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Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Film - Video (VHS), IMP Productions, The Shire of Etham - The Evergreen Shire (Series 69, Item 4), c.1985
Shire of Eltham Archives: Series 69, Item 4 This video was produced for the Shire of Eltham by IMP Productions and provides a description of the shire, 277 square km on a north/northeast axis, some 25 km northeast of the centre of Melbourne with a population of around 40,000. Scenes include Yarra River, rural settings and urban settings, housing estates, Shillinglaw Cottage, Pigeon Bank at Kangaroo Ground, the Eltham Railway Trestle Bridge with reference to the fight by locals in the 1970s to save it from replacement, Montsalvat, mudbrick making and its use as a building material, the use of mudbrick in the Eltham Community Centre blending harmoniously with the environment. Emphasises people living in the area due to the qualities of life provided. Also the Living and Learning Centre, St Andrews Markets and other local markets, the Eltham Leisure Centre, cricket and horse riding at Eltham Lower Park, the Infant Welfare Centre (part of the Eltham War Memorial), how residents are mindful of protecting their historical heritage, the CBA bank and Allwood House at Hurstbridge, Tracey Naughton about the Eltham "As we are" Community Banner project and the “River of Life banner”, the Parks and Gardens office in the former Police Residence building (now the Local History Centre), Alistair Knox Park, road planning and types of roads, tree canopy, Peck's Dam, green carparks, road drainage, Gordon Ford's garden and natural landscapes, and Were Street shops in Montmorency. Planning for shopping facilities and carparks with a population of 40,000 growing to 55,000, Arthur Street Mall and carpark, local village feel in the shopping centre. Councillors and Council staff featured include Mary Grant, Bob Manuell, Rodney Roschellor, John Cohen, Alan Baker. Also scenes of Commercial Place, Diamond Valley Railway, Eltham Galley, Riverclay and canoeing on the Yarra intermingled with images of the shire from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph collection.VHS Video cassette Converted to MP4 file format 00:11:56; 79MBshire of eltham, video recording, shire of eltham archives, alistair knox park, allwood house, arthur street, arthur street mall, bob manuell, canoeing, carparks, cba bank, commercial place, council staff, councillors, cr. mary grant, cricket, diamond valley railway, eltham community banner project, eltham community centre, eltham galley, eltham leisure centre, eltham living and learning centre, eltham lower park, eltham railway trestle bridge, eltham war memorial, gordon ford garden, horse riding, housing estates, hurstbridge, infant welfare centre, john cohen, kangaroo ground, local history centre, montmorency, montsalvat, mudbrick, parks and gardens, peck's dam, pigeon bank, police residence, river of life banner, riverclay, road drainage, road planning, rodney roschellor, shillinglaw cottage, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, st andrews market, tracey naughton, tree canopy, were street, yarra river, alan baker -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Negative - Photograph, Harry Gilham, Nillumbik Shire Council Notice of an Application for Planning Permit, 385 Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, 2002
... and coach parking bays at the Shire of Eltham Memorial Park Eltham ...Planning application 293/2002/06P by Harry Gilham for the Moor-rul viewing platform, road entrance revisions, earthworks and coach parking bays at the Shire of Eltham Memorial ParkRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 strip, 2 framesKodak Gold 200-6eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, moor-rul viewing platform, shire of eltham memorial park, harry gilham, nillumbik shire council, planning permit -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Harry Gilham, Nillumbik Shire Council Notice of an Application for Planning Permit, 385 Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, 2002
... and coach parking bays at the Shire of Eltham Memorial Park eltham ...Planning application 293/2002/06P by Harry Gilham for the Moor-rul viewing platform, road entrance revisions, earthworks and coach parking bays at the Shire of Eltham Memorial ParkColur photo print (4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, moor-rul viewing platform, shire of eltham memorial park, harry gilham, nillumbik shire council, planning permit -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham War Memorial, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, 1938
Black and white photo print 8 x 4.5 cmElthjam District Historical Society stampeltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, garden hill -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham War Memorial, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, 1938
Black and white photo reproduction print 15 x 10 cmDonor's detailseltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, garden hill -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham War Memorial, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, May 2011
Shows the upgraded CFA fire spotter's lookout on top of the towerColour photo print 15 x 10 cm (1 of 6)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, garden hill, cfa lookout, fire spotting -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham War Memorial, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, May 2011
Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (1 of 6)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, garden hill -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Emergency Services communication tower, Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, May 2011
... Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground... melbourne eltham-yarra glen road kangaroo ground shire of eltham ...Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (1 of 6)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, emergency services communication tower -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, May 2011
... Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra... Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground ...Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 6)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, May 2011
... Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra... of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road ...Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 6)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, emergency services communications tower -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.2008
... Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra... Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground ...Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (1 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.2008
... Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra... Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground ...Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.2008
... Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra... Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground ...Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.2008
... Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra... Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground ...Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham War Memorial, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.2008
Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham War Memorial, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.2008
Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide - Photograph, Aerial Photo (c.1987): Main Road, Eltham from Pitt Street to Elsa Court, c.Aug. 1990
Part of a presentation, "Roads and Byways of the Shire of Eltham", by Russell Yeoman to the 12 September 1990 Society meeting. Slides shown included copies of old photos and recent images ranging from the suburban streets of Eltham and Montmorency to the mountain roads of Kinglake. In the byways category are views of some iof the Shire's bicycle paths including then recently completed sections of the Main Yarra Trail at Lower Plenty.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 37) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotsinfrastructure, roads, aerial photographs, alistair knox park, bridge street, central park, diamond street, elsa court, eltham, eltham common, eltham railway station, eltham town park, main road, pitt street -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide - Photograph, View towards Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.May 1988
Looking towards the Shire of Eltham Memorial Park on top of Garden Hill,, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.May 1988. Viewed from near intersection of Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Road and Eltham-Yarra Glen Road35mm colour positive transparency (2 of 36) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide - Photograph, View towards Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.May 1988
Looking towards the Shire of Eltham Memorial Park on top of Garden Hill,, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.May 1988. Viewed from near intersection of Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Road and Eltham-Yarra Glen Road35mm colour positive transparency (2 of 36) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide, Shire of Eltham War Memorial Tower, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, 24 Jul 1973
Various views from each side of the tower lookout. The Memorial Park and Shire of Eltham War Memorial tower are sited at was once known as Garden Hill and was reknowned for its panoramic views it offered tourists from the 1880s on. It was claimed that the full extent of the former Shire of Eltham could be looked upon from this viewpoint - and extending beyond.35 mm colour positive transparency x 7 Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)kangaroo ground, shire of eltham, war memorial tower, eltham-yarra glen road, shire of eltham war memorial -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide, Memorial Park facilities, Shire of Eltham War Memorial, Kangaroo Ground, 24 Jul 1973
The toilet block facilities for the park and war memorial were constructed in 196535 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)kangaroo ground, shire of eltham, war memorial tower, eltham-yarra glen road, shire of eltham war memorial -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide, Site of proposed Yarra Brae Dam, Jul. 1973
With an increasing need to grow Melbourne's water supply, in 1973, the State Government announced plans for the development of Sugarloaf Reservoir. Two dams were to be built, one across the Yarra from the Yarra Brae property in Wonga Park to the Bend of Isles. Water was to be pumped from this dam to the higher level Sugarloaf Reservoir. The proposed extensive flooding of large numbers of properties resulted in significant community backlash and ultimately abandonement of the proposed Yarra Brae dam.35 mm colour positive transparency (x 3) Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardyarra brae dam -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide - Photograph, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.May1990
35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 25) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcessing Date Code Jun 90Mkangaroo ground, eltham-yarra glen road, garden hill, memorial park, roads -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide - Photograph, Shire of Eltham War Memorial, Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.May1990
... Shire of Eltham War Memorial, Memorial Park, Garden Hill... melbourne kangaroo ground eltham-yarra glen road garden hill ...35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 25) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcessing Date Code Jun 90Mkangaroo ground, eltham-yarra glen road, garden hill, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Slide - Photograph, Caretaker's Cottage, Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Kangaroo Ground, c.May1990
35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 25) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcessing Date Code Jun 90Mkangaroo ground, eltham-yarra glen road, garden hill, memorial park, caretaker's cottage, shire of eltham memorial park -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Audio Compact Disc, Audio Recording; Victoria's Anzac Centenary: Anzac Stories produced by Bill McGillivray, recorded by 88.6 Plenty Valley FM, 24 March-24 April 2016, 2016
Two Compact Discs produced by 88.6 Plenty Valley FM Disc 1 Tracks 01 Introduction; MP3 file, 01.02MB; 0.44 02 Epping District (written and spoken by Felicity Williams, Head of English, Mill Park Secondary College); MP3 file, 9.94MB; 07:14 03 P. E. Cook (wriiten and spoken by Liz Pidgeon, Local and Family History Librarian, Yarra Plenty Regional Library); MP3 file, 10.5MB; 07:38 04 Research Honour Board (wriiten by Jim Allen of Eltham District Historical Society and spoken by Daniel Polombi of Plenty Valley FM; MP3 file, 7.52MB; 05:28 05 Will Longstaff (wriiten by Bill McGililvray, Plenty Valley FM and spoken by Daniel Polombi of Plenty Valley FM; MP3 file, 9.01MB; 06:33 06 Robert Smith (wriiten and edited by Bill McGillivray, Plenty Valley FM and spoken by Shelley Carpatharcus and Daniel Polombi of Plenty Valley FM; MP3 file, 9.55MB; 06:57 07 Stanley Addison (wriiten and spoken by Jim Connor of Eltham District Historical Society; MP3 file, 9.25B; 06:43 08 Bessie Gallagher (wriiten by Maureen Jones and and spoken by Geraldine Ishken of Plenty Valley FM; MP3 file, 12.3MB; 08:58 Disc 2 Tracks 09 George Muir Letter 1 (wriiten by Maureen Jones and and spoken by Geraldine Ishken of Plenty Valley FM; MP3 file, 9.32MB; 06:47 10 George Muir Letter 1 Part 2; MP3 file, 9.17MB; 06:40 11 George Muir Letter 1 Part 3; MP3 file, 8.50MB; 06:11 12 George Muir Letter 2; MP3 file, 4.91MB; 03:34 13 George Muir Letter 3; MP3 file, 7.25MB; 05:17 14 George Muir Letter 4; MP3 file, 5.59MB; 04:04 15 George Muir Letter 5; MP3 file, 4.63MB; 03:22 16 George Muir Letter 6; MP3 file, 3.38MB; 02:27 17 George Muir Letter 7 (introduction by Jim Connor of Eltham District Historical Society, original letters by George Muir, commentary written by Helen Mann and Bill McGillivray of Plenty Valley FM, spoken by Romero Callaghan and Stephen Pidgeon); MP3 file, 4.36MB; 03:10 18 George Muir Letter (introduction by Jim Connor of Eltham District Historical Society, original letters by George Muir, commentary written by Helen Mann and Bill McGillivray of Plenty Valley FM, spoken by Craig Wright of Planty Valley FM); MP3 file, 12.4MB; 09:02alan marshall, anzac stories, audio cassette, audio recording, bessie gallagher, bill mcgillivray, community radio, craig wright, daniel polombi, eltham district historical society, epping district, felicity williams, george muir, geraldine ishken, helen mann, jim allen, jim connor, liz pidgeon, maureen jones, mill park secondary college, p.e. cook, plenty valley 88.6 fm, research honour board, robert smith, romero callaghan, shelley carpatharcus, stanley simpson addison, stephen pidgeon, victoria's anzac centenary, will longstaff, yarra plenty regional library -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Document (Item) - Article, The Eltham Roll of Honour: Second World War, 9 Aug 2020
Information regarding the circumstances of the eleven men of the Shire of Eltham who died serving their country in the Second World War and for whom the Eltham War Memorial was dedicated. Their names are listed on the Eltham Roll of Honour in order of rank. The image portrayed shows the eleven men (left to right, top to bottom) by date of fatality: CASTLEDINE, George Ernest, Spr., VX10044 (KIA 18 Apr 1941, Greece) GAHAN, Studley Manston, Capt., VX48379 (KIA 17 May 1941, Tobruk, Libya) RUTTER, David, Flying Off., 833 (400833) (KIA 9 Dec 1941, Bir El Gubbi, Libya) CLERKE, Alfred Charles, Cpl., VX23112 (KIA 2 Feb 1942, Laha, Ambon Island) DUNLOP, Cuthbert Douglas, Sgt., VX15252 (KIA 22 Nov 1942, Gona, New Guinea) INGRAM, Lester Neil, Flt. Sgt., 410236 (DOD 22 Apr 1943, Longworth, England) McLEAN, Stanley, Flt. Sgt., 419844 (KIA 7 Oct 1944, Emmerich, Germany) FELDBAUER, Theodore, Sgt., VX51733 (DOD 27 Mar 1945, Borneo) RUTTER, Donald Hemphill, Flt. Lt., 410262 (KIA 5 Apr 1945, Varrelbusch, Germany) FIELD, Kevin Francis, Pte., VX144763 (KIA 28 Jun 1945, Bougainville, PNG) BUTHERWAY, Jack Herbert, Pte, VX37645 (DOD 8 Jul 1945, Borneo)eltham war memorial, roll of honour, second world war, eltham, eltham roll of honour, shire of eltham, 2/4 field workshop, 22 independent brigade group ordnance workshop, a.i.f., australian army ordnance corps, australian corps of electrical and mechanical engineers, changi, falkiner street, florence mary butherway, jack herbert butherway, prisoner of war (pow), ranau number 1 jungle camp, sandakan death march, singapore, thomas james butherway, vx37645, 2/2 field company, 6th division, abington, annie castledine, arthur frederick castledine, george ernest castledine, greece, jean simonson, lower plenty, old eltham road, royal australian engineers, vx10044 sapper g. e. castledine, 2/23 bn, derril, gahan house, main road, rats of tobruk, studley manston gahan, tobruk, vx48379, 3 squadron r.a.a.f., aboukir, alamein memorial, beulah alice (simpson) rutter, bir el gubbi, broken hill aero club, david rutter, egypt, hubert rutter, libya, yarra braes, 2/21 bn, 23rd australian infrantry brigade, 8th division, alfred charles clerke, ambon island, battle of ambon, bidgeland park estate, inga caroline (nicholls) clerke, inga mary nicholls, laha airfield, nora ann clerke, rose matilda clerke, vx23112, william charles clerke, 2/14 bn, 2/16 bn, 21st brigade, 7th division, cuthbert douglas dunlop, gona, gona war cemetery, henry street, janet dunlop, kokoda track, new guinea, palestine, papua new guinea, port moresby (bomana) war cemetery, reuben cuthbert dunlop, syria, vx15252, 10 operational training unit, 410236, ada (key) ingram, berkshire, bomber command, england, group no. 91, john ingram, lester neil ingram, longworth, n.1374, r.a.a.f., r.a.f., r.a.f. abington, research (vic.), whitley v bomber, 419844, 514 bomber squadron, emmerich, germany, gordon stanley mclean, ji-g2, kleve, lancaster lm735, lucy mclean, mount pleasant road, r.a.f. waterbeach, reichswald forest war cemetery, stanley mclean, 2/10 ordnance workshops, albert feldbauer, eltham cricket association, eltham girls club, frank street, henry feldbauer, jessie margarette feldbauer, june feldbauer, ken ingram, margaret (feldbauer) ingram, montmorency imperials, research cricket club, research state school, sandakan number 1 camp, sandakan number 2 camp, theodore albert feldbauer, valerie (feldbauer) waller, violet amelda (teagle) feldbauer, vx51733, 247 ‘china-british’ squadron, caithness, cloppenburg, donlad hemphill rutter, essen, gloucester, hanover war cemetery, hanover-limmer british military cemetery, holten-lochem, oldenburg, r.a.f. castletown, r.a.f. station lealing, stoppenburg, typhoon ib jp443, typhoon ib sw526, 15th australian infantry brigade, 1940 cup, 3rd division, 57th/60th bn, best and fairest, bougainville island, buin road, mary field, mayona road, mivo river, mobiai river, montmorency, vx144763, william field -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Work on paper (Sub-Item) - Photograph, Houses surrounded by floodwaters at Eltham North
"The house (centre) at North Eltham in which Mr. and Mrs. William Frizell, an elderly couple, were marooned by flood waters. When this photograph was taken late yesterday afternoon the couple were still inside the house, and through a ventilator they had stuck a red flag which they waved from time to time. The house on the left belongs to Mr. Leads, who also was marooned." - The Argus 1 December 1934. John William Frizell, painter and his wife Sarah Jane are registered at Glen Park, Eltham in the 1924 Electorial Roll This was most probably the Diamond Creek in flood. In 1934 extensive flooding of the Yarra River and Diamond Creek sets new records for flood plain level (via Chronology of Eltham, EDHS) flood, frizell, leads, argus, glen park, eltham north, flooding, marooned, diamond creek -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Book, Percy Leason: an artist's life by Margot Tasca, 2016
"Who would have thought that a boy born in 1889 from the Victorian Mallee would become a successful artist on New York’s Staten Island? This finely illustrated, exhaustively researched and beautifully written biography on Leason features the artist’s entire career as a painter and cartoonist renowned for his depictions of Australian society in the 1920s and 1930s. Leason’s story is a poignant one tracing his beginnings as a cartoonist, to the bohemian Melbourne art scene in the early 20th century, to his involvement in the artists’ camps of Eltham, to his important series of portraits of Lake Tyers Indigenous Australians, and his eventual move to the US where he has been acknowledged as making an enormous contribution to the New York arts scene. This story, as yet untold, fills a gap in the history of art in Australia and offers a new perspective on Australian art in the first half of the 20th century." - Thames and Hudson website A NEW HOME IN ELTHAM Once they had settled back into Melbourne, Perry and Belle began to look for a place to make a permanent home. Having enjoyed the bush setting of Mosman, they decided to explore the rural fringes of Melbourne. Each weekend they packed a picnic and travelled to the towns in the nearby hills - such as Ferntree Gully, Sassafras, Lilydale and, of course, Cockatoo Creek. Eventually deciding these places might be a little too far from The Herald office, they searched closer to the city. The Heidelberg and Box Hill regions that had inspired his old teacher McCubbin, had become busy, urban areas but further east, towards Warrandyte and Templestowe, there were still large tracts of bush. Finally they settled on Eltham, an area Percy knew very well, having often painted there with Jock Frater. Perry's old friend Dick McCann and his wife Margery had also settled in Eltham. The township was fifteen miles from Melbourne and serviced by an electric train that went to the central Melbourne station of Flinders Street, near where The Herald offices were located. Eltham was a small village in 1925, separated from Melbourne by the Yarra River, and surrounded by orchards and large tracts of bush. Small farms dotted the landscape and the main businesses revolved around ironmongers, blacksmiths, and farming supplies. Of particular appeal to artists was Eltham Park, a large expanse of bushland bounded by the Yarra River on the south side and the Diamond Creek on the east. The park included a playing field that was busy on weekends with cricket or football matches, but for the rest of the week it was mostly empty and an ideal place to paint. The scenery there provided the inspiration for many paintings by Leason, Meldrum and other artists such as Colin Colahan and Peter (A.E.) Newburv. The Leasons found a rundown old farmhouse on four-and-a-half acres of land in New Street, now known as Lavender Park Road. The site was splendid, at the top of a gentle slope which gave panoramic views east to the Dandenong hills, south over the Templestowe orchards and north to Kinglake. The front lawn was taken over by onion grass (or wiregrass as Leason called it) and scattered about the property were many wattles and gum trees. Aloe cacti covered much to the front of the house, while old quince and lucerne hedges separated the house and out-buildings from a rundown apple orchard. Here they would build a new home. ·with financial assistance from The Herald, Leason bought the property and immediately commissioned an architectural firm to design a new house in the popular bungalow style of the time. The old farm house was demolished but Percy saved the siding boards, bricks and corrugated iron for the outbuildings of his new home. The new house was a two storey, triple brick with a large, gabled, terracotta tiled roof. It was situated at the very top of the slope. The paint and varnish were barely dry when the family moved in during the summer of 1925-26 and the fumes were overpowering in the heat. Despite the house being wired for electricity, power poles had not yet reached the area and initially the family had to rely on kerosene lamps and candles. When electricity did arrive, Leason reflected on the community's reception of electricity at the expense of the old growth gum tree corridors in his cartoon, Electricity comes to Wiregrass. The family had now grown to seven. Jack was nearly nine, Jean was seven, Marjory was four, Nancy was two and the baby Patricia was seven months old. Jack and Jean were enrolled in the local primary school down the hill. A retired farmer, Jock McMillan, came to live on the property and help out with the general maintenance. Jock built himself a shack and Belle provided him with meals. He was kept occupied building structures around the property·, such as the garage, the outside toilet, garden beds, trellis arbours and a number of ponds. The elderly, bearded Scotsman with his old hat and baggy pants also provided the inspiration for one of the characters Leason regularly included in his cartoons. Like Leason, Jock smoked a straight stemmed pipe. A neighbour was employed to help Belle with domestic chores, and so the family settled down to live comfortably in their new Eltham house. Two dogs, Maginary and Wodger, completed the large and vibrant household. “Percy Leason; an artist’s life” by Margot Tasca, Thames & Hudson Australia Pty Ltd, Port Melbourne 2016, pp 63-64 Hardback Bookpercy leason, margot tasca, biography, artist, landscape -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Birch Cottage, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, c.1970, 1970
GC advised that when they first arrived in Eltham in the late 1960s, he would enjoy driving out to Yarra Glen. The Eltham-Yarra Glen road was unmade at the time. He passed this residence on the north side of the road. It was totally remote. GC found the juxtaposition of this little cottage with its surburban wire gate out in the remoteness of the landscape intriguing. Since then the road has been reconstructed and diverted away from the cottage which is now owned by Parks Victoria.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford HP4 black and white transparencyIlford HP4birch cottage, christmas hills, early settlers, edwin samuel birch, eltham-yarra glen road, honor mary birch, honor mary williams, john hill, watsons creek