Brown hardcover exercise book, some handwriting in pencil and some in ink by Jean Mather. These writings describe geological conditions such as faults, goldfields, Reedy Creek (Broadford) and other Goldfields, Maldon Dykes, Bendigo Dykes, Wood's Point, Walhalla-Wood's Point Belt, Sir Donald Douglas Mather, The New Miner's Right (1977), ordivician, gabbro. jean mather, geology, trough faults, bendigo, ballarat, goldfields, dykes, minerolgy, reedy creek goldfield

A pictorial history of the heyday of the Walhalla-Wood's Point gold belt in the 1860's-1960'sHardcover. The cover is a gold colour. The front cover has a photograph of a group of miners in front of the entry to a mine. On the top entry timber piece is a sign saying "Old Mine". The beginning of the wording is obscured by one of the miners standing in front of the entry. There is also an old mining trolley standing on tracks which lead into the mine.There is also an old gold mining dish sitting on a rock to the left of the entry into the mine.On the back cover is a photograph of Walhalla in modern times as well as a photograph of the publisher of this book. There is also a blurb about the publisher.Stamp of the Marysville & District Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779gold, gold fields, gold mining, a1 mine settlement, aberfeldy, beardmore, black river group, coopers creek, donnellys creek, enochs point, fulton creek, gaffneys creek, gooleys creek, jamieson, jordan valley, kevington, knockwood, matlock, ten mile, walhalla, wood's point, history, victoria

A postcard in a series produced by the Rose Stereograph Company in Victoria, Australia as a souvenir of Marysville.A black and white photograph of the view of the surrounding hills from Nichol's Lookout which is on the Marysville-Wood's Point road near Marysville in Victoria. The Marysville-Woods Point Road was originally part of the Yarra Track, constructed in the early 1860s to provide access between Healesville and the Woods Point Goldfields. Despite the steep terrain and engineering difficulties, the Yarra Track soon became a busy route used by pack horses, horse-drawn drays, and wagons. Today this sealed mountain road is a popular scenic drive between Marysville and Warburton.POST CARD The "Rose" Series/ De Luxe A Real Photograph/ Produced in Australia Published by the Rose Stereograph Co.,/ Armadale, Victoria. "The Falls"/ Marysville/ Monday Dear Mrs Wilson. Just a line to let you know/ I'm here by Dr's advice. He advised me/ to get extended leave. I'm suffering from/ blood pressure so have to go slow-no/ walking-Ugh-a bitter pill to swallow/ in these glorious surroundings. However/ I'm feeling much better and hope on my/ return (Saturday) to be able to resume duty/ I trust you and yours are well, Your loving/ friend A Butler. Quite/ an imposing/ hotel now/ stands at/ Keppel's/ Corner./ A.B.nicol's lookout, lookout, marysville, victoria, p. 2324, rose series postcard, postcard, souvenir, yarra track, mining, wood's point

A directory of the local businesses, road guides and table of distances in the Wood's Point, Jamieson, Omeo and Bairnsdale areasHardback. Blue dust cover. Title in black on the front cover.Stamp of the Marysville & District / Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779directory, wood's point, gippsland, victoria, history, jamieson, bairnsdale, omeo, road guide, table of distances, advertisements

A postcard in a series produced by the Rose Stereograph Company in Victoria, Australia as a souvenir of Marysville.A colour photograph of the view of the surrounding hills from Nichol's Lookout which is on the Marysville-Wood's Point road near Marysville in Victoria.POST CARD The "Rose" Series/ De Luxe A Real Photograph/ Produced in Australia Published by the Rose Stereograph Co.,/ Armadale, Victoria. The country we're going is very rough/ different to this and rises between/ 2500 to 4500 feetnicol's lookout, lookout, marysville, victoria, p. 2324, rose series postcard, postcard, souvenir, marysville-wood's point road

History of Yarra Track from Melbourne to Wood's Point via Yarra Glen, Healesville and Marysville in gold mining era64 p. : ill., map, ports. ; 30 cm.ISBN 0959522417 [written on title page] With Best Wishes, Ann Thomas 12.11.86yarra glen

History of Yarra Track from Melbourne to Wood's Point via Yarra Glen, Healesville and Marysville in gold mining era56 p. : ill., ports. ; 30 cm. (revised edition)ISBN 0959522417yarra glen, marysville

A postcard in a series produced by the Rose Stereograph Company in Victoria, Australia as a souvenir of Marysville.An early sepia photograph of the view of the surrounding mountains taken from Jock's Lookout which is on the Marysville-Wood's Point Road near Marysville in Victoria.POST CARD THE "ROSE" SERIES/ DE LUXE/ REAL PHOTOS PRODUCED IN/ AUSTRALIA Published by the Rose Stereographs/ Armadale, Victoriajock's lookout, marysville, victoria, lookout, p. 2326, rose series postcard, postcard, souvenir

A postcard in a series produced by the Rose Stereograph Company in Victoria, Australia as a souvenir of Marysville.An early sepia photograph of the view of the surrounding mountains taken from Jock's Lookout which is on the Marysville-Wood's Point Road near Marysville in Victoria.POST CARD The "Rose" Series/ De Luxe A Real Photograph/ Produced in Australia Published by the Rose Stereograph Co.,/ Armadale, Victoriajock's lookout, marysville, victoria, lookout, p. 2326, rose series postcard, postcard, souvenir

Contents: • Next meeting, guest speaker; Ann Thomas: The Yarra Track-Eltham to Woods Point • Eltham Community Festival • November Meeting • Christmas Function • Banner Project • Recent Activities 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

Diggers & Mining. Diggers and miners. Walhalla - Gold Town. This map shows the position of Walhalla and other places mentioned in this film strip. (Note Wood's Point and Port Albert.) Markings: 6 995 WAL. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Diggers & Mining. Diggers and miners. Walhalla - Gold Town. In about the year 1860, prospectors discovered rich gold was at Gaffney's Creek and a little later gold-bearing rock was found at Wood's Point. Markings: 7 995 WAL. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Diggers & Mining. Diggers and miners. Walhalla - Gold Town. IN 1862, a party of prospectors, having worked southwards from Wood's Point for about 40 miles through rugged country such as this, - - - Photo shows rugged country. Markings: 9 995 WAL. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Diggers & Mining. Diggers and miners. Walhalla - Gold Town. This map shows the position of Walhalla and other places mentioned in this film strip. (Note Wood's Point and Port Albert.) Other places on map; Melbourne, Moe, Thomson River, Aberfeldy. Markings: 5 995 WAL. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Thought to have been made and used by one of the two Struss brothers who were both carpenters in Scotland before coming to Victoria in 1848 and 1854. They dealt in hardware, living and selling in Walhalla, Woods Point and Matlock. It finally became the property of Elsa Struss of South Yarra, the sister-in-law of the donor. Many tradesmen had chests such as this to carry and store tools.Large wooden box/trunk, painted Mission Brown. Three tin braces support each corner joint. Four hinges, two at the back and two inoperational at the front. Lid corners and edges braced with tin strips and shaped corners. Loop and hasp at front. Metal handles on the side. Pink paint on base.trades

Three red covered auction catalogues for a sale of electrical mining machinery, 20 head battery, plant, mine building, equipment and stores held on 3rd to 6th February, 1964 at the Morning Star Gold Mine at Woods Point, Victoria. Some descriptions of electrical equipment, plant and buildings. Auctioneers were J. H. Curnow & Son Pty. Ltd.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - morning star gold mine, j h curnow & son, lane printing pty ltd

Letter from M. Greaves of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria to Mr J.K. McCaskill outlining a small number of aspects of early settlement of Ringwood. +Additional Keywords: Lindsay, James / Pett, Joseph / Quigley, James / Wiggin, George Thomas / Cobb & Co / Railway / Lilydale / Kaolin discovery in Victoria / Antimony / Wood's Point Run / White Horse Hotel at Box Hill

Thirty six page foolscap booklet with some black and white photographic image. It includs statistics relating to the mining industry. Images include Limestone Quarry at Cave Hill, Lilydale; Golden Retriever nuggett; The Wedderburn Dog nuggett; Moning Star Mine, Wood's Point; shallow drilling; penicillin tanks; Mines Department Laboratory; Charging; Aurora Mine, Daylesford; Hattietville Dredge; North Deborah Mine, Bendigo; Central Victorian Dredge, Strangwaysj.g. gouley, mining, coal, gold, silver, geology, boiler inspection, leasing, gold buyers act, lilydale, fireclay, harrietville dredge, aurora mine daylesford, williams reward mine daylesford, strangways dredge, north deborah mine bendigo, statistics, bendigo mine, department of mines victoria, annual report, statistics relating to mining industry

Three red covered auction catalogues for a sale on the 18th to 20th November, 1968 at the A.1. Consolidated Gold Mine A.1. Mine Settlement, 9 Miles from Woods Point, Vic. For sale was Most Valuable Electrical Mining Machinery, 20 Head Battery, Plant Equipment and Stores and Staff and Miners Homes - Mine Buildings Under Instruction from The Secretary for Mines. Also for sale was the Lease No. 8317 Beechworth. Catalogue has a Sketch Plan showing Mine Property.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - a1 consolidated gold mine, the secretary for mines, j h curnow & son pty ltd, f c dyett, l c osborne, clem hill, t apps, bolton's print

Wilks Creek Bridge was built in 1870. It was last used for heavy vehicle traffic in 1980 and left to decay until it was demolished in 2008. The last remnants of the timber structure were destroyed in the Black Saturday bushfire of 7 February 2009. [from EDHS Newsletter No. 93, November 1993:] OTHER NEWS A small group of members represented the Society at the opening of the picnic ground at the historic Wilks Creek Bridge at Marysville. The event included the launching of a booklet by our friend Ann Thomas on the history of the bridge which was located on the old Yarra Track coaching route between Eltham and Woods Point. Ann has donated a copy of the booklet to our Society.Two colour photographsactivities, marysville, wilks creek bridge

A history of the Wilks Creek Bridge and its connection to the Yarra TrackPaperback. Front cover has an old photograph of the Wilks Creek Bridge.Dear Reader, The pen has only to select one of the many stages of building old Yarra Track,/ for a colorful story subject. The Track, first established in the early 1860's to/ serve goldseekers making their hazardous way to the rich Wood's Point goldfields,/ extended some 160km from Eltham - in Melbourne's northern region to Woods/ Point in the eastern ranges. I hope a glimmer of the excitement of those times comes through as I draw/ your attention to old Wilks Creek bridge and its picnic spot to be found 3.5km/ west of Marysville. Once part of Yarra Track and now superseded by a modern/ roadway alongside, the old bridge with its solid masonry walls either side of the/ cold, pure stream makes a pleasing scene for the visitor. With much pleasure/ I dedicate this narrative to Marysville and District Historical Society./ Ann Thomas Stamp of Marysville & District / Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779wilks creek, marysville, yarra track, victoria, history, local history

Archir Harker was married to Ruby Wilson and mentioned in the "Wielands of Heathmont "book. From Greg Coker: In August 2023, RDHS asked Greg Coker to scan a set of negatives. He was able to work out, through various notes, that the pictures were taken by J A Harker of 9 Grange St, Mont Albert in the mid 50s to the mid 60s. Most of the film was 9cm X 6cm B&W negatives. All pictures have been cropped and where appropriate, put through a light filter. They have been scanned at 1600ppi resulting in ~3meg B&W shots (~5meg for the half dozen colour shots). The Harkers certainly liked their hiking – they were ahead of their time. Images scanned from packet of negatives with name of Harker, and receipt dated April 1958. From Andrews Camera Store. (1 copy of each negative ordered) After scanning in 2023 by Greg Coker, the negatives were disposed and just the packet retained. Some photos may be duplciated in other VC Harker/Weiland family records if the original prints were donated. Greg's comments: 1958 – Original Negatives. Marysville Holiday. April 58 was when these were developed, as there was a note on the packet. There is a picture at the top of Woods Point that identifies Marysville.Your Snapshots, by Andrews Camera Stores, 69-71 Elizabeth St, Melbourne. For Dependable Developing Printing and Enlarging.

Christoher Watson's Eltham Hotel, cnr Maria Street (Main Road) and Pitt Street, Eltham. Christopher Watson in centre (bareheaded). Reproduced on p60 of 'Pioneers & Painters' The hotel was constructed in the 1850s immediately following the discovery of gold in Victoria. The original founder, a Mr Warren. engaged a builder named Wallace, to erect the hotel, and being unable to finance it, the story goes, handed it over to Mr Wallace, who finished the job, and received the first licence. The building was constructed of hard basaltic blue stone, quarried in the Eltham district, and partly of bricks made at Eltham. At that time the town owned not only an hotel, but a flour mill, a brewery, a brickworks, and other important industries. The hotel was carried on for the benefit of the first owners for over 30 years and was then purchased by Mr Chris Watson. The hotel was in the early days a well-known resting place for the gold diggers during the gold rush at Woods' Point. A new hotel was erected on the same site by Mr H. Watson in 1925.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 imagechristopher watson, eltham, hotel, main road, maria street, pioneers and painters, pitt street, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, watson's hotel

Christoher Watson's Eltham Hotel, cnr Maria Street (Main Road) and Pitt Street, Eltham. Christopher Watson in centre (bareheaded). Reproduced on p60 of 'Pioneers & Painters' The hotel was constructed in the 1850s immediately following the discovery of gold in Victoria. The original founder, a Mr Warren. engaged a builder named Wallace, to erect the hotel, and being unable to finance it, the story goes, handed it over to Mr Wallace, who finished the job, and received the first licence. The building was constructed of hard basaltic blue stone, quarried in the Eltham district, and partly of bricks made at Eltham. At that time the town owned not only an hotel, but a flour mill, a brewery, a brickworks, and other important industries. The hotel was carried on for the benefit of the first owners for over 30 years and was then purchased by Mr Chris Watson. The hotel was in the early days a well-known resting place for the gold diggers during the gold rush at Woods' Point. A new hotel was erected on the same site by Mr H. Watson in 1925.Early photo of Eltham Hotel which has been on site in various forms since mid 1800sSepia photograph mounted on cardInscribed on back: "Property of Mr Albert Watson, 53 Yarra St, Heidelberg. Christopher Watson (bare headed) Given to Marion Huggett December 1977 c.1900 son of Watson Snr behind cart"christopher watson, eltham, eltham hotel, main road, maria street, pioneers and painters, pitt street, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, watson's hotel

Photograph of a wood engraving showing a group of people gathered around a bank window, inspecting the gold that has been produced by the mining companies. On the reverse in biro is written Commercial Bank, Sandhurst (View Point ), wood engraving from a Melbourne illustrated weekly.topic, mining, gold production, cakes of gold, commercial bank, view point, bank window

The Eltham Hotel is the oldest continually operating hotel in the Eltham district. Initially referred to as the Little Eltham Hotel, it has been known as the Eltham Hotel since the mid-1850s through to the present except for a brief period as the Eltham Tavern in the late 1980s. The original hotel opened in 1854 by Richard Warren was built by Benjamin Oliver Wallis. The Fountain of Friendship Hotel on the opposite side of Maria Street (Main Road) opened shortly after. The hotel was a well-known resting place for gold diggers during the gold rush at Woods’ Point and Warren would buy the gold from the diggers. Warren ran into financial difficulties and determined to return to England. Wallis bought the hotel in 1861 and ran it till 1886 when he sold it to Christopher Watson Snr. When Christopher Watson Snr died a year after purchase, his son Christopher took over until his death in 1909 when it passed to wife Emily and then their youngest son, Herbert James (Jim) Watson in 1915. In July 1925, Jim Watson demolished the original building and, in its place, erected a modern hotel which remains the foundation of the present-day Eltham Hotel. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p41This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham, eltham hotel, main road, pitt street

A postcard in a series produced by the Rose Stereograph Company in Victoria, Australia as a souvenir of Marysville.A colour photograph of Steavenson Falls in Marysville, Victoria. The Steavenson Falls is named after the Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson, who arrived in Victoria in the early 1860s. At 84 metres high, Steavenson Falls is Victoria's tallest cascading waterfall. The falls are split into roughly five cascades, with the last of these plunging into a small, picturesque rock pool. Rose Series Postcard No. 3530. The Marysville Story/ Marysville lies in the Great Dividing/ Range, a peaceful town where lush/ mountain forests provide a perfect setting/ for bush walks or just relaxing. Lookouts/ and waterfalls abound, the most famous/ being Steavenson Falls, one of the tallest/ in Victoria and spectacularly floodlit at/ night./ Established in 1863, Marysville was/ named after the wife of surveyor John/ Steavenson. The discovery of gold at/ Woods Point meant that it became/ an important stopover for/ diggers on their/ way to the/ goldfields. Steavenson Falls POST CARD The "Rose" Series/ De Luxe Proudly Printed in/ Australia Since 1880 AFFIX/ STAMP/HERE/ Rose Series/ Post Card No./ 3530 ADDRESS/ POSTCODE the MARYSVILLE STORY & Steavenson Falls/ MARYSVILLE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA/ Photo Neil Cutts Copyright Rose Stereograph Co., Glen Waverley, Victoria (03) 9560 7772marysville, steavenson falls, victoria, postcard, souvenir, rose stereograph co, 3530, john steavenson

A postcard in a series produced by the Rose Stereograph Company in Victoria, Australia as a souvenir of Marysville.A colour photograph of Steavenson Falls in Marysville, Victoria. The Steavenson Falls is named after the Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson, who arrived in Victoria in the early 1860s. At 84 metres high, Steavenson Falls is Victoria's tallest cascading waterfall. The falls are split into roughly five cascades, with the last of these plunging into a small, picturesque rock pool. The Rose Series postcard No. 3530. The Marysville Story/ Marysville lies in the Great Dividing/ Range, a peaceful town where lush/ mountain forests provide a perfect setting/ for bush walks or just relaxing. Lookouts/ and waterfalls abound, the most famous/ being Steavenson Falls, one of the tallest/ in Victoria and spectacularly floodlit at/ night./ Established in 1863, Marysville was/ named after the wife of surveyor John/ Steavenson. The discovery of gold at/ Woods Point meant that it became/ an important stopover for/ diggers on their/ way to the/ goldfields. Steavenson Falls POST CARD The "Rose" Series/ De Luxe Proudly Printed in/ Australia Since 1880 AFFIX/ STAMP/HERE/ Rose Series/ Post Card No./ 3530 ADDRESS/ POSTCODE the MARYSVILLE STORY & Steavenson Falls/ MARYSVILLE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA/ Photo Neil Cutts Copyright Rose Stereograph Co., Glen Waverley, Victoria (03) 9560 7772marysville, steavenson falls, victoria, postcard, souvenir, rose stereograph co, 3530, john steavenson

Initially known as the ‘Kangaroo Hotel,’ this photo shows the sign ‘Kangaroo Ground Hotel’ and William McLaughlin as the proprietor, which dates it between 1871 and 1882. The first hotel known as the Kangaroo Hotel was built at the top of the hill by Andrew Ross in 1864 commencing April; a license was obtained, and the bar opened by Edmund Pickett, the tenant, on 11th of July. The hotel was ready for public accommodation by September, 1864. On June 27, 1864, Edmund Pickett, residing at Kangaroo Ground, gave notice to the Bench of Magistrates at Eltham that it was his intention to apply on July 6th for a certificate authorising the issue of a Publican’s Licence for a house rented and occupied by himself, situated at Kangaroo Ground, containing two sitting rooms and five bedrooms exclusive of those required for the use of his family. On February 7, 1866, Edmund Pickett, publican, residing at Kangaroo Ground, applied at the Court of Petty Sessions held at Eltham for a Publican’s License for a house situated at the Kangaroo Ground, containing six bedrooms and two sitting rooms, rented and occupied by himself and licensed under the sign of the 'Kangaroo Hotel.' In 1866, with few boarders at the school and needing to reduce expenses, Ross had the bedroom house removed from the school and placed in contiguity to the hotel, the occupier to have the post office. The house was re-erected with a kitchen addition and was opened as the Post Office & General Store on April 1st. Throughout 1870 Andrew Ross found himself at odds with Pickett - he "felt much dissatisfaction at my having a hotel especially kept by a man of loose principals and low habits" and so served him notice to vacate by December 31st, occupying it himself on January 1, 1871, calling it Rossville House. William McLaughlin and his wife kept the store and post office. As a hotel was now wanted and McLaughlin was desirous to obtain a license, Ross set about making the Store building suitable which was achieved towards the end of 1871. Ross notes in his diary that the Store hotel was finished January 1, 1872. At the Court of Petty Sessions held at Eltham on 5 December 1871, William McLaughlin applied for a license for the Kangaroo Hotel, Kangaroo Ground. He had previously obtained a wine license, March 28. In June 1882, William McLaughlin of Madeline Street, Carlton, (late of Kangaroo Ground, hotelkeeper) was found insolvent due to losses in connection with the Kangaroo Ground Hotel. The license for the hotel was later transferred from Mr John Donaldson to Mrs Sophia Greenaway. It appears during McLaughlin’s tenure the hotel became known as the Kangaroo Ground Hotel. The hotel was replaced with a new wooden building in 1892, constructed by W.Holland and described as being "of a neat appearance, roomy, and fittled up with all modern requirements necessary in a business of this kind." This building was destroyed by fire in 1930. References: Ross, Andrew, 1814-1895 & Woiwod, Mick & Andrew Ross Museum. (2011). The diary of Andrew Ross 1828-1895 & the reminiscences of Andrew Ross 1851-1864 / edited, annotated and introduced by Mick Woiwod for the Andrew Ross Museum, Kangaroo Ground. Kangaroo Ground, [Vic.] : Tarcoola Press in association with the Andrew Ross Museum The Evelyn Observer, (1892, June 24). Evelyn Observer, and South and East Bourke Record (Vic. : 1882 - 1902), p. 2 (MORNING.). Retrieved May 13, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60667494 REMINISCENCES. (1893, April 21). Evelyn Observer, and South and East Bourke Record (Vic. : 1882 - 1902), p. 2 (MORNING.). Retrieved May 10, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60669116 REMINISCENCES COUNTY EVELYN. BY Andrew Ross. (No. 41) The summer of 1863-4 may be re membered by many colonists as one of the most enjoyable as regards wet weather, and it was one made remarkable by the enterprise and activity apparent throughout Evelyn County. This spirit was fostered and encouraged by the prospect presented from the opening up of the new route to the Jordan and Wood's Point, and the consequent occupation of lands and special localities along the main track. Accommodation for travellers were established at Yarra Flats, the future Healesville, Fernshaw, Marysville, while the beauties and difficulties of the Black Spur, together with the romantic region of the Stephenson Waterfalls mid the mountain forests attracted visitors other than the gold diggers. Before the end of this year 1863, the new route to Wood's Point by the Dividing Range had been so far improved that a track was laid off by the New Chum Creak, Paradise Plains, and the Springs to Emerald Hill, about half way between Jordan and Wood's Point, and the clearing of this track was looked forward to as enabling drays to be employed. The Government had so far yielded to the demands made upon it, that the work was proceeded with early in 1864. In March of that year the writer was favoured by a visit from Mr. Ligne, Surveyor-General, who was enroute to inspect the progress of the undertaking. He was accompanied by Mr. Collins Levey, his son-in-law, who had been a frequent visitor with his friend Mr. Franklin, of the Melbourne Herald newspaper, These parties, and not a few others, were glad to partake of the hospitality of residents on the Ground or, at Yarra Flats when as yet no public accommodation existed. Horsemen and pedestrians became numerous ere winter set in, and there was obviously the want of the hotel which was planned and commenced late in the autumn. The absence of any endeavour on that score by local proprietors induced the writer to undertake the erection of the Kangaroo Ground Hotel, which he did on his own responsibility. The spot best suited for the hotel being held by him on lease, he was permitted by the landlord to devote the required portion of land for the premises to be erected and occupied. Before this was accomplished the imported houses placed near the schoolhouse which had served for bedroom to boarded pupils were rebuilt near the hotel and served for a general store and post office also. Delay was experienced in procuring all the materials for the new building. After the break in the weather the roads on the Ground became very heavy and as timber had to come from town, it was under difficulties that the supply was procured. Bricks for chimneys were made in a small kiln, and hardwood for joists, &c., provided by sawyers employed for the purpose in the bush. The hotel, in consequence, was not ready for public accommodation until the spring, although a license was obtained, and the bar opened by Mr. Pickett, the tenant, on 11th of July. It may be remarked that the house was rather late in being established; a year earlier it would have secured the benefit of the rush to the new diggings, but in another sense it was rather premature for as yet no steps had been taken by the authorities to stop or even discourage the sale of liquor by unlicensed parties, and the holder of a license had to compete with the class in question. As the season (1864) advanced there were parties anxious to be the pioneers in traversing the whole of the route to Wood’s Point, but it was nigh to summer again before the track was available to vehicular traffic. I believe one of the first to effect the whole passage in this way was Mr. Gillies, some time settled at Mortlake. He drove a buggy and called at the Ground on 9th September, stating his intention to drive through to the Point, and we were subsequently informed that he had accomplished the task. (End of Reminiscences No 41)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 (neg copy missing) Print 21 x 26.5 cmeltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground hotel, post office, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, gas lamp, hotels, kangaroo hotel, william mclaughlin, andrew ross, edmund pickett