The new Eltham Library was opened 22 May 1994 and celebrates its 30th anniversay in 2024. This audio recording, presented by Harry Gilham, President of Eltham District Historical Society at the time of the opening is a summarised history of the Eltham Library service to 1994. Eltham Library Service 1930s - 1994 Originally collated by Harry Gilham, President, Eltham District Historical Society Inc (1993-2009) (edited 2022) In the Eltham township area, in the early 1930s, library books for adults were available from E J Andrew's newsagency in Main Road. In the newsagency come haberdashery, some shelves were set aside for a lending library of adults' books. In 1935, Mr & Mrs JC Rains purchased the newsagency and continued the lending service until the late 1940s. At this time the business was extended from haberdashery to sell ladies' and men's clothing. The library section was discontinued. In the 1930s a mobile book library was also run by a Mr Foster of Bible Street, Eltham. In the 1950s adult books were available from racks in the foyer of the Eltham Shire Offices which was then located beside the Eltham Hall on the comer of Arthur Street and Main Road. In the early 1950s a referendum of ratepayers was called to seek public opinion on the issue of raising money for a public library for which the rates would have to be increased - the motion was defeated. On 11 November 1965 Eltham Shire Council, in conjunction with the City of Heidelberg and the Shire of Diamond Valley, met to form the Heidelberg Regional Library Service. Eltham was represented by Councillors Charis Pelling and John Lewis. The first library service for the Shire of Eltham from this group came in the shape of a bookmobile van which had, amongst others, a central stopover near the Shillinglaw trees outside the newly opened Shire offices at 895 Main Road, the original site of Shillinglaw Cottage and the former Shillinglaw farm. Present-day Wingrove Park was another stopover and the many recorded requests for this service can be read as denoting the areas of population or gathering points at that period throughout the Shire. 1968 saw the Shire convert the ‘Brinkkotter’ house in Dudley Street to house both adult and children's books. This library was originally staffed from the City of Heidelberg Library and records of committee meetings range from borrowing Heidelberg's old library shelving to trying to increase the Government's subsidy to a dollar for dollar basis. Book loans in the period 1966-67 totalled 30,400 and the following year ran to 52,113. With 2 books plus 1 paperback the limit per person, it was overcrowded and unable to house the range of other services which had become common library stock. Planning to extend the Shire Offices by the addition of the south wing was an opportunity to re-house the Shire's Library. The opening of the library in the extension was carried out on 17th August 1971 by the Hon R J Hamer ED, MP, Chief Secretary of Victoria. Cr Geoffrey Dreverman officiated as the Shire President. The Heidelberg Regional Library Service continued until September 1985 when it disbanded. On 21 November 1985 the Yarra Plenty Regional Library Service was established. At that time Eltham was represented by Councillors Mary Grant and Robert Manuell. By 1987, over-crowding of the Eltham Library and an inability to house the range of other services yet again rose to prominence. At a Council meeting held on 1 June 1987, the Councillors supported a resolution which threatened to close the library on 30 September 1987. Council's frustration arose from yet another re-run of the annual State Government versus Council Library funding and records show first arose in Eltham Council in 1967 with the Government of 1he day. After prolonged public anger and petitions the motion to close the library was rescinded in August 1987. Council, considering the community's concern, set up a ‘Library Review Working Party’ which a year later became the Library Occasional Committee with direct access to Council. This Committee investigated the workings of the 386 square metre library and found inadequate space for storage and display, lack of equipment, out-of-date furniture together with an increasing patronage which resulted in queues of borrowers becoming longer no matter when the library was open. Community consultation took the form of 1,000 questionnaires sent to users and non-users along with noticeboard reminders of what was planned. Council developed a strategy to set aside capital funds from 1988 on an annual basis so that preliminary planning and consultative expenses could be met, and construction could be completed early 1997. The Committee visited metropolitan libraries which were catering for a similar population as was projected for Eltham. Australia-wide Federal Government funding grants under the Local Capital Works Program became available from October 1992 for community projects endorsed by local Councils. The Eltham Council submitted a proposal, based on library findings and requirements accumulated by the Library Occasional Committee, to the Federal Grants Committee to build a new Eltham Library. The Federal Grants Committee supported the funding request allowing commencement of the library project three years earlier than planned. With finance finalised, the Council set up its Eltham Library Re-development Special Committee which was given the task of overseeing what could be the last major expansion of the Shire's Library Service as Eltham's population nears its projected maximum. The new library was designed by Gregory Burgess and Peter Ryan of Gregory Burgess Pty Ltd. Construction of the library commenced in 1993 and was officially opened May 22nd, 1994. The library building was designed to reflect its parkland setting. External features include: the roof which includes interesting aspects when viewed from Main Road; verandahs which provide ramp access and give a sheltered entrance to the building; walls which feature locally made mudbricks, conventional bricks and copper panels; and space for an outdoor courtyard/reading area which will be developed later. Internally there are several features. The building includes a foyer with a fireplace suitable for displays including artwork, a community multi-purpose room suitable for meetings or functions and an outdoor cafeteria. The ceilings are lined with Victorian Ash. The shapes for the ceiling give a free-flowing form to the building. Brush Box has been used for the circulation and information desks. The tree trunk columns are Grey lronbark from New South Wales. Arches and various-shaped windows add interest to the internal structure. The carpet design reflects the Eltham environment and compliments the natural colours and timbers used in the building. Tiles by artist Felix Bosari feature in the building and additional art by local artists added externally and internally to the building. Since 1994 the library has undergone a major extension to cater for children’s services and others. See also EDHS_02111Digital file only recorded from Audio Cassette tape on loan Converted to MP3 file; 11.1MB, 0:08:49eltham library, opening, harry gilham, harry gilham collection, 1994, audio cassette, audio recording

This meticulously hand crafted ship model is one of the most intricate and challenging projects for a ship modeller to create. Jim Williams took up the challenge, choosing to make all of the components by hand, following a plan of the ship rather than purchasing a pre-made kit. He even made his own tools specifically for working with this model. The “Sovereign of the Seas” 1637-1697 - The magnificent ship “Sovereign of the Seas” was ordered by Charles I of England, who desired a giant Great Ship to be built. It was built by Peter Pett under the guidance of his father Phineas, the King's master shipwright, and launched with 102-guns at Woolwich Dockyard on 13th October 1637, as the Navy’s second three-decker first-rate ship. It was the most extravagantly decorated warship in the Royal Navy, bought with the help of a special 'Ship Money' tax imposed by the King. Soon afterwards the ship was remodelled and cut down to a safer and faster ship. Over the ship’s lifetime it was renamed “Commonwealth”, then in 1650 it became simply “Sovereign” then again after a rebuild in 1660 it was named “Royal Sovereign”. By 1642 the ship’s armament had been reduced to 90 guns. In 1651 Sovereign was made more manoeuvrable by reducing the upper works. It served throughout the wars of the Commonwealth and became the flagship of General Robert Blake. It was involved in all of the great English naval conflicts fought against the United Provinces and France and was referred to as 'The Golden Devil' by the Dutch. By 1660 the armament was changed attain to 100 guns. After the English Restoration, it was rebuilt as a first-rate ship of the line, with flatter gun decks and 100 guns, and most of the carvings were removed. During the First Anglo-Dutch War, in a secret session on 21 October 1652, the States-General of the Netherlands announced reward money for the crews of fire ships that succeeded in destroying enemy vessels; the Sovereign was singled out with an extra prize of 3000 guilders to sink or ruin it. Although repeatedly occupied by the Dutch, the Sovereign was retaken every time by the British and remained in service for nearly sixty years as the best ship in the English fleet. The Sovereign was in regular service during the three Anglo-Dutch Wars, surviving the Raid on the Medway in 1667. After a second rebuild in 1685 the Sovereign was relaunched as a first-rate ship of 100 guns, before taking part in the outset of the War of the Grand Alliance against Louis XIV of France, venturing into the Irish Sea, and later participating in the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690 and the Battle of La Hougue. At this time she was more than fifty years old. It was the first ship in history to fly ‘royals’ above the topgallant sails and a top gallant sail on the jigger-mast. The Sovereign eventually became leaky and defective with age and was laid up at Chatham when, on 27th January 1697, the famous ship caught fire, burning to the waterline. Jim Williams, the model’s maker - Jim (James Bernard) Williams was born in 1888 at The Forth in Scotland. He lived in Tasmania for some time and enlisted to fight in France in WW1. After the war he moved to Warrnambool, Victoria, where he worked at the Cramond & Dickson clothing store until the Great Depression in the 1930’s. He was later employed at Fletcher Jones Menswear, where he worked for 27 years until just before his death in 1959. Jim was a passionate ship model builder. He worked on his model ships between 1930 and 1955, including The Endeavour and The Sovereign of the Seas, which was one of the most intricate historic ship models to build. He had a table set up in a bay window and worked on them on and off using a jeweller's eye glass on the finer pieces. Jim’s long-time employer, Fletcher Jones, knew of Jim’s hobby and skill as a ship model builder and requested Jim to describe the model, Sovereign of the Seas, with the view of putting it on display. When the model was finished there was a full article and photo in The Standard newspaper. Jim described his work on the ship mode “Sovereign of the Seas” in correspondence to his then employer, Fletcher Jones. The document gives us an insight into his skill, patience, and regard for replicating the details of the original ship. Some of the details are: "In making the model the time taken to make certain items might be of interest. For instance "The Great Lantern" on the stern, four weeks, a similar time for the figurehead of St George & the Dragon. "The lower shrouds three to each side about six weeks & the rigging as whole several months. There are nearly 300 blocks and pulleys ranging from nearly 1 / 16 inch in diameter. Dead eyes were bored with 3 to 5 holes. To do this needles of different sizes, set in handles & ground to wedge ends were used. Glass cut and ground to shape were used windows. All gun-port covers (74) hinged. "All guns and anchors made of wood. Nothing for the model was purchased ready-made; everything hand made." Jim’s family donated the ship model along with many associated tools, accessories and papers. The model represents the Sovereign of the Seas. The Royal Navy ship of the line launched in 1637 has a significant British maritime heritage. These days the Sovereign of the Seas still remains one of the most intricate historic ship models to build, representing to the model enthusiast a true challenge to the art of model shipbuilding. The model of Sovereign of the Seas in Flagstaff Hill's collection is an exemplary example of a ship model built and hand crafted from a plan with the making of every item on the model, not a model kit with prefabricated parts. It was made by a local Warrnambool man Jim Williams as a leisure activity in the mid 20th century. The hobby and craft of ship model making has resulted in visual representations of the changes in maritime technology and advances in world-wide navigation. Ship model of HMS Sovereign of the Seas, a 17th century British warship. The handmade model is in wooden framed, airtight glass case. All components were hand crafted. Many of the tools used were made by the model maker, Jim Williams. An inscribed plaque is within the case. Inscribed on plaque "SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS / 102 GUNS - 1634"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, model ship, vessel sovereign of the seas, jim williams, james bernard williams, the forth tasmania, freda williams, heather williams, phyllis bowditch, fletcher jones staff 1936, 17th century sailing ship, cramond and dickson, sovereign of the seas, royal sovereign, sovereign, charles 1, ship model

A complete set of 8 blueprints from “Popular Mechanics Magazine”, Chicago. The blueprints are on a royal purple coloured paper with white print. Each print displays labelled diagrams to assist the hobbyist to assemble the ship model “Sovereign of the Seas”. The designer is Harold T. Bodkin. Distinct fold creases divide the documents into quarters. There is some silverfish damage leaving holes, however, all instructions are visible. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, model ship, vessel sovereign of the seas, jim williams, james bernard williams, the forth tasmania, freda williams, heather williams, phyllis bowditch, fletcher jones staff 1936, 17th century sailing ship, cramond and dickson, sovereign of the seas, royal sovereign, sovereign, charles 1, fletcher jones, warrnambool breakwater, popular mechanics magazine

Photograph of vacant tramcar wash road facility, presumably at Kew Depot. Three W2 class trams are partially shown on adjacent roads, one displaying route number 47 (City to Kew Depot). Several semi-circular windows are shown high on the rear wall. Along both sides of the vacant road are narrow 40 cm wide platforms approx 60 cms above the car shed floor with safety rails attached. An open pit sits between the two platforms. A water hose pipe appears in the foreground and all surfaces appear wet. With a tram was positioned between these platforms, part of the platform could be swung across the front of the tram to facilitate its washing. Yields information about maintenance facilities inside tram shed. Black and white photograph with ink stamp on rearInk stamp reads "43 51 Sutcliffe Pty Ltd, Commercial Photographers, 94 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Cent. 1500" wash road, w2 class, kew depot, route 47, semi-circular windows

Black and white photograph of Venga Guest house, run by Miss Bertha Hansen for over thirty years. It shows timber and cement sheet building, gable roof, bay window, picket fence at front, front door has side light windows. Small girl in doorway.guesthouses, architecture, room display

Photograph shows one end of partially built PCC 1041 car body inside Preston Workshops, namely the driver's window frame, roof and destination display cavity.Yields information about construction of PCC 1041Black and white print note on the rear.On rear in ink "Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board Ref No P25/1/1088 "pcc, 1041, car body, preston workshops, driver's window

On back, Synan Collection, Bairnsdale, St Rosiere's, CunninghameBlack and white photograph of St Rosiere's, a weatherboard building, gable fronted with two windows, veranda over front door, seating for visitors, picket fence to enclose garden, several visitors. Children with bonnets and dog. Lakes Entrance Victoriaguesthouses, tourism, architecture, room display

This a cropped reproduction of a photograph taken by Charles Nettleton in c. 1868. Founded in 1856, the Lying-in Hospital was the second hospital to be established in Melbourne, after the Melbourne Hospital. It was, however, the first lying-in hospital in the Australasian colonies. The hospital was founded in a converted private house "Fairmont", which was located at 41 Albert Street, Eastern Hill (now East Melbourne). In 1858, the 'Lying-in Hospital' was relocated and opened in Madeline St, North Melbourne (now known as Swanston St, Carlton)." (The Women's) The building pictured here was eventually demolished in 1938 to make way for further extensions to the building. The original site in Albert Street was demolished in 1960, and the site is now occupied by the Melbourne Fire Brigade. A section of the wrought iron gates from the original site in Albert Street is held in RANZCOG's historical collection.Reproduction photograph of the front of a building. The building is three stories high. The lowest floor has eight large windows, with a door at centre, on the front side. One side window can also be seen at bottom right. There is a small flight of stairs leading up to the door. The second floor has eight windows in the same locations as the first floor, plus one additional window at centre instead of a door. The top floor is much smaller, with three small windows facing the front of the building. There are trees in the grounds in from of the building. House and grounds are enclosed behind a fence. There is a gate in the fence opposite the front door. Three figures are visible on the path outside the fence. One is at the centre of the image, and the other two are in the right hand corner. Text printed below image reads 'THE LYING - IN HOSPITAL circa 1870'. The image has been mounted and framed in a black wooden frame. An old display label for this image is attached to the back of the frame. handwritten text on backing board at back of work reads 'Probably prior to 1867 (J. Nattrass, 1968). Tape residue visible on backing board at upper right. A chain and two hooks have been added to the frame for hanging.

Framed silver gelatin printNotation on back - "Ken Marshall, Jeweller, Maroondah Highway Ringwood took this photo. It was displayed in his shop window when I bought it. The shop was next door to Pratt, the butcher, and Ron Dickson, fruiterer, just prior to the Eastland development - [from] Gloria Welch, 23 Campbell St. Ringwood East."

The photograph shows unidentified VR tram waiting at Brighton Beach terminus for departure with St Kilda Railway displayed on its front destination and Brighton Beach displayed on a board on the side of the drop-centre. The weather blinds a re up and one saloon window is open.Yields information about Brighton Beach terminusBlack and white photograph with note on the rear.In pencil on the rear "5579 St Kilda Railway Station to Brighton Beach Photo at terminus 26-8-50"vr trams, brighton beach terminus, saloon windows, destination, drop-centre

The photograph shows VR tram 48 waiting to depart Sandingham Station terminus with many passengers displaying the destination Black Rock. The weather blinds are up and some saloon windows are open. To the left of the tram are two elderly men in suits and a uniformed man with his back to the camera.Yields information about Sandringham Station terminusBlack and white photograph with note on the rear.Typed and stamped on the rear "VR tramways at Sandringham showing car No 48 about to leave for Black Rock. May, 1947 K J Magor No. K Winney"vr trams, saloon windows, destination, sandringham station, black rock, uniformed man

The photograph shows VR tram 48 waiting to depart Sandingham Station terminus with many passengers in summer clothing and displaying the destination Sandringham. The weather blinds are up and all saloon windows are open. The station building is seen behind the tram and to the left many adults and children stand together. Yields information about Sandringham Station terminusBlack and white photograph with note on the rear.in ink on the rear "No 48 at Sandringham Station terminus K J Magor Neg No. 893"vr trams, saloon windows, destination, sandringham station, weather blinds, summer clothing, station building

Gerasimos Galatis is the shopkeeper standing outside his confectionary shop at 225 Bay Street, Port Melbourne. The chocolates were home made and were artistically presented, especially at Easter. He and his wife Ellie ran the business in Port Melbourne for over thirty years and it was a very popular venue especially as it was near the former picture theatre in Port Melbourne.This was yet another example of the various businesses which early Ithacan Greek immigrants owned and ran successfully throughout the first half of the twentieth century.A sepia photograph mounted on board of a man standing outside a confectionary shop. A variety of sweets are displayed attractively in the shop window which has a sign declaring the confectionary are 'Home Sweets'

Speros Defteros is standing in the doorway of his fruit shop, the Acropolis Fruit Shop. Speros owned a series of fruit shops in South Yarra, Coburg and Bentleigh. A black and white photograph of a shopkeeper standing at the door of a suburban fruit shop. A display of fruit is in the window and two boxes of vegetables are by the door.

967 waits at traffic lights at the junction of Vaughan St and Lancefield Rd (a non-freeway section of the Tullamarine Freeway) to cross to the tramway ROW parallel to Matthews Ave. The driver in shirt sleeves is about to lean out of his left doorway to press the traffic light activation button. The tram displays 'City 59' with run number 'E22'. All right-side windows are closed yet the sliding doors are open which is unusual for a revenue service car. It was, however, normal practice to not shut the left side doors in warmer weather.Yields information about last weeks of Essendon Airport terminusBlack and white print with note on rear.In ink on rear: "Photo by Clive Mottram. Photo taken Feb 14th '76 on Airport section soon to go. 967 is one of the Preston Trams put out to other depots now that Z class tram[sic] are operating at Preston. Other trams including W7 are at Glen Huntly and Malvern Depots. 351 Enlarge to 5 1/2" wide."sw6, tram 967, essendon, airport, vaughan st, lancefield rd, matthews ave, city, route 59, run number e22, tramway row, traffic light activation button, open sliding doors, revenue service