ELTHAM’S GROWTH HAS BEEN RAPID IN RECENT YEARS Unknown local paper c.1960s Recent years have seen a rapid change in the appearance of Eltham’s business centre - so rapid, in fact, that the growth of premises has been almost 300%. For more than thirty-five years Eltham had little more than a dozen traders - the town's business area spreading from Pryor Street in the north, to Pitt Street in the south. The greatest density of businesses - no more than a handful of shops - were situated in the present shopping centre but other essential services such as the Post Office, were located half a mile away. As the town's population grew and the need for more shops became apparent, the growth was centralised around the railway station and Shire hall. Few of the old premises are used for their original form of business today, though many are still in existence. One of the oldest (seen clearly in the illustration) still in use is now Ferrari's Greengrocery. This shop was Eltham's butchery in early days, conducted by Jim Ryan. Up to twenty years ago, Mr. Ryan ran his business from the shop. whilst his son toured Eltham in his horse and cart, cutting his customers' orders as he went from door to door. Another business - one of the few still trading in the same goods-was Burgoyne's Hardware. This is now owned by Mr. R. Clinton, a new shop has recently been added and shortly the old premises will disappear completely. The Burgoyne family were well known to Eltham's population. The Post Office and Store (then in Main Road, near Bridge Street) was run by Mr. and Mrs. Burgoyne. The Post Office was later moved, and attached to the hardware store. OLD HOTEL In this same area was the old Eltham Hotel, almost opposite the present hotel. The building still stands, but has been converted into a house. The hitching rail can still be seen by the roadside. Back in the township was Barber's Blue Gum store, later conducted by Mrs. Burges (mother of Garnet Burges) and claimed to be Eltham's oldest shop. Further down the road, just past the hardware store, was the barber shop and billiard saloon. Next door was E. J. Andrew's news agency, library and State Savings Bank. Eltham's original chemist's shop, or dispensary as it was called, is now an electrical repair shop. On this side of the street too, was Mrs. Monteith - Draper. Mr Monteith was the owner of Eltham' s bus service. This bus service had no regular route, but deposited passengers at the point nearest their homes - a. door to door taxi service. Next to Mrs. Monteith stood another grocery - and general store, and next again, the local blacksmith. Another of Butcher Ryan's sons was Eltham's blacksmith and obviously an enterprising man he conducted a timber business next door to his smithy's shop. These two premises are still run by one man - Garnet Burges. BOOM STARTS Twenty years ago, when Thompson's took over Eltham's pharmacy they occupied the old shop adjoining the Shire hall. The building of Thompson's new premises, from which· they operate today, was the beginning of Eltham's recent growth and development. With another grocery store and a bakery at the corner of York Street, a butcher near Franklin Street, a cobbler's shop opposite the State School (did you ever wonder what that-little building attached to one of Eltham's oldest houses had been?), and an estate agency conducted by Mr. Clark, now Eltham Real Estate - only one trader remained - and today, still carries on, the only original owner of one of Eltham's .oldest established businesses - Mr. Dave Lyon, of Lyon Bros. Garage, which was formerly located in what was later used as Chenowyth's Foundry in Main Road. From the early twenties until little more than six or seven years ago that was the picture of Eltham. Some businesses had changed hands - many years before Mr. C. Rains had acquired Andrew's news agency, Mrs. Monteith's drapery had become Mrs. R. Smith's home-made cake shop, to change again and again to many other types of business. But generally, Eltham was unchanged, for nearly thirty years. Then suddenly new shops mushroomed. The new news agency and drapery, the chemist and adjoining shops, a new butcher, a green grocer and several more. POPULATION DOUBLED In the space of a few years, fifteen new shops, two banks, a restaurant and a post office were built at Eltham. New types of businesses found a ready market in an area which was quickly almost doubling its population. A little over twelve months ago, another wave of progress hit Eltham. Since then eight more shops have been built - a cake shop and fish shop in Dalton [sic – Dudley] Street - for building areas are unprocurable in the Main Street shopping centre now – have been built by Mr. D. Kimball; a new ladies’ and children’s wear shop has been opened by Rains; Eltham Dry Cleaners have another of these new shops, and Mr. R. Clinton has built elaborate new premises. Further down the road, Mr. C. Campbell has built a new butcher's shop, and next door, at present under construction, are a self service store and a shop which Mr. J. Hodges will open on completion. In addition to these new shops, Mr. J. Millett has extended his grocery to almost twice its original size. FLOURISHING Outside the central area, other businesses are flourishing. Latimer's felt factory is being developed in a picturesque rustic setting; P. J. Timber and Trading Company have recently completed a large showroom and timber yard, and in the town itself Nicholson and Merritt are now completing the extension of their foot wear factory to double its former area. This is Eltham today. Progress is moving rapidly in this rural area on the fringe of the metropolis. Less than a decade has seen vast development. The years to complete that span of time will see even greater changes and greater prosperity in this heart: of the Diamond Valley. OLD LANDMARK GOES Perhaps the most famous landmark in Eltham's' business section disappeared last Wednesday when the towering blue gum in Pryor Street at the rear of Main Road shops was felled. The tree, stated to be more than 80 feet high, was the one for which the adjoining café was named, when that business was Eltham’s only provision store, long before the turn of the century. Mr. J. Millett, who now owns the property on which the tree stood, deeply regretted its removal, but was mindful of the need for expansion in the business area. The "Old Blue Gum" was removed by Mr. A. Wilson, expert tree feller, from Heidelberg. Its proportions might be assessed by these facts – it took a gang of experienced men two days to completely fell and clear the tree, and, falling sections being brought down by cable tipped electricity wires on the opposite side of Pryor Street.andrew's news agency, bakery, barber shop, barber's blue gum store, billiard saloon, blacksmith, blue gum, burgoyne's hardware, butcher, cake shop, chemist's shop, chenowyth's foundry, cobbler's shop, dave lyon, dispensary, draper shop. mr monteith, dudley street, e. j. andrew's news agency, electrical repair shop, eltham bus service, eltham butchery, eltham dry cleaners, eltham hotel, eltham railway station, eltham real estate, eltham shire hall, eltham shopping centre, eltham shops, eltham town centre, estate agency, expert tree feller, ferrari's greengrocery, fish shop, foot wear factory, franklin street, garnet burges, general store, grocery, heidelberg, horace clark, jim ryan, ladies’ and children’s wear shop, latimer's felt factory, library, lyon bros. garage, main road, mr. a. wilson, mr. c. campbell, mr. c. rains, mr. d. kimball, mr. j. hodges, mr. j. millett, mr. r. clinton, mrs. burges, mrs. monteith, mrs. monteith's drapery, mrs. r. smith's home-made cake shop, nicholson and merritt, p. j. timber and trading company, pitt street, post office, pryor street, self service store, shopping centre, state savings bank, taxi service, thompson's pharmacy, york street

Original photograph of Frank Stevenson's grocery shop, 179 Hogan Street, Tatura. 1944. Miss Frances Stevenson with bike, pictured. Sign writing on top, Robur Tea, Sunshine Biscuits.Original sepia photograph of Stevenson's Grocery shop (exterior), Hogan Street, Tatura. Residence of butcher shop on right, part of cafe residence on left.on back: 179 Hogan Street Tatura.1944

Some 'Modern Mitcham Shops' of this time shown including the Snooker and Billiard Hall which later became a butcher shop of Mr Blaney/ Mr Allen.mcglone, john, mcglone estate, coghill & haughton

This was one of the earliest businesses in Surrey Hills and opened in 1885; in 1888 the business moved to 633 Canterbury Road and was known as Terry and Son; in 1889 it was advertised as Terry Bros. Information regarding the business was provided by Alan J Holt.Black and white photo of J W Terry Family Butcher's Shop with a man and 2 women standing in front and a horse and cart off to the right of the shop.businesses, butchers, surrey hills, canterbury road, alexandra avenue, horse drawn vehicles, terry bros, terry and son, 1885, clothing and dress, shops, mr j w terry, joseph w terry

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Tuesday, October 26, 2004. Local Butcher: C.S. Schleiger butcher shop in Raglan Street, White Hills.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

The photograph is undated but was probably taken before 1912, as the Surface Hill Hotel was closed and demolished around this time.Sepia postcard photograph which shows the Surface Hill Hotel and Ching's Produce Store on the right, and O'Sullivan's saddlery and G G Bennett's butcher's shop on the left.sussex street linton, buildings, shops, surface hill hotel, r. ching grocer and produce merchant, o'sullivan's saddlery, g g bennett butcher's shop

Young's Butcher ShopDigital image copied from black and white photograph three women and a girl standing in front of a large building

The Mitcham War Memorial is now located in Halliday Park.in Mitcham Road.Black & white photo of the Mitcham War Memorial in the centre plantation west of Mitcham Road & Whitehorse road intersection. Allan's Butcher shop is on the left and the Post Office on the right.war memorial mitcham, war memorials

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Thursday, April 1, 2004. Anecdotes: this photo was taken in C.M. Creek butcher shop in 1960. The butcher shop operated from the same site as the Clog's restaurant and pizza. Pictured from left are: Graeme Lunn, Sam Excelby, Colin Creek and Bill Bowery. Graeme was taking over as an apprentice from Sam, who was retiring. Sam was pictured being presented with a cake and newspaper stand.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Copy of a black and white photo of the Hercules Gold Mine, Long Gully, N Grenfell Butchers Shop and three men wearing suits all on the one page. Photos are very dark. The photo of the mine shows the chimney, poppet legs, a fence and buildings. The butcher shop has a veranda and above the veranda has the name Grenfell Butcher. The photo of the three men wearing suits are standing in front of a small table with an object resting on it.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - hercules gold mne, n grenfell

Also a colour photograph showing close up of signage on window of Stewarts Butchery 04671.1 10 x 15 cmColour photograph of front of Stewats Butchers Shop prior to auction 341 Esplanade Lakes Entrance Victoria. Also a colour photograph showing close up of signage on window of Stewarts Butchery businesses, retail trade

The mobile butcher's shop operated by Thomas Black in the 1930s.Digital copy of black and white photograph thomas black, butchers

552 was first grocery run by Mr Clarke.556 was first butcher's shop run by Mr Smith and is still a butcher's shop - Colin Smythe from 1978.Divided into two shops, Alan Evans men's barber and Rangeview Hair Studio.Coloured photograph of some of the Rangeview Shopping Centre on the western side of Mitcham Road, Mitcham. Melways 48 K12.rangeview shopping centre, shops, shopping centre

Randall Collection: Advertising Blotter - George Prowse, ''The Quality Butcher. '' - Shops at Pall Mall and Hargreaves St. Blotter is illustrated with reproduction of landscape painting ''Evening Splendour'' (by H Henderson). Blotter unused.

The butcher's shop owned by the Ryan family in Diamond Creek, about 1945.Digital copy of black and white photograph a.d. ryans, ryans butchers, diamond creek

USED IN BUTCHER SHOP IN FRASER STREET CLUNES OPERATED BY THE SPARKS FAMILY.1 METAL PRESS - UNCOATED WITH BRASS FITTINGS INCLUDES VICE .2 METAIL SCREW CAP .3 .4 EXTRUSION DISCSNILbutcher equipment, sparks family

This home was built for the Bennett family in about 1928. It replaced the butcher's shop in Sussex which was run by George Garnsworthy Bennett from 1896. (The butcher's shop moved into premises next-door, and then to the other side of Sussex Street, into part of the shop previously owned by Joseph Shepherd.)Coloured photograph of a double fronted house with pitched roof and two brick chimneys set in garden surrounded by wooden rail and wire fence, trees at back."The Bennett home just after it was built".bennett family, buildings, houses, bennett butchers, george garnsworthy (g g ) bennett, gordon bennett

View is to the east from the corner of Sussex and Clyde Streets, Linton (near former Post Office building, fence and sheds of which can be seen in the photograph).Black and white photograph of snow covered landscape, view from former Bennetts Butcher's shop corner Clyde and Sussex Streets (opposite P.O). Rear of Post Office can be glimpsed on the left of the photo."Snow scene from Linton Post office about 1950".snow, linton post office

Sienna's meat and Poultry is a butcher's shop in Greensborough Plaza; Bill Battaglia, ManagerPart of a collection relating to local businesses.Black and white print on white card, printed on both sides. 2 copiesAddress, telephone no. and informationbutchers, greensborough plaza

Mr Charlie Williamson standing in front of his Lake Bolac Butcher's shop.lake bolac, williamson, butcher

A.J. Case Butchers Shop. Beside W.A. Harding's in Main Street 1949stawell business shops

Historic BuildingsB/W original photo, Learmonth St. Town Hall precinct, c 1890, from left 3rd Fire Station, Town Hall with clock tower, brick Butchers shop, Avenue of Honor trees.buninyong, fire station, town hall, whyke's butchers, avenue of honor

W.J. Capewell operated a butcher shop near the Railway Station on Main Road ElthamSnapshot of meat cuts and prices available in the mid 1920sDigital filew.j. capewell, butcher, invoice, orford, receipt

W.J. Capewell operated a butcher shop near the Railway Station on Main Road ElthamSnapshot of meat cuts and prices available in the mid 1920sDigital filew.j. capewell, butcher, invoice, orford, receipt

The Minns’ Hotel was originally a butcher shop, before owner George Minns transformed it into a hotel.Mac’s Hotel (formerly Minns Hotel until 1911), High Street Meltonlocal architecture

Stawell Meat Supplies Butchers shop in 1991 located in Main street in building built 1876 stawell business

Bendigo Bank built on land formerly occupied by Clark's Butcher Shop. Branch opened in 2003.Colour photograph of Bendigo Bank building. Single storey brick building. Signage is partially obscured by tree and reads 2003 Charlton & District Community Bank Branch Bendigo Bank. Blue timber covered entrance to the Traveller's Rest complex on the RH side. Person going past on mobility scooter. Green signage for Traveller's Rest reads CAFES BAKERY PUBLIC TOILET CHEMIST HOTELS MOTELS SUPERMARKETS NEWSAGENCY.charlton, bendigo bank, business, industry, clark's butcher

Copy of a sepia photograph of J. R. Tippett's Drapery, Boots and Shoes shop with three women, one man and a young boy standing in front of the building. Service Street Clunes where today there is a butcher shop (2024)Nilshop, tippett