Frank Stokes first traveled to the district by train in 1944 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, part of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Frank bought the land and for the next two years would travel by train from Melbourne to Eltham every weekend establishing Stokes Orchard and building a home for his family, which they eventually moved into in 1946. In the mid 1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard up into numerous rate-able parcel lots, which became affordable for Frank. As a consequence Stokes Orchard was turned into a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate in two stages; Stage 1 encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads c.1976 and Stage 2 encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads c.1979. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned due to the lack of the sewer along Diosma Road and so many of the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead.Representative of the orchard growing areas of ElthamDigital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook (containing commercially printed photos of digital scans) on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.1944, beryl bradbury (nee stokes), beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, dorothy stokes, eltham, frank stokes, nyora road, stokes orchard

Frank's mother Florence was visiting from England at the time. Frank Stokes first traveled to the district by train in 1944 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, part of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Frank bought the land and for the next two years would travel by train from Melbourne to Eltham every weekend establishing Stokes Orchard and building a home for his family, which they eventually moved into in 1946. In the mid 1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard up into numerous rate-able parcel lots, which became affordable for Frank. As a consequence Stokes Orchard was turned into a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate in two stages; Stage 1 encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads c.1976 and Stage 2 encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads c.1979. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned due to the lack of the sewer along Diosma Road and so many of the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead.Representative of the orchard growing areas of ElthamDigital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook (containing commercially printed photos of digital scans) on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.1950, beryl bradbury (nee stokes), beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, david stokes, dorothy stokes, eltham, flatbed truck, florence stokes (nee west), frank stokes, nyora road, stokes orchard

Taken from outside the family home on the southest corner of the intersection of Nyora Road and Pitt Street with Eucalyptus Road. Frank Stokes first traveled to the district by train in 1944 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, part of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Frank bought the land and for the next two years would travel by train from Melbourne to Eltham every weekend establishing Stokes Orchard and building a home for his family, which they eventually moved into in 1946. In the mid 1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard up into numerous rate-able parcel lots, which became affordable for Frank. As a consequence Stokes Orchard was turned into a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate in two stages; Stage 1 encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads c.1976 and Stage 2 encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads c.1979. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned due to the lack of the sewer along Diosma Road and so many of the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead.Representative of the orchard growing areas of Eltham. One of the rare times it has snowed in ElthamDigital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook (containing commercially printed photos of digital scans) on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.1951, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, eltham, eucalyptus road, nyora road, snow, stokes family home

Viewed from near the Stokes family home at 1 Nyora Road looking northeast across Ironbark Close to Scarlet Ash Court with Peppermint Grove in the distance. Frank Stokes first traveled to the district by train in 1944 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, part of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Frank bought the land and for the next two years would travel by train from Melbourne to Eltham every weekend establishing Stokes Orchard and building a home for his family, which they eventually moved into in 1946. In the mid 1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard up into numerous rate-able parcel lots, which became affordable for Frank. As a consequence Stokes Orchard was turned into a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate in two stages; Stage 1 encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads c.1976 and Stage 2 encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads c.1979. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned due to the lack of the sewer along Diosma Road and so many of the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead.Housing development in Eltham as an extension to the Woodridge EstateDigital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook (containing commercially printed photos of digital scans) on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.1976-07, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, building construction, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, houses

Taken from outside the family home on the southest corner of the intersection of Nyora Road and Pitt Street with Eucalyptus Road, looking northeast across the Stokes Orchard Frank Stokes with children, Dorothy (left), Beryl and David Frank Stokes first traveled to the district by train in 1944 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, part of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Frank bought the land and for the next two years would travel by train from Melbourne to Eltham every weekend establishing Stokes Orchard and building a home for his family, which they eventually moved into in 1946. In the mid 1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard up into numerous rate-able parcel lots, which became affordable for Frank. As a consequence Stokes Orchard was turned into a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate in two stages; Stage 1 encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads c.1976 and Stage 2 encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads c.1979. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned due to the lack of the sewer along Diosma Road and so many of the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead.Representative of the orchard growing areas of ElthamDigital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook (containing commercially printed photos of digital scans) on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.1950, beryl bradbury (nee stokes), beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, david stokes, dorothy stokes, eltham, frank stokes, horse, nyora road, sled, stokes orchard

Viewed from near the end of Stokes Place where the linear reserve now runs between 8 and 9 Stokes Place just visible through trees in foreground, 24 Nyora with red roof is the first house in middle of view. Frank Stokes first traveled to the district by train in 1944 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, part of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Frank bought the land and for the next two years would travel by train from Melbourne to Eltham every weekend establishing Stokes Orchard and building a home for his family, which they eventually moved into in 1946. In the mid 1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard up into numerous rate-able parcel lots, which became affordable for Frank. As a consequence Stokes Orchard was turned into a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate in two stages; Stage 1 encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads c.1976 and Stage 2 encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads c.1979. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned due to the lack of the sewer along Diosma Road and so many of the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead.Housing development in Eltham as an extension to the Woodridge EstateDigital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook (containing commercially printed photos of digital scans) on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.1977, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, nyora road, stokes orchard estate, stokes place

Viewed from near the end of Stokes Place where the linear reserve now runs between 8 and 9 Stokes Place looking slightly east of south towards Nyora Road. The new Christian Church on Nyora now the Baptist Church visible in middle view. Frank Stokes first traveled to the district by train in 1944 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, part of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Frank bought the land and for the next two years would travel by train from Melbourne to Eltham every weekend establishing Stokes Orchard and building a home for his family, which they eventually moved into in 1946. In the mid 1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard up into numerous rate-able parcel lots, which became affordable for Frank. As a consequence Stokes Orchard was turned into a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate in two stages; Stage 1 encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads c.1976 and Stage 2 encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads c.1979. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned due to the lack of the sewer along Diosma Road and so many of the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead.Housing development in Eltham as an extension to the Woodridge EstateDigital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook (containing commercially printed photos of digital scans) on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.1977-07, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, eltham, eltham christian church, stokes orchard estate, stokes place

Taken from outside the family home on the southest corner of the intersection of Nyora Road and Pitt Street with Eucalyptus Road, looking northeast across the Stokes Orchard L-R: David, Howard, Beryl (kneeling), Dorothy and Gladys Stokes with Gladys's mother sitting in Gladys's father's car with Spot the dog, Nyora Road, Eltham, c.1952 Frank Stokes first traveled to the district by train in 1944 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, part of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Frank bought the land and for the next two years would travel by train from Melbourne to Eltham every weekend establishing Stokes Orchard and building a home for his family, which they eventually moved into in 1946. In the mid 1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard up into numerous rate-able parcel lots, which became affordable for Frank. As a consequence Stokes Orchard was turned into a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate in two stages; Stage 1 encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads c.1976 and Stage 2 encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads c.1979. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned due to the lack of the sewer along Diosma Road and so many of the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead.Representative of the orchard growing areas of ElthamDigital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook (containing commercially printed photos of digital scans) on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.1948-1951 vauxhall velox, 1948-1951 vauxhall wyvern, 1952, beryl bradbury (nee stokes), beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, david stokes, dorothy stokes, eltham, gladys stokes, nyora road, spot (dog), stokes orchard

Taken from outside the family home on the southest corner of the intersection of Nyora Road and Pitt Street with Eucalyptus Road. Frank Stokes first traveled to the district by train in 1944 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, part of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Frank bought the land and for the next two years would travel by train from Melbourne to Eltham every weekend establishing Stokes Orchard and building a home for his family, which they eventually moved into in 1946. Marjorie North remembered well the winter of 1951, when she took children, including son John together with the Shallard and Squire children “in the Austin A40 up the Main Rd., Eltham to farmer Bell’s property alongside the Eltham College. They were able to make a snow man and throw snowballs. (Diamond Valley News, August 5, 1986.p.42) In the mid 1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard up into numerous rate-able parcel lots, which became affordable for Frank. As a consequence Stokes Orchard was turned into a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate in two stages; Stage 1 encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads c.1976 and Stage 2 encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads c.1979. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned due to the lack of the sewer along Diosma Road and so many of the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead.Representative of the orchard growing areas of Eltham. One of the rare times it has snowed in Eltham.Digital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook (containing commercially printed photos of digital scans) on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.1951, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, eltham, nyora road, eucalyptus road, snow, stokes family home

(Cancelled) Certificate of Title originally issued for Crown Portion 15, Section 5 to Robert David Taylor, of Eltham, County of Evelyn, Farmer, 13 March 1925. It is with this title that the land allotment was subdivided into 48 lots. The title shows the issuance to Robert David Taylor with encumbrance placed upon it by immediate former owner, Hugh Patrick Keogh, a former member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent. Following Taylor's death in 1934 the title passes to his Executors, sons Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Eltham and William McLelland Vance Taylor of Northcote. The property is then sold to Frank Stokes who develops the Stokes Orchard. Compulsory acquisitions by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works and State Electricity Commission show provisions of easemenst for town water supply and high voltage power transmission lines. Subsequent lots are then sold off with the development of the Stokes Orchard Estate residential development in the mid to late 1970s. A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 neil webster collection, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes, certificate of title

This report was compiled by Martin Healey for the Department of Conservation and Land Management, Victoria. Martin Healey, a long time Orbost resident, worked for the Department of Conservation and Land Management in Orbost.This is a useful research tool.A small spiral bound book of 30 pp with a plastic cover. It is a report written by Martin Healey and details the close Family allotments at Murrangower, east of Orbost.

Map of residential allotments for sale, with terms of sale, summary of subdivision features and local services and facilities, and photographs of local street scene and lake (Loughnan's Lake - location not marked), Subdivision includes Wonga Road (later Loughnan's Road), Glenvale Road, Kubba Road, Felix Crescent, Summit Crescent, Pine Crescent, Aurum Crescent, Hygeia Parade, Panorama Avenue, Avalon Grove, Montalbo Road, Cielterre Avenue. Sole Agents T.M. Burke Pty Ltd, 340 Collins Street Melbourne Phones 6294, 6779. Map by S. Callanan, Licensed Surveyor, 107 Elizabeth Street Melbourne. Date of poster estimated from railway services information extract " ... 36 fast electric trains to Flinders Street daily ... proposed electrification to Croydon ..." . Timeline for electrification of Lilydale Line record indicates Box Hill to Ringwood January 1923, Ringwood to Croydon November 1924 (Source: History of Croydon - McGivern, Vol.1 p20).

Two 1850s surveyor's maps on cardboard backing showing area from Melbourne extending East beyond Bulleen and Nunawading. Detailed description of lots for sale and navigational directions to the property from Richmond by Thomas Ham, Victorian public servant, map maker, publisher, lithographer and original Ringwood land owner. Inset map enlarging area between Yarra River and Dandenong Creek, with southern boundary of allotments later forming part of Oban Road, North Ringwood.TRANSCRIPT: "This really valuable Property is now offered to the public for sale, in lots to suit purchasers at the Iow rate of £1 per Acre for 80 acres and upwards, and £1.10s per Acre for any smaller portion. Terms of payment Half Cash, Balance in 6 and 12 months, bearing 8 per cent interest. The Estate is well wooded with Gum, Cherry Tree and Stringy Bark, with Wattle in the valleys of the several creeks. Every lot is Staked and Trenched at the corners marked on the Plan thus - The Surveyor has carefully sub-divided the Property, in order to give every Farm a Creek for Water, Valley for Cultivation, and Hills for House and Grass Paddock. The ROADS have been very carefully laid out so as to give a firm, well drained, and nearly level road to each Homestead. Intending purchasers can readily find the property by the following directions, viz: Start from Richmond Bridge, at Hawthorne, then take the left-hand road to KEW. When at the "Woodman Inn", take the Cotham Road to the right, bearing due east, keep this Road, passing Trainor's "White Horse" Inn, and before you leave the fences, you will see calico bills (see margin) nailed to the Trees on the bush track leading to the Upper Yarra country, follow the Bills till you come to the SOUTH boundary line of the Property, which bears East and West (see Plan) where you will see Bills nailed up "THIS PROPERTY FOR SALE, etc." The Bills from Town lead direct to where Mr. Jull is erecting his Store, and arrangements have been made with him to show the lots to intending purchasers free of charge. At the respective corners of the lots the Bills are nailed up double, with numbers to denote the lot, and that the corner stake is adjacent. Any parties wishing to proceed to the property by way of BULLEEN will find Bills nailed on the Trees, commencing at the NEW INN, at "Wilson's Slip Rail." Keep this Track till you come to the Log Bridge, over the Deep Creek at Bloxhome's Paddock; go through the land now being cleared; keep the track over the hill till you come to an Iron House, you will then be on the property, which Iies to the North and East as per Plan. Follow the Bills till you come to Mr. Jull's Store, etc. etc. Further particulars can be had from the Agent for the Property. THOMAS HAM. "

Double sided leaflet advertising subdivision site, layout of streets and allotments, summary of local features and services and terms of sale. Inset photographs of local views and residence of F.W. Purches on the Estate.Auction Saturday September 6th, 1919. 52 Lots. Subdivision includes White Horse Road, Witt Street, Mitcham, Station Street (later Victory Street, Mitcham). (Railway Avenue marked on the map did not eventuate). Agents - Knight & Harwood, 315 Collins Street, Melbourne in conjunction with Godbehear & Co, Phone Ringwood 49, selling through their auctioneer - Sydney T. Haynes. Solicitor W.H. Peers, 395 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Double sided multi-fold leaflet advertising subdivision site, layout of streets and allotments, summary of local features and services and terms of sale. Inset photographs of local views.Auction Saturday March 29th, 1919. 58 Lots. Subdivision includes Warrandyte Road, Mullum Mullum Road, Hobart Street, Paxton Street, Arnold Street. Agents - Dunlop & Hunt Pty Ltd., 317 Collins Street, Melbourne Tel. Cent. 10104-10105, J.B. McAlpin, Tel. Ringwood 7. Auctioneers - Sydney T. Haynes & Co., 60 Queen Street, Melbourne, Tel. 3400. Solicitors - Hodgson & Finlayson, 360 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Double sided bi-fold leaflet advertising subdivision site, layout of streets and allotments, summary of local features and services and terms of sale. Auction Saturday June 14th, 1919. 55 Lots. Subdivision includes Warrandyte Road, Tamar Street, Mersey Street and Derwent Street. Property Sales - Dunlop & Hunt Home Builders Ltd., 317 Collins Street, Melbourne, Tels 10104-10105. Agents - J.B. McAlpin, Tel. Ringwood 7. Auctioneers - Sydney T. Haynes & Co., 60 Queen Street, Melbourne, Tel. 3400. Solicitors - Hodgson & Finlayson, 360 Collins Street, Melbourne. Inset photographs of local views including existing 4-roomed bungalow on Lot 37 Tamar Street.

Double sided bi-fold leaflet advertising subdivision site, layout of streets and allotments, summary of local features and services and terms of sale. Inset photographs of local views.Auction Saturday November 22, 1919. 58 Orchard Allotments. Formerly the residence and orchard property of Count Von Horn. Subdivision includes Wantirna Road, Ellison Street, Haig Street. Free annual railway tickets presented to cash buyers of two blocks. Agents - F.H. Patterson & Co., 19 Queen Street, Melbourne, Tel Central 4308, Sydney T. Haynes & Co., 60 Queen Street, Melbourne, Tel. Central 3400, J.B. McAlpin, Opp Railway Station, Ringwood, Tel. Ringwood 7. Auctioneer - Mr. Sydney T. Haynes. Solicitors - Messrs. Russell, Bona & Russell, 19 Queen Street, Melbourne.

Subdivision of Summerlands commenced in the 1920s with 12 large allotments created, along with features such as a roundabout and cypress trees. Between 1927 and 1931, 227 new blocks were created, and from 1929 to 1940 there was a nine-hole golf course on what is now the Penguin Parade car park.Historical Large 8 page glossy booklet advertising Summerlands Estate, describing attractions of the area ,maps, houses , golf course. Basically black and white with some orange print and a coloured map.Ideal Summerland on the Nobbies Phillip Island. "The land of somewhere we long to go". Published by Phillip Island Holidays Development Pty Ltd. 6o Market Street, Melbourne.housing, tourism phillip island, summerland estate

Anderson and McHaffie were prominent early settlers of Phillip Island. These documents were from the estate of Stan Mcfee snr. Listings of auctions at Gemmell, Tuckett & Co., Collins Street, Melbourne 12 February, 1869HistoricalCopy of map showing allotments for 1869 land sale and hand written note showing allotments, area, prices for purchases of Robert Anderson and notes on McHaffie land.robert anderson, glen isla, john mchaffie, maps, land sales

"Extracts from Recent Daily Newspaper - Ringwood Train Service - STATION WANTED AT RINGWOOD EAST. A deputation from the Ringwood East Railway League and Progress Association waited on the chairman of the Railway Commissioners yesterday afternoon and asked that a railway station be erected at Dublin-road, a mile and a quarter from Ringwood. The deputation urged that there were 81 passengers who, if the station were provided, would make daily use of it, and that as the Commissioners had purchased a site for a station at Dublin-road it was evident they had at one time considered it the most suitable site. The Chairman of Commissioners stated that the estimated cost of the station was £3700. Land owners in the locality should pay a proportion of the cost. Members of the deputation replied that there would be no difficulty in raising the money."Multi-fold brochure advertising public auction of residential allotments on Saturday, 10th November, 1923. Brochure includes subdivision features, local facilities and photographic images of the area and details of proposed new railway station at Dublin Road.Subdivision plan includes Dublin Road, Alexandra Road, Vonadawn Avenue, Green Street, Howard Avenue, Wood Street, and Bedford Road (Main Ferntree Gully Road). Auctioneer - Knight & Harwood, 315 Collins Street, Melbourne, Phones Central 10615, 10616. Agent - J.B. McAlpin, Opposite Railway Station, Ringwood, Phone Ringwood 7.

Folded double-sided advertisement for Ringwood East Electric Station Estate subdivisional sale of retail and residential allotments by public auction on Saturday, 1 November, 1924, with local photographs, terms of sale, and summary of subdivision features and local facilities. Subdivision includes Railway Parade (later Patterson Street, Rosedale Crescent, Federal Road, Howship Avenue (later Howship Court and French Street), and Dublin Road. (Agents) Knight & Harwood, 315 Collins Street, Melbourne, Phone Central 10615, 10616, in conjunction with J.B. McAlpin, Opposite Railway Station, Ringwood, Phone Ringwood 7.

Bi-folded double sided sheet with yellow and blue print advertising auction of retail and residential allotments on Saturday, 29 March (1924), including details of subdivision features and local facilities. Subdivision includes Station Street, Wenwood Street, Lois Street, Victoria Street. Auctioneer - Tudehope & Coppard, 229 Collins Street, Melbourne, Tel. Central 2409, in conjunction with local agent, T.A. Burkeitt, Ringwood, Tel. Ringwood 157.

Bi-folded double sided land subdivision sale advertisement with location map and summary of local facilities and services. Includes two additional images of allotment plan with subsequent handwritten notations.Subdivision includes Mount Dandenong Road, Grey Street, and Eastfield Road. Agent - C.E. Carter, Bank Chambers, Main Street, Ringwood. Phone Ringwood 24.

See Victorian Collections reference 5125 for subsequent Central Estate East Ringwood subdivision flyer.Single sided land auction sale advertisement for residential allotments.Auction Sale on the property under instructions from Mr. F.A. Salter. Subdivision includes Dublin Road, Knaith Road, Talofa Avenue, Russet Road, and Shasta Avenue. Agent - C.E. Carter & Son, Main Street, Ringwood. WU 6024.

Bi-folded single sheet advertisement for private sale of residential allotments, including subdivision features and local facilitiesSudivision includes Eastfield Road, Margaret Street and Patterson Street. Local Agent - C.E. Carter, Bank Chambers, Main St., Ringwood. Tel. Ringwood 24.

Double sided multi-folded page advertising auction sale of residential allotments highlighting local facilities, services and layout of the estate. Includes panoramic view of Ringwood and other local photographic images.Subdivision includes Mullum Mullum Road, The Centreway, Wattle Crescent and Reserve Crescent. Agents - Knight & Harwood, 315 Collins Street, Melbourne, Phone 10615, 10616 Central, in conjunction with J.B. McAlpin, Opposite Railway Station, Ringwood. Phone Ringwood 7.

Although the brochure advertises Gracedale Park Estate as Croydon South, the home sites and streets are in the 3135 postcode area, i.e. Ringwood East/Heathmont.Bi-folded orange coloured sheet with black print advertising sale of residential allotments, including subdivision features and local facilities.Sudivision includes Ringwood East streets - Gracedale Avenue and Raymond Court. Agent - H.G. McLean & Associates Pty. Ltd., 166 Canterbury Road, Heathmont. Telephone 870 3422, A/Hours 870 5879, 729 2809.

Street name Carnarvon Avenue on the subdivision plan became Selkirk Avenue at some stage during or subsequent to development of the Estate.Bi-folded advertisement for sale of residential allotments, including summary of subdivision features and local facilities.Subdivision includes Wantirna streets - Wantirna Road, Carnarvon Avenue, Inchcape Avenue, St Thomas Avenue, St Davids Drive, Dudley Avenue, Angus Avenue. Agents - A.W. Dickson, 136 Whitehorse Road, Ringwood, Telephone WU 6007, WU 7016, A.H. WU 6868. D. & J. Walker, 18 Junction Street, Ringwood, Telephone WU 6516 (all hours).

Douglas Street shown in the estate plan did not eventuate, but was developed as a public reserve. Refer also to Reg. No. 5149 for 1924 auction sale of land also titled Grand View Estate situated further north in Ringwood.Double sided multi-folded page advertising public auction sale on Saturday, 31st October, 1925, of residential allotments highlighting local facilities, services and layout of the estate. Includes panoramic view of Ringwood and other local photographic images.Subdivision includes Great Ryrie Street, Heathmont Road, Douglas Street, Garden Street, and Bellevue Avenue. Agents - Knight & Harwood, 315 Collins Street, Melbourne, Phone 10615, 10616 Central, in conjunction with J.B. McAlpin, Opposite Railway Station, Ringwood. Phone Ringwood 7.

Double sided multi-fold advertisement for auction sale of residential allotments, including summary of subdivision features and local facilities. Auction on Saturday, 22nd October, 1949, at 2 p.m.Subdivision includes Great Ryrie Street, Erica Crescent, Neil Street, Frances Street, Viviani Crescent, and Canterbury Road. Agent - Page's Estate Agency, Boronia Road, Boronia. Phone Bayswater 42.