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

This significant tree located near the Main Road Bridge and Diamond Creek Trail footbridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham dates back to the early 1900s. The original timber bridge over the Diamond Creek was built around 1840. It was destroyed by floodwaters in October 1923. A temporary bridge was rigged up but further damaged in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was built and opened in October 1926. The bridge decking was widened along with Main Road to Dalton Street by the Road Construction Authority in 1984., The uygraded bridge was opened in October 1984, 78 years after its original opening.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, significant tree, diamond creek trail

This significant tree located near the Main Road Bridge and Diamond Creek Trail footbridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham dates back to the early 1900s. The original timber bridge over the Diamond Creek was built around 1840. It was destroyed by floodwaters in October 1923. A temporary bridge was rigged up but further damaged in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was built and opened in October 1926. The bridge decking was widened along with Main Road to Dalton Street by the Road Construction Authority in 1984., The uygraded bridge was opened in October 1984, 78 years after its original opening.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, significant tree, diamond creek trail

The original timber bridge over the Diamond Creek was built around 1840. It was destroyed by floodwaters in October 1923. A temporary bridge was rigged up but further damaged in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was built and opened in October 1926. The bridge decking was widened along with Main Road to Dalton Street by the Road Construction Authority in 1984., The uygraded bridge was opened in October 1984, 78 years after its original opening.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, diamond creek trail

The original timber bridge over the Diamond Creek was built around 1840. It was destroyed by floodwaters in October 1923. A temporary bridge was rigged up but further damaged in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was built and opened in October 1926. The bridge decking was widened along with Main Road to Dalton Street by the Road Construction Authority in 1984., The uygraded bridge was opened in October 1984, 78 years after its original opening.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, diamond creek trail

This significant tree located near the Main Road Bridge and Diamond Creek Trail footbridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham dates back to the early 1900s. The original timber bridge over the Diamond Creek was built around 1840. It was destroyed by floodwaters in October 1923. A temporary bridge was rigged up but further damaged in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was built and opened in October 1926. The bridge decking was widened along with Main Road to Dalton Street by the Road Construction Authority in 1984., The uygraded bridge was opened in October 1984, 78 years after its original opening.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, significant tree, diamond creek trail

This significant tree located near the Main Road Bridge and Diamond Creek Trail footbridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham dates back to the early 1900s. The original timber bridge over the Diamond Creek was built around 1840. It was destroyed by floodwaters in October 1923. A temporary bridge was rigged up but further damaged in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was built and opened in October 1926. The bridge decking was widened along with Main Road to Dalton Street by the Road Construction Authority in 1984., The uygraded bridge was opened in October 1984, 78 years after its original opening.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, significant tree, diamond creek trail

This significant tree located near the Main Road Bridge and Diamond Creek Trail footbridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham dates back to around 1870-1880. The original timber bridge over the Diamond Creek was built around 1840. It was destroyed by floodwaters in October 1923. A temporary bridge was rigged up but further damaged in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was built and opened in October 1926. The bridge decking was widened along with Main Road to Dalton Street by the Road Construction Authority in 1984., The uygraded bridge was opened in October 1984, 78 years after its original opening.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, significant tree, diamond creek trail

This significant tree located near the Main Road Bridge and Diamond Creek Trail footbridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham dates back to around 1870-1880. The original timber bridge over the Diamond Creek was built around 1840. It was destroyed by floodwaters in October 1923. A temporary bridge was rigged up but further damaged in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was built and opened in October 1926. The bridge decking was widened along with Main Road to Dalton Street by the Road Construction Authority in 1984., The upgraded bridge was opened in October 1984, 78 years after its original opening.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, significant tree, diamond creek trail

Evidence of flooding from recent winter and early spring rainBorn Digitaleltham south, diamond creek trail, diamond creek (creek), floods

Evidence of flooding from recent winter and early spring rainBorn Digitaleltham south, diamond creek trail, diamond creek (creek), floods

Murray's Bridge over the Diamond Creek on the Diamond Creek Trail just prior to demolition and replacement with a new steel bridge. Heritage advice obtained by Nillumbik Shire Council, following a suggestion by the Eltham District Historical Society (EDHS), is that the original bridge appears to have been a simplified version of the Country Roads Board’s (CRB) standard timber bridge design of the early-to-mid 1920s. In c1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with three recycled steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. During these alterations many parts of the bridge were removed, and some were replaced. Heritage advice indicates the condition of Murray’s bridge is poor. The remaining original parts are all in poor condition, with severe weathering, splitting and rot, especially to the stringers retained on the bridge. Heritage advice is that Murray’s Bridge does not have sufficient significance in the cultural history of the Nillumbik area to warrant inclusion in the Nillumbik Shire Heritage Overlay and also does not have sufficient significance as a rare survivor to warrant inclusion in the Nillumbik Shire Heritage Overlay. There are no indications in the historical record that this site was individually important to the cultural history of this area. EDHS is comfortable with the heritage advice provided to Council and has worked closely on this project with Council. EDHS has suggested some of the removed timbers be used in the vicinity of the bridge for landscaping and possibly seating, so as to retain these remnants close to the site of the original bridge, which is the last old timber bridge along the lower reaches of the Diamond Creek. Mary (Sweeney) Murray and John Wright Murray selected 80 acres, Lot C Section 16 and Lot 5 Section 17 Parish of Nillumbik, under an occupation license in 1866. John died in 1867 and freehold was granted to his son John in 1873. The farm was known as ‘Laurel Hill’. John Junior was an Eltham Shire councillor and sometime president from 1887 up until 1897. He added Lot A Section 16 to the farm in ca1888. John and his younger brother James arranged to rent/purchase Lot B Section 17, across Diamond Creek to the west, in ca1900. It appears that John and James farmed separately for a few years, with a new homestead built for James ad family on the high point of Lot B Section 17 in ca1910. John sold off Lot 5 Section 17 in 1912. When John died in 1912 James took over the land on both sides of the Diamond Creek. The old homestead on the west side of the Creek disappeared. A farm bridge over Diamond Creek from this period may have been located close to the northern boundary of the farm. John Langlands, owner of the farm known as ‘Ihurst’ on the west side of Diamond Creek to the south of the Murray’s land, died in 1907. In 1909 his land was then subdivided into 100 lots to become the ‘Glen Park Estate’. Other similar subdivisions of nineteenth century farms around Eltham in this period included the ‘Franktonia (or Beard’s) Estate’ to the northeast and ‘Bonsack’s Estate’ between Eltham and Greensborough. Soon after the opening of the railway extension line from Eltham to Hurstbridge in 1912, Glen Park and nearby residents including James Murray agitated for a railway station or siding to be located half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge, so that the Glen Park residents who used the railway daily did not have to walk into the Eltham or Hurstbridge stations. Some believed Coleman’s Corner (opposite Edendale Farm) was an appropriate spot for the platform. James Murray was among those who thought the railway should be located on his land, closer to half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge stations. The Railways Commissioners warned that the locals would have to fund these works themselves. The Glen Park Estate residents initially had difficulty accessing Eltham by road, with only an old low-level bridge over Diamond Creek at the south end of their estate. A new timber trestle bridge across the creek, now on Wattletree Road, was opened in 1915. Road access to the north was gained in 1927 when the new Murray’s Road, which crossed the Murray’s land, was built. Residents continued to agitate for a Glen Park station. By 1926 the Railways Commissioners’ preferred site was on the Murray’s land. They arranged an estimate of cost of a full-length platform. The estimate was too much for the locals, who in 1928 argued unsuccessfully for a shorter and hence cheaper platform. By 1929 Murray had agreed to donate the land, but the locals would still have to fund the works. Murray decided, unilaterally it would appear, to commence work on a timber trestle road bridge over Diamond Creek to link the new Murray Road to the proposed station. Late in 1929 he stopped work on the bridge, for reasons unknown, but started work again and completed the bridge in 1931. There is no further newspaper evidence of the campaign for the Glen Park station until 1939, when Murray and another local, Mr Maxwell, met the Railways Commissioner. The Glen Park locale now included 45 homes on the west side of the creek and 20 on the Eltham side. Most of the residents used the train every day. The Commissioner remained adamant that only a full-length platform could be built for safety reasons. It appears the campaign dissolved at this point. The increasing move to cars may have had an impact. There is no evidence of Murray’s bridge ever being connected to Murray’s Road, or of it having wide use for any purpose by locals. James Murray died in 1947 and the farm was taken over by his son James (Jim). Jim started to sell off parts of the farm in the 1980s, retaining a few acres around the ca1910 homestead and building a new house there. Recreation reserves were established along the creek. In ca1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. The old farmhouse was demolished in ca2014. * * * A theory posted on local community Facebook groups was that the bridge was built in the 1860s and was built to be more robust than was necessary for the movement of cows from one side of the creek to the other. It was suggested the robustness was necessary to support the weight of gold ore being transferred from a mine on Murray’s land to a railway siding near Murrays Bridge (presumably for transfer and processing at Diamond Creek). Perhaps this may have been one of the motivators for Murray, who really knows? Knowing when mining operations ceased on his land and how that fits the overall timeline would be useful but at the time the bridge was built, local gold production was minimal at best. The known facts are: • The railway line came to Eltham in 1902. • The extension of the railway from Eltham to Hurstbridge was constructed in 1912 so no railway line even existed through Murray's property until 1912 and the Victorian Railways maps at the time show no such siding on Murray’s property. • In 1923 a new company was formed in anticipation of the old Diamond Creek Gold Mine being re-opened. The mine had been previously closed and flooded. It was noted in the press at the time that the mine was within a mile of the railway. Nothing really came of this. • Construction of Murrays Bridge was commenced by James Murray in early 1929 in anticipation of a proposed flag station being nominated on his land, but work ceased shortly afterwards. The proposed flag station was commonly referred to as Glen Park as the residents of the Glen Park Estate wanted Option 1, located near them with the platform adjacent to Colemans corner. This was probably never going to fly as it was virtually in eyesight of Eltham station. Allandale Road was the third option, but the Commissioners' preferred option was No. 2 - on Murray's property. • The Railway Commissioners were not going to finance any such station and the works had to be funded by private landowners and residents, hence Murray investing in this himself. • Murray recommenced work two years later and finished his bridge in 1931 but unfortunately for him, the proposed flag station never eventuated. The bluestone siding you reference may well have been built by Murray as part of the proposed station platform. • Up until then, apart from the Main Road bridge, which was washed away in 1924, virtually all local crossings over the Diamond Creek were low lying bridges – Kaylocks Bridge at Brougham Street, Diamond Street bridge, Glen Park Road bridge. It is expected that Murray also had a low-lying bridge to connect his land either side of the creek. These were all washed away or severely damaged multiple times in the 1920s. Lessons were learnt, and Murrays Bridge appears to have been built in accordance with Country Road Board standards of the time. Flood damage was ongoing, and even more recently constructed raised bridges kept getting washed away, e.g., the new Wattle Tree Road bridge in 1958 just months after completion. Murray’s bridge was reinforced with steel some 30 years ago presumably to provide additional floodwater resistance, given the history of bridges disappearing in floodwaters. • In March 1932 it was reported in the Advertiser that there were still some prospectors operating around Eltham North who apart from further scarring the face of the earth over the previous two years had gained significant experience but little gold - hardly a driving factor for constructing a dedicated railway siding and bridge to transfer gold ore. It is far more probable that James Murray was hoping to have the railway station located on his property and invested his money by building the bridge to lead to it as well as a station platform. Had the station eventuated, it may well have driven up the value of his land for subdivision and new housing estates like the Glen Park Estate. That did not eventuate. Whilst the bridge was indeed old (90 years), the core structure being completed in 1931, it had been modified substantially from original and hence had no significant historic value – i.e., it was not a representative example of its type, construction, and age. Given that the bridge was not worthy of saving, the Eltham District Historical Society with Council’s support, and the Eltham Woodworkers group endeavoured to see what suitable sized timbers were salvageable to fabricate a commemorative seat. Unfortunately, the experts at the Woodworkers group were unable to salvage any suitable length/width timbers to fabricate the seat due to the presence of rot. Last remaining wooden trestle bridge on the Diamond Creek Trail just prior to demolition and replacementBorn digital image (27)diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, murrays bridge, ‘laurel hill’, john wright murray, mary (sweeney) murra, john murray jnr, james murray, john langlands, ‘ihurst’, ‘glen park estate’, beard's estate, franktonia, bonsack's estate, glen park estate, glen park railway station

Construction work on replacement of Murray's Bridge over the Diamond Creek on the Diamond Creek Trail Mary (Sweeney) Murray and John Wright Murray selected 80 acres, Lot C Section 16 and Lot 5 Section 17 Parish of Nillumbik, under an occupation license in 1866. John died in 1867 and freehold was granted to his son John in 1873. The farm was known as ‘Laurel Hill’. John Junior was an Eltham Shire councillor and sometime president from 1887 up until 1897. He added Lot A Section 16 to the farm in ca1888. John and his younger brother James arranged to rent/purchase Lot B Section 17, across Diamond Creek to the west, in ca1900. It appears that John and James farmed separately for a few years, with a new homestead built for James ad family on the high point of Lot B Section 17 in ca1910. John sold off Lot 5 Section 17 in 1912. When John died in 1912 James took over the land on both sides of the Diamond Creek. The old homestead on the west side of the Creek disappeared. A farm bridge over Diamond Creek from this period may have been located close to the northern boundary of the farm. John Langlands, owner of the farm known as ‘Ihurst’ on the west side of Diamond Creek to the south of the Murray’s land, died in 1907. In 1909 his land was then subdivided into 100 lots to become the ‘Glen Park Estate’. Other similar subdivisions of nineteenth century farms around Eltham in this period included the ‘Franktonia (or Beard’s) Estate’ to the northeast and ‘Bonsack’s Estate’ between Eltham and Greensborough. Soon after the opening of the railway extension line from Eltham to Hurstbridge in 1912, Glen Park and nearby residents including James Murray agitated for a railway station or siding to be located half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge, so that the Glen Park residents who used the railway daily did not have to walk into the Eltham or Hurstbridge stations. Some believed Coleman’s Corner (opposite Edendale Farm) was an appropriate spot for the platform. James Murray was among those who thought the railway should be located on his land, closer to half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge stations. The Railways Commissioners warned that the locals would have to fund these works themselves. The Glen Park Estate residents initially had difficulty accessing Eltham by road, with only an old low-level bridge over Diamond Creek at the south end of their estate. A new timber trestle bridge across the creek, now on Wattletree Road, was opened in 1915. Road access to the north was gained in 1927 when the new Murray’s Road, which crossed the Murray’s land, was built. Residents continued to agitate for a Glen Park station. By 1926 the Railways Commissioners’ preferred site was on the Murray’s land. They arranged an estimate of cost of a full-length platform. The estimate was too much for the locals, who in 1928 argued unsuccessfully for a shorter and hence cheaper platform. By 1929 Murray had agreed to donate the land, but the locals would still have to fund the works. Murray decided, unilaterally it would appear, to commence work on a timber trestle road bridge over Diamond Creek to link the new Murray Road to the proposed station. Late in 1929 he stopped work on the bridge, for reasons unknown, but started work again and completed the bridge in 1931. There is no further newspaper evidence of the campaign for the Glen Park station until 1939, when Murray and another local, Mr Maxwell, met the Railways Commissioner. The Glen Park locale now included 45 homes on the west side of the creek and 20 on the Eltham side. Most of the residents used the train every day. The Commissioner remained adamant that only a full-length platform could be built for safety reasons. It appears the campaign dissolved at this point. The increasing move to cars may have had an impact. There is no evidence of Murray’s bridge ever being connected to Murray’s Road, or of it having wide use for any purpose by locals. James Murray died in 1947 and the farm was taken over by his son James (Jim). Jim started to sell off parts of the farm in the 1980s, retaining a few acres around the ca1910 homestead and building a new house there. Recreation reserves were established along the creek. In ca1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. The old farmhouse was demolished in ca2014. Born digital image (5)diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, murrays bridge, ‘laurel hill’, john wright murray, mary (sweeney) murra, john murray jnr, james murray, john langlands, ‘ihurst’, ‘glen park estate’, beard's estate, franktonia, bonsack's estate, glen park estate, glen park railway station

Eltham Gateway, View of 43 Antoinette Boulevard from Main Road at the approaches of the Main Road Bridge over the Diamond CreekTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway

Eltham Gateway, View of 43 Antoinette Boulevard from Main Road at the approaches of the Main Road Bridge over the Diamond CreekTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway

Eltham Gateway, Main Road Bridge over the Diamond Creek, looking southTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, main road bridge

Eltham Gateway, Main Road Bridge, Eltham over the Diamond CreekTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, main road bridge, wingrove park trail, diamond creek

Eltham Gateway, Main Road Bridge, Eltham over the Diamond CreekTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, main road bridge, wingrove park trail, diamond creek

Eltham Gateway, Main Road Bridge, Eltham over the Diamond CreekTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, main road bridge, wingrove park trail, diamond creek

Copy of original photograph. The area, previously known as Back Creek, was named after Thomas Cottle, who settled in the district in the 1870s, and the original bridge over the Diamond Creek on the road to Strathewen. The original bridge (seen in the photo) was replaced with a new timber bridge at a cost of £1,500, the tender being awarded to a contractor named Birch who commenced work in June 1927. The gentleman in the photo who is resting whilst having a smoke of his pipe is a member of the Belot family.Roll of 35mm Black and White negative film, 3 strips, (1 of 14 frames)Film - Agfa Ortho 25belot, bridge, cottles bridge, cottles bridge-strathewan road, diamond creek (creek), heidelberg-kinglake road

Wet Gully (local name) between Eltham and Diamond Creek, bound by Reynolds and Lorimer roads, Diamond Creek, May 198835mm colour positive transparency (2 of 36) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAY 88Mdiamond creek, lorimer road, reynolds road, wet gully

This significant tree located near the Main Road Bridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham dates back to approximately 1870-1880. Though dead now, its trunk has been left as a wildlife habitat.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, significant tree

This significant tree located near the Main Road Bridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham dates back to approximately 1870-1880. Though dead now, its trunk has been left as a wildlife habitat.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, significant tree

This significant tree located near the Main Road Bridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham dates back to approximately 1870-1880. Though dead now, its trunk has been left as a wildlife habitat.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, significant tree

The original timber bridge over the Diamond Creek was built around 1840. It was destroyed by floodwaters in October 1923. A temporary bridge was rigged up but further damaged in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was built and opened in October 1926. The bridge decking was widened along with Main Road to Dalton Street by the Road Construction Authority in 1984., The uygraded bridge was opened in October 1984, 78 years after its original opening. Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, diamond creek (creek)

This significant tree located near the Main Road Bridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham dates back to approximately 1870-1880. Though dead now, its trunk has been left as a wildlife habitat. The original timber bridge over the Diamond Creek was built around 1840. It was destroyed by floodwaters in October 1923. A temporary bridge was rigged up but further damaged in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was built and opened in October 1926. The bridge decking was widened along with Main Road to Dalton Street by the Road Construction Authority in 1984., The uygraded bridge was opened in October 1984, 78 years after its original opening.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, significant tree

This significant tree located near the Main Road Bridge and Diamond Creek Trail footbridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham dates back to the early 1900s. The original timber bridge over the Diamond Creek was built around 1840. It was destroyed by floodwaters in October 1923. A temporary bridge was rigged up but further damaged in April 1924. A new concrete bridge was built and opened in October 1926. The bridge decking was widened along with Main Road to Dalton Street by the Road Construction Authority in 1984., The uygraded bridge was opened in October 1984, 78 years after its original opening.These trees are not only significant for the natural environment but also present a navigational beacon back in time as the environmental landscape is developed around them.Born Digitaleltham south, main road bridge, manna gum, significant tree, diamond creek trail

View overlooking Diamond Creek to the northeast, most likely from near St John's Church, 190735 mm colour positive transparency of a newsprint image taken c.1970 Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Card13diamond creek township

View overlooking Diamond Creek to the northeast, most likely from near St John's Church, 197035 mm colour positive transparency of a newsprint image taken c.1970 Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Card27diamond creek township

Pills Cottage about halfway from Cottles Bridge to St Andrews near 1575 Heidelberg-Kinglake Road, St Andrews. William John "Bill" Pill was born on 19th June 1894 at Diamond Creek He was brutally murdered on 21st December 1958 age 64, in his cottage. His father was John Henry Pill, born 24 November 1856, Lalone, Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England, He died 21 December 1930 at Cottles Bridge, His mother was Jessie Ann Whatmough, born 6th June 1870. She died 21 August 1921. William John "Bill '' Pill, grew tomatoes on his rich two and a half acres. In 2024 his second cousin Steve Whatmough recalled visiting Bill in 1957 with his parents (Eric and Nancy Whatmough) and Bill showing them his tomatoes. He had a very large aeroplane propeller set up at one end on his tomato crop. He would run the propeller on frosty mornings to keep away the frost damage. His tomatoes would ripen early and would receive a premium price for them. The cottage consisted of two buildings. The one closest in the right side of the photo was the kitchen. The second building that also has a chimney was his bedroom and living room.35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)heidelberg-kinglake road, pills cottage, st andrews, william john pill, bill pill, john henry pill, jessie ann pill (nee whatmough), market gardener, murder, cottles bridge (vic.), tomato farm, mount - agfacolor service (blue), scan - 35mm positive