.1 - Manual - 116 pages centred stapled - titled "MAN Buses - Driver's Handbook". Has a table of contents, item reference list and electric circuit diagrams. Covers the operation, equipment, driving, cold weather operation, maintenance, lubrication, fuels, general car and maintenance. .2 - newspaper clipping from The Age ""Gearbox flaw cripples bus fleet", dated 26/3/1987, by Tony Harrington, Transport Reporter reporting on the withdrawal of 20 buses from North Fitzroy - replacement parts no longer being manufactured. Also has a loose note about the radiator capacity.trams, tramways, buses, maintenance, man, manual, gears

Reports on Federal and State Transport Ministers conference, the need to push public transport. Reports on the new Z class trams, extensions to Burwood Road and East Preston. Quotes Dudley Snell, MMTB Chairman, about fares, bus costs, income, and one man buses,use of barriers in Nicholson St, underground trams not useful. Written by Stephen Nisbet Transport Reporter.Yields information about the outlook and issues of trams and buses in Melbourne in the mid 1970s.Newspaper clipping - "A push to get the trams back on the track" - The Age 30-7-1976tramways, trams, melbourne, public transport, one man buses, extensions, east preston, burwood road, dudley snell, bus costs, underground tramways, z class trams

Letter - from Ross Wilson of Canberra to Keith Kings regarding cable tram conversions (St Kilda / Beaconsfield Parade), St Kilda Beach conversion and MAN Bus electronic route numbers / destinations. Attached is a photocopy over five A4 Sheets of "MAN Destination and Key No. chart", listing some 176 routes or keys. Has been stapled in top left hand corner.Has numerous notes in red or black ink about responses etc.trams, tramways, routes, man buses, buses, st kilda, cable trams, conversion

The badge features a MAN Melbourne bus in The Met colours. This type of bus was used by the MMTB and The Met from 1971 to 1993. Not known who made or produced the item.Demonstrates an item made for wearing on a jacket or cap.Badge - metal cut into the shape of a bus and painted. Has a pin clip on the rear with a retention or secure style clip.trams, tramways, the met, badges, man buses

Official Metropolitan Transit Photograph of MAN Bus No. 182. Taken at Northcote Bus Depot. Registration MYD 182 Taken c1990.On rear in pencil "M.A.N."melbourne, metropolitan transit, man bus

Book - 43 pages + brown card covers, stapled in the left hand side, titled "Fares and Sections for One-Man Bus Routes", providing fares for each section, table of contents for the various one man bus routes from Doncaster, Melbourne Services, All night services. Has a table for each bus route, giving the section location, travel conditions and fares. Printed using a purple colour Gestener ink. Dated 27/9/1964.On front cover in black Texta "Inspector's Office Nth Fitzroy".trams, tramways, tickets, fares, sections, passes, bus routes, doncaster, all night services

Set of two manuals for MAN buses: .1 - MAN Maintenance recommendations 1985 - 25 A4 pages, landscape stapled in the top left hand corner - issued 7/1985. Photocopied from a MAN book. .2 - Chart of MAN recommended fuels and lubricants - 2 A4 sheets, stapled in the top left hand corner.Has "MAN" in ink on top edge.trams, tramways, buses, maintenance, man, manual

Poster - printed on heavy card paper, featuring a Comeng Train (404M), A class (238) and MAN Bus (117) all in the then new The Met livery featuring the circular logo. Train showing a destination of Werribee, tram - Mont Albert route 42 and the Bus, Warrandyte, route 265.trams, tramways, posters, the met, comeng, a class, buses, mont albert, tram 238

Letter to the Editor by Robert Murphy of Kensington about the removal of 6 seats in the new Z3 class trams to provide an extra door to improve passenger flow. Notes that he drove trams in San Francisco and that single ended trams have better capacity. Compares the cost of a new MAN bus ($77,000) to the cost of a Z3 ($330,000)Yields information about the then new Z3 class trams and the provision of an extra door.Newspaper clipping - letter to the editor - "The $330,000 new tram wastes seating space and will not do the job" - The Age - 10-10-1979tramways, trams, z3 class, seats, passengers

Set of four drawings, printed on A2 sheets with Melbourne, The Met, bus details, c1984. .1 - "Motor Bus Data" - listing class, make and type, seating, crush loading, turning circle, wheelbase, overall length, width and height. .2 - continuation of above. .3 - Bus seating plans for Leyland National, Volvo and MAN buses. .4 - Motor bus fleet - listing class, bus numbers, chassis, body maker, number of buses in service, stored and in fleet and capacity.trams, tramways, drawings, buses, class, the met

Full colour poster, printed on gloss paper, titled "The Transport Loan No. 4". Advertising that a prospectus could be obtained for this government guaranteed loan paying 13.75%, interest from the Victorian Transport Borrowing Agency, Money used for funding transport projects. Has photographs of various transport scenes including B1 2001 and MAN bus 182. Two copies, large and small size.trams, tramways, public transport, victoria, funding

Pamphlet - 4 A4 pages, full colour titled "70 years of Government Buses", part of a series, Public Transportation at a Glance. Notes the introduction of buses by the MMTB, Mr Cameron's 1924 trip, use of buses for conversion for the cable trams, types of buses used, double deck, Met Bus, PTC, MTA, AVM and services. Has photo of Tilling Stevens 1925 bus, MAN bus 1995.Has "May 95" in ink in top right hand corner.trams, tramways, buses, mmtb, double deck buses, conversion, ptc, mta, avm, met bus

Pamphlet - A4 photocopied sheet, two sided titled "Save Conductors! and our Union in Victoria", asking Union members to vote for a Militant Secretary. Gives date of election of 23/7/1981. Written around the Brisbane FM tramcars that require two men to operate. Describes the tramcar and why it is better than a Melbourne tram. Also notes the Lonie Report and one man bus depots. Includes photograph of the Brisbane tramcar. Published by "ATMOEA Militant Group supporters", dated 1/6/1981.trams, tramways, atmoea, unions, elections, lonie report, brisbane, conductors, tram 506, tram 541

Set of two instructions, both printed on foolscap duplicated paper in blue ink. .1 - "Notice to One-Man bus operators - Increase in Fares as from Sunday 27th September 1964", detailing both the ordinary and children's fares. Includes instructions regarding prepaid tickets and Gibson ticket machines that are pending the delivery of new printing wheels.. Dated 17/9/1964. .2 - "Notice to Conductors and Conductresses - - Increase in Fares as from Sunday 27th September 1964" - as above, except tickets issued in the city by the Ultimate ticket machines - how the values were to be made up. Dated 18/9/1974trams, tramways, tickets, ticket machines, ultimate, gibson ticket machines

Magazine or newsletter cutting from an unknown source detailing an Honour for Frank Kuffer, MMTB Safety Officer, reporting that he had been admitted as a Serving Brother in the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Notes other people from the MMTB. Printed mid to late 1970's, has news regarding a new MAN articulated bus.trams, tramways, first aid, st johns ambulance, safety, mmtb

Item used to operate and record the time in the Cincinnati Time Recording clock. This type of clock was used by the MMTB in the 1930s. The key would be issued by the depot staff to crews for use in the clock to record times so that they could be matched up against the timetable to see whether tram or bus services were running on time. Understood that this style of key was last used on the Port Melbourne bus route. The Museum has one of these clocks at its depot which was obtained from The Met in? The second photo shows the key in position before turning the handle around it. By the 1960's (or earlier) they were only used on the M&MTB bus routes. All the tram routes had M&MTB copies with a very different style of key. Only used on two man bus routes and the conductor held the key due to the half-cab bus design. On the tram routes the driver was responsible for the key and recording the time. The key number represented the crew's shift number. For a while towards the end of their use on the trams they were the Run number. This change led to many lost keys! See item 9568 for an example of the time recording clock itself.Demonstrates a Cincinnati "Bundy" time recording clock key.Key - or Bundy Clock key made for a Cincinnati Time Recording Clock comprising a circular brass section with a key number section secured by a screw at one end and a flat steel strip inserted into the brass section, with a hole at one end that could be placed on a hook. The steel strip is riveted into the brass round section. Two keys held.Steel section stamped "tramways" and "55" and "263"tramcars, tramways, bundy clock, cincinnati, time recorder clocks

Magazine, published by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Victoria "Met Lines" (Metlines) - A4, printed on white gloss paper, centre stapled with the MTA logo or symbol. Issued under the name of Kevin Shea as Chairman. Continues from Reg Item 1142 "Met Lines" - printed in an A4 version. Major tram and bus items listed. Tramway names only listed, not railway. .1 - March 1988 - The Pandas car coming! - 20 pages - lists MTA Board, under Minister Jim Kennan; Helen Davison, Jenny Acton, Tony Tuohey, Sybille Kalbitzer, Greg Rodgers, John Usher. Advertising on trams etc, by Australian Posters - contractor, includes a photo of 814 as the Summer in the City tram, Transport Information Centre, launch of St Kilda light rail, photo of test tram 533, Tom Roper, tram 2002. Photo of farewell at Essendon depot. Final W2 - last tram in regular service - 646. .2 - June 1988 - Football theme - 16 pages - Station improvements, Jolimont Decentralisation, advertising the Met (photo for 273), new computer systems, Panamonium - pandas at the Zoo and Z8 painted for the event, new MAN buses - photo of 260. .3 - September 1988 - Uniquely Melbourne theme on the cover, some of the items sold at The Met shop, - 20 - photo of Light Rail vehicle lifting equipment at the workshops with Jack Armstrong and Les Jean, opening of The Met shop, Metrol, kids take a peek at trams (Brunswick depot). .4 - December 1988 - Festival season cover - 20 pages - MAN buses to Elwood, Transport Technology conference, article on the Thornbury Tramway Flyover (the Hump) at Preston Workshops - collisions or accidents on the flyover, tramcar details - submitted by Norm Cross. For next year 1989 - see Reg Item 1184trams, tramways, the met, mta, advertising trams, light rail, st kilda, essendon depot, zoo tram, buses, preston workshops, brunswick depot, the hump, bridges, w2 class, last tram, tram 814, tram 2002, tram 533, tram 2001, tram 8, tram 273, tram 646

Set of 5 back and white photographs of MMTB Buses .1 - MAN Bus Nop. 105 at Doncaster Depot - 4/2/1980 .2 - Leyland OPS1 bus No. 372 (Preston Workshops body) on a Bus and Coach Society Victoria Special in Alfred Crescent, North Fitzroy 10/1/1975 .3 - AEC Mk III bus No. 433 (Comeng Body) at new loading bay in Princess St at Kew Junction 5/2/1972 .4 - AEC Mike IV bus 606 with a J A Lawton body, departing Brunswick tram depot after a meal break. The photographer notes that it running the replacement rail service to Upfield on Sundays. Note the Upfield auxiliary board on the front of the bus. 20/2/1972 .5 - Leyland "National:" bus No. 817 at Heidelberg Railway Station 9/8/1975. 20/2/1972 All photos by Bruce TilleyHas extensive details of the photograph written on the rear,trams, tramways, mmtb, buses, doncaster depot, man, leyland, aec, kew junction, bscv, brunswick depot, upfield, tram 105, tram 372, tram 433, tram 606, tram 817

Instruction - two foolscap sheets - titled "Traffic Wages - Rates of Pay", listing rates the various components of the pay, including weekly and hourly rates for Tram and Bus conductors, tram drivers, bus drivers two man and bus drivers one many. Gives details of service increments and how paid hours are calculated. Sheet 1 dated 4/11/1979 and sheet 2 - 1/7/1984.trams, tramways, mmtb, mta, wages, payroll, conductors, drivers, buses

Set of three transport posters issued by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, in 1985 featuring trams, trains and buses. See also Reg Item 151 for a laminated version of the tramways poster. .1 - Poster titled "Tramways 1885 - 1985" featuring drawings of cable tram set with a bogie trailer (472), horse drawn tram black and white drawings of A, F, J and S class trams, though the last one printed with a Z. SW6 940, horse, U 205, W2 348, Z 223 and A 233. Has two Metropolitan Transit Authority tram tickets and an Inner Travel Card, with the MTA logo in the bottom right hand corner. .2 - Poster titled "Railways 1854 - 1985", featuring drawings of the first train for Hobsons Bay Railway Company, various trains, staff drawings, Tait, Harris, Hitachi and Comeng trains with a first class all lines tick, Collingwood Edmondson and a Metro and Travel cards. Has part of the suburban train map. .3 - Poster titled "Buses 1925 - 19856", featuring drawings of 1925 MMTB Tilling Stevens, Munitions, Thornycroft, Leyland, double deck buses, AEC Regal Mk 3, Mk 6, 1975 Leyland, 1977 Volvo and MAN buses, along with a Day Tripper and other travel card tickets.trams, tramways, posters, melbourne, mmtb, mta, tram & bus services, buses, railways, tilling stevens, thornycroft, leyland, aec, volvo, man

Photo - see pdf file for further information. Number Date Brief Description Box 16 RT372 23-1-1980 W2 271, High St Kew reconstruction trackwork – route 48 RT373 23-1-1980 W2 504 Burwood Road RT374 23-1-1980 Z7 East Burwood terminus RT375 23-1-1980 Z26 Burwood Highway, route 75 RT376 23-1-1980 W2 255 North Balwyn terminus, route 48 RT377 24-1-1980 W5 at North Coburg terminus – route 19 RT378 24-1-1980 Z37 (route 19) and a W route 20 at North Coburg terminus RT379 24-1-1980 W2 378? Park St St Kilda terminus, route 12 RT380 24-1-1980 Z121 route 88 at Bourke St terminus with Spencer St station in background RT381 25-1-1980 Z1 118 and another Z81? At East Preston terminus – both route 88 RT382 26-1-1980 SW5 812 route 67 at Carnegie terminus RT383 28-1-1980 MMTB Austerity bus No. 301 RT384 26-1-1980 SW5 818? And SW6 965 at Carnegie Glen Huntly Road at start of the single line Truganini Road – note the single track signs. Both route 67. RT385 26-1-1980 W2 504 at East Malvern Darling Road – route 3 RT386 26-1-1980 SW5 787 route 52, Mathews Ave. RT387 26-1-1980 SW5 684? Airport West terminus, route 52, RT388 26-1-1980 High St Kew track reconstruction, W6 986, route 48 RT389 26-1-1980 SW6 965 route 67, Glen Huntly Road level crossing RT390 27-1-1980 SW6 962 Collins St route 42 Spencer St terminus RT391 27-1-1980 Z3 121, route 88 Bourke St Mal with parked cars. RT392 27-1-1980 Z3 188? Bourke St route 96 RT393 27-1-1980 3MP tram Camberwell Route 72 at Gardiner level crossing RT394 28-1-1980 MMTB Bus 370, Leyland OPS1 on display RT395 28-1-1980 MAN Bus 103, on display showing Doncaster Depot Demonstrates the work of Robert Thomson in photography, collection and/or production of slidesAssembled album in a black presentation folder of 24 colour slides, collected or produced by Robert Thomson. A list of all photographs with details has been compiled. All rights reserved for all photos., melbourne, tramways, trams, tram 271, high st kew, trackworks, route 48, tram 504, tram 7, east burwood, tram 26, tram 255, north coburg, route 19, tram 37, park st st kilda, tram 121, bourke st, spencer st, tram 118, east preston, route 88, route 12, route 67, carnegie, tram 812, tram 67, buses, tram 965, truganini road, route 3, route 52, tram 787, tram 986, level crossings, glen huntly rd, matthews ave, tram 962, collins st, route 42, tram 188, route 72, gardiner

copy of original : image shows Huntly bus, two men in front, at least 3 in cabin behind. Huntly is printed on the passsenger side. Two men sitting on top, one man standing rear of bus. On back : vehicle made from chassis of T. model Ford and Cobb & Co. coach. Ran from Huntly to Bendigo. Received 7.4.2000 from Vi Cattanach.transport, motor vehicles, huntly bus service

Three copies of the Annual report of the MMTB for the years end 1977 to 1979. 3952.1 - "MMTB Annual Report 1977", brown card cover with a drawing of Z24 on the front cover, 24 pages, white paper, giving details of the MMTB Board, Officers, Introduction, Financial, Engineering, Industrial, Balance sheet, Summary of Income and Expenditure, Schedule of Debentures and Inscribed stock, auditors report, Schedule of tram and bus routes, and record of annual traffic receipts, passengers etc.. Photos include Z's in Bourke ST, after a heavy storm, new Volvo bus, display/advertising tram, Dandenong Rd, Route map board and Cathy Pacific advertisement. Printed by McCarron Bird. 3952.2 - "MMTB Annual Report 1978", gloss cover with a photo of Z18 in Wellington Parade on the front cover, 24 pages, white paper, giving details of the MMTB Board, Officers, Introduction, Financial, Engineering, Industrial, historical highlights, Balance sheet, Summary of Income and Expenditure, Schedule of Debentures and Inscribed stock, auditors report, Service Statistics, Schedule of tram and bus routes, and on inside back cover, route map. On back cover is a photo of Z20 in Wellington Parade. Photos include bus lane on Eastern Freeway, construction of Burwood Extension, first tram to Warragul Road, opening of Burwood tramway (1916), Volvo bus Bell St, upgraded computer installation, Volvo bus chassis, Z class bogie. Printed by McCarron Bird. 3952.3 - "MMTB Annual Report 1978-79", gloss card cover with a photo of Z 116 on the front cover, 24 pages, white paper, giving details of the MMTB Board, Officers, Introduction, Financial, Engineering, Industrial, historical highlights, Balance sheet, Summary of Income and Expenditure, Schedule of Debentures and Inscribed stock, auditors report, Service Statistics, Schedule of tram and bus routes, and on inside back cover, route map. On back cover is a photo of Z73, Nicholson St, Fitzroy. Photos include first tram on Burwood Extension, Volvo bus Westgate freeway, K. J. Brennan, map of Bundoora extension, Box Hill tram, V214, vintage trams day 1979, MAN Bus, Swanston St at dusk and montage of painted W2's. Printed by McCarron Bird.trams, tramways, mmtb, melbourne, annual reports, operations, trackwork

Three copies of the Annual report of the MMTB for the years end 1980, 1981 and 1982 3953.1 - "Annual Report 1979-80" - white gloss paper with colour card covers with 36 pages, gloss, on inside giving details of the MMTB Board, Officers, Operations report, schedule of debenture, investments, Auditors reports, record of Annual traffic receipts, passengers, miles etc, tram and bus routes operated, statistical information, graphs and photographs. Photos include; Z 117 in Bourke St, Z 31 Burwood terminus, new safety tower wagon, Z118 in Bourke St, W2 528 High St Kew, reconstruction of High St Kew, Z3 120, cable and electric trams at Flemington Bridge, Z3 117, fitting trams to bogies at Preston workshops, Queens Bridge roundabout, MAN bus, Burwood substation, Z111 in Bourke St and Z's enter Elizabeth St service and Z3 129 on rear cover at night. 3953.2 - "Annual Report 1980-81" - white gloss paper with colour card covers with 36 pages, on inside giving details of the MMTB Board, Officers, Operations report, schedule of debenture, investments, Auditors reports, record of Annual traffic receipts, passengers, miles etc, tram and bus routes operated, statistical information, graphs and photographs. Photos include; image of Park St, Domain Road Jtn before changes, Museum station entrance, Flinders and Swanston St, CDB City Ring bus service, Swanston St, Westgate bus route, Park St, new substation, Swanston and Flinders St, Flinders land, and give way to buses pulling out of stops. 3953.2 - "Annual Report 1981-82" - white gloss paper with colour card covers with 36 pages, on inside giving details of the MMTB Board, Officers, Operations report, schedule of debenture, investments, Auditors reports, record of Annual traffic receipts, passengers, miles etc, tram and bus routes operated, statistical information, graphs and photographs. Photos include images of a z class crossing the Maribyrnong bridge, Footscray bus workshops, track renewals, a wedding at Wattle Park, a W2 arriving at Museum Station, Clifton Hill interchange, buses, Z class in Elizabeth St (Nos 158 and 43), Z89 in Mt Alexander Road North Essendon and a W2 loaded on a truck for New Zealand.3951.1 - has Graeme Breydon's address stamp on front cover., 3951.2 - ditto, 3951.3 - ditto and on inside of front cover., 3951.6 - "G. Breydon" in pencil on front cover and pencil comments on balance sheet., 3951.7 - dittotrams, tramways, mmtb, melbourne, annual reports, operations, trackwork

.0 - Autumn 1980 - Passenger counting, Survey provides data, We lead the way with Z3, Wattle Park, transport in Moscow, Spike Milligan, Melbourne's decorated trams, transporting art, sports, training, and Raymond Stock, Assistant Traffic Manager Revenue .1 - Winter 1980 - Bourke St Mall is popular, Senior citizens help design new tram (Z3), A bus-only lane in Johnstone St., Depot Employees' Social and facility Melbourne. Has a profile on Mr R. C. Drummond, Traffic Manager. .2 - Spring 1980 - Christmas Message, supporting those children with polio in 1938, Trolley buses, Z3 trams being built, use of parafil in overhead, cleaning truck. Has a profile on Ken Hall, Assistant Chief Engineer - Mechanical and Reg Robinson who was the organiser for the 1938 polio event - bus driver / instructor. .3 - Summer 1981 - MMTB involvement with Australia Day pageant, note involvement of TMSV, Bendigo, BTPS 27 (26 Jan. 1981), film on apprentices, tram stop shelters, resilient track work, trolley buses, the supply and systems department including Hawthorn clothing workroom and printing department (photos) and profile on Mr Jerry Compton, Supply and systems department. (Two copies held) .4 - Autumn 1981 - new buildings at Footscray, South Melbourne, trolley buses for Melbourne?, building MAN buses, why join the Tramways Benefit Society, article that looks at the Engineering Branch and profile of John Grigg, Chief Engineer. (Two copies held) .5 - Winter 1981 - New passenger shelters, image of the Elizabeth St shelter proposal, where do old trams go?, "Around the Clock" Emergency Service (item on R10) (See Reg item 1004 for photo), formation of Tramway's Sporting Associations, retirement of Board's driver Peter Savage, bus driving school transferred to Hawthorn, Apprentices and Profile on Bill Sibbison, Depot Manager North Fitzroy. .6 - Spring 1981 - 8 pages - Making of Squizzy Taylor film - Flinders St station, Engineering Amenities at South Melbourne opened, traverser at Preston Workshops, track work - pressing curves at South Melbourne, Conductresses re-union, model tramway at the Royal Show, retirements, sporting association, tramway band, AVM, reducing noise levels, lists Editorial committee. .7 - Summer 1982 - 8 pages - Its Christmas Party time, want to charter a tram or bus?, portable radios, MMTB role in Paraplegic Games, MMTB Architect Gene Marshall retires, photo of WW2 most popular conductresses ball, MMTB Highlights, O-Bahn. Has a profile on Rob Downing - Deputy Chairman. Also Dick Newnham - lift operator at head office, Bob Moffatt - driver turned actor. Also has a follow up on the making of the Squizzy Taylor film "What's wrong with Squizzy" and a photo of the Editorial team and their names. .8 - Autumn 1982 - 8 pages - item on "Taking Melbourne by Storm", photo of Austerity bus 500, Radio Centre, Clifton Pugh tram 504, Essendon Depot (see Reg Item 1005) includes of photos of managers, revenue etc, story on the most popular conductress photo by Win Gibson (see Reg item 180 and 181), new apprentices, John Murdoch model train (Diamond Valley) builder, Sunday vintage tram service (V214) and L class to the zoo. Has a profile on Mr. Peter Saul, Architect. (two copies held) (see image 1178i5 for cover) .9 - Winter 1982 - 8 pages - changes to Doncaster bus - Eastern Free extension, changes to Ministry will affect Board - Steve Crabb, new uniforms, Footscray Depot, apprentice awards, follow up on Austerity buses, Norm Cross and Destination City, Profile on Alan Nolan Runningsheds Engineer, and Mike McLeod MMTB Photographer. (two copies held) .10 - Spring 1982 - book - see Melbourne by tram, Bundoora tramway work, new articulated vehicles (B class trams), Elizabeth St modal interchange shelter, Brunswick depot, demise of the F class bus (Mark VI), profile of Daryl Meade bus engineer, Joe Saccasan carpenter building branch and a list of Jargon. (two copies held).Demonstrates a MMTB employee newsletter, early 1980sMagazine, two colour printed on A2 sheet, folded to A3, "METRA News", published by the MMTB. Each issue unless noted otherwise four pages. Major items listed. Each issue has personnel news, including new staff, promotions, overseas items;trams, tramways, mmtb, z3 class, bourke st, track equipment, overhead, most popular conductress competition, hawthorn depot, clothing, trolley buses, fund raising, footscray, welfare, sale of trams, recovery, r10 vehicle, flinders st, films, radio centre, essendon depot, theatre, transporting art, austerity buses, footscray depot, doncaster, minister for transport, shelters, bundoora, brunswick depot, buses, mont albert, route 42

Yields information about the views of various letter writers, special trains for the Begonia Festival and issues re costs.Foolscap sheet of plain paper, with rounded corners, with 7 newspaper cuttings, concerning the mooted closure of the Ballarat Tram system 2 and 3 March 1962. All from The Courier, unless noted otherwise. One cutting missing. 1 - "Tram Repairs" - 2/3/62 - Letter from R Courtney local Secretary of the Union, regarding the cost of new trams, tracks needed to and Geelong fares raised shortly before closure and then again afterward. 2 - Letter - 2/3/62 - signed by a tram driver regarding repairs of tram faults 3 - "Bolte re Promise on trams" - 2/3/62 - representations to Bolte by the Opposition leader Stoneham and protested to the Minister Mr. Reid 4 - "Special Train for Festival visitors" - The Mail, - 2/3/62 - re visit to Ballarat by the PMG Social club on 11/3 for the Begonia Festival 5 - "Sunday tour Festival City" - re a special train to Ballarat and being met by buses. 6 - "Trams Future" - 3/3/62 - 3 letters re costs of operations - two man trams, bus costs will be based on one man, trams are clean vehicles no emissions, Apex Club issues. 7 - "To Discuss Trams" - 3-3-62 - result of a Greater Ballarat Association meeting.closure, letter to the editor, editorial, sec, begonia festival, greater ballarat association

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

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

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

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