Newsletter No. 216, May 2014 May Excursion – The 1901 Eltham Railway Walk The railway from Heidelberg to Eltham was opened in 1902. Over the previous year railway construction cut a curving swathe through Josiah Holloway’s 1851 Little Eltham subdivision. The survey plans for the railway show the owners and occupiers of land within Little Eltham affected by the railway alignment and for some distance each side. The plans show houses and other buildings but development at that time was rather sparse. Copies of these plans from the State Library of Victoria collection have been provided to the Society by Alan Sheehan. For our walk on 3rd May we intend to follow the railway from the Eltham Station to Ryans Road, which was the boundary of the adjoining Montmorency Farm. The return will be by way of nearby streets. Along the way we will discuss the details shown on the railway plans as well as more recent railway documents and photographs. At the conclusion and if time permits we can inspect the historical display at the Eltham Station. The walk is about 3 km in length and will take about 2.5 hours. It will start at 2 pm at the Eltham Railway Station car park (east/Main Road side) (Melway Ref. 21 J5).Born Digitalheritage excursion, activities, eltham district historical society, eltham railway station, eltham library, trestle bridge

Historic Buildings and Areas Assessment by Graeme Butler. Part 1 of award winning study carried out in 1982 in collaboration with a community advisory committee to Heidelberg City Council. Pioneering identification of a broad range of heritage assets varying from buildings, gravestones, farm structures, landscape areas, mileposts, divided street construction, in a time when buildings only were assessed in municipal studies.2 v. : ill., maps ; 29 cm.significant buildings heidelberg victoria, history development of heidelberg victoria, man-made landscape heidelberg victoria, significant precincts heidelberg victoria, conservation study, graeme butler

"This book was "the bible" of mud brick and Pise builders in the 1950s"Paperback; xiii, 130 p., [8] p. of plates : ill. (some col.), diagrs., plans ; 25 cm.ISBN 0908136722 (pbk.)buildings, mudbrick, mud brick construction

First published in 1975Paperback; 150 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.ISBN 090813648X [written on flyleaf] To Norma Travis(?) from Alistair Knox 2/12/78houses, buildings, mudbrick, mud brick construction, alistair knox

Colour photograph of the Kangaroo Ground Tennis Club Room and Courts (formerly Country Fire Authority), Feb. 1990. building under construction.tennis, kangaroo ground, cfa, country fire authority, buildings

Four colour photographs showing construction of the Coles store in Arthur streeteltham, coles store, arthur street, construction, buildings

Two black and white photographs; one internal and one external showing construction at bricklaying stagesherbourne primary school, schools, outlook crescent, briar hill, buildings, construction

Colour photograph of the earthworks undertaken in the construction of the Safeway store in Arthur Street, Eltham looking north-east.eltham, arthur street, safeway store, buildings, construction

The valley of Diamond Creek from Bridge Street looking south to Eltham Community Centreeltham, eltham community centre, buildings, construction

Three colour photographs: 1. Eltham Community Centre, Pitt Street, looking south 2. Eltham Community Centre, Pitt Street, looking south 3. Eltham Community Centre, Pitt Street, looking north; oregon uprights and mudbrick wallseltham, eltham community centre, buildings, construction

Two colour photographs: 1. Eltham Community Centre, Pitt Street, looking north 2. Eltham Community Centre, Pitt Street, looking northeltham, eltham community centre, buildings, construction

The Eltham Fire Station was opened in 31 April 1935. Years later the building was removed and erected for use of 1st Research Scout Group in Research Park by the early 1970s to make way for the Eltham Village Complex which was under construction by 1971. The Research Scout Hall was destroyed by fire in 2002.Black and white photographPhoto by Hugh Fischer, c.1950seltham, fire station, main road

Six men, some with tools stand on or beside a very large tree which has been recently felled. Pat Ryan identified at front left. In 1920 the Hurstbridge Sawmill operated as part of a local logging industry where among other things large logs were used for bridge building and railway construction. This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book, "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imageWritten on photocopy: "Pat Ryan (front)" with arrow pointing to him "Timber felling for railway construction Diamond Creek - REF 1050"sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, hurstbridge, logging, lumber trade, felled tree, railway construction, diamond creek, pat ryan

One of the oldest houses in Eltham, the cottage was built around 1861 by pioneer builder George Stebbing whose family lived in it until the 1900s. It’s plain and simple style reflects the functional design of the house. George Stebbing was responsible for the construction of some of Eltham's principal township buildings, including the Uniting (former Methodist) church, St. Margaret's Anglican church (1861) and Shillinglaw Cottage (1879). The house is historically and aesthetically significant because it is a rare surviving example of the modest homes constructed for and by artisans within the early Eltham township and is a significant feature of the streetscape In the 1960s Albert Downing owned this propertyThe Margaret Ball (Pre 1960s Houses) Collection was a personal project initiated to mark the year 2000 and arose as a result of the disappearance of many pre-1960s parts of Eltham due to development. Approximately 200 pre-1960s style houses that were left in Eltham between Main Road and east to Bible Street, between Cecil Street to the north and south to Dalton Street were photographed in late 1999. Not all of the houses could be photographed; some because the garden or trees blocked the view of the house, others because of rubbish or cars were in the way, some because people were working on the house or in the gardens at the time.Colour photographic print eltham, houses, streets, margaret ball (pre 1960s houses) collection, pitt street, stebbing's cottage, downing

Situated near the top of what was known as 'Policeman's Hill' according to Miss Ivy Reynolds, neice of the photographer, Tom Prior. From the left, Eltham Court House, Police Residence and Police station on Main Road and corner of Brougham Street. These buildings formed part of Little Eltham and still stand (without the front fence) today though the Police Station was demolished in 1986 due to termite damage. A replica was built circa 1989. The institutions of law and order in Colonial Victoria included the police, courts and prisons. The 1852 report of the Snodgrass Select Committee appointed to "identify the policing needs of the colony” noted there existed seven independent police forces that did not co-operate or regularly communicate. Following the committee's report all these police entities were merged into the Victoria Police, founded on 8 January 1853, to implement law and order responsibilities throughout the Colony of Victoria. The Eltham Courthouse (1860) and adjacent Police Residence (1859) formed a justice precinct established in the immediate aftermath of the 1852 police inquiry and the effects of the gold rush. The physical presence of these buildings, in the centre of the early Eltham township, defined centralised control over law and order. In the early days the Police Constable in charge would conduct his duties travelling around the district by horse; a stable was located at the rear of the residence. At times the horse would be grazed on the paddocks across the road. Horseshoes were forged by the blacksmith beside the Courthouse on the high side of “Policeman’s Hill”. Along with the stable, there was a two-cell bluestone lockup where prisoners were held awaiting trial in the adjacent Courthouse. Their meals were usually provided by the policeman’s wife or from the hotel just up the road. With the arrival of the railway in 1902 the town centre gradually shifted towards the railway station. The Police Station and operations were moved into the town centre in 1961 to a renovated house in Pryor Street, which was later replaced by the current Police Station. From 1961-1981 the residence was occupied by the Vermin and Noxious Weeds Destruction Section of the Department of Crown Lands and Survey. Prior to August 1967 the former Police Station was dragged to the rear of Police Residence to make way for the construction of a driveway and access from Main Road. The building was placed on the site of a former Scullery and modified for Lands Department use. In 1981 the Shire of Eltham took over management of the former Police Residence in Eltham. It remained unoccupied for a period whilst its future was discussed in Council. It was then used for a community job creation scheme until 1985. In 1985 the Shire of Eltham Parks and Environment occupied the residence. Council improved the driveway but later added a second rear access from Brougham Street due to the dangerous nature of the Main Road entrance. Additionally, a rear toilet facility between the Police Residence and the relocated former Police Station, which was doubling up as a lunchroom. Council also commenced discussions to re-establish a replica Police Station. Around November 1986 the former Police Station was demolished; believed to have been suffering termite damage. About 1989, after some years of discussion, a replica Police Station was built, based on photographs, to act as a lunchroom and meeting room for the Parks and Environment staff and volunteers doing community service. In 1996 Eltham District Historical Society held discussions with Nillumbik Shire Council commissioners throughout the year regarding a home for the Society. A proposal was put forward by the Society in October to occupy the former Police Residence. In March 1997 Eltham District Historical Society gained access to former Police Residence and on July 12, 1998, moved into its Local History Centre. In July 2018, Eltham District Historical Society gained access to the replica Police Station (which had been used as a music library and storage for the Eltham Concert Band) for use as part of regular heritage tours for schools and community-based groups.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years. The Reynolds family were early settlers in Research. The Reynolds/ Prior collection of photographs were taken by Tom Prior, the maternal uncle of Ivy Reynolds, around 1900 and the 60 photos in the album give a fine overview of many of the landmarks of Research and Eltham over 100 years ago. lvy lived in the family home for many years at 106 Thompson Cres Research. Ivy's father, Ernst Richard Reynolds and grandfather, Richard Reynolds, lived at the same address. Ivy's father Richard worked for Mr. Trail on his property in Research. Reynolds Road is named after the family. Mr Tom Prior (wife Eva) worked at the Melbourne zoo. He was very innovative and made his own camera, using the black cloth hood to exclude the light. The photographs are a reminder of the rural nature of Research and Eltham and its rich heritage.Digital imagechildren, court house, courthouse, eltham, eltham district historical society, eltham justice precinct, little eltham, local history centre, main road, police residence, police station, reynolds prior collection, sepp, shadow, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection

This is an early photograph of Orbost C1880 - 1890s. The photograph is part of the Mary Gilbert collection.This is a pictorial record of Orbost in the late 19th century.A black / white photograph mounted on crean card. There are trees in the foreground, buildings in the background. The buildings are wooden construction, some with shingle roofs and some bark.There are some red pencil marks around frame of photograph.orbost-1880s main-street-orbost

The main purpose of carpenter's pincers is to pull out nails from wood without damaging the surface. These carpenter's pincers would have been used in Orbost in the construction of new buildings or on a rural property for maintenance.This item is an example of a domestic carpentry tool in common use before the widespread use of power tools.Pincers with long, rounded, pivoted metal handles ending in a pair of jaws for gripping and extracting nails or holding or gripping small objects.woodworking tool pincers carpentry

In 1987 the old hall was demolished and a new building constructed which was opened in 1988. Date based on other similar display panels visible in images of the Shire of Eltham display at the Eltham Community Festival, 7 November 1987.Colour photographdisplay panel, eltham little theatre, infrastructure, main road, research (vic.), building construction, eltham festival, shire of eltham

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection

The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994. Linda McConnell was Branch Manager at the time. Donated via Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Linda McConnell Collection, March 2018 and held in joint partnership. Digitised from negatives held by Eltham District Historical Society. Print copies held by YPRL and EDHS.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak Gold 100-3building construction, eltham library, linda mcconnell collection