Cheltenham Bowls Club, which was located to the rear of Cheltenham Railway station. This photograph was taken by Percy Fairlam, who opened a photographers shop in Charman Road. Percy took many of the best known photographs of Cheltenham at the turn of the century.This photograph was taken by Percy Fairlam, who opened a photographers shop in Charman Road. Percy took many of the best known photographs of Cheltenham at the turn of the century.Black and white photograph of people bowling at the Cheltenham Bowling Club, depicting a large area of lawn surrounded by trees and bushes, with buildings in the background. There are several groups of men and women standing on the lawn in front of a series of small balls.Printed in black ink on a round white sticker: 111 Handwritten in red ink: 90%. Handwritten in red ink: K000603leisure, bowls, games

Percy Fairlam was an early 20th Century photographer living and working in Cheltenham. Fairlam captured important social and landscape scenes in and around the Cheltenham area including cliff faces, sea baths, and rock pools. With the outbreak of World War I (WWI), Fairlam began training in Seymour and documented preparations for war, comradeship and the voyage to France and war. Shrapnel to the shoulder, on 4 January 1917, saw Fairlam evacuated to England and resulted in him being separated from his personal possessions. As such, all these images have been lost. After the war, Fairlam moved into the family business and no longer pursued professional photography. However, he continued to take an interest in the art form capturing intimate family moments as well as continuing to capture social and landscape scenes.Black and white photograph of a Richard William Percy Fairlam (Percy Fairlam) standing in the doorway of a small wooden building. Above the doorway is a painted sign advertising it as the photography business of R.P. Fairlam. In the large window at the front of the shop a number of photographs can be seen.Handwritten in red ink on reverse: 115% Black printed text on a white round sticker on reverse: 71

Black and white image of Cheltenham in the early 20th Century depicts an almost idyllic life. This photo was taken by Percy Fairlam, who climbed a tall pine tree to achieve the aerial view. The tree was a well recognised feature of the Cheltenham skyline but was cut down some time before World War II.Cheltenham was established as a rural market gardening community. The development of the railway was crucial to the ongoing development of the area. Community life sprung up around the railway line which is evident in the proximity of shopping and leisure.Black and white image depicting aerial view down Charman Road, Cheltenham, including the unsealed road, level crossing and shopping centre. What appears to be a cricket pitch is located behind the shops.Handwritten in black ink on a red round sticker adhered to the reverse, and then crossed out: X14 Handwritten in blue ink on reverse: A8 Handwritten in red ink on reverse: 85%cheltenham, railway crossing, roads, housing, shopping strip

The Fairlam family were early settlers in the region.Black and white image of the Fairlam family, taken outside, presumably in their garden. From left to right: Richard William Percy Fairlam (Percy Fairlam), mother Elizabeth Fairlam, Eugenie Fairlam, father William Fairlam (Percy Fairlam), Fairlie (Addie) Fairlam

On his arrival from Scotland c 1857, James Keir commenced a communion service in his home on the Nepean Road. By 1859 the group-which included such other names as Allen, Brough, Cameron, Fairlam, Holdsworth, Le Page, Meeres, Monk, Organ, Penny, Perry, Potts, Sears and King-had built a small chapel near the corner of Wickham and Chesterville Roads. During 1858, a group had also begun meeting in the Charman family home on the corner of Charman and Balcombe Roads. Names associated with this group included Bodley, Charman, Fisher, Hayes, Hilliar, Judd, Moysey and Ruse. In 1860 they built a chapel on the corner of Charman Road and Patty Street. It was enlarged in 1866 and it became the meeting place of the two groups when they came together around 1870. They were able to buy land near the corner of Chesterville and Nepean Roads, and erected a new brick chapel on the site in 1878. This chapel, of course, continues to be an integral part of the life of the Southern Community Church and was one of the three worship venues for the 150th Anniversary celebration in 2007. The Southern Community Church was formed by the amalgamation of the Cheltenham, East Bentleigh and Hampton Street Churches of Christ in 1993, and a comprehensive new facility was designed and built to accommodate the ever-increasing activity of the amalgamated church. It was opened on 30th November 1997. ( Southern Community Church website 2019)c1878 - continuing The Church or Christ Cheltenham was one of the first places of worship established in Cheltenham by the early settlers. The settlers came together, in private homes at first, to support each other spiritually and physically and later built brick Churches for Sunday services and established social and sporting clubsBlack & White photograph as a postcard invitation to the 40th Anniversary of the Church of Christ corner Chesterville Rd and Nepean Highway Cheltenham ( ? 1900)Front Printed ; Church of Christ Cheltenham Back Printed ; POST CARD / One Penny Postage within Commonwealth / The address only to be written here/ One penny Stamp/ Sunday School Anniversary, / OCTOBER 27TH & OCTOBER 30TH / TO WHICH YOU ARE / CORDIALLY INVITED Handwritten in ink ; H.W. got the cramps in the pants. He took some pills then ran over the hills undatedearly settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, were j.b., o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards, keir james, lepage frank, lepage everest, holloway josiah, bruton henry, keys robert, judd clarence, fairlam percy, meeres william, southern community church, cheltenham, cheltenham church of christ

Cheltenham station was built in 1898 and serviced a primarily rural, market gardening community.The late 1870s saw the beginning of a massive program to construct railway lines throughout Victoria. One of these lines was from Caulfield to Frankston. A survey undertaken by J P Madden, an engineer employed by the railways, established the route, although this was later modified. At the time of the official opening of the line to Mordialloc no station buildings had been constructed despite the fact that tenders had been called in the Government Gazette of 26 May 1881 and subsequently in the Argus newspaper on 30 August 1881 for what became stations at Glenhuntly, Ormond, Bentleigh, Moorabbin, Highett, Cheltenham, Mentone and Mordialloc. However platforms and sidings were completed, ready to receive passengers. Cheltenham station opened in 1898.Black and white photograph of Cheltenham Railway Station with the two platforms separated by two sets of tracks. Each platform has a station house on it, and the one on the right hand side also has a garden and park bench.Handwritten in red ink on reverse: A7 / 75%cheltenham, trains, railway, railway station, railway crossing, suburbs

High cliffs required access to the beachfront to be made via a steep wooden staircase.Black and white image of the steep wooden staircase at Mentone Beach, leading down to the foreshore from the clifftops above. At the base of the staircase is a bicycle leaning against a foundation post.mentone, beach, staircase, access

Image 1a and 1b - Church of Christ, located in Chesterville Road, Cheltenham. Images 2a and 2b - Pioneer Presbyterian Church, Scots Church, located in Charman Road, Cheltenham Images 3a and 3b - Shopping strip located on Charman Road, Cheltenham, c.1918 Images 4a and 4b - A cricket team, located in Cheltenham Images 5a and 5b - Cheltenham Cricket Team, photographed outside St Matthew's Church. Back row: E. McSwain, R. Woff, S. Cullen, F. Bodley, T. Chandler, C. Warne, A. Organ, J Monk. Middle Row: C. Roberts, A. Hewett, S. Chandler, F. Chandler, A. Chandler. Front Row: A. Beulke, F. Groves Images 6a and 6b - Cheltenham Rifle Club Committee Opening Day of the new Butts. Back row: C Irwin, E. W. Proudman (Chemist), F T LePage, Centre: W Lamb Smith (Captain), E T Penny, G. Stayner, One unknown gentleman, Front: John Butler, city inspector, and E C Rippon (Manager of the Cheltenham and District Co-operative). A strip of 35mm black and white negative film of six photographs. rifle club, cricket, cheltenham cricket club, charman rd, church, cricket club, shopping strip, horse, cow, sport, team, cars

This image shows the group of men who formed the committee for the Cheltenham and Moorabbin Show. The men have been identified as: Seated (left to right) Mr R L Amess (Hon Sec), Cr George Brownfield (President), Mr Harold Irwin (Hon Treasurer). Standing (left to right) Messrs P White, F Wilson, E T Fenny, J H Butler, G Wells, R Mills, H F North, G T Allnutt, J Shields, F Reynolds. Seated (in front) Messrs F Moorhouse, E Marriott, A Hewitt, CD Scullin, R Potts.The Moorabbin Horticultural, Poultry and Dog Society Show became an annual event in 1898, following a 35 year tradition of Brighton Horticultural, Poultry and Dog Society annual exhibition. Sepia toned image of the Committee of Cheltenham and Moorabbin Show. Five men are seated on the ground in the front row, with hats resting on their knees or on the ground. Three men are, presumably, seated behind them on chairs, with the man on the left reading a document or book. Ten men are standing at the rear.

The first Methodist church built in Cheltenham was a wooden structure which burnt down in 1893. While the exact cause of the fire was never ascertained, it was believed that a spark from a passing train ignited dried leaves in the eaves. The original church was replaced by a brick building, with the foundation stone laid in 1894. This image shows the replacement building.Black and white photograph of the brick Methodist Church in Cheltenham with a white picket fence and gate at the front.

The Cheltenham cycling club was formed in about 1903. The race used to take place on Wednesday afternoons. Sepia toned image of a group of men standing side by side, each holding up a bicycle. It appears to be outside Cheltenham Cemetery.

The Institute movement came to Melbourne in 1839 with the establishment of the Melbourne Mechanics’ Institute later known as the Melbourne Athenaeum. Adopting the principles of self help, social improvement and the recognition of the importance of useful knowledge, it maintained a library, a reading room and an art gallery, while also establishing classes and lectures in a variety of fields. Various dates have been suggested for the founding of the Cheltenham Mechanics’ Institute with the range being somewhere between 1853 and 1856. The first Institute building erected on the tip of the land where Charman Road joined Point Nepean Road was of weatherboard construction. It consisted of a small hall, a reading room and a library. Later it was realized that the building was inadequate for community functions that attracted a large number of participants; consequently additions and modifications were needed. The Shire Council in 1888 voted £10 to the building fund but stipulated that the money would only be paid when the new building was commenced. Major contributors to the fund were the temperance societies who were regular users of the Institute’s facilities. As a result of their contributions the building was named Mechanics’ Institute Free Library and Temperance Hall with this title being proudly painted on its façade in ‘gold letters shaded with blue’.Black and white image of a group of six men dressed in suits and wearing hats, standing at the front entrance of the Mechanics Institute, Free Library and Temperance Hall, Cheltenham

William Fairlam's store was situated on Charman Road, Cheltenham. This image shows advertising which promotes the goods sold in the store such as tobacco and insurance, as well as providing a hairdresser and auction rooms.Black and white image of a group of four men and a boy standing out the front of William Fairlam's store in Charman Road, Cheltenham.shopping, commerce, cheltenham

This image shows the importance of a reasonably large pub offering accommodation and a meeting place for a relatively small community in a regional area during the World War I (WWI) periodBlack and white image of Keighrans Hotel which is a two Storey building with a wrought iron balcony with a man standing at ground level with his bicycle and a big sign billiardsRound red sticker:X3 Handwritten in blue ink: A16 Handwritten in red ink 72% Handwritten in black ink: CHAP 4? / CHELTENHAM HOTEL / EXCHANGE HOTEL [crossed out] / Cheltenham / Pre WW [crossed out] about / WWI / BUILT ON THE SITE / of the ORIGINAL / CHELTENHAM INNcommerce, trade, hotel, pub, public house, cheltenham, world war i, first world war, wwi

W.P. Fairlam Auction Rooms was located on Charman Road, Cheltenham, Victoria. The Fairlam family were a prominent family among early settlers in the Cheltenham area. While William Percy Fairlam ran the auction rooms, his son Richard William Percy Fairlam ran a photography business next door. Many of the photographs in our collection from the early 20th Century are the work of Richard William Percy Fairlam.Black and white image of a man with a moustache, dressed in a three piece suit and wearing a cap, standing outside the W.P. Fairlam Auction Rooms in Cheltenham, Victoria. Standing beside him is a girl and between them a dog is sitting on the ground. The man is William Percy Fairlam and the girl is his daughter Addie Fairlam.Handwritten in blue ink on reverse: 73 Handwritten in red ink on reverse: 51%fairlam, commerce, cheltenham, family