Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, bainbridge drive, footpaths and gutters

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, bainbridge drive, footpaths and gutters

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, bainbridge drive, footpaths and gutters

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, bainbridge drive, footpaths and gutters

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, bainbridge drive, footpaths and gutters

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, bainbridge drive, footpaths and gutters

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, footpaths and gutters, madine way

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, footpaths and gutters, madine way

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, madine way, tadema park

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, beard street, frank street, shalbury avenue

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, beard street

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, beard street, frank street

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, beard street, frank street

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, beard street, grove street, valonia drive, wycliffe crescent, livingstone road

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, beard street

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, beard street

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, bainbridge drive linear reserve, madine way, water main pipe track

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, bainbridge drive linear reserve, madine way, water main pipe track

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, bainbridge drive linear reserve, madine way, water main pipe track

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, water main pipe track, madine way, eucalyptus road, tadema park

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, water main pipe track, madine way, eucalyptus road, tadema park

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, water main pipe track, madine way, eucalyptus road, tadema park

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, water main pipe track, madine way, eucalyptus road, tadema park

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, water main pipe track, madine way, eucalyptus road, tadema park

Roll of film taken by Eltham Shire Council officers of roads and houses in the Eltham East area, 3 September 1981 prior to construction of new water main; including views of existing damage to footpaths and gutters and general views of Beard Street. These images provide a perspective of housing estate developments and changes in housing styles and road development which began sweeping in from the mid 1970s with increasing urbanisation of what was once more outlying suburbs and regions.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, infrastructure, roads, water main pipe track, madine way, eucalyptus road, tadema park

In 1981 the Shire of Eltham Historical Society was asked by the Victorian Place Names Committee to comment on a proposal by the Shire of Eltham to assign names to parklands in Eltham as follows:- "Eltham Common" - the area between the municipal offices, Main Road, the Eltham railway -line, and Panther Place and containing Shillinglaw Cottage. The Shire has advised that this name has been used locally for the site since about 1975. "Alistair Knox Park" - the area bounded by the Eltham railway -line, Panther Place, Main Road, Bridge Street, and Susan Street, and through which flows the Diamond Creek. The area has been known locally as "Eltham Town Park" The proposed name "Alistair Knox Park" had created some local controversy with a number of reversals of the Council's decision and letters to the local paper both for and against the proposal. The society was reluctant to be drawn into this controversy particularly as there were known to be members with strong views both for and against the proposed name. The society appreciated the work done by Alistair Knox both in the formulation of the park concept and in its development but because of the controversy generated by the proposed naming and also because of the wide general use of the park by the public·, the name Eltham Town Park was felt more appropriate. The society noted that there was no outstanding historical associations with the land comprising the park which would warrant naming the park after any particular person, place or event. No objection was raised to the Eltham Common proposal as set-out above. The decision was made in the knowledge that Alistair Knox had been associated with the society over many years and was a prominent figure in the recent history of Eltham. He was regarded as a key figure in the environmental building movement and in particular was renowned for his use of mud bricks as a building material. He served as a councillor of the Shire of Eltham from 1971-1975, his final year as Shire President. It was during these years that the proposals to create the park in its present form were shaped and Alistair played a leading part in the decision to make it a landscaped passive recreational park rather than a sporting area. The parklands comprise a section of the Diamond Creek valley. The creek itself flows through the centre of the area which is overlooked by steep hills on each side. The parks form part of the land purchased from the Crown in 1851 by J.M. Holloway and then subdivided into allotments and called "Little Eltham". While most of the area was subdivided into residential lots the creek valley was subdivided into lots suitable for small farms. Some further subdivision took place over the years and the whole of the parks now comprises eight separate titles. A list of some of the former owners has been compiled but exhaustive research on all owners has not been carried out. The ownership of one parcel has been traced back to when it was purchased from Holloway by John Hicks Petty in 1874, long after it was subdivided. Other families owning land within the area over the years included Lyon, Rees, Clark, Waterfall, Carrucan, Graham, Hill and Morant. The character of the valley area has remained rural while development occurred on each side. Early photos show the area as orchard and grazing land. In 1901 the railway was constructed through the area resulting in the timber trestle bridge across the Diamond Creek. which is an important feature of the park landscape. A memorial obelisk to the Eltham servicemen killed in World War 1 was erected at the south eastern corner of the park. The site is now within the intersection of Main Road and Bridge Street and the memorial was shifted in the 1950s to the Eltham R.S.L. clubrooms. Following the financial failure of the local sub-branch, the memorial obelisk was again relocated to the Eltham War Memorial building precinct in 2011. During the early 1960's the Council started purchasing the land which now comprises the parks. In the late 1960's the area to the east of the Diamond Creek was used as a garbage tip and filled above the flood plain of the creek. When this area was filled the tip was transferred to the west side of the creek. From the early 1970's the area has been progressively developed as a park for passive recreation with ornamental lakes, extensive tree planting and landscaping. The character of the valley before the days of the tip has been recreated and this has earned a Landscape classification from the National Trust, an unusual honour for a man-made landscape. The parks are not only attractive in appearance. The large number of people using them, particularly at weekends and holidays is evidence of their popularity and the foresight and careful planning of local residents, Councillors and Council Staff. 35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 23) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham, main road, alistair knox park, eltham town park

Part of a slide show presentation "Bridges & Waterways of the Shire" by Russell Yeoman to the 13 September 1989 Society meeting. The presentation included slides of historic photos from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers collections as well as several recent views.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 33) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsProcess Date Sep 1989wattletree road bridge, eltham

Part of a slide show presentation "Bridges & Waterways of the Shire" by Russell Yeoman to the 13 September 1989 Society meeting. The presentation included slides of historic photos from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers collections as well as several recent views.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 15) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotseltham, main road bridge, eltham south

Part of a slide show presentation "Bridges & Waterways of the Shire" by Russell Yeoman to the 13 September 1989 Society meeting. The presentation included slides of historic photos from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers collections as well as several recent views.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 15) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsoxley bridge, henley road, kangaroo ground

Part of a presentation, "Roads and Byways of the Shire of Eltham", by Russell Yeoman to the 12 September 1990 Society meeting. Slides shown included copies of old photos and recent images ranging from the suburban streets of Eltham and Montmorency to the mountain roads of Kinglake. In the byways category are views of some iof the Shire's bicycle paths including then recently completed sections of the Main Yarra Trail at Lower Plenty.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 37) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotseltham, infrastructure, shalbury avenue