The second School chapel was brought from Allendale in 1919 and the first School chapel was subsequently taken to Wallinduc. In 1975 Manifold Hall was reconstructed to become the School's third chapel. It was consecrated on 29 November 1975 by the Right Reverend John Hazlewood, Bishop of Ballarat. See Winds of Influence, pp. 31, 52-54White weatherboard chapel with high gable rood and cross with large trees in the backgroundverso: .1) 1953 in pencil and 1953 - School Chapel typed in black on cream paper glued to photograph .2) 1953 pencilled in handwritingballarat-grammar, ballarat, bishop-hazlewood, allendale, manifold-hall, education, religion, cegs, b&qags

St. Matthew's Church has historic significance as the town's church and physical and social focus for the community. The standard design buildings are good examples and important streetscape elements. The war memorial cross is the area's monument to the 20th century wars and its modest scale in comparison with the granite Eltham and towered Kangaroo Ground memorials illustrates the lack of affluence in the town and surrounding area. The grouping of church, school, store and post office is typical of country villages throughout Victoria. The Radiata Pine plantings are significant as an intact line of shelterbelt planting typical of the early 20th century. (Bick Study 1992) Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p63 Panton Hill’s first church services were held in a simple building made of paling timber, opposite the Hotel de France. The building was also used for Sunday School, a school and a hall.1 The St Matthew’s Church and hall at the corner of Church Road and Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Road, were built in the early 20th century in the standard rectangular style of the times. The intact belt of Radiata Pines was common at that time. The war memorial concrete cross is the area’s monument for the 20th century wars. It is much more modest than those in Eltham, and particularly in Kangaroo Ground, demonstrating those townships’ comparative affluence.2 Early settler J Hughes, who donated the land to the Church of England, was the first to be married at St Matthews when he married Rachel Coutie. In later life he became a minister of religion.3 One much-liked preacher was George Hollow, who with his sister playing the harmonium, conducted church services at Panton Hill, St Andrews and Christmas Hills, for many years.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, panton hill, st matthew's church, panton hill war memorial

The building was designed by Charles Maplestone of Heidelberg, son-in-law to Anthony Beale of St Helena. Maplestone was a prominent architect who came out to Australia with his family in 1852. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs Isabella Maplestone on 11th November 1867. The bricklayers for the church were George Stebbing, H Limmer, H Spicer and a Mr Timm while Thomas Day was the stonemason. Another three years were to pass before sufficient money could be raised for its completion. It was opened by Bishop Perry on 1st November, 1870. The church bell which hung under a tree for 50 years until it was incorporated in the parish hall was brought out from England and presented by Charles Orme. In 1916, the estate of George Martin Pizzey left sufficient money to build the red brick hall, which still stands today (2023) though in January 1969 the hall and bell tower were badly damaged by bushfire. Coincidentally the former home of benefactor, George Pizzey was destroyed in the same fire. Of particular significance are the interior and exterior of the church, the Sunday school and hall with emphasis on pre-World War I fabric (excluding the 1990s additions) and the three coloured glass windows currently suspended in the 1990s entry foyer. In 2011 further alterations were made to the front of the Church. The church is historically significant because it was the oldest public building in the former Diamond Valley Shire, is amongst the oldest buildings in the Shire of Nillumbik and is associated with the early settlement of the Diamond Creek district. The church is historically, socially and spiritually significant because it has been a place of worship for over 150 years and continues to be, an important meeting place in the Shire. The church is aesthetically significant for the three stained glass windows executed by the noted stained glass manufacturers, Ferguson & Urie, as well as the supporting coloured glass windows in the church. The Sunday school & parish hall is architecturally significant because the hall is a well executed and preserved example of the work of noted church architects, North & Williams. It is historically significant because it is connected with local parishioner and Melbourne industrialist, George Pizzey, who bequeathed funds for its construction. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. National Estate Ntionl Trust of Australia (Victoria) Local significance Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p85 St John’s Anglican Church stands like a beacon on the hill on Main Street, Diamond Creek. Today the church has a large congregation, but its early years were marked by a small congregation struggling to find enough money to survive. It was gold in Diamond Creek that resulted in the building of this National Trust registered property.1 This church is far removed from William Wilson’s humble barn (later the Bowling Green) where the first Anglican church services were conducted – probably the first in the district.2 In the mid 19th century services were infrequent as the Rev Francis Hales, travelling on horseback, also conducted services elsewhere, including at Heidelberg, Coburg, Kinglake, Arthurs Creek, St Andrews and Kangaroo Ground. In 1860 Diamond Creek came under the jurisdiction of the Eltham Parish. Until the mid 1860s the Diamond Creek settlement included only about 20 families who were struggling farmers. But this changed when gold was found in 1862. Then the township grew to 200 families, including miners, civil administration workers and shopkeepers. The resulting growth of Church of England adherents prompted them to petition the Government in 1866 for land to build a church. The area chosen, on which the original building still stands, was at the centre of the proposed township. Today church leaders believe that this conspicuous location is one of the reasons for its exceptional growth. Prominent architect Charles Maplestone designed the building as he did the Presbyterian Church at Kangaroo Ground. St John’s, which is still intact, was built in the Gothic Revival style with the traditional rectangular plan of a central nave and sanctuary at the end. It is typical of small churches built in Victoria at that time, with polychromatic hand-made bricks, a porch, diagonal buttresses and a slate roof.3 The church was officially opened by Lord Bishop Perry on November 1, 1870. But during the next 40 years, due to the varying fortunes of gold mining, the church struggled to remain viable. In 1909 it separated from the Eltham Parish to form a parish with Greensborough. Life became more difficult with the privations of World War One. Then disaster struck in 1915 when fire destroyed the Diamond Creek Gold Mine, wiping out the major livelihood of most parishioners. However the church’s morale was lifted in 1916, when it received a bequest to build the red brick hall, from late parishioner and prominent leather manufacturer, George Pizzey. As prosperity grew, in 1924 the congregation separated from Greensborough, but they rejoined in the 1930s Depression. In the 1950s the wider population soared, impacting on St John’s, and it became a separate parish, becoming responsible for six churches at St Andrews, Hazel Glen, Hurstbridge, St Helena and Yarrambat. As parishioner numbers outgrew the building, extensions were added in 1989 and then in 1993, blending in well with the original building. Church members have made a huge contribution to the local community. John Ryan was a Heidelberg Shire Councillor for 25 years from 1931, Mayor in 1939 and headed several local sporting and other organisations. His son Jock became a clergyman and a local historian heading the Nillumbik Historical Society. Another parishioner, Dr Ted Cordner, came to Diamond Creek in 1920. One of his sons Donald, who was a local doctor, won the Brownlow Medal, was President of the Melbourne Cricket Club and President of the Melbourne Grammar School Council. Roy ‘Monty’ Vale was a state Liberal MP and was related to May Vale, a member of the Heidelberg School of Artists.4 In the early 21st century St John’s Anglican Church is one of the fastest growing congregations in Melbourne. References: St Johns Anglican Church complex, Sunday School and Parish Hall 61 Main Street DIAMOND CREEK, NILLUMBIK SHIRE. (2023, June 7). Retrieved from https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/64023 Diamond Creek, VIC. – St John’s Anglican (2023, June 7). Retrieved from https://www.churchhistories.net.au/church-catalog/diamond-creek-vic-st-johns-anglican 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, st john's anglican church, diamond creek

Colour photograph showing group of men with musical instruments seated in front of St Paul's Church hall."Centenary St Paul's Linton Beaufort Brass Band 1962".st paul's church of england linton. centenary 1962, beaufort brass band, parish hall

T. A. Prydderch Confectioner and S.G. Perry Hairdresser businesses Main Street between Town Hall and Church of England. Now Demolished. Mr. T.A. Prydderch the male with hands in pockets ran this business for many years. later to conduct the Egg Board. Mr. S. Perry conducted his hair dressing business for many years in Stawell. Mr. Parry is the tall gentleman with hands behind his back. The duplicate photo was donated by Meryl Bowers on 7.11.2012. 2012 Site - now occupied by Pyke's Cycles & Pets.Three black and white photographs of two business houses. Parapete fronts with advertising, wooden fronts with display windows. Included in photographic are three males.T.A. Prydderch. Sennitts Ice Cream Confectioner. S.G. Perry. Hairdresser. also written on the back of one of the photos is Stan Perry (Hairdresser) Lower Main St. Stawell above Church of England. from Meryl Bowers stawell businesses streetscape

This is the program of a concert held at Price’s Exchange Hall in Warrnambool in December, 1867. The concert was under the management of the Warrnambool Anglican Minister, Archdeacon T. P. Beamish and the proceeds were in aid of the Warrnambool Church of England Common School. The programme was printed on silk at the office of the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper. This paper was founded in 1851 by a pioneer settler in Warrnambool, Richard Osburne and it was leased by Henry Laurie and William Fairfax from 1867 to 1872; these latter two became the founders of the Warrnambool Standard (1872 to the present day) and were the printers of this program. There were 26 musical items, a recitation by John Flaxman and a ten minute interval. Three of the performers at this concert were well-known in Warrnambool for their musical talents – singer, William Fairfax, noted above, singer Sarah Welchman (also the proprietor of a private school for girls) and singer Mrs Steedman (also the proprietor of a girls’ private school in Warrnambool). The Warrnambool Church of England Common School (number 661) was established in Warrnambool as a Government-subsidized denominational school in 1860 and closed in 1876 when the Jamieson Street Warrnambool State School (SS1743) opened. Archdeacon Peter Beamish, the sponsor of the concert, was the Anglican Minister in Warrnambool from 1850 to 1895. Price’s Exchange Hall was part of a Temperance Hotel opened in Liebig Street in 1861 by Richard Wrench. In the 1860s Thomas Price opened the Royal Exchange Hotel on these premises and his Exchange Hall was the largest hall in Warrnambool at that time. This is a most significant item because:- 1. It is a rare example of a 19th century programme printed on silk 2. The listed concert programme is a good example of the type of entertainment held in Warrnambool in the 1860s 3. Some of the participants in the concert were well-known entertainers in Warrnambool in the 1860s – Fairfax, Steedman, Welchman 4. The programme is one of the few mementoes we hold of the Church of England Common School 5. Other people important in Warrnambool’s history are connected to this item – Archdeacon Beamish, Fairfax and Laurie of the Warrnambool Standard and Thomas Price and his Royal Exchange Hotel Hall. This is a programme printed on silk. The sheet has a decorative border, black printing and an image of musical instruments and music scores. The programme has frayed edges.Church of England Common School Grand Amateur Concert Wednesday 4th December 1867 Price’s Exchange Hall, Warrnambool royal exchange hotel, liebig street, warrnambool, archdeacon beamish, warrnambool, fairfax and laurie, warrnambool examiner, church of england common school 661, warrnambool, william fairfax, sarah welchman, mrs steedman, dr mckenzie, william chambers, henry chambers, john fairfax