Andrew Balsillie (30/8/1874-28/7/1949. For 50 years he was associated with the Bendigo Mutual Permenant Land and Building Society and was its secretary from 1916 to 1945. He was the son of Andrew and Maria (nee Laing), who operated Edinburgh House selling ladies and gentlemen's clothing. Andrew Jnr. married Helen (Nellie) Calder in 1903.Black and white photographs (2) mounted on rectangular brown board. House, stained weatherboard board to sill height, rough cast above, bow lead- light window on right, leadlight windows on left, louvred vents to both front gables, tiled roof, roughcast verandah surround and pillars, 3 steps to veranda level, one chimney visible, small white veranda lamp, woven wire fence. Gate wooden gateway with lintel. On back of photo 18a: 'Sold Balsillie £875 sewered, or £825 plus sewerage. Stamp with T.C. Watts & Son, 253 Mitchell St., Bendigo., 12 April, 1929' On back of 18b. A. Balsillie, Marks St., £950 (crossed out ) £875, sewered or £825 plus sewerage.' May 1929.Frank A. Jeffree Bendigobuilding, residential, t.c. watts and son, balsillie, marks street bendigo

BHS CollectionBlack and white photographs (2) mounted on rectangular grey board. House, rendered, tiled roof, porch with pillars, 1 chimney, small paned windows, woven crinkled wire fence, gates with cyclone wire and wrought iron. On back of photo: 'J. Nanniche's, Old Violet St., Geo Phillips. 15 Dec. 1927. Sewered. £1175 ( crossed out ) £1400, 32/6 wk. Lease is out about 2 months. 31/7/34' 22b shows plan of house, drawn on parchment coloured paper. On RH corner, Violet Street, property, as quoted 9.9.29. Land Freehold 78' x 220'building, residential, j. nanniche, old violet street, t.c. watts and son

The Court House in Main Street Bacchus Marsh was built in 1858 using local sandstone. It opened in 1859. It has been used for jury trials, a Court of Petty Sessions, a County Court and a Crown Land sales office. Other uses included an office for the Registrar of Births and Deaths, a Dairy Inspectors office from 1863-1865, and as meeting rooms for the Bacchus Marsh Roads Board, a forerunner of the Shire Council. It was also used by the Bacchus Marsh Shire Council for its offices until at least 1884. In more recent years it has functioned as a Magistrates Court with weekly court sessions. Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. The view of the Court House building is seen from the northern side of Main Street looking south or south-east. Three men are standing in the street in front of the building. The men on the left and the right wearing police helmets appear to be police officers. The man in the middle is in civilian clothes and might be an officer or employee of the Court House. He has his dog with him. A white picket fence runs along the front of the building. The front courtyard of the building has been renovated since, but this building still operates as a court house.On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, courthouses, bacchus marsh court house

Set of six photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheet of Clifton Hill car shed - 3/1937 Some of the sheets overlap with each other. .1 - P? - Plan showing depot block, building plan and track plans .2 - P7689 - Plan of Land - dated 6-3-1937 .3 - P7690 - same as sheet one, but shows date and drawing number .4 - P? - part of shed with notes hand written on it - changes made to buildings - notes condensers and gas storage - possibly for the gas producer buses. .5 - part of plan with hand written notes .6 - dittotrams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, clifton hill cable tram depot, cable trams, world war 2, buses

Set of three photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheet of "Footscray Depot and bus garage" c 1937 .1 - P7993 - Plan of land showing car shed, bus garage and offices dated 1-4-1937 - shows substation location. .2 - P? - Plan of land showing buildings and surrounding properties - dated 1-4-1937 .3 - P79821 - ditto but a wider area - dated 1-4-1937 - shows substation location.trams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, footscray depot, substation

Set of three photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheet of "Glenhuntly Depot" - c 1938 .1 - P8334 - Plan of land showing details of offices and tennis court - 2-6-1938 .2 - P8335 - Plan of land showing car depot layout and associated buildings - 2-6-1938 - shows substation location. .3 - P8333 - Plan of land showing MMTB land and surrounding properties. - 2-6-1938trams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, glenhuntly tram depot, substation

Set of five photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheet of "South Melbourne Depot" - c 1937 .1 - P8345 - Plan of land showing MMTB land and surrounding properties. .2 - P8346 - Plan of land showing detail of offices .3 - P8347 - Plan showing detail of tram shed and adjacent buildings .4 - P8348 - Plan showing detail of buildings along the side of the block. .5 - P8349 - Plan showing details of the per way yard and associated facilities.trams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, south melbourne depot

Set of three photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheet of "Hawthorn Depot" - c 1938 .1 - P8392 - Plan of land showing Depot, surrounding land and streets - 2 copies held .2 - P8393 - Plan showing detail layout of depot, buildings and fences - 2 copies held .3 - P8394 - Plan showing detail of offices and basement Drawings 2 and 3 show substation location.trams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, hawthorn depot, substation

Set of four photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheet of the "Johnston St Engine House", "Northcote Engine House" and "Richmond Engine House", c2/1938. .1 - Sheet 1 - P8498 - Plan showing land and surrounding streets for the "Johnston St Engine House" .1 - Sheet 2 - P8499 - Plan showing the layout of the engine house. Has a note sheets 1 and 2 that it has been sold .2 - P8506 -Plan showing land and surrounding streets for the "Northcote Engine House" - 2 copies held. .3 - P8607 - Plan showing Richmond Engine House and adjacent streets with sub-station next doortrams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, cable trams, winding houses, johnston st, northcote, richmond, hoddle st, bridge rd

Set of 7 photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheet of various MMTB properties for the following locations. .1 - P8194 - Embankment North Coburg - 18-5-1938 .2 - P8055 - Park Northcote - 28-10-1937 - showing a park at the corner of St Georges Road and Merri Parade Northcote .3 - P8403 - Property at 27 Scotchmer St, North Fitzroy - c1938 .4 - P8177 - Fitzroy Stables, Victoria St and Fitzroy St - 19-11-1938 .5 - P8092 - Cottage in Royal Park - 29-6-1939 .6 - P?? - Land at the corner of Gertrude and Smith St Fitzroy - undated .7 - P8302 - Plan of buildings at the corner of Gertrude and Smith St Fitzroy, c1938.trams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, north coburg, fitzroy, stables, royal park, gertrude st, smith st

Photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheet of "Kew Depot 22/9/1938 P8400 - Plan of land and buildings - with some 1967 notes shows substation location.trams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, kew, substation

Set of three photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheets of "Malvern Depot" - 15-3-1937 .1 - P7873 - Plan showing details of car sheds .2 - P7894 - Plan of Land showing overall site plan .3 - P8342 - showing details of buildings, including offices, Club Rooms in Stanhope St, No. 28 Stanhope St and sub-station.trams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, substation, malvern depot

Set of five photocopied plans or drawings on A3 sheets of the "Port Melbourne Bus Garage" .1 - P8383 - Plan showing building layouts and adjacent land - including a Poultry Farm - dated 1938 .2 - P8416 - Plan showing parts of the adjoining properties including houses. .3 - Unnumbered - more modern architects drawing showing details of offices - c1944? - two sheets. .4 - unnumbered - drawing showing layout of repair shed, pits, offices and mess room facing Bay St. Copy of the map from Melway Street Directory No. 1 from Kevin Staines 24-2-2018 - added 9-3-2018. See image i6trams, tramways, drawings, depots, property, port melbourne, buses, maps

Booklet - 38 pages, printed on off white page, centre stapled, titled "Directory and Tramway Guide issued by the Hawthorn Tramways Trust", specifically advertising Wattle Park and showing Princes Bridge and the Yarra on the front cover and a photo of Hawthorn depot on the rear cover. Gives details of Wattle Park, its opening, many photos, members of the Trust, Engineer and Manager and Acting Secretary, Stopping points for the round and fares to Wattle Park, section fares, maps of the tram routes and connections with other tramways and railway stations. Has timetables for Burnley and other major points, special and emergency services, the coloured lights used on the trams, and a map for land sales at Riversdale Heights estate. Advertisements for Mutual stores, Melbourne Electric Supply Co., Moule, Hamilton and Kindle for the sale of land at Riversdale Heights and a map showing the estate location. Both copies have alterations or corrections to the route signage letters - marked in red - from the Minutes of the HTT Board meetings, the Trust were not happy with the finished product and was reluctant to pay for them - see Minutes of Meeting No. 99 of 5-7-1918. Two copies held - one with red marks on the front cover.trams, tramways, htt, wattle park, princes bridge, hawthorn depot, timetables, mesco, real estate

Legal document within a light brown manila document - titled "Attorney General of Victoria re Purchase of Essendon Tram Undertaking" containing 4 large sheets, typed, legally bound with tape and sewn cotton. Formally titled "The Honourable Arthur Robinson his Majesty's attorney general for the state of the Victoria with Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board / Agreement" Dated 30/6/1922 - sets out the terms and cost of the Board purchasing the undertaking from the State Government (not NMETL), employees except Arthur Murdoch and gives a drawing of the land to be taken over. Agreement scanned. Was subject to Parliamentary approval. Folder has file number "91-2" written on the outside.trams, tramways, mmtb, essendon, nmetl, victorian government, legal agreements

Photocopy of a drawing or plan on an A4 sheet, titled "Detail of land leased to Alfred Kefford Pty Ltd" and the back of the former MMTB Office building in Victoria Parade Fitzroy. Gives the block dimension, streets, a location of a workshop and the brick office building. The Young St sub-station was excluded. Gives details of the fences. Plan undated. Rod Atkins advised 29/7/19 that Alfred Kefford nee Pty Ltd. resided at no 17 Young Street on corner of Duke Street just several doors further up Young Street on the same side. All I know so far is they were into some form of delivery type transport - i.e.. carrier.trams, tramways, mmtb, buses, lease agreement, victoria parade, young st, substation

Set of two typed reports detailing Preston Workshops. .1 - Report - marked draft, dated 24/11/1926 - 4 foolscap pages with marks, corrections, changes outlining the need for a workshop, refers to the Malvern depot, acquisition of the land, design, capacity, description of the various shops. Gives a description of the operation, construction of trams in the future, notes the cable repair shops at Nicholson St, cranes, employee numbers, costs, paint and body shop. Notes the mess room and that an ambulance room will be provided. .2 - Report - 3 quarto pages - undated - but based on the first sentence, c1929 - titled "Tramway Workshops Preston". Gives a description of the workshops, the main groupings, building sizes, cranes, floors, building and maintenance capacities, tracks, admin block, employment, sub-station and power supplies.In top right hand corner of each sheet of .1 "Reference RS 49/1" stamp and handwritten.trams, tramways, preston workshops, malvern depot, nicholson st, workshops, workplace conditions

Set of two valuations of the Car Houses or depots owned by MTO Co. titled "Valuation etc of Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Co's freehold properties". Details the location, book value, municipal valuation, J Buchans & Co land separated for land and buildings and the company claims. One sheet on double foolscap, typed carbon copy and the other on a foolscap sheet with out the company's claim amount. Has a note regarding the company's head office in Bourke St and the Victoria St Feed Works. Two copies held.trams, tramways, mto co, winding houses, depot, cable trams, property, horse trams, head office

Drawing - hand coloured titled "Footscray and Maribyrnong Tramway Construction - Act 1953 - Showing the type of track for the electric tramway jointing the Footscray and Maribyrnong Tramways", dated 13/11/53. Details the streets, land types, road crossings, track types and has a reference to the Order in Council for the tramway construction.Has a ink note along the bottom edge "13/11/53 Sample copy"trams, tramways, footscray, maribyrnong, new tramway, order in council, acts of parliament

Drawings - coloured - titled "Footscray Depot - Layout Plan - Scheme II", signed by D. H. Eakins on 23-3-1960 showing a proposed layout of the depot following the closure of the Footscray system and the use of the entire block of land for buses. Has drawings of the Traffic Office and Amenities.trams, tramways, footscray, buses, depots

The drawing shows a 3 road depot layout, with an access track from Glenferrie Road, referring to a letter and a point D on the drawing. Drawing dated 18-12-1908 is some 18 months before the PMTT opened with a 6 road depot and is possibly related to land acquisition. Yields information about PMTT depot planning in 1908.Blueprint of a drawing showing the track layout for the entry to Malvern Tram depot.tramcars, pmtt, malvern depot, trackwork

Single yellow page advertising Auction of five home sites to be sold separately on Saturday, 11th May, 1974. Details include vendor terms, subdivision services, and location map (north-east corner of Warrandyte and Oban Roads).(Agent) Eric Weber & Co. Pty. Ltd., 148 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne, 3002, Phone: 416025, Mr Elliott A.H. 8577502. Later handwritten notation suggests vendor was possibly Country Roads Board (VicRoads) after completion of road widening works.

Report - 43 pages, photocopied, stapled in top left hand corner - titled "East Burwood Tramway Extension - Middleborough Road to Vermon South - Feasibility Study - October 1981". No details as who made the report, assumed Ministry of Transport or MMTB. Gives details of proposals considered, population and land use, existing services, patronage, operating costs, revenue and provides an assessment. Looks at costs for an extension only to Blackburn Road, Springvale Road and to Vermont South. Report showed the cost benefit ratio for Blackburn Road was 1, and less for the other possibilities.trams, tramways, east burwood, feasibility study, new tramway, mmtb, middleborough rd, vermont south

Report - 41 pages, photocopied, stapled in top left hand corner - titled "East Burwood Tramway Extension - beyond Middleborough Road - Feasibility Study - September 1982". No details as who made the report, though attached to the front cover by a paper clip is a Metropolitan Transit Authority with compliments sheet, stamped "Information Officer", office address of 616 Little Collins St. Gives details of proposals considered, population and land use, existing services, patronage, operating costs, revenue and provides an assessment. Looks at costs for an extension only to Blackburn Road, Springvale Road and to Vermont South. Report showed the cost benefit ratio for Blackburn Road was 1, and less for the other possibilities. Appears to be an update of the Oct. 1981 report - see Reg item 686.trams, tramways, east burwood, feasibility study, new tramway, mmtb, middleborough rd, vermont south

Eight page magazine, folded A3 printed on gloss paper, blue and black ink, "Infrazine" - Department of Infrastructure Victoria, Issue 11, December 1998 with the main article on the redevelopment of Hawthorn Tram depot - titled "New Home for Heritage Trams". Gives details of the history of the depot, involvement of the Department of Infrastructure, Public Transport Corporation, and the Urban Land Corporation, TMSV and the future use of the heritage trams. Article signed by Brandon Mack. Other items cover legal services, the Marine Board, regional offices.trams, tramways, hawthorn depot, ptc, doi, reconstruction

HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only nine in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Ladies fob watch, gold, covered in encrustation (small section has broken off to reveal the engraved surface). Face and hands are missing, revealing the workings. Found in the Loch Ard gorge and said to have been from the Loch Ard.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, ladies fob watch, gold watch, fob watch, pocket watch, horology, accessory, time keeping, scientific instrument

The Bendigo Environmental Trust was established in 1995 with funds provided by Bendigo Mining NL. The Trust was administered by an honorary Board of Trustees. Preference was given to projects that reflected the philosophy of the Bendigo Region Conservation Strategy, namely flora and fauna, energy conservation, land and water protection and waste management. Two copies of an eight page booklet titled ' Environmental Trust Fund, sponsored by Bendigo Mining NL. One booklet date stamped 4 Sep 2002. Content identical in both: policy; how the Bendigo ining Environmental Trust works; who can apply; areas supported; how to apply; preferred format; limitations of grants; support period; when to apply, where to apply and project documentation required.Date stamp September 2005 on one copy.bendigo mining nl, environment, environmental trust, flora and fauna, energy conservation, waste management, land and water protection, kangaroo flat, goldmining

Pink paper dated Mar 30, Apr 1, 1925, May 14, 1926, and 30/6/26. Central Red White & Blue gold Mining Co. N.L. to Miss G. Alice Jones. Land Tax Return. Mar 30 Attending Mr. Jewell drafting return for 1924-25. Apr 1 Attending Mr. Jewell perusing return as typed and drawing letter to accompany. May 14, 1926, mine Drainage Board. Attending Mr. Stanistreet who stated position and suggesting negotiations. Cost £1 1 0. Pd written on the end. R414 delivered by V B? 1/7/26.the miss g.alice jones collection - account, central red white & blue gold mining co n l, mr jewell, mine drainage board, mr stanistreet

The original house was built around 1850 was one of Kangaroo Ground's earliest homes, part of which remains today. Built by Scottish farmer Andrew Harkness who acquired the property in 1849 at the top of the hill with magnificent panoramic views as far as Kinglake, the same year he married Sarah Oswin. The property was known as Garden Hill from at least 1865. Andrew and Sarah had four sons and five daughters. Harkness was a founder of the Kangaroo Ground School and one of the first to suggest establishing the Eltham District Road Board (1858-71) of which he was a member, the pre-cursor to the Shire of Eltham (1871-1994). He was also a Trustee of the Kangaroo Ground Cemetery. His daughter Fanny married farmer Alexander White who purchased the property in 1893. Alexander White died in 1906 and ownership transferred to Fanny White. Son, Robert White was a Councillor of the Shire of Eltham at the time the Shire acquired two acres of land on the adjacent property from the Mess brothers for the creation of the Shire of Eltham Memorial Park (1921) in which the Shire of Eltham War Memoirial tower was erected (1926). Fanny White donated a small section of land from the Garden Hill property to facilitate entry access to the park. The White family sold the property to Sir Herbert Gepp in 1925. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p29This 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, kangaroo ground

The original house was built around 1850 was one of Kangaroo Ground's earliest homes, part of which remains today. Built by Scottish farmer Andrew Harkness who acquired the property in 1849 at the top of the hill with magnificent panoramic views as far as Kinglake, the same year he married Sarah Oswin. The property was known as Garden Hill from at least 1865. Andrew and Sarah had four sons and five daughters. Harkness was a founder of the Kangaroo Ground School and one of the first to suggest establishing the Eltham District Road Board (1858-71) of which he was a member, the pre-cursor to the Shire of Eltham (1871-1994). He was also a Trustee of the Kangaroo Ground Cemetery. His daughter Fanny married farmer Alexander White who purchased the property in 1893. Alexander White died in 1906 and ownership transferred to Fanny White. Son, Robert White was a Councillor of the Shire of Eltham at the time the Shire acquired two acres of land on the adjacent property from the Mess brothers for the creation of the Shire of Eltham Memorial Park (1921) in which the Shire of Eltham War Memoirial tower was erected (1926). Fanny White donated a small section of land from the Garden Hill property to facilitate entry access to the park. The White family sold the property to Sir Herbert Gepp in 1925. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p29 Garden Hill, on Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, near the War Memorial is well named. The old house and gardens overlook a magnificent panorama extending to Kinglake. The original house, built around 1850, was one of Kangaroo Ground’s earliest, and part of it remains in today’s timber house. The house was built by the early and prominent settler Andrew Harkness. Later it was occupied for a long time by Sir Herbert Gepp, renowned Australia wide.1 Harkness and Gepp are buried in the Kangaroo Ground Cemetery. Scottish farmer Harkness, who was born in 1817, acquired this property in 18492 and he and his family occupied it until the early 1920s. Harkness cleared its 152 acres (61.4 ha), fenced it and grazed sheep and cattle. Harkness proved a valuable community member. When only ten families lived in the district, he and other settlers set up a school in 1852, with Andrew Ross as the first teacher. Harkness was also one of the first to suggest establishing the Eltham District Road Board, of which he was a member for around 15 years. He was also a trustee of the Kangaroo Ground Cemetery. Harkness married in 1854 and had four sons and five daughters. The first part of the timber house he built included a kitchen-living room and a parlor. The living room’s large fireplace was bricked-in and modernised in 1940. Beside it is the old baker’s oven with its original iron door replaced by a wooden one. It is thought two wattle-and-daub huts, used for a bedroom and bathroom, were built to the west. Harkness’ son-in-law, farmer Alexander White, who had seven sons, bought the property in 1893. Harkness’ grand-daughter Flora married Ewen Cameron who became Minister for Health and was later knighted; he was not related to Ewen Hugh Cameron, a Member of the Legislative Assembly. In 1923 the White family sold the property, called Kilby Park, to Sir Herbert Gepp, who renamed it Garden Hill. Gepp used the property, which was still on the original New South Wales title, as a hobby farm. Robert White stayed on to manage the farm for a while, living in a house on the property. Gepp was born in 1877 and at 16 years began working as a junior chemist with the Australian Explosives and Chemical Company at Deer Park near Melbourne. Gepp was a pioneer in applying enlightened labour policies in industry. He initiated the Broken Hill Progress Association, to improve living conditions. It laid the ground work for the welfare schemes pursued by companies after World War One. During the mid 20th century Gepp was the most prominent liberal thinker associated with conservative politics. As a friend of Prime Minister John Curtin, he contributed to post-war reconstruction. Gepp returned to private industry and retired in 1950. Gepp made significant contributions to the solution of the great metallurgical problems of the mining industry. He was an advocate of the role of science in industry, government and the economy and helped to establish several organizations including the CSIR and the Institute of Public Affairs.3 After Sir Herbert died in 1954 his son Orwell continued to farm the property part-time. When Lady Gepp died in 1963, the land was divided among the five children, although Orwell continued to farm it as a hobby. In 1966, a daughter, Mardi Gething, now married, settled in the house. Another daughter, Kathleen, built her house close by on the property. After the Board of Works designated the property as part of a reserve for a possible reservoir, the family sold all, except the minimum 20 acres allowed, to the Board in the 1970s. Orwell then leased what was the family property from the Board to continue grazing. The two sisters and brother continued to live on the property.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, kangaroo ground