Formerly Burges Blue Gum Cafe being demolished, cnr Pryor Street and Main Road, Eltham, Sept. 1960. A new two story brick building was erected on site approximately 1961 for Mr Millet - visible in 1962 aerial photos Film poster is advertising The Blob (1958) and "I married a monster from outer space" (1958) which both appear to have been screened in Australia in 1960 and 1961 1922 Originally opened in October 1922 by Miss Barber, it was known as the Blue Gum Soda Fountain. It was named after a prominent Bluegum which stood on the property. 1928 It was taken over by W. Jim Burges in 1928 and by 1929 was known as the Blue Gum Café but also as the Blue Gum Tea Rooms from around August 1931. 1935 In August 1935 Jim Burges sold the Blue Gum Café to Mr and Mrs L.H. Herring of Kallista. The Herrings maintained the name Blue Gum Café 1938 In July 1938 the Herrings sold the business as the Eltham Confectionary And Soda Fountain to Misses Robinson and Pringle effective from August 1st. 1939 In April 1939, Misses Robinson and Pringle sold the Eltham Confectionary And Soda Fountain to Mr Herbert Eugene Borner and Miss Edith Florance Borner, (brother and older sister), formerly of Yarra Glen and it became known as H.E. Borner’s Shop. It is not known when the Borners sold the shop. Both were recorded there in the 1949 Electoral Roll. However, it is noted that Herbert Borner of Blackburn, late of Eltham, died as a result of an accident in August 1952. Sister Edith married railway employee John Stephens in in 1962. She died December 1978. So it is most likely they sold it possibly sometime between 1950 and 1951. 1950 The ownership between 1950 and 1954 is unknown but at some time during that period, the business was acquired by John Henry Millett and his wife, Esther. In 1949 they are listed in Footscray North and are recorded in the 1954 Electoral Roll as shopkeeper, Main Road, Eltham. It is possible they purchased it from the Borners between 1950 and 1951. It was advertised in the 1955 Easter Gymkhana Program as The Blue Gum, J. Millet, Proprietor. c. Aug. 1960 OLD LANDMARK GOES EDHS_05531 ELTHAM’S GROWTH HAS BEEN RAPID IN RECENT YEARS Possibly Diamond Valley News c.August 1960 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. Sep. 1960 The original store was demolished in September 1960 to make way for a new two-story brick building which became known as Millett’s Foodland. Aerial imagery shows that this was erected by 1962. 1968-1985 The name Blue Gum did not disappear but was reincarnated a few doors up some years later as the Blue Gum Milk Bar at 1006 Main Road (present-day Vyve Beauty & Wellness building on the northern side of Pryor Street one premises up from Westpac bank) “As a lifelong resident of the Diamond Valley, Ian Chesser (Chess) is a well-known face within the local community due to his involvement with numerous sporting clubs, and for being the “kid from the Blue Gum Milk Bar” many years ago” “From the time he was a child, Ian would assist his parents Graeme and Shirley at the Blue Gum Milk Bar working behind the counter.” "Ian Chesser - Barry Plant - Eltham." realcommercial.com.au https://www.realcommercial.com.au/agent/ian-chesser-1704490 Accessed 18 Nov. 2025. - Research by Peter Pidgeon, EDHS, May 2026Colour photograph copy of originalColour photograph copy of original. Possibly donated by Peter Bassett-Smith, noted as Sept 19601960, blue gum milk bar (eltham), butcher, coca cola, eltham shopping centre, eltham shops, estate agency, fire, four n twenty, i married a monster from outer space (film 1958), main road eltham, milk bar, noon pies, peters ice cream, pryor street, staffs general store, summer, the blob (film 1958), eltham, shops, blue gum café, blue gum milk bar, blue gum soda fountain

Hughes Fruit Shop and Milk Bar, Main Road, Eltham, c.1949 promoting Peters Ice Cream Immediately to the right of the shop is a bootmaker factory that employed 15 people. It was situated on the corner of Pryor Street and is the site of the present-day Westpac Bank. Pryor Street is an unmade road. To the left of the shop are four vacant blocks stretching to Luck Street where Mr and Mrs Britton had a house. On the other side of Pryor Street is the original Blue Gum Cafe and Milk Bar advertising Swallow's Ice Cream. At the time it was operated by Pop Warner. [We believe the fruit shop was built 1946-1948 based upon evidence of another photo (EDHS_02182) looking northeast from Staffs store circa October 1945 and an aerial photo of December 1945 which only shows the bootmaker factory.] Behind the shop is a tall Bluegum tree. This was the tree that the Bluegum Cafe was originally named after. Miss Barber's 'Blue Gum' Soda Fountain opened October 1922 and was the first shop on the eastern side of Main Road following Luther Haley's Bakery and General Store on the other side adjacent to the railway station in 1902. The Bluegum was felled in the early 1960s when Burge's Blue Gum Cafe and milkbar was sold and demolished in September 1960 to make way for a new store, Mr. J. Millet's Foodland. 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. Images from the private collection of Mrs Noel Williams (nee Hughes) Noel’s parents, George Elgar Hughes and Jean Alice Hughes had a combined milk bar and fruit shop in Main Road, Eltham. Noel worked in the shop after leaving Eltham High School aged 15 (1950), until she married George Williams in 1956, whose grandparents, Violet and Will Williams, owned the Bellevue estate in Livingston Road, Eltham. Her father, then sold the property. George and Noel raised 3 children on their farm in Kangaroo Ground and Noel, who turned 90 years old in July 2025, is a life member of the Andrew Ross Museum.hughes fruit shop and milk bar, main road eltham, george elgar hughes, jean alice hughes, 1949, blue gum (eucalyptus globulus), blue gum milk bar (eltham), eltham shopping centre, eltham shops, fruit shop, green grocer, milk bar, peter's ice cream, pryor street, shoe factory., swallow's ice cream, bedford truck, pop warner, bootmaker's shop, newsagency, noel williams collection, shoe factory, telephone box

The Rose Series P. 4284 post card Taken from near what would be present day CLC car park looking southwest across Diamond Street, present-day Andrew Park to the railway station and developing Eltham shopping precinct. Arthur Street visible, Pryor and Luck Street not evident. Sunnybrook, the Taylor home is visible at the top of the hill in Bible Street. Only three residences visible in Arthur Street on the southern side, two of these are the David Harbison Rest Home at 10 and 12 Arthur Street (built and opened in November 1919), present day site of Eltham Mall. There are none on the north side of the street. Based on 1945 aerial view there are 8 buildings on the northern side between Main Road and Bible Street which and given the extent of commercial development on Main Road, it is estimated this image is circa 1925. Luther Haley was the first to build an open a baker and General Store in this location next to the railway station in 1902. However, it took nearly twenty years until the early to mid-1920s when a period of significant growth in the Eltham shopping centre happened with many businesses relocating their operations from the original town centre of Maria Street in Little Eltham as well as new businesses opening. Other stores/buildings noted (L-R) are: Stationmaster's House built circa 1910 Eltham Hardware Store opposite the railway station first opened on Main Road opposite the Railway Station around late 1922. An advertisement placed in the Hurstbridge Advertiser advised that the Hardware Store had just opened with a varied stock of Saws, Hammers, Nails, Shovels, Screw Drivers, and every article required in a house or on a farm. People were also encouraged to try their Jams, Pickles, Sauces, Cups and Saucers, etc. Newsagency with 'Leader' advertising on awning - E. J. Andrew opened his newsagency shop opposite the station in March 1923, advertising for sale stationery, school requisites and periodicals. Bird Brothers Cash Grocer & Fruiterer opposite the railway station offering summer drinks and confectionery a specialty with a full Stock of groceries of the best quality always on hand at city prices opened December 1921 William Capewell's Butcher shop at the corner of Dudley Street. Capewell previously had a small shop in front of the station opposite Luck Street. He enlisted in the AIF during WW1 and returned home in 1919. He re-applied for a slaughtering license in February 1920 and was advertising by October 1922 supplying all districts. Not visible (or not yet identified) but in business by October 1922 were: J.H. Fraser, Carpenter and Builder at Luck Street opposite the station George A. Danslow, Hairdresser and Tobacconist opposite the railway station Miss Barber's 'Blue Gum' Soda Fountain opened October 1922 opposite the railway station (hidden behind Stationmaster's House). It was so named due to its proximity to a tall Blue Gum tree G.H. McDonald Boot Repairer opposite the railway station In December 1923 the first portion of the main street to be formed from Dudley to Arthur streets was almost completed. This is the section in front of Capewell's Butcher shop though it is difficult to fully make out from the photoDigital file only Postcards scanned from the collection of Michael Aitken on loan to EDHS, 2 Sep. 2022michael aitken collection, eltham, postcards, arthur street, david harbison rest home, electrine candles, eltham railway station, eltham shopping centre, lloyd's general store, red rattler, rose series postcard, rose stereograph company, tait train, velvet soap, andrew park, bible street, bird brothers cash grocer & fruiterer, bird brothers cash grocer and fruiterer, butcher, diamond street, dudley street, eltham hardware and timber, eltham hardware store, eltham mall, main road, station masters house, stationmaster's house, sunnybrook, w.j. capewell, w.j. capewell butcher shop

Looking north from Staff's Railway Store overlooking Staff’s garden and the foundations of Lyon Bros Garage being built next door, circa Oct. 1945. L-R: Eric Staff, Michael Sinclair, Marie (Mary) Staff, Mrs Rigbye, Eileen Rigbye, Mr Rigbye (partly hidden); Michael Sinclair in foreground. On back of photo: "I had this taken to show you Lyon's Garage. You can see the foundations and the filling in. Like our lawn. The Xmas tree we had for Michael with X" Digital scan from photo loaned by Michael Sinclair (2017). Photographer unknown. Dated as circa Oct. 1945 as Michael Sinclair was in Grade 4 at Dalton Street school in 1954 (typically 9 or 10 yrs old), Lyons Bros garage was completed 1946, it appears to be late spring or early summer, the reference to the Christmas tree suggests it was before December and Michael looks about 2 years old. An aerial photo taken December 1945 shows Lyon Bros Garage erected with a roof on it so the image could be around October 1945. Staff’s Railway Store was located at present-day 929-937 Main Road. The store was built in 1902 by Luther Haley adjacent to the new railway station and was the first shop in what was to become Eltham’s present-day shopping precinct. Across the road was known as Haley’s Paddock and it was here in 1922 that the next store was to open, Miss Barber’s Blue Gum Soda Fountain. That store is visible in the upper centre of the picture on the southern corner with Pryor Street. At the time of the photo the shop was owned by Harold Eugene Borner and his older sister, Miss Edith Florance Borner, known as H.E. Borner’s shop. Immediately to the right is vacant street frontage then the Eltham Timber and Hardware Store owned since 1923 by William Walker, a plumber. It was about the same time as this photo that William Walker’s son, Thomas Roy Walker, also a plumber, returned home from active service overseas and took over till it was sold in 1950. Outside the hardware store is a Post Master General (PMG) mailbox, a petrol bowser and Telephone Box, then further to the right another vacant frontage then Rains Newsagency. North of Pryor just visible behind the trees is the Bootmaker factory on the corner of Pryor Street opposite the Blue Gum. The vacant site next door is where Hughes Fruit Shop and Milk Bar was built sometime between Dec. 1945 and 1949. Eric Nieve Staff and his wife Mary Forbes Staff lived at Main Road, Eltham. Eric Staff bought the Railway Store in 1939. In the 1946 Electoral Roll, Eric Staff’s profession was stated as printer. Their son, Raymond Charles Staff was also listed at Main Road, his profession, grocer, so presumably he had taken over the business by then. Charles Keith Rigbye, a laundryman, and his wife Phyllis Mary Rigbye lived in Dudley Street. https://maps.app.goo.gl/KuF8JyZc1Gcza3n68 - Research by Peter Pidgeon, EDHS, July 2026Black and white photograph1945, blue gum milk bar (eltham), bootmaker's shop, charles keith rigbye, eileen rigbye, eltham hardware and timber, eltham shopping centre, eltham shops, eric nieve staff, eric staff, estate agency, h.e. borner's shop, lyon bros garage, main road eltham, marie (mary) staff, mary forbes staff, michael sinclair, newsagency, phyllis mary rigbye, rains newsagency, telephone box