The new home of Eltham District Historical SocietyColour photographeltham district historical society, activities, eltham, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, russell yeoman

The new home of Eltham District Historical SocietyTwo colour photographseltham district historical society, activities, eltham, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, peter bassett-smith

Opening Ceremony of Local History Centre, 728 Main Road, Eltham, Sunday 12 July 1998Colour photographeltham district historical society, activities, eltham, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, peter bassett-smith

In 1978 Diamond Valley Shire recognised the need for a new public hall in Diamond Creek. Council considered the Bini shell form of construction which was in operation overseas and in use in New South Wales as libraries, gymnasiums, sports centres and multi-purpose centres. The Council gave the go-ahead. A site was chosen opposite the Hotel and close to the railway line. One day in - the following year, in 1979, activity stood still in Diamond Creek as school children and other excited spectators watched the one-hour inflation of the Bini Shell. This unusual method of construction was invented by Italian industrial designer and architect Dante Bini. The construction pneumatically raises a level of reinforced concrete from ground level which has not been set, using an internal balloon. The inner membrane inflates and compresses the mesh and concrete against the outer membrane. A net of flexible steel rods was laid on the building’s circular base, on the top of a fabric bladder. 300 tonnes of reinforced concrete were poured onto the mesh and a sealed cover laid over the concrete making a sandwich of cover, bladder and mesh. Compressed air was pumped into the bladder and the sandwich slowly began to rise and become a massive self-supporting dome. After inflation and removal of the outer membrane workmen filled in any holes. It was some days before pneumatic drills pecked out the first opening. The ceiling of the concrete dome was lined with fluffy insulating material. The dome was 36 metres in diameter at the base and 12 metres high in the centre with a usable floor space of 670 square metres. An opening night dinner was held to celebrate the new facility on March 12, 1980. Shire President Ron Pata made a speech and unveiled a plaque. It was the first public building in Victoria to be erected using the Bini Shell design method of construction The facility could cater for up to 400 people and in 1980 a fee for use was $100 for up to 200 people, $150 for up to 300 people and $200 for up to 400 people. For the next ten years or so, locals attended the hall for marital arts classes, basketball and netball games and school discoes and various other activities. After pieces of concrete fell off a Bini shell interstate due to a construction fault, the Council closed the centre. Demotion took place during the Diamond Creek Town Fair in 1991, as part of the annual Town Fair’s program. Research by L.P. Jan 2022This was the first public building in Victoria to be erected using the Bini Shell design method of construction.Colour photograph1991, diamond creek, bini shell, demolition, oval

The new home of Eltham District Historical SocietyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, harry gilham, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre

The new home of Eltham District Historical SocietyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, diana bassett-smith

The new home of Eltham District Historical SocietyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, diana bassett-smith

The new home of Eltham District Historical SocietyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre

The new home of Eltham District Historical SocietyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, peter bassett-smith, john graves

The new home of Eltham District Historical SocietyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, harry gilham

The new home of Eltham District Historical SocietyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, peter bassett-smith

The new home of Eltham District Historical SocietyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, peter bassett-smith

Opening Ceremony of Local History Centre, 728 Main Road, Eltham, Sunday, July 12th, 1998Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, peter bassett-smith

Opening Ceremony of Local History Centre, 728 Main Road, Eltham, Sunday, July 12th, 1998Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, peter bassett-smith

Opening Ceremony of Local History Centre, 728 Main Road, Eltham, Sunday, July 12th, 1998Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, peter bassett-smith, diana bassett-smith

Shire of Eltham Historical Society Community Banner on display in the front room of the local history centreRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre, banners, community banner project

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, main road, opening ceremony, local history centre

Looking westerly across the Yarra from Westerfolds Park you can see a large and imposing building at the top of the escarpment above the river. This is the Christian Brothers Training Centre at Lower Plenty and known as Amberley. This significant building dates from 1930 when it was the rather grand residence of Oswald Darch. It was purchased by the Catholic Church in 1955 and has since been significantly extended.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 2 stripsKodak Gold 200-6activities, lower plenty, amberley

In 1978 Diamond Valley Shire recognised the need for a new public hall in Diamond Creek. Council considered the Bini shell form of construction which was in operation overseas and in use in New South Wales as libraries, gymnasiums, sports centres and multi-purpose centres. The Council gave the go-ahead. A site was chosen opposite the Hotel and close to the railway line. One day in - the following year, in 1979, activity stood still in Diamond Creek as school children and other excited spectators watched the one-hour inflation of the Bini Shell. This unusual method of construction was invented by Italian industrial designer and architect Dante Bini. The construction pneumatically raises a level of reinforced concrete from ground level which has not been set, using an internal balloon. The inner membrane inflates and compresses the mesh and concrete against the outer membrane. A net of flexible steel rods was laid on the building’s circular base, on the top of a fabric bladder. 300 tonnes of reinforced concrete were poured onto the mesh and a sealed cover laid over the concrete making a sandwich of cover, bladder and mesh. Compressed air was pumped into the bladder and the sandwich slowly began to rise and become a massive self-supporting dome. After inflation and removal of the outer membrane workmen filled in any holes. It was some days before pneumatic drills pecked out the first opening. The ceiling of the concrete dome was lined with fluffy insulating material. The dome was 36 metres in diameter at the base and 12 metres high in the centre with a usable floor space of 670 square metres. An opening night dinner was held to celebrate the new facility on March 12, 1980. Shire President Ron Pata made a speech and unveiled a plaque. It was the first public building in Victoria to be erected using the Bini Shell design method of construction The facility could cater for up to 400 people and in 1980 a fee for use was $100 for up to 200 people, $150 for up to 300 people and $200 for up to 400 people. For the next ten years or so, locals attended the hall for marital arts classes, basketball and netball games and school discoes and various other activities. After pieces of concrete fell off a Bini shell interstate due to a construction fault, the Council closed the centre. Demotion took place during the Diamond Creek Town Fair in 1991, as part of the annual Town Fair’s program. Research by LP January 2022This was the first public building in Victoria to be erected using the Bini Shell design method of construction.Digital copy of colour photographfred mitchell collection, 1983, bini shell, diamond creek

Living and Learning Centre excursion/walkRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsFuji 1001992, activities, living and learning centre, one tree hill mine

Living and Learning Centre excursion/walkRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsFuji 1001992, activities, living and learning centre, one tree hill mine

Living and Learning Centre excursion/walkRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsFuji 1001992, activities, living and learning centre, one tree hill mine

Living and Learning Centre excursion/walkRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsFuji 1001992, activities, living and learning centre, one tree hill mine

Living and Learning Centre excursion/walkRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsFuji 1001992, activities, living and learning centre, one tree hill mine

Living and Learning Centre excursion/walkRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsFuji 1001992, activities, living and learning centre, one tree hill mine

Living and Learning Centre excursion/walkRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsFuji 1001992, activities, living and learning centre, one tree hill mine