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City of Kingston
Photograph - Black and white, c.1943
This photograph shows members of the community outside the Moorabbin Council Offices, handing over a brand-new utility truck for use by the Australian Comforts Fund, in support of the war effort. It was purchased with funds raised by contestants in Moorabbin's 'Popular Girl Quest'. Contestants received a vote for each penny they collected. The winner was Gladys Mariott, pictured centre wearing a sash, who raised £528 10s, earning her 126,800 votes. In total, the contestants raised more than a thousand pounds, which enabled the purchasing of the new utility truck.Members of the Moorabbin community were keen to play their part in supporting the war effort. A black and white photograph of a group of men and women standing in front of and behind a utility vehicle with the license plate FA 341. There are two buildings in the background, one of which has a sign out the front that reads "Moorabbin Free Library & Mechanics Institute". The photograph was taken outside Moorabbin Council offices to illustrate the handing over of utility truck for use by Australian Comforts Fund. Money for the truck was raised by the 'Popular Girl Quest' won by Gladys Marriott (centre wearing sash)Handwritten in red ink: A 600 / 72% Handwritten in black ink: CHAP 6. / WITH SUB-STORY / Spy base -- / OR general pix / in Chap 6 / referring to warworld war ii, australian comforts fund, popular girl quest, fundraising, war efforts, vehicles -
Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph - Photograph (Framed), Picnic group at Greensborough Hotel, 1890c
Picnic group at Greensborough Hotel. Greensborough was a popular picnic spot for city dwellers.From the John Mackey collection. this item was displayed at the offices of Ryan, Mackey and Kelly, solicitors, Main Street Greensborough.Timber-framed photograph of Picnic group at Greensborough Hotel, black and white.greensborough, john mackey, greensborough hotel, picnics in greensborough -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Painting, W Nicholls Anderson, Adeney Avenue, Kew, 1906
William Nichols Anderson (1873-1927) was an Australian painter, one of whose works from the 1906 series River + Rail is in the Kew Historical Society’s art collection (donated 1984). A separate archive file contains correspondence, biographical information (written by his niece), and locations in Kew where he lived. Much of the correspondence between the Society and the City of Kew relates to the painting and its location in the Mayor’s Room at the Kew Civic Offices, Charles Street, where it was on loan from the Society. Lucy M (Jean) Hornby, the artist’s niece and the donor of the painting was a resident of 5 and 20 Queens Street, Kew (Vic). Australian ImpressionismGift of Lucy Hornby, 1984Framed oil on canvas by W. Nicholls Anderson of Park Street, Kew (now Adeney Avenue) looking uphill in a southerly direction towards Cotham Road. The painting is dated to 1906. The two storey house at left was known as 'Eborensis'. The house is still extant on the corner of Adeney Avenue and Parkhill Road. On sticker on back of frame - Adeney Ave./1913/ £3.3.0/ 13th Annual/ Exhib. V.A.S [Victorian Artists Society]/1911 Aust Art Exhib/the Guidlhall/Swanston st Melb./ Adeney's Paddock/ Kew. £3.0.0.artists - kew - victoria - australia, victorian artists society, william nicholls anderson (1873-1927), adeney avenue kew, australian art exhibition 1911, victorian artists' society, w. nicholls anderson -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph, The Sears Studio, Centenary Celebrations : Kew "Strong Post" St Kilda Road, 1934
Cr. W.D. Vaughan in 'Kew's Civic History' (1960) records that: "In connection with the Melbourne Centenary Celebrations in 1934, the Kew Council decided to organise a strong post as an appropriate gesture of welcome to H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester. Also that the municipality be represented by a symbolic floral float in the Royal pageant. This was a striking entry and won first prize, and evoked much comment on account of its originality and truly Australian motif." The photograph of the Kew Strong Post was once part of the Municipal Collection of the former City of Kew and was presented to the Kew Historical Society before the move from the Walpole Street (Kew) Town Hall to new Civic offices in Charles Street in 1971.Historic photograph of participation by the City of Kew in celebrations for a royal visitFramed and glazed photograph on its original inscribed mount and original frame of the Kew "Strong Post" in St Kilda Road on the occasion of the visit to Melbourne of the Duke of Gloucester. The photograph has two components, at the upper left is a photo of the royal carriage while the man photo shows the people of Kew on a decorated 'Strong Post' on St Kilda Road, along which the procession progressed. T"Centenary Celebrations / Kew "Strong Post" St Kilda Road / On the occasion of the visit of / H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester / October 18th 1934."royal visits - melboure - 1934, duke of gloucester, kew (vic.) — municipal collection -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Drawing, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "Victoria Parade", "Rae St Fitzroy", c1938
Set of three photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheet of the "Victoria Parade" and "Rae St Fitzroy", c/1938. .1 - sheet 1 - P8396 - showing layout of buildings, adjacent properties at the intersection of Victoria Parade and Young Street - includes the offices, sub-station and shedding and location of No. 95 Victoria Parade - sheet 2 - P8397 - shows details of No. 95 Victoria Parade and the Two story Traffic offices at the corner of Young and Victoria Parade. .2 - P8405 - Plan of property - block and buildings of No. 449 Rae St Fitzroy. A web search shows that an advertisement was placed for the Carowindra Private Hospital at this location - advertised in the Fitzroy City Press - 14/2/1920 - Trove - access 12-9-2016. This became part of the Central Bus Garage property - see Reg Item 1745.trams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, victoria parade, young st, substation, hospital -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Newspaper, The Age, "Journey among equals", 15/04/2000 12:00:00 AM
Newspaper clipping - from The Age, 15/4/2000 with an article on using Melbourne's trams, being a passenger, living and using trams in other world cities, observations, trolley poles, drivers, connies, MMTB and being a passenger in general. Written by Peter McMillan, with a photo of 2057 southbound across Spencer St bridge with the former VR offices in the background. Photo by Eamon Gallagher.trams, tramways, trams, melbourne, mmtb, passengers, spencer st, tram 2057 -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Slide - SW2 426 & W2 438 - Franklin St, Tramway Museum Society of Victoria (TMSV), mid 1960s
Colour slide of SW2 426 (route 72) and W2 438 (route 8) arriving at the Franklin St City terminus. Tram 426 has AMCO jeans and Princes clothing adverts. In the background are the Kay Rent-a-Car buildings and the Ansett Airlines / Ansett Transport Industry offices. Possibly late 1960s.Yields information about the Franklin St terminus late 1960sKodachrome colour slides, cardboard mount, duplicate.Has "MP103" in pencil and stamped "Tramways Museum Society Victoria" on rear.tramways, franklin st, w2 class, sw2 class, tram 426, tram 438 -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Wodonga Civic Buildings Over Time
Wodonga Shire was created in 1876 when the colonial government agreed to ratepayers' petitions to have their part of the local government district severed from the Yackandandah Shire to form a new municipality. After meeting for 14 years in rented remises, in the Prince of Wales Hall, Wodonga Council built its first Shire Hall on the corner of High and Elgin Streets in 1890. The date on the façade of the building, 1876, represents the date of the formation of the Shire. In 1957 the second Shire Office was built in Woodland Grove by A.B. and M. A. Chick. These offices were considered more than adequate for future needs. The façade featured floor to ceiling windows and several different meeting rooms in addition to the council chamber, which featured an impressive “horse shoe” table. It also included a kitchen equipped with modern fittings and a President’s room. In the late 1960s the area between Hovell and Havelock Streets as far as Jack Hore Place was zoned for civic purposes. In 1969 plans for a civic centre providing a library, theatre and senior citizens’ rooms. It was opened on 22 April 1971. In 1973, the Council engaged Bruce Marshall to design new offices beside the Civic Centre. Jennings Industries were contracted to complete the offices. The Governor, Sir Henry Winneke, laid the foundation stone of the new offices on 10 March 1976. The Civic Centre was demolished in 2011 to make may for a new $10 million community and entertainment centre which opened in August 2012.These photos are significant because they depict the different buildings which have housed the centre of local government in Wodonga since its inception as an independent shire in 1876.A series of photographs depicting the different buildings used to house the Wodonga Council and Civic buildings over time.wodonga civic buildings, wodonga council, shire of wodonga, rural city of wodonga -
Canterbury History Group
Document - Thematic Environmental History, Built Heritage, 1/05/2012
Thematic Environmental Heritage. Final document produced, after community consultation, for the City of Boroondara by Built Heritage242 pages city of boroondara, back yards, canterbury, churches, cottages, dairies, danks family, elgar survey, exploration, frognall, goldings boot factory, maling road, malone's hotel, maps, masonic lodges, national parks, native plants, outer circle railway line, parks and reserves, police stations, post offices, railways, rochester road, schools, shrublands, soldiers memorial hall, sport, telephone exchanges, theatres, transport, wildlife, canterbury road, land subdivisions -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Black & White Photograph/s, 1950's? to 1960's
Black and white photograph of the area where the works or service or scrubber trams were parked at South Melbourne Depot. Has offices and shed in the background along with the depot water tank. Photo taken in the late 1950's early 1960's. In the view are No. 8 (later 8W), 10 (later 10W) and possibly No. 7 (later 7W) - cannot see the number but the photo matches that of the tram on page 76 of Destination City - 5th Edition) Printed on Fujichrome paper. Not known who took the photograph or when it was printed.Stamped in black ink on back "TMSV Sales"trams, tramways, south melbourne depot, scrubber tram, track cleaner, tram 7, tram 8, tram 10, tram 7w, tram 8w, tram 10w -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - Hustlers, Sheepshead and Deborah lines of reef
Albert Richardson was a mining historian who wrote widely on the mines of the Bendigo Goldfield. The park opposite the Goldmines Hotel in Marong Road, is named in his honour. Five page document, hand written by Albert Richardson on lined foolscap and edited with cross-outs and insertions, . The mines along the Hustlers line of reef and the Sheepshead line of reef are described. Mines listed on Hustlers line of reef: Fortuna Hustlers (1888 - 1913), shaft 2,240 feet at rear of Buckell and Jeffrey's offices; Royal Hustlers Reserve No. 2 - two shafts 'City" 860 feet, now covered by R.S.L. building Pall Mall, steel poppet legs 60 ft high and 'Park Shaft" at rear of Camp Hill School, 1,775 feet, steel poppet legs 60 feet high; Hustlers Hill Group first worked by Jonathan Harris in 1853 and bounded by Valentine, Anderson and Ironbark Creek to the north and Milroy Street to the east, one of first areas worked for quartz reefing. It with Garden Gully line west and Victoria Hill Ironbark, formed by far the richest cross section of the Bendigo Goldfield. Great Extended Hustlers (1865-1921) close to intersection of Anderson Street and Hustlers Road, mullock heap against road and shored up around shaft, steel poppet legs now at Wattle Gully mine, Chewton, large winding machine, air compressor south of shaft and 36 head crushing battery. Hustlers Reef (Old Hustlers) and Hustlers Reef No. 1, two shafts, main 2,210 feet, about 220 yards east of Moran Street and against Fenton Street. , No. 1 shaft 1,140 feet and about 155 yards east of Moran Street. Lansell's Comet, Lightining Hill line, 2.100 feet, on Comet Hill approx 70 yards west of Holmes Road, near Comet Creek, steel poppet legs. United Hustlers and Redan (1876-1918), main Redan, 1,830 feet about 155 yards west of Sandhurst Roead, in line with Comet Hill State School, this hill known as Redan Hill. North, or New Hustlers, once known as Agnew Hustlers, wooden poppet legs, south side, Kneebone Street, Eaglehawk. Derby line, Johnson's No. 3, South Johnson's (east shaft of Collman and Tacchi) 439 feet on west wide of Woods Street, south of Wetherall Street. Paddy's Gully Line, south to north, some shafts - Lansell's 'Sandhurst" ('Needle") Eaglehawk Road shaft 2,425 feet, about 50 yards east of Needle Loops, a brick square sided chimney with Cleopatra Needle top. British American, 789 feet, just south of Holdsworth Road. Collman and Tacchi, main shaft 2,588 feet, 60 yards west of Eaglehawk Road, California Gully. Deborah Line of Reef, The Deborah (1932-1954) shaft 2.017 feet, west of Adams Road and south of Abel Street, Quarry Hill. North Deborah (1937 - 1954) shaft 1,151 feet, Breen Street, Quarry Hill, steel poppet legs. Central Deborah (1939-1954) shaft 1,347 feet Sheepshead line of reef, Lansell's South Red, White and Blue, shaft 2,124 feet, north east of Bellevue Road and 220 yards east of Adams Road. The New Red, White and Blue Consolidated (Big Blue) main shaft 2,416 feet. Lansell's Bendigo Battery 105 head, north of 'Big Blue" on his freehold lease, commenced crushing on 24th February 1895. After closing was erected as the Showground's Industrial Hall, July 1926. North Red, White and Blue, burnt down February 1926, new company 1934, closed 1938. Document is part of the Albert Richardson Collection of Bendigo mining history. bendigo, gold mining, deborah line of reef, sheepshead line of reef, hustlers line of reef, royal hustlers reserve mine, hustlers hill group of mines, great extended hustlers, hustlers reef no. 1, lightning hill line, old comet, collman and tacchi, lansell's comet, north deborah, central deborah, dhrrpdhrsf linr og trrg, new red, white and blue consolidated mine, big blue, lansell's bendigo battery, north red, white and blue mine, albert richardson collection -
City of Greater Bendigo - Civic Collection
Functional object - Clock, Post Master General
When the Commonwealth Post and Telegraph Act was passed in June 1902, and a national Postmaster General's Department (the PMG) was established the responsibility for the nation's mail and telephone services fell on local Post Offices. The Bendigo Post Office, built in 1887 and is situated on Pall Mall, it was the central distribution centre for receiving and delivering communication and postal services until 1997 and is now the Bendigo Visitor Centre. Clocks such as these were issued by the Post Master General's Department which was a department of the Australian federal government, established at Federation in 1901, whose responsibilities included the provision of postal and telegraphic services throughout Australia. It was abolished in December 1975 and replaced by the Postal and Telecommunications Department.city of greater bendigo post office -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Alan King, Nillumbik Shire Offices, Greensborough, 30 March 2008
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 -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Alan King, Busst House, cnr Silver Street and Kerrie Crescent, Eltham, 2 February 2008
Considered the best of the early mud-brick houses built by Alistair Knox. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p143 The Busst house hidden by trees at the corner of Silver Street and Kerrie Crescent is considered the best of the early mud-brick houses built by Eltham architect, Alistair Knox. Knox himself said, that the Busst house was the most mature mud-brick house designed at that period. ‘It related with true understanding to its steep site and expressed the flexibility of earth building ………to develop a new sense of flowing form and shape’.1 Built in 1948 for artist Phyl Busst, a former art student at Montsalvat, the house helped usher in Eltham Shire’s distinctive mud-brick residential character. Knox was the pivotal figure of the style developed from the 1950s to the 1970s.2 Scarcity of building materials after World War Two encouraged mud-brick building because earth was a cheap and plentiful building medium. But when Knox began building in mud-brick in 1947, no council in Victoria knew anything of this ancient art and he needed a permit. Fortunately the Commonwealth Experimental Building Station at Ryde in NSW, had been experimenting with earth construction to help overcome the shortages of that time. They published a pamphlet that became available in Melbourne on the same day the Eltham Council was to consider whether the earth building should be allowed. Knox caught one of the three morning trains to the city in those days and bought several copies of the pamphlet to give to each councillor. On his return he found the councillors standing on the steps of the shire offices after lunch at the local hotel. He heard that earth building had been discussed before lunch and that they were not in favor of it. Knox gave each councillor a pamphlet. They passed that plan and by doing so, opened the door for all future earth building in Victoria and by default, in Australia.3 Mud-brick houses attracted artists to Eltham, for their aesthetic appeal and because they were cheap. Those who built their own houses, included film maker Tim Burstall, artists Peter Glass, Clifton Pugh, Matcham Skipper, Sonia Skipper and husband Jo Hannan. For Knox, mud-brick building was more than just a cheap building medium. He saw it as harmonising with the surrounding bush and as a way of counteracting the growing materialism of the age. He wrote of its impact on ‘ 20th century man. It should counteract the confusion that the perpetual flow of high technology products have upon him ..’.4 Building the Busst house on a steep site was difficult because most earth-moving equipment was then in its infancy. For instance drilling for explosives was done by hand, which was a slow and painful process. Knox, assisted by his foreman Horrie Judd and Gordon Ford (who was to become a famous landscape designer), built two large main rooms - a living room/ kitchen downstairs - and upstairs, a studio/bedroom. The studio/bedroom opens onto the balcony, which covers the living area. The bath made of solid concrete by stonemason Jack Fabro, is particularly deep. Sunshine pours through the three French windows of the north-east facing kitchen/living area, which is lined with timber. The large hearth can fit a family around the fire while the timber floors and solomite (compressed straw) ceilings add to the cosy atmosphere. The garden is thick with trees, and in the late 1990s, Ford put in a pool near the original dry wall he had built as a young man.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, alistair knox, alistair knox design, busst house, kerrie crescent, mudbrick construction, mudbrick houses, silver street -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Marguerite Marshall, Eltham Library, Panther Place, Eltham, 18 April 2008
Rear view of Eltham Library showing loading dock and ramp to the front of the building. Designed by multi-award winning architect, Gregory Burgess, for which he won the 1995 Royal Australian Insitute of architects (Vic.) Merit Award in the New Institutional category. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p183 Award-winning Eltham Library, with its earthy tones blending into the nearby parklands, celebrates some of the best of Eltham’s spirit. Designed by multi-award winning architect, Gregory Burgess, the library at Panther Place, won him the 1995 Royal Australian Institute of Architects (Vic) Merit Award in the New Institutional category.1 The design is typical of Burgess’ work, emphasising natural materials and forms, and the integration of building and site.2 In its distinctive architectural character, Burgess celebrated the spirit of Eltham’s artist/architect Justus Jörgenson and mud-brick builder Alistair Knox. However this library, which opened in 1994, follows decades of efforts to acquire a suitable library for local residents. It was only in 1971 that Eltham acquired its first purpose-built library. In the 1930s books were borrowed from a mobile library run by Mr Foster of Bible Street. From the 1930s to the early 1950s, adults borrowed books from the newsagency and general store in Main Road (still a newsagency) near Arthur Street. As late as the 1950s, adults borrowed books in the shire office foyer, then in Main Road near the corner of Arthur Street.3 In the early 1950s the ratepayers voted for lower rates rather than a library, in a referendum to build a public library financed by higher rates. Children depended on volunteers for their library service until 1966. In 1946 the inaugural meeting of the Eltham War Memorial Trust’s Women’s Auxiliary, decided to support the Trust by raising funds to buy land and build a Children’s Library, Baby Health Centre and other facilities. The auxiliary formed the Children’s Library Committee, which included Mrs Morrison, Mrs Bow and Mrs Currie. They ran a library service in the stage area of the Eltham Hall, at the corner of Arthur Street and Main Road. In 1952 the books were relocated to a room in the newly opened Baby Health Centre on Main Road. Then in 1961, the Children’s Library received its own hall beside the Eltham Pre-School Centre on Main Road. From there, each month, volunteers delivered books to every school in the shire. In 1966 the Children’s Library closed after 17 years of service, following the transfer of the Trust land and buildings to the Shire of Eltham. The books were donated to nine schools in the shire and to Community Aid Abroad. An important boost to the library service came in 1965, when the Heidelberg Regional Library Service was formed by the City of Heidelberg with the Shires of Eltham and Diamond Valley. Its first library service for Eltham Shire was a bookmobile van. Books for children and adults were finally housed in one building in 1966, when the shire converted the Brinkkotter house in Dudley Street, into a library. At last in 1971, the Eltham Library moved to new premises attached to the shire offices near Panther Place. However these were demolished in 1996, by State Government appointed commissioners during council amalgamations. Meanwhile the Heidelberg Regional Library Service was disbanded in 1985 and the Yarra Plenty Regional Library Service was established. The burgeoning population brought pressure for a bigger library. Eltham was one of several municipalities in the 1970s and 1980s, battling with the State Government for adequate funding for public libraries. Funds were so tight, that in 1987 Eltham councillors threatened to close the library. However public petitions persuaded them to set aside funds to replace the cramped library facilities. In 1992 the Federal Government gave $887,496 towards the $3 million cost of the 1560 square metre library.4 The result is a light and spacious building with surrounding verandas, made of sustainable natural materials including earth and recycled and radially sawn timbers. It includes a gallery and function areas. In 2004 Mr Burgess won Australian architecture’s highest accolade: the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal. He has received more than forty professional and community awards.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, eltham, eltham library, panther place