Showing 65 items
matching landscape. river. bridge
-
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Fay Bridge, The Love Shack, 195 Laughing Waters Road, Eltham, April 2016
Gordon Ford built this shack on the Yarra at Laughing Waters Road. Bernie Bragg used to live there for a period of time. Gordon Ford and photographer Sue Winslow were married in 1965. They set up home in an old log cabin on the property Gordon had purchased in 1954 on Laughing Waters Road. Situated between the Yarra River and Overbank Road, Gordon had built a small mud-brick shack on the river and a pontoon. Over the decades the shack has been locally referred to as “the love shack”, the “rooting shack” or simply “Gordon’s shack”. Gordon and Sue commissioned local builder Graeme Rose to do a wattle and daub renovation and extension to the old log cabin on the north side of Laughing Waters Road. The work had only just been completed in 1965 when a bushfire swept through the area and destroyed the cabin. Gordon and Sue relocated to his property, Fulling, in Pitt Street, Eltham. In 1970 work started on a new house at the Laughing Waters property. Originally known as the Banana House, it is now known as Boomerang. Designed by Alistair Knox, the mud-brick house includes iron window grilles made by Matcham Skipper that puncture the curved mud walls. The grilles were made from ‘off-pressings’ from the Sidchrome tool works in Heidelberg. Gordon, Sue and family moved into the house in 1972. Their marriage fell apart and Sue moved to Sydney with the children around the same time Gordon commenced building Birrarung just below Boomerang on the Laughing Waters Road block. After the Fords moved out, Boomerang it was rented out to various share households of students, musicians, artists and environmentalists for twenty-four years. Gordon Ford sold Birrarung and Boomerang to Melbourne Water in 1999. The Laughing Waters Artist in Residence Program was developed as a partnership between Parks Victoria and Nillumbik Shire Council. Boomerang was deemed unfit for habitation so was used as a day studio only. By 2001 Boomerang was in a poor state of repair and by 2002 the last artist in residence was to use the house as a studio. Nillumbik Shire Council had been granted funds from the Melbourne Community Fund to restore both Boomerang and Birrarung but it was apparent in early 2003 that the funds would be insufficient to restore both houses. Boomerang was infested with termites which presented a risk to any occupants and so the decision was made to close Boomerang and concentrate funding on Birrarung. Boomerang was fenced off for safety and to prevent intrusion and remains ‘caged’ today (2023). However, it is readily apparent the property has been occupied by squatters over the years. By 2023 it was clear that the squatters had abandoned the property and sections of the roof structure have given away in some areas and collapsed internally. For a more in-depth description and history of the property and that of Gordon and Sue Ford, see Jane Woollard's book, "Laughing Waters Road; Art, Landscape & Memory in Eltham" published 2016.fay bridge collection, 2016-04, bernie's hut, birrarung, gordon ford, gordon's shack, laughing waters road, love shack, yarra river -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Fay Bridge, Birrarung House, 195 Laughing Waters Road, Eltham, 7 September 2013
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. Birrarung is situated near the end of Laughing Waters Road. It was built in 1974 by Graeme Rose for Gordon Ford who he had asked to build him a small ‘bach’. Builder Peter Jarvis who did his apprenticeship with Alistair Knox for a couple of years recalled there were no drawings. It evolved as more funds became available. Graeme would source second-hand building materials around which he would shape the house. The fireplace was built with chicken wire over which it was rendered with faro cement. A brick floored glass studio, added later, faces a wall of boulders pressed into a manmade cliff, a large pond the link between the rock wall and glass studio. A waterfall, fed by river water, no longer functions. The property became part of the Laughing Waters Artist in Residency Program with the first artist taking up residency in 2001. For a more in-depth description of the property and biographies of the various artists in residence commencing from 2001 through 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, laughing waters road, birrarung house, fay bridge collection -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Book, Anne Paul, Walking the Kurrum Yallock (Plenty River), 25 July 2023
Kurrum Yallock - the Plenty River is Melbourne's third river. It is a defining feature of the region weaving its way through local suburbs and parklands. It is often hidden from general view, emerging at bridges and along its extensive trail network. While diminished since European settlement, the River provides an important environmental, wildlife corridor and recreational resource, along with many links to its settlement heritage. The Kurrum Yallock walks aim to guide people along the River Trail, while providing insight into key aspects of our recent history, an opportunity for reflection and an enhanced enjoyment of the River's special environment and landscape.birrarung, greensborough historical society, kurrum yallock, martins lane, plenty river, yallambie, yarra river -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - RAILWAYS COLLECTION: RAILWAY BRIDGES AND VIADUCTS
RAILWAYS COLLECTION -6 x Unbound Photocopied double sided pages giving information on the construction of the Bendigo Railway Line including Black and white photos of Railway Bridges and Viaducts - which show the Saltwater River bridge , Jacksons Creek Viaduct, Riddell Creek Bridge, Campbell's Creek Road bridge, Forest creek viaduct and Malmsbury Viaduct the photos are grainy in appearance.photograph, landscape -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - VIEW OF LAUNCESTON FROM CATARACT GORGE, c.early 1900's
Sepia photo on grey mount of elevated view of river with single span bridge, with boats moored. Swimming baths in centre to right. Town with church spires and houses and hills in background. Inscriptions 'Christmas Greetings' gold ink underneath photo. On back - written in pencil 'City of Launceston, Tasmania from Cataract Gorge'.W Vincent Kelly, Mitchell St., Bendigoplace, landscape view, launceston, tasmania