Information about J.B. North and history of Meruka Estate, Meruka Park, Eltham "When life centred on a weekender" by Linley Hartley, Picture Ron Grant, Diamond Valley News, 25 September 1984 "Stalwart recalls the early days", by Sally McDonnell, Diamond Valley News, 30 September 1986 "A fine piece of Eltham history", Diamond Valley News, 1 March, 1997 EDHS Newsletter January 201222 pagesreminscences, marjorie north, montmorency, j. b. north, meruka estate, glen ellen estate

Looking northwest onto the first bridge at Hurstbridge, 1885. The area of Hurstbridge was originally known as Hurst’s-bridge after the timber bridge built over the Diamond Creek near Hurst’s station in late 1881/early 1882 on the Hurstbridge-Arthurs Creek Road, Hurstbridge. It was built by John McDonald, of Arthur's Creek and was demolished and replaced in 1917 by a reinforced concrete arch bridge designed by John Monash. Cross Reference Photo No.(s): 1012/1013This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, hurstbridge, bridge, diamond creek (creek), hurst's bridge

Valley Views was the newsletter of the Shire of Diamond Valley. The Shire of Diamond Valley was a Local Government Area located about 20 kilometres northeast of Melbourne. The shire covered an area of 74.38 square kilometres and existed from 1964 until 1994. 1994 edition commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Shire of Diamond Valley, in the final year before the Victorian state government amalgamated local government areas.Two editions of Valley Views. 1991 edition is 8 pages in broadsheet format (40 x 29cm), black and white illustrations. 1994 edition is 12 pages, colour illustrations, A4 (30 x 21 cm).shire of diamond valley, greensborough, valley views, diamond valley

Letters to the Editor focus on traffic concerns in the Diamond Valley.News clipping, black text, colour image.traffic, vicroads

Murray's Bridge over the Diamond Creek on the Diamond Creek Trail just prior to demolition and replacement with a new steel bridge. Heritage advice obtained by Nillumbik Shire Council, following a suggestion by the Eltham District Historical Society (EDHS), is that the original bridge appears to have been a simplified version of the Country Roads Board’s (CRB) standard timber bridge design of the early-to-mid 1920s. In c1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with three recycled steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. During these alterations many parts of the bridge were removed, and some were replaced. Heritage advice indicates the condition of Murray’s bridge is poor. The remaining original parts are all in poor condition, with severe weathering, splitting and rot, especially to the stringers retained on the bridge. Heritage advice is that Murray’s Bridge does not have sufficient significance in the cultural history of the Nillumbik area to warrant inclusion in the Nillumbik Shire Heritage Overlay and also does not have sufficient significance as a rare survivor to warrant inclusion in the Nillumbik Shire Heritage Overlay. There are no indications in the historical record that this site was individually important to the cultural history of this area. EDHS is comfortable with the heritage advice provided to Council and has worked closely on this project with Council. EDHS has suggested some of the removed timbers be used in the vicinity of the bridge for landscaping and possibly seating, so as to retain these remnants close to the site of the original bridge, which is the last old timber bridge along the lower reaches of the Diamond Creek. Mary (Sweeney) Murray and John Wright Murray selected 80 acres, Lot C Section 16 and Lot 5 Section 17 Parish of Nillumbik, under an occupation license in 1866. John died in 1867 and freehold was granted to his son John in 1873. The farm was known as ‘Laurel Hill’. John Junior was an Eltham Shire councillor and sometime president from 1887 up until 1897. He added Lot A Section 16 to the farm in ca1888. John and his younger brother James arranged to rent/purchase Lot B Section 17, across Diamond Creek to the west, in ca1900. It appears that John and James farmed separately for a few years, with a new homestead built for James ad family on the high point of Lot B Section 17 in ca1910. John sold off Lot 5 Section 17 in 1912. When John died in 1912 James took over the land on both sides of the Diamond Creek. The old homestead on the west side of the Creek disappeared. A farm bridge over Diamond Creek from this period may have been located close to the northern boundary of the farm. John Langlands, owner of the farm known as ‘Ihurst’ on the west side of Diamond Creek to the south of the Murray’s land, died in 1907. In 1909 his land was then subdivided into 100 lots to become the ‘Glen Park Estate’. Other similar subdivisions of nineteenth century farms around Eltham in this period included the ‘Franktonia (or Beard’s) Estate’ to the northeast and ‘Bonsack’s Estate’ between Eltham and Greensborough. Soon after the opening of the railway extension line from Eltham to Hurstbridge in 1912, Glen Park and nearby residents including James Murray agitated for a railway station or siding to be located half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge, so that the Glen Park residents who used the railway daily did not have to walk into the Eltham or Hurstbridge stations. Some believed Coleman’s Corner (opposite Edendale Farm) was an appropriate spot for the platform. James Murray was among those who thought the railway should be located on his land, closer to half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge stations. The Railways Commissioners warned that the locals would have to fund these works themselves. The Glen Park Estate residents initially had difficulty accessing Eltham by road, with only an old low-level bridge over Diamond Creek at the south end of their estate. A new timber trestle bridge across the creek, now on Wattletree Road, was opened in 1915. Road access to the north was gained in 1927 when the new Murray’s Road, which crossed the Murray’s land, was built. Residents continued to agitate for a Glen Park station. By 1926 the Railways Commissioners’ preferred site was on the Murray’s land. They arranged an estimate of cost of a full-length platform. The estimate was too much for the locals, who in 1928 argued unsuccessfully for a shorter and hence cheaper platform. By 1929 Murray had agreed to donate the land, but the locals would still have to fund the works. Murray decided, unilaterally it would appear, to commence work on a timber trestle road bridge over Diamond Creek to link the new Murray Road to the proposed station. Late in 1929 he stopped work on the bridge, for reasons unknown, but started work again and completed the bridge in 1931. There is no further newspaper evidence of the campaign for the Glen Park station until 1939, when Murray and another local, Mr Maxwell, met the Railways Commissioner. The Glen Park locale now included 45 homes on the west side of the creek and 20 on the Eltham side. Most of the residents used the train every day. The Commissioner remained adamant that only a full-length platform could be built for safety reasons. It appears the campaign dissolved at this point. The increasing move to cars may have had an impact. There is no evidence of Murray’s bridge ever being connected to Murray’s Road, or of it having wide use for any purpose by locals. James Murray died in 1947 and the farm was taken over by his son James (Jim). Jim started to sell off parts of the farm in the 1980s, retaining a few acres around the ca1910 homestead and building a new house there. Recreation reserves were established along the creek. In ca1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. The old farmhouse was demolished in ca2014. * * * A theory posted on local community Facebook groups was that the bridge was built in the 1860s and was built to be more robust than was necessary for the movement of cows from one side of the creek to the other. It was suggested the robustness was necessary to support the weight of gold ore being transferred from a mine on Murray’s land to a railway siding near Murrays Bridge (presumably for transfer and processing at Diamond Creek). Perhaps this may have been one of the motivators for Murray, who really knows? Knowing when mining operations ceased on his land and how that fits the overall timeline would be useful but at the time the bridge was built, local gold production was minimal at best. The known facts are: • The railway line came to Eltham in 1902. • The extension of the railway from Eltham to Hurstbridge was constructed in 1912 so no railway line even existed through Murray's property until 1912 and the Victorian Railways maps at the time show no such siding on Murray’s property. • In 1923 a new company was formed in anticipation of the old Diamond Creek Gold Mine being re-opened. The mine had been previously closed and flooded. It was noted in the press at the time that the mine was within a mile of the railway. Nothing really came of this. • Construction of Murrays Bridge was commenced by James Murray in early 1929 in anticipation of a proposed flag station being nominated on his land, but work ceased shortly afterwards. The proposed flag station was commonly referred to as Glen Park as the residents of the Glen Park Estate wanted Option 1, located near them with the platform adjacent to Colemans corner. This was probably never going to fly as it was virtually in eyesight of Eltham station. Allandale Road was the third option, but the Commissioners' preferred option was No. 2 - on Murray's property. • The Railway Commissioners were not going to finance any such station and the works had to be funded by private landowners and residents, hence Murray investing in this himself. • Murray recommenced work two years later and finished his bridge in 1931 but unfortunately for him, the proposed flag station never eventuated. The bluestone siding you reference may well have been built by Murray as part of the proposed station platform. • Up until then, apart from the Main Road bridge, which was washed away in 1924, virtually all local crossings over the Diamond Creek were low lying bridges – Kaylocks Bridge at Brougham Street, Diamond Street bridge, Glen Park Road bridge. It is expected that Murray also had a low-lying bridge to connect his land either side of the creek. These were all washed away or severely damaged multiple times in the 1920s. Lessons were learnt, and Murrays Bridge appears to have been built in accordance with Country Road Board standards of the time. Flood damage was ongoing, and even more recently constructed raised bridges kept getting washed away, e.g., the new Wattle Tree Road bridge in 1958 just months after completion. Murray’s bridge was reinforced with steel some 30 years ago presumably to provide additional floodwater resistance, given the history of bridges disappearing in floodwaters. • In March 1932 it was reported in the Advertiser that there were still some prospectors operating around Eltham North who apart from further scarring the face of the earth over the previous two years had gained significant experience but little gold - hardly a driving factor for constructing a dedicated railway siding and bridge to transfer gold ore. It is far more probable that James Murray was hoping to have the railway station located on his property and invested his money by building the bridge to lead to it as well as a station platform. Had the station eventuated, it may well have driven up the value of his land for subdivision and new housing estates like the Glen Park Estate. That did not eventuate. Whilst the bridge was indeed old (90 years), the core structure being completed in 1931, it had been modified substantially from original and hence had no significant historic value – i.e., it was not a representative example of its type, construction, and age. Given that the bridge was not worthy of saving, the Eltham District Historical Society with Council’s support, and the Eltham Woodworkers group endeavoured to see what suitable sized timbers were salvageable to fabricate a commemorative seat. Unfortunately, the experts at the Woodworkers group were unable to salvage any suitable length/width timbers to fabricate the seat due to the presence of rot. Last remaining wooden trestle bridge on the Diamond Creek Trail just prior to demolition and replacementBorn digital image (27)diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, murrays bridge, ‘laurel hill’, john wright murray, mary (sweeney) murra, john murray jnr, james murray, john langlands, ‘ihurst’, ‘glen park estate’, beard's estate, franktonia, bonsack's estate, glen park estate, glen park railway station

Outlines plans to expand the Diamond Valley Miniature Railway in Eltham.News clipping, black text, colour image.diamond valley miniature railway

Diamond Valley Library extends its hours to open on Thursdays.News clipping, black text, colour image.diamond valley library, yarra plenty regional library

The Sutherland Homes for Children on Yan Yean Road, Diamond Creek cared for thousands of children from when it was opened in 1912. The site closed for this purpose in 1991 and was sold and later developed for commercial and office purposes. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p107 The Sutherland Homes for Children at 14 Yan Yean Road, Diamond Creek, cared for thousands of children since they opened in 1912, after beginning at La Trobe Street, Melbourne in 1908. In 1994 Sutherland Homes (then called Sutherland Child, Youth and Family Services) amalgamated with Berry Street Child and Family Welfare. Together as Berry Street Victoria, they formed Victoria’s largest independent provider of support and accommodation services for children, young people and families in crisis.1 However with the move from institutional to community care, the Diamond Creek site had not been used since 1991 and was sold to private purchasers in 1999. More than 2000 former residents, staff, neighbours and friends attended a farewell in February, 2000.2 The Sutherland Homes red-brick and stuccoed building in Diamond Creek (a rare design in the Eltham Shire), was opened in 1929 by Lord Somers, the Governor of Victoria. Destitute children lived in dormitories bathed in natural light through large windows. However in 1958 as the cottage–parent system replaced the dormitory system, the first of eight residential cottages accommodating ten to 12 children was built. The site also included Special School 3660 and a farm, and the children were able to form relationships with people outside Sutherland, by staying with holiday hosts. Children were originally placed at Sutherland because of extreme poverty, or because single parents could not cope. However later, most placements occurred due to family violence, abuse or neglect. The property was originally bought from the Crown in 1869 by Timothy Mahony. Later owner, Augusta Meglin, ran a 40-acre (16ha) farm there. In 1909 she bequeathed this, including the house, orchards, vegetable gardens, vineyards and the balance of her income to The Sutherland Homes for Neglected Children. Sutherland Homes’ founder, Selina Sutherland, was known as ‘New Zealand’s Florence Nightingale’. In 1888 she became Victoria’s first licensed ‘child rescuer’3 and was to rescue around 3000 waifs from Victoria’s streets and slums.4 Born in Scotland in 1839, Sutherland joined her sister, who had emigrated with her husband to New Zealand. Sutherland trained as a nurse and led the establishment of a public hospital at Masterton. In 1881, while holidaying in Melbourne, Sutherland was so touched by seeing young people living under Princes Bridge, that this determined her future work. Meanwhile Sutherland instigated the Melbourne District Nursing Society, (now Royal District Nursing Service). She also led the founding of The Victorian Neglected Children’s Aid Society (now Oz Child) and the Presbyterian Neglected Children’s Aid Society (now Kildonan). From 1894 Miss Sutherland was Melbourne’s best known woman and cut a distinctive figure, wearing an alpine hat with a prominent feather. In 1906 Prime Minister Alfred Deakin named her Melbourne’s most successful philanthropic worker. However she was to face some difficult times. That year she suffered severely from an injured shoulder and dizzy turns and was pressured to resign as Superintendent of The Victorian Neglected Children’s Aid Society. In 1908 the committee of management offered her 12 months leave with pay. Sutherland declined – but soon after, was dismissed. However she continued her work from Latrobe Street, Melbourne, with the help of Sister Ellen Sanderson and several committee members. Sutherland attempted to register her new organisation but the Victorian Neglected Children’s Aid Society objected to the government, alleging that Sutherland, because of increasing infirmity, was unable to satisfactorily carry out such duties. They accused her of cruelty and of intoxication. However the charges were not proven, so The Sutherland Homes for Neglected Children was registered.5 Sadly, in 1909 Sutherland died, the day she was to move the children to the ‘country property’ at Diamond Creek. At her death she owned less than £10. Today Berry Street recognises Sutherland’s enormous contribution to child welfare with a memorial and an annual Selina Sutherland Award, presented to an outstanding volunteer.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, diamond creek, sutherland home for children

Article on the upgrade of the Diamond Creek Road and Plenty River Drive intersection. Black and white text, colour imageplenty river drive greensborough, diamond creek road greensborough

Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre celebrates its 40th anniversary.News clipping, black text, colour image.diamond valley sports and fitness centre

Looking northwest from Main Road towards Looker Road at the new site for the Apex-Diamond Valley Ambulance Station before construction of Apex Way, July 1969. The Eltham Apex Club conducted a Community Service Project (1965-1968) to raise funds for a new Ambulance Station to service the community. A site bounded by the intersection of Main Road, Grand Boulevard and Looker Road at Montmorency was purchased in 1969. In 1970, Eltham Shire Council undertook roadworks to construct Apex Way in preparation for the new station as well as duplicate Main Road, Lower Plenty, east of Grand Boulevard including the new Lower Plenty Bridge, which had been opened in November 1966, bordering with the City of Heidelberg.35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)1969-07, ambulance station, apex way, apex-diamond valley ambulance station, eltham ambulance station, looker road, lower plenty, main road, montmorency, eltham apex club

These photographs of the house on the corner of St Helena and Diamond Creek Roads was taken in 2013 to show changes over 40 years, based on Ron Reynold's sketches in the 1973 publication 'Greensborough and Greenhills' published by Cypress Books... which states "Built on a steep hill in a bush setting in the early 1920s, for a Dr Wood, the weatherboard house now overlooks an area of activity and change. The owners, Mr and Mrs E. 'Bluey' Blackburn, remember when their 3/4 acre building block dropped to the edge of a dirt road. Today the view from the high verandah encompasses the Main Street shopping centre, new and old bridges, new roads and houses, the Plenty River, natural bush, hills and sports grounds."Digital copy of colour photograph.greensborough and greenhills, st helena road greensborough, diamond creek road greensborough, wood family, ron reynolds

Article on the award to Diamond Valley News for best Australian suburban newspaper 1994Newspaper clipping text and colour group photograph of newspaper staffdiamond valley news

Diamond Valley Library displayed stories and memorabilia from migrant families in the area.News clipping, black text, colour image.diamond valley library, yarra plenty regional library, multicultural arts victoria, immigration

Report on rises in the property market from 2012-2013 in the Diamond Valley area.News clipping, black and red text.property values, greensborough, real estate

Five Diamond Valley residents were awarded Queen's Birthday Honours in 2014.News clipping, black text, colour images.queens birthday honours, nicholas hoogenraad, harry jenkins, janette cook, heather gardner, robert elworthy

Front page of Diamond Valley Leader shows Christmas lights in the local area.Front page colour image. christmas 2015

The article is about repeated vandalism and racial abuse at the Diamond Village shopping centre.Vandals were targeting the Diamond Village shopping centre with racial taunts, graffiti and attempting to break into shops. The article highlights the lack of evidence to give the police due to a reluctance to install outside security cameras.A half page featuring a colour photograph.Nilracial abuse, greensborough, diamond village shopping centre, vandlism, police numbers

Three Diamond Valley sports clubs were given defibrillators by the State Government.News clipping, black text.montmorency junior football club, st francis xavier tennis club, rosanna golf club, defibrillator grants program

The Diamond Valley Leader looks back over the local events that shaped 2016.News clipping, black text and colour image. diamond valley, diamond valley leader

Article about Diamond Valley Learning Centre Creche written by Claire MillerBlack and white textdiamond valley learning centre, childcare centre

18 October 1956 Flood level on road at corner of Railway Parade. On the immediate left out of view is Mrs Lucy Egan's home. That house still stands today nestled up against the Wattletree Road Bridge on the other side built in 1959 and is owned by the Bakos family purchased by Mrs Heather Bakos in 1960.. Prior to the Wattletree Road bridge being built, Railway Parade extended up the alignment of present-day Gastons Road to the Eltham-Diamond Creek road which ran past the entrance of the present-day carpark for Edendale Farm. This view is looking west across the Glen Park Bridge, and the beginning of Wattletree Road which sweeps around to the right in the distance. Progress Road does not exist though a road reserve is present on maps.Record of various Shire of Eltham infrastructure works undertaken during the period of 1952-1962 involving bridge and road reconstruction projects, sometimes with Eltham Shire Council Project Reference numbers quoted. It was during this period that a number of significant improvements were made to roads and new bridges constructed within the shire that remain in place as of present day (2022). In many situations, the photos provide a tangible visible record of infrastructure that existed throughout the early days of the Shire. The album was put together by or under the direction of the Shire Engineer, J.A. McDonald.infrastructure, road construction, shire of eltham, bridge construction, eltham north, floods, floodwater, glen park bridge, 1956-10-18, diamond creek (creek), eltham, railway parade, wattletree road, wattletree road bridge, gastons road

View looking west along Grand Boulevard from the intersection with Main Road and Panorama Avenue, Montmorency showing the site for the new Apex-Diamond Valley Ambulance Station and before construction of Apex Way, July 1969. The Eltham Apex Club conducted a Community Service Project (1965-1968) to raise funds for a new Ambulance Station to service the community. A site bounded by the intersection of Main Road, Grand Boulevard and Looker Road at Montmorency was purchased in 1969. In 1970, Eltham Shire Council undertook roadworks to construct Apex Way in preparation for the new station as well as duplicate Main Road, Lower Plenty, east of Grand Boulevard including the new Lower Plenty Bridge, which had been opened in November 1966, bordering with the City of Heidelberg.35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)1969-07, ambulance station, apex way, grand boulevard, lower plenty, main road, montmorency, eltham ambulance station, apex-diamond valley ambulance station, eltham apex club

Andrew Gilbert won the 9th annual Diamond Valley table tennis championship in 1995.Newspaper clipping, black and white text.andrew gilbert, table tennis

Diamond Valley Leader Letters to the Editor discuss the issue of kangaroos at Gresswell Forest Reserve.News clipping, black text, colour image.kangaroos, gresswell forest reserve

Parents of autistic children have joined to form the Diamond Valley Autism Support Group.News clipping, black text, colour image.diamond valley autism support group, autism

The Sailors and Soldiers Fathers' Association was established in the First World War and appears to have had branches in most states. The group was active (and often outspoken), involving themselves with hospital visits, repatriation issues, employment of returned servicemen and the establishment of returned servicemen’s rights relating to principles such as pensions and housing. There appears to be a close co-operation between this group and the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia in forming a group with strong lobbying abilities. Similarly, they were active in raising funds to build Memorials after the war. The Association remained active after the First World War in pursuing returned soldiers’ rights. They appear under a slightly different name during the Second World War (Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen’s Fathers' Association) but their goals were identical........The Sailors and Soldiers Fathers' Association, established during the First World War, was active in fundraising, establishing memorials and advocacy for issues such as the repatriation and employment of returned servicemen. The group worked closely with the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia, now known as the RSL.Round bronze and enamel badge badge with blue circular border enclosing a white and red diamond. Crown on top. In white border: "Sailors & soldiers Assoc.n of Vict." In red diamond: "Fathers" On back: "167 / Stokes Melb."badge, sailors and soldiers association of victoria, sailors and soldiers fathers' association

Significant flooding of the Diamond Creek occurred in Eltham and Glen Park on Tuesday, August 26, 1924 with several houses swamped and all bridges covered except the Greensborough Road Bridge. [Houses at Eltham Flooded. (1924, August 27). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 19. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4156891] The Glen Park Bridge was originally built as a replacement for an older private bridge built by a man named Foley around 1880. In 1911 Heidelberg and Eltham agreed to share the costs to build a new bridge. Construction began in June 1915 and it was officially opened by Cr. Taylor on Cup Day, November 1915. The bridge was destroyed by floodwaters in the afternoon of 20 September 1959 during construction of the new Wattletree Road bridge. The new bridge west embankment joined the existing road at approximately where the bend in the road is situated in the photograph.Colour photograph of originalfloods, eltham, diamond creek (creek), egan's crossing, eltham-diamond creek road, glen park bridge, glen park road