The Lyon Bros Eltham Motor Garage opened in 1923 at 283-287 Main Road Eltham, opposite Arthur Street. Messrs Lyon Bros., Eltham, advertise that they have opened a motor garage near the post office, where a car or petrol may be procured day or night, and repairs effected. (The Advertiser, 2 March 1923) The garage was an official RACV Road Service Station and offered vehicles for hire in addition to conducting repairs. Community memories after posting this photo on Facebook include: "I can remember my dad putting 2 shilling pieces into a bowser to get petrol after hours." Lyon later built new premises which were subsequently demolished.This 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 Negsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, automobiles, businesses, george w. bell collection, lyon, lyon bros garage, main road, motor garage, motor vehicles, petrol bowser

Construction of the new concrete bridge over the Diamond Creek on Main Road, Eltham, c.May 1926. Viewed from northern approach looking east, the access drive running off Antoinette Boulevard parallel to Main Road is visible as well as the power lines that used to run in front of Eltham Park (Eltham Lower Park). Also visible is a tree situated beside the roadway. It is believed this is the same tree that remains today as a dead tree trunk immediately adjacent to the road verge armco near the corner of Antoinette Boulevard. The original long suspension bridge over the Diamond Creek on Main Road at Eltham collapsed during flooding of the Diamond Creek on October 13 and 14, 1923. The original bridge was built around 1840 for the coach road when Cobb & Co.'s coach was the only conveyance between Eltham and Melbourne. Widespread damage was done in Melbourne and surrounding areas by floods resulting from the overflow of the Yarra at many points along its banks. A temporary bridge rigged up was severely damaged by the flooding of the creek and was closed to vehicular traffic in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was constructed to replace it and by May 1926 all the concrete piles and abutments had been completed. The bridge was finally completed and opened for traffic in September 1926, almost three years after it initially collapsed.This 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.Photo print 9 x 12.5 cmshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, bridge, diamond creek (creek), eltham south, main road bridge, wingrove park, antoinette boulevard, significant tree, cement mixer, bridge construction

The architect of Eltham's new library, Harold Bartlett of Messrs Leith & Bartlett Pty Ltd at the opening of the Eltham Library in 1971. The Eltham Branch of the Heidelberg Regional Library Service was opened on 17 August 1971 by Victoria’s Chief Secretary R. J. Hamer. The library was designed by the firm Leith and Bartlett and was the southern wing of the Shire of Eltham Offices in Main Road Eltham. Visitors entered a “book plaza” which embodies the display techniques of a bookshop. Through this area was located a quieter area for reference and the more “purposeful” reader. The library was opened as part of the Shire of Eltham’s centenary celebrations. Diamond Valley News, 24 August 1971 Wisdom of Solomon. "The architect of Eltham's new library, Mr Harold Bartett, at the opening of the library last week said: " Decisions to build such cultural builidngs as this with so little money and so many other basic items on the priority list are not taken without long hours of thoughtful debate demanding the wisdom of Solomon, the knowledge of a Moses, the business acumen of a money changer, the tender heart of a Rachael, the couriage of a David and last, but not least, the armour of a centurion." Thus, he described the attributes required in a municipal councillor. Mr Bartlett is a former councillor and is still honorary planner for the shire." H. E. Bartlett was on the Shire of Eltham Council 1954-1961. The library and Shire Offices were demolished exactly 25 years later in 1996. This 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 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 imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, shire of eltham, shire of eltham centenary, eltham library, opening day, h. bartlett, harold bartlett, sppech

Charles Symons Wingrove, J.P. (1829-1905) arrived in Victorian in 1851. He had trained as an engineer, but tried his luck on the goldfields. In 1857 he was appointed as Secretary to the Eltham District Roads Board only one year after its foundation. He was to hold the position with the Board and later the Eltham Shire Council for total of 47 years. He also held the position of engineer for a large part of this period. During part of this time he was also secretary to the Heidelberg Shire Council. Over this period he was responsibly for an area stretching from Clifton Hill to Healesville, along the northern bank of the Yarra River. Other positions included Secretary to the Victorian Agricultural Society over along period.Wingrove was a main figure in the Municipal Association of Victoria. By the time he retired he was recognized as the “Grand Old Man” of Victorian local government. In 1858 Wingrove had a brick cottage built in Main Road near the State School and he lived here until his death. One room was uded as the Board and Council office. His descendants owned the house until 1974. It was later used as a psychiatric clinic. The park opposite the cottage has been named Wingrove Park in his honour. He is buried at St Helena with other members of his family. Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Tuesday 18 July 1905, page 5 ABOUT PEOPLE. A conspicuous figure in northern municpal history, Mr. Charles Symons Wingrove, has passed away. He was for many years secretary and engineer for the shire of Eltham, and prior to the formation of the shire held the position under the old road board, his official connection with the district dating from beyond 1857. For about twelve years he also filled the position of shire engineer for Heidelberg council while retaining his other post, and the immense territory under his professional control, reaching from the boundary of Collingwood up to Healesville, was a matter of fatherly pride and interest to him. He arrived in Victoria in 1851, and was 76 years of age at his death. Mr. Wingrove retired from the position in the Eltham council only about a year ago. The interment will take place in St. Helena Cemetery, near Eltham township, today. Secretary, Eltham District Road Board 1858-1871 Secretary for the Shire of Eltham 1871-1904. Nearly 50 years service to the local community. For about twelve years he also filled the position of shire engineer for Heidelberg council. Reproduced Page 137 "Pioneers & Painters" This 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 Print 25 x 20 cmc.s.wingrove, charles symons wingrove, eltham district road board, sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, shire secretary, wingrove cottage, pioneers and painters, shire of eltham, councilor, municipal officer

Put together by a member of the Eltham Gateway Action Group (EGAG) in participation with various artists, writers, local business people and other local citizens and sent to Minister Maclellan, Planning Minister in the Kennet Government in protest of proposed plans to sell the former Eltham Shire Office site at 895 Main Road Eltham in order to develop a Shell Service Station and Hungry Jacks fast food outlet. The purpose was to express what is unique about the character of Eltham, why people live and work there and why such a development would be out of character and inappropriate for the Eltham Gateway along with alternative development proposals. This protest was the catalyst for the formation of the Eltham Gateway Action Group, which later evolved into the Eltham Community Action Group (ECAG).Scrapbook album approx 40 x 30 x 4 cm, black hardcovers and 36 double page openings, numerous blank pages.alan marshall, alistair knox park, alistair knox, alternative proposals, ampitheatre, artists, betty langley, bohdan kucyk, bootmakers cottage, bridge street, cultural heritage map, david armfield, diamond creek, diamnond valley news, eltham art house theatres, eltham community action group, ecag, eltham gateway action group, egag, eltham library, eltham traders, eltham, flavour of eltham, george stebbing, gordon ford, hamish knox, helen lucas, hungry jacks, janet r boddy, jarrold cottage, jarrold family, john pizzey, jon weaving, lena skipper, letters, local business register, 895 main road, main road, eltham shire office, matcham skipper, ming mackay, minister maclellan, montsalvat, mudbrick, newspaper clippings, peter dougherty, peter glass, pioneers and painters, railway line, shell service station, shelltham, protests, shillinglaw cottage, shire of eltham, nillumbik shire, st margaret's anglican church, todaro, trestle bridge, wingrove cottage, charles symons wingrove

Originally contained in a 'magnetic' photo album believed to have been donated by Mr Eric Stephenson, Jingalong, 110 Ryans Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095; relocated to archival safe storage. Sugarloaf Reservoir is situated on former farmland. This large water storage was completed in 1982 and serves Melbourne's northern suburbs. Within the visitor areas are two picnic grounds and other recreational facilities. Below its massive rock embankment is located the Winnecke Treatment Plan designed to purify its water before being piped into Melbourne. The dam partly inundated the old firing ranges of the former Christmas Hills Rifle Club. Source: Christmas Hills Now and then: Yarra Glen & District Historical Society, 2004. Two colour photographsskyline drive, sugarloaf reservoir

Shilinglaw Cottage in its original location on Main Road Eltham with the three Mediterranean Cypress trees (“Shillllinglaw trees”) in the garden. Note a fourth pine to the right. This image was taken shortly before its relocation. Believed to be have been taken by John Collins, 17 Oct 1963 as per other images held by the State Library of Victoria Author / Creator: John T Collins 1907-2001 , photographer. J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria. Shillinglaw Cottage is significant to Eltham’s local history. It is one of the earliest known buildings still in existence. Records suggest that the cottage was built circa 1859 by a man named Cochrane, believed to be Thomas Cochrane, in conjunction with George Stebbings though it is not known what Stebbings’s contribution was. It is made from hand made bricks laid in a Flemish bond pattern. In the 1960s it was marked for demolition to make way for the construction of new council buildings but a community campaign saved the cottage and it was re-located. It is believed Stebbings owned the cottage between 1874 and 1888. According to Margaret Ball’s (2017) book Shillinglaw Family of Eltham 1660-2007, Thomas Cochrane and family lived there from 1867 to 1874 however this is contrary to the records of assessable rates levied by the Eltham District Road Board, established in 1858, which shows Cochrane was the owner occupier (in Little Eltham) of approximately 25 acres of cultivated land and 25 acres of pastureland upon which a hut was sited in 1860. It is suspected that George Stebbings may have acquired the property from Cochrane in 1874 as it is noted that he had a tenant for a period, James Rossiter, who was the editor for the Evelyn Observer in Kangaroo Ground in 1874 (LATE SHIRE OFFICE AT KANGAROO GROUND (1934, February 16). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 5. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56743657). In 1881 Phillip Shillinglaw became the ratepayer for the cottage though Stebbings retained ownership until 1888 at which time it was transferred to Shillinglaw.Shillinglaw Cottage is itself historically, aesthetically and socially significant to the Shire of Nillumbik and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Database. This 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 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 Negsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, shillinglaw cottage, significant tree

Pindarri was the name of the property on which artist John Serle lived on Pindari Road, St. Andrews. Colour painting reproduced on page 11 of "Pioneers & Painters: One hundred years of Eltham and its Shire" by Alan Marshall (1971). This chapter 1 "In the beginning" gives a physical description of the area: "Thick forest covered all the higher mountain ranges .. These areas were all heavily timbered, associated grasslands and eucalyptus extending from the thick forest country across undulating hills to the Yarra... The timber in general is gum, oak and Banksia, the two later are small, the gum two to four feet of diameter and from then to thirty feet high; on some of the low ground somewhat larger. The forest was open with little scrub..." The artist John Serle (born 1928) was the first local artist to become a councilor for the Shire of Eltham. He also worked for the Shire of Eltham grading roads. The Shire of Nillumbik hold a similiar painting in their collection (access via Victorian Collections) titled: Untitled (bush) Donor details on file. Location of original painting unknown. Most probably held in Serle family collection. Painting produced in 1968. Reproduced in "Pioneers and Painters", 1971 This 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.4 x 5 inch colour reversal film (1) Condition: May not be true to colour of original work. Scanned from a 4 x 5 inch colour transparency which was taken c.1970 (approx. 50 years old) and which has undergone significant colour degradation towards the red spectrum. Allowances made for colour cast correction in scan with best guess for white balance. Significant light flare is reflected off glossy surface of original work at camera lens at lower left and right sides causing quality issues.pioneers and painters, sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, john serle, pindarrri, bush

September Excursion - Culla Hill Walk Pioneer Eltham farmer Thomas Sweeney (1803 - 1867) named his house, “Culla Hill” after the area in Ireland that he came from. His house, now called “Sweeneys”, remains on a ridge line overlooking the Yarra River. It is recorded that Thomas Sweeney did well out of carting potatoes and other supplies to the various gold fields such as Bendigo, McIvor (Heathcote), Mount Alexander and Beechworth. Culla Hill is now the name of the road providing access to subdivided lots of the former Sweeney property. The Culla Hill walk will start at the corner of Kent Hughes and Lavender Park Roads, Eltham (Melway ref. 22 A9) at 2.00pm on Saturday 7th September. - EDHS Newsletter No. 247 August 20192019-09-07, activities, culla hill, eltham, eltham district historical society, fay bridge collection, heritage excursion, sweeneys lane

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

Eltham Gateway, Sweet D Lites, 820 Main Road, Eltham. Former Burgoyne shop and Post Office, now home to San Antonio Barbershop. Once affectionately known as the Hilltop milk bar, or Burgoyne’s, this is one of the only three remaining early twentieth century village shops in Eltham and as the community’s first post office. In the 1920’s, the post office was run from a tiny 6 by 6 corrugated iron shed at the side of the store. Miss Hunniford, the post mistress, would give you your mail or take your letters to send, as there was no postal delivery service at that time. In an emergency, such as illness, you could send a telegraph for tuppence (around two cents) a word. Later, this was the site of the Eltham’s first telephone exchange. Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, burgoyne's shop, sweeet d lites, hilltop milk bar

EDHS Newsletter No. 274 February 2024 Our EDHS member Irene Kearsey is forever searching, researching and at times discovering hidden historical gems. One such discovery is finding details about the life and career of “Senior Constable Dungey – Eltham’s third policeman” and what he and his wife had in the Eltham police house; now our Local History Centre at 728 Main Road, Eltham. At our meeting on Wednesday 14th February 2024, Irene with talk about the career of Arthur Eggleston Dungey leading him to Eltham and then describe what was in the house. We now know how he and wife Louisa furnished the house in 1890, down to the number of teaspoons. If you had ancestors in 19th century Victoria, Irene has a suggestion for your research that might reveal such details1:02:35 duration Digital MP3 file; 21.4MBaudio recording, eltham district historical society, meeting, society meeting, eltham, guest speaker, eltham police station, irene kearsey, snr constable arthur eggleston dungey, eltham police residence

Local Newspaper article promoting a community meeting for the purposes of developing an action plan to save the Eltham copper Butterfly from extinction after its discovery in its breeding place, the sweet bursaria shrub. Michael Braby, David Cameron and Pauline Toner M.P. are pictured. Early 1987. After the re-discovery of the rare Eltham copper Butterfly in large numbers in Eltham in 1987 Pauline Toner M.P. worked to preserve its habitat. Her work is recognised in the naming of the Pauline Toner Butterfly Reserve on the corner of Pitt Street and Eucalyptus Road in ElthamDigital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, david cameron, eltham copper butterfly, michael braby, pauline toner

Wingrove Cottage built 1858-1859 of hand made bricks is historically significant for its long association with Charles Wingrove, a prominent figure in Victorian local government, as secretary to the Eltham District Road Board and Shire Council from 1858 to 1904, and Shire Engineer and Secretary to the Heidelberg Road Board. The cottage was used as the office of the Eltham District Road Board and Council for many years It is one of the Shire's oldest dwellings, and one of the few surviving 19th century buildings associated with early Eltham and located in the original Eltham Village Reserve. The symmetrical planting of a pair of Pencil Pines (not visible in photo) is also historically and aesthetically significant as characteristic of the early period of planting in the district and because they are a distinctive landscape feature. In October 2002 new owners demolished the outbuildings attached to the rear of the cottage. Community protest at the demolition resulted in Council issuing a Stop Work order. The owner was issued with a court order in September 2003 to develop a conservation management plan and restore the heritage listed property. The owner sold the property in 2005 to Cameron Construction in 2005 who undertook the restoration work. In 2007 a planning application to build two offices and seven dwellings at the rear of the property was ultimately rejected. The cottage is now the main office for Cameron Construction. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p57 Wingrove Cottage on Main Road beside Eltham Primary School, is one of the Shire’s most important historical buildings and was central to local government for almost 50 years. The cottage was built in stages from 1858 to 1888 for Charles Symons Wingrove JP. He was the Eltham District Road Board’s first paid secretary and later the Shire Secretary when the board became the Eltham Shire Council. Wingrove held those positions, and that of engineer for a time, for 46 years. He was also one of the main figures in the Municipal Association of Victoria. As Eltham’s first paid municipal officer, Wingrove used one room in his 11 – (originally two) roomed home, as the office for the board then the council. Meetings were held there from the late 1850s (as well as at more central locations) until Wingrove’s retirement in 1904. The cottage is a rare example of a local government office occupying a Road Board /Shire Secretary’s purpose-designed house. The cottage is also significant because it is the oldest largely intact building from the original Eltham township reserve (south of Dalton Street).1 The township had its origins in the 1848 Nillumbik Parish Plan and was one of the state’s earliest township reserves. The rectangular house of handmade bricks, roofed with grey slate tiles and with a veranda encompassing three sides, is reminiscent of those in the central goldfields including Castlemaine. Its overhanging eaves and gables were unlike houses in Melbourne at the time. Wingrove, who was born in 1827, had been a gold digger and a road surveyor. Impossible to imagine in today’s world, Wingrove was also the Shire of Heidelberg’s secretary and engineer for part of the time that he was secretary in Eltham. Living next door to the primary school was a mixed blessing. Wingrove and his wife Katherine, who had ten children, sent their eight surviving children to the school. But they had occasional disputes with the school authorities when their cattle wandered into the schoolyard. Eltham showed Charles Wingrove its appreciation of his services by giving him two illuminated addresses, one after ten years and the other at retirement. Wingrove died in 1905 aged 76 and was buried in the St Katherine’s Church of England cemetery in St Helena. His grave is surrounded by those of family members including his wife, Katherine and two babies, Henry, 12 months and Isobella, 15 months, who died in the mid-1860s. Cottage ownership passed to his wife, then to daughter Caroline and then to daughter Bessie, a Melbourne University graduate and artist. During the Great Depression their brother Walter was the ratepayer. At one stage the Wingrove property extended to Metery Road and included a small creek. The family ran a small dairy and orchard, with associated farm buildings, which were later removed. In 1949 part of the property was compulsorily acquired by the Eltham Primary School, which infuriated owner Bessie Wingrove. She protested in a letter about this ‘monstrous act of unmitigated tyranny’.2 She was the last Wingrove to occupy the cottage and died in 1955. Wingrove descendants sold the house in 1974 and the property was subdivided. In the 1960s the Eltham Shire named the park opposite the cottage in Wingrove’s honour. The cottage has since had several owners including psychiatrist Dr Daniel Kahans, who practised there. In October 2002 late rear additions which had been substantially altered were demolished contrary to council planning controls. This caused a community outcry and resulted in legal proceedings against the owner. Fortunately the historical significance of the demolished section was not as great as the older front part of the building, which has been retained and was later restored.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, cameron construction, charles symons wingrove, eltham, eltham road district board, eltham shire council, main road, wingrove cottage

Newsletter No. 116, September, 1997 846-848 MAIN ROAD ELTHAM Nillumbik Shire Council has granted a permit for a funeral parlour on land which includes this site at the corner of Main Road and York Street. The site contains an architect's office in a building which was formerly a shop and dwelling dating from the 1920's. The proposal requires demolition of this building which is one of the few remaining old shops which formed the rather spread out "town centre" of Eltham. Prior to making its decision the Council obtained a report from Graeme Butler and Associates, the heritage consultants who carried out Stage 1 of the Nillumbik Heritage Study. The report summarized the historical significance as follows:- "This brick comer shop with associated residence has potential local historical significance as a late 1920's grocer's shop, now much altered and one of only a few shops of that era left in Eltham's Main Road. This significance is qualified by the many changes. The other examples are better preserved and still function as shops." With this type of expert advice it is difficult to make a strong case for preservation of the building although, of course, it is a shame to see it demolished. The report includes details of the site itself and its history based on research carried out by Carlotta Kellaway. The building dates from the late 1920's when it was owned by C.R. Nicholls. From the early 1930's it was Charles Cockroft's grocery shop and he also ran a grain store there. According to his daughter, Edna Brown, he delivered groceries around the district taking his truck as far as Kangaroo Ground. In 1950 he shifted to Traralgon. Since then several different businesses have operated from the site including a bottle merchant and produce store. Conversion to the present office use involved alterations to the shop front and rebuilding the galvanized iron store at the rear. Newsletter 119 March 1998 In our Newsletter No. 116 it was reported that the former shop on the comer of Main Road and York Street, Eltham was to be demolished as part of a funeral parlour development. If you have passed the site recently you will have noticed that it has now been demolished - another part of the old Eltham township has disappeared.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 strips Also photographic prints 10 x 15 cmKodak Gold 200-6a.r. warren, eltham feed store, le pine funeral home, main road, york street, c.r. nicholls, charles cockcroft, grocery store

Newsletter No. 116, September, 1997 846-848 MAIN ROAD ELTHAM Nillumbik Shire Council has granted a permit for a funeral parlour on land which includes this site at the corner of Main Road and York Street. The site contains an architect's office in a building which was formerly a shop and dwelling dating from the 1920's. The proposal requires demolition of this building which is one of the few remaining old shops which formed the rather spread out "town centre" of Eltham. Prior to making its decision the Council obtained a report from Graeme Butler and Associates, the heritage consultants who carried out Stage 1 of the Nillumbik Heritage Study. The report summarized the historical significance as follows:- "This brick comer shop with associated residence has potential local historical significance as a late 1920's grocer's shop, now much altered and one of only a few shops of that era left in Eltham's Main Road. This significance is qualified by the many changes. The other examples are better preserved and still function as shops." With this type of expert advice it is difficult to make a strong case for preservation of the building although, of course, it is a shame to see it demolished. The report includes details of the site itself and its history based on research carried out by Carlotta Kellaway. The building dates from the late 1920's when it was owned by C.R. Nicholls. From the early 1930's it was Charles Cockroft's grocery shop and he also ran a grain store there. According to his daughter, Edna Brown, he delivered groceries around the district taking his truck as far as Kangaroo Ground. In 1950 he shifted to Traralgon. Since then several different businesses have operated from the site including a bottle merchant and produce store. Conversion to the present office use involved alterations to the shop front and rebuilding the galvanized iron store at the rear. Newsletter 119 March 1998 In our Newsletter No. 116 it was reported that the former shop on the comer of Main Road and York Street, Eltham was to be demolished as part of a funeral parlour development. If you have passed the site recently you will have noticed that it has now been demolished - another part of the old Eltham township has disappeared.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 strips Also photographic prints 10 x 15 cmKodak Gold 200-6a.r. warren, eltham feed store, le pine funeral home, main road, york street, c.r. nicholls, charles cockcroft, grocery store

Newsletter No. 116, September, 1997 846-848 MAIN ROAD ELTHAM Nillumbik Shire Council has granted a permit for a funeral parlour on land which includes this site at the corner of Main Road and York Street. The site contains an architect's office in a building which was formerly a shop and dwelling dating from the 1920's. The proposal requires demolition of this building which is one of the few remaining old shops which formed the rather spread out "town centre" of Eltham. Prior to making its decision the Council obtained a report from Graeme Butler and Associates, the heritage consultants who carried out Stage 1 of the Nillumbik Heritage Study. The report summarized the historical significance as follows:- "This brick comer shop with associated residence has potential local historical significance as a late 1920's grocer's shop, now much altered and one of only a few shops of that era left in Eltham's Main Road. This significance is qualified by the many changes. The other examples are better preserved and still function as shops." With this type of expert advice it is difficult to make a strong case for preservation of the building although, of course, it is a shame to see it demolished. The report includes details of the site itself and its history based on research carried out by Carlotta Kellaway. The building dates from the late 1920's when it was owned by C.R. Nicholls. From the early 1930's it was Charles Cockroft's grocery shop and he also ran a grain store there. According to his daughter, Edna Brown, he delivered groceries around the district taking his truck as far as Kangaroo Ground. In 1950 he shifted to Traralgon. Since then several different businesses have operated from the site including a bottle merchant and produce store. Conversion to the present office use involved alterations to the shop front and rebuilding the galvanized iron store at the rear. Newsletter 119 March 1998 In our Newsletter No. 116 it was reported that the former shop on the comer of Main Road and York Street, Eltham was to be demolished as part of a funeral parlour development. If you have passed the site recently you will have noticed that it has now been demolished - another part of the old Eltham township has disappeared.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 strips Also photographic prints 10 x 15 cmKodak Gold 200-6a.r. warren, eltham feed store, le pine funeral home, main road, york street, c.r. nicholls, charles cockcroft, grocery store

Centred on present day Ryans Road at Sandra Avenue, Eltham bounded by Progress Road to north, Brougham Street to south, Bible Street to east and Outlook Crescent to west. Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :985 Project : MELBOURNE 1972 Run : 27 Frame : 48 Date : 04/1972 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC10 Flying Height : 5700 Scale : 9600 Film Number : 2636 GDA2020 : 37°42'41"S, 145°08'38"E MGA2020 : 336392, 5824574 (55) Melways : 21 H4 (ed. 42)aerial photo, neil webster collection, 1972-04, eltham, bible street, brougham steet, melway 21h4, outlook crescent, progress road, ryans road, sandra avenue, montmorency

May Excursion – Edendale Environs Edendale Community Environment Farm in Gastons Road, Eltham now operates as Nillumbik Council’s environmental centre. The historic homestead has undergone a significant restoration and there is on-going development of the site consistent with its community education purpose. The house and the gateway sculpture “The Fences Act” are covered by a Heritage Overlay in the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Our May excursion will comprise a walk through the farm property and will radiate to other nearby places of historic interest. These will include the site of the Eltham North Adventure Playground to discuss its history and destruction by fire (see page 1 article). Also nearby is Colemans Corner where the early road system has undergone some unusual changes. If time permits we may visit some other nearby places of interest. - EDHS Newsletter No. 239 April 2018fay bridge collection, 2018-05-05, edendale community farm, edendale farm, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, activities

The Eltham Court House is Eltham's oldest public building. It was classified by the National Trust in 1977. In 1857 five Eltham residents petitioned the licensing magistrates of the Heidelberg district asking for better police protection, including from itinerant gold prospectors who turned to crime when their quest was unsuccessful. In response the Eltham Courthouse was constructed in 1860. Over the years it has also been used for other activities, including for electoral polling purposes, inquests, early meetings of the Eltham Roads Board and even as an overflow classroom. This type of localised solution is characteristic of the self-reliance preserved in Eltham today. The court house is an important symbol of the spirit which makes Eltham distinctive as a community. The Eltham Courthouse is historically significant because its construction was intended to emphasise the centralised control over law and order in the Colony of Victoria in the wake of the 1852 Snodgrass committee report on the Victorian police force and the resulting Police Regulation Act (1853). The nature of the Court House planning and use of architectural devices make the building's function easily interpreted. The arrangement of rooms, with public entry and clerical rooms to the rear, and the use of raised floor levels throughout these spaces to signify relative rank is easily perceived. The distinction in entries, public, magistrate and person-in-custody, and the existing court furniture enhances appreciation of this building. The Eltham Court House is one of only two intact examples in the state of this simple design with projecting entry. The building is of architectural significance because it retains intact early features. These include use of handmade bricks, simple decoration, roof trusses, timber ceiling boards, original windows, doors and associated hardware and a collection of court furniture. Additions to the court house have been done in a manner which did not interfere with the fabric of the original building. Typical cases heard before the Court of Petty Sessions included financial debt, straying livestock, theft, assault, drunkenness, public disorder, truancy, motor vehicle offences, unregistered animals and failing to have children attend school, or be vaccinated. The courthouse operated for over 120 years before it closed in 1985. In April 2021, Nillumbik Shire Council authorised restoration of the building and furnishings. The extensive works required for the total restoration of this highly valued heritage building was undertaken by Ducon Building Solutions and other specialist contractors. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Victorian Heritage National Trust of Australia (Victoria) State significance Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p65 A demand for better police protection resulted in the building of the Eltham Courthouse and the police residence beside it. In 1857 five Eltham residents petitioned the Heidelberg district licensing magistrates. They pointed out that Eltham had two hotels, a population of about 1000, and many strangers employed on the public roads. Yet the nearest police were at Heidelberg eight miles (12.8km) away, or at the Caledonia Diggings 21 miles (33.7km) away.1 Subsequently the courthouse and then the police residence, near the corner of Main Road and Brougham Street, were built in 1859/60. The courthouse is Eltham’s oldest public building and the National Trust classified it in 1977. It ceased operation in 1984 and has since been used by local groups. There are only six other known examples of similar small brick country courthouses in Victoria . For £536, a Mr Duncan built the courthouse – a neat, narrow, oblong building with handmade orange bricks. Its gabled roof and porch are covered with brown slate tiles and it has 12-paned windows. Inside, the roof is peaked and the courthouse is still ventilated by oblong slits near the ceiling. Most of the fine carved timber and upholstered furniture is original. The original prisoners’ door, now permanently closed, led from the police station to the dock. Builders, Langridge Wright and Witney built a timber police station (since demolished) and a brick residence to its north,2 for £1150/7/-. Built around the same time were the lock-up behind the residence, also later demolished, and the two-storey orange brick stables. The former police residence also has a brown slate roof and handmade bricks. The front veranda roof is made of corrugated iron, as is the roof of the back weatherboard extension. The application for police protection was approved within a few months and police operated from a cottage rented at ten shillings a week and owned by William Jarrold. This was probably the one at the corner of Main Road and Dalton Street called Jarrold or White Cloud Cottage. In 1858 a second constable was appointed to Eltham following a fight at the hotel. The timber police office a replica of which was built in the early 1990s is at the building’s side. The lock-up was demolished following the relocation of the police to a new station in about 1952. The residence has been used as the Eltham District Historical Society centre since 1997. Records show court cases were held at Eltham before the courthouse was built, but the location is unknown. Some court cases were not very different from those today. In 1891 a man was charged with being drunk while in charge of a horse and was fined ten shillings. The courthouse was used for other purposes during its long history. It was probably used as a polling place as indicated by old photographs of election-day crowds outside. The Eltham Road Board met there from the early 1860s until 1868 when the Board transferred to Kangaroo Ground. During the same period the Road Board Secretary used the courthouse as an office until 1867 when it was transferred to his home at Wingrove Cottage. The courthouse was also used as an overflow classroom for the Dalton Street school in 1875. The two buildings can further link us with Eltham’s early days through Police Department correspondence. The first constable-in-charge was George Reid. In 1860 a letter to The Argus newspaper signed ‘A Sufferer’ declared the Eltham police were not active enough in their duties. The writer suggested that the ‘very snug’ police quarters were too comfortable, and he detailed various incidents including one of an alleged break-in to the Road Board Secretary’s home. But the Board Secretary, C S Wingrove, wrote to the Police Department refuting The Argus letter saying he had received full co-operation from Sen. Constable Peter Lawler.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 court house, main road

Centred on present day Zig Zag Road near Coolabah Drive, Eltham bounded by Allendale Road to north, Park West Road to south, Parsons Road to east and Banks Road to west. Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :985 Project : MELBOURNE 1972 Run : 26 Frame : 191 Date : 04/1972 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC10 Flying Height : 5700 Scale : 9600 Film Number : 2636 GDA2020 : 37°41'56"S, 145°09'26"E MGA2020 : 337533, 5826000 (55) Melways : 22 A1 (ed. 42)aerial photo, neil webster collection, 1972-04, allendale road, eltham, eltham north, zig zag road, banks road, coolabah drive, melway 22a1, park west road, parsons road

Centred on present day Woodridge Estate, Eltham bounded by Park Road to north, Mount Pleasant Road to south, Stokes Orchard Estate to east and Eltham Railway Station to west. Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :985 Project : MELBOURNE 1972 Run : 27 Frame : 46 Date : 04/1972 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC10 Flying Height : 5700 Scale : 9600 Film Number : 2636 GDA2020 : 37°42'49"S, 145°09'46"E MGA2020 : 338053, 5824365 (55) Melways : 22 C5 (ed. 42)aerial photo, neil webster collection, 1972-04, eltham, eltham railway station, melway 22c5, mount pleasant road, park road, stokes orchard estate, woodridge estate

The little yellow and orange brick at 810 Main Road, Eltham, just in front of the Uniting Church (formerly Methodist Church) on the corner of John Street in more recent times has been used as an Opportunity Shop by the Eltham Uniting Church however the operations outgrew the tiny building and the shop moved to inside the Church hall. This building was once the Eltham agency of the Commercial Bank of Australia. Measuring just 3.6 x 4.5 m inside, it was built in 1878 by George Stebbing and is said to have stored gold in the early Eltham-Research mining days. It was also once the scene of an armed hold-up. Thursday, December 15, 1949, the quiet little bank was embroiled in an infamous wild shoot-out between a daring thief and two bank officers. Today, the building still carries the scars ; a bullet hole remains visible in a cedar bench testifying to the events that played out that day.jim connor collection, uniting church, main road, eltham, cba bank, opportunity shop, 2020-01-06

The little yellow and orange brick at 810 Main Road, Eltham, just in front of the Uniting Church (formerly Methodist Church) on the corner of John Street in more recent times has been used as an Opportunity Shop by the Eltham Uniting Church however the operations outgrew the tiny building and the shop moved to inside the Church hall. This building was once the Eltham agency of the Commercial Bank of Australia. Measuring just 3.6 x 4.5 m inside, it was built in 1878 by George Stebbing and is said to have stored gold in the early Eltham-Research mining days. It was also once the scene of an armed hold-up. Thursday, December 15, 1949, the quiet little bank was embroiled in an infamous wild shoot-out between a daring thief and two bank officers. Today, the building still carries the scars ; a bullet hole remains visible in a cedar bench testifying to the events that played out that day.jim connor collection, uniting church, main road, eltham, cba bank, opportunity shop, 2023-07-10

The original St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church (1865-1912) was built of clay brick with buttress walls and a slate roof on the corner of Fordhams Road and Maria Street (Main Road), Eltham South, opposite the present-day Wingrove Park. It was blessed on September 3, 1865. With the arrival of the railway in 1901 and the town centre moving closer to the station, the decision was made to relocate the site of the church to its present-day location on Henry Street at the corner of Main Road. A new timber weatherboard church, also called St Mary's was erected and blessed on October 13, 1912. The church and land cost £1,400 (Evelyn Observer). The original brick church It was demolished in the 1920s and the bricks and windows were recycled to build a dairy on the Brinkkotter farm at Research. The timber church was destroyed by fire in 1961 and a new modern architectural (1960s) style church was erected in its place and named Our Lady of Help Christians Church.This 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. The Reynolds family were early settlers in Research. The Reynolds/ Prior collection of photographs were taken by Tom Prior, the maternal uncle of Ivy Reynolds, around 1900 and the 60 photos in the album give a fine overview of many of the landmarks of Research and Eltham over 100 years ago. lvy lived in the family home for many years at 106 Thompson Cres Research. Ivy's father, Ernst Richard Reynolds and grandfather, Richard Reynolds, lived at the same address. Ivy's father Richard worked for Mr. Trail on his property in Research. Reynolds Road is named after the family. Mr Tom Prior (wife Eva) worked at the Melbourne zoo. He was very innovative and made his own camera, using the black cloth hood to exclude the light. The photographs are a reminder of the rural nature of Research and Eltham and its rich heritage.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, roman catholic church, brinkkotter, catholic church, church, reynolds prior collection, st marys catholic church

The original St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church (1865-1912) was built of clay brick with buttress walls and a slate roof on the corner of Fordhams Road and Maria Street (Main Road), Eltham South, opposite the present-day Wingrove Park. It was blessed on September 3, 1865. With the arrival of the railway in 1901 and the town centre moving closer to the station, the decision was made to relocate the site of the church to its present-day location on Henry Street at the corner of Main Road. A new timber weatherboard church, also called St Mary's was erected and blessed on October 13, 1912. The church and land cost £1,400 (Evelyn Observer). The original brick church It was demolished in the 1920s and the bricks and windows were recycled to build a dairy on the Brinkkotter farm at Research. The timber church was destroyed by fire in 1961 and a new modern architectural (1960s) style church was erected in its place and named Our Lady of Help Christians Church.PostcardReturn to Garnet Burges, Judge Bookchurches, catholic churches, st marys, main road, henry street, eltham

A Golden Wattle tree was planted in memory of Eltham District Historical Society life members Harry Gilham (24 Mar 1928-25 Feb 2024; EDHS President 1993-2009) and Sue Law (27 Sep 1937-8 Aug 2023; EDHS President 1985-1993, Vice President 1993-1998 & 2009-2015). Close members of Harry’s and Sue’s families along with EDHS Committee members and life member Doug Orford joined in a dedication ceremony to commemorate their contributions, on Friday 12 April at 10.00am, in the rear yard at the Local History Centre, 728 Main Road, Eltham, on the corner of Brougham Street. EDHS President Jim Connor welcomed family members and acknowledged the dedicated efforts of both Harry and Sue over a long period of years. After unveiling of the plaque, attendees enjoyed some morning tea and sharing stories of Harry and Sue.Born Digital (15 images)activities, eltham district historical society, local history centre, main road, eltham, alison delaney, dedication, doug orford, gilham family, golden wattle, harry gilham, irene kearsey, jim connor, joan castledine, law family, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, plaques, richard pinn, robert marshall, russell yeoman, sue dyet, sue law

The original St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church (1865-1912) was built of clay brick with buttress walls and a slate roof on the corner of Fordhams Road and Maria Street (Main Road), Eltham South, opposite the present-day Wingrove Park. It was blessed on September 3, 1865. With the arrival of the railway in 1901 and the town centre moving closer to the station, the decision was made to relocate the site of the church to its present-day location on Henry Street at the corner of Main Road. A new timber weatherboard church, also called St Mary's was erected and blessed on October 13, 1912. The church and land cost £1,400 (Evelyn Observer). The original brick church was demolished in the 1920s and the bricks and windows were recycled to build a dairy on the Brinkkotter farm at Research. The timber church was destroyed by fire in 1961 and a new modern architectural (1960s) style church was erected in its place and named Our Lady of Help Christians Church.Colour photographresearch (vic.), brinkkotter, catholic church, eltham, roman catholic church, st marys catholic church

We have three folders catalogued for the Grimshaw name and these will in due course be consolidated/corrected: 1. EDHS_01361 – A.H. Grimshaw of Research, Vic., 1927 2. EDHS_01362 – John Grimshaw of Greensborough, 1862 (Correct name is Josiah Grimshaw) 3. EDHS_01375 – Mr Grimshaw, miner of Kinglake and Caledonian Diggings. (This is believed to be Mr J.L. (Jack) Grimshaw who reportedly discovered the first gold in Kinglake. These folders are made up of copies of pages of research undertaken by Mr Keith Chappel in the 1970s, which is now catalogued as a separate item. EDHS_04448 - Eltham District History, Eltham Road Board, 1856-1871; Research by Keith Chappel https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5e4a290521ea671e9ccf9661 There is further information from this research concerning a William Grimshaw. Also included as part of EDHS_01375 is a photocopy of page44 from the book "Caledonia Diggings (St Andrews)", Gold Discovery in Victoria, James Flett, 1970, which references No. 2 Creek at the Caledonian Diggings as also been known as Grimshaws. We have a photo of J.L.(Jack) Grimshaw who discovered gold at Kinglake, which is part of the Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection (SEPP) SEPP_0056 - Mr. J.L. Grimshaw; the man who found the first gold at Kinglake https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5a6c158721ea6906ac29bd3c We also have another record of interest involving Aaron Grimshaw, Farmer of Greensborough who was an indentured Trustee of the Wesleyan Chapel in Little Eltham in 1856: EDHS_04610-3-1 - Document, Conveyance of Lot 20 Henry Street, Little Eltham North to Trustees of Wesleyan Chapel, 1856 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/60f6d644ac5d4de270b83615 The record of Joshia Grimshaw of Greensborough is grim. He was arrested and charged with the murder of John Mitchell at Greensborough, September 24, 1962. Grimshaw was ultimately convicted of manslaughter and sentenced for three years in prison. Newspaper reports of the day show his name as Josiah. Whether he was also known as John is not clear, and whether he is the same as J.L. (Jack) Grimshaw who discovered gold at Kinglake, again is unclear without undertaking further research into the matter. This murder trial was extensively reported in the newspapers and you can find those reports on the National Library of Australia’s Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/ Some of the reports of interest: TRIAL OF GRIMSHAW FOR MURDER (1862, October 23). The Kyneton Observer (Vic. : 1856 - 1900), p. 3. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article240899299 THE GREENSBOROUGH MURDER. (1862, September 30). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 6. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5722929 MELBOURNE CRIMINAL SESSIONS. (1862, October 18). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154967162 CRIMINAL SESSIONS. I (1862, October 18). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 6. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6480408 Folder of information on Mr Grimshaw, Miner, Kinglake and Caledonian Diggingsgrimshaw

Centred on Allison Crecent Reserve, Sherbrook Road and Scenic Crescent, Eltham bounded by Allendale Road to north, Dudley Street to south, Zig Zag Road to east and St Helena Road to west. Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :65 Project : MELBOURNE AND METROPOLITAN PROJECT NO. 2 Run : 7 Frame : 10 Date : 01/1951 Film Type : B/W Camera : EAG9 Flying Height : 12200 Scale : 12000 Film Number : 1419 GDA2020 : 37°42'14"S, 145°08'36"E MGA2020 : 336339, 5825416 (55) Melways : 21 H2 (ed. 42)Historical aerial photos and photo maps provide viusal evidence of the chronology of changes to the built landscape of the district and assist in dating other imagesaerial photo, 1951-01, eltham, neil webster collection, allendale road, allison crecent reserve, dudley street, melway 21h2, scenic crescent, sherbrook road, st helena road, zig zag road