Len Parker's Bedford truck is featured in one of the public art mosaics in Were Street, Montmorency. Mr Parker by Grace de Visser (EDHS Newsletter No. 249, December 2019) Len Parker was a regular sight around the district for almost 40 years, selling fruit and veggies from the back of his truck to his regular customers between 1939 and 1978, first in a 1927 Chevy then a 1949 Bedford truck. Len’s connection to the Eltham district started long before he was born. His father Fred first came through the district in the early 1900s. With horse and cart buying and selling what was available at the markets using his mothers’ home in North Melbourne as his base. Fred settled and developed a market garden in the rich soil along the creek at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills in 1903. Ada Watson was almost five years old and one of eight siblings aged two to sixteen, when her Grandfather and Father both named Christopher Watson brought the Eltham Hotel and they moved from Richmond. Ada’s mother was formerly Emily Silk whose parents Martha and John Silk had been farming in Eltham around 1858 and much later a dairy farmer in Fitzroy. In 1917 at St Margaret’s Church Eltham, Fred aged 44 married Ada aged 35 who was still living and working at the Eltham Hotel. Six years later Ada died from cancer leaving Fred with two small children, Rose five and Len three. Len as a young boy, like his father before him worked the land with horses, growing vegetables, mainly potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, beans, and tomatoes, selling the excess at the market. Len took over from his ageing father Fred, who had established similar rounds selling door to door with a horse and cart. Len preferred mechanical horsepower to the real kind! In 1939 at the age of eighteen Len brought an old 1927 Chevy Truck. He was taught how to drive it and two weeks later got his driver’s Licence. The Chevy truck had an old wagon on the back with no doors, only hessian bags to keep the wind out! Len had paid 75 pounds for it, kept it for ten years and sold it for the same price! Len’s blue 1949 Bedford was brought new in 1950 for 900 pounds with only a tray back on it. Straight away Len had a wooden frame covered with canvas added, with a roll up front and back. In later years, more solid sides replaced the canvas. Benches were added to hold the boxes of fruit and vegetables, with room to move in the middle, a fruit shop on wheels. Len had large scales attached to a box for weighing the fruit and veggies and many a district baby was also weighed on them. Len would stop at customer’s homes, take their orders and with his big cane basket on his arm deliver their order to their door. On his rounds he always wore a big soft back leather apron and a black or navy beret. If it was cold, he wore a ‘bluey’ jacket on his tall slender frame. Len would go to the markets early Thursday morning, only buying what was not grown at home or brought from his brother in law’s orchard. On his way home Len would start his ‘rounds’ in Lower Plenty and then Montmorency and parts of Eltham. Friday’s regulars were in Research, Kangaroo Ground and Panton Hill. Saturdays were Panton Hill and Christmas Hills. When Len retired in 1978, due to changing social times, women were working more and supermarkets starting to take over; his ageing truck was retired too. In 1999 his son Jim had the Bedford restored, Len was very happy to see ‘Beddy’ all shiny and new once again with just a tray back, like when it was new. Jim still drives the ‘Beddy’ to Heritage Truck shows twenty years on. Len married, had five children and lived most of his life, (except during World War 2 when he served in New Guinea), at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills dying there in 2006 and is buried at the Kangaroo Ground cemetery with his wife of 64 years, Stella nee Tosch 1917 - 2007. Grace de Visser, the author of this article, is the daughter of Len Parker and a descendant of the two former owners of the Eltham Hotel, both named Christopher Watson. bedford truck, len parker, panton hill, tosch property

diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, eltham south, flooding, floods, floodwater

diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, eltham south, flooding, floods, floodwater

diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, eltham south, flooding, floods, floodwater

diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, eltham south, flooding, floods, floodwater

diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, eltham south, flooding, floods, floodwater

diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, eltham south, flooding, floods, floodwater

diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, eltham south, flooding, floods, floodwater

ELTHAM’S GROWTH HAS BEEN RAPID IN RECENT YEARS Unknown local paper c.1960s Recent years have seen a rapid change in the appearance of Eltham’s business centre - so rapid, in fact, that the growth of premises has been almost 300%. For more than thirty-five years Eltham had little more than a dozen traders - the town's business area spreading from Pryor Street in the north, to Pitt Street in the south. The greatest density of businesses - no more than a handful of shops - were situated in the present shopping centre but other essential services such as the Post Office, were located half a mile away. As the town's population grew and the need for more shops became apparent, the growth was centralised around the railway station and Shire hall. Few of the old premises are used for their original form of business today, though many are still in existence. One of the oldest (seen clearly in the illustration) still in use is now Ferrari's Greengrocery. This shop was Eltham's butchery in early days, conducted by Jim Ryan. Up to twenty years ago, Mr. Ryan ran his business from the shop. whilst his son toured Eltham in his horse and cart, cutting his customers' orders as he went from door to door. Another business - one of the few still trading in the same goods-was Burgoyne's Hardware. This is now owned by Mr. R. Clinton, a new shop has recently been added and shortly the old premises will disappear completely. The Burgoyne family were well known to Eltham's population. The Post Office and Store (then in Main Road, near Bridge Street) was run by Mr. and Mrs. Burgoyne. The Post Office was later moved, and attached to the hardware store. OLD HOTEL In this same area was the old Eltham Hotel, almost opposite the present hotel. The building still stands, but has been converted into a house. The hitching rail can still be seen by the roadside. Back in the township was Barber's Blue Gum store, later conducted by Mrs. Burges (mother of Garnet Burges) and claimed to be Eltham's oldest shop. Further down the road, just past the hardware store, was the barber shop and billiard saloon. Next door was E. J. Andrew's news agency, library and State Savings Bank. Eltham's original chemist's shop, or dispensary as it was called, is now an electrical repair shop. On this side of the street too, was Mrs. Monteith - Draper. Mr Monteith was the owner of Eltham' s bus service. This bus service had no regular route, but deposited passengers at the point nearest their homes - a. door to door taxi service. Next to Mrs. Monteith stood another grocery - and general store, and next again, the local blacksmith. Another of Butcher Ryan's sons was Eltham's blacksmith and obviously an enterprising man he conducted a timber business next door to his smithy's shop. These two premises are still run by one man - Garnet Burges. BOOM STARTS Twenty years ago, when Thompson's took over Eltham's pharmacy they occupied the old shop adjoining the Shire hall. The building of Thompson's new premises, from which· they operate today, was the beginning of Eltham's recent growth and development. With another grocery store and a bakery at the corner of York Street, a butcher near Franklin Street, a cobbler's shop opposite the State School (did you ever wonder what that-little building attached to one of Eltham's oldest houses had been?), and an estate agency conducted by Mr. Clark, now Eltham Real Estate - only one trader remained - and today, still carries on, the only original owner of one of Eltham's .oldest established businesses - Mr. Dave Lyon, of Lyon Bros. Garage, which was formerly located in what was later used as Chenowyth's Foundry in Main Road. From the early twenties until little more than six or seven years ago that was the picture of Eltham. Some businesses had changed hands - many years before Mr. C. Rains had acquired Andrew's news agency, Mrs. Monteith's drapery had become Mrs. R. Smith's home-made cake shop, to change again and again to many other types of business. But generally, Eltham was unchanged, for nearly thirty years. Then suddenly new shops mushroomed. The new news agency and drapery, the chemist and adjoining shops, a new butcher, a green grocer and several more. POPULATION DOUBLED In the space of a few years, fifteen new shops, two banks, a restaurant and a post office were built at Eltham. New types of businesses found a ready market in an area which was quickly almost doubling its population. A little over twelve months ago, another wave of progress hit Eltham. Since then eight more shops have been built - a cake shop and fish shop in Dalton [sic – Dudley] Street - for building areas are unprocurable in the Main Street shopping centre now – have been built by Mr. D. Kimball; a new ladies’ and children’s wear shop has been opened by Rains; Eltham Dry Cleaners have another of these new shops, and Mr. R. Clinton has built elaborate new premises. Further down the road, Mr. C. Campbell has built a new butcher's shop, and next door, at present under construction, are a self service store and a shop which Mr. J. Hodges will open on completion. In addition to these new shops, Mr. J. Millett has extended his grocery to almost twice its original size. FLOURISHING Outside the central area, other businesses are flourishing. Latimer's felt factory is being developed in a picturesque rustic setting; P. J. Timber and Trading Company have recently completed a large showroom and timber yard, and in the town itself Nicholson and Merritt are now completing the extension of their foot wear factory to double its former area. This is Eltham today. Progress is moving rapidly in this rural area on the fringe of the metropolis. Less than a decade has seen vast development. The years to complete that span of time will see even greater changes and greater prosperity in this heart: of the Diamond Valley. OLD LANDMARK GOES Perhaps the most famous landmark in Eltham's' business section disappeared last Wednesday when the towering blue gum in Pryor Street at the rear of Main Road shops was felled. The tree, stated to be more than 80 feet high, was the one for which the adjoining café was named, when that business was Eltham’s only provision store, long before the turn of the century. Mr. J. Millett, who now owns the property on which the tree stood, deeply regretted its removal, but was mindful of the need for expansion in the business area. The "Old Blue Gum" was removed by Mr. A. Wilson, expert tree feller, from Heidelberg. Its proportions might be assessed by these facts – it took a gang of experienced men two days to completely fell and clear the tree, and, falling sections being brought down by cable tipped electricity wires on the opposite side of Pryor Street.andrew's news agency, bakery, barber shop, barber's blue gum store, billiard saloon, blacksmith, blue gum, burgoyne's hardware, butcher, cake shop, chemist's shop, chenowyth's foundry, cobbler's shop, dave lyon, dispensary, draper shop. mr monteith, dudley street, e. j. andrew's news agency, electrical repair shop, eltham bus service, eltham butchery, eltham dry cleaners, eltham hotel, eltham railway station, eltham real estate, eltham shire hall, eltham shopping centre, eltham shops, eltham town centre, estate agency, expert tree feller, ferrari's greengrocery, fish shop, foot wear factory, franklin street, garnet burges, general store, grocery, heidelberg, horace clark, jim ryan, ladies’ and children’s wear shop, latimer's felt factory, library, lyon bros. garage, main road, mr. a. wilson, mr. c. campbell, mr. c. rains, mr. d. kimball, mr. j. hodges, mr. j. millett, mr. r. clinton, mrs. burges, mrs. monteith, mrs. monteith's drapery, mrs. r. smith's home-made cake shop, nicholson and merritt, p. j. timber and trading company, pitt street, post office, pryor street, self service store, shopping centre, state savings bank, taxi service, thompson's pharmacy, york street

View looking southeast from Alistair Knox Park (west). The Diamond Creek Trail footbridge is completely submerged. Significant flood events occurred Nov-Dec 2004 and Jan-Feb 2005.fay bridge collection, 2004, bridge street bridge, diamond creek (creek), floods, floodwater

Significant flood events occurred Nov-Dec 2004 and Jan-Feb 2005.fay bridge collection, diamond creek (creek), 2004-11-13, brougham steet bridge, floods, floodwater, diamond street bridge, rocknall

Significant flood events occurred Nov-Dec 2004 and Jan-Feb 2005.fay bridge collection, bridge street bridge, diamond creek (creek), floods, floodwater, footbridge, main road bridge, susan street oval, diamond street, eltham

Just downstream from the bridgefay bridge collection, diamond creek (creek), hurstbridge, 2018-02-27

Appointment of Tracey Naughton as the community arts officer for Eltham Shire Council. Tracey had previously been the community artist associated with the "As we are" Community Banner project.arts officer, as we are, community banner project, eltham community artist, eltham shire counci, tracey naughton

This medallion was struck to commemorate both the 150th anniversary of the State of Victoria and the 125th anniverary of the City of Hawthorn. One side includes the logo and the words "VICTORIA 150". The other side includes the logo for the City of Hawthorn with the words" "125th anniversary City of Hawthorn 1860, 27 July 1985". Bronze coloured medallion approx 3 cm diameter with markings on both sides.medallion, city of hawthorn, commemorations, 150th anniversary, 125th anniversary

The McLean family, Hector John McLean and Louisa Frances (nee Green) and six daughters lived in Eltham during the period 1930 to 1934 inclusive. Lived in the former Evelyn Hotel at the time it was destroyed by fire in 1931. On December 15, 1934 the six girls all participated in the Centenary Parade dressed up as Pioneers of Eltham. They were dressed as the father and mother, two girls, a boy and a baby in a pram. They had to walk from their home in Eltham South to the railway station where the parade commenced and back to Eltham Park (Eltham Lower Park). The family won the Group Section for their entry “Pioneers of Eltham”. Jean (13) was dressed as the father, Edith (12) as the mother, Isabel (8) as the son, Gwen (6), Phoebe (5) as themselves and baby Gwladys (1) as the baby in the pram. centenary celebrations, centenary parade, dorothy jean mclean, edith jones (nee mclean), eltham lower park, eltham railway station, gwenneth mae mclean, gwladys evelyn mclean, hector john mclean, louisa frances mclean (nee green), olive isabel mclean, parade, pioneers of eltham

The McLean family, Hector John McLean and Louisa Frances (nee Green) and six daughters lived in Eltham during the period 1930 to 1934 inclusive. Lived in the former Evelyn Hotel at the time it was destroyed by fire in 1931. On December 15, 1934 the six girls all participated in the Centenary Parade dressed up as Pioneers of Eltham. They were dressed as the father and mother, two girls, a boy and a baby in a pram. They had to walk from their home in Eltham South to the railway station where the parade commenced and back to Eltham Park (Eltham Lower Park). The family won the Group Section for their entry “Pioneers of Eltham”. Jean (13) was dressed as the father, Edith (12) as the mother, Isabel (8) as the son, Gwen (6), Phoebe (5) as themselves and baby Gwladys (1) as the baby in the pram. centenary celebrations, centenary parade, dorothy jean mclean, edith jones (nee mclean), eltham lower park, eltham railway station, gwenneth mae mclean, gwladys evelyn mclean, hector john mclean, louisa frances mclean (nee green), olive isabel mclean, parade, pioneers of eltham

The McLean family, Hector John McLean and Louisa Frances (nee Green) and six daughters lived in Eltham during the period 1930 to 1934 inclusive. Lived in the former Evelyn Hotel at the time it was destroyed by fire in 1931. On December 15, 1934 the six girls all participated in the Centenary Parade dressed up as Pioneers of Eltham. They were dressed as the father and mother, two girls, a boy and a baby in a pram. They had to walk from their home in Eltham South to the railway station where the parade commenced and back to Eltham Park (Eltham Lower Park). The family won the Group Section for their entry “Pioneers of Eltham”. Jean (13) was dressed as the father, Edith (12) as the mother, Isabel (8) as the son, Gwen (6), Phoebe (5) as themselves and baby Gwladys (1) as the baby in the pram. centenary celebrations, centenary parade, dorothy jean mclean, edith jones (nee mclean), eltham lower park, eltham railway station, gwenneth mae mclean, gwladys evelyn mclean, hector john mclean, louisa frances mclean (nee green), olive isabel mclean, parade, pioneers of eltham

A truck operated by G.W. Glenn Road Transport Pty Ltd of Moama, NSW was transporting a load of sleepers and wood posts along Henley Road, Kangaroo Ground. As a result of signioficantly wet conditions, the truck became disabled when the trailer slipped off the verge of the unsealed muddy road whilst negotiating a hairpin bend. The load was removed from the trailer by Jet Cranes in order to facilitate pulling the trailer back on to the road.g.w. glenn road transport pty ltd, henley road, jet cranes, kangaroo ground, salvage operation, trucks, llc543 (vic. regn.), nv05ai (fedl hv regn.)

A truck operated by G.W. Glenn Road Transport Pty Ltd of Moama, NSW was transporting a load of sleepers and wood posts along Henley Road, Kangaroo Ground. As a result of signioficantly wet conditions, the truck became disabled when the trailer slipped off the verge of the unsealed muddy road whilst negotiating a hairpin bend. The load was removed from the trailer by Jet Cranes in order to facilitate pulling the trailer back on to the road.g.w. glenn road transport pty ltd, henley road, jet cranes, kangaroo ground, salvage operation, trucks, llc543 (vic. regn.), nv05ai (fedl hv regn.)

A truck operated by G.W. Glenn Road Transport Pty Ltd of Moama, NSW was transporting a load of sleepers and wood posts along Henley Road, Kangaroo Ground. As a result of signioficantly wet conditions, the truck became disabled when the trailer slipped off the verge of the unsealed muddy road whilst negotiating a hairpin bend. The load was removed from the trailer by Jet Cranes in order to facilitate pulling the trailer back on to the road.g.w. glenn road transport pty ltd, henley road, jet cranes, kangaroo ground, salvage operation, trucks, llc543 (vic. regn.), nv05ai (fedl hv regn.)

A truck operated by G.W. Glenn Road Transport Pty Ltd of Moama, NSW was transporting a load of sleepers and wood posts along Henley Road, Kangaroo Ground. As a result of signioficantly wet conditions, the truck became disabled when the trailer slipped off the verge of the unsealed muddy road whilst negotiating a hairpin bend. The load was removed from the trailer by Jet Cranes in order to facilitate pulling the trailer back on to the road.g.w. glenn road transport pty ltd, henley road, jet cranes, kangaroo ground, salvage operation, trucks, llc543 (vic. regn.), nv05ai (fedl hv regn.)

One of a series of 6 images taken by Eltham Shire Council officers recording litter being prevalent around the shopping precinct and carparks spreading from Luck Street through Commercial Place top Arthur Street, Elthamarthur street, car park, carparks, commercial place, eltham shopping centre, eltham shops, litter, luck street

council amalgamation, shire of eltham, shire of montsalvat, shire of nillumbik, 1994, city of banyule, city of heidelberg, local government board, montsalvat, shire of diamond valley

council amalgamation, shire of eltham, shire of montsalvat, shire of nillumbik, 1994, city of banyule, city of heidelberg, local government board, montsalvat, shire of diamond valley

Facebook comments suggested this location may be a cabinetmaker by the name of Cook out the back of Panton Hill. Another comment recalled this man as a visitor to Montsalvat as a friend of the late poet, Geoffrey Egglestone. It is believed his name is Mizza. He is a Bohemium Poet. Also a frequent visitor to the St Andrews market. Photos taken by Eltham Shire Council officers most likely during an inspection of the property for non compliance. Other images on the roll of film are of Council Health officers undergoing food inspections at the shops, maternal health services and housing estate development inspectionsRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 strips Frames 3 through 9Fuji 100eltham shire council, shire of eltham, 1989, atlantic ethyl, sheds, signs, unidentified, houses, kinglake, simms road

35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Kodak Kodachrome CardProcessed Jul 1974barn

35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Kodak Kodachrome CardProcessed Jul 1974barn

35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Kodak Kodachrome CardProcessed Jul 1974barn, russell yeoman

The baby is most probably Jean Watson, daughter of Chris and Carrie who was born in 1906. Christoher Watson and Carolyn Shillinglaw married in 1907. Jean died in 1920 PANEL 1875-1920 Panels began to be produced around 1875, and were particularly suited, because of their larger size, for capturing family, or even larger, groups. They measured 8.5 by 6.5 inches (22 cm x 16.5 cm). - Frost, Lenore; Dating Family Photos 1850-1920; Valiant Press Pty. Ltd., Berwick, Victoria 1991In had written pencil "C. Watson Carrie Watson her sisters Elizabeth and Mary Shillinglaw"marg ball collection, 1906, caroline (carrie) watson (nee shillinglaw 1876-1956), christopher watson, elizabeth (lizzie) ann shillinglaw (1879-1972), horse and carriage, jean watson (1906-1920), mary ann shillinglaw (1880-1963)