Walter Withers (1854-1914) was born in Handsworth, Warwickshire, England. He migrated to Australia in 1882 and in time was to become one of the country's most famous painters. In 1887/8 he spent a year in London and Paris during which time he married Fanny Flinn. When he returned to Melbourne he was engaged by publishers doing black and white illustrations. In the late 1880's he became associated with artists who formed the renowned "Heidelberg School" and in 1890 moved to "Charterisville" at Eaglemont. He lived in the Heidelberg area until 1903 when he purchased a house on two and a half acres (one hectare) at the corner of Brougham and Bolton Streets, Eltham. He had long been attracted to the Eltham area, but needed access to Melbourne for his painting classes. The extension of the railway in 1901 made the move possible. He remained in Eltham until his death and is buried at nearby St Helena. Many of his important paintings were painted during these later years. There are important collections at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Geelong Art Gallery. His Eltham house remains and his name is honoured by a small park at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets. Source: Information panel produced for Heritage Display exhibition by EDHS 1990.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 Neg (duplicate of original)eltham local characters, pioneers and painters, sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, walter withers, eltham, southernwood

Walter Withers (1854-1914) was born in Handsworth, Warwickshire, England. He migrated to Australia in 1882 and in time was to become one of the country's most famous painters. In 1887/8 he spent a year in London and Paris during which time he married Fanny Flinn. When he returned to Melbourne he was engaged by publishers doing black and white illustrations. In the late 1880's he became associated with artists who formed the renowned "Heidelberg School" and in 1890 moved to "Charterisville" at Eaglemont. He lived in the Heidelberg area until 1903 when he purchased a house on two and a half acres (one hectare) at the corner of Brougham and Bolton Streets, Eltham. He had long been attracted to the Eltham area, but needed access to Melbourne for his painting classes. The extension of the railway in 1901 made the move possible. He remained in Eltham until his death and is buried at nearby St Helena. Many of his important paintings were painted during these later years. There are important collections at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Geelong Art Gallery. His Eltham house remains and his name is honoured by a small park at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets. Source: Information panel produced for EDHS exhibition in 1990. john withers collection, artist, sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photo collection, walter herbert withers, walter withers

Walter Withers (1854-1914) was born in Handsworth, Warwickshire, England. He migrated to Australia in 1882 and in time was to become one of the country's most famous painters. In 1887/8 he spent a year in London and Paris during which time he married Fanny Flinn. When he returned to Melbourne he was engaged by publishers doing black and white illustrations. In the late 1880's he became associated with artists who formed the renowned "Heidelberg School" and in 1890 moved to "Charterisville" at Eaglemont. He lived in the Heidelberg area until 1903 when he purchased a house on two and a half acres (one hectare) at the corner of Brougham and Bolton Streets, Eltham. He had long been attracted to the Eltham area, but needed access to Melbourne for his painting classes. The extension of the railway in 1901 made the move possible. He remained in Eltham until his death and is buried at nearby St Helena. Many of his important paintings were painted during these later years. There are important collections at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Geelong Art Gallery. His Eltham house remains and his name is honoured by a small park at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets. Source: Information panel produced for EDHS exhibition in 1990.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 Neg 120 format B&W negative B&W printsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, walter withers, artist

In 1991, the Australian Electric Traction Association (AETA) produced 7 different options to provide public transport to the Doncaster area. See reference for background to the proposals. Six of the seven options have been found and collected. Each option provides a summary, costing based in a scope of works. The Options were: 1 - Light Rail to Doncaster Shoppingtown via Eastern Freeway/Doncaster Road 2 - Light rail to Mitcham Road/Springvale Road 3 - High-performance train to Doncaster Shoppingtown via Victoria Park station Eastern Freeway/Doncaster Road 4 - Heavy rail to Doncaster Shoppingtown via Eastern Freeway to Bulleen Road and underground to Shoppingtown 5 - Heavy Rail to Blackburn Road/George St East Doncaster 7 - Extension of the Camberwell Tram (72) along Burke Road from Cotham Road to Doncaster Road. Out of all the studies, nothing happened.Yields information about the early 1990s proposal to provide public transport to the Doncaster area.Set of 6 reports or options printed on A4 paper, stapled in top left hand corner.tramcars, tramways, aeta, new tramways, doncaster, railways, light rail

Set of 11 colour slides of PCC car 1041 taken during its early operations around Melbourne. Where the slide has a printed date, it is listed. 1 - Collins St, between Elizabeth St and Swanston St, route 47, Depot - Sept. 1973 2 - Batman Ave in Swanston St, route 15, with W2 383 alongside - Sept. 1973 3 - Elizabeth St terminus with Flinders St station in the background - route 19, North Coburg - Sept. 1973 4 - Arriving Batman Ave terminus, route 70, - Sept. 1973 5 - ditto 6 - Bourke St Mall, route 96 East Brunswick - during a trial closure of Bourke St between Elizabeth Street and Swanston Street , given the seats outside Buckley's store - Nov. 1973 7 - Night photo - TMSV slide - MP166 8 - turning from Glenferrie Road into High St - route 6 Glen Iris - a very tight turn - TMSV slide 9 - Wattle Park terminus, route 70 - 1974 10 - Flinders St -route 74 near William St with the railway viaduct in the background. 1974 11 - Interior photo - Ron Scholten - 1973Yields information about PCC car 1041, a prototype all electric tramcarSet of 11 Kodachrome colour slides, cardboard mounts.tramways, pcc class, tram 1041, collins st, elizabeth st, batman ave, st kilda rd., glenferrie road, wattle park, flinders st, interior, bourke st, route 19, route 70, route 74, route 15, route 47, w2 class, tram 383, route 6, route 96, trams

Book, brown cover patterned (Deer skin?), titled "The Garden City of Australia / Twenty-four views of Melbourne" with 24 pages (smaller than cover) printed pages stapled inside. Inside front cover is a map of Melbourne, with specific buildings marked, inside rear cover - Where to go in Melbourne, General Information and Sight seeing tours. On rear cover is printer details. Page Photo details by 1 Skyline of the City of Melbourne from Yarra Bank Victorian Railways 2 Collins St from Spring St (with trams) ditto 3 Princes Bridge, River Yarra ditto 4 St Kilda Rd from Flinders St Station ditto 5 St Pauls Cathedral ditto 6 Bourke St Shopping Centre - with double deck buses no details of photographer 7 Elizabeth St - with trams and buses Victorian Railways 8 Swanston St with modern skyscrapers (Collins) ditto 9 Aerial view, city of Melbourne ditto 10 Parliament House ditto 11 Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery ditto 12 St Kilda Rd, Looking towards the City trams 772 and W2 ditto 13 Kings Domain - Pioneer Monument ditto 14 Royal Melbourne Hospital - with back view inset ditto 15 Alexandra Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance ditto 16 Alexandra Gardens and Government House ditto 17 Captain Cook's House - Fitzroy Gardens ditto 18 Albert Park Lake no details of photographer 19 Melbourne Boys School, MacRobertson's Girls High School and Melbourne Uni - no details of photographer 20 Scene in the Botanical Gardens Victorian Railways 21 Aerial view of St Kilda with Brighton in background Victorian Railways 22 Melbourne Cricket ground, taken during the testimonial match to Sir Donald Bradman - no details 23 Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital and Exhibition Buildings and Aquarium - Victorian Railways 24 Dandenong - Showing Silvan Dam Victorian Railways The testimonial match took place in Melbourne during December 1948 (Reference Sir Donald Bradman Museum). Possibly arranged by the Victorian Government Information Bureau given the number of Victorian Railways photographs.trams, tramways, melbourne, st kilda rd, swanston st, bourke st, victorian railways, flinders st station, gardens

Folded map of Victoria, showing in colour relief Victorian area, national parks, highways, towns, railways, airport, wine growing areas, towns with information centres, historic parks, ski fields. NSW and SA show major towns and highways. Front cover includes an image of a Z class tram and two penguins. Has town index. Folded 7 folds horizontally by 3 folds deep. On rear is a listing of locations with major tourist destinations provided. Provides location of VicTour offices. Prepared by the Surveyor General for the Victorian Tourism Commission, printed by the Government Printer, 4th edition 1985.trams, tramways, victoria, map, victour, tourism

Series of colour maps for various tram and bus routes, dated 1979. Also contained, not scanned are letters, reports, and specifications for printing these maps for use in shelters etc. Some have the Transport Information Centre telephone printed on them. Some are finished with a plastic laminate finish on either one or both sides. Show the major cross streets, parks, schools, other tram routes, major stop numbers, and railway lines. See also item 3909 for another example of these. Trams 1 - City route guide - R9/77 - showing all route numbers and destinations that passed through the CBD. 2 - Bourke St tram routes - R4/77 - East Brunswick Blyth St and East Preston Tyler St and intermediate routes, routes 95, 96, 97, 90, 89 and 88. 3 - Malvern, East Malvern, Carnegie, and East Brighton Tram Routes (from St Kilda Junction) - R1/79 - shows routes 5, 3, 67, 66, 61, 62, and 64. 4 - Elizabeth St tram routes - R12/77 - Essendon Airport, West Maribyrnong, North Coburg lines, routes 50, 58, 60, 54, 57, 52. 49, 59, 18, 20 and 19 5 - Flinders St tram routes - R5/78 - North Balwyn, East Burwood, routes 48, 40, 41, Hartwell, 28, 74 and 75 6 - Kew - St Kilda Beach - R1/79 - Route 69. 7 - Mont - Albert City - R11/77, shows routes 43. 47. 45. 44 8 - St Kilda Rd Tram Routes R12/77 - details South Melbourne Beach, route 1 and route 2 and St Kilda Beach routes 15, 16, and 55 otherwise shows where the various routes branch off St Kilda Road 9 - Batman Ave tram routes - R9/77 - Wattle Park, North Richmond and Prahran - routes 70, 71, 78 and 79. 10 - Footscray - Moonee Ponds - R3/81 - Route 82 11 - Swanston St tram guide - R1/79 - lists all routes and route numbers that branch or cross Swanston St between Grattan St and St Kilda Junction. 12 - Toorak Camberwell and Glen Iris tram route with Camberwell Junction and Malvern Town Hall, R1/79, routes 8, 7, 6, 72, and 73 shown. 13 - West Preston - Beach tram routes - R12/77 - routes 10, 11, 9 and 12, 14 - William St tram routes - R12/77 - Route 55, 56, and 63 - South Melbourne Depot and Domain. Buses 1 - Footscray, Sunshine, Deer Park, Nth Altona & Fishermans Bend - R2/79 2 - Box Hill bus routes to Templestowe, Heidelberg & East Kew - R6/78 - notes superseded by R3/82 3 - Plan of Russell St Melbourne bus departure bays. 4 - Box Hill, Mitcham & Ringwood bus routes to East Doncaster & Warrandyte - R3/82 5 - City - Warrandyte & East Doncaster bus routes - R3/82 & R6/78 6 - Bulleen - City - Port Melbourne - Garden City Bus route - R6/78 7 - North Altona - City bus route - 11/78 8 - Clifton Hill - Elsternwick - R2/79 9 - La Trobe - Northland - West Heidelberg - City Bus Service via East Freeway - 11/79 and R3/81 10 - Box Hill, Mitcham & Ringwood Bus Routes to East Doncaster & Warrandyte - R10/84 - with the Metropolitan Transit logo.Yields information about tram and bus routes in late 1970s early 1980s.Book - brown comb binding, card and clear plastic covers containing both bound and unbound maps and documents.K C Painter on front cover in ink.tramways, mmtb, tram routes, maps, bus routes, route numbers, routes, route guide

Poster, full colour printed on gloss paper titled "Inner Neighbourhood tram system", giving a diagrammatic Map of the tram system, suburbs, tram route destination names and route numbers and peak service route numbers. Has a separate section for the City area. Shows the routes that ran into the Greensborough and Box Hill Neighbourhoods. At the base of the map has The Met logo and name, a customer service number which has been glued over the printed number. At the base of the poster is a location guide for places of interest, sporting facilities, parks and gardens, railway stations etc.trams, tramways, the met, map, tickets, neighbourhood tickets, tramways

Viewed from railway line opposite Graham Body Works. Simms Road is running to the right in front of the old house. The house belongs to Mrs Cameron whose daughter married a DAVEY after which Davey Street is named. Excavation work is being undertaken for the realignment of the Para Road and Sherbourne Road intersection where the current roundabout is located, approximately where the two cars are parked. Mrs Cameron's house and the other are where Montmorency Secondary College is situated. The school opened in 1969.Roll of 35mm black and white negative film, 6 strips Ilford HP3briar hill, cameron, davey, davey road, graham body works, greensborough, montmorency secondary college, sherbourne road, simms road

This map is dated Sept. 6th 1856. However places in the township of Maddingley which did not appear until the late 1880s such as the Bacchus Marsh Railway Station and line are shown on this map in their correct locations. This suggests the map has been derived from an earlier map. An earlier date of 1843 with a surveyor's name preceding it can also be seen on the map. The map is important because it indicates the location and dimensions of early but now discontinued use of land such as the showgrounds and police paddock and a site reserved for the Church of England which was not ultimately used for a permanent church. A single page paper map showing land allotments, streets, rivers, creeks, park lands, the railway line and Bacchus Marsh railway station in the township of Maddingley. The map is pasted into a bound volume containing 76 maps or plans in total. Bottom of Map: Surveyor-General's Office, Melbourne, Sept 6th, 1856bacchus marsh victoria maps, maddingley victoria maps, land use, maddingley victoria history

The railway was commenced in 1900 and passed through the middle of the Shillinglaw farm. The line to Eltham opened in 1902. This view shows the the new Catholic Church, St Mary's in Henry Street (near Main Road, then Maria Street) and Shillinglaw Cottage visible in background past where Eltham Town Park and later the Eltham library (1994) was built. The church site had been relocated from further south along Main Road (near Wingrove Cottage) in order to be more central to the congregation following the shifting of the township away from Little Eltham and closer to the railway station. It was subsequently destroyed by fire in 1961.Black and white photographeltham, trestle bridge, bridges, catholic church, henry street, bridge, shillinglaw cottage, shillinglaw trees, shillinglaw farm

A steam train about to cross the trestle bridge at Eltham heading towards Greensborough, viewed from what was later Eltham Town Park and later the site of the re-lcoated Shillinglaw Cottage (1964) and Eltham Library (1994) site. On the far side of the track on what became Eltham Football Ground oval is a crop field. The railway was commenced in 1900 and passed through the middle of the Shillinglaw Farm. Here it passes through the farm paddocks. The train station at Eltham opened in 1902. Black and white (low resolution) reproduction photograph eltham, trestle bridge, bridges, shillinglaw farm

View of the Eltham Railway trestle bridge near Eltham Town Park with a train either approaching or leaving Eltham Station. A Tait 'red rattler' train is on the railway. The railway was commenced in 1900 and opened in 1902. It crosses the Diamond Creek on a timber trestle bridge just below where the Eltham Library stands today to the right on this view. The line was electrified in 1923. It is one of the few remaining similiar bridges remaining in Victoria. In 1976 when this was image was taken, Victorian Railways commenced works under the bridge to replace it with an earth embankment and large culvert pipes. This was abandoned following pressure from the Shire of Eltham and community protests. Colour photographbridges, railways, eltham, trestle bridge, eltham town park

Covered under National Trust of Australia (Victoria) State Significance and Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p103 The Eltham railway trestle bridge is the only one of its kind still regularly used in Melbourne’s metropolitan railway network. Opened in 1902, it is also one of Victoria’s very few timber rail bridges that still carries trains.1 The bridge is part of the railway line extension from Heidelberg - extended to Hurstbridge in 1912. This extension resulted in one of the greatest social changes experienced in Eltham Shire, as it considerably lessened its isolation attracting tourists, artists and suburban commuters particularly after World War Two.2 The bridge has been classified by the National Trust as historically, scientifically, aesthetically and socially significant at state level. But this has not always been recognised, and in 1977, locals fought to save it from destruction. The Victorian Railways proposed to replace the bridge with an earth embankment and large culverts to avoid maintenance problems and fire. This was rejected by the Eltham Council who protested that the bridge helped maintain the area’s rural character, historic link and beauty, as well as avoiding possible serious flooding on the flood plain if a culvert was blocked. The bridge stands as part of a National Trust classified landscape which includes the Alistair Knox Park, named after the local conservationist and architect who helped to make Eltham famous for its mud-brick houses. The landscape includes tall and spreading manna gums and candlebarks, and the historic Shillinglaw Cottage. Artist Walter Withers, one of the Heidelberg School of painters, painted the bridge early in the 20th century. The 38 span single-track railway bridge over creek and road has 34 timber-beam spans and four steel-joist spans, supported by four-pile timber piers and timber abutments. It has almost 200m of timber deck. All of the timbers have been replaced over the years, but the only change to the bridge’s character was the addition of pylons and wiring for electric trains in 1923. A petition for a railway to the shire was first made in 1883. A large deputation of local citizens to the Commissioner of Railways proposed a route passing through Alphington to midway between Greensborough and Eltham up the Diamond Creek valley towards Queenstown and Kinglake. As a result the Princes Bridge-Heidelberg Railway was opened in 1888. From 1888 locals demanded a railway extension. Kangaroo Ground farmers in particular, led by Shire Councillor and Member for Evelyn, Ewen Cameron, said it would assist local farmers and orchardists send their produce to the Melbourne market. In 1890, before the severe economic Depression, an extension of the line to Hurst’s Bridge (now Hurstbridge) was included in a new Railways Bill. The parliamentary delegations were regaled with a banquet at Hurst’s barn and entertained by the Diamond Creek Brass Band, but the extension was abandoned when the Depression struck in 1892-1893. The extension of the railway to Eltham, completed in 1902, was one of the few built in those hard times. That is why the Eltham timber-trestle railway bridge is a rare example of a broad-gauge rail bridge constructed between 1893 and 1910. At the opening, despite persistent drizzle, 300 children waving flags and banners were among the large crowd welcoming the first train, carrying official dignitaries, to Eltham. It had taken 24 years to bring the railway to Eltham. From then Eltham became a popular destination for outings. Mr Orford of Eltham recalled that after the railway came to Eltham ‘the craze for picnics on weekends and holidays began…. During the wattle season, wattle trains came to Eltham frequently. The visitors roamed the creek pulling great armfuls of wattle blossom to take back with them to Melbourne’.3 In 1926 the railway line was electrified as part of the metropolitan rail network. But the Victorian Railways decided not to complete the formerly planned Diamond Valley Railway to Queenstown (now St Andrews) and Kinglake.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 railway trestle bridge, eltham trestle bridge

Stuchbery Farm was situated on the Plenty River bounded by Smugglers Gully to the north and La trobe Road, Yarrambat, to the east. Alan and Ada Stutchbery moved to the valley in 1890, first living in a tent where four children were born. Alfred built a home and outbuildings around 1896. They planted an orchard, then a market garden and developed a dairy. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p179 The dramatic steep-sided Plenty Gorge lies along the divide of two geological areas, and separates the Nillumbik Shire and the City of Whittlesea. On the Nillumbik side are undulating hills and sedimentary rock, and in Whittlesea, lies a basalt plain formed by volcanic action up to two million years ago. This provides the Plenty Gorge Park with diverse vegetation and habitats, making it one of Greater Melbourne’s most important refuges for threatened and significant species. The park, established in 1986, consists of around 1350 hectares, and extends 11 kilometres along the Plenty River, from Greensborough to Mernda. It provides a wildlife corridor for around 500 native plant and 280 animal species.1 The area’s plentiful food and water attracted the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people and then European settlers. By 1837 squatters had claimed large runs of land for their sheep and cattle. The Plenty Valley was among the first in the Port Phillip District to be settled - mainly in the less heavily timbered west - and was proclaimed a settled district in 1841.2 But by the late 1880s, the settlers’ extensive land clearing for animal grazing, then agriculture, depleted the Wurundjeri’s traditional food sources, which helped to drive them away. Many Wurundjeri artefacts remain (now government protected), and so far 57 sites have been identified in the park, including scarred trees, burial areas and stone artefacts. Pioneer life could be very hard because of isolation, flooding, bushfires and bushrangers. Following the Black Thursday bushfires of 1851, basalt was quarried to build more fire-resistant homes. Gold discoveries in the early 1850s swelled the population, particularly around Smugglers Gully; but food production made more of an impact. In the late 1850s wheat production supplanted grazing. In the 1860s the government made small holdings available to poorer settlers. These had the greatest effect on the district, particularly in Doreen and Yarrambat, where orchards were established from the 1880s to 1914. Links with a prominent early family are the remains of Stuchbery Farm, by the river’s edge bounded by Smugglers Gully to the north and La Trobe Road, Yarrambat, to the east. The Stuchberys moved to the valley in 1890, and the family still lives in the area. In 1890, Alfred and Ada first lived in a tent where four children were born, then Alfred built the house and outbuildings around 1896. They planted an orchard, then a market garden, and developed a dairy. The family belonged to the local Methodist and tennis communities. Their grandson Walter, opened the Flying Scotsman Model Railway Museum in Yarrambat, which his widow, Vi, continues to run. Wal was also the Yarrambat CFA Captain for 22 years until 1987. Walter sold 24 hectares in 1976 for development - now Vista Court - and in 1990, the remaining 22.6 hectares for the park. Remaining are an early stone dairy and remnants of a stone barn, a pig sty and a well.3 Until it was destroyed by fire in 2003, a slab hut stood on the Happy Hollow Farm site, at the southern end of the park. The hut is thought to have been built in the Depression around 1893. This was a rare and late example of a slab hut with a domestic orchard close to Melbourne. Emmet Watmough and his family first occupied the hut, followed by a succession of families, until the Bell family bought it around 1948. There they led a subsistence lifestyle for 50 years, despite encroaching Melbourne suburbia.4 The Yellow Gum Recreation Area includes the Blue Lake, coloured turquoise at certain times of the year. Following the 1957 bushfires, this area was quarried by Reid Quarries Pty Ltd for Melbourne’s first skyscrapers, then by Boral Australia. However in the early 1970s water began seeping into the quarry forming the Blue Lake and the quarry was closed. The State Government bought the site in 1997 and opened it as a park in 1999.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, ada stuchbery, alan stuchbery, dairy, stuchbery farm, farm buildings, yarrambat, plenty gorge park

A quarry was transformed into the Blue Lake. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p179 The dramatic steep-sided Plenty Gorge lies along the divide of two geological areas, and separates the Nillumbik Shire and the City of Whittlesea. On the Nillumbik side are undulating hills and sedimentary rock, and in Whittlesea, lies a basalt plain formed by volcanic action up to two million years ago. This provides the Plenty Gorge Park with diverse vegetation and habitats, making it one of Greater Melbourne’s most important refuges for threatened and significant species. The park, established in 1986, consists of around 1350 hectares, and extends 11 kilometres along the Plenty River, from Greensborough to Mernda. It provides a wildlife corridor for around 500 native plant and 280 animal species.1 The area’s plentiful food and water attracted the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people and then European settlers. By 1837 squatters had claimed large runs of land for their sheep and cattle. The Plenty Valley was among the first in the Port Phillip District to be settled - mainly in the less heavily timbered west - and was proclaimed a settled district in 1841.2 But by the late 1880s, the settlers’ extensive land clearing for animal grazing, then agriculture, depleted the Wurundjeri’s traditional food sources, which helped to drive them away. Many Wurundjeri artefacts remain (now government protected), and so far 57 sites have been identified in the park, including scarred trees, burial areas and stone artefacts. Pioneer life could be very hard because of isolation, flooding, bushfires and bushrangers. Following the Black Thursday bushfires of 1851, basalt was quarried to build more fire-resistant homes. Gold discoveries in the early 1850s swelled the population, particularly around Smugglers Gully; but food production made more of an impact. In the late 1850s wheat production supplanted grazing. In the 1860s the government made small holdings available to poorer settlers. These had the greatest effect on the district, particularly in Doreen and Yarrambat, where orchards were established from the 1880s to 1914. Links with a prominent early family are the remains of Stuchbery Farm, by the river’s edge bounded by Smugglers Gully to the north and La Trobe Road, Yarrambat, to the east. The Stuchberys moved to the valley in 1890, and the family still lives in the area. In 1890, Alfred and Ada first lived in a tent where four children were born, then Alfred built the house and outbuildings around 1896. They planted an orchard, then a market garden, and developed a dairy. The family belonged to the local Methodist and tennis communities. Their grandson Walter, opened the Flying Scotsman Model Railway Museum in Yarrambat, which his widow, Vi, continues to run. Wal was also the Yarrambat CFA Captain for 22 years until 1987. Walter sold 24 hectares in 1976 for development - now Vista Court - and in 1990, the remaining 22.6 hectares for the park. Remaining are an early stone dairy and remnants of a stone barn, a pig sty and a well.3 Until it was destroyed by fire in 2003, a slab hut stood on the Happy Hollow Farm site, at the southern end of the park. The hut is thought to have been built in the Depression around 1893. This was a rare and late example of a slab hut with a domestic orchard close to Melbourne. Emmet Watmough and his family first occupied the hut, followed by a succession of families, until the Bell family bought it around 1948. There they led a subsistence lifestyle for 50 years, despite encroaching Melbourne suburbia.4 The Yellow Gum Recreation Area includes the Blue Lake, coloured turquoise at certain times of the year. Following the 1957 bushfires, this area was quarried by Reid Quarries Pty Ltd for Melbourne’s first skyscrapers, then by Boral Australia. However in the early 1970s water began seeping into the quarry forming the Blue Lake and the quarry was closed. The State Government bought the site in 1997 and opened it as a park in 1999.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, blue lake, plenty gorge park

Originally a race course, the park has brought the community together with a variety of activities. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p45 Once used for horse racing, which attracted visitors from Melbourne, the Eltham Lower Park has brought the community together with a wide range of activities. Horse riding is now enjoyed as a recreation in the park as are other sports. The park also includes the Diamond Valley Railway miniature trains and a sanctuary for the rare and vulnerable Eltham Copper Butterfly. Eltham Lower Park, with other parks, forms an almost continuous green band from Eltham’s centre, along the Diamond Creek to the Yarra River.1 Before European settlement the Wurundjeri people met on this land, particularly at the junction of the Diamond Creek with the Yarra River, which they called Birr-arung. This is commemorated by the sculpture, Not just a Pretty Place by Aleks Danko, winner of the 2000 Nillumbik Art in Public Places Award. The first European to settle here was probably Henry Foley, who in 1841 used it as part of his pastoral run. Foley sold his leasehold to Joseph Wilson in 1845, who soon after sold it to Frederick Falkiner.2 During the 1840s the future park was part of a government square mile (2.6 sqkm) reserve, north of the Yarra, within the Parish of Nillumbik, later named Eltham. Soon the land was used for horse racing after nearby residents cleared ten acres (4ha) in the early 1850s. A three-quarter of a mile (1.2km) race secured the winner the £10 Publican’s Prize. In response to popular demand, the newly formed Eltham District Road Board petitioned the Surveyor General of the Colony of Victoria, in 1856, for 36 acres (14.6ha) of crown land for a racecourse and recreation. By 1858 the Eltham races had become an institution. ‘Many skirmishes occurred and the way home was paved with temptation, with sly-grog for sale.3 In the early 1870s, two jockeys were sons of the police officer in charge of the Eltham Police Station, Miles S Lyons.4 Another ten acres (4ha) was added to the area in 1866 and 12 acres (4.8ha) – Hohnes Hill – in 1870. In 1866, two acres (0.8ha) on the creek banks became an animal pound with William Walsh the pound keeper in 1870, but this was later incorporated into the park. By 1877 the area was called a public park but horse racing and training continued into the 1920s. In the mid-1900s trotters were trained on a circuit road. In 1953 the Eltham Pony Club was established and used a cross-country course on Hohnes Hill. From the mid 1950s the club held the Eltham Easter Fair at the park, later to include a procession along Main Road from the town centre to the park. The park also attracted picnic parties and campers from the inner suburbs as did Wingrove Park, and businesses catering for visitors, sprang up on the opposite side of Main Road. Bus-loads of school children visited the park for Gould League bird days in the 1960s. In 1979 the Eltham Shire Council bought Lenister Farm, linking the park with the Yarra River. The Lenister Farm wetland includes a bird hide, viewing platform and interpretive signs.5 Pioneer Henry Stooke, later Road Board chairman, bought the 11 acres (4.5ha) - later to become Lenister Farm - from the Crown in 1862. Stooke never lived on this site and the two houses at Lenister Farm were built in the 20th century. Since its formation in 1871, the Council has controlled this crown land, which it named Eltham Park. But in the 1920s Eltham Council bought land near the town centre for a park, which it named Eltham Central Park. To avoid confusion the Council renamed Eltham Park, Eltham Lower Park. Since 2004 the Yarra footbridge has linked the park with the Yarra Valley Metropolitan Park and the Main Yarra Trail.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 lower park, eltham park

Alistair Knox Park, an oasis of peace and beauty. Covered under National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Landscape Significance and Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p173 It is hard to imagine that the Alistair Knox Park, an oasis of peace and beauty beside busy Main Road, Eltham, was once the township’s rubbish dump. It was only in the 1970s that the tip was transformed into this beautiful six hectare space, which later earned it a National Trust Landscape classification. Before its life as a dump, the area was used for small farms. Thanks largely to the foresight and efforts of local environmental builder Alistair Knox, the park was designed sympathetically with the character of the wider Eltham landscape. Then, appropriately, the park was named after Knox, who was an Eltham Shire Councillor from 1971 to 1975 and Shire President in 1975. The park designers were four major forces in the urban bush landscape garden –Knox, landscape designer Gordon Ford, artist Peter Glass and landscaper Ivan Stranger.1 The National Trust citation for the park, originally called Eltham Town Park, includes the Eltham railway trestle bridge and the Shillinglaw Cottage. The citation states ‘the semi-natural setting of the parkland provides a landscape which is evocative of the history of the area’. Manna Gums (Eucalyptus viminalis) and Candlebarks (Eucalyptus rubida) are significant features. Most of the park’s construction was directed by Bob Grant, Superintendent of the Parks and Gardens Department for the Eltham Shire Council. First plantings occurred in Arbour Week in 1973, then the lake and botanic area were completed in 1975, with Federal Government funding, and the toilet block in 1978. Bounded by the Eltham railway line, Panther Place, Main Road, Bridge and Susan Streets, the park is in a valley about a kilometre wide overlooked by steep hills at the east and west. The Diamond Creek flows through it and the picturesque historic timber trestle railway bridge edges the north. Informal plantings of Australian indigenous and native species in open and undulating grassed settings blend with the natural landscape of the Diamond Creek to the west. The bush-style plants, particularly around the creek, balance with open lawns, paths and a cascade flowing from a small lake to another below. A footbridge over the creek leads to the park’s west. The park includes an adventure playground and barbecue areas. The park stands on part of the land bought from the Crown in 1851 by Josiah Holloway, who subdivided it into allotments and which he called Little Eltham. Most of the land was subdivided into residential lots, but the creek valley, on which the park stands, was subdivided into farm-size lots, used mainly for orchards and grazing. One of the earliest owners was John Hicks Petty, who in 1874 bought a plot from Holloway. Other families who owned properties in that area, included Rees, Clark, Waterfall, Graham, Hill and Morant.2 In 1901 the railway was built through the area. Jock Read, an Eltham resident since around 1920, remembers several farms in the 1920s and ’30s that occupied the site of today’s park. A poultry farm, which extended from present day Panther Place, was owned by the Gahan family. Next to that farm was another for grazing cattle owned by Jack Carrucan. Beside this was land owned by John Lyon. A doctor lived beside this, and at the north-west corner of Bridge Street and Main Road stood a memorial to the soldiers who died in World War One, which was later moved to the RSL site. Mr Read also remembers other farms and orchards west of the creek In the early 1960s the Eltham Council began buying these farms and in the late 1960s turned the areas east of the Diamond Creek into a garbage tip. When this was filled above the creek’s flood plain, the tip was moved to the west of the creek.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, alistair knox park, eltham

The whippletree consists of a loose horizontal bar between the draught animal and its load. The centre of the bar is connected to the load, and the traces, chains or straps on each side of the harness, attached to its ends. Whippletrees are used when pulling a dragged load such as a plough, harrow, or log. The whipple tree was attached to a scoop, which was used for building the 'Puffing Billy' railway and also for scooping out Emerald Lake.Wooden bar with metal hook at each end and a metal ring attached to the centre.

Map showing property owners, posted 12 September 1956Includes Ferntree Gully to Gembrook Railway and Property Owners (coloured in pink).

This is the twenty fourth catalogue of trees and it contains fruit trees, nut trees, berries and some ornamental trees. Carl Nobelius wrote in his General Remarks that he had one million trees to sell, clean, healthy and pest free. The nurseries were 250 acres in extent and contained two and a half million trees in various stages. His nurseries were at Emerald, Railway Siding and his office half a mile from Emerald Railway Station. He imported new varieties from overseas and the nursery was the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, employing 80 people between 1903 and 1930.Green Catalogue 1915 of Fruit Trees, also Elms, Oaks, Planes, Poplars and other Deciduous and Ornamental Trees. The catalogue contains 5 black and white prints of landscape views of the nursery, plus there are 5 bright colour inserts of individual pears and apples.nobelius

Nursery owned by Alfred George Nightingale, who originally worked for Nobelius Nurseries. Nightingale Nursery sold fruit and ornamental trees and delivered to Emerald Railway Station. The nurseries covered an area of 50 acres.Part of the horticultural history of Emerald and the surrounding district.Four page, cream coloured pamphlet with black printing. Contains price lists for fruit trees, ornamentals, berries, hedge plants, creepers and pot plants.a.g.nightingale, emerald

Photograph of cable tram trailer 202 after a bad accident where the side of the vehicles has been very badly damaged. The tram has a sign "for the hospital' attached to it. Destination signs are Studley Park, Botanical Gardens, Johnston St, Lygon St, Swanston St and Chapel St. Photo appeared in an article on Melbourne cable trams published in 1896 in Street Railway Review - See item 6444Yields information about severity of damage to a cable tram trailer 1890s.Copy photograph - Cable tram trailer 202 after a bad accidentMelbourne “A bad wreck” – Trailer No. 202. Copy neg Mark Plummer collections ex late John Alfred collection. cable trams, tramways, accidents, nicholson st workshops, articles, tram 202, trams

B&W photograph. Mulberry spur looking towards the railway bridge. This item and all other Darebin Parklands Association archival material is now held by State Library Victoria (Accession No: YMS 13746). Please contact State Library Victoria if access is required.

People often pushed cars and supermarket trolleys over the edge of the cliff at the end of Waverley Avenue.B&W photograph. Below Railway Bridge. This item and all other Darebin Parklands Association archival material is now held by State Library Victoria (Accession No: YMS 13746). Please contact State Library Victoria if access is required.

Photograph taken during the Association of Railway Enthusiast tram tour on 18/5/1963, showing the tour tram X2 class 676 passing under the Richmond railway over bridges in Swan St. The tour left from Camberwell Depot and ran to Wattle Park, Royal Park, Essendon Aerodrome and returned to Camberwell by East Malvern. Photo by Kevin MathisenYields information about X2 676 on an ARE tour in 1963. Black and white photographer, Ilford paper with notes on rear."Swan St Bridge Richmond 18 May 63" & "Kevin Mathisen"tramways, tours, x2 class, swan st, are, tram 676

Contents: • Next meeting • Other coming events o Eltham Living Forum o Historical Exhibition o Smiths Gully Excursion o Committee meeting o Next year • Early Eltham house, Ely Street • Kinglake National Park • Kangaroo Ground School • Pioneers and Painters • Railway Trestle Bridge, Eltham • Local History Series • Yemmerrawannie The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 photocopied newsletter distributed to membersnewsletter, eltham district historical society, shire of eltham historical society