Contents: • Next meeting, Members’ Discussion Evening • September Meeting • Spring Excursion • Reg Preston – Potter • The Orford Family – Eltham • Shire Environment Week • Other Society News 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

The former Police residence and Justice precinct including courthouse and stables) were being renovated for use by the Shire of Eltham. In 1998 the Police Residence was handed over to the Eltham District Historical Society for their use as a Local History Centre. Note that the replica police station to the right of the residence has not been constructed at this stage. The original timber station having been demolished due to termite action.Colour photographeltham, main road, police residence

The former Police residence and Justice precinct including courthouse and stables) were being renovated for use by the Shire of Eltham. In 1998 the Police Residence was handed over to the Eltham District Historical Society for their use as a Local History Centre. Note that the replica police station to the right of the residence has not been constructed at this stage. The original timber station having been demolished due to termite action.Colour photographeltham, main road, stables, police residence

Opening ceremony of the new home of Eltham District Historical Society Colour photographeltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, opening day, russell yeoman

Including Gwen Baker, Liz Dimanski and mother, Joan Acland, Bruce Ness, Diana Bassett-Smith and Gwen OrfordOpening ceremony of the new home of Eltham District Historical Society Colour photographeltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, opening day, peter bassett-smith, diana bassett-smith, liz dimanski, gwen baker, joan acland, bruce ness, gwen orford

Back Row L-R: Marion Yeoman, Lois Loftus-Hills, Doug Orford, Jo McCormick, Peter Bassett-Smith, Helen Harbeck, John Graves Front Row L-R: Blanche Shallard, Leslie Martin, Opal Smith, Mary Ryan, Joy Ness, Gwen BakerOpening ceremony of the new home of Eltham District Historical Society Colour photographeltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, opening day, peter bassett-smith, marion yeoman, lois loftus hills, doug orford, jo mccormick, helen harbeck, john graves, blanche shallard, leslie martin, opal smith, mary ryan, joy ness, gwen baker

Opening Ceremony of Local History Centre, 728 Main Road, Eltham, Sunday, July 12th, 19982 colour photographseltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, opening day

Opening Ceremony of Local History Centre, 728 Main Road, Eltham, Sunday, July 12th, 19982 colour photographseltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, opening day, doug orford, gwen orford, jo mccormick, john graves, mary ryan, opal smith, peter bassett-smith

Held in conjunction with Christmas break-up BBQ Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 President's Report At our break-up barbecue local Nillumbik Councillor, Diane Bullen of Mt Pleasant Ward, unveiled the sign. She spoke briefly on the history of the building's use since 1860 and also reminded us that the National Trust has recognised the building as being one of two oldest known police residences in the metropolitan area (the other being at Heidelberg).7 colour photographseltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, activities, cr. diane bullen, dedication, harry gilham, russell yeoman, diana bassett-smith, peter bassett-smith, doug orford

Held in conjunction with Christmas break-up BBQ Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 President's Report At our break-up barbecue local Nillumbik Councillor, Diane Bullen of Mt Pleasant Ward, unveiled the sign. She spoke briefly on the history of the building's use since 1860 and also reminded us that the National Trust has recognised the building as being one of two oldest known police residences in the metropolitan area (the other being at Heidelberg).Colour photographeltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, activities, cr. diane bullen, dedication

Held in conjunction with Christmas break-up BBQ Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 President's Report At our break-up barbecue local Nillumbik Councillor, Diane Bullen of Mt Pleasant Ward, unveiled the sign. She spoke briefly on the history of the building's use since 1860 and also reminded us that the National Trust has recognised the building as being one of two oldest known police residences in the metropolitan area (the other being at Heidelberg).Colour photographeltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, activities, cr. diane bullen, dedication

Held in conjunction with Christmas break-up BBQ Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 President's Report At our break-up barbecue local Nillumbik Councillor, Diane Bullen of Mt Pleasant Ward, unveiled the sign. She spoke briefly on the history of the building's use since 1860 and also reminded us that the National Trust has recognised the building as being one of two oldest known police residences in the metropolitan area (the other being at Heidelberg).Colour photographeltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, activities, cr. diane bullen, dedication

Held in conjunction with Christmas break-up BBQ Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 President's Report At our break-up barbecue local Nillumbik Councillor, Diane Bullen of Mt Pleasant Ward, unveiled the sign. She spoke briefly on the history of the building's use since 1860 and also reminded us that the National Trust has recognised the building as being one of two oldest known police residences in the metropolitan area (the other being at Heidelberg).2 colour photographseltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, activities, cr. diane bullen, dedication

Held in conjunction with Christmas break-up BBQ Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 President's Report At our break-up barbecue local Nillumbik Councillor, Diane Bullen of Mt Pleasant Ward, unveiled the sign. She spoke briefly on the history of the building's use since 1860 and also reminded us that the National Trust has recognised the building as being one of two oldest known police residences in the metropolitan area (the other being at Heidelberg).2 colour photographseltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, activities, cr. diane bullen, dedication

Held in conjunction with Christmas break-up BBQ Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 President's Report At our break-up barbecue local Nillumbik Councillor, Diane Bullen of Mt Pleasant Ward, unveiled the sign. She spoke briefly on the history of the building's use since 1860 and also reminded us that the National Trust has recognised the building as being one of two oldest known police residences in the metropolitan area (the other being at Heidelberg).Colour photographeltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, activities, stables

L-R: Diana Bassett-Smith, Doug Orford, Keith Banks, Gwen Orford Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 President's Report At our break-up barbecue local Nillumbik Councillor, Diane Bullen of Mt Pleasant Ward, unveiled the sign. She spoke briefly on the history of the building's use since 1860 and also reminded us that the National Trust has recognised the building as being one of two oldest known police residences in the metropolitan area (the other being at Heidelberg).Colour photographeltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, activities, stables, doug orford, diana bassett-smith, gwen orford, keith banks

courthouse, Eltham, Eltham Courthouse, Eltham Justice Precinct, local history centre, Main Road, police residence, Police Station Four colour photographs 10 x 15 cm

The portable lock up at Eltham is not original to the site. The date of construction is unknown. It is a pre-fabricated design and each of the timber panels are individually numbered on the inside surfaces. It is amongst a large group of portable locks up,categorised as 'Portable Lock Up - Timber - Later' and also known as the "Casterton style", based on the only known plan for portable lock ups, built for the Casterton Police Station, in 1907. The later portables have been in use since the 1880s. It is not known how many lock ups of this type have been constructed in Victoria. At least 50 examples have been documented around the state. Of these, 42 are known to be extant.This lockup used to be located at the Police Station in Pryor Street and was then stored in Youth Road before being acquired for the Local History Centre 9 colour photographseltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, courthouse, youth road

The portable lockup at Eltham is not original to the site. The date of construction is unknown, believed from the 1880s. It is a prefabricated design and each of the timber panels are individually numbered on the inside surfaces. It is amongst a large group of portable lockups, categorised as 'Portable Lock Up - Timber - Later' and also known as the "Casterton style", based on the only known plan for portable lock ups, built for the Casterton Police Station, in 1907. The later portables have been in use since the 1880s. It is not known how many lock ups of this type have been constructed in Victoria. At least 50 examples have been documented around the state. Of these, 42 are known to be extant. The original 1860s site lockup was a 2-cell bluestone construction. Some of the original bluestone remains. It was used in the 1970s as traffic island edging at the intersection of Main Road and Wattletree Road where it was painted white then later relocated back to this site in the 1980s to be used as edging for a driveway access off Main Road beside the former Police Residence where the Police Station originally stood. Evidence of some of this edging remains in place today leading to the replica Police Station. Other blocks were used to define the garden edging in the carpark at the rear of the residence.This lockup used to be located at the Police Station in Pryor Street and was then stored in Youth Road before being acquired for the Local History Centre 3 colour photographseltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, courthouse, youth road

The portable lock up at Eltham is not original to the site. The date of construction is unknown. It is a pre-fabricated design and each of the timber panels are individually numbered on the inside surfaces. It is amongst a large group of portable locks up,categorised as 'Portable Lock Up - Timber - Later' and also known as the "Casterton style", based on the only known plan for portable lock ups, built for the Casterton Police Station, in 1907. The later portables have been in use since the 1880s. It is not known how many lock ups of this type have been constructed in Victoria. At least 50 examples have been documented around the state. Of these, 42 are known to be extant.This lockup used to be located at the Police Station in Pryor Street and was then stored in Youth Road before being acquired for the Local History Centre 2 colour photographseltham, main road, police residence, local history centre, eltham district historical society, courthouse, youth road

Betty Lynch OAM, daughter of William Everard and sister of Blanche Shallard This photo appears to have been taken at a later date to the dedication ceremony of 22 April.This lockup used to be located at the Police Station in Pryor Street and was then stored in Youth Road before being acquired for the Local History Centre Colour photographbetty lynch, everard memorial, mt everard, kinglake national park, blanche shallard

Colour photographeltham, activities, main road, eltham district historical society, local history centre, heritage excursion, russell yeoman

Left to right, Society Members: Alison and Wal Delaney, - , Robyn Wood, Russell Yeoman, Harry GilhamColour photographeltham, activities, main road, eltham district historical society, local history centre, heritage excursion, russell yeoman, alison delaney, wal delaney, robyn wood, harry gilham

ELTHAM HERITAGE TOUR The Society excursion on 24th May 1992 was arranged by David Bick, leader of the team carrying out the Shire's heritage study. David selected a number of sites or buildings identified in the study, some of them lesser known components of the Shire's heritage. The tour commenced at the Eltham Shire Office at 10.00 am. Travel was by private car and mini-bus with stops at about twelve locations for commentary by David.It included a short walk in Hurstbridge and lunch at Kinglake. Highlights of the tour included: - 10 am Leave from Shire Offices - 3 Important Trees - A Physical Link to Eltham's First Settlers - Toorak Mansion Gates - A Surviving Farm House - An Intact Circa 1900 Main Street - First Settlers - Gold Miners, and Timber-getters - An Early Hotel - A Pioneering Homestead - Changing Eltham Shire - 20th Century - 4 pm Afternoon Tea and Finish Tour Extract from ELTHAM CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR (Newsletter No. 85, July 1992, by Bettina Woodburn) "Commencing with a quick walk to see the magnificent bell at the Eltham Fire Station, we then 'drove along Arthur Street. Here were examples of what constitutes the building environment of Eltham. Massed among the wattles and eucalypts were golden cypress and pines; No. 50 was an exotic 'old English' manor-house; No. 93 had bluestone gateposts, from Fenton Road Toorak (as with Montsalvat, using re-cycled building material was very much the trend); past the natural Reserve dedicated to the artist Walter Withers, a plaque on a huge boulder; and on both sides houses in the various modes - timber with wrought iron decor, brick-some more recent than others, decades of 'suburbia'."Record of the Society's history and activities and highlighting various aspects of the Heritage Study undertaken by David Bick used to create the future heritage overlay for the Shire of Eltham and later Nillumbik Shire.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100 5095eltham, main road, shire of eltham historical society, activities, heritage tour, cfa

ELTHAM HERITAGE TOUR The Society excursion on 24th May 1992 was arranged by David Bick, leader of the team carrying out the Shire's heritage study. David selected a number of sites or buildings identified in the study, some of them lesser known components of the Shire's heritage. The tour commenced at the Eltham Shire Office at 10.00 am. Travel was by private car and mini-bus with stops at about twelve locations for commentary by David.It included a short walk in Hurstbridge and lunch at Kinglake. Highlights of the tour included: - 10 am Leave from Shire Offices - 3 Important Trees - A Physical Link to Eltham's First Settlers - Toorak Mansion Gates - A Surviving Farm House - An Intact Circa 1900 Main Street - First Settlers - Gold Miners, and Timber-getters - An Early Hotel - A Pioneering Homestead - Changing Eltham Shire - 20th Century - 4 pm Afternoon Tea and Finish Tour Extract from ELTHAM CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR (Newsletter No. 85, July 1992, by Bettina Woodburn) "The land was unprofitable for intensive farming, but there was always water in the Diamond Creek. The railway, a technological advance, followed the valley, and was provided to transport produce. At North Eltham we were privileged to tour a surviving farmhouse of the 1860-70 era at the Shire’s Edendale Farm, with the as yet unfinished Sculpture for a front fence - bulbous tree-trunks decorated with salt pots, with cross members from the old trestle bridge. As was usual these six veranda posted houses faced South (or East, away from the sun!) with the scullery, kitchen and pantry "out the back". The veranda, which must have been very narrow, no longer exists. It probably wrapped around three sides. The drive took us past the Dutch Windmill, only twenty years old and in the Shire of Diamond Valley, then the Diamond Creek Cemetery with impressive gateway, to a detour to see another old farmhouse, isolated on a hill off Murray Road Wattle Glen. Here was a particularly thick patch of exotic planting of pines and cypresses. Subsistence farming no longer pays. Following the rail-line we noticed on the left near Silvan Road an Edwardian cottage and on the right near Yates Road the old school residence for this Upper Diamond Creek area."Record of the Society's history and activities and highlighting various aspects of the Heritage Study undertaken by David Bick used to create the future heritage overlay for the Shire of Eltham and later Nillumbik Shire.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100 5095eltham, shire of eltham historical society, activities, heritage tour

ELTHAM HERITAGE TOUR The Society excursion on 24th May 1992 was arranged by David Bick, leader of the team carrying out the Shire's heritage study. David selected a number of sites or buildings identified in the study, some of them lesser known components of the Shire's heritage. The tour commenced at the Eltham Shire Office at 10.00 am. Travel was by private car and mini-bus with stops at about twelve locations for commentary by David.It included a short walk in Hurstbridge and lunch at Kinglake. Highlights of the tour included: - 10 am Leave from Shire Offices - 3 Important Trees - A Physical Link to Eltham's First Settlers - Toorak Mansion Gates - A Surviving Farm House - An Intact Circa 1900 Main Street - First Settlers - Gold Miners, and Timber-getters - An Early Hotel - A Pioneering Homestead - Changing Eltham Shire - 20th Century - 4 pm Afternoon Tea and Finish Tour Extract from ELTHAM CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR (Newsletter No. 85, July 1992, by Bettina Woodburn) "Leaving the cars at Hurstbridge we walked the main street of the old village settlement, now a suburb. Near the station was a fine Edwardian house complete with palm and pines. Opposite was the Police Station, 1930-60 with a portable lock-up behind and the residence beside it. No. 794 was the Post Off1ce 3099 the-original shop-front window now has mail-boxes below. Close to the Railway entrance the butcher's shop remains unchanged, but across the road the linear shopping centre tries to keep the character of the olden times. The Fire Bell once hung on a tall gum outside No. 832. Palms in front gardens indicate the age of some of the homes, about 70 years. A corrugated iron shed still stands on the front fence line next to No. 840. Adding to the streetscape is an example of the standard timber early 20th century four veranda post suburban villa."Record of the Society's history and activities and highlighting various aspects of the Heritage Study undertaken by David Bick used to create the future heritage overlay for the Shire of Eltham and later Nillumbik Shire.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100 5095shire of eltham historical society, activities, heritage tour, hurstbridge, shops

ELTHAM HERITAGE TOUR The Society excursion on 24th May 1992 was arranged by David Bick, leader of the team carrying out the Shire's heritage study. David selected a number of sites or buildings identified in the study, some of them lesser known components of the Shire's heritage. The tour commenced at the Eltham Shire Office at 10.00 am. Travel was by private car and mini-bus with stops at about twelve locations for commentary by David.It included a short walk in Hurstbridge and lunch at Kinglake. Highlights of the tour included: - 10 am Leave from Shire Offices - 3 Important Trees - A Physical Link to Eltham's First Settlers - Toorak Mansion Gates - A Surviving Farm House - An Intact Circa 1900 Main Street - First Settlers - Gold Miners, and Timber-getters - An Early Hotel - A Pioneering Homestead - Changing Eltham Shire - 20th Century - 4 pm Afternoon Tea and Finish Tour Extract from ELTHAM CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR (Newsletter No. 85, July 1992, by Bettina Woodburn) "At the crossroads stands Allwood House with its well laid out garden. The original owners, the Hurst family, ran a nursery; the aligned palms, the cactus clumps, the introduced trees and shrubs show the plants then in fashion. On the other corners stand an old corrugated iron garage; a restaurant, designed and built 1980, but by using old materials it tries to retain the rustic character of its surroundings; and open space where a two storied Wineshop/Saloon once stood. The old Bank, now in the grounds of Allwood House has been moved a few doors down the street."Record of the Society's history and activities and highlighting various aspects of the Heritage Study undertaken by David Bick used to create the future heritage overlay for the Shire of Eltham and later Nillumbik Shire.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100 5095shire of eltham historical society, activities, heritage tour, hurstbridge, allwood house

ELTHAM HERITAGE TOUR The Society excursion on 24th May 1992 was arranged by David Bick, leader of the team carrying out the Shire's heritage study. David selected a number of sites or buildings identified in the study, some of them lesser known components of the Shire's heritage. The tour commenced at the Eltham Shire Office at 10.00 am. Travel was by private car and mini-bus with stops at about twelve locations for commentary by David.It included a short walk in Hurstbridge and lunch at Kinglake. Highlights of the tour included: - 10 am Leave from Shire Offices - 3 Important Trees - A Physical Link to Eltham's First Settlers - Toorak Mansion Gates - A Surviving Farm House - An Intact Circa 1900 Main Street - First Settlers - Gold Miners, and Timber-getters - An Early Hotel - A Pioneering Homestead - Changing Eltham Shire - 20th Century - 4 pm Afternoon Tea and Finish Tour Extract from ELTHAM CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR (Newsletter No. 85, July 1992, by Bettina Woodburn) "On the Arthurs Creek Road is a bridge designed by Monash, which we admired before walking across the little park with a mud-brick and timber shelter, to the Hurst family graveyard. There are two marked graves, one, Henry who was shot by Burke the bushranger and a cairn has a plaque listing others buried here from 1866 onwards. Burke was captured and tied to the wheel of a dray under the eucalypt near the waterhose/standpipe. Close by the kindergarten, at this place are three trees on the National Trust Register, a Canary Island pine, a Canadian cedar and probably a spruce. Radiata pines and a thick bolled peppercorn surround the little cemetery. Continuing along Main Street we notice elm trees planted as a war memorial, then on the left a 1930 timber house, a 1910 store and residence, resplendent with wrought iron trim, a double fronted Hardware Store and cypresses on the back alignment of a new vacant block. On the right side of the street is a less interesting attempt at an 'in character' shop. Further on are more early homes, one tucked away at the rear with two tall palms by the front steps. Another curiosity is a rounded veranda corner and there are more galvanised iron sheds or garages, before a mud-brick Dentist's Surgery. Beyond the round-a-about is St Peters Church, of mud-brick construction shared by Catholic and Anglican parishioners, overlooking the river flood plain. Leaving Hurstbridge on the Kinglake Road, we ate our picnic lunch beside the communication tower and enjoyed views of Melbourne, Yan Yean Reservoir and the distant Dandenongs beyond the spreading suburbs. Next we drove to the North West boundary of the Shire at Masons Falls Road towards Whittlesea. On the way to the North East Boundary we passed St Peters, a yellow wooden Church with a Tudor Archway; built in the early 1920's in the style of the 1860's. From the Healesville-Kinglake road the rolling hills had European aspects, the hedged fields and chestnut trees. Then it was back down the Hurstbridge Road through 'Aussie' bush of towering gums, with bracken and scrubby understorey, the Kinglake National Park, before more open country with deciduous trees planted in line, and a creek lined with willows."Record of the Society's history and activities and highlighting various aspects of the Heritage Study undertaken by David Bick used to create the future heritage overlay for the Shire of Eltham and later Nillumbik Shire.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100 5095shire of eltham historical society, activities, heritage tour, hurstbridge, monash bridge, arthurs creek road

ELTHAM HERITAGE TOUR The Society excursion on 24th May 1992 was arranged by David Bick, leader of the team carrying out the Shire's heritage study. David selected a number of sites or buildings identified in the study, some of them lesser known components of the Shire's heritage. The tour commenced at the Eltham Shire Office at 10.00 am. Travel was by private car and mini-bus with stops at about twelve locations for commentary by David.It included a short walk in Hurstbridge and lunch at Kinglake. Highlights of the tour included: - 10 am Leave from Shire Offices - 3 Important Trees - A Physical Link to Eltham's First Settlers - Toorak Mansion Gates - A Surviving Farm House - An Intact Circa 1900 Main Street - First Settlers - Gold Miners, and Timber-getters - An Early Hotel - A Pioneering Homestead - Changing Eltham Shire - 20th Century - 4 pm Afternoon Tea and Finish Tour Extract from ELTHAM CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR (Newsletter No. 85, July 1992, by Bettina Woodburn) "At St Andrews we noted the old and new schools, the Anglican Church, the Hall, the Bakery and the pub – still a popular watering and eating place. Climbing towards Panton Hill the soil was not rich and supported only scarce growth. Perfunctory prospecting and mining had taken place in this area, though not with the diligence applied at Research. Again we saw the ingredients of a settlement, this one organised by Government, the Hotel, the Store, the School. Down from Memorial Park the School grounds had original tree planting and the School Bell dedicated to Maud Rattray who died in 1922. There is a new Hall and opposite in the grounds of the Church and Sunday School a modest Memorial Cross of granite with inscriptions and in memory of four 'fallen comrades'. This small section of the main road retained the small village atmosphere; although the population had increased there had been little alteration."Record of the Society's history and activities and highlighting various aspects of the Heritage Study undertaken by David Bick used to create the future heritage overlay for the Shire of Eltham and later Nillumbik Shire.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100 5095shire of eltham historical society, activities, heritage tour, st andrews

ELTHAM HERITAGE TOUR The Society excursion on 24th May 1992 was arranged by David Bick, leader of the team carrying out the Shire's heritage study. David selected a number of sites or buildings identified in the study, some of them lesser known components of the Shire's heritage. The tour commenced at the Eltham Shire Office at 10.00 am. Travel was by private car and mini-bus with stops at about twelve locations for commentary by David.It included a short walk in Hurstbridge and lunch at Kinglake. Highlights of the tour included: - 10 am Leave from Shire Offices - 3 Important Trees - A Physical Link to Eltham's First Settlers - Toorak Mansion Gates - A Surviving Farm House - An Intact Circa 1900 Main Street - First Settlers - Gold Miners, and Timber-getters - An Early Hotel - A Pioneering Homestead - Changing Eltham Shire - 20th Century - 4 pm Afternoon Tea and Finish Tour Extract from ELTHAM CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR (Newsletter No. 85, July 1992, by Bettina Woodburn) "Now we drove through stands of pines to the Kangaroo Ground Lookout Tower, a most unusual War Memorial, World War I. The tower and a shed/residence (it had a chimney) were built from local sandstone. Below to the south and east of Melbourne spread 'suburbia'. Close by the landscape seemed so contrived - English fields and hedgerows! Although only about twenty inches deep, the soil of this ancient volcano, its crater lost under subsequent weathering, was rich, deserving the name of "Garden Hill". Now native trees are taking over again. In Kangaroo Ground itself stand the inevitable Store, School and Church - and two Norfolk pines and a monkey puzzle tree."Record of the Society's history and activities and highlighting various aspects of the Heritage Study undertaken by David Bick used to create the future heritage overlay for the Shire of Eltham and later Nillumbik Shire.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100 5095shire of eltham historical society, activities, heritage tour, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground tower, war memorials, kangaroo ground memorial