Romantic, charming . . . ''SUNNYBROOK'' ON the slope of a hill on the East side of Bolton street and overlooking willows that trail gracefully in a creeklet which shows no great haste to blend with Diamond Creek and so to the Yarra, there stands a great old-fashioned home. Outwardly it speaks of past opulence rather than beauty of design, but the velvet green lawns and the formal neatly weeded rose gardens, the well established trees, tennis courts, wisteria covered pergolas and the great curved fronds of old palms produce an atmosphere that cannot be built-up in less than decades. Here is irresistible old-world charm. The jangle of today cannot penetrate ... it is a place to remember ... a place where events to be remembered have a perfect setting ... it is "Sunnybrook." From the neighbouring ‘Beranto Lodge’ Mrs. Lenne can catch glimpses of ‘Sunnybrook,’ but the old home is well hidden from all quarters and only the faultlessly kept lawn can be seen by the curious. Like many other people, Mrs. Lenne was curious. Who can blame her. ‘Sunnybrook’ is a name to conjure with in Eltham. When the elderly men of the township were young bucks ‘Sunnybrook’ stood alone, a proud home that was known and established. Amongst the simple homes of the valley of the Diamond Creek, ‘Sunnybrook’ was Queen. In the roistering days of the Diamond Valley, when Kangaroo Ground was the seat of the Shire and when five pubs dotted the road from Lower Plenty to the civic centre, ‘Sunnybrook’ was off the track of the boisterous and tipsy. ‘Sunnybrook’ is still off the beaten track . . . but only slightly so; it no longer looks over cow pastures, but the neat, newly built houses which dot the length of the Main Road. They are still no closer than half a mile and while these houses have sprung up the fine trees and shrubs have quietly closed in around the boundaries of ‘Sunnybrook' as if to keep the old place to itself. That is how it has become something to whet the curiosity. When the course of events put the place on the market Mrs. Lenne bought it. When a modern house is bought it is pliable in the sense that the owner moulds it according to personality. It can remain severe, utilitarian and with a little neglect soon run to an ugly shabbiness. But with old 'Sunnybrook' it is different. There is in existence a character indelibly written into every line of the place . . . it is a LOVE OF ENGLAND. Upon ‘Sunnybrook’ has been lavished the devoted love of England to such a degree that it must be seen. The gardens and lawns are formal, and though lovely and speaking of the leisure of past years they are not English . . . they are just lovely, with the beauty that only the long established seem to possess. It is inside ‘Sunnybrook’ that the intense love of England is seen. Years ago the home was bought by a Mr. Martin, who was getting on in years, as a home for his much younger wife. The couple spent thousands of pounds as well as endless care and imagination in the complete redecorating of their home. Oak panelling imported from England was built in. Huge fireplaces shed their Colonial appearance to be become the fireplaces of England . . . and they were so in every sense because they were also imported from England. One lovely specimen whose gracious lines are remarked upon by all who see it, is a certified antique of finest English Oak. Care was taken to see what hand made wrought iron light fittings were in keeping. The old place has three lounge, dining or living rooms according to taste and requirements, and all are bigger than the biggest attempted in a “big” modern home. This does not include an outside living space of ample proportions, all fine flywired in and enclosing a fernery. A turn of a tap and spray as fine as mist is released over the rockery. On a scorching summer day when no relief short of a swim could help ordinary people, the resident of ‘Sunnybrook’ found the coolness of a dell in which to sit and enjoy their evening meal. What is more, the temperature of the whole house could be reduced by merely turning on this extensive spray water system. Yes, comfort to luxury standard is built in. And what happens to 'Sunnybrook' now? Mrs Lenne is famous to thousands for her quite fabulous catering. Her home and her "Wanda Inn" at Hepburn Springs have long been a Mecca for those who want the different in catering . . . different in the sense that every client is treated as a friend, not a customer and the hospitality and attention one would give to an honoured friend is accorded. And the food! – ask anyone who has enjoyed the privilege. Ask those who attended the reception given to Mr. Menzies by Eltham Shire Council; ask those members of the Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce who enjoyed it! [See EDHS_04736-1/2 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5d4c2fb521ea6727d892df72] There is only one word anyone ever uses . . . “unbelievable!” it must be seen and eaten to be believed. And ‘Sunnybrook’ will ring to the laughter, and offer its spaciousness for the fun of all who join in the happiest occasion in the life of those just married, whose wedding reception is intended to be “remembered.” Mrs. Lenne is a dynamic ball of energy whose enthusiasm is not to be brooked. She has acquired the home of her dreams. 13 March 2020 Note: Historian Stella M. Barber via the GSV members Forum cites that Clair Samwell and Doris Good ran a nursing home in Balwyn called Penquite (1946-1952). Prior to that the women had run a rest home called Beranto in Eltham. Single newsprint page separated rest of paperberanto lodge, bolton street, houses, mrs. lenne, prime minister, properties, robert gordon menzies, sunnybrook

Originally built by John Hill, a shoemaker at Kangaroo Ground around 1878. In the late 1970s when our Society was the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, an offer was made to the Society regarding use of an old cottage at Christmas Hills. The cottage sat beside Watsons Creek just outside the then Shire of Eltham but following municipal restructuring it now lies within the Shire of Nillumbik. For various reasons the offer ultimately lapsed. At that time some research on the cottage was carried out for the Society by Keith Chappel as part of a larger research project that he was doing. Keith’s notes were taken from Lands Department records and showed that the property was the subject of a permissive occupancy of Crown land comprising the creek reserve. In 1903 a Miner’s Right of one acre in area was granted to Edwin Samuel Birch. In 1907 Birch applied to purchase this land but was unable to because it was part of the creek reserve. The documents show that the cottage existed at that time. Upon Birch’s death in 1932, his daughter, Honor Mary Birch was granted a permit to occupy the residence. Honor Mary Birch, known as Nora, was born 1900, the daughter of Edwin Samuel Birch and Honor (nee Young). In 1939 she married George Henry Williams (aka Henry). Honor died 8 July 1976. Her siblings were Margaret Martin (dec), Bert Birch and Brigidene Brinkkotter. In her will she gave and bequeathed “all the improvements on the land held by me at Christmas Hills under Permissive Occupancy from the Department of Land and Survey consisting of the house property thereon and all the contents of the said house to my nephew Brian Joseph Martin of Christmas Hills aforesaid farmer”. The will described the property as a four room, five square house, about 100 years old with enclosed verandah, including kitchen, combined lounge dining room, bedroom and store room; built of ‘bush slabs’ with a corrugated iron roof. A dairy had been erected in 1935. After her death, the property was acquired by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works in 1978. The property is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database HO200-Hill, later Birch farm complex, 945 Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Watsons Creek and described as: The house has a steep but simply gabled roof form clad with corrugated iron, vertical adzed hardwood slab front wall construction, split palings to the gable ends; rubble freestone chimney at one end (with added gsi flue), pole-framed Graeme Butler & Associates, 2006: 101 Shire of Nillurnbik Planning Scheme Amendment C13 Heritage Assessments verandah (rebuilt?); six-pane double-hung sash windows; T&G bead-edge boarded ledged & braced door; and paling clad rooms added at verandah ends. A slab-clad large fireplace is at the north corner of the house, with a gsi upper cladding added and an internal lining of rubble stone. The rear facade is different construction, being drop-slab, and sits beneath a rear skillion addition to the main gabled form: this may be more recent construction. The house appears to have been once set up for public display and may have been recreated in part for that purpose. Outbuildings are reached by a track along the east side of the house, including what may have been a creamery (typical standard inter-war design clad with corrugated iron and lined with 1938 Lysaght Queens Head Australia galvanised sheet iron) and a paling clad gabled out-house. Timber outbuildings of differing eras are to the north-west of the house, with pole framing and paling infill construction and Redcliffe brand corrugated iron. Post and rail (front) and split paling (rear) fence remnants line the front boundary. Pepper trees part of house yard landscape49 born digital images (includes one panoramic stitch and nine frames from drone video)birch cottage, christmas hills, early settlers, edwin samuel birch, honor mary birch, john hill, watsons creek

Eltham District Historical Society heritage walk to follow the boundaries of the original Shillinglaw Farm in central Eltham, held Saturday, 4th November, 2017. The Shillinglaw Farm comprised Lot 90 of Holloway’s 1851 Little Eltham subdivision. It was originally 30 acres in area and situated east of the Diamond Creek and north of Henry Street.Born digital imageeltham war memorial, obelisk, war memorial buidings, war memorial hall

Eltham District Historical Society heritage walk to follow the boundaries of the original Shillinglaw Farm in central Eltham, held Saturday, 4th November, 2017. The Shillinglaw Farm comprised Lot 90 of Holloway’s 1851 Little Eltham subdivision. It was originally 30 acres in area and situated east of the Diamond Creek and north of Henry Street.Born digital imagecr. e.j. andrew, eltham war memorial, ernie andrew, war memorial buidings, war memorial garden, war memorial gates

Eltham District Historical Society heritage walk to follow the boundaries of the original Shillinglaw Farm in central Eltham, held Saturday, 4th November, 2017. The Shillinglaw Farm comprised Lot 90 of Holloway’s 1851 Little Eltham subdivision. It was originally 30 acres in area and situated east of the Diamond Creek and north of Henry Street.Born digital imagecr. e.j. andrew, eltham war memorial, ernie andrew, war memorial buidings, war memorial garden, war memorial gates

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 (before 1991 when Doug Orford photographed all the Shire boundaries as roundabout was well planted at that stage) Cross Ref: 04070 and 01878-25Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripsFuji 100eltham north, kerrie crescent, round about, ryans road, streets

By 1881 Bunguluke was a small settlement as recorded, December 5, in the Charlton "Mercury". It reports that in that year Draper's Store, Hotel and Post Office and residence at Bunguluke North was totally destroyed by fire. For years now there has been little sign of community life with houses few and far between and acreages have gone into larger holdings. The map references land blocks and owners for that era.This important map shows the local land ownership and local features that existed in 1923. This is a photocopied black and white map of Bunguluke in the County of Kara Kara, Number L5149. Marked - Photo Lithographed by W.J. Butson 27.2.1923. The details include numbers of allotments, property owners, roads, rivers. The boundaries marked are the Parish of Jeruk, Parish of Wycheproof, Parish of Cooroopajerrup. Wycheproof township location is shown with the Scale of Chains. Bunguluke maps for other years are also in the collection.map, bunguluke, jeruk, wycheproof, cooroopajerrup

Donated by Stan McFee from the Keith McIlwraith CollectionSepia postcard of four cars , decorated with streamers, driving along Chapel Street going west on unmade road. Land on left was owned by Methodist Church, corner of Chapel and Bass Ave., where large tree denotes the boundary. Finley? Forrest's house on right. Coming to Back to Cowes School Celebration March 1926On back: "Back to Cowes March 1926"celebrations - back to cowes school phillip island, decorated cars, phillip island, stan mcfee, keith mcilwraith collection

The Shire of Diamond Valley was a Local Government Area located about 20 kilometres northeast of Melbourne. The shire covered an area of 74.38 square kilometres and existed from 1964 until 1994. This example of a Boundary Sign was one of many located on the edge of the Shire e.g. at Wattle Glen Station; at Yan Yean Road north of Bannons Lane; 2 on Plenty Road near Larundel and Bundoora Primary School; one on the Para Road bridge; on Wattletree Road Eltham and on Kurrak Road Yarrambat. According to a former Shire employee, the signs were often stolen as quickly as they were replaced. This sign was removed when the Shire of Diamond Valley was dissolved in 1994 and is signed by a Shire employee, giving it strong provenance.Painted metal sign, cream background with green text and Shire of Diamond Valley crest.Inscribed in felt tip pen on back of sign: SDV: from Nov 1964 to 1994. 30 years. Ron Middleton, By-laws Officer and Ranger, from 9/84 to Nov 94 [signed] R. Middletonshire of diamond valley, boundary signs

Proposed revised electoral boundaries for the electoral district of Bundoora (North-Eastern Metropolitan Region) as at 01/07/20211p. black and white copy of mapelectoral boundaries, bundoora - maps, victoria - parliament

These photos were part of an objection to the proposed development and subdivision of part of the historic Banyule Homestead property.The Banyule Homestead dates from 1846, owned and built by Joseph Hawdon, sold in 1867 to Dr Martin. Leased to various farmers and eventually the land (274 acres) was subdivided in 1958. The Homestead presently sits on 2 1/2 acres of land. Set of 4 x A3 photos. Colour.Taken from western boundary overlooking lagoon.banyule homestead, joseph hawdon, heidelberg

Guide to services provided by Nillumbik Shire Council. Nillumbik Shire is located 25 kilometres north-east of Melbourne and the southern boundary is the Yarra River. The south of Nillumbik is predominantly urban, with commercial centres at Eltham and Diamond Creek. The north of the municipality includes significant natural features like Kinglake National Park and Sugarloaf ReservoirAnnual guide to services in Nillumbik. 64 pages. Cover is pale yellow with colour drawings. nillumbik shire council, handbooks

Guide to services provided by Nillumbik Shire Council. Nillumbik Shire is located 25 kilometres north-east of Melbourne and the southern boundary is the Yarra River. The south of Nillumbik is predominantly urban, with commercial centres at Eltham and Diamond Creek. The north of the municipality includes significant natural features like Kinglake National Park and Sugarloaf ReservoirAnnual guide to services in Nillumbik 72 pages. Cover has white background and some 3-D artwork.nillumbik shire council, handbooks

Guide to services provided by Nillumbik Shire Council. Nillumbik Shire is located 25 kilometres north-east of Melbourne and the southern boundary is the Yarra River. The south of Nillumbik is predominantly urban, with commercial centres at Eltham and Diamond Creek. The north of the municipality includes significant natural features like Kinglake National Park and Sugarloaf ReservoirAnnual guide to services in Nillumbik76 pages, illus. Cover has photographs of local people and title in white on orange background.nillumbik shire council, handbooks

Guide to services provided by Nillumbik Shire Council. Nillumbik Shire is located 25 kilometres north-east of Melbourne and the southern boundary is the Yarra River. The south of Nillumbik is predominantly urban, with commercial centres at Eltham and Diamond Creek. The north of the municipality includes significant natural features like Kinglake National Park and Sugarloaf ReservoirAnnual guide to services in Nillumbik76 pages, black and white illustrations. Cover has a collage of local children with title in white on mid-blue background.nillumbik shire council, handbooks

Team photograph, Greensborough Football Club Under 17 Finalists 1964. Caption on photo: Back row: F. West (team manager), M. Tobin (boundary); Third row: G. Ballard, W. Magalas, G. Henderson, D. Cotter, A. O'Neil, G .Lacey, T. Ellis; Second row: B. Moore, A. Burgan (vice capt.), F.Clark (coach), G. Carter (capt.), M. Davies, R. King, L. Browning, R. De Sauty; Front row: C. Montfort, A. Maurer, L. West, D. Dobie, P. Jamieson.This photograph is a record of the team - players and support staff - involved in the Under 17s in the 1964 season.Copy of group photograph of football team, players and support staff. Names in caption. greensborough football club, diamond valley football league

Team photograph, Greensborough Football Club Second Eighteen, Premiers1961. Diamond Valley League. Caption: Front (L-R) G. Featherstone, L. Hughes, J. Hall, W. Connell, A. Cunningham; 2nd row (L-R) J. Richards, R. Dixon, F. LeGassick (capt.),J. Murphy (coach), F. Clarke (vice-capt.), G. Partington, N. Hyde, T. Tobin (timekeeper); 3rd row (L-R) R. LeGassick (boundary ump.), A. Gough (goal ump.), D. Ward (pres.), T. Elliott, M. Kimberley, B. Wasley, I. Foard, E. Poulter, I. Williams, G. Stoneham, J. McConchie, J. Mauer (trainer), R. LeGassick (manager), A. Cattach (trainer),; back row (L-R) G. Watson, K. Piert, G. Anthony, K. Frye, K. McGough, R. Thomas.This photograph is a record of the team - players and support staff - involved in the 1961 premiership season.Group photograph of football team, players and support staff. Photograph mounted on cardboard. greensborough football club, diamond valley football league

Map of City of Heidelberg showing boundaries of its six wards; North Ward is highlighted, covering Watsonia, Greensborough, part Bundoora, St Helena, Plenty, Yarrambat and Diamond Creek.Blue print mapCity of Heidelberg Scale: 1" to 1 ml. G.M.H. 2.2.62city of heidelberg, heidelberg - maps

Shows Melbourne Water and Municipal area boundaries, with boundaries of registered aboriginal parties, in central Victoria.Printed in colour one sideMap reference 20180746aborigines victoria, water supply, melbourne water

City of Heidelberg showing Municipal and Ward boundaries, prepared by City Engineers Department. Made for Council use; copies available for sale to the public.Blueprint, 2 copies, one with some roads hand coloured, showing municipal and ward boundaries. Scale: 20 chains to 1 inchG. M. Hutchins. Authorised charge 50c.city of heidelberg, heidelberg

Map of City of Heidelberg showing municipal and ward boundaries; North Ward is excluded from this map.Blue print map"Scale 20 chns to an inch. G.M.H. 27.5.59"city of heidelberg, heidelberg - maps

One of an overlapping series of aerial photographs of the Heidelberg/Greensborough areas, covering Greensborough, Macleod, Viewbank & Yallambie. North boundary Nell Street, South boundary Simpson BarracksLaminated colour aerial photographgreensborough, viewbank, yallambie

Map shows streets, buildings, river and major drainage easements in area covered by West boundary Sellars Street, North boundary Yando Street & South boundary Grimshaw Street. Adjoins Map No. 481 to East. Black & white map, features marked in green, gradients in red. Scale: 160 feet to 1 inchgreensborough

Central area of Greensborough, South boundary Grimshaw Street, showing river and buildings in green and gradients in red. Adjoins Map No. 480 to West.Black & white map with features in red and green. Scale: 160 feet to 1 inch.greensborough, grimshaw street greensborough

This map of the City of Heidelberg was issued subsequent to the separation of Heidelberg's North Ward to become the Shire of Diamond ValleyBlack on waxed paper. Scale: 20 chs to 1 inchG M Hutchins. 50c.city of heidelberg, heidelberg

Covers Viewbank area: North boundary Martin's Lane; South boundary Yarra River & Birrarung Park; East boundary east of Plenty RiverLaminated black and white aerial photograph; adjoins 6227 on west sideviewbank

Covers Rosanna and parts of Viewbank and Heidelberg. East boundary Price Park; West boundary Hurstbridge railway lineLaminated black and white aerial photograph; adjoins 6226 on east siderosanna, viewbank, heidelberg

Trees along the Grimshaw Street boundary of Loyola College. Part of a collection of photographs of Loyola College, Grimshaw Street Watsonia, established 1980 on the site of the Loyola Seminary. The College purchased the original building in 2002. These photographs of the original building and grounds were taken by GHS member Jazz Burge in June 2012.Digital copy of 2 colour photographs.loyola college, grimshaw street

Trees along boundary fence, Loyola College 2012. Part of a collection of photographs of Loyola College, Grimshaw Street Watsonia, established 1980 on the site of the Loyola Seminary. The College purchased the original building in 2002. These photographs of the original building and grounds were taken by GHS member Jazz Burge in June 2012.Digital copy of colour photograph.loyola college

Map of the Victorian counties of Bourke and Evelyn showing parish boundaries and land ownership.Show the original landholders for this area.Map on light brown parchment, covered in plastic."L.5305" and "3462"