My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days".   SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river

Tait Red Rattler approaching Mont Albert Railway Station from Box Hill, c. Feb. 1964 See also EDHS_05402-2 both taken from the same location. adjacent to the end of present day Trafalgar StreetDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencygeorge coop collection, red rattler, tait train, mont albert railway station

The Centenary-Jubilee Train. The Centenary-Jubilee train was one of the outstanding successes of the Centenary and Jubilee celebrations in Victoria. The train, attractively painted green and gold, consisted of eleven cars, and toured Victoria to take to people in the country exhibits of interest associated with the celebrations. National Art Gallery paintings, rare manuscripts and pictures were displayed, as well as models showing the history of gold production, and models and illustrations of national projects controlled by the various departments of this State. The Commonwealth section included displays by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Post Office; a war materials exhibit from the Supply Department; and diagrams and maps of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric scheme. The Railways exhibit portrayed the century's growth and development of railways in Victoria and their influence on the prosperity of the State. During its 6,000 miles tour, from 1st February to 30th June, the train visited 168 stations and was inspected by 547,978 people. An entertainment unit accompanied the train and gave 100 performances which were attended by 96,400 people. Source: Report of The Victorian Railways Commissioners for the Year Ended 30th June 1951Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, n-430, n-class steam locomotive, victorian centenary jubilee 1951

The Centenary-Jubilee Train. The Centenary-Jubilee train was one of the outstanding successes of the Centenary and Jubilee celebrations in Victoria. The train, attractively painted green and gold, consisted of eleven cars, and toured Victoria to take to people in the country exhibits of interest associated with the celebrations. National Art Gallery paintings, rare manuscripts and pictures were displayed, as well as models showing the history of gold production, and models and illustrations of national projects controlled by the various departments of this State. The Commonwealth section included displays by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Post Office; a war materials exhibit from the Supply Department; and diagrams and maps of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric scheme. The Railways exhibit portrayed the century's growth and development of railways in Victoria and their influence on the prosperity of the State. During its 6,000 miles tour, from 1st February to 30th June, the train visited 168 stations and was inspected by 547,978 people. An entertainment unit accompanied the train and gave 100 performances which were attended by 96,400 people. Source: Report of The Victorian Railways Commissioners for the Year Ended 30th June 1951Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, n-430, n-class steam locomotive, victorian centenary jubilee 1951

Spontaneously taken photograph. Railway administrative offices in background.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, a2 class steam locomotive, spencer street railway station

The Melbourne Road level crossing is now the location of the pedestrian underpass. Hall Street is seen to the right and the two-storey brick building remains to present day. One of several photos at Newport taken the same day in the early 1950s when George Coop was a secondary school student.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, hall street, level crossing, melbourne road, newport railway station, y-103, y-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, r-class steam locomotive, spencer street railway station

Typical view of how Spencer Street Station looked during the 1930s to 1960s.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, spencer street railway station, 1951, a2 class steam locomotive, a2-992

This photo was taken the same time as EDHS_04673-36 an A2-class Steam Locomotive 987 sitting on the other side of the platform at Spencer Street Railway Station. 280HP Walker Railmotor Walker Railmotors are diesel railcars, or train sets, that were designed to improve the passenger services on Victorian branchlines in Australia. They were practically a bus service on rails. These motors entered service in 1948 with the 102 hp and the 154 hp units. The 102 hp units were built until 1955 and the 153 hp units stopped being built one year before. The 280 hp units were built from 1950-1951. The engine and drive systems were built by the Walker Railcar Company in Wigan, England, and the bodies were built by Martin & King in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The railcars were put together by Victorian Railways. The railcars were, in the end, gradually replaced by a diesel electric railcar from 1978 on. Amazingly these railcars survived to this time, even though they were in direct competition with the bus service. By 1980 no Walker Railmotor cars or trainsets were in service. Very few are preserved. REF: Walker Railmotors, https://locomotive.fandom.com/wiki/Walker_RailmotorsDigital TIFF file Scan of black and white 620 format contact printgeorge coop collection, spencer street railway station, walker railmotor

"V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, royal train, display, spencer street railway station, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition

"V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, royal train, display, spencer street railway station, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition

It appears that the Royal Train may have been split to suit display purposes and restraints. In this image is seen the CE Guard's Brake Van which would be located as the first coach behind the locomotive. "V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, royal train, display, spencer street railway station, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition, ce guard's brake van

"V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, display, spencer street railway station, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition, power transformer, qb boiler/flat wagon, qb-13

Visible behind T-94 is an AEC Railmotor (with tiger stripes on front) and trailer used on branch lines to haul a 4-wheel trailer. Steam locomotive T-94 has been preserved and is currently on display at the Australian Railway Historical Society Museum at North Williamstown http://www.australiansteam.com/T%2094.htm "V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, display, spencer street railway station, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition, aec railmotor, railmotor, t-94, t-class steam locomotive

Steam locomotive T-94 has been preserved and is currently on display at the Australian Railway Historical Society Museum at North Williamstown http://www.australiansteam.com/T%2094.htm "V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, display, spencer street railway station, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition, t-94, t-class steam locomotive

Double or exposure containing an AEC Railmotor (with tiger stripes on front) and 4-wheel trailer used on branch lines. Where the strips appear to curve down is a sun visor over the windscreen of the railmotor. The image is double exposed with a E-class 2-4-2 steam locomotive and Tait train on display adjacent "V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, display, spencer street railway station, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition, aec railmotor

The white disc at the front of the train is folded in half covering trhe white circle indicating this is the front of the train. When the full white disc is visible, this signifies the end of the train. See similar image taken just moments prior - https://www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/e/e.html "V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, display, spencer street railway station, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition, e-1101, e-class electric locomotive

Located at the end of the train is the E-class electric locomotive 1101 "V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, display, spencer street railway station, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition, e-1101, e-class electric locomotive, e-class steam locomotive

"V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, display, spencer street railway station, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition, e-class steam locomotive

Most likjely taken either arriving or departing from a visit of the display at Spencer Street Railway Station during the 1954 Victorian Railways Centenary Exhibition, 11-25 Sep. 1954 "V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, v.r. cavalcade, victorian railways centenary 1854-1954 exhibition, red rattler, tait train

Churchill Street shops just visible on right of image. The grass embankment visible in the distance on the left of the track is from where another view looking down the track beside Churchill Street was taken. Shows the original building on the northern platform of the Mont Albert station. The railway line was extended out to Lilydale with work commencing in 1882. Mont Albert station opened in 1890. It is presumed that this building was demolished when the third line was constructed in 1971. At the same time the nearby Surrey Hills original station buildings were demolished. George noted that he had donated a black and white print copy of this image some years earlier to the Surrey Hills Historical Society - see SHP2018/21/6 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5d6a450a21ea670e188d05c9Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, churchill street, mont albert railway station

Railway line from Mont Albert to Box Hill, c.1956 - Churchill Street, Mont Albert on right Prior to the Eastern Suburbs Railway Development which added a third set of tracks down the alignment to Box Hill (Dec. 1971). This photo was taken at the same time as the 1956 Mont Albert Railway Station (behind the camera view) See also EDHS_04674-03 both taken from the same location. adjacent to the end of present day Trafalgar StreetDigital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, churchill street, mont albert railway station

Very close to entrance of Victoria Park this view is looking southwest along Crofton Street to intersection with Dickson.. The buildings are all attached and the immediate two in the foreground have since been demolished or significantly altered however the old shop building and attached house on the corner (32 Dickson St) remain recognisable today.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca, crofton street, dickson street, houses, shops

Viewed from Leslie Street. The Steam Packet Inn continues to operate today. It was the closest hotel for anyone who had just come off a paddle boat. In the background can be seen two cyclists riding along Murray Esplanade, the swing gates are the entry into the railway yards.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca, leslie street, murray esplanade, steam packet inn

Viewed from Leslie Street. The Steam Packet Inn continues to operate today. It was the closest hotel for anyone who had just come off a paddle boat. In the background can be seen two cyclists riding along Murray Esplanade, the swing gates are the entry into the railway yards.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca, leslie street, murray esplanade, steam packet inn

A special plant track repair and goods recovery train proceeding to a cattle train derailment on the Balranald (NSW) line from which sheep had also escaped. The train composition was made up of J-Class steam locomtive J-502, a water gin carrying extra water for the train given doubtful supplies en-route, a wagon to reload the surviving sheep, a wagon containing track tools and equipment, a carriage for the work crew, a bogie wagon containing all the specialist tools for re-railing the train, followed lastly by the Guard's van. The specialist wagons and their equipment were based at the Bendigo Depot (see painted markings on van side) in a state of readiness for immediate use as the need arose The train is viewed approaching the Iron Bridge grade out of the Echuca rail yard. The Gatekeepers hut is visible on the right. The gatekeeper would be notified of the approaching train at which time he would open the gate to allow the train to pass through the Packenham Street level crossing.Digital TIFF file Scan of black and white print Enlargement prints on textured paper (15.5 x 20.5 cm)george coop collection, echuca, j-502, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry)

A special plant track repair and goods recovery train proceeding to a cattle train derailment on the Balranald (NSW) line from which sheep had also escaped. The train composition was made up of J-Class steam locomtive J-502, a water gin carrying extra water for the train given doubtful supplies en-route, a wagon to reload the surviving sheep, a wagon containing track tools and equipment, a carriage for the work crew, a bogie wagon containing all the specialist tools for re-railing the train, followed lastly by the Guard's van. The specialist wagons and their equipment were based at the Bendigo Depot (see painted markings on van side) in a state of readiness for immediate use as the need arose The train is viewed approaching the Iron Bridge grade out of the Echuca rail yard. The Gatekeepers hut is visible on the right. The gatekeeper would be notified of the approaching train at which time he would open the gate to allow the train to pass through the Packenham Street level crossing.Digital TIFF file Scan of black and white print Enlargement prints on textured paper (15.5 x 20.5 cm)george coop collection, echuca, j-502, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry)

Charles Cockcroft born Bundanoon, NSW, 1885, died 1966 and Annie Cockcroft (nee Green) born Lismore, NSW, 1881, died 1943. They are buried together in Eltham Cemetery. On 28 Nov 1931 C.R. Nicholls offered for auction the General Store and attached house he had built on the corner of York Street and Main Road in late 1925. The property was purchased by Charles and Annie Cockcroft from which they lived and ran their grocery business. Following the death of Annie in 1943, and prior to 1949, Charles sold the business and moved farming at Jeeralang North near Traralgon in Gippsland. References: • 1931, 1943 and 1949 Electoral Rolls (Ancestry.com) • Eltham. (1926, January 15). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 2 (AFTERNOON). Retrieved February 23, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56659270 • Auction Sale at Eltham (1931, November 20). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 5. Retrieved February 23, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56736611Black and white print also negative copy of print (roll of 35mm black and white negative film, 3 strips Ilford FP4)Details inscribed in blue ink on back of photoannie florence cockcroft (nee green), car, charles burgess cockroft, feed store, general store, grocer, grocers, main road, shops, vehicles, york street

Eltham Shire Offices 1941-1965, were located at the Corner of Arthur Street and Main Road, Eltham. The Building also incuded a community hall.Negative black and white film 120 6x6 format [Missing] One of six frames (sectioned: three continuous, two single frames and one frame missing), and Associated black and white photo printeltham, main road, arthur street, council, eltham hall, eltham shire office, shire of eltham, astor radio & tv, eltham shire council, eltham shire hall, municipal offices, shire offices, shops

Ryans Road was reconstructed and sealed to the north of Kerrie Crescent in 1983. Roundabout and southern reconstruction added later. This photo is probably shortly after construction of roundabout.35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whiteeltham, infrastructure, ryans roads, burd street, meruka drive