On the crest of Stanhope Hill at Peter Street, Eltham, stands the former home of a couple, Clem and Nina Christensen who had a major influence on the literary development of post World War 2 Australia. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p109 On the crest of Stanhope Hill at Peter Street, Eltham, stands the former home of a couple, who had a major influence on the literary development of post World War Two Australia. In 1946, Clem and Nina Christensen bought the house, which had been designed by Harold Desbrowe Annear, considered to be one of Australia’s most innovative architects in the first quarter of the 20th century.1 That year the stucco building with a metal roof, built in 1910, was extended to the north and south. The main residence was built of jarrah, with stucco walls, floors of Tasmanian hardwood and rooms panelled with Californian redwood (sequoia). The property included a cottage, former stables, a dairy and meat-house. From its beginnings the property has attracted artists and intellectuals. Official World War One artist, Will Longstaff, bought the property – then 15½ acres (6ha) around 1900. Famous for his painting The Ghosts of Menin Gate, now in the Australian War Memorial Canberra, Longstaff was the cousin of another well-known painter, Sir John Longstaff. Several leading artists visited Longstaff at Stanhope including Walter Withers of the Heidelberg School, who lived in Brougham Street, Eltham. In 1919, Theo Handfield, father of author and journalist John Handfield, bought the property from Mrs Longstaff. Then in 1924 the land was subdivided and most of the estate (80 blocks) was auctioned. The next owner was related to novelist Virginia Woolf. Bishop Reginald Stephen, Warden of Trinity College, bought the house and five acres (2 ha) in 1928. He was related to Sir Leslie Stephen, the first editor of the Dictionary of National Biography and Woolf’s father. Novelist and music critic John Harcourt, was the next tenant, while he and his wife Fay, built their mud-brick house Clay Nuneham, at the foot of Stanhope Hill. Dr Clem and Mrs Nina Christensen, lived in the house until their deaths. Clem Christensen – who died aged 91 in 2003 – was a poet, short story writer and painter. However, he is most noted for founding Australia’s foremost literary journal2 Meanjin (originally Meanjin Papers), which he described as ‘democratic left of centre’, in Brisbane in 1940. Clem brought Meanjin to Melbourne in 1945 and remained editor until 1975. Enormously influential, Meanjin spawned and encouraged many of Australia’s best literary talents and it had an international reputation. Meanjin was the first to publish such writers as Judith Wright and David Malouf and it encouraged writers like Patrick White and Peter Carey. Nina Christensen – who died aged 89 in 2001 – was founding Editor of the Melbourne Slavonic Studies Journal and pioneered the study of Russian in Australia. In 1946 she established the Department of Russian Language and Literature at The University of Melbourne, which she led until 1977. Nina’s graduates largely staffed subsequent departments, in other Australian universities.3 However Nina’s Russian heritage and Clem’s outspoken views caused problems. They were forced to defend themselves in the Petrov inspired Royal Commission on Espionage in the 1950s, but were exonerated. The Christensens attracted and hosted many distinguished Australian and foreign writers, artists and academics, including Nobel prize-winning novelist, Patrick White and the world’s then leading cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich.4 Other writers and intellectuals who visited Stanhope were: Vance Palmer, Alan Marshall, A D Hope, Xavier Herbert, Nevil Shute, Geoffrey Dutton, Martin Boyd, Judah Waten, Bruce Grant, Dorothy Hewett and Sir Herbert Read. Painters included: Danila Vassilieff, Arthur Boyd, Albert Tucker, Justus Jörgensen, Robert Hughes and Clifton Pugh. Academics included: Manning Clark, Geoffrey Blainey, W Macmahon Ball, Richard Downing, Geoffrey Serle and scientist Tim Marshall. Politicians included: Jim Cairns, Pauline Toner, Lance Barnard, Sir Paul Hasluck, Sheryl Garbutt and performance artists included: film star Olivia Newton-John, members of the Bolshoi ballet and the Russian State Ballet of Siberia.5 Nina Christensen was honoured in 2006 at the Eltham Living and Learning Centre with the building of an amphitheatre designed by V Sverdlin.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, clem christesen, eltham, nina christesen, peter street, stanhope

Troy FIREBRACE (c1994-) Country/Language: Yorta Yorta Troy is a Shepparton born Yorta Yorta man, whose career is on the rise after winning the prestigious Federation University Acquisitive Award for Work by a Victorian Regional Artist at the 10th Victorian Indigenous Art Awards. He completed Year Twelve at Shepparton Secondary College in 2010, and in 2015 Troy was studying Creative Arts at La Trobe University, Bendigo where he has pursued his interest in his Aboriginal identity and art. He is largely influenced by the art of his Uncle Chris Firebrace and he enjoys the design aspects of creating a painting. Usually Troyʼs works contain a narrative, or at least hint of a meaning that he would like to convey to people. Influenced by the imagery of his Aboriginal cultural background he works at bringing together references of landscape, environmental processes and concerns, looking at the way in which we as humans relate to the natural world. Troy seeks to find and demonstrate a connection between humanity and the environment, exploring the idea of harmonious co-existence. Artist's statement: "‘Stories are being told and shared like particles in the universe, a constant swirl of words filled with emotions creating a pattern — explosions — smashing into each other creating a layering effect — creating worlds, planets — well nourished and suited to sustain life, and from this life new stories will emerge, to be told, to be shared — a continuous galaxy swirl. I like the idea that we are a part of something bigger — yes, the earth is massive, but we are just a speck of something far beyond the Milky Way itself.” The work was inspired by the work of abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock, science and space. This work won the 2015 Victorian Indigenous Art Awards Federation University Acquisitive Award for work by a Victorian regional artist. His canvas 'A Galaxy Swirl' was described by judges as ‘‘a vibrant and dynamic painting that, as the artist explains, epitomises a bringing together of modernism and Aboriginal arts’’.victorian indigenous art awards, troy firebrace, artwork, artist, indigenous, aboriginal, painting, indigenous artist

Brown's Self-Interpreting Family Bible. London: Blackie and Son 1862. A thick dark brown volume with a tiny embossed diamond shaped self-pattern on both covers. All edges of pages are gilt, The title, Holy Bible is printed in gold lettering at the top of the spine and it has five raised bands across it. The black and white decorative title page has Brown's Self-Interpreting Family Bible with many Additional notes, References and Readings, also Index of subjects printed at the top. Underneath in a semi-circle shape is a black ad white illustration of Ruth and Naomi, with publisher details below. The following Title Page has full details and explanations of the contents. There is a Publisher's Preface and Attestations to this Edition. Following this is a Memoir of The Rev. John Brown, closing with his final words upon his death on 19th June 1787. He was buried at Haddington Churchyard 24th June A.D. 1787, aged 65 years. Following this is an Introduction to the Right Understanding of the Oracles of God. There are many black and white plates included throughout the Bible. Pp. 1157 (Bible) At the back are many additional inclusions such as: Alphabetical Index, A Collection of Similies contained in the Scriptures, Complete Index, and Concise Dictionary, The Psalms of David in Metre, Translations and Paraphrases and more. There are missing pages of the Hymns. In all a most complex Bible for the family. Included are four loose pages with details of some of the Sebire Family Tree as noted in the Inscriptions section below. non-fictionA late Victorian family Bible— the beloved King James text, augmented by the late Revd John Brown of Haddington’s Comprehensive Bible study aids which was well bound. First published in 1611, the King James Version of the Bible has exercised an incalculable impact on piety, language and literature throughout the English-speaking world. "Other translations may engage the mind, but the King James Version is the Bible of the heart" (Campbell, 275). It is probably the text most commonly found in decorative family Bibles such as this one, which has several black and white plates. The Rev. John Brown of Haddington was "a tirelessly faithful pastor"—"For eight months of the year he delivered a lecture, two sermons, and an exercise each Sunday"—and also a prolific author. He is best remembered for his Self-Interpreting Bible, first published 1778, which became "as familiar in Presbyterian households as John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Thomas Boston's Human Nature in its Fourfold State" (DNB). Without Apocrypha. There is a Separate New Testament title page dividing the bible. Opposite page 832 is The Family Register fully handwritten in black ink Old English script commencing with Peter Sebire born 14th June 1835 Sen Died 20th September 1902 (67 years). Many other entries are listed. bibles, religious books, religion, genealogical charts, genealogy, genealogical documents, family trees

Brown's Self-Interpreting Family Bible. London: John G. Murdoch, circa 1875. Thick folio, full dark brown morocco, beveled edges, all edges gilt, brass trim, clasps and catches. The title, Holy Bible is printed in an indented star shaped decorative surround, around the edges of the letters in the middle of the front cover. The spine has four bands across it with Holy Bible printed in gold lettering at the top. The beautifully coloured Title Page is very decorative all over with tan, pale green, dark green and white patterns. Opposite is a black and white plate depicting Moses in his basket in the bulrushes with his mother hiding behind him. There is a plain black and white title page too with full details, including publisher and other details. At the front, information about the Reverend John Brown is included over several pages as well as details of his Monument Inscription in Haddington Churchyard 19th June A.D. 1787, aged 65 years. Following this is an Introduction to the Right Understanding of the Oracles of God. There are many black and white, plus coloured plates included throughout the Bible. Pp. 1123 (Bible) At the back are many additional inclusions: Alphabetical Index, A Collection of names given to Jesus Christ and others, The Psalms of David in Metre, Hymns and Passages of Scripture Paraphrased. In all a most complex Bible for the family.non-fictionIllustrated late Victorian family Bible— the beloved King James text, augmented by the late Revd John Brown of Haddington’s comprehensive Bible study aids— with a total of 36 plates (25 in color) handsomely bound. First published in 1611, the King James Version of the Bible has exercised an incalculable impact on piety, language and literature throughout the English-speaking world. "Other translations may engage the mind, but the King James Version is the Bible of the heart" (Campbell, 275). It is probably the text most commonly found in decorative family Bibles such as this one, which has a total of 36 plates, including an engraved title page, a 12-page family register, the Lord's Prayer, two maps and nine other plates all printed in color. The Rev. John Brown of Haddington was "a tirelessly faithful pastor"—"For eight months of the year he delivered a lecture, two sermons, and an exercise each Sunday"—and also a prolific author. He is best remembered for his Self-Interpreting Bible, first published 1778, which became "as familiar in Presbyterian households as John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Thomas Boston's Human Nature in its Fourfold State" (DNB). Without Apocrypha. After page 302 at the end of the Old Testament is a highly colourful and decorative page of 'The Lord's Prayer' after which is a separate New Testament title page. bibles, religious books, religion