Old Bridge on Main Hurstbridge road in Diamond Creek township crossing the Diamond Creek. The bridge opened in April 1898. Evelyn Observer, and South and East Bourke Record (Vic. : 1882 - 1902), Friday 22 April 1898, page 2 "Diamond Creek Bridge. The official opening of this bridge took place yesterday (Thursday) in the presence of a large gathering of people. The bridge-a substantial iron structure, costing .~r 2oo-was profusely decorated with "flags of all nations" for the occasion. In the absence of the Minister' of Public Works-who was unavoidably prevented from attending-the opening ceremony was neatly performed by President Lugton, of the Heidelberg Shire, in a few wellchosen words, after which an adjournment was made to the Literary Institute, where some sixty gentlemen were entertained at luncheon, followed by speeches, songs, and recitations. It was a red letter day for the Creek, and everything passed off with becoming eclat." Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p7This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, diamond creek, diamond creek bridge, main hurstbridge road

View looking east across the Glen Park Bridge and the railway crossing towards Main Road circa 1920. The bridge was originally built as a replacement for an older private bridge built by a man named Foley around 1880. In 1911 Heidelberg and Eltham agreed to share the costs to build a new bridge (the Diamond Creek was the border between the two). Construction began in June 1915 and it was officially opened by Cr. Taylor on Cup Day, November 1915. This photo, dated around 1920, is of the Glen Park Bridge crossing over the Diamond Creek about 50 metres north of the present-day Wattletree tree Road Bridge. Glen Park Road intersected Main Rain Road along an alignment following present day Coleman Cresent. In this this picture we see the narrow wooden bridge over a high flowing Diamond Creek at Glen Park, now Eltham North. In the background is a railway crossing sign. There is a self-contained carbide streetlamp situated in front of the bridge. In the early 1900s, carbide (acetylene gas) streetlamps emerged as a lighting technology for regional towns across Victoria, Australia, before municipal electricity grids were widely established. During the late Victorian and early Edwardian eras, major hubs like Melbourne relied on centralized coal-gas infrastructure. However, small regional Victorian shires lacked the funds or population density to build large gasworks. When the commercial production of calcium carbide became viable around 1900, it offered a quantum leap in brightness over traditional kerosene streetlamps. Acetylene gas burned with an intense, crisp white flame—significantly brighter than oil or candles. Many rural towns used self-contained lampposts. A lamplighter had to climb each post daily to manually place calcium carbide pellets in a lower chamber and fill an upper chamber with water. The water dripped onto the carbide, producing acetylene gas to feed the burner. Lamplighters carefully measured the fuel amounts so the chemical reaction would naturally exhaust itself and "turn off" around midnight. While carbide streetlights provided unparalleled visibility for early motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, they were incredibly labour-intensive and inherently volatile. The gas was highly explosive, prone to leaks, and left behind a pungent, sulphur-like odour. By the end of World War I, local Victorian councils rapidly phased out acetylene infrastructure in favour of safer, independent electric powerhouse generators. In the context of Eltham's local history, the Eltham Shire and surrounding Yarra Valley region actively relied on carbide streetlamps and kerosene lighting during the early 20th century before the expansion of the Melbourne electric grid. Eltham was an outer-rural, heavily timbered farming and orchard district at the turn of the century, it faced unique civic infrastructure challenges. In rural Eltham, early streetlamps were exceptionally sparse. The community relied heavily on "innkeeper laws" which dictated local hotels—such as the historic Eltham Hotel—were legally required to keep external oil, kerosene, or acetylene lamps burning through the night to illuminate the main roads for travellers and coaches. The volatile carbide and kerosene lamps on Eltham's main thoroughfares were progressively phased out during the 1920s. The district steadily transitioned to electricity, which allowed for developments like the installation of modern electrical wiring at the local fire station on Arthur Street by 1928. The Glen Park Bridge was a low structure and subject to flooding readily. In 1959 Eltham Council erected a new crossing over the Diamond Creek and realigned the road to the present-day Wattletree Road Bridge. Construction was not fully complete when on Sunday, 20 September 1959, heavy flooding occurred in the stream and at 3:53 pm the old bridge was washed away forever. - Research by Peter Pidgeon, EDHS, June 2026Photograph copy eltham north, wattletree road, coleman crescent, bridges, diamond creek (creek), bridge, carbide streetlamp, floodwater, glen park bridge, street lamp, glen park road, glen park estate

Colour photograph of tree on the side of the Diamond Creek upstream at Bridge Street, Eltham. The tree has been undermined with roots exposed near a council drain.eltham, diamond creek, bridge street, drainage, roots, tree

Colour photograph of a muddy creek (probably after a downpour) on the western bank of Diamond Creek upstream of Bridge Street, Eltham. Fill placed by the Eltham Shire Council can be seen in the backgroundeltham, diamond creek, bridge street, gullies, fill

Colour photograph of a muddy creek (probably after a downpour) showing council drain and drop structure exposed on the west bank of Diamond Creek upstream of Bridge Street, Eltham. Mediun to high level water flows are directed on to the bank by the fallen tree.eltham, creek, diamond creek, bridge street, drainage, waterflow, vegetation

Colour photograph of the Diamond Creek Trail bridge over the Diamond Creek near Eltham Lower Park; Main Road bridge in backgrounddiamond creek trail, bridges, eltham, main road

Diamond Street Bridge Roy Johnson 1988 Entrant No. 74 Ref: Series 34, Items 93-96 SHIRE OF ELTHAM COMMUNITY PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY Photography is an artform which many of us practice, sometimes purely for artistic pursuit, sometimes to record the people and events in our lives. In 1988, as part of a local Bicentennial project, the Shire of Eltham conducted the Eltham Community Photographic Survey. Up to 100 entries were to be selected by a panel of photographers for entry into the Eltham Photographic Survey Exhibition. Entries had to be submitted by May 13, 1988. Entrants whose images were selected for the exhibition were contacted and requested to further submit an entry form providing entrant’s name, area of residence, age, and proposed captions. These details were then used to produce labels for the exhibition mounts. Where negatives had not been supplied, these were requested to support the display of printed enlargements mounted on 10” x 8” cardboard. The mounted prints were made available post exhibition for sale at $8.50 each for colour prints and $7.00 for B&W prints. Residents in the Shire were invited to collect a free roll of film and take a photograph of what they either liked or did not like about the area. A total of 160 entrants submitted multiple entries for the exhibition. Of those selected for exhibition, entrants ranged in age from 9 to 70 years. All custom colour and black and white printing for the exhibition was completed by Wattle Studios of Eltham. The Eltham Photographic Survey was jointly auspiced by the Shire of Eltham and Wattle Studios, of 953 Main Road, Eltham. The project was greatly assisted by: • David McRitchie, Media Studies Lecturer Victoria College, Rusden Campus. • Ian and Annette Toohill of Wattle Studios • Tracy Naughton, Eltham Community Arts Officer • Neville Emerson Pty. Ltd. • Superior Press, Eltham • Kodak Australasia Pty. Ltd. • Agfa Gevaert Ltd. • Townsend Colourtech Pty. Ltd. • The Australian Bicentennial Authority • Eleanor Bowers, Secretary, Eltham Arts Council The exhibition was placed on display in the Woolworths Arcade, Eltham between Monday June 6th and Saturday June 11, 1988. It was also intended to hold the exhibition at a venue in the Shire’s North Riding from Monday, June 20 to Friday June 24. It was then displayed at the Were Street Theatre, Montmorency from Friday, June 24 to Thursday, July 7. Series 34: Eltham Community Photographic Survey 1988 - Prints & Documentation Series consists of 117 photographs of Shire scenes taken by members of the community. Items I - 41 are larger photographs mounted on card, which were exhibited. Items 42 - 117 are unmounted copies, alternative takes and other entries. Corresponding negatives contained in Series 35: Eltham Community Photographic Survey 1988 – Negatives which consists of 267 colour and B&W negatives and one colour slide of Shire scenes taken by members of the community. The negatives are arranged by the entrant number of the photographer. The Eltham Community Photographic Survey collection is significant to the local community as it was curated by the local community - ordinary people of all ages - representing what they liked and did not like in the area where they lived. It represents an unfiltered representation of the Shire of Eltham as it was in 1988. It also represents one of many projects as part of the national programme of events and celebrations to commemorate the bicentenary. It is a time capsule of life in the 1980s of this urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north. Rear: 'Series 34' and the 'Item No.' in orange inkshire of eltham archives, bicentennial project, eltham, eltham community photographic survey, series 34, series 35, diamond creek (creek), diamond street bridge, film - ilford fp4, roy johnson, scan - 35mm negative

Cottles Bridge over Diamond Creek, Cottles Bridge-Strathewen Road, CottlesbridgeRoll of 35mm black and white negative film, 4 of 7 stripsIlford HP4bridge, cars, cottles bridge, cottles bridge-strathewen road, diamond creek (creek)

Digital file only Postcards scanned from the collection of Michael Aitken on loan to EDHS, 13 Feb 2018michael aitken collection, postcards, main road bridge, main road, eltham, diamond creek

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak GC400-8diamond creek, eltham, floods, bridge street

Roll of 35mm black and white negative film, 4 of 7 strips and corresponding B&W printIlford HP4bridge, cottles bridge, cottles bridge-strathewen road, diamond creek (creek)

Part of a slide show presentation "A Trip Down the Diamond Creek" by Russell Yeoman to the Eltham District Historical Society meeting of 14 Nov. 200135mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whitecottles bridge, cottles bridge-strathewan road, cottlesbridge, diamond creek

Two colour photographs of Bridge Street Bridge over Diamond Creek, Eltham showing bridge sub-structurebridges, diamond creek, eltham, bridge street

Two colour photographs of Bridge Street Bridge over Diamond Creek, Eltham showing bridge sub-structurebridges, diamond creek, eltham, bridge street

Colour photographbridge street, diamond creek, eltham, footbridge, floods

Colour photograph.Main Road Bridge, Eltham low flow of Diamond Creek with wooden pedestrain bridge constructed over the creek as a continuation of the walking and biking trail, June 1979diamond creek, eltham, bridge, main road, pedestrain bridge, trail

Evidence of flooding from recent winter and early spring rainBorn Digitaleltham south, diamond creek trail, diamond creek (creek), floods

Evidence of flooding from recent winter and early spring rainBorn Digitaleltham south, diamond creek trail, diamond creek (creek), floods

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak GC400-8diamond creek, eltham, floods

The historic 1934 flood of the Diamond Creek and Yarra River following the storms of 29-30 November set the levels for future planning with respect to flood water rise.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, hurstbridge, 1934 flood, floods, monash bridge, diamond creek (creek)

People along the Diamond Creek, probably at Eltham with wooden bridge in backgrounddiamond creek, bridge

7 pages, mapsdiamond creek, bridge

Colour photograph. Flooding of Diamond Creek at Main Road Bridge, Eltham peak flow of flood. Easter storm, 8 April, 1977flood, diamond creek, flooding, eltham, bridge, main road

Shows two bridge crossings over the Diamond Creek in Diamond Street, Eltham. The upper pedestrian crossing provided continual access for foot traffic during times of flood. The railway came to Eltham in 1901, the Eltham Railway Station is visible in the distance as well as a wooden bodied Tait (Red Rattler) First Class train carriage. The Tait train was first introduced in 1910 as a steam locomotive hauled carriage and in 1919 electric motor carriages were introduced however the line to Heidelberg was not electrified till 1921 and to Eltham in April 1923. The Railway General Store on Main Road is visible beyond the station and was built by Luther Haley in 1902. It was the first shop in the present day shopping centre. It was later known as lloyd's stopre (1917-1920) followed by a succession of six other owners until purchased by Eric Staff in 1939. This glass plate negative was used to manufacture postcards (1:1 printing) for commercial sale by the Rose Sterograph Company and its subsidiaries. George Rose founded the Rose Stereograph Company in 1880 and was joined by Herbert (Bert) Cutts in the early 20th Century. The pair formed a lifetime working partnership and strong personal friendship. Assisted by George’s two sons, Herbert George and Walter, and later by Neil Cutts, the Rose Stereograph Company continued its operations for more than 140 years. The company was initially built on stereographs, but as cinema took over and stereographs fell out of fashion, the Rose Stereograph Company developed Australia’s first commercially viable photographic postcard business. Specialising in postcards of iconic historical moments and significant landmarks, The Rose Stereograph Company became a staple of the Australian travel industry.This remarkable collection of glass plate negatives, transparencies, and postcards – arguably Australia’s most significant photography collection outside of public hands – has been passed down through the generations, surviving war, relocation, and the harsh Victorian climate. The historic Rose Stereograph collection is the culmination of George Rose’s dream of capturing and preserving precious moments in time and remains the legacy of the Rose and Cutts families. It is with great sadness that the Cutts family says goodbye to a collection that spans five generations and 140 years. The Cutts family understands that for these historically important pieces to rest with one family is to deny others the pleasure of their custodianship.Glass Plate Negative Size: 9 x 13.9 cmDiamond Creek, Eltham, Vic., The Rose Series P. 4314, Copyrighteltham, postcard, travel, rose stereograph company, glass plate negative, rose series postcard, tait train, eltham railway station, railway store, staffs general store, diamond creek, diamond street bridge, lloyd's general store, railway station, peter and elizabeth pidgeon collection

The old Diamond Street bridge in Eltham had a raised section seen here and a lower section, the railings of which can just be seen. The upper pedestrian crossing provided continual access for foot traffic during times of flood. This photo is part of the Alice Broadhurst collection held by Yarra Plenty Regional Library, a series of 12 photo albums compiled by Alice Broadhurst (1896-1981), initially while working as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse with the Australian Red Cross at the Mont Park Military Hospital (No. 16 AGH) and subsequently as a nurse at the Royal Melbourne and Royal Women’s hospitals alongside many pioneering doctors of their fields. This photo depicts an outing with fellow VAD nurses McGeachy and Byrne and two patients of Mont Park, Curry and Caffery to Eltham in spring 1919 Digital file"Curry, Byrne, McGeachy & self on rustic bridge, Eltham, Oct 22, 1919"eltham, diamond creek, diamond street bridge, alice elizabeth broadhurst, byrne, caffery, curry, mcgeachy, nursing staff, mont park, 16 agh

Copy of Rose Series Postcard P. 4314. (The Rose Stereograph Company) Shows two bridge crossings over the Diamond Creek in Diamond Street, Eltham. The upper pedestrian crossing provided continual access for foot traffic during times of flood. The railway came to Eltham in 1901, the Eltham Railway Station is visible in the distance as well as a wooden bodied Tait (Red Rattler) First Class train carriage. The Tait train was first introduced in 1910 as a steam locomotive hauled carriage and in 1919 electric motor carriages were introduced however the line to Heidelberg was not electrified till 1921 and to Eltham in April 1923. The Railway General Store on Main Road is visible beyond the station and was built by Luther Haley in 1902. It was the first shop in the present day shopping centre. It was later known as lloyd's stopre (1917-1920) followed by a succession of six other owners until purchased by Eric Staff in 1939. George Rose founded the Rose Stereograph Company in 1880 and was joined by Herbert (Bert) Cutts in the early 20th Century. The pair formed a lifetime working partnership and strong personal friendship. Assisted by George’s two sons, Herbert George and Walter, and later by Neil Cutts, the Rose Stereograph Company continued its operations for more than 140 years. The company was initially built on stereographs, but as cinema took over and stereographs fell out of fashion, the Rose Stereograph Company developed Australia’s first commercially viable photographic postcard business. Specialising in postcards of iconic historical moments and significant landmarks, The Rose Stereograph Company became a staple of the Australian travel industry.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negdiamond creek, diamond street bridge, eltham, eltham railway station, glass plate negative, lloyd's general store, postcard, railway station, railway store, rose series postcard, rose stereograph company, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, staffs general store, tait train, travel

Looking northwest onto the first bridge at Hurstbridge, 1885. Timber bridge amid rural setting. Two horses graze in an open paddock in the foreground. A house is situated on a rise behind the bridge on a tree lined hill. The area of Hurstbridge was originally known as Hurst’s-bridge after the timber bridge built over the Diamond Creek near Hurst’s station in late 1881/early 1882 on the Hurstbridge-Arthurs Creek Road, Hurstbridge. It was built by John McDonald, of Arthur's Creek and was demolished and replaced in 1917 by a reinforced concrete arch bridge designed by John Monash. Cross Reference Photo No.(s): 1012/1013This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book, "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, hurstbridge, bridge, diamond creek (river), diamond creek (creek), hurst's bridge

Bridge over Diamond Creek (Bridge Street Bridge) Greensborough pier, October, 1956Record of various Shire of Eltham infrastructure works undertaken during the period of 1952-1962 involving bridge and road reconstruction projects, sometimes with Eltham Shire Council Project Reference numbers quoted. It was during this period that a number of significant improvements were made to roads and new bridges constructed within the shire that remain in place as of present day (2022). In many situations, the photos provide a tangible visible record of infrastructure that existed throughout the early days of the Shire. The album was put together by or under the direction of the Shire Engineer, J.A. McDonald.infrastructure, road construction, shire of eltham, bridge construction, bridge street bridge, eltham, eltham-greensborough road, 1956-10