Menu from The Eltham Hotel with photograph of the original hotel on menu cover; with photocopy of newspaper clipping 24/02/1955 describing Hotel's target of 1000 pounds for the Children's Hospital Appeal.Black and brown print on white cardeltham hotel, eltham

Colour photograph of Eltham Hotel viewed from opposite on Main Road looking up Pitt Streeteltham, eltham hotel, main road, pitt street, hotels

Postcard of Eltham Hotel, cnr Main Road and Pitt Street viewed from Main Road looking towards Pitt Street. Mel: 21 J7eltham-hotel, main-road, pitt-street, eltham

Olive Elsie May Reed was licensee of the Eltham Hotel from April 1948 to January 1950. Extensions made to the hotel c.1954Colour photograph of an original sepia imagehotels, eltham, main road, pitt street, 1948, eltham hotel, olive elsie may reed, reed's eltham hotel

Olive Elsie May Reed was licensee of the Eltham Hotel from April 1948 to January 1950. The Eltham Hotel is the oldest continually operating hotel in the Eltham district. Initially referred to as the Little Eltham Hotel, it has been known as the Eltham Hotel since the 1850s through to present time with a very brief period as the Eltham Tavern in the late 1980s. Benjamin Oliver Wallis was a prominent Eltham resident, publican and Councillor during the second half of the nineteenth century. He owned the house that is now the Nillumbik Living and Learning Centre at 739 Main Road Eltham and one stage the Eltham Hotel. Wallis migrated to Melbourne in 1853 but his wife and children remained in Cornwall for a further 10 years. Later in 1853 Richard Warren engaged Wallis to build the Eltham Hotel and it opened in 1854. The hotel was constructed of hard basaltic blue stone quarried in the Eltham district and cemented together with mud, and partly of bricks made at Eltham. The Fountain of Friendship Hotel on the opposite side of Maria Street (Main Road) opened shortly after. The hotel was a well-known resting place for gold diggers during the gold rush at Woods’ Point and Warren would buy the gold from the diggers. In 1858 Warren fell into financial difficulties and had to sell the hotel. Wallis bought the hotel and obtained a publican’s licence in 1861. In the 1850s the Fountain had been the more popular hotel but after that the Eltham Hotel became more popular. It is understood that in about 1857 Wallis probably built the “Living and Learning house” for tanner John Pearson. In 1868 Pearson became bankrupt and Wallis acquired the house and he lived there until his death in 1896. For some of this time the house was in the name of Benjamin’s son Richard but he died in 1888 and ownership reverted to his father. Wallis was a member of the Eltham Jockey Club and in 1867 his wife Anna rode her horse Charlotte in the Annual Races. Anna was also an angler and is reported to have caught a large perch in the Yarra River. She died in 1887. On 16th September 1886 Wallis sold the hotel to Christopher Watson (Snr). Watson died in 1887 and the hotel passed to his son Christopher Watson (Jr) who owned it until his death in 1909 at which time his wife Emily took over the license. Upon her death, their son Herbert applied for the license in January 1915. In July 1925, Herbert Watson demolished the original building and, in its place, erected a modern hotel which remains the foundation of the present Eltham Hotel. The contractors at the time commented on how well the original building had been constructed. A description of the new building was detailed in the Advertiser newspaper of January 8, 1926: “The new building consists of. two stories. designed in English tavern style, and contains-all told, 24 rooms. On the second floor, in front uninviting the two gables is a deep balcony, which will be much appreciated by visitors. The lower story is wholly of brick, and the upper one of wood and fibrous cement plaster. The rooms are spacious and lofty, and the windows are large and of latest style, and light the rooms splendidly. The entrance hall is 8 feet wide. The bar is a very commodious room and is furnished in the most up-to-date and convenient manner. The dining room, a very attractive apartment, is 30 feet by 15 feet 6 inches, and the bar parlor is also a large and well furnished room. A large cellar, an indispensable adjunct to an hotel, has been excavated beneath the bar. On the upper story are 12 bedrooms, and among other conveniences are two bath rooms in which hot and cold water can be used. All the rooms have been supplied with the necessary appliances for electric lighting, which will be one of the progressive evidences which Eltham will shortly enjoy.” “In the yard a brick garage to accommodate three cars at once, has been erected. This, as well as the hotel, is roofed with tiles.” “From the front of the hotel (especially the balcony) a lovely view of the country west and, north may be obtained.” “It may be added that it Is intended to have an ornamental garden, a tennis court. and a kiosk in connection with the hotel, and the property will have a rustic fence round it.” The hotel has since undergone several modifications and extensions Pages from a scrapbook belonging to Heather Jenkins (nee Cone) who lived as a child in the Police Residence at 728 Main Road, Eltham in the 1920s.Heather Jenkins was the daughter of Constable John Thomas Cone, Badge #3935 served at Eltham Police Station 1 May 1911 to 9 July 1922.Glued on a brown paper scrapbook page (torn from scrapbook) with 8 black and white/sepia photos of varying sizes, 1 newspaper clipping and one greeting card with printed sketch and handwritten captions in ink. On back of page is 1 black and white photo and a large newspaper clipping.eltham, eltham hotel, jim jenkins, reed's eltham hotel, olive elsie may reed

The Eltham Hotel is the oldest continually operating hotel in the Eltham district. Initially referred to as the Little Eltham Hotel, it has been known as the Eltham Hotel since the mid-1850s through to the present except for a brief period as the Eltham Tavern in the late 1980s. The original hotel opened in 1854 by Richard Warren was built by Benjamin Oliver Wallis. The Fountain of Friendship Hotel on the opposite side of Maria Street (Main Road) opened shortly after. The hotel was a well-known resting place for gold diggers during the gold rush at Woods’ Point and Warren would buy the gold from the diggers. Warren ran into financial difficulties and determined to return to England. Wallis bought the hotel in 1861 and ran it till 1886 when he sold it to Christopher Watson Snr. When Christopher Watson Snr died a year after purchase, his son Christopher took over until his death in 1909 when it passed to wife Emily and then their youngest son, Herbert James (Jim) Watson in 1915. In July 1925, Jim Watson demolished the original building and, in its place, erected a modern hotel which remains the foundation of the present-day Eltham Hotel. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p41This 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, eltham, eltham hotel, main road, pitt street

The 1852 owner was Benjamin O'Wallis who died in 1896Photocopy of a photograph of C. Watson's Eltham Hotel, cnr. Main Road and Pitt Street, Elthamhotels, eltham, c watson, main road, pitt street, benjamin o'wallis

The Eltham Hotel was opened in 1854 situated on the south east corner of Main Road (Maria Street) and Pitt Street. Post card dated Eltham 2.1.1908 sent to Mr C. Watson "Malvale" Mardan Inscribed "Wishing you a Brigt and Happy New Year from Florrie" Most likley sent by Florence May Shillinglaw to sister Carrie Watson and new brother-in-law Christopher Watson - The Watsons married in 1907 View looking south on Main Road towards Pitt Street and Watson's Eltham Hotel on left. At this time, the hotel was run by Christopher Watson Jnr. Carrie Shillinglaw had recently married his son, Christopher. Ultimately the hotel would pass to his youngest son, Herbert James (Jim) Watson who demolished the original building in 1925 and erected a new modern building on the same site that remains in present time though modified several times over the years. See also EDHS_00133 POSTCARD 1905-1940s Like the carte-de-visite, postcards enjoyed a collecting craze by large numbers of people, and were often kept in albums through which the interested visitor could browse. Postcards were posted or exchanged in huge numbers. Postal authorities in Australia only allowed the private printing of postcards from 1898. At this time the back of the card was reserved for the address and postage stamp, and the front was used for the message and a picture. In 1902 British authorities allowed a "divided back", so that the left side could be used for the message, the right side for the address and stamp, and the whole of the front was devoted to the picture. France followed suit in 1904, Germany and Australia in 1905, and the United States in 1907. - Frost, Lenore; Dating Family Photos 1850-1920; Valiant Press Pty. Ltd., Berwick, Victoria 1991marg ball collection, postcard, eltham hotel, florence may bunker (nee shillinglaw) (1886-1969), main road, pitt street, caroline (carrie) watson (nee shillinglaw 1876-1956), christopher watson, 1908

Christoher Watson's Eltham Hotel, cnr Maria Street (Main Road) and Pitt Street, Eltham. Christopher Watson in centre (bareheaded). Reproduced on p60 of 'Pioneers & Painters' The hotel was constructed in the 1850s immediately following the discovery of gold in Victoria. The original founder, a Mr Warren. engaged a builder named Wallace, to erect the hotel, and being unable to finance it, the story goes, handed it over to Mr Wallace, who finished the job, and received the first licence. The building was constructed of hard basaltic blue stone, quarried in the Eltham district, and partly of bricks made at Eltham. At that time the town owned not only an hotel, but a flour mill, a brewery, a brickworks, and other important industries. The hotel was carried on for the benefit of the first owners for over 30 years and was then purchased by Mr Chris Watson. The hotel was in the early days a well-known resting place for the gold diggers during the gold rush at Woods' Point. A new hotel was erected on the same site by Mr H. Watson in 1925.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 imagechristopher watson, eltham, hotel, main road, maria street, pioneers and painters, pitt street, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, watson's hotel

Christoher Watson's Eltham Hotel, cnr Maria Street (Main Road) and Pitt Street, Eltham. Christopher Watson in centre (bareheaded). Reproduced on p60 of 'Pioneers & Painters' The hotel was constructed in the 1850s immediately following the discovery of gold in Victoria. The original founder, a Mr Warren. engaged a builder named Wallace, to erect the hotel, and being unable to finance it, the story goes, handed it over to Mr Wallace, who finished the job, and received the first licence. The building was constructed of hard basaltic blue stone, quarried in the Eltham district, and partly of bricks made at Eltham. At that time the town owned not only an hotel, but a flour mill, a brewery, a brickworks, and other important industries. The hotel was carried on for the benefit of the first owners for over 30 years and was then purchased by Mr Chris Watson. The hotel was in the early days a well-known resting place for the gold diggers during the gold rush at Woods' Point. A new hotel was erected on the same site by Mr H. Watson in 1925.Early photo of Eltham Hotel which has been on site in various forms since mid 1800sSepia photograph mounted on cardInscribed on back: "Property of Mr Albert Watson, 53 Yarra St, Heidelberg. Christopher Watson (bare headed) Given to Marion Huggett December 1977 c.1900 son of Watson Snr behind cart"christopher watson, eltham, eltham hotel, main road, maria street, pioneers and painters, pitt street, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, watson's hotel

Black and white photograph reproduced on p111 of 'Pioneers & Painters'pioneers and painters, eltham hotel, main road, pitt street, walter withers, eltham

Black and white photographic printOriginally located in a Filmpro King Size Prints processing envelope $3.01 Shire of Eltham 9/9/66 and noted as Calrossie Ave area and crossed out Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Bridge Street to Elsa Court existing conditions mid 1967eltham hotel, main road, pitt street, road construction, streets

[from EDHS Newsletter No. 65, March, 1989:] ELTHAM HERITAGE WALK The Society's contribution to Heritage Week this year will be a guided walk around Eltham featuring a number of buildings and locations of historical and environmental interest. Three dates are listed as official Heritage Week events, Sundays 16th and 23rd April and Saturday 22nd. In addition, there will be a walk on Saturday 15th for Society Members. All walks will start at 1:00 p.m. in Panther Place near Shillinglaw Cottage. Each will take about four hours and the distance is about 5km. Old photos of locations visited will be available for viewing.Colour photographheritage excursion, activities, main road, eltham hotel

Colour photographrestaurants, eltham hotel

Born Digitaleltham, main road, eltham hotel

Born Digitaleltham, main road, eltham hotel

Born Digitaleltham, main road, eltham hotel

Born Digitaleltham, main road, eltham hotel

A walk around Little Eltham, 21 June 2017Born Digitalmain road, pitt street, eltham hotel

A walk around Little Eltham, 21 June 2017Born Digitalmain road, pitt street, eltham hotel

Original well now covered up and site redeveloped. Was originally located just north of the entrance to the Living and Learning Centre which is now the location of present-day commercial premises at 739 Main Road. In the distant background on the other side of Main Road can be seen the Eltham Hotel in its pink days.Two colour photographs of a well which remains on vacant land at front of Living and Learning Centre, Eltham. 1. Perspective showing well with Main Road and Eltham Hotel in background 2. Looking into the bottle shaped well which is approx. 3m deep and 2m diameterwells, eltham, living and learning centre, main road, eltham hotel

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 7 stripsKodak GA 100 5095roads, main road, construction of the eltham gateway hotel and conference centre

Postcard image of W. Morris Evelyn Hotel, cnr. Main Road and Pitt Street, Eltham, opposite present hotel. Built in 1852 as the Fountain of Friendship Hotel, later named the Fountain Hotel it was located on the southwest corner of Maria (Main) and Pitt streets. Also later known as the Evelyn Hotel, it was de-licensed in 1919. The hotel was totally destroyed by fire on Wednesday, February 18, 1931 Sometime between June 1851 and 1854, the property at the top of the hill of Little Eltham described as Lot 235 of plan of subdivision, of portion number 12, of section number 4, of the parish of Nillumbik, on the county of Evelyn was purchased from J.M. Holloway and the Fountain of Friendship Hotel was built using prefabricated sections constructed from cedar timber, imported from Singapore. By 1854, John O’Brien, a somewhat shady character was the proprietor of the hotel when he put it up for sale in November 1854. It is not clear whether he was the original owner / builder. John O’Brien purchased several other lots in Little Eltham from a Robert Wells but did not pay the balance for these lots and skipped town as soon as he sold the Fountain Hotel to Charles Roberts. Following the somewhat dodgy business practices of John O’Brien, little is known of Charles Roberts but it is possible he enjoyed several years of ownership. It was put up for sale again in 1858 but no outcome of that sale is known, and it was advertised to let in 1863, again possibly to no avail. James Trew took it over in July 1864 but his association was short lived with his premature death in December of that year leaving his widow Mary to take over and run the enterprise. No other details regarding ownership or issuances of licenses to run a public house have been identified so it is possible that Mary Trew managed the business until it was eventually advertised To Let in December 1870. George Merrick took over the hotel and was granted a license at the end of March 1871 but he too was destined to follow in the footsteps of James Trew and died prematurely at age 40 just six months later, in September 1871. John Treloar then took over the hotel but sometime between 1872 and 1873 the license was transferred to Bejamin Gane. Gane it seems held the license for the majority of the 1870s At some point between December 1874 and September 1878 the name of the hotel is changed from the Fountain Hotel to the Evelyn Hotel. In March 1880, ownership is transferred to James Purcell, a former Councillor of the Shire of Eltham’s North Riding. Purcell’s ownership of the hotel is associated with the 1880s though there is a brief period in 1887 where the license is granted to a Lawrence Brennan, reasons unknown. In December 1889, James Purcell ownership of the Evelyn hotel throughout the 1880s comes to an end when William Morris purchases the property and the license is transferred to him. Ownership of the property remains within the Morris family for the next 40 plus years and it is the Morris name that is most associated with its history. William Morris was a Councillor with the Shire of Eltham for a continuous 24 year period. He served as Shire President for three terms. It appears he did very well with the Evelyn Hotel and his entertainment and dining experiences are well regarded. Morris is also closely asspotaieted with local horse racing events and often provided the hospitality for the Diamond Creek races and various races held at Eltham Park (Eltham Lower Park). It is during Morris’ stewardship that major changes occurred to the hotel. On June 2, 1892 a fire broke out in one of the lodger’s rooms from a candle that had been left burning. The hotel is constructed of timber and three rooms are destroyed. Christopher Watson, proprietor of the Eltham Hotel across the road comes to Morris’ assistance and the hotel is saved but there is significant damage. It is suspected that the lodgers rooms were at the southern end of the building in the two-story section. It is further suspected that it is a result of this fire that the building was modified and the two story section rebuilt as single story and the shingle roof converted to tin. From this point on, Morris appears to enjoy a relatively long and quiet period of ownership. He signs a 5 year lease to let the hotel out in 1903 and the license is transferred to an Ann Evans. Morris intended to live in a house near the railway station but the license ris renewed in his name just two years later in December 1905. Morris is charged with illegal Sunday trading in August 1917. The case is dismissed through lack of evidence. It seems that this was fairly commonplace amongst the various hostelries of the countryside. In June 1919 the Evelyn Hotel is de-licensed. Though considered clean and well maintained, the Licensing Board did not believe having two hotels directly opposite each other was warranted for the existing trade. The case for the Eltham Hotel to remain in business was stronger. Morris was subsequently awarded £480 in November of that year as compensation. The property then was used for various businesses such as hairdressing and dining rooms as well as lodging. William Morris died in December 1922 and his wife Mary inherited the property. She had listed it for sale in August 1929 but nothing eventuated from that. In February 1931, whilst occupied by Hector and Louise McLean and their young family, the old building caught fire. Ashes from one of the fires had fallen through the cracks in the floorboards and took hold in the basement. A firsthand account of that harrowing experience was recorded by Mrs Edith Jones (nee McLean) in 1998, who was six years old at the time, and held by Eltham District Historical Society (04749). It was published in EDHS Newsletter No. 226, October 2022. On July 3, 1931 the Advertiser published the following endnote to the Evelyn Hotel. Last Traces of Fire The traces of Eltham's largest fire are being obliterated by the removal of debris from the site of the old Evelyn Hotel, which was destroyed a few months ago, and all that now remains is a blackened spot and fire colored bricks and stones. The site is one of the most imposing in the district, being in the heart of the old township. The township is really in two sections, old and new, the latter is situated round the station. The passing of the old hotel was regretted by all, as it was so closely associated with the pioneering, days. - Research by Peter Pidgeon, EDHS, June 2026Postcard photoRetun to Garnet Burges c/o Judge Bookhotels, evelyn hotel, eltham, main road, pitt street, fountain hotel, william morris

Photocopy - Ref to P111 of Pioneers and Paintershotels, eltham, main road, pitt street

Photocopy The Argus 6 August 1885, 24 November 1885, 27 May 1856: description of Eltham and Eltham Hotel, owner Richard Warren. Photocopy newspaper advertisement no date but pre decimal currency: Eltham Hotel offers accommodation. Newspaper advertisement: Eltham Hotel; Leader Associated Newspapers, Eltham Centenary Supplement, Martch 30, 1971, p2 Photocopy newspaper item 1973: Eltham Hotel, photograph of building, owners J S Blow, Mervyn Blow, G Ackland. Newspaper article: Residents see red over hotel expansion plans, Diamond Valley News, 3 April 1996. Newspaper article: Hotel gets nod for expansion, Diamond Valley News, 12 June 1996. Business card 2019, Eltham Hotel. Business card no date, Eltham Hotel. Newspaper article: Elham Hotel gets new owner, Heidelberg& Diamond Valley Weekly, March 2, 2010eltham, property, businesses, eltham hotel, j s blow, mervyn blow, g ackland, richard warren, main road eltham

Eltham Hotel, 784 Main Road, cnr Pitt Street, ElthamTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham hotel

Eltham Gateway, Eltham Hotel, 784 Main Road, Eltham at corner of Pitt StreetTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, eltham hotel, pitt street

Eltham Gateway, Eltham Hotel, 784 Main Road, Eltham at corner of Pitt StreetTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, eltham hotel, pitt street

Eltham Gateway, Eltham Hotel, 784 Main Road, Eltham at corner of Pitt StreetTomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, eltham hotel, pitt street