Walking or driving up Main Road, you enter Eltham’s Avenue of Honour, with its rows of plane trees, each commemorating the death of a soldier sent to fight in World War 1. 115 trees were first planted on 21st September 1917 beginning at “the flat” to the intersection of Pitt Street. Tree guards and copper name plates were later added. In the ‘20s and ‘30s too many branches were broken off by carriers whipping their horses up the steep slope. In the 1950s many of the original trees were removed for road widening and new plane trees were planted in their place. In June 2015 during the Anzac Centenary, Nillumbik Shire Council dedicated the new Avenue of Honour in the Eltham Gateway. New markers commemorate local soldiers. Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, avenue of honour, eltham gateway, commemoration, marker

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

Historical photos of camp areaWW1, Camp set-outBooklet, cardboard cover, pages containing Photographs of the camp etc. Booklet containing Photographs of the camp etc. Details are 1. Y.M.C.A. The Camp. 2. The Cross & village Barford. 3. Stonehenge. 4.Main Road, through camp. 5. Main road to Camp. 6. The Camp Headquarters 4 Command. 7. Head Quarters The Camp. 8. H.Q.-Pay office. 8. H.Q, Gardening, The camp. 9. The camp, 9 Command. 10. Garden - Australia map and title. 11. The Smithy Figheldean. "The spreading chestnut tree"

souvenirs from the middle Eastern Countries during WW2A wooden covered book; 10 pages with post card and on left hand side and pressed flower arrangements on opposite page. Pages separated by translucent tissue paperBlack inked drawing depicting camels , cameleers and palm tree on front cover; central back wooden cover 'Jerusalem' printed Inside cover in handwriting " To Mother From Dad 18th January 1941" Book title " Flowers and Views of the Holy Land - Fleurs et vues de la Terre Sainte" postcard pressed flower book

A souvenir brass ashtray in the form of a small circular dish. The ashtray is decorated with an embossed Middle East scene depicting a helmeted soldier riding a camel. The scene also shows palm trees, local plants, a pyramid and a monkey. The edge of the dish is scalloped. The underside of the ashtray has been engraved indicating that it was a sports competition trophy. This is one of a pair, see 00274.1, Souvenir, Trophy.The underside of the ashtray has been engraved with the following text "ATHLETIC SPORTS MEETING NAZARETH, OCTOBER 5th 1941 HIGH JUMP 1ST CPL M.R.WILLIAMS"

A souvenir brass ashtray in the form of a small circular dish. The ashtray is decorated with an embossed Middle East scene depicting a helmeted soldier riding a camel. The scene also shows palm trees, local plants, a pyramid and a monkey. The edge of the dish is scalloped. The underside of the ashtray has been engraved indicating that it was a sports competition trophy. This is one of a pair, see 00274.2, Souvenir, Trophy.The underside of the ashtray has been engraved with the following text "ATHLETIC SPORTS MEETING NAZARETH, OCTOBER 5th 1941 KICKING THE FOOTBALL 1ST CPL M.R.WILLIAMS"

One of 23 photographs from the Jessie Smith Collection. Donated by Stan McFeeBlack & White photograph of the Cowes Post Ofice Building with two storey brick shop building on the left overshadowed by the branch of a Pine tree.On Back: "New P.O. Cowes"phillip island, cowes, cowes post office, jessie smith collection, stan mcfee

Donated by Molly CookColour photograph of a Koala on a branch of a tree."Koala Bear at Cowes"koalas, wildlife - koala, cowes, phillip island, molly cook

Owned by William Albert HARRISON (Service Number VX41478; above Link ["WW2 Record"] Sent home to his mother from Liban on 25-10-41 Soldier's name known. Items donated (date unknown) by brother-in-law who was living in Montmorency and was a committee member of MERSL when item donated.Oval shaped slice of wood from the cedar tree in Lebanon. Carving of a cedar tree across top and emblem of Australian Commonwealth Military Services half way down and Cedar of Lebanon across the bottom half. Stained with light brown varnish. Original bark of tree all the way around the edge.Two stamps in French possibly where it was made, Artiols bois des cedres. Becharry Liban. Salim Kabalan. Hand written message;- Mother with all the best to you Bill. Dated 25-10-41

Owned by William Albert HARRISON (Service Number VX41478; above Link ["WW2 Record"] Sent home to his mother from Liban on 25-10-41 Soldier's name known. Items donated (date unknown) by brother-in-law who was living in Montmorency and was a committee member of MERSL when item donated.Oval shaped slice of wood from the cedar tree in Lebanon. (Liban) Stained with light brown varnish. Original bark from tree all around trhe edge of plateStamp in French possibly where it was made, Artiols bois des cedres. Becharry Liban. Salim Kabalan. Hand written message;- Edna with all the best to you Bill. Dated 25-10-41

In the minutes of the 21st meeting of the Victoria Mission to Seamen, held at the Harbour Trust Board Room on Thursday, 8th October 1925 , the Treasurer, Mr Perry reported that he had obtained a fresh lease of land of the Central Institute with an extra piece of land to be used for the future tennis court. The lease started on the 1st of January 1926 and was for 21 years. The tennis court was funded by the Hawtorn branch of Ladies Harbour Lights Guild.The tennis court was a feature of other missions overseas and it seems seamen were asking for one in Melbourne. It was in use until the mid fifties.Small silvertone photograph depicting four men working with horses are preparing the ground of the future tennis court. Behind is the Mission to Seafarers (chapel side) and the docks on the Australian Wharf. The photograph is glued to the photographic album with the caution belowBelow in white ink: Making the tennis courttennis court, weller album, 1926, garden, trees, horses, flinders street

Glass framed photo of the HMAS Maryborough insignia. Naval gold coloured crown with blue, red and green jewel inserts located above a gold coloured plaque. The plaque has a gold coloured edge with a gold coloured pig on a blue background on the left, a picture of a building with a frame tower on a red background located on the right, and a picture of trees on a white background located on the bottom. At the bottom of the picture is a gold edged blue ribbon with the words HMAS Maryborough in gold lettering.

Mr Roland Hardley was a Gallipoli veteran, vice president of the Permanently Disabled Soldiers Association and first branch president of the Greensborough RSLMr Roland Hardley was first branch president of the Greensborough RSL and his family were pioneers in Bundoora at Rotherham Farm.5 x A4 sheets. Photocopy of 1935 obituary from Hurstbridge Advertiser for Mr Roland Hardley of Bundoora. 2-page family tree of Roland Hardley's family. Copies of 3 photographs of the Hardley family's Rotherham Farm Bundoora.Various notations by Faye Fort roland hardley, greensborough returned servicemens league, greensborough rsl, rotherham farm, bundoora

Greensborough has been a popular place for picnics This article describes the first annual Labour picnic organised by the women's committee of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labour Party in 1925. A highlight of the day was a trek to the Batman Apple Tree in Bosch's orchard.This picnic was held at Mr Bosch's orchard and visited the "Batman" apple tree.1 page printed both sides. Article downoaded from Trove (National Library of Australia)batman apple tree, picnics, orchards, greensborough, australian labour party

This is the ford over the Stoney Creek and shelter shed.The photo shows a track leading down to a large pergola type structure, surrounded by thick bush. There is a tall gum on the right of the picture, beside the track. A large branch of a tree can be seen in the top left foreground.access routes, roads

Location and women not identified.The photo shows two young women, at the top of the picture, beside a cascading waterfall. A large, twisted, leafless branch of a tree extends out over the main drop of the falls.scenery, waterfalls

Tree roots under both buildings as well as branches touching the house roof required the removal of the tree between the Courthouse and Residence (home of Eltham District Historical Society).Colour photographcourt house, eltham district historical society, main road, police residence

Tree roots under both buildings as well as branches touching the house roof required the removal of the tree between the Courthouse and Residence (home of Eltham District Historical Society).Colour photographcourt house, eltham district historical society, main road, police residence

This "homemade rake" is constructed from a branch of a tea tree. This item demonstrates that in the mid to late 1800's the isolation of the Kiewa Valley was more pronounced than during the early 1900's. The availability of gardening implements to the residences within the Kiewa Valley was scarce to non existence. with the upgrading of roads into the valley and the boost to the Valley's population (S.E.C. Kiewa Valley Hydro Electricity Scheme) transport into the valley, firstly via commercial Hawkers in their mobile caravans and later by commercial trucks. This "home made" rake is very significant because it highlights the ingenuity of local farmers and graziers in overcoming the semi isolation of the Kiewa Valley and its regions from the commercial availability of gardening implements enjoyed by gardeners in the towns and cities of the 1800's and the early 1900's. This "home made" garden rake highlights the ingenuity of the "Australian" character per se. A slice of this ingenuity can be seen by the amount of inventions, per capita, produced within Australia throughout its history.Handle is a long, stripped branch of tea tree. The head of the rake is a 2.3 cm. wide piece of wood, compressed between two 0.5 cm. pieces of metal joined with bolts, nuts and rivets. The holes drilled into the wood hold metal tines 10.5 cms. high. There should be 16 tines but 4 are missing. This type of rake is/ was used in dairiestimber, dairy, farm, rural, implement

This "home made" squeegee was manufactured in the mid to late 1900's by an ingenuous dairyman as a solution to the removal of cow "pats" from the concrete floors of his "milking" sheds. The tea tree made squeegee (being made from nature's anti bacterial material) was an excellent hygienic implement to use. This "home made" wooden squeegee is very significant to the Kiewa Valley and its surrounding regions because it highlights the natural ingenuity found in the pioneer farmer, grazier and other rural folk. It demonstrates the "mother of invention and adaptation" is very strong in rural areas where "off the shelf" products were a rare quantity. Part of the natural psyche of the rural Australian inhabitants is the ability to produce inventions that overcome physical restrictive conditions, "the man/woman of all trades" is an apt description of the pioneers of yesteryear and of those to come.The squeegee handle is a long branch made from a tea tree, inserted into the upper flat side of a slab of tea tree wood which is flat on one side and curved on the other, the natural curve of the tree trunk. This squeegee was used on dairies for removing cow manure.timber, dairy, farm, rural, implement

Personal fan of Asian origin used by early immigrant family living in Kiewa Valley and indicative of the mixed heritages within the Valley. Personal Fan of vintage circa 1920s suggests middle to upper socio-economic levelHistorically this item places certain ethnic group in the Kiewa Valley circa 1920's - 1950's. This personal fan indicates that it may have belonged to a middle class person with greater leisure time than that of a working class. The multicultural fabric of the region is also highlighted.Personal hand fan (slide out sideways open). Cardboard screen on wooden spine frame. Main side bright coloured green trees on golden red and royal blue background. Wispy silver lined clouds, black branches and brown earth with moss. Flip side gold speckled on white background Bamboo like sliversfan, personal fan, cooling, oriental, hand fan

This extract from an advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper of 1/12/1959 places the era in which this water bag was prolific throughout rural Australia. " ABERDEEN CANVAS GOODS for the man on the land here is Australia's most useful, convenient and hygienic water bag. Its special unbreakable plastic nozzle is fitted with a perforated filter strainer. Made from long flax canvas, its universal handle enables it to be hung on bumper bar, wire fence or on hook or nail" The availability of clean cool drinking water in remote rural locations was essential for survival under the blistering Australian summer sun. This was in a pioneer era when transport, roads and convenience stores were ,in a lot of "outback" Australia, in short supply and survival was dependent upon what could be carried by vehicle or pack horse.When the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme became a reality, the use of the water bag was one of the essential personal items of survival given to each person working in the forests and on and in the high plains environment. Even in an outside stationary work place the availability of cool clean water was a prerequisite. The canvas water bag allowed any wind or airflow to cool down the water, even on very hot days, to provide a refreshing and throat quenching supply of water. These bags could be fastened onto the front of vehicles or hanging from shady tree branches thereby permitting air flow around the bag. During the "wearing in" period the residual taste from the canvas was fairly strong, this became considerably less as time and a half moved on. This "Aberdeen" long flax canvas water bag is held together on two sides and the top by strong heavy cotton stitching. The iron fashioned carrying handle has, protruding from its top elevation ,a very strong hook (well in excess of the bags' weight requirement). At the top, of the bag, and on one side only, is a brown coloured bakelite spout (with an inbuilt filter) protruding upwards. This spout has its matching , screw on, lid complete with attachment chain (not fixed at the handle end)On the front of the bad and stenciled in bold lettering, "ABERDEEN" and directly below "Travellers" and below this "FILTER BAG". Below this are two parallel black lines enclosing an ochre coloured band(12mm wide) running around the bottom section of the bag. Below this band is stenciled the number 14 in black (25mm high) figures. The spout lid has stamped on the top surface and within the outline of Australia, "ABERDEEN FILTER WATER BAG". Above this and close to the edge of the lid is pressed "PAT. No 9149/32 and down at the bottom rim is stamped "RD. No. 9870". canvas, water bag, water container, camping equipment, survival pack

This is a telephone directory of the telephone numbers and addresses of residents and businesses in Melbourne in 1933. There had been several early attempts in the second half of the 19th century to link places and homes in Victoria by locally-made telephone systems with a commercial telephone system in the same year successfully linking a business in Melbourne to a branch office in the same city. The first telephone exchange in Australia was established in Melbourne in 1880. This 1933 telephone directory shows the growing number of private residents and businesses to have the telephone installed but the installations were still confined mostly to the more affluent private residents and to businesses. This book is of considerable interest as a reference guide as it provides the names and addresses of those who had a telephone installed in Melbourne in 1933. This will be of great use to researchers, especially those compiling their family tree. This is a soft cover book of 364 pages. It has a buff-coloured cardboard cover with the title and other printed information on the front cover and four multi-colour advertisements for Melbourne businesses (Barnet Glass Tyres, Renown Dry Cleaners, C.O.R. Motor Spirit and Edward Dyason, Sharebrokers), also on the front cover. The back cover has a colour advertisement for Gilbey’s Gin. The pages listing the householders’ telephone numbers and addresses in alphabetical order are white with black printing and there are 20 pink pages at the back (business and professional listings). The book has been bound with glue. The cover is somewhat crumpled and the pages are dog-eared. melbourne history, telephone installation history in victoria, warrnambool, history

Studebaker canteen registration number V-0172. There is a Holden panel van front right registration number JHE-915. The ground underfoot is muddy and there is snow in the trees in the background. Circa 1965police vehicles; wireless patrol; motor transport branch; motor transport section; studebaker car; holden panel van; victoria police canteen

A 1967 Holden Divisional Van, registration number JVB-464, with a siren on the bonnet and a blue light on the roof. The van windows have visible reinforcement. The photograph has been taken in a park with large trees in the background. There is no visible insignia on the car. Circa 1991police vehicles; motor transport branch; motor transport section; wireless patrol: holden van

Rear view of a 1967 Holden Divisional Van, registration number JVB-464, with a blue light on the roof and visible aerial. The van windows have visible reinforcement with a turn handle on the rear door. The background of the photograph has large trees and a single level brick building. There is no visible insignia on the car. Circa 1991police vehicles; motor transport branch; motor transport section; wireless patrol; holden van

Front view of a 1967 Holden Divisional Van, registration number JVB-464, with a blue light on the roof and siren on the bonnet. The window separating the cab from the rear of the van has a visible reinforcement. The background of the photograph has large trees and a single level brick building with a pitched roof. There is no visible insignia on the car. Circa 1991police vehicles; motor transport branch; motor transport section; wireless patrol; holden van