The Shire of Eltham was formed in 1871. As a result of the Kennett Government drive for Council amlagamation, the Shire of Eltham ceased to exist on 15 December 1994 and the new Shire of Nillumbik was established. At a function held in the Eltham Community Centre Walter Withers Room, Councillors and Council Officers were presented with a framed Acknowledgement of Service to the Shire and local community.celebrations, council amalgamation, eltham community centre, shire of eltham, 1994-10, eltham shire president, cr. robert marshall, batch 275, cr. bill penrose

Rededication of Memorial Tower on its 75th anniversary to those who served in Armed Conflicts between 1948 and 1972. Harry Gillham, President of the Eltham District Historical Society and Convenor of the Nillumbik Shire Council's Advisory Committee for the War Memorial at Kangaroo Ground was for some years working on the refurbishment of the Shire of Eltham War memorial tower of rememberance and the surrounding Memorial Park. The Committee arranged to produce plaques to commemorate the armed conflicts in Korea, Malaysia, Borneo and Vietnam. The plaques were funded by public donations and cost $10,000. The community donated via donation boxes placed at Eltham Library. NL 140 Sept 2001 Governor John landy and other digniaries attended the event for the unveiling of the plaque. Governor Landy unveiled the plaque which was attached to the historical tower in November 2001.75th anniversary, dean stewart, dedication, dennis ward, governor of victoria, harry gilham, john landy, kangaroo ground, mick woiwod, rededication ceremony, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, shire of eltham war memorial tower, sigmund jorgensen, war memorial tower, fran bailey mp, des burgess, jim wandin, cr. penny mullinar, cr. phillip hughes, cr. bill penrose, nillumbik shire council, rsl - diamond valley veterans, victorian police, australian army, country fire authority, cfa, salvation army, army church, kangaroo ground primary school, kangaroo ground tower committee, nicholas pelling, catherine dale (nsc ceo)

L-R: Cr. John Graves (Shire president), Cr. Jim Connor, Cr. Bill Penrose, Cr. Mary Grant, Rodney Roschellor (CEO), Cr. Bob Manuell (hidden), Cr. Robert Marshall, Cr. David Essex, Cr. Pamela Sladden, Cr. Peter Graham The Shire of Eltham was formed in 1871. As a result of the Kennett Government drive for Council amlagamation, the Shire of Eltham ceased to exist on 15 December 1994 and the new Shire of Nillumbik was established. At a function held in the Eltham Community Centre Walter Withers Room, Councillors and Council Officers were presented with a framed Acknowledgement of Service to the Shire and local community.celebrations, council amalgamation, eltham community centre, shire of eltham, 1994-10, batch 212, cr. john graves, cr. bob manuell, cr. david essex, cr. jim connor, cr. mary grant, cr. pamela sladden, cr. peter graham, cr. robert marshall, cr. bill penrose, rodney roschellor

In 1919 J.B. North, a violinist with the then Melbourne Symphonic Orchestra, and Monsieur Leon Lambert, a French architect, who later designed the Glaciarium Ice Skating Rink, purchased three available farms, Looker's, Wright's and Taylor's, approximately 60 acres, the area running along the creek and being bordered by the present day Ryans Road, Karingal Drive and Sherbourne Road. The farms were used for orchards and market gardens. Leon Lambert designed and built two homes on the farm site, one for the North family, ‘Tralford’, and the other, ‘Glen Ellen’, for himself and his wife. The homes were considered as "brother and sister" and they each included in their design an identical bay window in the main living area. "Glen Ellen" originally comprised kitchen, lounge room, inglenook, dining room, bath room and sleepout. Although the home has been extended over the years, much of the original architecture has been retained including timber panelling and three fireplaces. The land was subdivided in approximately 1966 with "Glen Ellen" retaining approximately one half acre of land fronting Meruka Drive. The property then passed from the Charleston family to Gerald and Margaret Sutton in 1976 and again was sold in 1980 and lastly sold again in 1994. The Norths named their house 'Tralford'. According to Marjorie North, the name Meruka was suggested by Alan Gardner and so was apparently not used by the North family. The name appears to be of Indian origin and its connection with the land is not known. ‘Tralford’ stayed in the North family for many years. Eltham Council acquired the house to create Meruka Park. The house was used for some years by the Council as a community arts facility and as emergency accommodation. It fell into disrepair and was demolished about 1990. The Meruka Child Care Centre has been built on the site and incorporates some of the architectural features of the old house. The Co-op was opened in April 1994. The original drive flanked by large old cypress trees remains. These trees are considered to be of local heritage significance and for this reason Meruka Park is covered by a Heritage Overlay under the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Part of the park has been preserved as habitat for rare local flora. LL's house, named ‘Glen Ellen’, remains in a well-preserved state and fronts Meruka Drive.eltham, meruka child care co-operative, meruka house, meruka park, cr. peter graham, peter staples, richard allen, sheryl garbutt, bill penrose

L-R: Cr. John Graves (Shire president), Cr. Jim Connor, Cr. Bil Penrose, Cr. Mary Grant, Rodney Roschellor (CEO), Cr. Bob Manuell (hidden), Cr. Robert Marshall, Cr. David Essexz, Cr. Pamela Sladden, Cr. Peter Graham The Shire of Eltham was formed in 1871. As a result of the Kennett Government drive for Council amlagamation, the Shire of Eltham ceased to exist on 15 December 1994 and the new Shire of Nillumbik was established. At a function held in the Eltham Community Centre Walter Withers Room, Councillors and Council Officers were presented with a framed Acknowledgement of Service to the Shire and local community.celebrations, council amalgamation, eltham community centre, shire of eltham, 1994-10, batch 212, cr. john graves, cr. bob manuell, cr. david essex, cr. jim connor, cr. mary grant, cr. pamela sladden, cr. peter graham, cr. robert marshall, cr. bill penrose, rodney roschellor

L-R: Rodney Roschellor (CEO), Cr. John Graves (Shire president), Cr. Bil Penrose, Cr. Jim Connor, Cr. Mary Grant, Cr. Bob Manuell, Cr. David Essex. Not visible - Cr. Robert Marshall, Cr. Pamela Sladden, Cr. Peter Graham The Shire of Eltham was formed in 1871. As a result of the Kennett Government drive for Council amlagamation, the Shire of Eltham ceased to exist on 15 December 1994 and the new Shire of Nillumbik was established. At a function held in the Eltham Community Centre Walter Withers Room, Councillors and Council Officers were presented with a framed Acknowledgement of Service to the Shire and local community.celebrations, council amalgamation, eltham community centre, shire of eltham, 1994-10, cr. john graves, cr. bob manuell, cr. david essex, cr. jim connor, cr. mary grant, cr. pamela sladden, cr. peter graham, cr. robert marshall, cr. bill penrose, rodney roschellor

L-R: Cr. Robert Marshall, Cr. David Essexz, Cr. Jim Connor, Cr. Mary Grant, Cr. John Graves (Shire president), Cr. Bob Manuell, Cr. Pamela Sladden, Cr. Bil Penrose, Cr. Peter Graham The Shire of Eltham was formed in 1871. As a result of the Kennett Government drive for Council amlagamation, the Shire of Eltham ceased to exist on 15 December 1994 and the new Shire of Nillumbik was established. At a function held in the Eltham Community Centre Walter Withers Room, Councillors and Council Officers were presented with a framed Acknowledgement of Service to the Shire and local community.celebrations, council amalgamation, eltham community centre, shire of eltham, 1994-10, batch 212, cr. john graves, cr. bob manuell, cr. david essex, cr. jim connor, cr. mary grant, cr. pamela sladden, cr. peter graham, cr. robert marshall, cr. bill penrose

L-R: Cr. Robert Marshall, Cr. David Essexz, Cr. Jim Connor, Cr. Mary Grant, Cr. John Graves (Shire president), Cr. Bob Manuell, Cr. Pamela Sladden, Cr. Bil Penrose, Cr. Peter Graham The Shire of Eltham was formed in 1871. As a result of the Kennett Government drive for Council amlagamation, the Shire of Eltham ceased to exist on 15 December 1994 and the new Shire of Nillumbik was established. At a function held in the Eltham Community Centre Walter Withers Room, Councillors and Council Officers were presented with a framed Acknowledgement of Service to the Shire and local community.celebrations, council amalgamation, eltham community centre, shire of eltham, 1994-10, cr. john graves, cr. bob manuell, cr. david essex, cr. jim connor, cr. mary grant, cr. pamela sladden, cr. peter graham, cr. robert marshall, cr. bill penrose, batch 275

The first photos of the floodlit Tower by Eltham High School student, Evan Taylor. Mayor Cr. Bill Penrose officiated. (Contained in an album originally put together by Harry Gilham. Photos subsequently relocated to photosafe archival storage.) [2001]Colour photographkangaroo ground, war memorial tower