This building is a fine example of a very early small brick country court house which retains its furnishings and has important associations with the early history of the Eltham township. It was used for Eltham Road Board meetings in the 1860s and later to provide additional school accommodation. It is the oldest public building remaining in Eltham and forms an important group in historic and streetscape terms with the adjoining former police residence. The survival of the furnishings (of unknown origins) is of particular significance given the building's age. This building, and the former police residence beside it, were constructed as a result of a petition by five Eltham residents in 1857. The nearest police were at Heidelberg eight miles away or at the Caledonia Diggings 21 miles away. After the construction of the Court of Petty Sessions at Eltham in 1859-60 (which was designed by the Public Works Department and built by a Mr Duncan for a cost of 536 pounds), it was used for a variety of purposes. Eltham Road Board meetings were held there until 1868 when the board was transferred to Kangaroo Ground and as the Road Board Secretary's office, until this was transferred to Wingrove Cottage in 1867. It was used as an overflow for the Dalton Street School in 1875. According to National Trust records, the Eltham Court House is a relatively rare building type. There are only six other known examples of similar small brick country court houses in the state which have small projecting entry porches and a gabled form. Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsFuji 100Neltham, eltham courthouse, main road

Built in 1860, the Eltham Courthouse is the oldest public building remaining in Eltham. In its early days the building was used as the meeting place and office of the Eltham District Road Board and as an overflow classroom for the local school. The Eltham Courthouse ceased operational duties in 1984 and is now used by various community groups including Eltham District Historical Society. It was listed on the Victorian Heritage Register (Number H0784) in 1982. The building is of architectural significance because it retains intact early features. These include use of handmade bricks, simple decoration, roof trusses, timber ceiling boards, original windows, doors and associated hardware and a collection of court furniture. Additions to the court house have been done in a manner which did not interfere with the fabric of the original building. It is a fundamental asset in the Eltham Justice Precinct and is being fully restored in 2021 thanks to Nillumbik Shire Council.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 23) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham, eltham courthouse, main road

35mm Colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue stepped)brougham steet, eltham, eltham courthouse, main road, mobil service station

35mm Colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue stepped)eltham, eltham courthouse, main road

Viewed from outside present day Cafe Zen Den, which at the time was a nursery35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)cafe zen den, eltham, eltham courthouse, main road

Looking up to present day Cafe Zen Den then operated as a nursery35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)brougham steet, cafe zen den, eltham, eltham courthouse, main road

Adjacent to Eltham Courthouse, now Mercers RestaurantTwo colour photographseltham, eltham courthouse, main road, mercers restaurant, nautalus restaurant, restaurants

Born Digitaleltham courthouse, eltham, main road, local history centre, justice precinct

Born Digitaleltham courthouse, eltham, main road, local history centre, justice precinct

Born Digitaleltham courthouse, eltham, main road, local history centre, justice precinct

Born Digitaleltham courthouse, eltham, main road, local history centre, justice precinct

Born Digitaleltham courthouse, eltham, main road, local history centre, justice precinct

Born Digitaleltham courthouse, eltham, main road, local history centre, justice precinct

Born Digitaleltham courthouse, eltham, main road, local history centre, justice precinct

Born Digitaleltham courthouse, eltham, main road, local history centre, justice precinct

On the 29th of May 1954, a local Eltham carpenter by the name of John Swallow, committed a double murder at his home on New Street. This happened on the same day as the federal election of that year. John 48, his wife Mary 47, and stepdaughter Patricia 25, all went to the Eltham Courthouse on Main Road to cast their vote in the election that Saturday. After voting they returned home to their New Street house around midday. Patricia would later recall to ambulance officers, that she was feeling unwell, and so went to lay down when she heard an argument erupt over voting between her mother Mary and stepfather John. A concerned neighbour heard loud thudding noises and yelling coming from John and Mary’s house, he went to investigate. When he arrived at the house he was met by John at the front door. He would later describe John as “having a frantic look upon his face, and manic eyes”. John must have been a sight, bleeding and clutching a cut throat razor by his side. He then announced to the neighbour, “they voted commie!” before turning and going back inside. The distressed neighbour immediately raced home to call the Police. When the police arrived, they found Mary dead on the kitchen floor from catastrophic head injuries; her daughter, Patricia, clinging to life, slumped on her bed. Both women had been attacked by the same weapon, a large hammer, or sledge hammer as reported by the newspapers. John was also discovered in the house, bleeding from self-inflicted wounds from the razor, and had attempted to ingest caustic soda. Patricia was taken to St Vincent’s hospital, but died the following day, the 30th of May. John was also taken to St Vincent’s, where he remained under constant police guard for several months while he recovered from his injuries, at least the physical. He was eventually well enough to be taken to the City Watch House and then Pentridge Prison before his trial in October of the same year. When it came time for John to face the courts, the Judge called a mistrial, the Crown would not prosecute on the grounds of insanity. John was led away from the dock of The Magistrates Court and taken directly to Willsmere, the Kew Mental Asylum. On the 9th of August 1962, John Mervyn Swallow died of heart failure, he was 57. He had been a resident of Kew for four years. John’s body was returned to Eltham Cemetery and buried in the same grave as Mary. There is no mention of his name on the head stone. Patricia’s grave is next to Mary and John. A sad irony has an angel upon her grave, “its head missing”, possibly vandals or just an accident of time and events. What became of the home where all of this took place on New Street shall remain a mystery but within six months of this horrific event, the street had been re-named to Lavender Park Road after the original property near the end of the road, Lavender Park. In Memory Of Mary Josephine Swallow Died 29th May 1954 aged 47 Also Patricia Cathryn Hill Dearly beloved wife of Kel Called home 30th May 1954 Aged 25 yearsBorn Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, mary josephine swallow, patricia catherine hill, john swallow

The first Eltham Police Station was in the small building opposite Dalton Street rented from Mr Jarrold in 1857. In 1859 a dedicated Police Residence was built at 728 Main Road. A small weatherboard Police Station was attached to the side of the residence and a blue stone cell at the rear. Also on site were stables for the police horses. The Eltham Courthouse was built in 1860 and is the oldest public building in the district. In 1959 the Victoria Police purchased a house in Pryor Street to be refurbished as the Eltham Police Station. In 1961 the Police in Eltham move into Pryor Street refurbished buildings and office. During 2001 to 2002, the Eltham Police Station was demolished and a new complex constructed on site. The original 1859 Police residence is now home to the Eltham District Historical Society.albert frederick charles glover, allan fenton, arthur eggleston dungey, bertie stanton, charles briant, charles thomas martin, clyne harold mcphan, ebenezer williamson, eltham police station, gerard joseph o'toole, graham vincent joyce, harold shields, ian william bruce, isaac newton stevens, james boxhall, james chester draper, john scully, john stanley mcgough, john stuart bateman, john thomas cone, myles archibald lyons, peter lawlor, richard roberts, robert harry chrisfield, robert llewellyn, samuel james king, samuel o'donnell, sidney frederick little, thomas maher, victoria police, william charles sargeant, james francis fitzpatrick

eltham courthouse

The cupboard (containing 48 pigeon holes) was moved from Clerk's Office to 'block' the fireplace behind the Magistrate's bench in 2004eltham courthouse

eltham courthouse

Part of the Eltham Justice Precinct, the building was fully restored in 2021 by Nillumbik Shire Counciljim connor collection, justice precinct eltham, eltham court house

Part of the Eltham Justice Precinct, now the Local History Centre, home of Eltham District Historical Societyjim connor collection, justice precinct eltham, eltham court house, local history centre, police residence

Part of the Eltham Justice Precinct, now the Local History Centre, home of Eltham District Historical Societyjim connor collection, justice precinct eltham, eltham court house, local history centre, police residence

Part of the Eltham Justice Precinct, now the Local History Centre, home of Eltham District Historical Societyjim connor collection, justice precinct eltham, eltham court house, local history centre, police residence

View of Main Road from Henry Street to Brougham Street across to the Diamond Creek showing the Eltham Shire Offices (demolished 1996), the Eltham Library (opened 1994)aerial photo, alistair knox park, bridge street, brougham street, central park, diamond creek (creek), eltham, eltham community centre, eltham courthouse, eltham justice precinct, eltham living and learning, franklin street, henry street, local history centre, main road

L-R (facing camera): Irene Gerard, - , David Essex, Faye Shepard, Peter Bassett-Smith, Harry Gilham. Wal Delaney on far right. 40th Anniversary Celebrations of the founding of Eltham District Historical Society (formerly Shire of Eltham Historical Society) in 1967Colour photo print 100 x 150mm40th anniversary, celebrations, david essex, eltham courthouse, eltham district historical society, fay shepherd, harry gilham, irene gerard, peter bassett-smith, wal delaney

L-R: - , David Essex, Faye Shepard, Sue Law, Peter Bassett-Smith, Irene Gerard, Harry Gilham, Margaret Ball, Alison Delaney, Jim Connor (back to camera), Wal Delaney, - ,. Two members centre front (back to camera) unidentified. 40th Anniversary Celebrations of the founding of Eltham District Historical Society (formerly Shire of Eltham Historical Society) in 1967 Colour photo print 100 x 150mm40th anniversary, alison delaney, celebrations, david essex, eltham courthouse, eltham district historical society, faye shepard, harry gilham, irene gerard, jim connor, margaret ball, peter bassett-smith, sue law, wal delaney

L-R: Irene Gerard, Jim Connor, David Essex, Fay Shepherd, Peter Bassett-Smith, Harry Gilham Colour photo print 100 x 150mm40th anniversary, celebrations, david essex, eltham courthouse, eltham district historical society, fay shepherd, harry gilham, irene gerard, jim connor, peter bassett-smith

L-R: Doug Orford, Irene Gerard, Jim Connor, David Essex, Fay Shepherd, Peter Bassett-Smith Colour photo print 100 x 150mm40th anniversary, celebrations, david essex, doug orford, eltham courthouse, eltham district historical society, fay shepherd, irene gerard, jim connor, peter bassett-smith

L-R: Russell Yeoman, Harry Gilham, Alison Delaney, Wal Delaney, - , - , - , Colour photo print 100 x 150mm40th anniversary, alison delaney, celebrations, eltham courthouse, eltham district historical society, harry gilham, russell yeoman, wal delaney