The 150th celebrations of Eltham Primary School included the launch of this book to commemorate the event, titled "We Did Open a School in Little Eltham". The title is taken from a line in a letter from first head teacher David Clark who opened his first private school in a bark hut. This publication of some 262 pages far exceeds the standard of most school commemorative histories, both in content and presentation. The three joint writers are all parents of students at the school. Ian Anderson, Barry Carozzi and Tarja Fellowes have spent many months researching and writing. In the book they acknowledge the contribution of EDHS President Harry Gilham and of Peter Cuffley, great grandson of Eltham pioneer Thomas Sweeney, Many of the photographs were from the collection of EDHS. Cover includes the 3rd and 4th Class, with assistant teacher Catherine Clarke, c.1886Paperback; 1vISBN 0975179632 [written on flyleaf] Donated to the 2006 Committee by & from the School Councileltham state school, eltham, eltham primary school, social customs, schools, catherine clark

Celebrating Eltham Primary School 1855 to 1995, with photographs and text..20 p, 30 cm.

History of Eltham Primary School to 1970Photocopy of original book: History of the Eltham Primary School, published in 1970. 14 pages. 3 Photocopies of parts of map Handwritten notes by H.G. about walking to school and early classroom conditons and activiites Writings by Grade 1 students of EPS "about what life was like 150 years ago"eltham primary school, adamson, armstrong, atkinson, betti, blackman, brown, buchanan, caldwell, clark, cochrane, coleman, curran, daply, dudfield, dunne, dunstan, elliott, findlay, fisher, gamble, gardiner, gardner, gilchrist, gray, greenwood, haniford, harry gilham collection, hughes, hunniford, jobling, kane, kaylock, kewish, lancaster, main, mccoll, mcmurrey, mcolvan, meadow, meadows, murray, murrey, orlebar, overman, pearson, peerson, potter, scott, sincom, son, spicer, state school no. 209, stewart, sweeney, teague, unsworth, warren, williams

Fundraiser for Dalton Street School, Eltham (Eltham Primary School). A celebration of the knowledge of grandmothers and great grandmothers needed to carry out their daily tasksdalton street school, eltham primary school, eltham state school no. 209, folklore, fundraiser

History of Eltham Primary School to 197014 p. ; 26 cm.[handwritten note by Harry Gilham (dated 2012) pasted inside commenting on a significant omission]eltham primary school history

Information including program of events and registration of interesting in supporting the 150th Anniversary Celebration of Eltham Primary School No. 209 Digital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes. A4 tri-fold information brochure150th anniversary, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, eltham primary school, eltham state school, state school no. 209

This building is the earliest building remaining on site today. It was built in 1875 and was the second school building replacing the original 1856 building of stone walls with wooden shingles on the roof. That building needed to be replaced after the stone walls collapsed outwards. In August 1912 the school issued a requisition for remodelling of the school concerned with replacement of the existing windows with larger and wider windows to allow additional light into the school rooms and the erection of a wooden partition in the centre of the room. An extension to the building at rear and skylights in the roof were added in 1921. Only two low wooden stairs were originally provided to enter the porch. These were rebuilt by 1928. A steel mud grate was introduced 1930s/1940s and an infant shelter shed circa 1945. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p49 Eltham Primary School at Dalton Street, bustling with hundreds of students, has changed dramatically since it began in July 1855.1 A reminder of its early days is the building in local sandstone with a slate roof. First head teacher was David G Clark who was officially in charge from June 1856 until 1889.2 This school was not the settlement’s first. That was the Church of England Little Eltham School, west of Diamond Creek in 1853 and closed in 1872. In 1855 David Clark and his sister Catherine, opened what was to become the present school, with eight students. The school operated elsewhere in a temporary slab building, also used for worship by the Wesleyans,3 which allowed the wind and rain easy access. As well as having to endure such Spartan conditions, the students paid one penny a week for the privilege. But in June 1856 the patrons objected to the conditions, and they and the Clarks wrote to the National Schools Board, asking for a suitable school. They asked for a grant to buy land for a school, and to appoint the Clarks. As a result, inspector Mr A B Orlebar visited the school. He found 33 children aged from four to 13 and noted, among other things: ‘There is no attempt at classification, and this is owing chiefly to the want of books, every child bringing with it any spelling or reading book he or she may find at home,4 and partly to the master and mistress having little idea of anything but individual instruction.’ Of Mr Clark, Mr Orlebar said: ‘I cannot pass him as coming up to the full standard of a probationer. He promises however to pursue a course….if the commissioners take him into their service.’ Of Catherine: ‘She makes a promise similar to that of her brother. Pupils were orderly and the school seemed well conducted. I cannot therefore hesitate to recommend them both personally as probationers.’ Later at a public meeting, Mr Orlebar pledged the commissioners would give £150 for a school, if this was matched by local residents. The meeting decided the commissioners would acquire two acres (0.8ha) for the school site. The building, constructed with local sandstone, was completed in December 1857, measuring 40 feet x 16 feet (12mx5m) and 10 feet (3m) high. It was divided into two rooms – one for the school and the other for teacher accommodation. So the Eltham school was born, in an area regarded as ‘one of the poorest in the colony’. Excerpts from inspectors’ reports in the following years, show that in some ways school has not changed that much since then: ‘Discipline only moderate. Too much chattering!’ (1873); ‘Several slates were cleaned with saliva applied by the hand! Damp rags would be much nicer.’(1891).5 In 1863 the Board of Education took over the school giving it its current name and number, Eltham Primary School No 209. Overcrowding has dogged the school over much of its history. In 1875 overcrowding spilled part of the school into the local courthouse. But that year the sandstone building, which is still standing, was built for 100 children, costing £553 and replacing the National School building. Now, this section, even following renovations, still bears part of its original graciousness, with lofty timber ceilings, tall vertical windows and original floors.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, dalton street, eltham primary school, state school no. 209

ELTHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS (EDHS Newsletter No. 170 September 2006) On 12 August the school celebrated its 150th anniversary with a most successful open day. Many former students, teachers and parents attended, together with local members of parliament and councillors. A congratulatory message from Premier Steve Bracks and Education Minister Lynne Kosky was read to the large crowd assembled to listen to the various speakers. Our members Jock Read and Geof Braithwaite were there as two of the longest surviving former students. Jock joined the youngest present day student in cutting the large birthday cake. Displays included historical information on Eltham and the school arranged by our Society and photos of school groups arranged into decades. The celebrations included the launch of a book to commemorate the event and titled "We Did Open a School in Little Eltham". The title is taken from a line in a letter from first head teacher David Clark who opened his first private school in a bark hut. This excellent publication of some 262 pages far exceeds the standard of most school commemorative histories, both in content and presentation. The three joint writers are all parents of students at the school. Ian Anderson, Barry Carozzi and Tarja Fellowes have spent many months researching and writing and are congratulated on the outcome. In the book they acknowledge the contribution of our President Harry Gilham and of Peter Cuffley, great grandson of Eltham pioneer Thomas Sweeney, Many of the photographs were provided by our Society. The stone building is the earliest building remaining on site today. It was built in 1875 and was the second school building replacing the original 1856 building of stone walls with wooden shingles on the roof. That building needed to be replaced after the stone walls collapsed outwards. In August 1912 the school issued a requisition for remodelling of the school concerned with replacement of the existing windows with larger and wider windows to allow additional light into the school rooms and the erection of a wooden partition in the centre of the room. An extension to the building at rear and skylights in the roof were added in 1921. Only two low wooden stairs were originally provided to enter the porch. These were rebuilt by 1928. A steel mud grate was introduced 1930s/1940s and an infant shelter shed circa 1945.fay bridge collection, eltham, 150th anniversary, 2006-08-12, eltham primary school, eltham state school no. 209

Saturday 6th, August "Grand Parade, 10.30 a.m., Main Rd., Eltham. Dozens of local groups will be participating. Entries include ponies, Scouts, elderly citizens, bands, athletic clubs, life-be-in-it display, schools and many many more." - 1977 Festival ProgramDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodak Tri-X black and white transparencyKodak Tri-X1977, eltham festival, george coop collection, main road, parade, eltham primary school

Colour photographeltham, dalton street, eltham primary school, schools, state school no. 209

Colour photographeltham, dalton street, eltham primary school, schools, state school no. 209

Colour photographeltham, eltham primary school, schools, state school no. 209, headmaster

activities, education program, eltham district historical society, eltham primary school, eltham state school no. 209, local history centre, school group, harry gilham, jim connor

Digital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, dalton street, david clark, eltham primary school, state school no. 209

View looking up Dalton Street from near Main Road where the former pond was situated. The pond was drained by Council in 1932 due to concerns of mosquitoes, etc against the wishes of long standing residents such as Thekla Jarrold (39 years) and John Clark (22 years). On the right is the Eltham Primary Schoool No. 209 with the former Headmaster's residence.Born Digitaleltham, dalton street, main road, eltham primary school, headmaster's residence, state school no. 209

This building is the earliest building remaining on site today. It was built in 1875 and was the second school building replacing the original 1856 building of stone walls with wooden shingles on the roof. That building needed to be replaced after the stone walls collapsed outwards. In August 1912 the school issued a requisition for remodelling of the school concerned with replacement of the existing windows with larger and wider windows to allow additional light into the school rooms and the erection of a wooden partition in the centre of the room. An extension to the building at rear and skylights in the roof were added in 1921. Only two low wooden stairs were originally provided to enter the porch. These were rebuilt by 1928. A steel mud grate was introduced 1930s/1940s and an infant shelter shed circa 1945.jim connor collection, dalton street, eltham primary school, eltham state school no. 209, state school no. 209

Built in 1891 for Head Teacher John Brown. His predecessor and the school's first Head Teacher, John Clark, lived in his own house 'Shoestring' in Metery Road, adjacent to the school. At the time of this photograph, the building was being used for before and after school care. Its present-day (2023) use is for school administration offices. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p49 The former head teacher’s residence on 690 Main Road, was built in 1891 for the head teacher, John Brown. His predecessor David Clark lived in his own house known as Shoestring at Metery Road, possibly built in the late 1850s. With the school, Wingrove and Jarrold Cottages, it makes up the original Eltham township south of Dalton Street’s only group of 19th century buildings. The two Monterey Pines were popular vegetation in the late 19th and early 20th centuriesThis 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, dalton street, eltham, eltham primary school, headmaster's residence, main road, state school no. 209

Colour photographactivities, local history centre, eltham primary school

Colour photographactivities, local history centre, eltham primary school

Colour photographactivities, local history centre, eltham primary school

Colour photographactivities, eltham primary school, local history centre

Colour photographactivities, eltham primary school, local history centre

Colour photographactivities, eltham primary school, local history centre

Colour photographactivities, eltham primary school, local history centre

Colour photographactivities, eltham primary school, local history centre

Colour photographactivities, eltham primary school, local history centre

Colour photographactivities, eltham primary school, local history centre

Colour photographactivities, eltham primary school, local history centre

Colour photographactivities, eltham primary school, local history centre

Colour photographactivities, eltham primary school, local history centre