"Desmond", on the Cockatoo Creek, on land which now forms part of Alma Treloar Reserve, was the home of the O'Hara family ca. 1910. The poet John Bernard O'Hara, used to visit his mother there, and remembered many wonderful holidays with the "city folk" who travelled to Cockatoo on "Puffing Billy" and camped along the creek. The family in the foreground is most likely the O'Hara family.The photograph is significant because it shows a Cockatoo home of around 1910.Black and white photograph of "Desmond", home of the O'Hara family, with a family group in foreground. Situated on Cockatoo Creek, on land now known as Alma Treloar Reserve. Circa 1910.cockatoo homes, "desmond", o'hara family, cockatoo creek, john bernard o'hara.

"Who would have thought that a boy born in 1889 from the Victorian Mallee would become a successful artist on New York’s Staten Island? This finely illustrated, exhaustively researched and beautifully written biography on Leason features the artist’s entire career as a painter and cartoonist renowned for his depictions of Australian society in the 1920s and 1930s. Leason’s story is a poignant one tracing his beginnings as a cartoonist, to the bohemian Melbourne art scene in the early 20th century, to his involvement in the artists’ camps of Eltham, to his important series of portraits of Lake Tyers Indigenous Australians, and his eventual move to the US where he has been acknowledged as making an enormous contribution to the New York arts scene. This story, as yet untold, fills a gap in the history of art in Australia and offers a new perspective on Australian art in the first half of the 20th century." - Thames and Hudson website A NEW HOME IN ELTHAM Once they had settled back into Melbourne, Perry and Belle began to look for a place to make a permanent home. Having enjoyed the bush setting of Mosman, they decided to explore the rural fringes of Melbourne. Each weekend they packed a picnic and travelled to the towns in the nearby hills - such as Ferntree Gully, Sassafras, Lilydale and, of course, Cockatoo Creek. Eventually deciding these places might be a little too far from The Herald office, they searched closer to the city. The Heidelberg and Box Hill regions that had inspired his old teacher McCubbin, had become busy, urban areas but further east, towards Warrandyte and Templestowe, there were still large tracts of bush. Finally they settled on Eltham, an area Percy knew very well, having often painted there with Jock Frater. Perry's old friend Dick McCann and his wife Margery had also settled in Eltham. The township was fifteen miles from Melbourne and serviced by an electric train that went to the central Melbourne station of Flinders Street, near where The Herald offices were located. Eltham was a small village in 1925, separated from Melbourne by the Yarra River, and surrounded by orchards and large tracts of bush. Small farms dotted the landscape and the main businesses revolved around ironmongers, blacksmiths, and farming supplies. Of particular appeal to artists was Eltham Park, a large expanse of bushland bounded by the Yarra River on the south side and the Diamond Creek on the east. The park included a playing field that was busy on weekends with cricket or football matches, but for the rest of the week it was mostly empty and an ideal place to paint. The scenery there provided the inspiration for many paintings by Leason, Meldrum and other artists such as Colin Colahan and Peter (A.E.) Newburv. The Leasons found a rundown old farmhouse on four-and-a-half acres of land in New Street, now known as Lavender Park Road. The site was splendid, at the top of a gentle slope which gave panoramic views east to the Dandenong hills, south over the Templestowe orchards and north to Kinglake. The front lawn was taken over by onion grass (or wiregrass as Leason called it) and scattered about the property were many wattles and gum trees. Aloe cacti covered much to the front of the house, while old quince and lucerne hedges separated the house and out-buildings from a rundown apple orchard. Here they would build a new home. ·with financial assistance from The Herald, Leason bought the property and immediately commissioned an architectural firm to design a new house in the popular bungalow style of the time. The old farm house was demolished but Percy saved the siding boards, bricks and corrugated iron for the outbuildings of his new home. The new house was a two storey, triple brick with a large, gabled, terracotta tiled roof. It was situated at the very top of the slope. The paint and varnish were barely dry when the family moved in during the summer of 1925-26 and the fumes were overpowering in the heat. Despite the house being wired for electricity, power poles had not yet reached the area and initially the family had to rely on kerosene lamps and candles. When electricity did arrive, Leason reflected on the community's reception of electricity at the expense of the old growth gum tree corridors in his cartoon, Electricity comes to Wiregrass. The family had now grown to seven. Jack was nearly nine, Jean was seven, Marjory was four, Nancy was two and the baby Patricia was seven months old. Jack and Jean were enrolled in the local primary school down the hill. A retired farmer, Jock McMillan, came to live on the property and help out with the general maintenance. Jock built himself a shack and Belle provided him with meals. He was kept occupied building structures around the property·, such as the garage, the outside toilet, garden beds, trellis arbours and a number of ponds. The elderly, bearded Scotsman with his old hat and baggy pants also provided the inspiration for one of the characters Leason regularly included in his cartoons. Like Leason, Jock smoked a straight stemmed pipe. A neighbour was employed to help Belle with domestic chores, and so the family settled down to live comfortably in their new Eltham house. Two dogs, Maginary and Wodger, completed the large and vibrant household. “Percy Leason; an artist’s life” by Margot Tasca, Thames & Hudson Australia Pty Ltd, Port Melbourne 2016, pp 63-64 Hardback Bookpercy leason, margot tasca, biography, artist, landscape

Circa 1918: Various Photos of the Cheltenham Methodist Youth Group. Row 1 and 2: "At Flinders". Row 3: 1st Left, "Holidaying at Cockatoo". in 1852 Stephen Charman, who had arrived in Melbourne 1842 aged 21 years as one of Henry Dendy's emigrants, purchased 160 acres in Spring Grove ( now Cheltenham). Stephen and his family lived in a wattle and daub hut and worked hard to establish a market garden, poultry and pig farm. The first Methodist Church Services were held at their home. In 1855 Stephen gave 1 acre of his land on Balcombe Road to the Methodist Church for a School, Burial ground and a Chapel which was built in 1857.The Methodist Church, Balcombe Road was the 2nd religious building to be erected in Spring Grove now known as Cheltenham c 18577 small black and white photographs of the Cheltenham Methodist Youth Group at Flinders, Cockatoo and unkown locations, c 1918 . First 3 photos are of male cyclists on a trip to Flinders, Victoria. Photo 4 shows 6 ladies and a man on holiday at Cockatoo in the Dandenong Ranges ,Victoria . Photos 5 to 7 show men, women and children in bushland surroundings of unrecorded locations.Photo 1 - 3 on back : Flinders 1918 Photo 4 left on back : Holiday at Cockatoo right on back : Whitehead Photo 5-7 nilcheltenham, cheltenham methodist youth group, 1914, 1918, charman stephen, gettens mary, spring grove, methodist church, charman road, balcombe road, dendy henry, henry dendy's special survey 1841, youth groups, social groups, market gardners, early settlers, pioneers, dairy farmers, poultry farmers, pig farmers,moorabbin, brighton,

The Presbyterian Church owned three lots of land bounded by Pakenham Road and the northern side of Dorchester Road, between 1927 and 1964. Providence House opened in 1927 as a peaceful country rest home for “tired mothers” from the inner suburbs, and their children. It was also used, at different times, for kindergarten groups and in 1955 for a girls Bible Class for Easter “studies, fun and fellowship.”Cockatoo had several guest houses which took paying guests. Providence House did not charge fees, but is the best-documented of the large houses which provided accommodation.Framed regulations for the Presbyterian Church of Victoria's Providence House in Cockatoo.providence house, cockatoo victoria, presbyterian church, regulations,

The Presbyterian Church owned three lots of land bounded by Pakenham Road and the northern side of Dorchester Road, between 1927 and 1964. Providence House opened in 1927 as a peaceful country rest home for “tired mothers” from the inner suburbs, and their children. It was also used, at different times, for kindergarten groups and in 1955 for a girls Bible Class for Easter “studies, fun and fellowship.”Cockatoo had several guest houses which took paying guests. Providence House did not charge fees, but is the best-documented of the large houses which provided accommodation.Framed landscape design plan under glass, with detailed plant listings. Original watercolourDonated by Victoria & Digby Newcombe 2003presbyterian church, rest home, landscape plan, garden design, cockatoo victoria, providence house, black n.c,

In October 2000, Council invited three artists from the region (Deborah Halpern, Matcham Skipper, Tony Trembath) to submit designs for a sculpture / public art work for the Eltham Town Square. The commission was paid for by supermarket giant Safeway (Woolies) as part of its supermarket permit, which required them to contribute to beautification work in the Town Square.This is the first of three parts. The 'Spirit of Nillumbik' is a celebration of the artistic spirit of Eltham and surrounding communities. Each area is identified through the flora and fauna represented in the panels. The work honours the many creative artists and architects, past and present, who have built homes and shaped lives and livelihoods with their unique creative spirit. Halpern describes her work as a public expression of their individual and collective visions. Halpern acknowledges these contributions to our hand-made history and the influence they have on the character and identity of Eltham and Nillumbik. Five picture and six woven balustrades each made out of welded steel / organic wrought iron and coated with wax. Imagery (flora - plants, landscapes and fauna - animals, birds, reptiles, insects) are all based on the local environment. There is also a relevant aboriginal presence amongst each of the panels. Each panel represents the different areas that make up the Shire. 'Water' for Warrandyte, 'Kangaroos' for Christmas Hills, 'Cockatoos and 'Valley Creek Flats' for Hurstbridge, 'Wombats', 'Bluetongues' and 'Possums' for St. Andrews/Kinglake, 'Orchids' for Panton Hill, 'Cows' and 'Grapevines' for the Kangaroo Gound Hill landmark. N/Apublic art, nillumbik, fauna, flora, wrought iron, balustrade, halpern, laurence, kangaroo, eltham town square, spirit, warrandyte, christmas hills, kangaroo ground, hurstbridge, kinglake, panton hill, water, valley creek flats, cockatoos

Digital image: Matthews Bros, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo, document issued to Miss. D. Cherry, c/-Mrs. Burke, Old House at Home Hotel, c/- Whytes Bus, Andrews Auction Rooms, On label ' Matthews Bros., Hargreaves Street, Pall Mall, Bendigo. Look for the busy red emporium where quality tells. Drapers, mercers, ladies wear etc. Sent by email from Maurice Austin, Oak Park Vic., ([email protected]) His email states, 'was given this label today by the 80-year-old son of the D. Cherry noted on the label. She was in fact to become Dorothy Fartch, my donor's mother. …. Before she was married, she was employed by Ma Burke at the Old House at Home pub, and often acted as a 'cockatoo' out from on Sundays! … the name Whytes still sadly in the news I note from searches today the pub still exists also I note. …. the label was and still is attached to a large piece of brown wrapping paper that was used to line a big wooden box as was typical usage in the old days. Please credit 'Maurice Austin Collection' if the label is used for any purpose.bendigo, cherry, old house and home hotel

Set of five newspaper cuttings (or group of cuttings) regarding trams sold by the MMTB and their relocation. .1 - Community Valley News "Huge tram sure to stop traffic; well that's the idea!", 16/4/2002 - W6 968 being relocated to the Essendon Traffic School - see image i9. .2 - Cover and pages 6 & 7 of Metro News24/1/2001 - about the sale of W class trams. Cover photo has a tram at Dales Creek, story by Ingrid Svendsen about the storage of trams at Newport, reuse. Quotes Dr Mees, Roberto D' Andrea, Peter Batchelor and Geoff Leigh. .3 - Free Press - 22/2/1984 - "Last Stop Cockatoo" - W2 611 to Cockatoo Primary School. .4 - Diamond Valley News, 13/3/1984 about the sale of W2 640 to Mrs Fabian Broekan to the Eltham area and the objection of the Eltham council. .5 - The Sun - 24/8/1987 - "Aboard the tram home" about the former trams at Ferny Creek. Two centre pages. See also Reg Items about these tramcars. .6 - The Phillip Motorway - 19/8/1993 - about W2 284, owned by Evan Bekiaris which was built by Holdens in SA.trams, tramways, sale of trams, mmtb, newport workshops, preserved trams, ferny creek, tramcars, pmtt, melbourne, houses, essendon, holden, tram 968, tram 611, tram 640, tram 284