With an increasing need to grow Melbourne's water supply, in 1973, the State Government announced plans for the development of Sugarloaf Reservoir. Two dams were to be built, one across the Yarra from the Yarra Brae property in Wonga Park to the Bend of Isles. Water was to be pumped from this dam to the higher level Sugarloaf Reservoir. The proposed extensive flooding of large numbers of properties resulted in significant community backlash and ultimately abandonement of the proposed Yarra Brae dam.35 mm colour positive transparency (x 3) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardyarra brae dam

The Eighth Eltham Community Festival was held 16-17 October 1982. Although the Society’s parade entry did not win a prize this year, it was considered highly successful from a participation point of view. Despite some uncertainty as to just who was coming, members and friends kept appearing at the assembly area. As in the past years, members from the Victorian Folk Music Club brought their instruments along and really added to the occasion. This year concentrated on a rural theme with a tractor/trailer combination. Peter Bassett-Smith supplied the tractor for towing the float designed and assembled by Joh Ebeli on Dennis McKay’s trailer. The closing stages of the parade were marred by heavy rain. The cold driving rain provided a special problem for Peter Bassett-Smith in driving his tractor home to Kangaroo Ground as he had to choose between standing up to warm his hands on the exhaust and having his tractor seat flooded. A Certificate, Festival Parade Award, Rotary Club of Eltham, Eighth Eltham Community Festival 1982 was presented to the Shire of Eltham Historical Society for the most effort by "locals".35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotsSlide is date coded 09-82 - possibly rehousedeltham, eltham festival, parade, parade floats, cecil street

In 1981 the Shire of Eltham Historical Society was asked by the Victorian Place Names Committee to comment on a proposal by the Shire of Eltham to assign names to parklands in Eltham as follows:- "Eltham Common" - the area between the municipal offices, Main Road, the Eltham railway -line, and Panther Place and containing Shillinglaw Cottage. The Shire has advised that this name has been used locally for the site since about 1975. "Alistair Knox Park" - the area bounded by the Eltham railway -line, Panther Place, Main Road, Bridge Street, and Susan Street, and through which flows the Diamond Creek. The area has been known locally as "Eltham Town Park" The proposed name "Alistair Knox Park" had created some local controversy with a number of reversals of the Council's decision and letters to the local paper both for and against the proposal. The society was reluctant to be drawn into this controversy particularly as there were known to be members with strong views both for and against the proposed name. The society appreciated the work done by Alistair Knox both in the formulation of the park concept and in its development but because of the controversy generated by the proposed naming and also because of the wide general use of the park by the public·, the name Eltham Town Park was felt more appropriate. The society noted that there was no outstanding historical associations with the land comprising the park which would warrant naming the park after any particular person, place or event. No objection was raised to the Eltham Common proposal as set-out above. The decision was made in the knowledge that Alistair Knox had been associated with the society over many years and was a prominent figure in the recent history of Eltham. He was regarded as a key figure in the environmental building movement and in particular was renowned for his use of mud bricks as a building material. He served as a councillor of the Shire of Eltham from 1971-1975, his final year as Shire President. It was during these years that the proposals to create the park in its present form were shaped and Alistair played a leading part in the decision to make it a landscaped passive recreational park rather than a sporting area. The parklands comprise a section of the Diamond Creek valley. The creek itself flows through the centre of the area which is overlooked by steep hills on each side. The parks form part of the land purchased from the Crown in 1851 by J.M. Holloway and then subdivided into allotments and called "Little Eltham". While most of the area was subdivided into residential lots the creek valley was subdivided into lots suitable for small farms. Some further subdivision took place over the years and the whole of the parks now comprises eight separate titles. A list of some of the former owners has been compiled but exhaustive research on all owners has not been carried out. The ownership of one parcel has been traced back to when it was purchased from Holloway by John Hicks Petty in 1874, long after it was subdivided. Other families owning land within the area over the years included Lyon, Rees, Clark, Waterfall, Carrucan, Graham, Hill and Morant. The character of the valley area has remained rural while development occurred on each side. Early photos show the area as orchard and grazing land. In 1901 the railway was constructed through the area resulting in the timber trestle bridge across the Diamond Creek. which is an important feature of the park landscape. A memorial obelisk to the Eltham servicemen killed in World War 1 was erected at the south eastern corner of the park. The site is now within the intersection of Main Road and Bridge Street and the memorial was shifted in the 1950s to the Eltham R.S.L. clubrooms. Following the financial failure of the local sub-branch, the memorial obelisk was again relocated to the Eltham War Memorial building precinct in 2011. During the early 1960's the Council started purchasing the land which now comprises the parks. In the late 1960's the area to the east of the Diamond Creek was used as a garbage tip and filled above the flood plain of the creek. When this area was filled the tip was transferred to the west side of the creek. From the early 1970's the area has been progressively developed as a park for passive recreation with ornamental lakes, extensive tree planting and landscaping. The character of the valley before the days of the tip has been recreated and this has earned a Landscape classification from the National Trust, an unusual honour for a man-made landscape. The parks are not only attractive in appearance. The large number of people using them, particularly at weekends and holidays is evidence of their popularity and the foresight and careful planning of local residents, Councillors and Council Staff. 35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 23) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham, main road, alistair knox park, eltham town park

A severe storm with damaging hail, rain and flooding impacted Melbourne on 25 December 2011 with particular damage to Eltham and Hurstbridge areas. The storm caused destablisation of parts of the Hurstbridge railway line. Wild day's trail of destruction, by Reid sexton, The Age, Tuesday, December 21, 2011, p4 Storm toll sparks rail safety fear, Reid Saxton, The Age, Tuesday, December 21, 2011, p52 newspaper articlesstorm, floods, flooding, christmas day, hurstbridge railway line

Colour photograph of bank erosion on Diamond Creek just upstream of the railway culvert east of Challenger Street in Diamond Creek township. The banks are eroded by both flood flows and surface runoffeltham, drain, diamond creek, erosion, challenger street

Undated black and white photograph of view across the creek flats towards Diamond Creek township showing the railway line, with the Diamond Creek under flood. Situated behind the vicinity of Diamond Valley College, Main Hurstbridge Road, Diamond Creek. Diamond Valley College was formed in 1989 from the almagamation of Diamond Creek Technical School and Hurstbridge High School. Nillumbik Historical Society collectionflood, diamond creek, nillumbik historical society

Undated black and white photograph of Main Hurstbridge Road, Diamond Creek in flood looking west. Nillumbik Historical Society collectionflood, diamond creek, nillumbik historical society

Undated black and white photograph of the Diamond Creek in flood, Nillumbik Park, Diamond Creek. Cattle take refuge on a high point. Nillumbik Historical Society collectionflood, diamond creek, nillumbik historical society

"The house (centre) at North Eltham in which Mr. and Mrs. William Frizell, an elderly couple, were marooned by flood waters. When this photograph was taken late yesterday afternoon the couple were still inside the house, and through a ventilator they had stuck a red flag which they waved from time to time. The house on the left belongs to Mr. Leads, who also was marooned." - The Argus 1 December 1934. John William Frizell, painter and his wife Sarah Jane are registered at Glen Park, Eltham in the 1924 Electorial Roll This was most probably the Diamond Creek in flood. In 1934 extensive flooding of the Yarra River and Diamond Creek sets new records for flood plain level (via Chronology of Eltham, EDHS) flood, frizell, leads, argus, glen park, eltham north, flooding, marooned, diamond creek

Black and white photograph of young woman walking through floodwaters, possibly carrying an animal. The Diamond Creek in flood at Diamond Creek township, 8 April 1977 Herald and Weekly Times collectionflood, diamond creek, flooding, herald and weekly times, rescue

Colour photograph. Note debris on the rail fencing around the oval. The Diamond Creek in flood at Diamond Creek township, 8 April 1977 Nillumbik Historical Society collectionflood, diamond creek, flooding, oval, nillumbik historical society, rail

Colour photograph. Sawpit Creek at the junction of Campbell and Watkins Street, Diamond Creek Township. The Diamond Creek in flood at Diamond Creek township, 8 April 1977 Nillumbik Historical Society collectionflood, diamond creek, flooding, nillumbik historical society, give way, sawpit creek, campbell street, watkins street

Colour photograph. Sawpit Creek near the Diamond Creek in flood at Diamond Creek township, 8 April 1977 A road sign reads" DANGER ROAD FLOODED AFTER HEAVY RAIN OBSERVE MARKERS" Nillumbik Historical Society collectionflood, diamond creek, flooding, nillumbik historical society, give way, sawpit creek, campbell street, watkins street, danger, road sign

Colour photograph. Looking downstream from Susan Street, Eltham , 8 April 1977. Note water line on shed flood, diamond creek, flooding, susan street

Colour photograph. Looking downstream on the Diamond Creek from Main Road Bridge, Eltham , 8 April 1977. flood, diamond creek, flooding, main road, eltham

Colour photograph. Flooding of Diamond Creek at the rear and side of property at 75 Railway Parade, Eltham , 8 April 1977. flood, diamond creek, flooding, eltham, 75 railway parade

Colour photograph. Flooding of Diamond Creek at Diamond Street Eltham bridge approximately 2 1/2 hours after the flood peak. Note debris on the bridge deck. 8 April 1977. flood, diamond creek, flooding, eltham, diamond street, bridge

Colour photograph. Flooding of Diamond Creek at Main Road Bridge, Eltham peak flow of flood. Easter storm, 8 April, 1977flood, diamond creek, flooding, eltham, bridge, main road

Image dated as November 1963 based on same image in Port of Echuca collection (print 19.5 x 24.5cm) On reverse in blue pen:" Photo by: George L. Coop Nov 1963". Crossed out, in black pen: "564" https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/59e7dcaa21ea6a13c0626c8dDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, j-526, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), moama, railway bridge

35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)antoinette boulevard, eltham, eltham lower park, floods

35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)antoinette boulevard, eltham, eltham lower park, floods

35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)antoinette boulevard, eltham, eltham lower park, floods

35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)antoinette boulevard, eltham, eltham lower park, floods

35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)antoinette boulevard, eltham, eltham lower park, floods

35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)eltham, floods, wingrove park

35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)eltham, falkiner street, floods

35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)eltham, ely street, floods, real estate advertisement

35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)eltham, ely street, floods

35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)eltham, ely street, floods

35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)dalton street, eltham, floods, main road, skipper house