The last goods train ran from Beech Forest and Weeaproinah on Wednesday, 27th June 1962, laden with NQR wagons full of timber and a guard's van. The crew was driver Clarrie Kenyan and fireman John Spence.B/W. 195mm x 267mm. Locomotive G42 bearing the inscription " 27th June 1962, Last train from Weeaproinah" traverses the point, the crew, driver Clarrie Kenyan and fireman John Spence looking at the camera.colac; beech forest; weeaproinah; railways;

Commercial realities and bushfires caused the Beech Forest community to re-establish itself around the railway station, away from Gardner Hill. This caused John W. Gardner to subdivide his land on the north side of the railway station. One subdivision was created near the Ditchley railway station on the old racecourse site, and another of 25 allotments forming what became Southorn Street. There were very few takers for these lots nor any buyers for the Ditchley subdivision.Photocopy. 260mm x 159mm. An advertisement for the sale of the Ditchley Park Estate, Beech Forest. Under instructions from Mr. J.W. Gardner Dalgety & Co. Ltd. will sell the subdivision of the Ditchley Park Estate on Tuesday, March 30, 1909, at 2 o'clock. A map of Beech Forest township and the Ditchley Park Estate is attached, as are the terms of sale and a description of the area.. beech forest; ditchley park; land sale; advertisment;

Beech Forest was the principal despatch centre for split timber and mining laths in 1906, most of which was carried to the railway yards by bullock wagons, or a horse-hauled wooden tramline along the Olangolah Road to the east of the town. At the yards it awaited trans-shipment by rail.B/w. 190mm x 265mm. Timber stacked in the Beech Forest railway yard. Four roads passing. A goods shed in the background. beech forest; railways;

J.W. Gardner erected premises in Beech Forest which formed the core of a village. No further progress was made until access was facilitated though the development of a narrow gauge railway approved by the Victorian Parliament in 1898. Construction commenced in 1900. From this time Colac and Geelong business interests began investment in Beech Forest and established various retail and service establishments over the next few years. In 1902 three early settlers, Gardner, Charles Buchanan and John Cockerill, divided part of their land or bought land which was sold to businesses. On these subdivisions were created saleyards, general stores, a post office, bakery, blacksmithing, banks, a police station and lock-up, a public hall, churches, a state school, bootmaker, butcher, solicitor's office, hairdresser, billiard's saloon and newsagency.B/W. 188mm x 266mm. A general view of Beech Forest township in c.1903.beech forest; township;

B/W. A train for Beech Forest between Dinmont and Beech Forest in c.1915.beech forest; dinmont; railways;

In 1898 a recommendation for a railway of 2 ft 6 in gauge was handed down by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, to cost $138,000. Construction of the Colac-Beech Forest railway line began in 1900. About 100 men were employed in laying and ballasting the track while others formed the earthworks and the building of culverts and bridges. The earthworks of gravel ballast 150 mm deep were formed by horse and scoop or by shovel. Once the bed had been laid surveyors went along to check the layout, particularly all check rail curves and all 100 metre curves which the surveyors in the picture are doing.B/W. Three men surveying the construction of a curved bed on which track will be laid, near Barongarook, Victoria.colac; beech forest; barongarook; railways;

Plans for a rail connection between Colac and Beech Forest had been drawn up in 1884 and 1889 but proofed inconclusive because of the enormous cost involved in building a railway in such difficult terrain. Because of the financial depression in the early 1890s such expenditure went of hold. Towards the end of the decade planners recognised that a narrow gauge could be a viable alternative and it was taken up by the community, Parliamentary representatives and the government, although Victorian Railways administration was against the idea. This was overridden. The 1898 Parliament approved a 2 foot 6 inch gauge from Colac to Beech Forest although strict financial limits were set. The route was to be the most direct and the infrastructure the most basic. Construction began in 1900 entailing very steep grades and myriad curves until it finished in 1902. Surveyors and their assistants came before and during the track laying for the whole distance.B/W. Survey camp for the Colac-Beech Forest railway in 1901, showing nine tents, ten men including a cook, survey instruments, and three bicycles. Note the cooking fire on the right.colac: beech forest; railways; survey;

While the first train arrived at Beech Forest on 17 February, 1902, as a special train for a race meeting at Beech Forest Turf Club, two special trains ran for the official opening of the railway by the State Governor, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, KCMG, R.E., F.R.S., that took place on 27 February, 1902. After seeing round the area the guests attended a celebration of the opening at a banquet at Beech Forest. The menu included four impressive courses, coffee and cognac, and included a number of toasts - The King, the Governor, the Minister and the Parliament of the State, Success to the Beech Forest Railway, the Colac Shire Council and the Railway Trust, and the Railway Department, a total of 19 people speaking. The official guests then returned to Colac.B/W. Opening banquet for the Colac-Beech Forest railway line in 1902. The State Governor, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, KCMG, the Premier of Victoria, Hon. A.J. Peacock, MLA, and a number of other important people seated at the top table, with other guests seated to the left and right.beech forest; railways; banquet; colac;

B/W. A reverse or S curve on the Colac-Beech Forest railway line, taken in 1901.colac; beech forest; railways;

B/W. Beech Forest railway terminus showing two inspecting officers upon a railway trolley on No.2 track near a shed..beech forest; railways;

The official opening of the Colac-Beech Forest railway took place on Wednesday, 26th February, 1902. On a typical Beech Forest wet day the train halted at the bottom of Gardner Hill for the opening party led by the State Governor, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, to walk up to the Ditchley Park Hotel for the official banquet in the adjoining hall. The menu of four courses plus coffee was assembed by the caterer, Chas. D. Straker. The toast list was led as usual by a toast to the King, followed by 18 toasts concluded by the Acting Commissioner of Railways.B/W. The menu and toast list at the opening of the Colac-Beech Forest Railway on Wednesday, 26th February, 1902, at Beech Forest. 128mm x 264mm actual

Through the use of sensors and digital controls, FIDO talks to passers-by, wags its tail, wiggles its ears and lights up at night. The materials used, the form and the interactive nature of this monumental work were chosen specifically to respond to the friendliness and vitality of Fairfield Village and enhance the sense of community for this dog-loving precinct.

p.240.non-fictionThe life and times of Nelsongreat britain - military history, great britain - admirals - biography

The footbridge which extended from the facility to the landscaped garden and water features is now gone. The footbridge and garden were previously part of a former hat factory in Sherbourne Road Eltham which has in the past been used for various purposes and presently a self storage business. The Karingal Yallock Creek passes through the front of the land and the creek environs are the subject of significant and unusual landscaping works, including some cascading water channels. Some of the landscaping was damaged by the Christmas Day floods of 2011, but the main elements remain intact. The landscaped area (as distinct from the factory itself) is the subject of a Heritage Overlay under the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. The basis of this overlay is a Heritage Report by Graeme Butler and Associates in 2006. As well as an assessment of the landscaped area, it includes one background information on the history of the site (although a complete history would require more research). The site was part of Crown Portion 3 of the Parish of Nillumbik that remained as the Montmorency Farm until early in the twentieth century. The 1911 subdivision of this farm created Lot 7 of some seven acres, which is the site of this factory. The Heritage Report lists the various owners of the site. From the rate records and aerial photos it is concluded that the site was used as an orchard and farmland until the 1940s. William F Crellin, orchardist, owned the site from 1912 to 1923. Then Edmund Williams owned it until 1951. In 1955 the site was owned by Rupert V. Kirsch and this is the name anecdotally associated with the hat factory, where the well-known brand of Fayrefield Hats were manufactured. There is some belief that this was built about the time of the Second World War and that hats for the armed forces were made there.fay bridge collection, eltham, fayrefield hat factory, foot bridge, sherbourne road, footbridge, fort knox eltham

alistair knox park, diamond creek trail, significant tree

fay bridge collection, 2016-10-13, alistair knox park, diamond creek (creek), eltham

Comparison photo: SEPP_0715 Part of a presentation by Peter Pidgeon to the Society, 13 August 2022 showcasing a series of photographs taken by John Henry Clark over the period 1895 to 1930. John Henry Clark was the youngest of three boys born to William Henry Clark (1823-1877) and Maria White (1843-1914). He and his brothers, William Charles Clark (1872-1945), Clement Kent Clark (1874-1912) operated a photography business (Clark Bros.) from 25 Thomas Street, Windsor near Prahran during the period c.1894 to 1914. Following death of Clement in September 1912 and their mother in 1914, the Clark Bros business appears to have dissolved, the premises demolished, and a new house was under construction in 1915. John set up business independently in 1914 operating out of 29 Moor Street, Fitzroy where he is registered in the 1914 and 1915 Electoral Rolls. By 1916 John had relocated to Eltham where he continued his practice as a photographer and took many of the early images around the district of Little Eltham. Around 1930 John changed professions and opened a small cobbler's shop in 1931 near the pond opposite Dalton Street adjacent to the Jarrold family cottage. He never married and continued his profession as a bootmaker from this little shop, maintaining a close relationship with Mrs Jarrold for the rest of their lives. His bootmaker shop remains today beside the Whitecloud cottage and is one of only three remaining shops in the area from the early 20th century.Comparative photo taken 2022 with one taken from same location over 100 years earlier by noted local photographer J.H. ClarkBorn Digitaleltham, j.h. clark photo (2022), bridge street, alistair knox park

alistair knox park, bridge street, bridge street bridge, eltham

Reproduced (in black and white) Page 107 of "Pioneers & Painters"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 Various prints and colour reversal filmsalistair knox, eltham local characters, sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, pioneers and painters

Four-fold DL size colour brochure printed both sides2013, eltham community festival, eltham festival, program, rotary eltham town festival

Eltham District Historical Society with Mary Regan and Alan Butler Andrew Ross Museum with Warwick and Carol LeesonTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham district historical society, eltham festival, alan butler, andrew ross museum, carol leeson, mary regan, warwick leeson

Eltham District Historical Society with Mary Regan and Alan Butler Andrew Ross Museum with Warwick and Carol LeesonTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham district historical society, eltham festival, andrew ross museum

Regular display by Council at the Eltham Festival providing ratepayers and visitors some insight into the daily operations of and services provided by Council and various equipment and machinery used.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak GB 200 5096aids, community health, eltham festival, eltham shire council, infrastructure, shire of eltham, weights and measures, displays, alistair knox park

Regular display by Council at the Eltham Festival providing ratepayers and visitors some insight into the daily operations of and services provided by Council and various equipment and machinery used.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak GB 200 5096aerial photographs, alistair knox park, displays, eltham festival, eltham shire council, infrastructure, north warrandyte, shire of eltham

Regular display by Council at the Eltham Festival providing ratepayers and visitors some insight into the daily operations of and services provided by Council and various equipment and machinery used.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak GB 200 5096aerial photographs, alistair knox park, displays, eltham festival, eltham shire council, infrastructure, shire of eltham, eltham south

Regular display by Council at the Eltham Festival providing ratepayers and visitors some insight into the daily operations of and services provided by Council and various equipment and machinery used.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak GB 200 5096aerial photographs, alistair knox park, displays, eltham festival, eltham shire council, infrastructure, shire of eltham, briar hill, eltham, montmorency

Regular display by Council at the Eltham Festival providing ratepayers and visitors some insight into the daily operations of and services provided by Council and various equipment and machinery used.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak GB 200 5096aerial photographs, alistair knox park, displays, eltham festival, eltham shire council, infrastructure, shire of eltham, montmorency, lower plenty

Regular display by Council at the Eltham Festival providing ratepayers and visitors some insight into the daily operations of and services provided by Council and various equipment and machinery used.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak GB 200 5096eltham festival, eltham shire council, infrastructure, shire of eltham, alistair knox park, displays, surveying equipment, theodolite

Regular display by Council at the Eltham Festival providing ratepayers and visitors some insight into the daily operations of and services provided by Council and various equipment and machinery used.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak GB 200 5096eltham festival, eltham shire council, infrastructure, shire of eltham, alistair knox park, displays, surveying equipment, theodolite

Regular display by Council at the Eltham Festival providing ratepayers and visitors some insight into the daily operations of and services provided by Council and various equipment and machinery used.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak GB 200 5096infrastructure, shire of eltham, displays, alistair knox park, building construction, eltham festival, eltham shire council, houses