"Stanhope" - circa 1910, set on almost an acre of glorious park-like gardens, "Stanhope" was designed by the pioneer of arts and crafts architecture in Australia, Harold Desbrowe-Annear, for the Longstaff family in 1910. 1. Advertisement: 10 Peter Street Eltham; Jellis Craig, Domain Review, c. May 2019 p16. The property was sold July 11, 2019 by private sale for $1.76 million (https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/property-details-10-Peter-Street-Eltham/797396). Previous sale history: 2013, June 4, $1.35m, Barry Plant Eltham 2005, May 13, $730,000 eltham, peter street, property, stanhope

Brick paving and garden at the front of "St Erth" Peter Street, Eltham. This was an owner-built pise house constructed in 1951.Colour photograph of front view of 7 Peter Street, Elthamhouses, pise construction, st erth, peter street, eltham

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 of 7 strips Fuji HR100eltham, peter street

Rear entranceColour photographeltham, peter street, stanhope, houses

Before the house fireColour photographeltham, peter street, stanhope, houses

Escape for BishopColour photographeltham, peter street, stanhope, houses

Rear entranceColour photographeltham, peter street, stanhope, houses

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 24) Mount - Kodak Kodachromeeltham, houses, peter street, pise construction

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 24) Mount - Kodak Kodachromeeltham, houses, peter street, pise construction

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 24) Mount - Kodak Kodachromeeltham, houses, peter street, pise construction

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 24) Mount - Kodak Kodachromeeltham, houses, peter street, pise construction

On the crest of Stanhope Hill at Peter Street, Eltham, stands the former home of a couple, Clem and Nina Christensen who had a major influence on the literary development of post World War 2 Australia. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p109 On the crest of Stanhope Hill at Peter Street, Eltham, stands the former home of a couple, who had a major influence on the literary development of post World War Two Australia. In 1946, Clem and Nina Christensen bought the house, which had been designed by Harold Desbrowe Annear, considered to be one of Australia’s most innovative architects in the first quarter of the 20th century.1 That year the stucco building with a metal roof, built in 1910, was extended to the north and south. The main residence was built of jarrah, with stucco walls, floors of Tasmanian hardwood and rooms panelled with Californian redwood (sequoia). The property included a cottage, former stables, a dairy and meat-house. From its beginnings the property has attracted artists and intellectuals. Official World War One artist, Will Longstaff, bought the property – then 15½ acres (6ha) around 1900. Famous for his painting The Ghosts of Menin Gate, now in the Australian War Memorial Canberra, Longstaff was the cousin of another well-known painter, Sir John Longstaff. Several leading artists visited Longstaff at Stanhope including Walter Withers of the Heidelberg School, who lived in Brougham Street, Eltham. In 1919, Theo Handfield, father of author and journalist John Handfield, bought the property from Mrs Longstaff. Then in 1924 the land was subdivided and most of the estate (80 blocks) was auctioned. The next owner was related to novelist Virginia Woolf. Bishop Reginald Stephen, Warden of Trinity College, bought the house and five acres (2 ha) in 1928. He was related to Sir Leslie Stephen, the first editor of the Dictionary of National Biography and Woolf’s father. Novelist and music critic John Harcourt, was the next tenant, while he and his wife Fay, built their mud-brick house Clay Nuneham, at the foot of Stanhope Hill. Dr Clem and Mrs Nina Christensen, lived in the house until their deaths. Clem Christensen – who died aged 91 in 2003 – was a poet, short story writer and painter. However, he is most noted for founding Australia’s foremost literary journal2 Meanjin (originally Meanjin Papers), which he described as ‘democratic left of centre’, in Brisbane in 1940. Clem brought Meanjin to Melbourne in 1945 and remained editor until 1975. Enormously influential, Meanjin spawned and encouraged many of Australia’s best literary talents and it had an international reputation. Meanjin was the first to publish such writers as Judith Wright and David Malouf and it encouraged writers like Patrick White and Peter Carey. Nina Christensen – who died aged 89 in 2001 – was founding Editor of the Melbourne Slavonic Studies Journal and pioneered the study of Russian in Australia. In 1946 she established the Department of Russian Language and Literature at The University of Melbourne, which she led until 1977. Nina’s graduates largely staffed subsequent departments, in other Australian universities.3 However Nina’s Russian heritage and Clem’s outspoken views caused problems. They were forced to defend themselves in the Petrov inspired Royal Commission on Espionage in the 1950s, but were exonerated. The Christensens attracted and hosted many distinguished Australian and foreign writers, artists and academics, including Nobel prize-winning novelist, Patrick White and the world’s then leading cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich.4 Other writers and intellectuals who visited Stanhope were: Vance Palmer, Alan Marshall, A D Hope, Xavier Herbert, Nevil Shute, Geoffrey Dutton, Martin Boyd, Judah Waten, Bruce Grant, Dorothy Hewett and Sir Herbert Read. Painters included: Danila Vassilieff, Arthur Boyd, Albert Tucker, Justus Jörgensen, Robert Hughes and Clifton Pugh. Academics included: Manning Clark, Geoffrey Blainey, W Macmahon Ball, Richard Downing, Geoffrey Serle and scientist Tim Marshall. Politicians included: Jim Cairns, Pauline Toner, Lance Barnard, Sir Paul Hasluck, Sheryl Garbutt and performance artists included: film star Olivia Newton-John, members of the Bolshoi ballet and the Russian State Ballet of Siberia.5 Nina Christensen was honoured in 2006 at the Eltham Living and Learning Centre with the building of an amphitheatre designed by V Sverdlin.This 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, clem christesen, eltham, nina christesen, peter street, stanhope

Brick paving and garden at the front of "St Erth" 7 Peter Street, Eltham. This was an owner-built pise house constructed in 1951. 35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whitepeter street, eltham, houses, pise house

Pise or Adobe Brick Cottage for Mr D. Sawer in Peter St., Eltham Design and drawings by J.M. Harcourt, Clay Nuneham, Eltham. The cottage at present day 22 Peter Street was built circa 1946. Also Drawing of planned carport and future extension for 22 Peter Street, Eltham22 peter street, building plans, clay nuneham, d. sawer, eltham, j.m. harcourt design, adobe house, j.m. harcourt designc.1946, pise house

A photographic record of Peter Street, Eltham, commencing from Diamond Street through to Silver Street, Eltham, recorded in 2007 by local resident, Russell Yeoman. Peter Street does not connect through at Silver Street. Street numbers in Peter Street commence at the Silver Street end with many houses at the Diamond Street (north east end ) having access from Peter Street but addresses are Silver Street (52-60). Peter Street is an unsealed road, which remains so in 2026.peter street, eltham, russell yeoman collection, houses, streets

Colour photographpeter street, eltham, roads

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 36) Mount - Agfa CS System grey 8 dotsroads, peter street, eltham

Photocopy, A4, 32 pagesadobe house, anna merle davidson, clay nuneham, diamond street, eltham, fay street, florrie's cottage, george victor davidson, graeme butler & associates, handfield street, hazel's cottage, heritage assessment, houses, john harcourt, langi dorn, mcmahon ball residence, mudstone acre, muriel elizabeth handfield, peter street, pise house, rocknall, shire of nillumbik, stanhope house, stanhope street, york street

Part of a presentation on "Significant Trees, Wildflowers and Local Gardens" by Russell Yeoman to the 10 November 2004 Eltham District Historical Society meeting35mm colour positive transparency Mount - white 7 dots (Technodia Italy)peter street, eltham, houses

Part of a presentation on "Significant Trees, Wildflowers and Local Gardens" by Russell Yeoman to the 10 November 2004 Eltham District Historical Society meeting35mm colour positive transparency Mount - white 7 dots (Technodia Italy)peter street, eltham, houses

Eltham built landscapeRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsFuji 200 Aeltham, buildings, houses

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6grevillea, peter street

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6peter street, eltham

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak Gold 200-6peter street, eltham

Clem Christesen wrote a brief history of "Stanhope" which was reproduced in EDHS Newsletter No. 162 May 2005. STANHOPE HOUSE is situated on the crest of Stanhope Hill about ten minutes' walk westward from the Eltham railway station and is bounded by Peter, Fay and Stanhope Streets. The original property, comprising 15 ½ acres with a frontage on Diamond Creek, was bought in about 1900 by Will Longstaff (b. 1878, d London 1953), official war artist during World War I, who became famous for his painting 'The Ghosts of Menin Gate', France which is now in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. The main residence, designed by Desbrowe Annear, was built of jarrah, with stucco walls and floors of Tasmanian hardwood The rooms were panelled with Californian redwood (sequoia). Away from house was a cottage (used as a studio), and stables, dairy and meat house. In 1919 Mr Theo. Handfield bought the property from Mrs Longstaff. On New Year 's Day 1924 most of the estate (eighty blocks) was auctioned. Bishop Reginald Stephen, Warden of Trinity College and distinguished scholar, bought the house and five acres in 1928. Dr and Mrs C.B. Christesen became the new owners in 1946 and subsequently extended the house on the north and south sides. 'Stanhope 'has had many very interesting art and literary associations. When Will Longstaff occupied it - he was a cousin of another well-known painter, Sir John Longstaff- various leading artists of the period, including Walter Withers who lived nearby, were frequent visitors. A son of Mr and Mrs Handfield, John, became a journalist and author, and now lives with his wife Esta at Homestead Road, Eltham. Bishop Stephen was related to Sir Leslie Stephen (1832-1904), one of the great representative minds of Victorian Britain, first editor of the monumental Dictionary of National Biography and father of the famous novelist and essayist Virginia Woolf. John Harcourt, novelist and music critic, rented 'Stanhope 'while he and his wife Fay were building 'Clay Nuneham' (mudbrick) at the foot of Stanhope Hill near the creek. Nina Christesen, academic and founding editor of Melbourne Slavonic Studies, was Head of the Department of Russian Language and Literature, University of Melbourne, from 1946 to 1977. Clem Christesen, poet, short story writer and painter, founded Australia's leading literary journal Meanjin Quarterly in 1940 and remained editor until 1975. Very many distinguished Australian and foreign writers, artists and academics-from Nobel prize-winning novelist Patrick White to the world's leading cellist Mstislav Rostropovich - have visited 'Stanhope ' over the years. The extensive garden is said to be one of the loveliest in Eltham. The main entrance is by way of Diamond and Peter Streets. film - kodak gc 400-6, russell yeoman collection, scan - 35mm negative, bishop stephen, clem christesen, eltham, nina mikhailovna christesen, peter street, stanhope, theo handfield, will longstaff

16 colour prints 10 x 15 cm gayle blackwood collection, houses, eltham, john street, peter glass

Corner of Diamond Street and Peter Street, Eltham. Walkers gather for the beginning of the walk led by local historian Russell Yeoman. The tree-covered hill that forms the western backdrop to the Eltham town centre exhibits many characteristics that are considered to contribute to the special character of Eltham. They include unmade streets, steeply sloping land, extensive tree cover and a large number of mud brick and pise (rammed earth) houses. A number of these were constructed in the 1940s and 50s by well-known builders John Harcourt and Alistair Knox. A significant proportion from this period were constructed by owner-builders. We walked around the upper part of the hill in the area of Kerrie Crescent and Peter Street. We visited several interesting houses (for external viewing only). The walk commenced at 2pm at the corner of Diamond Street and Peter Street (Melway ref 21H4) and was about 2 km. This free walk was open to the general public as well as Society members. Whilst COVID restrictions did not require the wearing of masks in the open, masks had to be carried and all attendees registered with name and contact number or via QR registration.Born Digital (8 images)covid-19, eltham, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, mudbrick, peter street, diamond street, russell yeoman

Russian-born Nina Christesen (nee Maximoff) is regarded as the pioneer of Russian academic studies in Australia. In 1946 she became a lecturer in Russian at Melbourne University, and in 1947 established the Department of Russian Language and Literature, remaining its head until her retirement in 1977. In 1987 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia. Nina was married to Clem Christesen, founder and editor of the respected (if left-leaning) literary magazine "Meanjin". They lived at "Stanhope" in Peter Street, Eltham. Visitors included writers Patrick White and Xavier Herbert, painters Arthur Boyd and Clifton Pugh, and historians Manning Clark and Geoffrey Blainey. In 1955, both Nina and Clem were interrogated by the Petrov Royal Commission on suspicion of being Communist sympathisers, which they reputedly rebutted wittily. Nina died in 2001 and Clem in 2003. They are buried together at Eltham Cemetery. There is also a memorial to Nina at the Eltham Living and Learning Centre, in the form of a bluestone amphitheatre with a floor of hand-painted tiles. Christesen In Loving Memory Of Clement Byrne 1911 - 2003 Beloved husband of Nina Mikhailovna Christesen and Nina Mikhailovna 1911 - 2001 Beloved wife of Clement Byrne Christesen also In Memoriam Captain Mikhail Ivanovich Maximoff 1885 - 1967 Tatiana Semenovna Maximoff 1888 - 1979eltham cemetery, gravestones, memorials, captain mikhail ivanovich maximoff, clem christesen, clement byne christesen, nina mikhailovna christesen, tatiana semenovna maximoff

Russian-born Nina Christesen (nee Maximoff) is regarded as the pioneer of Russian academic studies in Australia. In 1946 she became a lecturer in Russian at Melbourne University, and in 1947 established the Department of Russian Language and Literature, remaining its head until her retirement in 1977. In 1987 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia. Nina was married to Clem Christesen, founder and editor of the respected (if left-leaning) literary magazine "Meanjin". They lived at "Stanhope" in Peter Street, Eltham. Visitors included writers Patrick White and Xavier Herbert, painters Arthur Boyd and Clifton Pugh, and historians Manning Clark and Geoffrey Blainey. In 1955, both Nina and Clem were interrogated by the Petrov Royal Commission on suspicion of being Communist sympathisers, which they reputedly rebutted wittily. Nina died in 2001 and Clem in 2003. They are buried together at Eltham Cemetery. There is also a memorial to Nina at the Eltham Living and Learning Centre, in the form of a bluestone amphitheatre with a floor of hand-painted tiles. Christesen In Loving Memory Of Clement Byrne 1911 - 2003 Beloved husband of Nina Mikhailovna Christesen and Nina Mikhailovna 1911 - 2001 Beloved wife of Clement Byrne Christesen also In Memoriam Captain Mikhail Ivanovich Maximoff 1885 - 1967 Tatiana Semenovna Maximoff 1888 - 1979Born Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, heritage excursion, clem christesen, clement byne christesen, nina mikhailovna christesen, captain mikhail ivanovich maximoff, tatiana semenovna maximoff

Launch of "Pioneers and Painters: One Hundred years of Eltham and its Shire" by Alan Marshall. The history was commissioned by the Shire of Eltham and published as part of the Shire of Eltham centenary celebrations. Left to Right: Cr. (Mrs.) Charis M. Pelling, Mrs Dreverman, Cr. G. C. Dreverman, Mrs Nina Christesen, Mr Clem Christesen, Editor of the literary journal "Meanjin". "Russian-born Nina Christesen (nee Maximoff) is regarded as the pioneer of Russian academic studies in Australia. In 1946 she became a lecturer in Russian at Melbourne University, and in 1947 established the Department of Russian Language and Literature, remaining its head until her retirement in 1977. In 1987 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia. Nina was married to Clem Christesen, founder and editor of the respected (if left-leaning) literary magazine "Meanjin". They lived at "Stanhope" in Peter Street, Eltham. Visitors included writers Patrick White and Xavier Herbert, painters Arthur Boyd and Clifton Pugh, and historians Manning Clark and Geoffrey Blainey. In 1955, both Nina and Clem were interrogated by the Petrov Royal Commission on suspicion of being Communist sympathisers, which they reputedly rebutted wittily. Nina died in 2001 and Clem in 2003. They are buried together at Eltham Cemetery. There is also a memorial to Nina at the Eltham Living and Learning Centre, in the form of a bluestone amphitheatre with a floor of hand-painted tiles. Main sources: Wikipedia, obituaries in The Age and The Sunday Age. " - Eltham District Historical Society newsletter No. 247, August 2019.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 imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, shire of eltham, shire of eltham centenary, pioneers and painters, book launch, cr. g.c. dreverman, mrs. dreverman, nina christesen, charris pelling