Put together by a member of the Eltham Gateway Action Group (EGAG) in participation with various artists, writers, local business people and other local citizens and sent to Minister Maclellan, Planning Minister in the Kennet Government in protest of proposed plans to sell the former Eltham Shire Office site at 895 Main Road Eltham in order to develop a Shell Service Station and Hungry Jacks fast food outlet. The purpose was to express what is unique about the character of Eltham, why people live and work there and why such a development would be out of character and inappropriate for the Eltham Gateway along with alternative development proposals. This protest was the catalyst for the formation of the Eltham Gateway Action Group, which later evolved into the Eltham Community Action Group (ECAG).Scrapbook album approx 40 x 30 x 4 cm, black hardcovers and 36 double page openings, numerous blank pages.alan marshall, alistair knox park, alistair knox, alternative proposals, ampitheatre, artists, betty langley, bohdan kucyk, bootmakers cottage, bridge street, cultural heritage map, david armfield, diamond creek, diamnond valley news, eltham art house theatres, eltham community action group, ecag, eltham gateway action group, egag, eltham library, eltham traders, eltham, flavour of eltham, george stebbing, gordon ford, hamish knox, helen lucas, hungry jacks, janet r boddy, jarrold cottage, jarrold family, john pizzey, jon weaving, lena skipper, letters, local business register, 895 main road, main road, eltham shire office, matcham skipper, ming mackay, minister maclellan, montsalvat, mudbrick, newspaper clippings, peter dougherty, peter glass, pioneers and painters, railway line, shell service station, shelltham, protests, shillinglaw cottage, shire of eltham, nillumbik shire, st margaret's anglican church, todaro, trestle bridge, wingrove cottage, charles symons wingrove

The Eltham Gateway Group (EGG) was established about 1987 by some Eltham residents concerned for the development of the Eltham Gateway, defined as that historically and environmentally sensitive region of land along Main Road, Eltham extending from the roundabout at Fitzsimons Lane to Dudley Street, Eltham. The gateway was a unique urban area with a strong sense of character that provided a distinctive entrance to the Eltham Town Centre. The intention of this group was to support development that preserved both the natural and historic features of the gateway region. It encouraged development sympathetic to Eltham’s traditional association with the arts and natural environment. The group was initiated in response to a planning application in December 1986 to redevelop the then Mobil service station site at 729 Main Road, Eltham on the corner of Brougham Street. This group worked with and encouraged the Eltham Shire Council to consider rezoning to protect the gateway area. A detailed Eltham Gateway Study undertaken by Tract Consultants assisted with the establishment of the Eltham Gateway Zone, the Eltham Gateway Policy and the Eltham Gateway Design and Siting Guidelines. The State Government subsequently agreed to a planning amendment to rezone the land from a Residential Zone C to an Eltham Gateway Zone under the Eltham Planning Scheme. While zoning changes over the years have altered the mix of permitted uses within this area the Eltham Gateway still looks and feels like a predominately residential style precinct, even where non-residential type uses operate. EGG was followed by the establishment of the Eltham Protection Society in about 1989 to respond to community planning issues beyond the area of the Eltham Gateway and in effect took over the role from the EGG. Jim Connor President Eltham District Historical Society 4 July 2022 During 1986/87 I was a community member on the Shire of Eltham’s Community Consultative Committee involved with the Eltham Gateway Study, which led to the establishment of the original Eltham Gateway Zone, under the then Eltham Planning Scheme The Eltham Gateway Group was the pioneer community action group dedicated to protecting the character of the Eltham Gateway. It was succeeded by the Eltham Protection Society. When the Shire of Eltham Offices were demolished by the unelected Commissioners of Nillumbik Shire Council in July/August 1996, significant community upset and protest led to the establishement of the Eltham Gateway Action Group (EGAG) which in present day form has evolved into the Eltham Community Action Group (ECAG) focussing on issues throughout Eltham and not just the Eltham Gatewayeltham community action group, eltham gateway, eltham gateway action group, eltham gateway design and siting guidelines, eltham gateway group (egg), eltham gateway policy, eltham gateway study, eltham gateway zone, eltham planning scheme, eltham protection society, jim connor, michael wilson, rodger dalling, tony mcmanus