilton inside the Diamond Valley Bookmobile] Photo: Haymaking on the Jarrold property, Main Rd, Eltham, Diamond Valley News, Tuesday, December 16, 1986, p29 (Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection image SEPP_0631) Reproduction of drawing of 701 Main Road Eltham.main road, eltham, property, houses, haymaking, jarrold property, diamond valley bookmobile, heidelberg regional library, ian hamilton, watsonia library, yarra plenty regional library

Letter 1 December 1994 from Harry Gilham to Russell Yeoman Eltham Shire Offices, re history of property: sold by Matthews family to Claire Fitzpatrick and husband, then sold to Shire of Eltham for Living and Learning Centre, 9 November 1994 sketch plan.main road, eltham, property, houses, shops, businesses, claire fitzpatrick, eltham living and learning centre

Photocopy publication: Eltham Methodist Church One Hundred and Twenty-Five Years 1850-1975, Chris Allan editor. History of early Eltham, railway, schools, churches by A Bird. Map of Eltham with sites of significant buildings. Maps church site. Plan of church. Reminiscences by Edna Bill, Val Gangell, Don Brown. Notes by Ken Eckersall, Peter Gray, Ron Hubery. Newspaper article: Lessons in history, Diamond Valley News, 2 August 2000. Newspaper article: Parents stop teachers, Diamond Valley News, 2 August 2000, State-wide preschool teachers strike and Hurstbridge pre-school.main road, eltham, eltham methodist church, eltham uniting church, josiah holloway, hurstbridge pre-school, kinglake national park, churches

Newspaper article: Auction part of Eltham History, Diamond Valley News, 11 March 1980, auction on 15 March of The Hawthorns and other properties by the Burgoyne family. On same page another article :"The unusual on a hill" about Robert Marshall, Shire Councillor and architect's own home. On reverse side real estate advertising including several Woodridge Estate properties. Newspaper article: Centre becomes a second home, Diamond Valley News, Tuesday, September 23, 1986, p3 about new child minding centre. On same page "residents carry on fight for road works" about planned road works in Kirwana Grove, Montmorency and "Advice bureau needs volunteers" about Eltham Citizens Advice Bureau. On reverse side (page 4) advertising for Kentons Shoes closing down sale at Shop 3 Eltham Mall, Arthur Street and article "Nursing mums donate books" featuring Eltham Branch of Nursing Mothers Association (with photo).main road, eltham, property, the hawthorns house, burgoyne family, harry burgoyne, hawthorn hedges, 816 main road eltham, advertising, avril benson, child minding centre, eltham citizens advice bureau, eltham high school, eltham rsl sub-branch, eltham shire council, john stevens, kaye mount, kirwana grove, main road child minding centre, montmorency, montmorency primary school, roadworks, rob stanley, ruth kirkpatrick, angela hennel, arthur street mall, banner project, diamond valley childbirth education association, kentons shoes, nursing mothers association, sue gavan, woodridge estate, mudbrick, robert marshall, st andrews

Newspaper article: Was woman found in well put in it? Diamond Valley Local, 16 February 1954, story of wife of baker found in well before Burgoyne family purchased bakery. Newspaper article: Bakery goes ... locals protest, The Valley Voice, 18 July 1979, Joh Ebeli protests about planned destruction, history of building memories of Alistair Knox. Note on demolition of Eltham Bakery building, 1979, by Joh Ebeli who tried to save front of house with friend names Elwers. Photocopy newspaper article: Murder mystery at bakery, History comes to life for old building, 4 November 1979, Harry Burgoyne remembers his grandfather John James Thomas Neville Burgoyne bought bakery in 1896 at time of body found in well, bakery build 1860-1864, sold in 1921. Photocopy newspaper article: Public meeting called over Eltham restaurant proposal, Diamond Valley News, 4 October 1988, protests re proposal for motel and restaurant. Photocopy newspaper article: Fresh tales at an old mine, Diamond Valley News, 4 October 1988, Ausminde Pty Ltd applied for renewal of exploration licence at Old Tree Hill Mine, last mined by Stan Bone and Bill Wallace, photograph of Russell Yeoman at site. Photocopy of line drawing, The Bakery, by Joh Ebeli, 1978. Photocopy of photograph, Old Bakery, next to house built 1880. Photocopy of photograph with Old Bakery in background. On August 12, 1902, appearing before T. Smallman, Esq,. Police Magistrate, and Messrs. W. Duncan and W.J. Taylor, Justices of the Peace is Luther Haley, baker. Wilfred Henry Johnston, by his agent Stanley Ernest Elder had applied for a warrant of ejectment under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1890 against Luther Haley from the bakery premises at the corner of Main Road and York Street. From the evidence presented it is made known that Mrs Burgoyne of Eltham had purchased the property some months earlier from Mr Johnston, which consisted of a store and bakery establishment at Eltham occupied by Mr. Luther Haley, and whose lease expired some little time back, and up to the present time, Mr. Haley was not prepared to leave. He informed the court that he was unable to secure at Eltham a suitable house in which to carry on his business, but he was building a place near the railway station which he expected to be done in about three weeks time, at which time he would give up possession of the bakery. Mr Smallman informed the defendant, Luther Haley, that he would have to quit the premises in three weeks from the present date, and that a warrant of ejectment would be issued. However he also informed Mr Haley that he would order the warrant to lie in the office for three weeks from that date. The premises under construction refered to by Luther Haley in court were situated on the western side of Main Road, near the railway station slightly opposite present day Arthur Street. It was opened around September 1902 as a General Store, Bakery and Tea Rooms. In June 2024 Annie Hackrath shared a memory of living in the old bakery: "My husband and I lived in the old bakery for 18 months in 1978-9 , husband Geoff used the old bakery out the back as a wood workshop, making turnery and handcrafted furniture. The front shop was operated as a “sometimes” art gallery which we called “Gouge and Grain”. There were old sheds against the back fence which we thought were probably stables from the bakery days. Lovely memories of the old place which had so much character and seemed to attract a multitude of interesting creative people! Sad that it was pulled down; a friend salvaged some of the lead light glass in the old doors and included it in a new door panel for us."main road, eltham, property, shops, businesses, eltham bakery, burgoyne family, joh ebeli, alistair knox, harry burgoyne, john james thomas neville burgoyne, one tree hill mine, stan bone miner, bill wallace miner, russell yeoman, henry rech, ausminde pty ltd, john street, bridge street, judy paynter, art gallery, gouge and grain, annie hackrath, geoff hackrath

Individual Research Project, Catherine Loftus-Hills 1982: To what extent is the Eltham Town Park successful in providing a recreational facility for the entire community? Newspaper article: Diamond Valley News, 24 August 1982, Byways of History, Early view of Little Eltham, illustrated by photograph sometime 1902-1920. Newspaper article: Diamond Valley News, 24 August 1982, Pauline thrives on work, Australian Labor Party member of Victorian parliament. Newspaper article: unidentified, undated: Many attempts to change name, letter from Frank Burgoyne. Newspaper article: unidentified, undated: Anger over park renaming. Photocopy letter from Office of the Place Names Committee to Eltham and District Historical Society, 25 February 1982, stating naming of Eltham Town Park, not Alistair Knox Park. Newspaper article: Former shire president honoured, Diamond Valley News, Tuesday September 9, 1986, p3 (on rverse page an advertisement for Research Mowers & Chainsaws National Trust Public Art Register: Citation, 18 February 1997, of major work by sculptor Ernst Frie. Newspaper article: Diamond Valley Leader, 8 June 2005, Sign not before time, erection of Welcome to Eltham Town sign made by Greg Bebbington and Hamish Knox. Newspaper article: Diamond Valley News, 9 June 2005, p3, Former shire president honoredmain road, eltham, businesses, public art, ernst frie, eltham town park, alistair knox park, j m holloway, pauline toner, catherine loftus-hills, greg bebbington, hamish knox, frank lynch, greg johnson, advertising, research mowers & chainsaws

Letter Office of the Place Names Committee to Eltham Historical Society, 10 November 1980: Seeking Society's opinion of naming of Eltham Common and Alistair Knox Park. Letter Office of the Place Names Committee to Eltham Historical Society, 7 April 1981, seeking response to letter 10 November 1980 re naming proposal. Letter Shire of Eltham Historical Society to Place Names Committee, 30 April1981, No objection to name Eltham Common but considered Eltham Town Park more appropriate, providing a history of area. Letter Office of the Place Names Committee to Eltham Historical Society, 9 July 1981: Resolved to assign name Eltham Common. Letter Office of the Place Names Committee to Eltham Historical Society, 23 October 1981: No objections to Government Gazette notice re naming of Eltham Common. Newspaper article: Diamond Valley News, 12 November 1991, Correction, restaurant review of Shillinglaw Cottage in Diamond Valley News, 5 November 1991, said founder was Grant Phelan, correctly Martin Brown.main road, eltham, property, houses, businesses, j m hjolloway, alistair knox, john hicks petty, eltham common, shillinglaw cottage, grant phelan, martin brown

Newspaper article: Big crowd sees Eltham P.O. openingThe News, 31 January 1958, Opening of new post office in Eltham. Program of proceedings: Official Opening of the new Eltham Post Office by Mr D C McKenzie M.P. Friday 14th February 1975. Typescript: A History of P.M.G. Services at Eltham, prepared by Derek M Baker, Post Office Historian-Victoria, 1975, including Chronology, text, list of Sources. Sheet of proceedings: Official Opening of the new Eltham Post Office including Historical Notes. Newspaper article: Diamond Valley News, 2 July 1985, Gold brought life to the township. main road, eltham, businesses, eltham post office, e p harmer, d c mckenzie m.p., w j b pollock, a s knox, senator a j missen, derek m baker, australia post, peter jolly

50th anniversary celebrations of Eltham Tennis Club50th anniversary, eltham tennis club, heidelberg golf club, ian mcmaster, john dinsmore, laurie sparks, terry bain

Includes a brief history of Montmorency Primary School up to 1970montmorency primary school, montmorency state school no. 4112

From Eltham Montmorency Uniting Church, History http://www.elthammontmorencyuca.org/history/ In 1914 a small group of Presbyterians living on 'The Montmorency Estate', which had been established when the railway was extended to Eltham several years before, began meeting for worship in the Rattray Rd home of Robert Sharpe. Two years later a small weatherboard church, administered from Scots Church, Heidelberg, was built on land donated by Mr. Sharpe. In 1931 this building was moved to the corner of Rattray Road and Mountain View Roads. In the next few years local elders were elected and the congregation adopted the name St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Montmorency.montmorency, montmorency presbyterian church hall, rattray road

View of Main Road from Henry Street to Brougham Street across to the Diamond Creek showing the Eltham Shire Offices (demolished 1996), the Eltham Library (opened 1994)aerial photo, alistair knox park, bridge street, brougham street, central park, diamond creek (creek), eltham, eltham community centre, eltham courthouse, eltham justice precinct, eltham living and learning, franklin street, henry street, local history centre, main road

This pamphlet was issued for the information of ratepayers, with the compliments of the Eltham Shire Council. Subjects of information included: Shire statistics and history Members of Council 1962-63 Bushfires Dogs Rates Works Programme Shire Offices Town Planning Map of Shire of Eltham with Bushfire area outlined in redbushfires, charis pelling, charles m. a. pelling, councillors, dogs, eric dudley butler, eric percival harmer, franklin william nankervis, george l. cresp, leslie christopher docksey, m.b. watson, map, maxwell alexander spence, rates, raymond clive duncan, rodney d. quin, shire of eltham, shire offices, town planning, works programme

Prepared for Nillumbik Shire Council by Samantha Westbrooke Pty Ltd in association with Peter Mills PhD, Architectural Historian and Roark Muhlen-Schilte, Archaeologist. Covers history of early market gardening in Eltham with the commencement of European settlement in the late 1830s. The site for the village of Eltham was surveyed in 1851 and the Township Plan shows that the property is made up of Lots 7 and 8 which were sold at auction in June 1852 to M. O'Shea. The history of the Bell Street property is closely tied to the West family from the 1860s to 1930s; the earliest rate books for Eltham show William West farming in El;tham in 1864. In the aerly 1930s ownership of the creek side was transferred from the west family to the Fabbro family who shortly afterwards were impaced by the 1934 Diamond Creek flooding. Guido Fabbro relocated the original West home further up the hill and built a new Italianate style modern home in situ. The Fabbro family farmed the property. In 1993/4 Eltham Council acquired the creek-side market garden blocks to the south of 2 Bell Street which was recconceived in 1998 as the Barak Bushland Reserve. The Fabbro house was demolished shortly after and the lots were sold to a developer in 1994. The large steel shed now present on the 2 Bell Street property dates from soon after this sale.26 A4 pages color printcultural heritage significance assessment, peter mills, samantha westbrooke pty ltd, shire of nillumbik, 2 bell street, eltham, market gardening, west family, fabbro family, land use, barak bushland reserve, heritage assessment

Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :5 Project : MELBOURNE AND METROPOLITAN AREA PROJECT Run : 36 Frame : 60546 Date : 12/1945 Film Type : B/W Camera : EAG4 Flying Height : 10200 Scale : 6000 Film Number : 195 GDA2020 : 37°42'47"S, 145°09'56"E MGA2020 : 338306, 5824438 (55) Melways : 22 C4 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes