Eltham Gateway, Cafe Zen Den, 736 Main Road, Eltham on the corner with Franklin Street (closed) Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, cafe zen den

Eltham Gateway, Mercer's Restaurant, 732 Main Road, Eltham Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, eltham courthouse, mercers restaurant

Eltham Gateway, Living & Learning Nillumbik, 739 Main Road, Eltham Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, eltham living and learning centre

Eltham Gateway, Cafe Zen Den, 736 Main Road, Eltham on the corner with Franklin Street (closed)Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, cafe zen den, franklin street

Eltham Gateway, Cafe Zen Den, 736 Main Road, Eltham on the corner with Franklin Street (closed)Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, cafe zen den, franklin street

Eltham Gateway, Business and medical centre, 743 Main Road, ElthamTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway

Eltham Gateway, Eltham Hotel, 784 Main Road, Eltham at corner of Pitt StreetTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, eltham hotel, pitt street

Eltham Gateway, Eltham Hotel, 784 Main Road, Eltham at corner of Pitt StreetTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, eltham hotel, pitt street

Eltham Gateway, Eltham Hotel, 784 Main Road, Eltham at corner of Pitt StreetTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, eltham hotel, pitt street

The Eltham Hotel is the oldest continually operating hotel in the Eltham district. Initially referred to as the Little Eltham Hotel, it has been known as the Eltham Hotel since the 1850s through to present time with a very brief period as the Eltham Tavern in the late 1980s. Benjamin Oliver Wallis was a prominent Eltham resident, publican and Councillor during the second half of the nineteenth century. He owned the house that is now the Nillumbik Living and Learning Centre at 739 Main Road Eltham and one stage the Eltham Hotel. Wallis migrated to Melbourne in 1853 but his wife and children remained in Cornwall for a further 10 years. Later in 1853 Richard Warren engaged Wallis to build the Eltham Hotel and it opened in 1854. The hotel was constructed of hard basaltic blue stone quarried in the Eltham district and cemented together with mud, and partly of bricks made at Eltham. The Fountain of Friendship Hotel on the opposite side of Maria Street (Main Road) opened shortly after. The hotel was a well-known resting place for gold diggers during the gold rush at Woods’ Point and Warren would buy the gold from the diggers. In 1858 Warren fell into financial difficulties and had to sell the hotel. Wallis bought the hotel and obtained a publican’s licence in 1861. In the 1850s the Fountain had been the more popular hotel but after that the Eltham Hotel became more popular. It is understood that in about 1857 Wallis probably built the “Living and Learning house” for tanner John Pearson. In 1868 Pearson became bankrupt and Wallis acquired the house and he lived there until his death in 1896. For some of this time the house was in the name of Benjamin’s son Richard but he died in 1888 and ownership reverted to his father. Wallis was a member of the Eltham Jockey Club and in 1867 his wife Anna rode her horse Charlotte in the Annual Races. Anna was also an angler and is reported to have caught a large perch in the Yarra River. She died in 1887. On 16th September 1886 Wallis sold the hotel to Christopher Watson (Snr). Watson died in 1887 and the hotel passed to his son Christopher Watson (Jr) who owned it until his death in 1909 at which time his wife Emily took over the license. Upon her death, their son Herbert applied for the license in January 1915. In July 1925, Herbert Watson demolished the original building and, in its place, erected a modern hotel which remains the foundation of the present Eltham Hotel. The contractors at the time commented on how well the original building had been constructed. A description of the new building was detailed in the Advertiser newspaper of January 8, 1926: “The new building consists of. two stories. designed in English tavern style, and contains-all told, 24 rooms. On the second floor, in front uninviting the two gables is a deep balcony, which will be much appreciated by visitors. The lower story is wholly of brick, and the upper one of wood and fibrous cement plaster. The rooms are spacious and lofty, and the windows are large and of latest style, and light the rooms splendidly. The entrance hall is 8 feet wide. The bar is a very commodious room and is furnished in the most up-to-date and convenient manner. The dining room, a very attractive apartment, is 30 feet by 15 feet 6 inches, and the bar parlor is also a large and well furnished room. A large cellar, an indispensable adjunct to an hotel, has been excavated beneath the bar. On the upper story are 12 bedrooms, and among other conveniences are two bath rooms in which hot and cold water can be used. All the rooms have been supplied with the necessary appliances for electric lighting, which will be one of the progressive evidences which Eltham will shortly enjoy.” “In the yard a brick garage to accommodate three cars at once, has been erected. This, as well as the hotel, is roofed with tiles.” “From the front of the hotel (especially the balcony) a lovely view of the country west and, north may be obtained.” “It may be added that it Is intended to have an ornamental garden, a tennis court. and a kiosk in connection with the hotel, and the property will have a rustic fence round it.” The hotel has since undergone several modifications and extensionsTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, eltham hotel, pitt street

Eltham Gateway, Eltham Community and Reception Centre, 801 Main Road, ElthamTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, eltham community and reception centre

Eltham Gateway, 804 Main Road, ElthamTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, cba bank, opportunity shop

Eltham Gateway, Former CBA Bank and Opportunity Shop, near 804 Main Road, ElthamTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, cba bank, opportunity shop

Eltham Gateway, Goodstart Childcare Centre, 816 Main Rd, Eltham at corner of John StreetTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, goodstart childcare centre, john street

Eltham Gateway, View of development at 825 Main Road, Eltham The development commenced in early 2017 and is still in progress as of August 2021Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway

Eltham Gateway, View of development at 825 Main Road, Eltham The development commenced in early 2017 and is still in progress as of August 2021Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway

Eltham Gateway, View of development at 825 Main Road, Eltham The development commenced in early 2017 and is still in progress as of August 2021Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway

Eltham Gateway, Sweet D Lites, 820 Main Road, Eltham Former Burgoyne shop and Post Office, now hometo San Antonio BarbershopTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, burgoyne's shop, sweeet d lites

Eltham Gateway, Sweet D Lites, 820 Main Road, Eltham. Former Burgoyne shop and Post Office, now home to San Antonio Barbershop. Once affectionately known as the Hilltop milk bar, or Burgoyne’s, this is one of the only three remaining early twentieth century village shops in Eltham and as the community’s first post office. In the 1920’s, the post office was run from a tiny 6 by 6 corrugated iron shed at the side of the store. Miss Hunniford, the post mistress, would give you your mail or take your letters to send, as there was no postal delivery service at that time. In an emergency, such as illness, you could send a telegraph for tuppence (around two cents) a word. Later, this was the site of the Eltham’s first telephone exchange. Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, burgoyne's shop, sweeet d lites, hilltop milk bar

Eltham Gateway, View across Main Road to Sweet D Lites at 820 Main Road and unit complex at 72-74 Bridge Street, ElthamTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, bridge street, burgoyne's shop, sweeet d lites

Eltham Gateway, View across Main Road to Sweet D Lites at 820 Main Road and unit complex at 72-74 Bridge Street, ElthamTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, bridge street, burgoyne's shop, sweeet d lites

Eltham Gateway, Unit complex at 72-74 Bridge Street, Eltham at corner of Main RoadTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, bridge street

Eltham Gateway, 71 Bridge Street, Eltham at intersection with Main Road. Former home of Garnet Burges.Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, bridge street, garnet burges

It’s hard to believe, as look at Alistair Knox Park, that this whole area was a tip in the 1960s. Although now valued as a natural attraction, the hills and lake are human made, with the hills built on mounds of rubbish. School children planted many of the trees. Many of the large eucalypt trees are remanent of the original bushland. The park has a National Trust Landscape Classification. It was close to this location that the Eltham Obelsik was originally located in 1919 and had to be relocated when roadworks were undertaken to widen the intersection. The park is named for Knox who was a local designer, builder and advocate for an alternative lifestyle, best known for use of mudbricks. Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, alistair knox park

Eltham Gateway, Alistair Knox Park from near intersection of Main Road and Bridge Street. It was close to this location that the Eltham Obelsik was originally located in 1919 and had to be relocated when roadworks were undertaken to widen the intersection.Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, alistair knox park

Eltham Gateway, Classical Landscape, Cliff Burtt 1996, Alistair Knox ParkTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, alistair knox park, art in public places, classical-landscape (1996), cliff burtt

Eltham Gateway, Unit complex, 836 Main Road, ElthamTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway

Eltham Gateway, Le Pine Funerals Eltham, 848 Main Road, Eltham at corner of York StreetTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, le pine funeral home, york street

Eltham Gateway, Le Pine Funerals Eltham, 848 Main Road, Eltham at corner of York StreetTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, le pine funeral home, york street

Eltham Gateway, View looking through Alistair Knox Park near intersection of Panther Place and Main Road, ElthamTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, alistair knox park