The article was contributed by J.K.McCaskill, JP. a mayor of Ringwood in the years between 1924-1951.The Sanders family came from England and are mentioned in the book "Ringwood a Place of Many Eagles" by Hugh AndersonObituary from The Ringwood Mail of Joseph Richard Sanders of 18, Wantirna Road, Ringwood, aged 87 years. He came from a family who were early pioneers of Ringwood. he was born in Collingwood but schooled in Ringwood, married and brought up his family in Ringwood. He lived at 18, Wantirna Road .The article was contributed by J.K.McCaskill, JP. a mayor of Ringwood in the years between 1924-1951.Transcript: "The death occurred of Joseph Richard Sanders, 18 Wantirna Rd, Ringwood, on Wednesday, 21st October 1959, in his 87th year, marks the passing of another of Ringwood’s early pioneers. He was born in Collingwood in August 1873 and came to Ringwood with his parents when 15 months old. They made their home on land on what is now known as Jubilee Park (Fuller particulars of this Park will appear in ‘The Mail’ at a later date, also reference will be made to Wantirna Rd, in the early days it was known as West Prussia Rd). Joe went to the school held in the old homestead and orchard of Mr. Mills, just through the Heatherdale Road railway gates. He remembered many of the scholars, some of the boys and girls had to walk three and four miles to school through rough scrub paddocks in all kinds of weather. During the lunch hour a few of the boys generally went to the creek to fish for eels and would be late in getting back to school, greatly to the annoyance of the teacher. One day the fishing was good, and the boys rather reluctantly returned to the school late as usual. The teacher was furious and made them stand in front of the class but before inflicting punishment she called out to one of the boys to throw out that dirty bag he was holding. The lad gave the bag a shake and out wriggled a snake. There was immediately a general stampede from the classroom, led by the teacher. The school was closed for the rest of the afternoon. Another incident related to a few tramps who after the scholars had all gone home, generally camped for the night in an old back room in the homestead. One of the boys put a little gunpowder in this old fireplace and when the tramps lit the fire to boil their billies the old chimney and part of the old wall just collapsed. Joe, after leaving school, worked around the district for some time and later left Ringwood to live in other suburbs. He at one time was employed at the Aust Glass Works, and later as a carpenter worked on building the dome of the Railway Station at Flinders St. He married a Miss E. M. Wood in 1901 at Richmond and a few years afterwards returned to Ringwood and resided at No. 18 Wantirna Rd., where he reared a family' of three girls (Alice, Ethel, Joyce) and two boys (Robert and Joe). Joe recalled many interesting events of earlier years, such as the duplication of the railway line, and the cutting back of the embankment at the Goods Shed, the earth being used to heighten up the railway bridge over Wantirna Rd. The brickworks at Ringwood East and reference to early land surveys, the using of the heavy chain links before the use of the theodolite became general, and the many neighbours and friends whom he knew. He was interested in local public affairs and was fond of fishing. He proved himself a good citizen and was highly respected and esteemed throughout the district, and so another old pioneer passes on." (Contributed by J. K. McCaskill, J.P.) RM 19 Nov 1959

Close up photograph of a section of brickwork at Willis Vale. This is the end wall under the roof. Willis Vale built by Edward Maygar, Robert Whatmough lived there mid 19th century and later sold to Partington family. It was located on the Plenty River at Partington's Flat Greensborough. Land use included farming and orchards. The derelict Willis Vale house was vandalized in 1964 and destroyed when a fire originating from North Plenty Gorge - Kurrak Road - was lit by two teenage boys and made its way several kilometres down to Partington's Flat Greensborough. This photo was taken after the Partington's moved house in 1947 across the river where Alan built their new Alwyn house that had access to electricity.Part of Willis Vale, a pioneer home in the Greensborough area.Digital copy of black and white photograph.willis vale

Christoher Watson's Eltham Hotel, cnr Maria Street (Main Road) and Pitt Street, Eltham. Christopher Watson in centre (bareheaded). Reproduced on p60 of 'Pioneers & Painters' The hotel was constructed in the 1850s immediately following the discovery of gold in Victoria. The original founder, a Mr Warren. engaged a builder named Wallace, to erect the hotel, and being unable to finance it, the story goes, handed it over to Mr Wallace, who finished the job, and received the first licence. The building was constructed of hard basaltic blue stone, quarried in the Eltham district, and partly of bricks made at Eltham. At that time the town owned not only an hotel, but a flour mill, a brewery, a brickworks, and other important industries. The hotel was carried on for the benefit of the first owners for over 30 years and was then purchased by Mr Chris Watson. The hotel was in the early days a well-known resting place for the gold diggers during the gold rush at Woods' Point. A new hotel was erected on the same site by Mr H. Watson in 1925.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagechristopher watson, eltham, hotel, main road, maria street, pioneers and painters, pitt street, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, watson's hotel

Christoher Watson's Eltham Hotel, cnr Maria Street (Main Road) and Pitt Street, Eltham. Christopher Watson in centre (bareheaded). Reproduced on p60 of 'Pioneers & Painters' The hotel was constructed in the 1850s immediately following the discovery of gold in Victoria. The original founder, a Mr Warren. engaged a builder named Wallace, to erect the hotel, and being unable to finance it, the story goes, handed it over to Mr Wallace, who finished the job, and received the first licence. The building was constructed of hard basaltic blue stone, quarried in the Eltham district, and partly of bricks made at Eltham. At that time the town owned not only an hotel, but a flour mill, a brewery, a brickworks, and other important industries. The hotel was carried on for the benefit of the first owners for over 30 years and was then purchased by Mr Chris Watson. The hotel was in the early days a well-known resting place for the gold diggers during the gold rush at Woods' Point. A new hotel was erected on the same site by Mr H. Watson in 1925.Early photo of Eltham Hotel which has been on site in various forms since mid 1800sSepia photograph mounted on cardInscribed on back: "Property of Mr Albert Watson, 53 Yarra St, Heidelberg. Christopher Watson (bare headed) Given to Marion Huggett December 1977 c.1900 son of Watson Snr behind cart"christopher watson, eltham, eltham hotel, main road, maria street, pioneers and painters, pitt street, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, watson's hotel

Black and white photograph showing detail of brickwork and roof shinglespioneers and painters, shillinglaw cottage, eltham

Sketch of walking route for 17 historical points of interest organised by the Ringwood Historical Society for St. Paul's Church Centenary Celebrations - 14 October 1979, estimated duration 2-1/4hours.1 - Start 2 - Cnr Braeside Avenue, old township, brickworks 1881-1916, Guests, Herrys, Hills 3 - Club Hotel, Ringwood Hall, 1st site of C of E church corner 4 - Ringwood Lake, Anthony Ford - pioneer 5 - Opposite Bardia Street, Sandy Gully, Duncan's Hotel 6 - Opposite Pratt Street, 2nd site of C of E, 2nd fire station, Bentleys, old shopping centre 7 - Warrandyte Road, Former Clocktower site, Pratts butcher shop, Bamfords 8 - End of Pitt Street, building viaduct 9 - Bedford Road, Webdales, old crossing, railway station 10 - Station Street, views over railways 11 - Station entrance, old shopping centre, 2nd Postoffice, 2nd blacksmiths, Mechanics Institute, Town Hall 12 - Clocktower, 3rd State School, coolstores, 3rd Postoffice, market, Kenworthys 13 - Opposite market, 3rd site of C of E, Ringwood views 14 - Adelaide Street, Dickens, 1st fire station, Ringwood Reserve 15 - Opposite squash courts, Matlocks, Salvation Army 16 - Opposite library, bowling club, old baths 17 - Outside C of E, Ringwood views, Brittens, Glamorgan