This was the finishing point for the parade. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's parade float featured a gold mining theme - "The Eltham Goldrush" Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float

This was the finishing point for the parade. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's parade float featured a gold mining theme - "The Eltham Goldrush" Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float, opal smith, doug orford, joh ebeli

Whroo Historic Reserve contains a number of interesting features relating to the former township and gold workings.Record of the Society's history of activities - Spring 1994 excursionRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100-4shire of eltham historical society, activities, whroo, balaclava hill, balaclava mine, gold mining, whroo historic reserve

Whroo Historic Reserve contains a number of interesting features relating to the former township and gold workings.Record of the Society's history of activities - Spring 1994 excursionRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100-4shire of eltham historical society, activities, whroo, balaclava hill, balaclava mine, gold mining, whroo historic reserve

Brief visit of the Major Mitchell Trail. This car based trail follows the route of the famous explorer right across Victoria. It crosses the Goulbum River near Chateau Tahbilk and Mitchelton Wineries and passes through Nagambie.Record of the Society's history of activities - Spring 1994 excursionRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100-4shire of eltham historical society, activities, chateau tahbilk winery, major mitchell trail

Christoher Watson's Eltham Hotel, cnr Maria Street (Main Road) and Pitt Street, Eltham. Christopher Watson in centre (bareheaded). Reproduced on p60 of 'Pioneers & Painters' The hotel was constructed in the 1850s immediately following the discovery of gold in Victoria. The original founder, a Mr Warren. engaged a builder named Wallace, to erect the hotel, and being unable to finance it, the story goes, handed it over to Mr Wallace, who finished the job, and received the first licence. The building was constructed of hard basaltic blue stone, quarried in the Eltham district, and partly of bricks made at Eltham. At that time the town owned not only an hotel, but a flour mill, a brewery, a brickworks, and other important industries. The hotel was carried on for the benefit of the first owners for over 30 years and was then purchased by Mr Chris Watson. The hotel was in the early days a well-known resting place for the gold diggers during the gold rush at Woods' Point. A new hotel was erected on the same site by Mr H. Watson in 1925.Early photo of Eltham Hotel which has been on site in various forms since mid 1800sSepia photograph mounted on cardInscribed on back: "Property of Mr Albert Watson, 53 Yarra St, Heidelberg. Christopher Watson (bare headed) Given to Marion Huggett December 1977 c.1900 son of Watson Snr behind cart"christopher watson, eltham, eltham hotel, main road, maria street, pioneers and painters, pitt street, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, watson's hotel

Top photo: The property 'Golden Glen', home of photographer, Albert Jones. At the right of the photo is an apple orchard over the other side of Watery Gully creek. The middle building in the photo is still standing, located on Wattle Glen - Kangaroo Ground Road between Pretty Hill Lane and Millers Road (Melway 271 A6) but on the opposite side of the road. Bottom photo: The Wattle Glen General Store in this photo was located at the same intersection as the present Wattle Glen General Store (cnr of Reynolds Road and Kangaroo Ground Road) but on the diagonally opposite corner. [Comment from Valda via Victorian Collections June 11, 2018] "The addition to the store on the left, and the building at the back, were not part of the store/post office owned by the Keenan's. They were added by Mr and Mrs Alan (Janet) Frencham's in the ?mid-1950s." See also EDHS_03112: See Ref: EDHS_03112 A WINDOW ON THE PAST by Roger Sanders, The Sun, Wednesday, Auguist 11, 1976, pp 38-39 A fascinating window has been opened on the early life of the Eltham district. It is a rare collection of 3,000 perfectly preserved glass plate photograph negatives. The collection is the work of the late Albert Jones, a Diamond Creek orchardist and amateur photographer. About 500 of the negatives have been printed and 100 are on display at Gallery 4, Eltham, as part of the Eltham Festival," which started on Friday. They capture in fine detail rural and village life around Eltham, Hurstbridge, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Glen and Diamond Valley from 1900 to 1930. While the natural beauty of the district was painted in this period by Arthur Streeton (later Sir Arthur), Tom Roberts and Charles Conder, among others, photography was relatively new. Yet Albert Jones used the new medium to compile a weighty album of pioneers at work, at home, at sport and on holidays. He was at the first Yarra Glen race meeting, early Diamond Valley football matches and photographed soldiers from the district leaving for war. He photographed early gold mines, men with horses laying the Diamond Creek-Hurstbridge rail track and the arrival of the first steam train at Hurstbridge. He took his cameras on holiday around Victoria and the collection includes scenes from St. Kilda and Portsea and many country towns. The Jones collection of negatives was found by Mr A. J. "Ned" Spark, of Balwyn, under a house he bought from Mr Jones' widow. The plates almost went to the tip with a pile of rubbish before Mr Spark realised their potential value. Mr Spark, who is retired, will continue the identification and recording of the photographs when he returns from holidays. The exhibition of the Jones' photographs is open each afternoon until August 21 at Gallery 4, 1016 Main Rd., Eltham. Photographs included in article: • The priceless collection of glass plate negatives were found under this house in Eltham [actually Wattle Glen], home of Albert Jones and his wife. • A quiet country pub - Panton Hills Hotel. • Teams of draught horses were used in the building of the Diamond Creek-Hursbridge railway in 1910. • Chinaman Jimmy using a gold cradle in Wattle Glen Gully. • The photographer and orchardist Albert Jones. His work is on show as part of the Eltham Festival • St Kilda Pier – several of the houses are still standing, but the waterfront has changed dramatically since this was taken before 1920. • A picnic was a dressy affair at the start of the century – the women in this family group are decked in lace and pearls.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Safety 5035albert jones, golden glen, shops, wattle glen

Contents: • Next meeting, guest speaker; Jock Ryan: Gold in the Valley • 846-848 Main Road Eltham • Society 30th Anniversary • Council Matters • Visitors from Eltham • September Meeting • Spring Excursion • The Heidelberg School Artists Trail The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 photocopied newsletter distributed to membersnewsletter, eltham district historical society, shire of eltham historical society

Mrs Georgina Hill (wife of Henry), nee Reynolds (of Research, Vic.) in cap [possibly misidentified by donor - see note below] with Mrs Isaac Hill and her children (left to right) Amelia Hill, (born 1853) Mrs Isaac Hill with baby Isaac (born 1860, Eltham) on her lap. Mary Jane Hill (born 1857, Eltham) seated on Mrs Henry Hill's lap and Bob Hill. The Hill family were early settlers of the Eltham area. Daguerreotype photo enclosed in a leather bound clam shell box with felt lining and gold trim. Donated by Mrs Ivy Edna Hill, 4/1 Bridge Street, Eltham, 4 June 1966 and includes copy of her note identifying the people. Daguerreotypes were one of the first forms of early photographs. They initially appeared in Europe in 1839 and were produced in large numbers to the early 1850s but were superseded by more modern and flexible forms of technology by 1860. The photo was usually formed on a thin copper plate with light sensitve silver iodide. They have a mirror-like appearance and the image itself was mirrored. They were usually inserted into a case or frame made of wood bound in leather or velvet and cost about one guinea in Australia, the equivalent of a week's wages. With the advent of the gold-rush and growing population came an increase in numbers of photographers both studio and travelling. The daguerreotype process was protected by patents and could only result in a single image from which no copies could be made. With new technology involving wet colloidion glass plate negatives and albumen paper prints of which multiple copies could be produced at significantly reduced cost, the dauguerreotype quickly fell out of favour. An accompanying note with the photo written by Edna Hill of 4/1 Bridge Street Eltham dated 4 June 1966 states: "Dear Mr Watson, I think the enclosed old time photograph will be of interest to you. It would have been taken about 1860. The two ladies are the wives of the original pioneers of the Hill family. The one in the cap was the wife of Henry Hill, the other of Isaac Hill. The children are those of Mrs Isaac Hill, and grandchildren to Henry Hill. The little girl on the left is Amelia, the baby Isaac, the second girl is Mary Jane, and the boy on the right is Bob Hill. They grew up tobe Uncles and Aunts of my late husband. I greatly appreciated a letter received a few months ago per Cr Pelling, from the Shillinglaw Cottage Committee. Yours sincerely, Edna Hill" Victorian birth registrations show Mary Jane Hill was born 1857 in Eltham (9879 / 1857) and Isaac Hill at Eltham in 1860 (1972/1860) NOTE: Mrs Isaac Hill was Ellen Fitzsimons (1834-1863), mother to Henry Hill. Mrs Georgina Hill, wife of Henry cannot be the lady in the cap as she was not born till 1864. Georgina Reynolds (1864-1927) married Henry Hill (1862-1948) in 1884. This lady has significant wrinkling of the face, especially around her mouth. It is possible that she is the mother of Mrs Isaac Hill (Ellen Fitzsimons) who was Isabella Fitzsimons (nee Ferguson).Early pioneer settlers of ElthamAntique daguerreotypes in hinged gold frame, glass encased in a small clam-shell box lined with padded red felt and with catchamelia hill, bob hill, early settlers, eltham, hill family, isaac hill, mary jane hill, mrs henry hill, mrs isaac hill, daguerreotype, georgina hill (nee reynolds), research (vic.), sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, women, ellen hill (nee fitzsimons), isabella fitzsimons (nee ferguson)

Shows sections of Franklin, John and Napoleon streets were still unmade as of late 1996 and the condition of those roads with potholes at the intersections with Bible Street.Reflects on the changing nature of the local street-scape and housesRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 100-5eltham, napoleon street, bible street, franklin street, john street

Address given by Mrs Lavender on the presentation of the Kyneton Colours on 28 February 1861 “Gentlemen of the Kyneton District Mounted Rifles, I feel proud of the honour done me in being deputed by the ladies of Kyneton to present the colours to your honourable Corps. There has always been a peculiar honour and responsibility connected with the colours of a Regiment. They have been unfurled on a battlefield as rallying points for many a splendid troop of gallant soldiers and courageous hearts. They have been spread to the breeze on the storming of many a city and battles hardly fought and dearly won. To retain their position and maintain their integrity, many a brave soldier has freely offered his life in their defence and, when in the hour of adversity they have been lowered, overpowered by the foe, many a brave heart has bit the dust. We might say that the history of our country is written on the banners of our “Fatherland”. The names emblazoned there speak, it is true of many a battlefield, of many a desperate struggle and of many a glorious victory won by British bravery. Gentlemen, your colours are not decorated by names such as Waterloo, Alma, Inkerman, Delhir Cawnpore, and many others I might mention. They are blank and may the God of Peace grant that in this land of adoption, it may be long before necessity of duty calls upon you to maintain the integrity of your colours and win their names. But if in the providence of God, either from internal commotion or external aggression, you should be called into action, may these colours, the token of your Corps, be upheld with the bravery of British Soldiers, their honour maintained with your lives, and may they never be lowered to a foe. Gentlemen, your motto directs: Onward, onward; may it be so Onward at the shout of victory” This item is significant as The Kyneton Colour is the 2nd oldest Regimental Colour knownin Australia, and the oldest Australian Cavalry Colour. It is unique, in that it is hand made from an original design, there is no other colour of this type known to exist. The Kyneton District Mounted Rifles is the oldest ancestor unit of the 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment and therefore is historicaly significant to the Regiment in particular and to Australian Military History in general.Regimental Colour of the Kyneton Distric Mounted Rifles. A double sided blue silk damask standard bounded on three sides by 30mm coiled metal fringing. It is heavily embroidered through a silk and cotton layer and these sections are are put back to back forming a sandwich of four layers. Several kinds of metal threads and sequins have been used for the embroidery as well as coloured silk floss, employing satin and stem stitch. The front shows a central insert in white silk divided into four and with a steam engine, bull, plough, and wheat sheaf in the segments. This crest is flanked on the left by a kangaroo and the right by an Emu. Above the crest is a horizontal baton, and above that a smiling sun sitting on a bed of clouds. The initials KD are in the upper hoist area and MD in the upper fly region.Below the crest is a red ribbon with the Latin words VESTICIA NULLA RETRORSUM in metal thread. Below this applique is a green satin stitch shape. The reverse has a red cross with stars surrounded by a green and gold laurel wreath. This is surmounted by a Queen's crown in embroidered metal thread over a base of red silk velvet. The bottom third of the flag is decorated with the words KYNETON DISTRIC MOUNTED RIFLES in embroidered metal thread.See description.standard, colours, kyneton district mounted rifles, kyneton

An Apex club existed in the Kiewa Valley. Apex clubs exchanged banners when a local member visited another club or when a member of another club visited the local club.Historical: Tas Davies belonged to the local Apex Club.Gold coloured flocked fabric banner with gold fringe at the bottom in triangular shape and cord on white plastic rod at the top. Gold coloured cord attached at each end of the rod to enable the banner to be hung. Apex gold pin attached - triangular logo on top of pin.Map of Philippines. Apex Club / of Los Banos / Laguna Philippines / Club 673.District 4 / Zone 7 Large red and green Apex logo. On pin: small red and green Apex logosocieties, clubs, community, service club, apex, banner, laguna, philippines, tas davies

In 1889, 24 residents of the Running Creek and surrounding district submitted a petition to the Minister of Lands, Melbourne requesting land for a cemetery. Their request was granted. The Cemetery was decommissioned in the early 1950s and the last trustee for the cemetery died in 1986. There is a wooden fence around the boundary (May 2024). One paper lists 29 names in the Burial Register 1861-1948. The last two sheets record the history as a timeline from the 1850s to the 1900s. Havilah was a gold mining settlement from the 1850s located 20km west of the Kiewa Valley and in the Ovens catchment near Myrtleford.Five black and white A4 pages stapled together. Copies of the sign erected at the gate of 'Havilah cemetery formerly Running Creek Cemetery'. Also the 'History of Havilah formerly Running Creek'havilah, running creek, cemetery

The map features Beechworth and its history.This map features the north-east and in particular, Beechworth where residents of the Kiewa Valley may have shopped or visited for appointments.Black and white map with references to roads and gold. The centre of the map is Beechworth and in the bottom left side of the map is the heading Beechworth with 12 lines of print of information regarding Beechworth. The Kiewa Valley is not identified.beechworth

The British Australasian Tobacco Co. (based in Melbourne and Sydney. The parent company was founded in England, circa 1902). This item "HAVELOCK" is one of many ready rubbed tobacco tins produced by the British Australasian Tobacco Company.The ready rubbed tobacco held within the tin was mainly used by those smokers who rolled their own cigarettes. These smokers would have mainly used their palm and formed a cup then placing their choice of the amount of tobacco to be rolled. This would then be placed on the fine cigarette paper and rolled and sealed (using saliva in the mouth) into the required shape. There were mechanical "roll you own" gadgets on the market but most rural users, especially males used their palms. The quantity of tobacco used to make up the cigarette was up to the individual user. The thinner that the cigarette was rolled the longer and more economical did the supply last. The by -products of this method were nicotine stained fingers and hands. "Chain" smokers were easily identified and could therefore be discriminated against obtaining smoke sensitive employment. The two world wars (1914-18 and1939-45) produced a significant rise in the consumption of cigarette use by men and the eventual overflow to women. Cigarette smoking before the 1900s was seen as rough and uncouth (socially frowned upon), however after the introduction of overseas films (U.K. and U.S.A.) and film stars presenting smoking as socially acceptable, the rise of smoking cigarettes, especially roll you own (American western movies) in rural areas was an accepted way of life. Things however started to change in the mid 1900s when medical evidence pointed to the health problems of regular smokers. Governments were now implementing non smoking education material. Restrictions on where and when smoking was permitted and acceptable started to creep into all areas of society whether city or rural. This was the era that highlighted the use of roll your own cigarettes, especially when the costs of "tailor made" cigarettes were taxed at an increasing amount. Roll your own cigarettes also provided an avenue for the consumption of illicit drug use.The significance of this ready rubbed tobacco tin to this rural region is, stems from how much influence that the Western novels and overseas films (portraying rural lifestyles) played in shaping the rural social and working mores of the Kiewa Valley. The post war depression (financially) resulted in more smokers turning away from expensive machine (tailor) made cigarettes to the roll your own, using ready rubbed tobacco. This tobacco tin relays a long ago era, when personal contact, and not something that has been written down by some "unknown", was valued as the true appraisal of a member of the community. This was especially relevant in a small regional area such as the Kiewa Valley. Although social networking was not as fast then as the internet provides now, appearances, manners, fashion and etiquette with first impressions high on the order of evaluating someone in the community. Pointer such as the brand of tobacco smoked was part of the rural assessment method. Up until the demise of the Australian Tobacco Industry, circa 2004, the Kiewa Valley and surrounding district was part of a vibrant producer of tobacco leaves. The remnants of this industry still remain today but the drying sheds (for tobacco leaves) are now used to store hay for the valley's dairy and beef cattle industries.This tobacco tin is constructed from tin plated thin rolled steel. The lid is attached by two pressed and formed (from the main frame) hinges using the nip and tuck construction method.The lid and outside frame have had a green "weave" pattern anodised to the metal.On the outside of the lid and at the top left is stamped, in gold coloured letters "HAVELOCK". The bottom of the lid is stamped (in smaller script) "READY RUBBED TOBACCO" and below this in smaller lettering "2oz NET WEIGHT WHEN PACKED". On the rim of the lid is "THE BRITISH AUSTRALASIAN TOBACCO CO. PTY. LTD." Inside of the lid and stamped in black print on a gold anodised lid is "Every tin of genuine HAVELOCK Ready Rubbed Tobacco has the mane Havelock printed on the paper lining, and also on the band or wrapping sealing the tin. On the hinge side of the lid is "HAVELOCK READY RUBBED"roll your own, cigarette tins, smoking accessories, personal effects, tobacco containers

Review in Heidelberg Historian (Newsletter of Heidelberg Historical Society) No 80 October 1980 "This substantial and significant history is one of the really essential books which all members interested in the history of Heidelberg and district should have, for, as indicated in this work, the Diamond Valley and Heidelberg were linked together in a municipal, economic and geographical sense throughout their history and still have strong links. This work of 191 pages, with numerous illustrations, covers the entire period of the history of the Shire area, from Greensborough to Hurstbridge (to 1979). Starting with a geographical setting, Miss Edwards traces the early development of the historic district from Hume & Hovell to the first explorers and settlers with some discussion on the meeting of John Batman with the aborigines here. Details of the early residents follow with numerous portraits, including the Beales of St Helena and the Ryries of Yering. In part 2, the account continues of the later settlers and squatters like Henry Foley and C. S. Haley. The gold discoveries on the Plenty and at the Diamond Creek and Queenstown area then follow with the development of the townships of Hurstbridge and Diamond Creek, with details of the mines and miners of the last century until its decline in the 1870's." "During the writing of the book, 40 tapes were made by the authoress Dianne Edwards of local residents reminiscences".. Diamond Valley News February 6, 1979This book was published by the former Shire of Diamond Valley in 1979. It remains one of the key local history titles particularly for the Diamond Creek and Greensborough areas.Paperback; xiv, 194 p. : ill., ports. ; 29 cm.ISBN 0959542205diamond valley, greensborough, hurstbridge, john batman, st helena, henry foley, queenstown, diamond creek, gold mining

This history of the Victorian town of St. Andrews (formerly Queenstown) and its surroundings was written to celebrate the 140th anniversary of St Andrews Primary School. Describes the displacement of the Aboriginal inhabitants of the area, European settlement and the Gold Rushes and the Caledonia diggings. Discusses establishment of the school, church and cemetery and various other notable events. The school in 1998 and speculations on the future by primary school pupils. Contents: Introduction The First People Mining- What a rush! The School The Church Queenstown Cemetery The Hotels The Police Paddocks The Families Queenstown in the early twentieth century The Queenstown Bush Fire Brigade The 1st Queenstown Scout troop Queenstown, the 1940s and 1950s The Characters Odds and Sods St Andrews - The Present Times The Future St Andres Primary School in 1998This book is significant in that it documents the history of the St Andrews community from the indigenous presence through its foundation during the Victorian Gold Rush through to local bushfires and predictions of the future by local primary schools students in 1998. It remains the only significant secondary source publication written specifically on this rural community.158 p. : ill., ports ISBN 0646353756st andrews, queenstown

History of the City of Doncaster and Templestowe, beginning with first settlers on Bulleen and Templestowe rivers, including gold seekers, general development 1900-1945, expansion, road problem, disaster of 1962, traffic problems, Warrandyte State Park, historical research. photos index466 p.ISBN 0959948716doncaster, templestowe, bulleen, warrandyte

Includes black and white photos and sections: General history of Wattle Glen and surrounding area, gold mining, 4060 Wattle Glen, Opening school buildings (newspaper articles from The Advertiser, 1922), Sunnyside Estate Wattle Glen, Wattle Glen 4060, copies of early documents, parents protest for a new classroom, I remember Wattle Glen School Days (various recollections over various years includes class photographs), Wattle Glen Primary School Today inc. lists of staff and students 1982. Second Section titled: 1997 - 75th anniversary update From the Principal, School Council, Parents Association, Newer memories, computers at Wattle Glen, Past teachers 1983-1997, 1997 classes, memories Kathleen Cuxson, Reunion 1997, Memories of Cyril Cummins (Principal 1950-52), 1997 memories, 1997 update compiled by Naomi Windisch. No page numbers This book is significant in that it documents the history of the Wattle Glen Primary School and its wider community to 1997. It is one of a very few publications written specifically on this rural community within the Shire of Nillumbik.Spiral Bound. Inscribed - For the Eltham Historical Society Collection in exchange for the '1999 Chronology', 27/4/9975th anniversary, state school no. 4060, wattle glen primary school

A pictorial history of Kinglake, divided into sections dealing with gold, timber, farming, houses, churches, etc. Photographic illustrations predominate.viii, 219 p.kinglake

Details how this little village came into being through the pioneer families and the gold rush in the mid 1800s. Also includes extensive list of 20th century families. Details the sport and recreation delights of the area, the tourism, the timber industry and the religious denominations. Includes illustrations. 132 p. : ill., facsims., maps, portsISBN 0646462903marysville

History of Yarra Track from Melbourne to Wood's Point via Yarra Glen, Healesville and Marysville in gold mining era64 p. : ill., map, ports. ; 30 cm.ISBN 0959522417 [written on title page] With Best Wishes, Ann Thomas 12.11.86yarra glen

History of Yarra Track from Melbourne to Wood's Point via Yarra Glen, Healesville and Marysville in gold mining era56 p. : ill., ports. ; 30 cm. (revised edition)ISBN 0959522417yarra glen, marysville

Hunniford's Eltham Post Office, Main Road near Bridge Street, Eltham, c.1895. Possibly Miss Anne (Annie) Hunniford, Post Mistress, on left. Annie was post mistress from the mid 1860s until her death in 1928. Photo taken by Clark Bros, 25 Thomas St, Windsor. Clark Bros operated from this address from c.1894 to 1914. Australia Post: Gold brought life to the township - Diamond Valley News, Tuesday July 2, 1985, p17 On February 1, 1854, the first Eltham Post Office was established, commencing an association between the township and the Postmaster-General's Department that has continued for 131 years. At that time, the number of permanent residents would have been fairly small, probably less than 200. The discovery of gold in June 1851, at Anderson’s Creek, some five miles away, and later at Caledonia Diggings, Queenstown (now known as St Andrews), about 14 miles to the north-east, brought large numbers of prospectors passing through the township, hopefully culling the creeks and gullies for the precious metal. This additional "floating population" brought a greater demand for supplies and for communication with the outside world, and so it helped in the development of Eltham. Today, Eltham is a thriving township. It boasts an excellent shopping centre, municipal offices, court house. post office and many other amenities. Eltham continued to develop at a leisurely pace. During 1860, a total of just over 8000 postal articles were handled at the Eltham Post Office. By 1862, the mail route was "to and from Melbourne by way of Eltham and Kangaroo Ground, three times a week, by coach". There was also a branch mail that operated between Eltham and Greensborough, three times weekly. This was also conveyed by coach. Some time between 1864 and 1868 the management of the post office passed from Thomas Hunniford to his daughter, Miss Anne Hunniford, who managed the Eltham Post Office until her death in 1928. A big improvement in communication was provided for Eltham residents when a telegraph office was established at the post office in 1877. During 1923 a manual telephone exchange was provided at Eltham, the first two subscribers being J.J. O’Connor and Eltham Police Station. In 1949 the manual exchange was replaced by an automatic exchange and there were some 150 subscribers. Following the death of postmistress Miss Anne Hunniford in 1928, B.M. Burgoyne was placed temporarily in charge of the office. In 1929, J. N. Burgoyne was appointed postmaster, and he in turn was succeeded by H. C. Burgoyne in 1951. The post office was moved to a new site in 1954, but continued under the charge of Mr Burgoyne. In January 1958 there was a further change of site when the post office was raised to official status and transferred to new premises in Main Rd. William Donoghue was acting postmaster when the new office was opened. In March 1958 Mr W.E. Tovey was appointed postmaster, followed by Douglas McG. Gilmour in 1959. William Donoghue was fully appointed in 1966 and Barry Reichelt followed in 1973, prior to the present postmaster, Peter Jolly in November 1982. Peter is a young man with 18 years' experience. He commenced his training as a postal clerk at the training school in Melbourne in 1968 and was promoted to postal clerk at the Brunswick Post Office in 1969. He was finally transferred as postmaster to Fawkner Post Office in 1980. He has been at Eltham Post Office for the past 2½ years. He is married with one child and lives in Montmorency. The Eltham Post Office employs a staff of 21, of whom seven are indoor staff, 12 are postmen and two are drivers. The postmen in Eltham have an uphill battle delivering mail because of the hilly terrain. Nine of the postmen deliver mail on motorbikes, and the two delivery vans are both four wheel drives. Eltham Post Office services basically a residential area, with deliveries to 5600 homes. This is growing at the rate of 600 homes every 18 months, i.e. about 32 homes per month. At the present rate we will need a new postman every 18 months.Sepia photograph mounted on cardpost office, eltham, main road, anne jane hunniford (1855-1928), clark bros. photo

Contents include short articles and illustrations of historic properties within the municipalities of Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea. Including The Griffin House, Rosehill, Lower Plenty, The Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, St John's Church, Heidelberg, Banyule, Heidelberg, Trestle Bridge, Eltham, Diamond Valley railway, The Shillinglaw Cottage, Eltham, Montsalvat, Old England Hotel, Heidelberg, Eltham Primary School, Mud brick homes, Eltham, Sweeney's Cottage, Eltham, Pound Pend Tunnel, The Gold Memorial, Potter's Cottage, Memorial Tower, Charterisville, Weller's Pub, The Barrel, Eltham, Hassall's Gallery, The Old Bridge, Greensborough, Diamond Valley Shire Offices, Greensborough, St Katherine's Chapel, Yan Yean Reservoir, Mernda Hotel, Mernda Mechanics Institute, Old Barn, Mernda, Parade College, La Trobe University.Hardback with jacket ; 63 p. : ill., maps ; 22cm. diamond valley shire, shire of nillumbik, city of whittlesea, city of banyule, shillinglaw cottage, weller's hotel

Subtitled mines, myths and memories of Diamond Creek the book covers the following topics: early days, first settlers, Nillumbik- the town, state school, the churches, growth of a town, early pioneers and stories of the past. PhotographsPaperback; 55 p. : ill., port. ; 21 cm.ISBN 0959895019diamond creek, nillumbik, gold mining, gold miners

J B Were was associated with Henry Dendy. Were Street, Montmorency possibly named for Were. "Were's were importers, exporters, and agents for shipping, land, cattle, sheep and wool. In 1851 they became brokers and buyers of gold, and in 1853 began to deal in shares." - ADB Hardback, no dust jacket; xv, 309 p. : ill., facsim., geneal. tables (folded), maps, ports. ; 20 cm.ISBN 0646002287ship voyage, early settlers, plymouth england, melbourne

The Warrandyte Historical Society aims to collect, preserve and present the town's history. This books draws on the archival and memorabilia resources of the Society and other sources to paint a portrait of the township, its landscape, buildings, organisations and community.Warrandyte holds a significant place in Victoria's gold mining, art and settlement history.ISBN 9780992429102warrandyte, anderson's creek

Paperback; 9 p. : ill. ; 30 cm.diamond creek gold mine, gold mining, gold miners

Nillumbik Now and Then takes the reader on a journey from when the Aboriginal people were this area's sole inhabitnats, to the present day. Nillumbik's history - told in this collection of 96 stories, which are nearly all based on sites - mirrors those of the wider Australian community. It includes tales of the Wurundjeri people, a former convict, farmers, a bushranger, gold-mining, soldiers, artists, intellectuals, environmentalists and sportspeople. Each story is illustrated with a photograph. As a journalist with the former Diamond Valley News, Marguerite Marshall wrote a series of articles on local places of historic interest, later published as the small book "Eltham Shire - Historic Buildings and Places". Many years later an expanded version was published under the title "Nillumbik Now and Then". This is a much larger version of "Nillumbik Now and Then", including significant rewriting and many additional articles. The new publication was made possible by financial support from the Victorian Public Records Office, Bendigo Bank and Nillumbik Shire Council. EDHS and other historical societies in Nillumbik assisted with content for many of the stories. The book was launched at the Eltham Library on Wednesday 19th November 2008. Source: EDHS Newsletter No 183, November 2009 The front cover art depicts The former house of naturalist and artist Neil Douglas at Bend of Islands, photographer Marguerite Marshall. This collection of almost 130 photos and stories 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. Paperback; x, 198 p. : ill., ports. ; 30 cm.Signed by the authornillumbik shire, houses, buildings, weller's hotel, landmarks, bend of islands