The c1920 brick shop and side dwelling is one of just three early 20th century shop buildings left in Eltham and one of just two that have intact facades. These shops are physical links with the country village of Eltham at that time and their siting in isolated locations along the street reflects that village era. Since the 1950s Eltham's main street has changed dramatically and the intact pre 1940 buildings such as this shop are key components of the section of Main Road south of Henry Street which still has a streetscape recognisable from that earlier time. The side dwelling illustrates the common practice of that time for shopkeepers to live at their premises. In the 1990s this was an antique Shop and in 2010 “Eltham Cycles”. It is now a popular eatery – Zen Den. 35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 23) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham, main road, antiques and old wares, cafe zen den, restaurants, second hand dealer, second life decor pty ltd, shops

Wingrove Cottage built 1858-1859 of hand made bricks is historically significant for its long association with Charles Wingrove, a prominent figure in Victorian local government, as secretary to the Eltham District Road Board and Shire Council from 1858 to 1904, and Shire Engineer and Secretary to the Heidelberg Road Board. The cottage was used as the office of the Eltham District Road Board and Council for many years It is one of the Shire's oldest dwellings, and one of the few surviving 19th century buildings associated with early Eltham and located in the original Eltham Village Reserve. The symmetrical planting of a pair of Pencil Pines (not visible in photo) is also historically and aesthetically significant as characteristic of the early period of planting in the district and because they are a distinctive landscape feature. In October 2002 new owners demolished the outbuildings attached to the rear of the cottage. Community protest at the demolition resulted in Council issuing a Stop Work order. The owner was issued with a court order in September 2003 to develop a conservation management plan and restore the heritage listed property. The owner sold the property in 2005 to Cameron Construction in 2005 who undertook the restoration work. In 2007 a planning application to build two offices and seven dwellings at the rear of the property was ultimately rejected. The cottage is now the main office for Cameron Construction. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p57 Wingrove Cottage on Main Road beside Eltham Primary School, is one of the Shire’s most important historical buildings and was central to local government for almost 50 years. The cottage was built in stages from 1858 to 1888 for Charles Symons Wingrove JP. He was the Eltham District Road Board’s first paid secretary and later the Shire Secretary when the board became the Eltham Shire Council. Wingrove held those positions, and that of engineer for a time, for 46 years. He was also one of the main figures in the Municipal Association of Victoria. As Eltham’s first paid municipal officer, Wingrove used one room in his 11 – (originally two) roomed home, as the office for the board then the council. Meetings were held there from the late 1850s (as well as at more central locations) until Wingrove’s retirement in 1904. The cottage is a rare example of a local government office occupying a Road Board /Shire Secretary’s purpose-designed house. The cottage is also significant because it is the oldest largely intact building from the original Eltham township reserve (south of Dalton Street).1 The township had its origins in the 1848 Nillumbik Parish Plan and was one of the state’s earliest township reserves. The rectangular house of handmade bricks, roofed with grey slate tiles and with a veranda encompassing three sides, is reminiscent of those in the central goldfields including Castlemaine. Its overhanging eaves and gables were unlike houses in Melbourne at the time. Wingrove, who was born in 1827, had been a gold digger and a road surveyor. Impossible to imagine in today’s world, Wingrove was also the Shire of Heidelberg’s secretary and engineer for part of the time that he was secretary in Eltham. Living next door to the primary school was a mixed blessing. Wingrove and his wife Katherine, who had ten children, sent their eight surviving children to the school. But they had occasional disputes with the school authorities when their cattle wandered into the schoolyard. Eltham showed Charles Wingrove its appreciation of his services by giving him two illuminated addresses, one after ten years and the other at retirement. Wingrove died in 1905 aged 76 and was buried in the St Katherine’s Church of England cemetery in St Helena. His grave is surrounded by those of family members including his wife, Katherine and two babies, Henry, 12 months and Isobella, 15 months, who died in the mid-1860s. Cottage ownership passed to his wife, then to daughter Caroline and then to daughter Bessie, a Melbourne University graduate and artist. During the Great Depression their brother Walter was the ratepayer. At one stage the Wingrove property extended to Metery Road and included a small creek. The family ran a small dairy and orchard, with associated farm buildings, which were later removed. In 1949 part of the property was compulsorily acquired by the Eltham Primary School, which infuriated owner Bessie Wingrove. She protested in a letter about this ‘monstrous act of unmitigated tyranny’.2 She was the last Wingrove to occupy the cottage and died in 1955. Wingrove descendants sold the house in 1974 and the property was subdivided. In the 1960s the Eltham Shire named the park opposite the cottage in Wingrove’s honour. The cottage has since had several owners including psychiatrist Dr Daniel Kahans, who practised there. In October 2002 late rear additions which had been substantially altered were demolished contrary to council planning controls. This caused a community outcry and resulted in legal proceedings against the owner. Fortunately the historical significance of the demolished section was not as great as the older front part of the building, which has been retained and was later restored.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, cameron construction, charles symons wingrove, eltham, eltham road district board, eltham shire council, main road, wingrove cottage

Nillumbik Shire Council transferred to the former Diamond Valley Shire Offices in Greensborough after municipal restructuing. The offices became the official Nillumbik Shire Council Offices on 16 October 1995. The former Shire of Diamond Valley Civic Centre or Shire Office building was officially opened on 26th February 1972. Archtiects were A.K. Lines, McFarlane & Marshall and it was built by L.U. Simon Pty Ltd, The Diamond Valley Shire had been created in 1964 from part of the City of Heidelberg. On December 15, 1994 the Shire of Nillumbik was established. Under the Council amalgamations imposed by the Kennett government, the Shire of Eltham, Shire of Diamond Valley and City of Heidelberg ceased to exist with the establishment of Nillumbik Shire Council and the City of Banyule.The new Nillumbik shire surrended the west riding from Eltham to Banyule but in place gained parts of the former Diamond Valley Shire which itself had been created in 1964 from parts of the City of Heidelberg. Three unelected and non-local Commissioners were put in place by the government bringing democracy into question by many members of the local community. The Commissioners determined to abandon the former Shire of Eltham offices located in Main Road, Eltham and in turn occupy the former Shire of Diamond Valley offices located at the boundary of the new shire with Banyule, in Civic Drive, Greensborough. In July 1996 the Commissioners sold the former Eltham Shire Offices and had them bulldozed leading to many years of communiity protest over the process and future development applications. The site has remained vacant ever since. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p43 It was the need for roads that led to this district’s first council. In 1853 a committee was formed to improve the rough roads, some in Kangaroo Ground being almost impassable in winter.1 The committee fundraised by voluntary levies and grants to improve in particular, the main road between Kangaroo Ground and the Plenty River. From this committee arose the Eltham District Road Board, in 1856, which was the precursor to the Eltham Shire Council. The Board’s first chairman was Kangaroo Ground farmer, John Barr. Secretary was the former committee’s secretary, Andrew Ross, Kangaroo Ground’s first school teacher, and founder of the district newspaper, The Evelyn Observer.2 Most of the board’s income came from a toll-house north of the Lower Plenty Bridge, which funded such projects as a road from Kangaroo Ground to the Caledonia Diggings. In 1871 the Shire of Eltham was proclaimed, with its boundaries the same as those of the Road Board, and Councillor A Donaldson of Kangaroo Ground was the first president. Eltham was at the southern tip of the shire, which extended north to Kinglake and east beyond Yarra Glen. In 1878, part of Kinglake was added to the shire, while the area east of Watts River, near Healesville was removed. In 1912, then again in 1958, the shire was further reduced. Yarra Glen, Steels Creek, Tarrawarra, parts of Healesville and Christmas Hills, were transferred to the Shire of Healesville. In 1972 a smaller area, at Kinglake, was transferred to the Shire of Yea, leaving 277 square kilometres in the Eltham Shire. Perhaps no other Victorian municipality has had so many meeting places. Although from 1858 to 1904, the council convened at the office in the home of Secretary Charles Wingrove, the board, and later the council, also met at other more central locations.3 The board moved from the Fountain of Friendship Hotel to the Eltham Courthouse, to the Kangaroo Ground schoolhouse. It then met at the Kangaroo Ground Hotel, which some considered put it in danger of interruptions by people ‘the worse for liquor’.4 In 1885 the council met at the hall on Mr J Donaldson’s land at Kangaroo Ground. After Wingrove’s retirement, the council rented space at the Kangaroo Ground General Store and Post Office. Then, in 1917, the council bought the former office of The Evelyn Observer, after its printing works transferred to Hurstbridge. In 1934, fire destroyed the shire office, which was temporarily relocated to the Kangaroo Ground home of Shire Secretary, Mr P J McMahon. In 1941, the shire office moved to a new building (which included a public hall) in Eltham, at the corner of Arthur Street and Main Road, where the Eltham Village Shopping Centre was eventually built. Growth required new offices, which opened in 1965, on the former Shillinglaw property in Main Road.5 In 1994, as part of municipal restructuring under the Jeff Kennett Liberal Government, most of the Eltham Shire formed part of the new Shire of Nillumbik. It joined with the north section of the Diamond Valley Shire and parts of the Healesville and Whittlesea municipalities. The Diamond Valley Shire had been created in 1964, from part of the City of Heidelberg. Turbulence followed Nillumbik Shire’s formation. Under the Commissioners the council transferred to the former Diamond Valley Shire offices in Greensborough, and the Eltham council offices were demolished. In March 1997 the first five-member Nillumbik Council was elected. But, in October 1998, the government suspended the council and appointed an administrator . Early in 1999, shire residents voted to increase councillors to nine: comprising five ward councillors and four shire-wide councillors. Elections were held in March 1999. Then, before the March 2002 elections, nine new wards were created.6 In 2008 these were reduced to seven. Today [2008] the council governs a varied population of more than 60,000 people living in townships and on bush properties in the green wedge.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, greensborough, nillumbik shire council offices, civic drive

The Eltham Cemetery Trust, established in 1858, selected the existing burial site at Mount Pleasant Road on high ground overlooking the village of Eltham. The first recorded burial took place in 1861 in the Church of England section. Headstones depict the names of many early and well known local families. On Saturday 5th March 2016 Harry Gilham again lead members and visitors on a heritage excursion through parts of the cemetery, while providing background information on selected individuals buried there. Harry’s cemetery walks have always been popular, and members and visitors were encouraged to come along and experience the tranquil surroundings of this picturesque cemetery. We were also able to view the recently installed sculpture titled ‘A Currawong Takes Flight’ by Michael Wilson located at the highest point of the fence-lined border between Montsalvat and the cemetery. It is close to the last bronze sculpture by Matcham Skipper, titled ‘Young Man Awakening’, commissioned by the Eltham Cemetery Trust to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the cemetery in 2008. As an addition, we also met the artists and stonemason and given a brief background into the Trust’s newest art project installation titled “Our Eltham – Artistic Recollections” which will feature 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.fay bridge collection, 2016-03-05, eltham cemetery, geoff watt, jim connor, leigh wykes, linda detoma, nerina lascelles, young man awakening, harry gilham

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

Fred looks back; Report: Linley Hartley, Picture: Ron Grant Teaching himself German again after 70 years is just one of the many tasks Fred Golgerth, of Greensborough, has undertaken and succeeded in during his lifetime. As the two year old tenth child of a German descendent, Fred learnt to speak German from an Aunt. But World War 1 was raging. Fred’s older brother had gone to Europe with the Australian forces, changing his name … to ….. to sound less German. “I used to get my bottom slapped for speaking German at home,” Fred said. Even his name was changed from Otto to the more anglicised Frederick. Fred claims his involvement with Eltham started two years before he was born! His sister, two years older than him, was a babe in arms when his parents bought a piece of grazing property in Mount Pleasant Rd. “It was about 24 acres on a spur of Mt Pleasant,” Fred said. “My parents bought it from Mr and Mrs Hughes. There was a two-room mud hut in wattle and daub that we lived in from time to time. “My parents had a dairy farm and dairy in West Coburg, and they bought the Mt Pleasant land to put the dry stock on. “At one stage my mother got very ill and my older sister took my younger sister and myself to Eltham for four or five months. I went down to Eltham Primary School then.” That wasn’t the only time Fred stayed in Eltham. His sister, Wilhemina, known as Willa, married Jim Watson who had the Eltham hotel for some years from the end of World War 1. Pillar to post living was the way Fred described his youth, when he stayed with one married sister after another. “After a while Will and Jim lived in the big house at the top of Pitt St, next to the Council depot, and the hotel was managed by Fitzsimmons who had a big place near the river down there on Fitzsimons Lane. There was no bridge in Fitzsimons Lane but we used to cross the river at a ford, rolling up our trouser legs so they wouldn’t get wet, and carrying our shoes. I’d o down to visit some friends I had in Templestowe. And sometimes Jim Watson took his horse drawn lorry across the ford on his way to the brewery, instead of going don through Heidelberg.” “The bridge across the Yarra in Fitzsimons was not built until 1961.” Fred Golgerth, was only a teenager when he was rolled off his pushbike under a car on the bend between Mt Pleasant Rd and the Diamond Creek bridge. He was hospitalised in the little hospital on the east side of Eltham village that served the district in those days. He still carries the scars of the burns he received from the exhaust pipe and recent x-rays have revealed several broken vertebrae. At the time of the accident he was treated for a dislocated neck and was in plaster from his hip to the base of his head for about seven months. But nothing daunted Fred. Bouncing back he began work as an apprentice to a motor mechanic in Bell St, Preston, a man who is still living (at 90) in Queensland and who still communicates with Fred frequently. “He was like a father to me,” Fred declared. He was a marine engineer as well, so I …. that as well as blacksmithing. They taught us properly then.” After finishing his apprenticeship, Fred bought himself a 30 hundredweight Fargo truck and began his own contract carting business, doing most of the work for a firm called Carnegie’s and a subsidiary of that, Howard Radio. It was in the office Fred met his wife. “He taught me to drive the truck giving me lessons in my lunch hours up the Bourke St and Flinders St extension,” she said. “After work I’d have a driving lesson and all the girls from the Howard Radio would pile in the back to get a lift to Richmond Station.” In the 1939 bushfires, the Mt Pleasant Rd property was burnt out and the hut raised. Two years later, Fred and Dorothy were married. Fred paid £7.15.0 ($15.50) for the suit in which he was married. Dorothy had pulled out of the Women’s Air Training Corps to be married. Others with whom she trained went to Darwin and were in a convoy that was bombed. Fred went into the garage business in Brighton and continued his cartage business for a while. His company was employed to do all Brown Gouge’s motor repairs and factory maintenance. Because Fred had a certificate to do steam repair work he often got jobs maintaining industrial boilers. While he was in Brighton, Fred bought an eight-seater 1925 Silver Ghost Rolls Royce from Sir Keith Murdoch. When the couple moved to Rosanna in about 1943, it became a delivery van for the dairy they operated. “I thought I’d like to get back into a dairy business” Fred said. “We used to deliver the milk in the Rolls. “But it was hard work. We couldn’t get the labour and we’d drive to the farm and pick up the milk cans, take them back to the dairy, cool the milk, bottle it and deliver it. The inspectors would come regularly and the walls for bacteria.” Fred was exhausted. The couple gave up the dairy and moved to Eltham to live on the old property where a weatherboard house had now been built. It wasn’t a big house and the glassed in Rolls Royce limousine became the daytime nursery for the Golgerth’s second daughter. We’d put her in there to sleep during the day.” “Dorothy Golgerth was known to drive the Rolls at breakneck speed along Mt Pleasant Rd. Fred took some time off work then began driving a little local bus run by the Lyon Brothers before taking a maintenance job at the Athenaeum Club in the city. He’d ride an old Harley-Davidson to the station and travel into the city by train. Later, when the family moved to Pryor St. (their house stood where McEwans car park is now) Fred could walk to and from the station. “There was no resident doctor in the early days of Eltham,” Fred said. “Dr Cordner used to come from Greensborough to a room in the old house next to the old grocery shop on the corner of York St and Main Rd, Eltham (the grocery shop is now the Eltham Feed and Grain Store). The Golgerths lived in Eltham until “Dollar Day” – the day decimal currency became official. They eventually moved to Greensborough, when they have lived since. Fred has had his share of interesting jobs since then, retiring at 65 seven years ago when he was working in the engineering department at Larundel. Recently, two of his older sisters and a brother died, within a month. They were all in their 80s. They all had a profound influence on Fred, especially during his youth. His sharp wit and amusing anecdotes are the richer for his having been the youngest of a family that made the best of every circumstance. And now, as he enjoys his retirement, he is concentrating on relearning the language of his infancy; teaching himself German from tapes and a ‘teach yourself’ manual. He is fiercely proud of his German ancestry and treasures the diary, written in German in Gothic script, kept by his grandparents during their journey to Australia. On the inside in blue pen: "To Sadie, Wal Margaret & Elizabeth with lots & lots of love & best wishes from Mother"marg ball collection, eltham hotel, herbert james watson, otto (fred) golgerth, wilhemina watson (nee golgerth)

Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 2 May 1903, page 25 ________________________________________ ELTHAM A POPULAR HOLIDAY SPOT. By L.J.J. The village of Eltham, with its 377 in habitants, is prettily situated on Diamond Creek, a tributary of the Yarra, 16 miles from Melbourne. Yet, in spite of it being so easily accessible from town, few people are aware of the beauties of this early settlement. Prior to June last year one had to journey by coach from Heidelberg to Eltham, but now the railway conveys passengers through from Melbourne to Eltham, first-class return, for 1/9. The opening of this extension to Eltham was the last ceremony performed by Lord Hopetoun, on June 5, 1902, prior to his departure from Australia. Sauntering through the township one autumn morning recently I was constantly reminded of scenes characteristic of Surrey or Sussex villages. There is the village pond (so essentially English), reflecting in its clear water a quaint cottage, dwarfed by a huge gum tree, an old smithy, and a hostelry, built quite fifty years ago, the flooring-boards of which the landlord informed me with pride were of Singapore cedar, and quite fit for another fifty years' wear. Then there are the village school, the shoemaker's, the drapery store, and the butcher's shop, all seemingly as they were when first they were erected many years ago. Poplars grow to a great height at Eltham, and just now they are to be seen in rich autumnal tints. The already leafless fruit trees on the slopes of the creek denote the near approach of winter. Orchardists were taking advantage of the recent rains, and were busy ploughing and harrowing between the trees, while the magpies and other birds were picking up worms and grubs on the newly-turned soil. The busy time for Eltham is the holiday season, and then the inhabitants are put to their wits' ends to provide for the rush of picnic parties, cyclists, and other excursionists. Outside almost every cottage is a notice stating that "summer drinks and hot water" are obtainable. Sketches illustrating the article: VILLAGE POND. DRAPERY STORE, ELTHAM. ON DIAMOND CREEK. HOSTELRY, ELTHAM. AN ORCHADIST'S HOMESTEAD. ON THE HEIDELBERG-ROAD IN AND AROUND ELTHAM.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image Print B&W 20 x 25 cmsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, drapery store, hostelery, orchardist's homestead, village pond, eltham, dalton street, evelyn hotel, hostelry, jarrold cottage, john street, main road, maria street, white cloud cottage

Our Eltham - Artistic Recollections by Jim Connor, EDHS newsletter No. 236 October 2017 The Eltham Cemetery Trust, established in 1858, selected the existing burial site at Mount Pleasant Road on high ground overlooking the village of Eltham. The first recorded burial took place in 1861 in the Church of England section. Headstones depict the names of many early and well known local families. In recent years the Trust has encouraged the use of creative artistic elements within the natural bushland environment in their landscaped grounds adjoining Montsalvat. Their ongoing vision has been to offer the local communty a fresh and unique relationship to the Cemetery. On Thursday 21st September 2017 their latest commissioned art project titled ‘Our Eltham - Artistic Recollections’ was unveiled. It is a collection of panels collaboratively created by artist Nerina Lascelles and ceramicist Linda Detoma. The project was designed and constructed by Leigh Wykes using Australian stone with ironwork by Neil Carter. All contributors to this installation, located adjacent to the car park near Metery Road, are residents of the Eltham area. Our Eltham - Artistic Recollections is described as a celebration of life in the Shire since the opening of the Eltham Cemetery more than 150 years ago. Depicting scenes of life in and around Eltham, the collection offers deeper connections to the Eltham area through a series of visual narratives of Eltham’s past, environment and community. The project involves the artistic interpretation by Nerina Lascelles of historic and current images symbolically intermixed with locally indigenous flowers and plants. These are displayed on thirty-one ceramic panels by Linda Detoma, mounted within an iron fence by Neil Carter, upon an attractive rock wall constructed by Leigh Wykes. The Eltham District Historical Society is pleased to have contributed to this project. Russell Yeoman and Jim Connor from our Society have collaborated with Liz Pidgeon, Local and Family History Librarian at Yarra Plenty Regional Library on a selection of photographs, many from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers Collection we hold in partnership, located at Eltham Library. We also provided information on the images chosen. The Eltham Cemetery Trust has produced a booklet about this artwork, which can be viewed on the Cemetery website at: http://www.elthamcemetery.com/oureltham/#1 Our Eltham - Artistic Recollections is a significant monumental installation, which will encourage visitors to come to view this outstanding combination of local creative skills, set within the attractive grounds of the Eltham Cemetery. jim connor collection, eltham cemetery trust, montsalvat, our eltham artistic recollections, 2017-09-21

"Who would have thought that a boy born in 1889 from the Victorian Mallee would become a successful artist on New York’s Staten Island? This finely illustrated, exhaustively researched and beautifully written biography on Leason features the artist’s entire career as a painter and cartoonist renowned for his depictions of Australian society in the 1920s and 1930s. Leason’s story is a poignant one tracing his beginnings as a cartoonist, to the bohemian Melbourne art scene in the early 20th century, to his involvement in the artists’ camps of Eltham, to his important series of portraits of Lake Tyers Indigenous Australians, and his eventual move to the US where he has been acknowledged as making an enormous contribution to the New York arts scene. This story, as yet untold, fills a gap in the history of art in Australia and offers a new perspective on Australian art in the first half of the 20th century." - Thames and Hudson website A NEW HOME IN ELTHAM Once they had settled back into Melbourne, Perry and Belle began to look for a place to make a permanent home. Having enjoyed the bush setting of Mosman, they decided to explore the rural fringes of Melbourne. Each weekend they packed a picnic and travelled to the towns in the nearby hills - such as Ferntree Gully, Sassafras, Lilydale and, of course, Cockatoo Creek. Eventually deciding these places might be a little too far from The Herald office, they searched closer to the city. The Heidelberg and Box Hill regions that had inspired his old teacher McCubbin, had become busy, urban areas but further east, towards Warrandyte and Templestowe, there were still large tracts of bush. Finally they settled on Eltham, an area Percy knew very well, having often painted there with Jock Frater. Perry's old friend Dick McCann and his wife Margery had also settled in Eltham. The township was fifteen miles from Melbourne and serviced by an electric train that went to the central Melbourne station of Flinders Street, near where The Herald offices were located. Eltham was a small village in 1925, separated from Melbourne by the Yarra River, and surrounded by orchards and large tracts of bush. Small farms dotted the landscape and the main businesses revolved around ironmongers, blacksmiths, and farming supplies. Of particular appeal to artists was Eltham Park, a large expanse of bushland bounded by the Yarra River on the south side and the Diamond Creek on the east. The park included a playing field that was busy on weekends with cricket or football matches, but for the rest of the week it was mostly empty and an ideal place to paint. The scenery there provided the inspiration for many paintings by Leason, Meldrum and other artists such as Colin Colahan and Peter (A.E.) Newburv. The Leasons found a rundown old farmhouse on four-and-a-half acres of land in New Street, now known as Lavender Park Road. The site was splendid, at the top of a gentle slope which gave panoramic views east to the Dandenong hills, south over the Templestowe orchards and north to Kinglake. The front lawn was taken over by onion grass (or wiregrass as Leason called it) and scattered about the property were many wattles and gum trees. Aloe cacti covered much to the front of the house, while old quince and lucerne hedges separated the house and out-buildings from a rundown apple orchard. Here they would build a new home. ·with financial assistance from The Herald, Leason bought the property and immediately commissioned an architectural firm to design a new house in the popular bungalow style of the time. The old farm house was demolished but Percy saved the siding boards, bricks and corrugated iron for the outbuildings of his new home. The new house was a two storey, triple brick with a large, gabled, terracotta tiled roof. It was situated at the very top of the slope. The paint and varnish were barely dry when the family moved in during the summer of 1925-26 and the fumes were overpowering in the heat. Despite the house being wired for electricity, power poles had not yet reached the area and initially the family had to rely on kerosene lamps and candles. When electricity did arrive, Leason reflected on the community's reception of electricity at the expense of the old growth gum tree corridors in his cartoon, Electricity comes to Wiregrass. The family had now grown to seven. Jack was nearly nine, Jean was seven, Marjory was four, Nancy was two and the baby Patricia was seven months old. Jack and Jean were enrolled in the local primary school down the hill. A retired farmer, Jock McMillan, came to live on the property and help out with the general maintenance. Jock built himself a shack and Belle provided him with meals. He was kept occupied building structures around the property·, such as the garage, the outside toilet, garden beds, trellis arbours and a number of ponds. The elderly, bearded Scotsman with his old hat and baggy pants also provided the inspiration for one of the characters Leason regularly included in his cartoons. Like Leason, Jock smoked a straight stemmed pipe. A neighbour was employed to help Belle with domestic chores, and so the family settled down to live comfortably in their new Eltham house. Two dogs, Maginary and Wodger, completed the large and vibrant household. “Percy Leason; an artist’s life” by Margot Tasca, Thames & Hudson Australia Pty Ltd, Port Melbourne 2016, pp 63-64 Hardback Bookpercy leason, margot tasca, biography, artist, landscape

Located on the north side of Bridge Street at the intersection with Bolton Street, facing Bolton Street (now part of present day Brisbane Street and occupied by the Kitchen Design Centre). Show's an original early settler's cottage in Bridge Street. The cottage was built by Mrs Mary Jane Smart's parents, Edwin Bailey and Jane (nee Matthews). Mary Jane Smart was born in the cottage. She married an Englishman, Alexander Wilson Smart who disappeared to Western Australia in the early 1900s in search of gold. He ultimately married again in W.A., committing bigamy and then committed murder and was hung in 1911. This photo was taken c.1903 not long before both Mrs Bailey and her grand daughter both passed away. Jane Bailey died 2 Dec. 1904 and Mary Jane Smart and Ruby Jane Bertha Smart died July 1903 are all buried in Eltham Cemetery. SMART'S HOME AT ELTHAM. HIS WIFE AND SONS. In a little bush cottage surrounded by tall gum trees, through which appear glimpses of a willow fringed creek, of road ways hedged by masses of snowy flowering hawthorn, of growing crops and vividly green grazing paddocks, lives Mrs. Smart, the lawful wife of the man who is now in the hands of the police of Western Australia on suspicion of having committed a dreadful crime. Here, about half a mile out of the picturesque village of Eltham, she was born, and has lived her whole life — about 50 years. Smart himself lived here till the time when many years ago, the "lure of gold" got into his blood and he cleared out to Western Australia, to follow the digging rushes, gradually becom ing more and more estranged, till at length all communication ceased and be became lost to his wife and children. "I did not want him to go away," said Mrs. Smart, "because I had heard of so many men who had forgotten their homes in the excite ment of gold seeking, and of many others who died unknown and uncared for. But he would go, and when I saw his mind was set on it I placed no obstacles in his way. My parents built and lived in this cottage, where I was born, and they died in it. When I grew up I met my husband, a young Englishman, and married him. His name is Alexander, not Alfred, and his age is 52. We were very happy here, and although we were not well off we were comfortable, for he was a steady, sober, industrious man and had constant employment. He was just a manual worker, but could turn his hand to anything. We had five children, but one died. Four sons grew up in this little cottage. Thus three generations lived in it, somewhat unusual in an Australian bush home, I think. My eldest son is married and has a family; one is in Western Australia— not with his father— another is away working for him self, and one (indicating a young man by her side) has always stuck to his mother. He is my sole support, and he is as good to me now as his father once was. Yes, his father was a good, home-loving man in our younger days. He was fond of his children and was highly respected in these parts.' "It is fifteen years since my husband went away first. He had then been work ing for the Metropolitan Board of Works, and was engaged in the tunnel under the Yarra near Queen's-bridge when it col-lapsed. After he went to the West he sent me money regularly and wrote constantly. He came home three times — twice for a week or two at a time, the third time, eight years ago, when the Eitham railway was nearing completion. I induced him to stay till the railway opened, and he re-mained with me several months. I tried to get him to leave the West and settle down in his home, but he would not; he seemed restless and anxious to be off. One day when we were in Collingwood together he left me, saying he wanted to see what boats were going West. I implored him not to go away, and he said he would see. However, he returned to me soon after wards and said he had taken his ticket and would go by the next boat, and he went. For a year he wrote at irregular intervals, and then his letters ceased and I heard no more of him. For seven years I have not known whether he was alive or dead. Before that time my two sons in Western Australian used to see him some times, though they did not live with him; they used to tell me in their letters that he was well. It was a hard blow to be forgotten by him, but as my sons grew up I became more reconciled, and now I seem to look back at my life with him as some thing that happened a long time ago and is only a memory. Of his life and doings in Western Australia I know nothing. The last time I heard of him he was working in a foundry at Midland Junction. He was at Cue working on the railway when it opened there, and he caught the fever, but all that time he sent me money. When he returned the first time he took our eldest son with him, and the other boy followed later. They did not stay with him, how ever, and as far as I know they did not know how he lived." 'Mrs. Smart is a quiet, toil worn woman who has the respect of everyone who knows her.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 strips Associated print from negative (Copy of original print)Fuji 100bridge street, cottage, smart home, houses, mary jane smart (nee bailey), smart family home, alexander wilson smart, bigamy, bush cottage, early settlers, eltham, jane bailey (nee matthews), murder, ruby jane bertha smart

Believed to be Mrs Jane Bailey (nee Matthews) (d. 1904) and her grand-daughter Ruby Jane Bertha Smart (1890-1903) in front of the Smart family cottage in Bridge Street, Eltham, c.1903 Located on the north side of Bridge Street at the intersection with Bolton Street, facing Bolton Street (now part of present day Brisbane Street and occupied by the Kitchen Design Centre). Ruby Jane Bertha Smart born abt 1890 died in 1903 in Eltham. Her brother Alfred Francis Smart was born abt 1887 and died 1966 in Mont Albert, Vic. (Accessed via Ancestry.com) Show's an original early settler's cottage in Bridge Street. The cottage was built by Mrs Mary Jane Smart's parents, Edwin Bailey and Jane (nee Matthews). Mary Jane Smart was born in the cottage. She married an Englishman, Alexander Wilson Smart who disappeared to Western Australia in the early 1900s in search of gold. He ultimately married again in W.A., committing bigamy and then committed murder and was hung in 1911. This photo was taken c.1903 not long before both Mrs Bailey and her grand daughter both passed away. Jane Bailey died 2 Dec. 1904 and Mary Jane Smart and Ruby Jane Bertha Smart died July 1903 are all buried in Eltham Cemetery. SMART'S HOME AT ELTHAM. HIS WIFE AND SONS. In a little bush cottage surrounded by tall gum trees, through which appear glimpses of a willow fringed creek, of road ways hedged by masses of snowy flowering hawthorn, of growing crops and vividly green grazing paddocks, lives Mrs. Smart, the lawful wife of the man who is now in the hands of the police of Western Australia on suspicion of having committed a dreadful crime. Here, about half a mile out of the picturesque village of Eltham, she was born, and has lived her whole life — about 50 years. Smart himself lived here till the time when many years ago, the "lure of gold" got into his blood and he cleared out to Western Australia, to follow the digging rushes, gradually becom ing more and more estranged, till at length all communication ceased and be became lost to his wife and children. "I did not want him to go away," said Mrs. Smart, "because I had heard of so many men who had forgotten their homes in the excite ment of gold seeking, and of many others who died unknown and uncared for. But he would go, and when I saw his mind was set on it I placed no obstacles in his way. My parents built and lived in this cottage, where I was born, and they died in it. When I grew up I met my husband, a young Englishman, and married him. His name is Alexander, not Alfred, and his age is 52. We were very happy here, and although we were not well off we were comfortable, for he was a steady, sober, industrious man and had constant employment. He was just a manual worker, but could turn his hand to anything. We had five children, but one died. Four sons grew up in this little cottage. Thus three generations lived in it, somewhat unusual in an Australian bush home, I think. My eldest son is married and has a family; one is in Western Australia— not with his father— another is away working for him self, and one (indicating a young man by her side) has always stuck to his mother. He is my sole support, and he is as good to me now as his father once was. Yes, his father was a good, home-loving man in our younger days. He was fond of his children and was highly respected in these parts.' "It is fifteen years since my husband went away first. He had then been work ing for the Metropolitan Board of Works, and was engaged in the tunnel under the Yarra near Queen's-bridge when it col-lapsed. After he went to the West he sent me money regularly and wrote constantly. He came home three times — twice for a week or two at a time, the third time, eight years ago, when the Eitham railway was nearing completion. I induced him to stay till the railway opened, and he re-mained with me several months. I tried to get him to leave the West and settle down in his home, but he would not; he seemed restless and anxious to be off. One day when we were in Collingwood together he left me, saying he wanted to see what boats were going West. I implored him not to go away, and he said he would see. However, he returned to me soon after wards and said he had taken his ticket and would go by the next boat, and he went. For a year he wrote at irregular intervals, and then his letters ceased and I heard no more of him. For seven years I have not known whether he was alive or dead. Before that time my two sons in Western Australian used to see him some times, though they did not live with him; they used to tell me in their letters that he was well. It was a hard blow to be forgotten by him, but as my sons grew up I became more reconciled, and now I seem to look back at my life with him as some thing that happened a long time ago and is only a memory. Of his life and doings in Western Australia I know nothing. The last time I heard of him he was working in a foundry at Midland Junction. He was at Cue working on the railway when it opened there, and he caught the fever, but all that time he sent me money. When he returned the first time he took our eldest son with him, and the other boy followed later. They did not stay with him, how ever, and as far as I know they did not know how he lived." 'Mrs. Smart is a quiet, toil worn woman who has the respect of everyone who knows her.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg Original print 10.5 x 16.5 cmFor postcard print: Inscribed on envelope: "Return to Mrs H. Butherway, 22 Bridge St, Eltham." Also "Photo Mrs Clark Hampton (nee Smart), original Smart's house - Bridge Street, 95 years ago." Also "Right - Mrs Clark's grandmother Mrs J Smart Left - Her daughter Ruby dies soon after photo taken. Brother Alf Smart died about 6 years ago." Inscribed on back of photo "247 Vincent St, Leederville" It is believed that this inscription may be somewhat mixed up.sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, bridge street, alexander wilson smart, bigamy, bush cottage, early settlers, houses, jane bailey (nee matthews), mary jane smart (nee bailey), murder, ruby jane bertha smart, smart family home, smart home

1. Judge Book tenants' future uncertain by Sandi Miller, Manningham and Nillumbik Bulletin, April 2023eltham, 43 diamond street, judge book memorial village, judge book village

Lists all towns and villages with entries in the Victorian censuses between 1841 and 1901. It includes in excess of 1400 entries with the latitude and longitude for each town, numbers males and females in the town, and the number of occupied dwellings (where available). For many of these settlements the only visible trace of them today is in the census results collected by the fledgling governments of Colonial Victoria. It is a comprehensive reference and a fascinating insight into the movements of early populations of new Australians.cities and towns victoria, history 19th century, statistics, ghost towns - victoria, geographical names victoria, victoria census

On Saturday September 2, 2023, Russell Yeoman led a group of 22 society members and interested others on a walk following trhe bounadries of the original Shillingalw farm. Commencing at the corner of Panther Place and Library Place, we proceeded up to Shillinglaw Cafe then the Shillinglaw trees at the former Eltham Shire Office site then along Main Road to the fire station then throughh St Laurence Lane and uinder the railway line , along Diamond Street then return via the Diamond Creek trail behind Andrew Park. The actual farm boundary went past the creek and further up the hill. The original farm comprised lot 90 of Holloway’s 1851 subdivision of Little Eltham. Its area was 30 acres lying east of the Diamond Creek and north of Henry Street. A number of stops were made to look at maps and early photos illustrating the gradual reduction of the farm area and the early history of the railway and other community uses, that occupied parts of the site.2023-09-02, activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, shillinglaw farm, 895 main road, amplifon, andrew park, andrew pocket park, arthur street, bar de tapas, barber shop, barry plant estate agent, blockbuster, bus depot, car park, carparks, central park, cleaver & co hair, commonwealth bank, crust pizza, divine bridal, dr ash constance, dudley street, eltham book shop, eltham convenience store, eltham fire station, eltham library, eltham newsagency, eltham optical, eltham railway station, eltham shops, fay bridge, fire bell, flagpole, flight centre, grill'd, information sign, iso chook, jellis craig estate agent, judge book village, kebab nation, kx pilates, la zanyas, liquorland, little drop of poison, lorraine jones & associates solicitors, luck street, machan indian restaurant, main road, mecho en mexico, missing gorilla, morrison kleeman real estate, pavilion menswear, platform 3095, playtherapy melbourne, pryor street, ray white real estate, restaurants, sage bulk whole foods, shillinglaw trees, sign, snap fitness, southern cross medical imaging, specsavers, st laurence lane, st vincents care service, thompson's pharmacy, todaro, united service station, vyve body & skin, welcome to eltham town, westpac bank, yang's kitchen, youth road

Nillumbik Commissioners used 'reserve power's to permit a controversial Shell service station and Hungry Jackls restaurant development at the former Eltham Shire Office site at 895 Main Road. More than 200 people attended the Council meeting in the public gallery and protested at the decision. 32 personal submissions were made to Council's Planning Special Committee meeting whose members vioted 3-2 against the development. The Committee consisted of the three Nillumbik Commissioners and three community members (Jim Connor, Bronwyn South and Janet Mattiske). Chief Commissioner Don Cordell, a former Shell employee excused himself from voting and the three communbity memebrs voted against the submission. The other two commissioners, Vin Heffernan and Kevin Abbott voted against it. They then immediately closed the meeting and opened a Council meeting lasting just seconds to use special reserve powers to overturn the decision. Community residents who made submissions included Russell Yeomans speaking on behalf of the Eltham Gateway Action Group and Eltham District Historical Society, Des Ryan on belaf of Eltham Senior Citizens, Angela Newhouse, others on behalf of Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School and Judge Book Village, Tom Munro, Ian Jennings, Margartet Ball a fifth generation descendant of the Shillinglaw family, one of the early settlers of the area and owner of the land that was sold to Council, Frank Burgoyne who said "there will be a lot of creaking and rumbling in the cemetery if this goes through. So many old people who have done so much for Eltham are buried up there and it is up to us to pass on what they left to the younger generation. Eltham is a beautiful spot; why louse it up?" A second article "Anger over reserve power" by Laeta Antonysen provides commentary from the three Planning Special Committee community members, former Eltham Shire Councillor Jim Connor, Bronwyn South and Janet Mattiske about the process that took place and the first time use of the spoecial reserve power to overturn the decision of the committee. Barry Rochford, Nillumbiuk CEO defends the use of the power.The demolition of the former Shire of Eltham offices and proposed sale and development driven by the Commissioners for Nillumbik Shire Council brought the community together in substantial protest at the infrigement of ratepayers democratic say in local government and ciommunity assets combined with protests about inappropraite development of Eltham's Gateway. This issue led to the formation of the Eltham Community Action Group which still operates strongly today (2023) on behalf of the community to ensure appropriate development within the community.895 main road, commissioners, dallas price homes, development application, eltham hub, hungry jacks, nillumbik shire council, re-zoning, shell service station, town planning, eltham gateway, eltham gateway action group, eltham shire offices, shillinglaw farm, shillinglaw trees, jim connor collection, dallas howgate, nillumbik planning special committee, jim connor, bronwyn south, janet mattiske, don cordell, vin heffernan, kevin abbott, russell yeomans, eltham district historical society, eltham senior citizens, des ryan, our lady help of christians primary school, judge book village, angela newhouse, tom munro, ian jennings, margaret ball, shillinglaw cottage, frank burgoyne, andrew biasci, barry rochford

In 1993 Eltham Shire Council issued a permit to Michael Muzur, Terry Lant and Andrew McMillan to redevelop the former Montmorency Theatre/Bingo Hall at 41-43 Were Street as an alcohol-free youth entertainment centre. Ron McCormack, retired former JP on behalf of 41 Joint Appellants consisting of local residents and traders successfully lobbied the community and won an Appeal to have the permit cancelled as unsuitable development. The Administrative Appeal Tribunal found that the proposed development came withing the Eltham Planning Scheme definition of an 'amusement parlour' and that the playing of pool an amusement machines would be the focus of the centre and unlikely to attract older age groups. The tribunal was not satisfied the applicants had sufficient knowledge or where with all required for the successful running of this type of operation. With respect to the objectors, the Tribunal did not accept that a responsibly managed and attractive amusement parlour could not coexist near the adjoining residential area and without detriment to the commercial centre. At a Council meeting on June 7, 1994 councillors requested a report outlining criteria to be used to assess planning applications for youth entertainment venues given the Tribunal's view that a poorly managed facility in a small neighbourhood shopping centre, particularly in such close proximity to a residential area would not only have the potential to increase perceived youth problems, but could jeopardise the prospects of future proposals. Ron McCormack moved to Montmorency from Coburg in the early 1980s and from then sat on the bench at Eltham Courthouse when Police requested assistance out of hours, until the eventuial closure of the Courthouse. montmorency theatre, montmorency bingo hall, 41-43 were street, youth entertainment centre, eltham shire council, planning permit, administrative appeals tribunal, ron f mccormack

Aerial photographs of Montmorency Shopping Village with a central focus on the former Montmorency Theatre and Bingo Hall situated at 41-43 Werte Street. In 1993 Eltham Shire Council issued a permit to Michael Muzur, Terry Lant and Andrew McMillan to redevelop the former Montmorency Theatre/Bingo Hall at 41-43 Were Street as an alcohol-free youth entertainment centre. Ron McCormack, retired former JP on behalf of 41 Joint Appellants consisting of local residents and traders successfully lobbied the community and won an Appeal to have the permit cancelled as unsuitable development. The Administrative Appeal Tribunal found that the proposed development came withing the Eltham Planning Scheme definition of an 'amusement parlour' and that the playing of pool an amusement machines would be the focus of the centre and unlikely to attract older age groups. The tribunal was not satisfied the applicants had sufficient knowledge or where with all required for the successful running of this type of operation. With respect to the objectors, the Tribunal did not accept that a responsibly managed and attractive amusement parlour could not coexist near the adjoining residential area and without detriment to the commercial centre. At a Council meeting on June 7, 1994 councillors requested a report outlining criteria to be used to assess planning applications for youth entertainment venues given the Tribunal's view that a poorly managed facility in a small neighbourhood shopping centre, particularly in such close proximity to a residential area would not only have the potential to increase perceived youth problems, but could jeopardise the prospects of future proposals. Ron McCormack moved to Montmorency from Coburg in the early 1980s and from then sat on the bench at Eltham Courthouse when Police requested assistance out of hours, until the eventuial closure of the Courthouse. montmorency theatre, montmorency bingo hall, 41-43 were street, youth entertainment centre, eltham shire council, planning permit, administrative appeals tribunal, ron f mccormack, aerial photograph

Aerial photographs of Montmorency Shopping Village with a central focus on the former Montmorency Theatre and Bingo Hall situated at 41-43 Werte Street. In 1993 Eltham Shire Council issued a permit to Michael Muzur, Terry Lant and Andrew McMillan to redevelop the former Montmorency Theatre/Bingo Hall at 41-43 Were Street as an alcohol-free youth entertainment centre. Ron McCormack, retired former JP on behalf of 41 Joint Appellants consisting of local residents and traders successfully lobbied the community and won an Appeal to have the permit cancelled as unsuitable development. The Administrative Appeal Tribunal found that the proposed development came withing the Eltham Planning Scheme definition of an 'amusement parlour' and that the playing of pool an amusement machines would be the focus of the centre and unlikely to attract older age groups. The tribunal was not satisfied the applicants had sufficient knowledge or where with all required for the successful running of this type of operation. With respect to the objectors, the Tribunal did not accept that a responsibly managed and attractive amusement parlour could not coexist near the adjoining residential area and without detriment to the commercial centre. At a Council meeting on June 7, 1994 councillors requested a report outlining criteria to be used to assess planning applications for youth entertainment venues given the Tribunal's view that a poorly managed facility in a small neighbourhood shopping centre, particularly in such close proximity to a residential area would not only have the potential to increase perceived youth problems, but could jeopardise the prospects of future proposals. Ron McCormack moved to Montmorency from Coburg in the early 1980s and from then sat on the bench at Eltham Courthouse when Police requested assistance out of hours, until the eventuial closure of the Courthouse. montmorency theatre, montmorency bingo hall, 41-43 were street, youth entertainment centre, eltham shire council, planning permit, administrative appeals tribunal, ron f mccormack, aerial photograph

Aerial photographs of Montmorency Shopping Village with a central focus on the former Montmorency Theatre and Bingo Hall situated at 41-43 Werte Street. In 1993 Eltham Shire Council issued a permit to Michael Muzur, Terry Lant and Andrew McMillan to redevelop the former Montmorency Theatre/Bingo Hall at 41-43 Were Street as an alcohol-free youth entertainment centre. Ron McCormack, retired former JP on behalf of 41 Joint Appellants consisting of local residents and traders successfully lobbied the community and won an Appeal to have the permit cancelled as unsuitable development. The Administrative Appeal Tribunal found that the proposed development came withing the Eltham Planning Scheme definition of an 'amusement parlour' and that the playing of pool an amusement machines would be the focus of the centre and unlikely to attract older age groups. The tribunal was not satisfied the applicants had sufficient knowledge or where with all required for the successful running of this type of operation. With respect to the objectors, the Tribunal did not accept that a responsibly managed and attractive amusement parlour could not coexist near the adjoining residential area and without detriment to the commercial centre. At a Council meeting on June 7, 1994 councillors requested a report outlining criteria to be used to assess planning applications for youth entertainment venues given the Tribunal's view that a poorly managed facility in a small neighbourhood shopping centre, particularly in such close proximity to a residential area would not only have the potential to increase perceived youth problems, but could jeopardise the prospects of future proposals. Ron McCormack moved to Montmorency from Coburg in the early 1980s and from then sat on the bench at Eltham Courthouse when Police requested assistance out of hours, until the eventuial closure of the Courthouse. montmorency theatre, montmorency bingo hall, 41-43 were street, youth entertainment centre, eltham shire council, planning permit, administrative appeals tribunal, ron f mccormack, aerial photograph

Aerial photographs of Montmorency Shopping Village with a central focus on the former Montmorency Theatre and Bingo Hall situated at 41-43 Werte Street. In 1993 Eltham Shire Council issued a permit to Michael Muzur, Terry Lant and Andrew McMillan to redevelop the former Montmorency Theatre/Bingo Hall at 41-43 Were Street as an alcohol-free youth entertainment centre. Ron McCormack, retired former JP on behalf of 41 Joint Appellants consisting of local residents and traders successfully lobbied the community and won an Appeal to have the permit cancelled as unsuitable development. The Administrative Appeal Tribunal found that the proposed development came withing the Eltham Planning Scheme definition of an 'amusement parlour' and that the playing of pool an amusement machines would be the focus of the centre and unlikely to attract older age groups. The tribunal was not satisfied the applicants had sufficient knowledge or where with all required for the successful running of this type of operation. With respect to the objectors, the Tribunal did not accept that a responsibly managed and attractive amusement parlour could not coexist near the adjoining residential area and without detriment to the commercial centre. At a Council meeting on June 7, 1994 councillors requested a report outlining criteria to be used to assess planning applications for youth entertainment venues given the Tribunal's view that a poorly managed facility in a small neighbourhood shopping centre, particularly in such close proximity to a residential area would not only have the potential to increase perceived youth problems, but could jeopardise the prospects of future proposals. Ron McCormack moved to Montmorency from Coburg in the early 1980s and from then sat on the bench at Eltham Courthouse when Police requested assistance out of hours, until the eventuial closure of the Courthouse. montmorency theatre, montmorency bingo hall, 41-43 were street, youth entertainment centre, eltham shire council, planning permit, administrative appeals tribunal, ron f mccormack, aerial photograph

Aerial photographs of Montmorency Shopping Village with a central focus on the former Montmorency Theatre and Bingo Hall situated at 41-43 Werte Street. In 1993 Eltham Shire Council issued a permit to Michael Muzur, Terry Lant and Andrew McMillan to redevelop the former Montmorency Theatre/Bingo Hall at 41-43 Were Street as an alcohol-free youth entertainment centre. Ron McCormack, retired former JP on behalf of 41 Joint Appellants consisting of local residents and traders successfully lobbied the community and won an Appeal to have the permit cancelled as unsuitable development. The Administrative Appeal Tribunal found that the proposed development came withing the Eltham Planning Scheme definition of an 'amusement parlour' and that the playing of pool an amusement machines would be the focus of the centre and unlikely to attract older age groups. The tribunal was not satisfied the applicants had sufficient knowledge or where with all required for the successful running of this type of operation. With respect to the objectors, the Tribunal did not accept that a responsibly managed and attractive amusement parlour could not coexist near the adjoining residential area and without detriment to the commercial centre. At a Council meeting on June 7, 1994 councillors requested a report outlining criteria to be used to assess planning applications for youth entertainment venues given the Tribunal's view that a poorly managed facility in a small neighbourhood shopping centre, particularly in such close proximity to a residential area would not only have the potential to increase perceived youth problems, but could jeopardise the prospects of future proposals. Ron McCormack moved to Montmorency from Coburg in the early 1980s and from then sat on the bench at Eltham Courthouse when Police requested assistance out of hours, until the eventuial closure of the Courthouse. montmorency theatre, montmorency bingo hall, 41-43 were street, youth entertainment centre, eltham shire council, planning permit, administrative appeals tribunal, ron f mccormack, aerial photograph

Aerial photographs of Montmorency Shopping Village with a central focus on the former Montmorency Theatre and Bingo Hall situated at 41-43 Werte Street. In 1993 Eltham Shire Council issued a permit to Michael Muzur, Terry Lant and Andrew McMillan to redevelop the former Montmorency Theatre/Bingo Hall at 41-43 Were Street as an alcohol-free youth entertainment centre. Ron McCormack, retired former JP on behalf of 41 Joint Appellants consisting of local residents and traders successfully lobbied the community and won an Appeal to have the permit cancelled as unsuitable development. The Administrative Appeal Tribunal found that the proposed development came withing the Eltham Planning Scheme definition of an 'amusement parlour' and that the playing of pool an amusement machines would be the focus of the centre and unlikely to attract older age groups. The tribunal was not satisfied the applicants had sufficient knowledge or where with all required for the successful running of this type of operation. With respect to the objectors, the Tribunal did not accept that a responsibly managed and attractive amusement parlour could not coexist near the adjoining residential area and without detriment to the commercial centre. At a Council meeting on June 7, 1994 councillors requested a report outlining criteria to be used to assess planning applications for youth entertainment venues given the Tribunal's view that a poorly managed facility in a small neighbourhood shopping centre, particularly in such close proximity to a residential area would not only have the potential to increase perceived youth problems, but could jeopardise the prospects of future proposals. Ron McCormack moved to Montmorency from Coburg in the early 1980s and from then sat on the bench at Eltham Courthouse when Police requested assistance out of hours, until the eventuial closure of the Courthouse. montmorency theatre, montmorency bingo hall, 41-43 were street, youth entertainment centre, eltham shire council, planning permit, administrative appeals tribunal, ron f mccormack, aerial photograph

Aerial photographs of Montmorency Shopping Village with a central focus on the former Montmorency Theatre and Bingo Hall situated at 41-43 Werte Street. In 1993 Eltham Shire Council issued a permit to Michael Muzur, Terry Lant and Andrew McMillan to redevelop the former Montmorency Theatre/Bingo Hall at 41-43 Were Street as an alcohol-free youth entertainment centre. Ron McCormack, retired former JP on behalf of 41 Joint Appellants consisting of local residents and traders successfully lobbied the community and won an Appeal to have the permit cancelled as unsuitable development. The Administrative Appeal Tribunal found that the proposed development came withing the Eltham Planning Scheme definition of an 'amusement parlour' and that the playing of pool an amusement machines would be the focus of the centre and unlikely to attract older age groups. The tribunal was not satisfied the applicants had sufficient knowledge or where with all required for the successful running of this type of operation. With respect to the objectors, the Tribunal did not accept that a responsibly managed and attractive amusement parlour could not coexist near the adjoining residential area and without detriment to the commercial centre. At a Council meeting on June 7, 1994 councillors requested a report outlining criteria to be used to assess planning applications for youth entertainment venues given the Tribunal's view that a poorly managed facility in a small neighbourhood shopping centre, particularly in such close proximity to a residential area would not only have the potential to increase perceived youth problems, but could jeopardise the prospects of future proposals. Ron McCormack moved to Montmorency from Coburg in the early 1980s and from then sat on the bench at Eltham Courthouse when Police requested assistance out of hours, until the eventuial closure of the Courthouse. montmorency theatre, montmorency bingo hall, 41-43 were street, youth entertainment centre, eltham shire council, planning permit, administrative appeals tribunal, ron f mccormack, aerial photograph

Aerial photographs of Montmorency Shopping Village with a central focus on the former Montmorency Theatre and Bingo Hall situated at 41-43 Werte Street. In 1993 Eltham Shire Council issued a permit to Michael Muzur, Terry Lant and Andrew McMillan to redevelop the former Montmorency Theatre/Bingo Hall at 41-43 Were Street as an alcohol-free youth entertainment centre. Ron McCormack, retired former JP on behalf of 41 Joint Appellants consisting of local residents and traders successfully lobbied the community and won an Appeal to have the permit cancelled as unsuitable development. The Administrative Appeal Tribunal found that the proposed development came withing the Eltham Planning Scheme definition of an 'amusement parlour' and that the playing of pool an amusement machines would be the focus of the centre and unlikely to attract older age groups. The tribunal was not satisfied the applicants had sufficient knowledge or where with all required for the successful running of this type of operation. With respect to the objectors, the Tribunal did not accept that a responsibly managed and attractive amusement parlour could not coexist near the adjoining residential area and without detriment to the commercial centre. At a Council meeting on June 7, 1994 councillors requested a report outlining criteria to be used to assess planning applications for youth entertainment venues given the Tribunal's view that a poorly managed facility in a small neighbourhood shopping centre, particularly in such close proximity to a residential area would not only have the potential to increase perceived youth problems, but could jeopardise the prospects of future proposals. Ron McCormack moved to Montmorency from Coburg in the early 1980s and from then sat on the bench at Eltham Courthouse when Police requested assistance out of hours, until the eventuial closure of the Courthouse. montmorency theatre, montmorency bingo hall, 41-43 were street, youth entertainment centre, eltham shire council, planning permit, administrative appeals tribunal, ron f mccormack, aerial photograph

Aerial photographs of Montmorency Shopping Village with a central focus on the former Montmorency Theatre and Bingo Hall situated at 41-43 Werte Street. In 1993 Eltham Shire Council issued a permit to Michael Muzur, Terry Lant and Andrew McMillan to redevelop the former Montmorency Theatre/Bingo Hall at 41-43 Were Street as an alcohol-free youth entertainment centre. Ron McCormack, retired former JP on behalf of 41 Joint Appellants consisting of local residents and traders successfully lobbied the community and won an Appeal to have the permit cancelled as unsuitable development. The Administrative Appeal Tribunal found that the proposed development came withing the Eltham Planning Scheme definition of an 'amusement parlour' and that the playing of pool an amusement machines would be the focus of the centre and unlikely to attract older age groups. The tribunal was not satisfied the applicants had sufficient knowledge or where with all required for the successful running of this type of operation. With respect to the objectors, the Tribunal did not accept that a responsibly managed and attractive amusement parlour could not coexist near the adjoining residential area and without detriment to the commercial centre. At a Council meeting on June 7, 1994 councillors requested a report outlining criteria to be used to assess planning applications for youth entertainment venues given the Tribunal's view that a poorly managed facility in a small neighbourhood shopping centre, particularly in such close proximity to a residential area would not only have the potential to increase perceived youth problems, but could jeopardise the prospects of future proposals. Ron McCormack moved to Montmorency from Coburg in the early 1980s and from then sat on the bench at Eltham Courthouse when Police requested assistance out of hours, until the eventuial closure of the Courthouse. montmorency theatre, montmorency bingo hall, 41-43 were street, youth entertainment centre, eltham shire council, planning permit, administrative appeals tribunal, ron f mccormack, aerial photograph

Aerial photographs of Montmorency Shopping Village with a central focus on the former Montmorency Theatre and Bingo Hall situated at 41-43 Werte Street. In 1993 Eltham Shire Council issued a permit to Michael Muzur, Terry Lant and Andrew McMillan to redevelop the former Montmorency Theatre/Bingo Hall at 41-43 Were Street as an alcohol-free youth entertainment centre. Ron McCormack, retired former JP on behalf of 41 Joint Appellants consisting of local residents and traders successfully lobbied the community and won an Appeal to have the permit cancelled as unsuitable development. The Administrative Appeal Tribunal found that the proposed development came withing the Eltham Planning Scheme definition of an 'amusement parlour' and that the playing of pool an amusement machines would be the focus of the centre and unlikely to attract older age groups. The tribunal was not satisfied the applicants had sufficient knowledge or where with all required for the successful running of this type of operation. With respect to the objectors, the Tribunal did not accept that a responsibly managed and attractive amusement parlour could not coexist near the adjoining residential area and without detriment to the commercial centre. At a Council meeting on June 7, 1994 councillors requested a report outlining criteria to be used to assess planning applications for youth entertainment venues given the Tribunal's view that a poorly managed facility in a small neighbourhood shopping centre, particularly in such close proximity to a residential area would not only have the potential to increase perceived youth problems, but could jeopardise the prospects of future proposals. Ron McCormack moved to Montmorency from Coburg in the early 1980s and from then sat on the bench at Eltham Courthouse when Police requested assistance out of hours, until the eventuial closure of the Courthouse. montmorency theatre, montmorency bingo hall, 41-43 were street, youth entertainment centre, eltham shire council, planning permit, administrative appeals tribunal, ron f mccormack, aerial photograph

1988: 12 November. “Bush Nursing” Our float in the Eltham Community Festival Parade won the award for the best display for the second year running. We received a trophy donated by the Billabong Family Bistro, Lower Plenty. The theme of the float was the Eltham Bush Nursing Hospital. The float was prepared by Bruce Ness with some help from other members. A number of members contributed with costumes and other props. Hospital equipment was kindly loaned by the Judge Book Village. As with previous parades members of the Victorian Folk Music Club joined us, their music providing a welcome addition to the float. Silver plated cup with two handles on brown plastic base with inscription on metal plaque1988 Eltham Festival Best Display Entry Donated by Billabong Family Bistro, Lower Plenty1988, award, billabong family bistro, eltham community festival, eltham festival, lower plenty, trophy, shire of eltham historical society, eltham district historical society, victorian folk music club

Laughing Waters Walk, 7 Sep 2013 This Society excursion was a follow up to the Laughing Waters Story told to us by Jane Woollard at our Annual General Meeting in March 2013. It involved a walk commencing from the corner of Laughing Waters and Overbank Roads along Laughing Waters Road to its eastern end and returning partly over the same route - a total distance of about 2.5km. On the way we visited the two artist in residence properties, River Bend and Birrarung, to view the houses on them that are associated with Alistair Knox, Gordon Ford and others in the local mud brick and artistic community. We also able to walk around the derelict ruin which was once home to Gordon and Sue Ford, Boomerang House. An unexpected afternoon tea was offered to us by the artists in residence at Birrarung House and we had a brief opportunity to view inside the house. River Bend was designed and built by Alistair Knox for Rosemary and Bill Cuming in 1968. It sits in a deep cutting on a steep slope above the Yarra River and features floor to ceiling windows and glass doors set into mission brown timber frames and walls of reclaimed bricks in pinkish hue. Rosemary laid the brick paving around the house, a copy of the shell paving found in the ancient French town of Colmar, where the family had lived for a period. The kitchen was equipped with a 1960s stove as well as a cast iron wood stove reclaimed from Rosemary's sister's home in Armadale. Max and Tini Huygens, migrants from Holland, purchased the property in 1975 and named it Tilwinda from an Aboriginal word meaning 'hole in a rock'. In late 1981 Tini died after a short illness, but Max continued to live at Tilwinda until he moved to a retirement village in 2000 and the property was sold to Parks Victoria. Renamed River Bend, the property became part of the Laughing Waters Artist in Residency Program in 2008. Nillumbik Shire Council upgraded the property in 2012 with solar panels, a heat pump for hot water and double glazing to improve the comfort of the artists in residence and make the house more energy efficient. For a more in-depth description of the property and biographies of the various artists in residence commencing from 2008 to 2015, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.2013-09-07, activities, artists in residence, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, jim connor collection, laughing waters road, river bend house

The Pavillion was an extension to the Eltham Living and Learning Centre which was opened 8 October, 1994 In 1857, tanner John Pearson purchased three and a half acres of land in Little Eltham, at the western end of Pitt Street, with a 70-foot frontage to Maria Street (Main Road) and stretching down to the Diamond Creek for £100. He contracted Benjamin Oliver Wallis to build house for him. Wallis, a mason by trade who originated from the Cornish village of Newlyn, migrated to Melbourne in 1853 and was shortly engaged by Richard Warren to build the Eltham Hotel, which opened in 1854. When Warren fell into financial difficulty in 1858, Wallis purchased the hotel. That same year, Pearson constructed a tannery below the house with access to the water in the Diamond Creek. When Pearson became bankrupt in 1867, Wallis similarly acquired the house from Pearson’s creditors in 1868 and lived there until his death in 1896. For some of this time the house was in the name of Wallis’s son Richard but following his death in 1888, ownership reverted to his father. It was purchased by retired teacher Richard Gilsenen in 1899. Gilsenen was made acting head teacher at the Eltham State School in 1906 following the sudden death of head teacher John Brown. In the 1950s the house was bought by retired engineer Dr Alfred Fitzpatrick and his wife Claire who made various modifications to house goats and poultry as well as structural modifications to the house. In the early 1970s, Eltham Shire Councillors Frank Maas and Don Maling proposed an extended communities’ activities program be set up and the Commonwealth Grants Commission was approached for financial assistance. In 1974 a $50,000 Commonwealth Grant was received by the Shire Council to acquire the Fitzpatrick property as part of the planning to establish an extended communities’ activities program. The Fitzpatricks moved next door and Claire taught at the new Living and Learning Centre, which began in 1975, one of the first community education centres in Victoria.jim connor collection, eltham, eltham living and learning centre, living and learning centre, pavilion