The original Shire of Eltham was founded in 1871. Prior to its founding, the district was managed by the Eltham District Road Board, which was established in 1856. The initial rate assessment commenced in 1857 for the year ending October 14, 1858. The honour of being recorded with the first assessment went to a farm of 110 cultivated acres at Lower Plenty, owned by John Porter and occupied by Albert Baines. It was assessed at 6d/acre providing for a rate income of £2 15s. In July 2017, officers at Nillumbik Shire Council discovered some early Eltham Road District Assessment books and donated them to the Eltham District Historical Society. The seven volumes were the district’s first six years of rate assessments. This was a unique and significant record of early settlers in the pre-Shire of Eltham. They immediately became one of the oldest and most valuable items in our collection. An article on page 5 in the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser, Friday, 21 November, 1941 titled: ‘District’s Early History‘ states: “The first rate book which is still in existence at the Shire Office is for the year ending October 14, 1858 and is probably the best record possible to indicate the development of the district. At the time properties were rated as follows: Cultivated land. 6d. per acre; pasture land, 1d. per acre: estimated annual value of buildings, etc., 6d in the (pound). The total amount of rate recorded for the year was £153/14/8. Properties were described as being situated at Lower Plenty, Yarra Yarra, Eltham, Lower Eltham, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Flats, Diamond Creek and the Yarra.” Given the precious nature of this collection, priority was given to digitise the rate books and place them in suitable archival storage to minimise further handling. Subsequent discussion amongst our Collections team arrived at the conclusion that the most appropriate home for this valuable record was the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV), the archive of the State Government of Victoria and who are charged with archiving and caring for all Government related records. An approach was made to PROV who confirmed these records would complete their collection of rate assessment books for Eltham. At a small ceremony held Friday, April 20 at the Local History Centre, Eltham, members of the Society and our Collections team, along with Ms. Vicki Ward, MP for Eltham, presented the seven volumes for 1858-1863 along with the complete set of digital files to Mr. David Taylor, Community Archives Manager and Mr. Charlie Farrugia, Senior Collection Advisor, Public Record Office Victoria.Born Digitalassessment ledger, donation, eltham courthouse, eltham road district, local history centre, public records office victoria (prov), rate books, eltham district road board

The Eltham Roads Board was established in 1856. This is a unique significant record of early settlers in the Shire of Eltham. One of 6 early rate books. This is among the oldest items in the EDHS collection. An article in the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser Friday 21 Nov 1941 Page 5 titled: District's Early History states: "The first rate book which is still in existence at the Shire Office is for the year ending October 14, 1858 and is probably the best record possible to indicate the development of the district. At the time properties were rated as follows: Cultivated land. 6d. per acre; pasture land, 1d. per acre: estimated annual value of buildings, etc., 6d in the (pound). The total amount of rate recorded for the year was (pounds)153/14/8. Properties were described as being situated at Lower Plenty, Yarra Yarra, Eltham, Lower Eltham, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Flats, Diamond Creek and the Yarra."Ledger with printed columns: Number, Name of Occupier, Description, Where situated, Cultivated land, Pasture land, Estimated annual value of buildings, Rate, Remarks. Ledger filled out by hand with 152 entries (not alphabetically arranged). A number of blank pages are included. Copy re-bound in green hard leather look card by Arnall & Jackson Pty Ltd Brunswick, 1968 Inside cover includes a compliments slip taped to the cover from Arnall & Jackson Pty Ltd. with handwritten inscription: "Ian, I hope the hysterical society doesn't get historical about this". Organised 1968 I. Maynard Inside cover includes pasted printed note: RATE OF ASSESSMENT AS FOLLOWS: Cultivated land 6d per acre Pasture land 1 per acre Estimated Annual Value of Buildings, &c., 6d. in the Pound eltham roads board, rate book, rate payers, transaction, pioneers, settlers, 1858, assessment ledger, eltham road district, public records office victoria (prov), rate books, shire of eltham archives

The Eltham Roads Board was established in 1856. This ledger includes the signature of Road Board Secretary and Collector Wingrove, a significant person in Eltham's early history. This is a unique significant record of early settlers in the Shire of Eltham. One of 6 early rate books. This is among the oldest items in the EDHS collection. An article in the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser Friday 21 Nov 1941 Page 5 titled: District's Early History states: "The first rate book which is still in existence at the Shire Office is for the year ending October 14, 1858 and is probably the best record possible to indicate the development of the district. At the time properties were rated as follows: Cultivated land. 6d. per acre; pasture land, 1d. per acre: estimated annual value of buildings, etc., 6d in the (pound). The total amount of rate recorded for the year was (pounds)153/14/8. Properties were described as being situated at Lower Plenty, Yarra Yarra, Eltham, Lower Eltham, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Flats, Diamond Creek and the Yarra."Ledger with printed columns: Number, Name of Occupier, Description, Where situated, Cultivated land, Pasture land, Estimated annual value of buildings, Rate, Remarks, Arrears collected, excused, unoccupied, uncollected and amount actually collected. Ledger filled out by hand with 173 entries (not alphabetically arranged). A number of blank pages are included. Inside cover includes pasted printed note: RATE OF ASSESSMENT AS FOLLOWS: Cultivated land 6d per acre Pasture land 2d per acre Unalienated Pasture Land 8d per Acre Estimated Annual Value of Buildings, &c., 6d. in the Pound eltham roads board, rate book, rate payers, transaction, pioneers, settlers, wingrove, 1859, assessment ledger, eltham road district, public records office victoria (prov), rate books, shire of eltham archives

The Eltham Roads Board was established in 1856. This is a unique significant record of early settlers in the Shire of Eltham. One of 6 early rate books. This is among the oldest items in the EDHS collection. An article in the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser Friday 21 Nov 1941 Page 5 titled: District's Early History states: "The first rate book which is still in existence at the Shire Office is for the year ending October 14, 1858 and is probably the best record possible to indicate the development of the district. At the time properties were rated as follows: Cultivated land. 6d. per acre; pasture land, 1d. per acre: estimated annual value of buildings, etc., 6d in the (pound). The total amount of rate recorded for the year was (pounds)153/14/8. Properties were described as being situated at Lower Plenty, Yarra Yarra, Eltham, Lower Eltham, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Flats, Diamond Creek and the Yarra."Ledger with printed columns: Number, Name of Occupier, Description, Where situated, Cultivated land, Pasture land, Estimated annual value of buildings, Rate, Remarks, Arrears collected, excused, unoccupied, uncollected and amount actually collected. Ledger filled out by hand with 177 entries (not alphabetically arranged). A number of blank pages are included. Inside cover includes pasted printed note: RATE OF ASSESSMENT AS FOLLOWS: Cultivated land 6d per acre Pasture land 2d per acre Unalienated Pasture Land 8d per Acre Estimated Annual Value of Buildings, &c., 6d. in the Pound eltham roads board, rate book, rate payers, transaction, pioneers, settlers, wingrove, 1860, assessment ledger, eltham road district, public records office victoria (prov), rate books, shire of eltham archives

The Eltham Roads Board was established in 1856. This is a unique significant record of early settlers in the Shire of Eltham. One of 6 early rate books. This is among the oldest items in the EDHS collection. An article in the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser Friday 21 Nov 1941 Page 5 titled: District's Early History states: "The first rate book which is still in existence at the Shire Office is for the year ending October 14, 1858 and is probably the best record possible to indicate the development of the district. At the time properties were rated as follows: Cultivated land. 6d. per acre; pasture land, 1d. per acre: estimated annual value of buildings, etc., 6d in the (pound). The total amount of rate recorded for the year was (pounds)153/14/8. Properties were described as being situated at Lower Plenty, Yarra Yarra, Eltham, Lower Eltham, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Flats, Diamond Creek and the Yarra."Ledger with printed columns: Number, Name of Occupier, Description, Where situated, Cultivated land, Pasture land, Estimated annual value of buildings, Rate, Remarks, Arrears collected, excused, unoccupied, uncollected and amount actually collected. Ledger filled out by hand with 177 entries (not alphabetically arranged). A number of blank pages are included. This version was slight changes to version one. Inside cover includes pasted printed note: RATE OF ASSESSMENT AS FOLLOWS: Cultivated land 6d per acre Pasture land 2d per acre Unalienated Pasture Land 8d per Acre Estimated Annual Value of Buildings, &c., 6d. in the Pound eltham roads board, rate book, rate payers, transaction, pioneers, settlers, 1860, assessment ledger, eltham road district, public records office victoria (prov), rate books, shire of eltham archives

The Eltham Roads Board was established in 1856. This is a unique significant record of early settlers in the Shire of Eltham. One of 6 early rate books. This is among the oldest items in the EDHS collection. An article in the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser Friday 21 Nov 1941 Page 5 titled: District's Early History states: "The first rate book which is still in existence at the Shire Office is for the year ending October 14, 1858 and is probably the best record possible to indicate the development of the district. At the time properties were rated as follows: Cultivated land. 6d. per acre; pasture land, 1d. per acre: estimated annual value of buildings, etc., 6d in the (pound). The total amount of rate recorded for the year was (pounds)153/14/8. Properties were described as being situated at Lower Plenty, Yarra Yarra, Eltham, Lower Eltham, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Flats, Diamond Creek and the Yarra."Ledger with printed columns: Number, Name of Occupier, Description, Where situated, Cultivated land, Pasture land, Estimated annual value of buildings, Rate, Remarks, Arrears collected, excused, unoccupied, uncollected and amount actually collected. Ledger filled out by hand with 185 entries (not alphabetically arranged) and summary section. A number of blank pages are included. Inside cover includes pasted printed note: RATE OF ASSESSMENT AS FOLLOWS: Cultivated land 6d per acre Pasture land 2d per acre Unalienated Pasture Land 8d per Acre Estimated Annual Value of Buildings, &c., 6d. in the Pound eltham roads board, rate book, rate payers, transaction, pioneers, settlers, 1861, assessment ledger, eltham road district, public records office victoria (prov), rate books, shire of eltham archives

The Eltham Roads Board was established in 1856. This is a unique significant record of early settlers in the Shire of Eltham. One of 6 early rate books. This is among the oldest items in the EDHS collection. An article in the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser Friday 21 Nov 1941 Page 5 titled: District's Early History states: "The first rate book which is still in existence at the Shire Office is for the year ending October 14, 1858 and is probably the best record possible to indicate the development of the district. At the time properties were rated as follows: Cultivated land. 6d. per acre; pasture land, 1d. per acre: estimated annual value of buildings, etc., 6d in the (pound). The total amount of rate recorded for the year was (pounds)153/14/8. Properties were described as being situated at Lower Plenty, Yarra Yarra, Eltham, Lower Eltham, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Flats, Diamond Creek and the Yarra."Ledger with printed columns: Number, Name of Occupier, Description, Where situated, Cultivated land, Pasture land, Estimated annual value of buildings, Rate, Remarks, Arrears collected, excused, unoccupied, uncollected and amount actually collected. Ledger filled out by hand with 184 entries (not alphabetically arranged) and summary section. A number of blank pages are included. Inside cover includes pasted printed note: RATE OF ASSESSMENT AS FOLLOWS: Cultivated land 6d per acre Pasture land 1/2d per acre Unalienated Pasture Land 1/28 per Acre Estimated Annual Value of Buildings, &c., 6d. in the Pound eltham roads board, rate book, rate payers, transaction, pioneers, settlers, 1862, assessment ledger, eltham road district, public records office victoria (prov), rate books, shire of eltham archives

The Eltham Roads Board was established in 1856. This is a unique significant record of early settlers in the Shire of Eltham. One of 6 early rate books. This is among the oldest items in the EDHS collection. An article in the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser Friday 21 Nov 1941 Page 5 titled: District's Early History states: "The first rate book which is still in existence at the Shire Office is for the year ending October 14, 1858 and is probably the best record possible to indicate the development of the district. At the time properties were rated as follows: Cultivated land. 6d. per acre; pasture land, 1d. per acre: estimated annual value of buildings, etc., 6d in the (pound). The total amount of rate recorded for the year was (pounds)153/14/8. Properties were described as being situated at Lower Plenty, Yarra Yarra, Eltham, Lower Eltham, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Flats, Diamond Creek and the Yarra."Ledger with printed columns: Number, Name of Occupier, Description, Where situated, Cultivated land, Pasture land, Estimated annual value of buildings, Rate, Remarks, Arrears collected, excused, unoccupied, uncollected and amount actually collected. Ledger filled out by hand with 181 entries (not alphabetically arranged) and summary section. A number of blank pages are included. Inside cover includes pasted printed note: RATE OF ASSESSMENT AS FOLLOWS: Cultivated land 6d per acre Pasture land 1/2d per acre Unalienated Pasture Land 1/28 per Acre Estimated Annual Value of Buildings, &c., 6d. in the Pound eltham roads board, rate book, rate payers, transaction, pioneers, settlers, 1863, assessment ledger, eltham road district, public records office victoria (prov), rate books, shire of eltham archives