Showing 96 items
matching slab building
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Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Marguerite Marshall, Former home of Alistair and Margot Knox, King Street, Eltham, 16 January 2006
Situated in King Street, Eltham, Alistair Knox built his home and office in 1962-1963 with mud-bricks made from the local soil and recycled materials blending the house with bush around it. Knox popularised the Eltham earth building movement, begun by Montsalvat founder, Justus Jorgensen. Alistair Knox (1912-1986) was also an Eltham Shire Councillor 1971-1975 and Shire President in 1975. Knox established the inaugural Eltham Community Festival in 1975. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p145 Lack of money was a strong incentive for Alistair Knox to do what he did best when he built his house and office at King Street, Eltham in 1962-63. He used mud-bricks from local soil and recycled materials, characteristically blending the house with the bush around it. The result was a work of art. Knox popularised the Eltham earth building movement,1 begun by Montsalvat founder Justus Jörgensen. He was also an Eltham Shire Councillor from 1971 to 1975 and Shire President in 1975. For Knox mud-brick building was not just a building style, but a spiritual experience and a way of relating with nature. At 40 he rediscovered God and his building reflected his theological, political, philosophical and particularly environmental world view, which was far ahead of its time.2 He also contributed to building development in his use of concrete slab foundations when stumps and bearers were the norm. Knox was introduced to mud-brick construction in 1940 by Jörgensen, then shortly after, Knox joined the Navy. In 1946 Knox studied Building Practice and Theory at Melbourne Technical College (now RMIT University). There he befriended fellow student and artist Matcham Skipper who belonged to what was then called the Jörgensen Artists’ Colony. Knox decided to build an earth building in Eltham, partly because the post-war huge building demands resulted in expensive and scarce building materials. He asked artist Sonia Skipper for help who, with Matcham, had constructed mud-brick buildings at the Artists’ Colony. The simple rectangular low-lying house at King Street is framed by native plants and a 3.6 metres wide pergola surrounds the building. Wedded to the landscape, a door in every room at the perimeter, opens outside. The property also includes a forge, a small hut built by son Macgregor at 15, and a mud-brick tower for chickens. Building materials were foraged from a wide variety of sources. Some of the joinery material came from old whisky vats. When the Oregon of the highest quality ‘was put through the wood-working machines, it gave off a deep smell of whisky that made the whole atmosphere exotic and heady’.3 Amateur builders, including schoolboys from Knox’s Presbyterian Church, made some of the mud-bricks. But the building was finished with the professional help of Yorkshire builder, Eric Hirst. Inside, the light is subdued with the mud-brick, beamed timber ceilings and floors of slate, timber or orange-brown tiles. Skylights, with rich blue and red leadlighting, illuminate one entrance area and this feature is repeated as edging on the door. The centre of the house is like a covered courtyard, with rooms built around it. The central room, 11 metres x 7 metres, was built in the same proportions as Knox’s mud-bricks. Clerestory windows on four sides infuse the room with a soft light. A huge brick fireplace extends beyond one corner and opposite is a small one where timber can only be placed vertically. The slate for the floor was discarded from the Malthouse Brewery now used as a theatre in Southbank. In the middle is a large refectory table and benches that seat 18. Like much of the house, it is rugged, yet beautiful. Made of Western Australian Jarrah by Macgregor with a chain saw and an adze, it retains knot and nail holes. Each wall has an opening, 2.4 metres at the ends and 3.6 metres at the sides. Only one has doors and these concertina doors are made of the backs of old church pews. The main bedroom has an ensuite with a marble hand basin discarded from the Victorian Parliament building; and a dressing room, where two wardrobes of polished timber recovered from a tip are attached to the walls. Separate from the house is the strikingly original circular-shaped office made of bluestone sourced from the original Army campsite at Broadmeadows.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 and margot knox house, alistair knox design, mudbrick construction, eltham, king street -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Document - Property Binder, 1184 Main Road, Eltham
Newspaper article: A sustainable award, Diamond Valley Leader, 1 November2006, Architect and building Llewellyn Pritchard won resource Efficiency Housing Award, finalist in HIA Greensmart Building of the Year Award. House – Environmental Leader (Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p186) In 2006 environmental awareness was mushrooming in the community, which is reflected in the award-winning house at Main Road near Wattletree Road, Eltham. At first sight, the building appears a mix of a classic Eltham mud-brick house and an avant-garde building style. The crown of solar panels stretching along the width of the curved roof, indicates that this is no ordinary house. In fact it signals a new building trend of minimal impact on the environment. Yet it utilises the environment with high technical expertise to achieve comfort and cut running and maintenance costs. In recognition of this, its designer/builder, Conscious Homes, won the 2006 National HIA Greensmart Resource Efficiency Award. For Conscious Homes director, Llewellyn Pritchard, this house reflects a philosophy, strengthened by his connection with Aboriginal culture, through his foster siblings. Pritchard believes the sustainable way indigenous Australians lived and their spiritual connection with land, demonstrates how humanity is part of the ecology. His interest in environmental design stemmed from growing up in bushy Eltham Shire, with its mud-brick tradition. This was followed by studying Architecture at RMIT in the early 1980s, and learning about passive solar design. Pritchard says this house demonstrates that environmental sustainability is not about sacrifice, but about exceptional levels of occupant comfort, savings in running costs and modern fittings and appliances.1 The solar panels on the north roofs are intentionally obvious to make a statement about what the building is doing. But inside the systems are hidden and interactive with conventional services, such as the underground water tank. The house is water and energy self-sufficient and at 12 squares is much smaller than conventional houses, to minimise resources. Yet it accommodates his family of four with three bedrooms, a living/dining and kitchen area and a bathroom/laundry. Importantly the building is designed to last hundreds of years, by being able to be modified as the need arises, such as for commercial use. In this way the structure minimises its environmental impact. The solid double mud-brick walls (which are insulated) include steel beams and supporting frame, allowing the future removal or alteration of any section. The materials are local, recycled and of low toxicity where possible.2 Inside and out, the mud-brick is rendered and sealed with a combination of cement and sand and a mud-based coating in a soft golden hue increases its life. Inside, the golden-brown timber is plantation Mountain Ash and the concrete floors throughout – of local stone aggregate with a clear seal – have a natural looking random stone appearance. The house sustains a stable temperature of around 20 degrees, assisted by the concrete slab floor. The many large double-glazed windows and highlights (windows set high on walls) provide cross-flow ventilation. The north-facing living area maximises heating from the lower winter sun and is cooler in summer, because the sun is higher. Heating comes from a solar hydronic slab system. All appliances and fittings are high efficiency energy or water rated. Appliances in the timber kitchen include a gas stove and a dishwasher, using the building’s own power and water. French doors open from the living area to a deck, concealing the treatment system for all waste water. This is pumped through sub-soil drippers to the indigenous garden beds and no-dig vegetable patch. Below the carport is the 80,000-litre rainwater tank and at the back, the boiler room houses the solar boiler, water tank access, domestic water supply pump, filter gear and hydronic slab heating controls. The solar system is backed up with gas, which is needed to heat water only in winter. Gas used is less than one quarter of that for an average home with ducted heating. Excess power is fed back to the grid and the building uses about one quarter of the mains electricity of an average home. Other local builders have followed Pritchard’s lead in resource efficiency for minimal environmental impact.main road, eltham, businesses, llewellyn pritchard, hia greensmart building of the year award., efficiency housing award, conscious homes australia pty ltd -
Bacchus Marsh & District Historical Society
Photograph, Harvest Home Hotel Main Street Bacchus Marsh 1883
The Harvest Home Hotel was licensed as a beer shop in 1866. Patrick Vallence was the licensee. On his death in 1874 his widow Mrs M. A. Vallence obtained the license. At the time this image was taken George Marshall was leasing the hotel. Following a decrease in the population of Bacchus Marsh, by 1911 the hotel had lost its licence.The Vallence family still owned the building after the loss of the hotel licence in 1911and it was used for some years after this as a private residence by some members of the Vallence family. Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll', the Jeremeas Family Album. The image depicts the Harvest Home Hotel situated in Main Street Bacchus Marsh. The name of the hotel can be seen above the verandah roof. The building appears to be of stone with decorative stonework corners. A verandah is inset to the left of a gabled front section which has its own door and window. On either side of the door beneath the verandah can be seen boot or shoe scrapers. A deep gutter runs along the front of the hotel, with a slab acting as a bridge to the road. Situated in the gutter at the front of the hotel is a water trough which has an arch above it with an ornate lantern, probably to light the front entry and to enable horses to be watered at night. A hitching post is nearby.On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. hotels bacchus marsh, stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, vallence family bacchus marsh, harvest home hotel bacchus marsh -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Album - Charles Craig - part 1 of 2, 1950s to 1970s
Photo - see pdf file for further information. Number Brief Description CC1 S178 at Elsternwick level crossing track works CC2 Building East Preston Depot 1955 CC3 Camberwell depot – post WW2 – lots of trams and a black cat CC4 W2 584 and SW6 958 northbound – Chapel St and Brighton Road CC5 W2 357 – southbound, Chapel St Brighton Road CC6 Pascoe Vale Road, Raceday working – note the signal CC7 The Preston Workshops - The Argus, post WW2, 223, 647 et al CC8 923 or is it 922 being built at Preston – The Argus photo - CC8A 832 being positioned onto trucks at Preston after an overhaul – Argus Photo – see also CC306 CC9 Footscray depot` CC10 W5 797 in St Kilda Road during track works – 1950s CC11 W2 457 at Kew Post Office CC12 Wellington Parade – W2 432, 492 and 337 – special event CC13 Swan St line up of trams – football? Or other special event – Sinclair’s bus on the right side. CC14 W2 630 being washed at a depot – The Argus photo CC15 Royal Park line at Flemington Road – W2 355 and W5 786 CC16 Nicholson St track construction from a tram cab CC17 T181 on tour at Gordon St CC18 T181 on Maribyrnong Bridge CC19 Ditto at River St just off bridge CC20 As for CC18 CC21 At Raleigh Rd CC22 T181 at Footscray depot CC23 Track construction, Nicholson, just north of Gertrude CC24 Commissioning overhead Bourke St tram 988 CC25 Queens Parade – 997 and 994 CC26 Swapping trolley wheel to skid – commissioning CC27 Track construction in Gertrude St CC28 985 in Queens Parade running special CC29 997 in Queens Parade CC30 1033 at North Fitzroy – AETA Special CC31 Bourke St at Elizabeth St – has passengers on board CC32 W6 985, 996 Queens Parade, Mk 3 bus 333 CC33 As above CC34 Showing construction at Nicholson & Gertrude – Bourke St CC35 W2 223 on Burnley temporary bridge – VR track expansion CC36 W5 823 – ditto CC37 Tram on old bridge prior to removal CC38 W2 433 on temporary bridge with new bridge beams and old track CC39 Looking down showing temporary single track – Swan St CC40 Tait train passing under tram bridge CC41 SW6 on single line – off loading CC42 W2 547 at City Road Junction CC43 City Road Jtn – 1969 – 596 and 771 CC44 City Road Jtn – 1969 – 596 and 771 (same as CC45 438 in Flinders St CC46 355 somewhere CC47 552 somewhere CC47A 364 at Preston Workshops? CC48 W2 334 on Traverser – Preston Workshops CC49 Wellington pade – large line up of trams, c1950 925, and 611 CC50 W2 493 Franklin st – advertising for Savings Certificates CC51 Possibly 551 with advertising for fund raising for Blind institute CC52 249 at Hawthorn – Riversdale Junction – with a Tally Ho and Village Fair Aux. board CC53 MMTB Postcard of 511 CC54 Wattle Park terminus with Single line warning sign CC55 Wattle Park Duplication CC56 36 at Domain Junction – 833 CC57 36 at Domain Junction CC58 36 at Domain Junction with 810 and 833 CC59 36 in Swanston by Flinders St Station CC60 36 in Spencer St at A’Beckett CC61 36 crossing Collins St CC62 36 crossing Collins St CC63 36 northbound in St Kilda Road with Shrine in background CC64 36 northbound in Swanston St at Flinders St CC65 Postcard – Ballarat 36 in Domain Road CC66 Postcard - Stampshow – Hawthorn Horse tram CC67 Postcard - Stampshow – Peace cable tram CC68 Postcard - 1041 and cable car set 1 at Preston CC69 Postcard - Colins & Elizabeth – greetings from old Melbourne CC70 Postcard - Cable car set at Preston CC71 Postcard - Twentyman’s cable cars CC72 Postcard - Nu-color-vue – horse tram 256 CC73 Cable car set – Market & Flinders CC74 Cable trams at Twentymans’ in their shed CC75 Cable tram track at Bourke & Spencer prior to removal CC76 Cable tram bogie at Preston Workshops – used as a dolly CC77 Cable trams at Twentymans’ CC78 Postcard - Valentines – Bourke looking west from Swanston CC79 Postcard - Rose 3938 – Bourke at Swanston – the Leviathan building CC80 Postcard - Valentines – Elizabeth St looking south from Collins – No. 19 CC81 Postcard - Rose P4765 – Bourke St Melbourne CC82 Postcard - Rose 4090 – cable tram passing Parliament house CC83 Postcard - Valentines – GPO Elizabeth St CC84 Interior of cable trailer with clothing on a set CC85 Elizabeth St looking north CC86 Cigarette card - Collins St No. 41- WD HO Wills CC87 Postcard - Rialto building with cable set CC88 Postcard - Valentines - Swanston at Flinders looking north CC89 CC90 Q 150 Hanna St – dated on rear CC91 176 turning – photo ex Alan Jungworth CC92 161 on Princes Bridge – minimum fare 4d sign and Inspector CC93 459 at Point Ormond CC94 158 at Gordon St – side on view CC95 X 217 in Swanston St CC96 X 217 in Swanston St with an East Brighton destination CC97 T177 CC98 T177 Peel St – no destination roll – being transferred? CC99 X1 462 in Glenhuntly Road to Point Ormond CC100 X1 462 in Glenhuntly Road to Elsternwick Rly Station CC101 X1 462 in Glenhuntly Road to Point Ormond CC102 Q 150 Hanna St CC103 190 at Camberwell Depot CC104 T182 at Footscray CC105 X1 466 and W2 at Footscray CC106 190 at Camberwell Depot CC107 X1 467 Barkly St Footscray CC108 X2 679 turning into William St from La Trobe St CC109 X2 677 Glenhuntly Road with Point Ormond Destination CC110 Postcard T180 CC111 Postcard format – X1 467 on a truck – see also CC178 CC112 Postcard format – X1 467 at Wantirna South CC113 Q200 and SW6 896 at Thornbury – has labels on rear CC114 T177, Ballarat Road – has labels on rear CC115 T178 at Point Ormond CC116 Postcard X1 465 and 466 CC117 Postcard – X2 676 CC118 Postcard – TMSV X2 217 CC119 810 on temporary bridging – 24-12-67 CC120 W2 575 – Queens Parade junction in, still temporary bridging, substation under construction CC121 Forming Queens Parade Junction base slab CC122 W2 596 prior to tramway works – all tracks still in position CC123 It’s a mass of reinforcing – bridging being formed CC124 Looking north with substation being built CC125 Looking east with some rather tight curves, Wellington St still in use CC126 SW6 958 ex Wellington St with all tracks and signal box and buildings. CC127 Victoria Pde at Gisborne looking east – at least 4 cars CC128 SW6 893? With dash canopy lights and SW6 862 and a man with a newspaper CC129 SW6 894 on the S curves, with tram in Wellington St CC130 Similar photo CC131 W2 564 turning into Wellington St – the concrete tracks are not that old CC132 W2 552 running out of Wellington St CC133 W5 732 from Fitzroy St into St Kilda Road with next iteration in position – very wonky CC134 W5 764 turning into Fitzroy St CC135 SW6 947 turning from Wellington St CC136 W2 586 running out of High St CC137 W2 500 turning into Wellington St CC138 W2 543 in Wellington St inbound CC139 L103 with St Kilda Junction destination, and a tower truck on right CC140 Workmen – new track in Queensway in use CC141 Ditto CC142 L103 in Queensway, and another car in bound CC143 Looking east along Wellington St which has been taken out of use. Also a MMTB Roller CC144 W5 824 and a W2 and all types of wobbly temporary track CC145 W2 354 to High St CC146 Sw6 947 on the S bends CC147 W2 500 looking north – tram on the S bends CC148 SW6 896 leaving the S bend CC149 W2 357 and a MMTB City bus with trees/gardens on the side CC150 W5 817 Elliot Ave – see also CC302 CC151 W2 552 – note the large trolley bridge CC152 W2 550 at depot or workshops CC153 1B truck CC154 SW2 432 CC155 W2 155 at Glenhuntly CC156 SW6 937 on AETA tour? CC157 X2 677 on Footscray service – Ballarat Rd? CC158 W2 641 – High St Kew? CC159 SW6 847 – Power St Hawthorn CC160 Simpson St – big line up CC161 W2 546 truck No. 1? CC162 W2s at Glenhuntly depot CC163 No. 15 truck under 899 CC164 206 and other junk at Preston Workshops CC165 W in Swanston St Melbourne – Rose series card CC166 Y1 613 Batman Ave?? or William St at Collins CC167 Tram plans CC168 X 217 Swanston St – see also 95 and 96 CC169 217 in Swanston St – same as 95 CC169A 192 in St Kilda Road at Princes bridge CC170 192 in St Kilda Road at Princes bridge CC171 Bendigo 3 arriving Malvern depot – being unloaded CC172 Ditto CC173 T180 at a depot CC174 X1 463 wheel set CC175 C30 – dog car side view – close up CC176 C30 dog car CC177 206 and 30 at Preston Workshops CC178 X1 467 on a truck – see CC111 also CC179 42 CC180 42 at a depot, no destination box CC181 W2 556 1A type truck CC182 Flinders St Station – Rose Series CC183 W7 1035 Spring – Nicholson St CC184 W7 1022 MMTB Post Card CC185 Adelaide 178 – has on rear – R. Lilburn 4/82 CC186 Adelaide 175 – has on rear – R. Lilburn 4/82 CC187 Y1 610 on AETA tour CC188 Y1 610 on AETA tour with large group – Point Ormond CC189 AETA display – has GH55-32 in pencil on rear CC190 AETA display – has GH55-29 in pencil on rear CC191 Y1 610 on AETA tour with large group – Point Ormond CC192 VR 53 at Footscray CC193 VR cars 40 and 34 at Elwood wash dock CC194 W7 1024 as the 1970 Christmas tram CC195 Geelong – loading a set of 22E trucks CC196 Geelong 10 and 23 running an AETA special CC197 Geelong – AETA special CC198 Geelong 7 at Junction CC199 Geelong 10, in the city CC200 Geelong 33 with Belmont destination CC201 Geelong 15 Eastern Park destination 29-3-1948 CC202 Geelong 23 at Railway Station – 29-3-1948 CC203 Geelong 23 at Railway Station – 29-3-1948 CC204 Geelong – loading a bogie tram CC205 Geelong – loading a bogie tram CC206 Geelong 40 – loaded on truck CC207 Geelong 40 – on jacks CC208 Geelong 40 on jacks – 19 behind CC209 Geelong 38 with two workers on either side CC210 – 214 Australian Historic Tramways stamp folder and set CC215 Bendigo 17 at depot – has dup JBS on rear CC216 Bendigo 20, 29 bogie and straight sill car at Charing Cross CC217 Bendigo one man bogie Pall Mall CC218 Bendigo – Bogie 23, other cars and welding truck at depot CC219 Bendigo 7 with Quarry Hill destination CC220 Bendigo 21 with Lake Weerona destination CC221 ESCo 18 Ballarat CC222 Ballarat bogie 22 on AETA special CC223 Ditto CC224 Ballarat 34 at Stones Corner – R Lilburn CC225 Ballarat 15 in Bridge St – R Lilburn CC226 Ballarat 40 at Gardens – R Lilburn CC227 Ballarat 37 running out of depot – R Lilburn CC228 Postcard – Valentines – Sturt St with loaded horse tram trailer CC229 AETA Geelong tram tour ticket – 29-3-1948 CC230 Postcard – Geelong – Valentine 2114 – T&G building CC231 Postcard – PMTT ! – High St Malvern CC232 Postcard – Empire – Glenferrie Road, Malvern at Wattletree Rd CC233 Postcard Y469, MMTB CC234 Postcard Z2 Spring St CC235 Postcard – Z1 MMTB CC236 Postcard – Stamp Show W1 431 CC237 Postcard – Stamp show B2005 CC238 Postcard – Stamp show W6 982 CC239 Postcard – Valentines 1264 – Johnstone Park with tram in distance CC240 Postcard – Rose 10711 – Swanston and Lonsdale – Hospital and W232 CC241 Postcard – Rose 4827 – Fitzroy St St Kilda W2 362 and 548 CC242 Postcard – Valentines – 939 – St Kilda War Memorial, W and a R? CC243 Postcard – Valentines – 572 – St Kilda War Memorial, W 413 and 140? CC244 Postcard – Valentines – 938 – Uper and Lower Esplanade – L 104 CC245 Postcard – St Kilda Rd at Princes Bridge Y1 and W CC246 Postcard – Biscay BG82 – W5 814 - CC247 Postcard – Biscay 796112 – Bourke St looking west CC248 Postcard – Biscay 796109 – Bourke St looking east CC249 Postcard – Biscay 2AUS58 – Z5 Bourke St CC250 Postcard – Biscay BG 249 – Swanston St CC251 Postcard – National View – St Kilda Rd – shrine and Prince Henrys W2 405 CC252 Postcard – Nu color vue – 11 ML 156 – St Kilda Rd CC253 Postcard – Nu color vue – 11 ML 153 – Swanston St CC254 Postcard – Nu Color vue – Collins St 442 CC255 Postcard – Pitt card – Adelaide – H 364 at Victoria St CC256 Postcard – SPER L/P 154 CC257 Postcard – BTMS – 550 CC258 Postcard – SPER – Brisbane 295 CC259 Adelaide 131 at Burnside – has R Lilburn on card, c1911 CC260 Adelaide 194 CC261 Adelaide 235, with two crew, The News photo CC262 Rockhampton, outside post office – has source of photo details CC263 Sydney – 2086 and 2062 arriving Circular Quay CC264 Sydney – P class – Pitt St? CC265 Sydney – 1610 at Circular Quay CC266 Brisbane 99 and 468 CC267 Sydney with bridge behind CC268 Steam tram Paramatta Park – 103 CC269 Sydney – Museum Station =- Elizabeth St CC270 Sydney – weed burner 137S at a loop Demonstrates the work of Charles Craig in photography and collection of prints.Assembled album in a black presentation folder of 270 photographs from the Charles Craig Collection - 86 sleeves - part 1 of 2. All photographs have been scanned and placed on the Museum's G drive. A list of all photographs with details where possible has been compiled. Victorian Provincial, Launceston, Hobart and Sydney tram photos have been transferred to other Museums, image files retained.melbourne, tramways, tramcars, trams, charles craig, st kilda junction, trackworks -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Alan King, Downing-Le Gallienne house, Yarra Braes Road, Eltham, 30 January 2008
The property is a classic example of what made Eltham famous from the late 1940s to the 1960s. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p149 The first view of the large double-storey house at Yarra Braes Road, Eltham South, is of a jutting roofline over a balcony, reminiscent of a large sailing vessel or galleon – very appropriate, considering the name of one of the first owners, Le Gallienne. The Downing-Le Gallienne property is a classic example of what made Eltham famous from the late 1940s to the 1960s and attracted so many artists and intellectuals to the area. Set in a largely indigenous bush-style garden, the mud-brick and timber house was built by Alistair Knox. It was built for economist Richard Downing, to become a founder of the welfare state in Australia and Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, and musician and composer Dorian Le Gallienne. Le Gallienne was a pioneering composer of modern music in Victoria before 1945, whose works included the Symphony in E.1 He wrote several pieces of film music for Eltham Films, including The Prize, working with its writer and artistic director Tim Burstall. Le Gallienne was also a music critic for The Argus and later for The Age. In 1967 the music critic Roger Covell argued that Le Gallienne’s Symphony, was ‘still the most accomplished and purposive . . . written by an Australian’.2 According to Alan Marshall the main inspiration behind the building that evolved from 1948 to 1964 was Le Gallienne. ‘He was able to see value in the simplest things and many who worked there had their eyes opened for the first time to the Eltham environment, to the bush and the trees and the fauna which lived there.’3 The garden included no formality, no lawns, nor exotic plants. ‘Natural informal growth came right up to their doors and so did the indigenous birdlife.’4 This informal style – consisting of mass and void – was to be developed and popularised by landscaper Gordon Ford from the 1950s. The large mud-brick and timber house, which was built in four stages and has three separate but linked sections, began as a small weekend retreat for the couple. In 1948, Downing and Le Gallienne (Dick and Dor to their friends), asked Knox to build the 36 x18 foot (11mx5.4m) building with a pitched slate roof. It was built on a concrete slab and included a fireplace, which is still in use. The second wing was built in 1954 after Downing had returned from working at the International Labour Office and the couple decided to live there full-time. The third section was built after the death of Le Gallienne in 1963, aged 48. He is buried in the Eltham Cemetery. When Downing married widow, Jean Norman (nee McGregor) and had to accommodate a large family, including her six children and one of their own, the last stage was built by 1964. At that time the house was considered one of the largest mud-brick houses in Victoria. It consists of five living areas, including a small ballroom. Several artists helped Knox build the Downing-Le Gallienne house, which was one of his first of mud-brick. They included painter Clifton Pugh, artist John Howley and actor Wynn Roberts. Ellis Stones had landscaped the first wing and Gordon Ford set the boulder steps and made a pool as part of the landscaping he completed. Inside, the mud-bricks are largely whitewashed with pine-lined ceilings and Oregon beams. A winding timber staircase in the front extends behind a glass window from the ground floor to the top. The property, of a little more than 0.5 ha, is bordered by Parks Victoria land, which extends to the Yarra River.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, dorian le gallienne, downing-le gallienne house, eltham, mudbrick construction, mudbrick houses, richard downing, yarra braes road -
Bacchus Marsh & District Historical Society
Photograph, Harvest Home Hotel Main Street Bacchus Marsh c.1880s-1890s
The Harvest Home Hotel was licensed as a beer shop in 1866. Patrick Vallence was the licensee. On his death in 1874 his widow Mrs M. A. Vallence obtained the license. The date that this image was created has not been identified. Around 1883 George Marshall was leasing the hotel. The people in this image are could be members of the Marshall family and some of the staff who worked in the hotel at this time. Following a decrease in the population of Bacchus Marsh by 1911 the hotel had lost its licence. The Vallence family still owned the building after the loss of the hotel license in 1911and it was used for some years after this as a private residence by some members of the Vallence family. Small black and white photograph. The image depicts the Harvest Home Hotel situated in Main Street Bacchus Marsh. The name of the hotel can be seen above the verandah roof. The building appears to be of stone with decorative stonework corners. A verandah is inset to the left of a gabled front section which has its own door and window. A deep gutter runs along the front of the hotel, with a slab acting as a bridge to the road. Standing in front of the building facing the camera is a group of adults and children, men and women and boys and girls. A four seated buggy drawn by a single horse is also present in the image. The lantern erected above the horse trough can be seen.hotels bacchus marsh, vallence family bacchus marsh, marshall family bacchus marsh, harvest home hotel bacchus marsh