Papers pertaining to North Ringwood Safety House minutes of meeting 9 February 1983, 2 March 1983 and porposed "Safety home" programme. Stranger Awareness survey.

A4 handout

Three photos and articles mounted on black laminated card. The top photo is of a group of children practising for the Loddon Campaspe Zone Cross Country Championships. The bottom left photo shows Golden Square Primary School students Nataly Holahan and Daniel Whitelock with Ima Safety House character. It was for learning and the awareness of the Safety House program. The third photo shows Mark Boulton and Kimberlie Watson with gifts they had made for Mothers' Day. They were taking part in the St Marks Anglican Church playgroup activities.education, primary, golden square laurel st p.s., golden square primary school 1189 collection - newspaper cuttings, nataly holahan, daniel whitelock, safety house, st marks anglican church, mark boulton, kimberlie watson, tracey whitelock

Newspaper photo and article about Safety Houses. Photo shows Sally Burch, Seb Anderson and Caitlyn Anderson walking along a footpath. A front fence has a Safety House sign on the front gate.education, primary, golden square laurel st p.s., golden square primary school 1189 collection - newspaper cuttings, safety houses, sally burch, seb anderson, caitlyn anderson, bill hawking, jacquie anderson

Black and white photograph showing school Safety House Zone sign with assistant principal Bob Richardson, Kaylene Wickham and Di Furmeister Lakes Entrance Victoriaschools, safety

Three newspaper clippings relating to Plans and safety concerns about school closure, and a visit from seniors from Donwood Nursing Home to the school : "Plans for the Future" "Safety is a concern" (letter from Sue McBain, Secretary, Ringwood East Safety House Commitee) "Meeting of the Ages"Photo Caption: "Crossing the age barrier///May Jewell helps grade four students Liezel and Zantia on the school's slide"

Photograph shows a cable tram set - trailer number 576 with the destination of Spencer St in Bourke St at the intersection with Spring St. Has Victorian Parliament house in the background. There is a safety zone sign in the foreground for the outbound tram service. Photo late 1930s or 1940Yields information about Bourke St cable trams.Black and White photograph - printed on plain paper.On the rear has the Copyright stamp of the Herald Sun and pencil number "KM-M-006" and Ken Magor stamp.cable trams, bourke st, spring st, parliament house, safety zone

A5 size publication of the Gipps-Land Gate, May-August 1998 featuring an old picture of Dandenong on the cover. In Memory Of Vale Alan Ferguson Bundalohn to Rossmoyne A House A Home A History Chapter Five Making Memories Rev Henry Oldmeadow Centennial Celebrations Visits To Secondary Schools Safety House - Origins Of The Program And Its Organizational Structure Liz Oicket's Coffee Palace Society Notes Harking Back 75 Years Welcome Colleen! Recent Research Requests An interesting group of Early Dandenong Personalities, Places and Eventshotel history, early education in dandenong, interesting milestones, family histories

Items about Preps starting, new principal, 19th Surrey Downs visit, Kosciusko St PS fire, Safety House Program, Junior sports Week, Admin upgrade, tabloid sports carnival, Education Week, Greyathon, restoration work in Traralgon, satellite dishes for interactive learning, Bookweek, Mr Coverdale's American Reunion, Childrens Week, School Fair, PASE courses, Presentation NightContact covered scrapbook

42 Certificates of appreciation/participation awarded to Golden Square Primary School Parents' Club, students and teachers. Awards from International Year of Volunteers 2001; Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services; Bendigo RSL; Indigenous Literacy Foundation; jeans for Genes; Generals Basketball Club; Melbourne City Mission; Anti-Cancer Council; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; MS Readathon, State Schools Relief Committee; Clean up Australia; Family Support Services, Parents Victoria; Good Friday appeal; Victoria Police Historical Society; Jump rope for Heart; Safety House Committee; Starlight foundation; City of Greater Bendigo Olympic Torch Relay; Camp Quality; Zone Football Carnival, School's Garden Awards; Heart Foundation; Target; Scholastic Book Club; School Industry Partnership Project; Royal Flying Doctor Service; Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; McDonald Camp Quality Puppets; Neighbourhood Watch; Centenary of Federation medallion certificate; Derby Hill Camp.bendigo, education, golden square primary school

In the late 1800's and early 1900's kitchens were built separate from the main house for safety, as the open fire was used daily for all cooking, washing and heating of water. This very heavy strong fireplace crane could support several items such as cast iron kettles, pans and boilers which were hung on the hinged swing-arm, known as a “crane”. The metal arm was swung out from the fireplace to access the hot water in a kettle relatively safely. A black cast iron fireplace crane with a supporting pole bolted to the wall in the side of the brick open fireplace. It has a swinging handle with a rectangular hand grip at the end to move it over or away from the fire. The metal arm was swung out from the fireplace to access the hot water in a kettle relatively safely. There are holes in the bar for hanging hooks which kitchen cooking pots may be hung. Two small hooks are welded to the bar and there are two small removable hooks and two long ones. architectural elements, fireplaces, fireplace accessories, heating equipment, fireplace crane

The Eureka Swimming Pool is now on the site of the pool depicted. Swimming was first approved on this site at the former Lake Elsworth 1932, before it was transformed into a pool and opened in 1935. The swimming pool was used by the public until it was closed in 1964 due to health and safety concerns.Two colour postcards relating to the Eureka Stockade Reserve. .1) Eureka Pre-Olympic Swimming Pool .2) Eureka Stockade Lily and and Begonia House.eureka stockade, eureka swimming pool, swimming, pool, pre-olympic, lake elsworth

Victorian Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (VIOSH) Australia is the Asia-Pacific centre for teaching and research in occupational health and safety (OHS) and is known as one of Australia's leaders on the field. VIOSH has a global reputation for its innovative approach within the field of OHS management. VIOSH had its first intake of students in 1979. At that time the Institution was known as the Ballarat College of Advanced Education. In 1990 it became known as Ballarat University College, then in 1994 as University of Ballarat. It was 2014 that it became Federation University. VIOSH Australia students are safety managers, senior advisors and experienced OHS professionals. They come from all over Australia and industry. Students are taught active research and enquiry; rather than textbook learning and a one-size fits all approach. VIOSH accepts people into the Graduate Diploma of Occupational Hazard Management who have no undergraduate degree - on the basis of extensive work experience and knowledge. Letter to Jack Barker re Special Research Centres Program from the Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission, ACT. Selection committee and guidelines being established for the selection of Centres. Details will be forwarded when completed. Letter to Derek Woolley from the Office of Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT. Letter thanks him for the invitation to address the students at the Annual Dinner of the Graduate Diploma Course in Occupational Hazard Management, July 1987.Five A4 sheets-typedLetterhead for Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission. Signature of Hugh Hudson; Chairman. Letterhead of Office of Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Parliament House ACT. Signature of Mary McFadden, Personal Secretaryviosh, victorian institute of occupational safety and health, derek woolley, dennis else, commonwealth tertiary education commission, e j barker, special research centres program, hugh hudson, chairman, office of minister for employment and industrial relation, parliament house canberra, mary mcfadden

Victorian Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (VIOSH) Australia is the Asia-Pacific centre for teaching and research in occupational health and safety (OHS) and is known as one of Australia's leaders in the field. VIOSH has a global reputation for its innovative approach within the field of OHS management. VIOSH had its first intake of students in 1979. At that time the Institution was known as the Ballarat College of Advanced Education. In 1990 it became known as Ballarat University College, then in 1994 as University of Ballarat. It was 2014 that it became Federation University. VIOSH Australia students are safety managers, senior advisors and experienced OHS professionals. They come from all over Australia and industry.. Students are taught active research and enquiry; rather than textbook learning and a one-size fits all approach. VIOSH accepts people into the Graduate Diploma of Occupational Hazard Management who have no undergraduate degree - on the basis of extensive work experience and knowledge. Photographs show the BP Depot. The equipment, facilities and signs - labels and warnings - are clearly displayed. During 1996 a course titled "SHARE In-House Noise" was held 14-15 February 1996, 28 February and 27 March 1996 at Wollongong. Twenty people attended - Engineers, Supervisors and MIners. Twenty-three colour photographsSigns and labelsviosh, victorian institute of occupational safety and health, bp depot wollongong, in-house noise, engineers, supervisors, miners, signs, facilities, equipment

Victorian Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (VIOSH) Australia is the Asia-Pacific centre for teaching and research in occupational health and safety (OHS) and is known as one of Australia's leaders in the field. VIOSH has a global reputation for its innovative approach within the field of OHS management. Historical Information Federation University VIOSH Australia students are safety managers, senior advisors and experienced OHS professionals. They come from all over Australia and industry. Students are taught active research and enquiry; rather than textbook learning and a one-size fits all approach. VIOSH accepts people into the Graduate Diploma of Occupational Hazard Management who have no undergraduate degree – on the basis of extensive work experience and knowledge.Brown and gold framed photograph with title and names of students underneath.Framers details verso lls: "Artafact"viosh, viosh australia, victorian institute of occupational safety and health, bill adriaans, stephen andrews, wolf bruckner, thomas buckley, geoffrery butler, mathew camillo, rodney campbell, jean crane, keryn donald, antonio elaisa, paul farmer, joseph grixti, rodney hart, david hol, jane house, filipe kakaivalua, timoci laqai, darrin mackenzie, graham matthews, hitexa maysuria, alan miller, luigi morandin, jeffrey nixon, annette richards, david searle, wayne shrimpton, owen spicer, william thaggard, fiona thomas, hans van hammond, janis veldwyk, suzanne wilson

A Vesta case is a small, portable box / safe to carry matches and came into use around the 1830s and were produced extensively between 1890 and 1920. During this period, almost everyone carried strike anywhere matches, so they could light stoves, lanterns and other devices. Early matches were unreliable and prone to ignite from rubbing on one another or spontaneously. Accordingly, most people carried a match safe / box to house their matches. Wealthy people had match safes made of gold or silver, while common folk had ones made of tin or brass.c1860 A small tin Japanesque vesta case, with a roughened strike plate, to hold matches for lighting fires, lamps, cigarettes or pipes. The tin case has been embossed with a Japanese type bird design on the front and back and then coated with copper and brass to decorate and highlight different parts of the design.Embossed with a Japanese type bird design on the front and back . jewellery, personal effects, craftwork, vesta case, lights, candles, safety matches, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, cheltenham, early settlers, pioneers

A Vesta case is a small, portable box / safe to carry matches that came into use around the 1830s and was produced extensively between 1890 and 1920. During this period, almost everyone carried strike-anywhere matches, so they could light stoves, lanterns and other devices. Early matches were unreliable and prone to ignite from rubbing on one another or spontaneously. Accordingly, most people carried a match safe / box to house their matches. Wealthy people had match safes made of gold or silver, while common folk had ones made of tin or brass.C 1900 A small silver vesta case, with a roughened strike plate, to hold matches for lighting fires, lamps, cigarettes or pipes. The tin case has been embossed with a bird and floral design on the front and back Embossed with bird and floral design on the front and back .jewellery, personal effects, craftwork, vesta case, lights, candles, safety matches, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, cheltenham, early settlers, pioneers

This is an empty Justus Van Maurik cigar box made c1950 by appointment to the House of Lords, London and the cigars were used by George Reed who was a draftsman in City of Moorabbin c1950. c1700 The Dutch East India Company brought spices from South East Asia and tobacco from the New World to Sumatra and Java in Indonesia. 1794 Justus van Maurik Senior established a tobacco factory in the centre of Amsterdam and his son, Justus van Maurik Junior, spread the company’s fame well beyond the borders of (Holland) Netherlands as he travelled the world successfully promoting the family’s tobacco business.Dutch cigars were popular c1950 in the City of Moorabbin and Justus van Maurik Pty Ltd was a quality producer from Amsterdam , Holland (Netherlands) commencing production c1794. George Reed was a draftsman who lived in City of Moorabbin c1950 A plywood hinged cigar box Lid ; JUSTUS VAN MAURIK / BY APPOINTMENT TO / FAMOUS H T/M L SINCE 1754/ THE / HOUSE OF LORDS / IMPERIALES Inside Lid ; as above cigars, justus van maurik pty ltd., holland, amsterdam, netherlands, dutch east india company, redheads safety matches, safety matches, bryant & may pty ltd, early settlers, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, tobacco, reed george, draftsman, architect, moorabbin shire, city of moorabbin, post world war 2 estates

Displayed in History HouseEmpty yellow box with red and black text and designs.Front: - Back: -

Harry Rickards was an English singer and comedian who managed and the bought the Opera House in Bourke Street, Melbourne. At the turn of the century, safety concerns forced the closure and eventual demolition of the Opera House. Rickards died in London on 13 October 1911, and the New Opera House, as well as the Tivoli business, was sold to boxing entrepreneur Hugh D. McIntosh. In 1914, in line with the other venues on the national circuit, the New Opera House was renamed the Tivoli. This program would have been retained as a souvenir of a visit to the Opera House.This item is a souvenir retained as a memento of a theatre event in the late 19th century.A souvenir booklet with a coloured drawing of a man, Harry Rickards, wearing a captain's hat on the left side. Rhis is inside an oval frame decorated with feathers. It is a "Christmas Souvenir of the Opera House 1893".rickards-harry salter-fred-g program-theatre souvenir

She was Ethel Hartley who married John Blake Cleeland and died in 1984.The 1968 "back to" was to commemorate 100 years of settlement on the Island.HistoricalHandwritten 5 page letter to Mr Harris, secretary of PIDHS, re places of interest in Newhaven area and their history. Dated 15/7/1968 and written at Woolamai House, Newhaven. This was for the Back to Phillip Island in 1968.newhaven, mrs ethel cleeland, back to phillip island 1968, cape woolamai granite quarry, maritime safety, navigation light, mr finn stonemason, san remo - newhaven punt, cattle transport, newhaven school, boat building newhaven

The original Briar Hill Timber store was extended down Sherbourne Road in the early 1940s and served as the joinery and machining shop of the Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company. [In 1996, Purdy’s Furniture store, as shown in photo; Purdy's later moved up Sherbourne Road to new premises. In 2025 All Things Safety Wear, a workwear clothing store operates on this site]The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active at the time of the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 14 colour or black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, purdys furniture briar hill

It is believed that the three stone cottages in the area were built c.1930 by Italian stonemasons. This cottage is a single room with open fireplace at one end. A hole was dug in the floor inside which a small drum was sunk and covered by a wooden lid. It served as a cool box for the storage of perishable food. It is not known when the cottage was last occupied but during the 1970s the drum was removed and the pit filled in for safety reasons. Photo shows 6 men standing in front of stone cottage at Heatherlie (Mt Difficult) quarry. Cottage made from sawnand off-cuts of stone with stone window frames and door lintel. Rough bush-pole awning at right hand end of cottage.houses, mt difficult quarry

Gwendoline (Gwenda) Grace Watson Davies, only daughter of Mr. William Watson Davies and Mrs. Grace Davies (nee Hayes) of Arthur Street, Eltham was born in Newport, 18 February 1908. Gwenda grew up in Arthur Street and when she left school she was employed as an officer at the State Bank of Victoria, Chief Accountants Department, Head Office, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. During 1933-1934 in her early to mid-twenties, Gwenda wrote a series of poems which were captured in three books: one a leather bound three-ring binder with personalised gold embossing on the cover and two paper booklets held together by pink ribbon. These poems are a reflection of her childhood days, home, her mother, her environment, pioneering days and other miscellaneous subjects including one example titled “EIGHTEEN YEARS TO-DAY”, an homage to the brave men of Gallipoli. On October 20, 1937 after ten years of service, Gwenda submitted her letter of resignation effective November 26th as she was to be married in the near future to Fred Jones. Frederick Geoffrey Jones, born 7 January 1911, third son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Jones of Napoleon Street, Eltham, married Gwenda at the Eltham Methodist Church on 27 November 1937. They made their home at ‘Llangollen’, Arthur Street, Eltham, a new house Fred had constructed earlier that year opposite the Shire Offices. Their residence was recorded in the Electoral Rolls from 1963-1980 as 6 Arthur Street, Eltham which was situated on the corner of Arthur Street and present-day Commercial Place. In the 1970s their home was sold and demolished to make way for the new shops. They built a new home at the top of the hill in Bible Street. In the Electoral Rolls for 1943-1980, Frederick’s occupation was recorded as a Plumber’s Assistant. Fred was also a long-standing member of the Eltham Cemetery Trust. He was first appointed 26 April 1944 and resigned 17 July 1957 to be appointed to the Warringal and Eltham Joint Trust where he served till February 1980. He then re-joined the Eltham Cemetery Trust and served a further 14 years till his resignation on 24 August 1994. In total, Fred represented the interests of Eltham Cemetery for 50 years (1944-1994). Gwenda and Fred were blessed with a son, Frederick William Jones in March 1942. Sadly, Frederick only lived two days and was buried at Eltham Cemetery on March 11. It is not known whether his grave is marked. A second son, Geoffrey Morris Jones arrived 25 November 1944 but he sadly contracted polio as a child. A fall down the front steps of Fred and Gwenda’s new home in Bible Street culminated in Geoff’s death from a heart attack whilst in transit to the Austin Hospital on February 6, 1979, at age 34. He was also interred in the Eltham Cemetery. Geoff was posthumously awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to fire safety at the CFA. A small man, handicapped from his childhood polio, he had figured prominently in the area as an active Apex member and as group officer for the 13 local brigades in the CFA Lower Yarra Group. His work for the CFA, all voluntary, included writing a fire-fighting manual and the innovation of aerial fire spotting and weekly fire reports. Gwendoline and Fred were presented with Geoff’s B.EM. award at Government House. Four years later on the anniversary of Geoff’s death, Gwenda could not sleep and collapsed in the hallway at home from a heart attack, 6 February 1983 at age 74. She was interred with her son Geoff, at Eltham Cemetery on February 9th. Fred died 31 July 1997 at age 86 and was also interred at Eltham Cemetery. A memorial plaque to Gwenda, Fred and Geoff lies within the lawn cemetery at Eltham Cemetery. In February 2022 Gwenda’s book of Poems along with a copy of her letter of resignation from the State Bank of Victoria and a news clipping about the Autumn Show held in the Public Hall at Eltham (opposite her home with Fred) in which Gwenda is listed as having entered Cream Puffs and a Swiss Roll into the Cooking section, were donated to the St Vincent’s de Paul Society in Bega, N.S.W.. A dedicated volunteer there researched their origins and desirous for these items to return ‘home’, posted them to the Eltham District Historical Society for which we are most appreciative. EIGHTEEN YEARS TO-DAY “Tell me why you’re dreaming, Daddy” Said my little son to me, So, I told him all about it, As he sat upon my knee. I told him of that Sunday morn, ‘Twas eighteen years to-day, When the men of Australasia, Joined the mighty fray. How they landed on that foreign shore, And fought the gallant fight, Of how they nobly won the day, And put the Turks to flight. We saw the cliffs before us, To be scaled ‘mid shot and shell, And our comrades fell around us - - - - I remember it - - - so well. There are some who’ll sleep forever, On a hill that’s called Lone Pine, And the twenty-fifth of April, Is famous for all time. And so to keep their memory green, We march each Anzac Day, To pay tribute to those Heroes, Who gave their lives that day. - Anzac Day 1933 And in reflections to Gwenda’s childhood home in Arthur Street: HOME Where do my thoughts ever wander? Where do my thoughts always roam? To a little old house, on the top of a hill, To the place, that I call “Home Sweet Home.” No matter where-ever I travel, On land, or away on the foam. My thoughts will return, and my heart ever yearn, To the place, that I call “Home Sweet Home”. - 2/7/1933 Sources: Book of Poems, G. Davies Letter of Resignation, 1937, Oct. 20, G.G.W. Davies Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria New House at Eltham (1937, September 10). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 – 1939), p. 6. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56845735 Family Notices (1937, December 17). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 – 1939), p. 3. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56846386 Geoff Jones, Proud Memory, unknown newspaper clipping, 1979 1979 Birthday Honours, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Birthday_Honours Australian Electoral Rolls, Ancestry.com Family Trees, Ancestry.com Eltham Cemetery, Deceased Search findagrave.com Personal recollections, Joan Castledine The poetry by Gwendoline Davies provides an insight into life growing up in Eltham and the early 1930s. A long time resident, Gwendoline, her husband Fred Jones and son Geoff Jones were fully dedicated to the Eltham community for over 50 years.1. Brown leather bound three-ring binder with personalised gold embossing on the cover 20.5 x 14.5 cm, Walkers Loose Leaf Book, pages typed with some pasted in colour illustrations, alphabeticised dividers (some tabs missing), 21 leafs (some blank) 2. Two paper booklets held together by pink ribbon 15.5 x 12 cm, typed, some with colour illustrations, pages numbered (rh only) 12 pages and 25 pages and paper cover 3. Newspaper clipping 4. Letter sized hand written page in ink folded in three and damaged by foxing and insectsanzac day, arthur street, napoleon street, cfa, eltham cemetery, eltham cemetery trust, frederick geoffrey jones, geoffrey morris jones b.e.m., grace davies (nee hayes), gwendoline grace watson jones (nee davies), llangollen, lower yarra group, poems, william watson davies

Fred, Gwenda and Geoff Jones Contents 1. Proud memory; Geoff Jones, Diamond Valley News, 21 Nov 1979 2. Sudden death of 'much loved man', Diamond Valley News, 13 Feb 1979 3. Honor for a community friend, Diamond Valley News, 8 March 1995 (On reverse, 'Diverse program to entice riders' about St Andrews Saddle Club and fgeatures a photo of Debbie Jones) Gwendoline (Gwenda) Grace Watson Davies, only daughter of Mr. William Watson Davies and Mrs. Grace Davies (nee Hayes) of Arthur Street, Eltham was born in Newport, 18 February 1908. Gwenda grew up in Arthur Street and when she left school she was employed as an officer at the State Bank of Victoria, Chief Accountants Department, Head Office, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. On October 20, 1937 after ten years of service, Gwenda submitted her letter of resignation effective November 26th as she was to be married in the near future to Fred Jones. Frederick Geoffrey Jones, born 7 January 1911, third son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Jones of Napoleon Street, Eltham, married Gwenda at the Eltham Methodist Church on 27 November 1937. They made their home at ‘Llangollen’, Arthur Street, Eltham, a new house Fred had constructed earlier that year opposite the Shire Offices. Their residence was recorded in the Electoral Rolls from 1963-1980 as 6 Arthur Street, Eltham which was situated on the corner of Arthur Street and present-day Commercial Place. In the 1970s their home was sold and demolished to make way for the new shops. They built a new home at the top of the hill in Bible Street. In the Electoral Rolls for 1943-1980, Frederick’s occupation was recorded as a Plumber’s Assistant. Fred was also a long-standing member of the Eltham Cemetery Trust. He was first appointed 26 April 1944 and resigned 17 July 1957 to be appointed to the Warringal and Eltham Joint Trust where he served till February 1980. He then re-joined the Eltham Cemetery Trust and served a further 14 years till his resignation on 24 August 1994. In total, Fred represented the interests of Eltham Cemetery for 50 years (1944-1994). Gwenda and Fred were blessed with a son, Frederick William Jones in March 1942. Sadly, Frederick only lived two days and was buried at Eltham Cemetery on March 11. It is not known whether his grave is marked. A second son, Geoffrey Morris Jones arrived 25 November 1944 but he sadly contracted polio as a child. A fall down the front steps of Fred and Gwenda’s new home in Bible Street culminated in Geoff’s death from a heart attack whilst in transit to the Austin Hospital on February 6, 1979, at age 34. He was also interred in the Eltham Cemetery. Geoff was posthumously awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to fire safety at the CFA. A small man, handicapped from his childhood polio, he had figured prominently in the area as an active Apex member and as group officer for the 13 local brigades in the CFA Lower Yarra Group. His work for the CFA, all voluntary, included writing a fire-fighting manual and the innovation of aerial fire spotting and weekly fire reports. Gwendoline and Fred were presented with Geoff’s B.EM. award at Government House. Four years later on the anniversary of Geoff’s death, Gwenda could not sleep and collapsed in the hallway at home from a heart attack, 6 February 1983 at age 74. She was interred with her son Geoff, at Eltham Cemetery on February 9th. Fred died 31 July 1997 at age 86 and was also interred at Eltham Cemetery. A memorial plaque to Gwenda, Fred and Geoff lies within the lawn cemetery at Eltham Cemetery.Newsprint clippingscfa, eltham cemetery, eltham cemetery trust, frederick geoffrey jones, geoffrey morris jones b.e.m., gwendoline grace watson jones (nee davies), lower yarra group, debbie jones, st andrews saddle club

Murray's Bridge over the Diamond Creek on the Diamond Creek Trail just prior to demolition and replacement with a new steel bridge. Heritage advice obtained by Nillumbik Shire Council, following a suggestion by the Eltham District Historical Society (EDHS), is that the original bridge appears to have been a simplified version of the Country Roads Board’s (CRB) standard timber bridge design of the early-to-mid 1920s. In c1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with three recycled steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. During these alterations many parts of the bridge were removed, and some were replaced. Heritage advice indicates the condition of Murray’s bridge is poor. The remaining original parts are all in poor condition, with severe weathering, splitting and rot, especially to the stringers retained on the bridge. Heritage advice is that Murray’s Bridge does not have sufficient significance in the cultural history of the Nillumbik area to warrant inclusion in the Nillumbik Shire Heritage Overlay and also does not have sufficient significance as a rare survivor to warrant inclusion in the Nillumbik Shire Heritage Overlay. There are no indications in the historical record that this site was individually important to the cultural history of this area. EDHS is comfortable with the heritage advice provided to Council and has worked closely on this project with Council. EDHS has suggested some of the removed timbers be used in the vicinity of the bridge for landscaping and possibly seating, so as to retain these remnants close to the site of the original bridge, which is the last old timber bridge along the lower reaches of the Diamond Creek. Mary (Sweeney) Murray and John Wright Murray selected 80 acres, Lot C Section 16 and Lot 5 Section 17 Parish of Nillumbik, under an occupation license in 1866. John died in 1867 and freehold was granted to his son John in 1873. The farm was known as ‘Laurel Hill’. John Junior was an Eltham Shire councillor and sometime president from 1887 up until 1897. He added Lot A Section 16 to the farm in ca1888. John and his younger brother James arranged to rent/purchase Lot B Section 17, across Diamond Creek to the west, in ca1900. It appears that John and James farmed separately for a few years, with a new homestead built for James ad family on the high point of Lot B Section 17 in ca1910. John sold off Lot 5 Section 17 in 1912. When John died in 1912 James took over the land on both sides of the Diamond Creek. The old homestead on the west side of the Creek disappeared. A farm bridge over Diamond Creek from this period may have been located close to the northern boundary of the farm. John Langlands, owner of the farm known as ‘Ihurst’ on the west side of Diamond Creek to the south of the Murray’s land, died in 1907. In 1909 his land was then subdivided into 100 lots to become the ‘Glen Park Estate’. Other similar subdivisions of nineteenth century farms around Eltham in this period included the ‘Franktonia (or Beard’s) Estate’ to the northeast and ‘Bonsack’s Estate’ between Eltham and Greensborough. Soon after the opening of the railway extension line from Eltham to Hurstbridge in 1912, Glen Park and nearby residents including James Murray agitated for a railway station or siding to be located half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge, so that the Glen Park residents who used the railway daily did not have to walk into the Eltham or Hurstbridge stations. Some believed Coleman’s Corner (opposite Edendale Farm) was an appropriate spot for the platform. James Murray was among those who thought the railway should be located on his land, closer to half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge stations. The Railways Commissioners warned that the locals would have to fund these works themselves. The Glen Park Estate residents initially had difficulty accessing Eltham by road, with only an old low-level bridge over Diamond Creek at the south end of their estate. A new timber trestle bridge across the creek, now on Wattletree Road, was opened in 1915. Road access to the north was gained in 1927 when the new Murray’s Road, which crossed the Murray’s land, was built. Residents continued to agitate for a Glen Park station. By 1926 the Railways Commissioners’ preferred site was on the Murray’s land. They arranged an estimate of cost of a full-length platform. The estimate was too much for the locals, who in 1928 argued unsuccessfully for a shorter and hence cheaper platform. By 1929 Murray had agreed to donate the land, but the locals would still have to fund the works. Murray decided, unilaterally it would appear, to commence work on a timber trestle road bridge over Diamond Creek to link the new Murray Road to the proposed station. Late in 1929 he stopped work on the bridge, for reasons unknown, but started work again and completed the bridge in 1931. There is no further newspaper evidence of the campaign for the Glen Park station until 1939, when Murray and another local, Mr Maxwell, met the Railways Commissioner. The Glen Park locale now included 45 homes on the west side of the creek and 20 on the Eltham side. Most of the residents used the train every day. The Commissioner remained adamant that only a full-length platform could be built for safety reasons. It appears the campaign dissolved at this point. The increasing move to cars may have had an impact. There is no evidence of Murray’s bridge ever being connected to Murray’s Road, or of it having wide use for any purpose by locals. James Murray died in 1947 and the farm was taken over by his son James (Jim). Jim started to sell off parts of the farm in the 1980s, retaining a few acres around the ca1910 homestead and building a new house there. Recreation reserves were established along the creek. In ca1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. The old farmhouse was demolished in ca2014. * * * A theory posted on local community Facebook groups was that the bridge was built in the 1860s and was built to be more robust than was necessary for the movement of cows from one side of the creek to the other. It was suggested the robustness was necessary to support the weight of gold ore being transferred from a mine on Murray’s land to a railway siding near Murrays Bridge (presumably for transfer and processing at Diamond Creek). Perhaps this may have been one of the motivators for Murray, who really knows? Knowing when mining operations ceased on his land and how that fits the overall timeline would be useful but at the time the bridge was built, local gold production was minimal at best. The known facts are: • The railway line came to Eltham in 1902. • The extension of the railway from Eltham to Hurstbridge was constructed in 1912 so no railway line even existed through Murray's property until 1912 and the Victorian Railways maps at the time show no such siding on Murray’s property. • In 1923 a new company was formed in anticipation of the old Diamond Creek Gold Mine being re-opened. The mine had been previously closed and flooded. It was noted in the press at the time that the mine was within a mile of the railway. Nothing really came of this. • Construction of Murrays Bridge was commenced by James Murray in early 1929 in anticipation of a proposed flag station being nominated on his land, but work ceased shortly afterwards. The proposed flag station was commonly referred to as Glen Park as the residents of the Glen Park Estate wanted Option 1, located near them with the platform adjacent to Colemans corner. This was probably never going to fly as it was virtually in eyesight of Eltham station. Allandale Road was the third option, but the Commissioners' preferred option was No. 2 - on Murray's property. • The Railway Commissioners were not going to finance any such station and the works had to be funded by private landowners and residents, hence Murray investing in this himself. • Murray recommenced work two years later and finished his bridge in 1931 but unfortunately for him, the proposed flag station never eventuated. The bluestone siding you reference may well have been built by Murray as part of the proposed station platform. • Up until then, apart from the Main Road bridge, which was washed away in 1924, virtually all local crossings over the Diamond Creek were low lying bridges – Kaylocks Bridge at Brougham Street, Diamond Street bridge, Glen Park Road bridge. It is expected that Murray also had a low-lying bridge to connect his land either side of the creek. These were all washed away or severely damaged multiple times in the 1920s. Lessons were learnt, and Murrays Bridge appears to have been built in accordance with Country Road Board standards of the time. Flood damage was ongoing, and even more recently constructed raised bridges kept getting washed away, e.g., the new Wattle Tree Road bridge in 1958 just months after completion. Murray’s bridge was reinforced with steel some 30 years ago presumably to provide additional floodwater resistance, given the history of bridges disappearing in floodwaters. • In March 1932 it was reported in the Advertiser that there were still some prospectors operating around Eltham North who apart from further scarring the face of the earth over the previous two years had gained significant experience but little gold - hardly a driving factor for constructing a dedicated railway siding and bridge to transfer gold ore. It is far more probable that James Murray was hoping to have the railway station located on his property and invested his money by building the bridge to lead to it as well as a station platform. Had the station eventuated, it may well have driven up the value of his land for subdivision and new housing estates like the Glen Park Estate. That did not eventuate. Whilst the bridge was indeed old (90 years), the core structure being completed in 1931, it had been modified substantially from original and hence had no significant historic value – i.e., it was not a representative example of its type, construction, and age. Given that the bridge was not worthy of saving, the Eltham District Historical Society with Council’s support, and the Eltham Woodworkers group endeavoured to see what suitable sized timbers were salvageable to fabricate a commemorative seat. Unfortunately, the experts at the Woodworkers group were unable to salvage any suitable length/width timbers to fabricate the seat due to the presence of rot. Last remaining wooden trestle bridge on the Diamond Creek Trail just prior to demolition and replacementBorn digital image (27)diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, murrays bridge, ‘laurel hill’, john wright murray, mary (sweeney) murra, john murray jnr, james murray, john langlands, ‘ihurst’, ‘glen park estate’, beard's estate, franktonia, bonsack's estate, glen park estate, glen park railway station