This building was the former Buninyong Methodist Church, but is now a private residence.This former church building is of historic and social significance.Original B/W Photograph of a brick building, formerly the Methodist Church in Warrenheip St south, Buninyong. Now a private residencemethodist church, buninyong, brick building, warrenheip st

The context entry for photograph P0876 gives information about this building which ceased being a place of worship when the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches amalgamated. A non- digital coloured photograph of the front entrance of former Methodist Church that stands on the NW corner of Barkly and Harker Streets in Sunbury. The image clearly shows the decorative wooden edges around the roof and doorway.methodist church, barkly street, harker street

This building was formerly the Methodist Church in Linton, built in 1913 to replace an earlier timber building, and used as a church until 1977. The building is now a private home.Colour photograph which shows a red brick building with a high gable. Steps lead to an entrance porch, which has a window in three sections.methodist church linton, 10 grantley street linton

In 1924, the Methodist Church opened at the corner of River Ave and Yan Yean Road, Plenty. It was a simple weatherboard gabled building. The church developed a strong community life with celebrations as well as worships, Sundays Schools and social events. It closed in 1979. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p113 In 1924, the Methodist Church, (which closed in 1976), opened at the corner of River Avenue and Yan Yean Road. Church members including George Starling and Ernest Osmond, built the simple weatherboard gabled building.3 The church developed a strong community life, with celebrations as well as worship through Sunday School anniversaries, picnics, harvest festivals and youth groups. Many volunteers worked hard for the church - teaching Sunday School and ferrying young people to events, sometimes in the backs of trucks and furniture vans. Children from the Sutherland Homes were brought to church by their Matron – a ‘grim martinet’! Members included the Ashton, Reid, Harris, McLachlan, Hopkin, Rose and Stuchbery families. The first wedding was for Vida McLachlan and Ray Stuchbery.4This 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, methodist church, plenty

The church in the photograph is the former Methodist Church which is on the NW corner of Barkly and Harker Streets inn Sunbury. It was built on land donated by Thomas Woods at Lot 14 Barkly Street where in 1870 a small weatherboard building was built. In 1879 John Browning gifted land at 13 Barkly Street for the building of a new brick church on that site. The brick church continued to be a place of worship until the June 1977 when the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches came together and worshipped as the Uniting Church. St. Andrews Uniting Church have been the owners of this building since that time. A non-digital black and white photograph of a little Church building with the words Methodist Church written across the bottom of the image.methodist church, methodism, barkly street, harker street, uniting church

The weatherboard former Golden Point Methodist Church was undergoing renovation in 2014. It was damaged by fire on 09 February 2014 while two owners were rennovating.The foundation stone states: "This Memorial Stone was laid to the Honour and Glory of God by Mrs M.A. Thomas 27th May 1897.methodist church, golden point methodist church, m.a. thomas, thomas

The Jubilee church on the edge of Lake Wendouree in Ballarat was opened in 1887, and held its jubilee in 1904. It is no longer operating as a church. This property was sold c1996. In its heighday it had a Sunday School and kindergarten. "A fire occurred at the Methodist Jubi lee Church Wendouree-parade, on Satur day evening. Flames were noticed at 7. p.m. issuing from the large kindergarten room attached to the chapel, and a Gregory-street resident telephoned the brigade. The firemen confined the blaze to the rear section and portion of the back wall of the church Itself. The damage is estimtacd at £100. (The Age 15 July 1935} Former weatherboard Church beside Lake Wendouree in Ballarat.jubilee church, jubilee methodist church, ballarat, wendouree, wendouree jubilee church

SUMMARY – Uniting Church Op Shop Melton South Opportunity Shop – Brooklyn Road Melton South Est 1975 Former Methodist Church. The Opportunity Shop – Established 1975 by Edna Barrie 1992 Typed copy by Cath MacLean 2011 [Scots’ Presbyterian Church 1964] Additional information to the above summarised from Edna Barrie’s draft notes. Copied by Wendy Barrie January 2012, noting the information might be useful for future research. In 1985 the need for more shop space became apparent. Les [Bone] had plans drawn up (Surv 12/8/84) and approved by the Melton shire Council for a storeroom extension (17.800 x 9500) 1986 the small ancillary rooms at the rear of the timber church were demolished allowing the concrete slab to be laid. The building was completed in 1987. By the early 1990s the old timber Church had deteriorated, this lead to it being demolished in 2/11/1993. It was replaced with a new building containing a Pastoral Office, a meeting room and a furniture and homeware section. It was dedicated by Rev Ian Hickingbotham at 11am Sunday 5th June 1994. Service Awards were presented to 75 Opportunity Shop Volunteers by Rev Ian Hickingbotham. Funds have helped to pay for pastoral work, youth work and extra pastoral support. Lyrics for the Opportunity Shop which was located at the former Methodist Church. council, churches, local identities

The Ballarat School of Mines Museum was established in 1872. In 1887 the museum collection number nearly 8,000 exhibits which were systematically arranged and catalogued, and in this way were a means for profitable instruction to the casual visitor as well as to the student. See http://bih.ballarat.edu.au/index.php/Ballarat_School_of_Mines_Museum. The Curator of the Museum during the era was Ferdinand Krause. This image was reproduced in the 1899 Ballarat School of Mines Annual Report.Black and white photograph showing the interior of the Ballarat School of Mines Museum. ballarat school of mines, museum, geology, former wesleyan church, former methodist church, ferdinand krause, ballarat school of mines museum, display cases

Ballarat School of Mines was established in 1870 making it Australia's first School of Mines. It is now Federation University Australia SMB Campus.Ballarat School of Mines from Lydiard Street. The former Wesley Church is on the left of the photo. Beside it is the New Classrooms (now Administration Building), and the former Ballarat Circuit Court which was demolished in 1912 and replaced the the Ballarat Technical Art School building. .1) Sepia print .2) Black and white print showing all the Lydiard Street streetscape with people in the doorway and a horse and buggy in the street. .3) Black and white copy .4) Line drawing taken from the photo.ballarat school of mines, lydiard street, ballarat, administration buildings, former circuit court, former wesley church, administration building, a building, former methodist church

Copy of photograph of a foundry that was on the site of the current Warrnambool Uniting Church building.warrnambool; site of current uniting church; former methodist church; 1871; foundry

The Wesleyan Methodist Church at Clunes is a distinctive bluestone building in the Gothic style and was designed by the Ballarat architect J.A. Doane. Construction began in 1864 and the church was further extended in 1871. The building consists of a broad nave and transepts with galleries, these having cast iron balustrades. The facade incorporates a slate-roofed octagonal turret and spire and a four-light perpendicular Gothic window. The interior includes windows with quarry glass panes and coloured borders; those on either side of the organ incorporate scrolled texts and may be by the Melbourne makers Ferguson & Urie. With declining congregations, the property was purchased by Wesley College in 1999 and now forms part of its Clunes campus. The church building has received a very extensive restoration, including structural strengthening, the opening out of the interior to its original dimensions and the installation of a new floor. Ref: https://www.ohta.org.au/organs/organs/ClunesUC.html B & W exterior view of the Clunes Wesley College development. The image shows school buildings on a block next to the former Clunes Methodist Church.clunes wesleyan methodist church, wesley college

Methodist Church (Uniting Church) Protest at demolition3238-2: A Group of People gather to protest about the demolition of the former Methodist Church in January 1997. The Church was the Oldest building in the Main Street. The first service was on Christmas day in 1863. 3238-2a: CEO Rob Marshall addressing the crowd 3238-2b: Historical Society member Dorothy King being interviewed by Ballarat T.V. 3238-2c: - Methodist Church Prior to demolition stawell

The former Wesleyan Methodist Church Clunes was bought by Wesley College for its country campus in 1999.B & W photocopied image of the interior of the Clunes Methodist Church, decorated for the harvest festival.wesleyan, methodist, clunes, wesley college

1/A photocopy of a typed document of notes, source and date unknown, describing a brief history of the former Methodist Church in Grange Road, GlenHuntly. 2/Two colour photographs dated November 1980 of the front and side view of the church, and two undated photographs of the foundation stones, laid 1922 for the church and 1932 for the brick hall. 3/Also a newspaper article by Andrew Molloy dated 25/02/1990 discussing development options for potential buyers, source unknown.glen huntly, smith a. w. f. mr, foundation stones, grange road, molloy andrew, land sales, glen huntly road, methodist church, auctions, wattle ave., uniting church, churches, king f. l mr., presbyterian church of eastern australia, monuments and memorials, temples, religious ceremonies, chinese community, real estate agents, commercial development, residential development, child care, glen huntly post office, official buildings, weatherboard buildings, clergy, church residences, meeting rooms

One of the oldest houses in Eltham, the cottage was built around 1861 by pioneer builder George Stebbing whose family lived in it until the 1900s. It’s plain and simple style reflects the functional design of the house. George Stebbing was responsible for the construction of some of Eltham's principal township buildings, including the Uniting (former Methodist) church, St. Margaret's Anglican church (1861) and Shillinglaw Cottage (1879). The house is historically and aesthetically significant because it is a rare surviving example of the modest homes constructed for and by artisans within the early Eltham township and is a significant feature of the streetscape In the 1960s Albert Downing owned this propertyThe Margaret Ball (Pre 1960s Houses) Collection was a personal project initiated to mark the year 2000 and arose as a result of the disappearance of many pre-1960s parts of Eltham due to development. Approximately 200 pre-1960s style houses that were left in Eltham between Main Road and east to Bible Street, between Cecil Street to the north and south to Dalton Street were photographed in late 1999. Not all of the houses could be photographed; some because the garden or trees blocked the view of the house, others because of rubbish or cars were in the way, some because people were working on the house or in the gardens at the time.Colour photographic print eltham, houses, streets, margaret ball (pre 1960s houses) collection, pitt street, stebbing's cottage, downing

On 3 February 1974 the Revs. W.M. Trewin and Fred Strickland became ministers of the new Mt. Waverley joint Methodist/Presbyterian parish. Rev Bill Trewin born 1926 Moonee Ponds. Worked in two home missions: Western District and Gippsland. Whilst studying at Queen's College did a vacation appointment in Nhill, where he met Jean Bound. Bill and Jean married 1953. Bill was ordained in 1956. His appointments included Dunolly, Mornington, West & East Bentleigh, Moonee Ponds, Mt Waverley and Noble Park. In between his appointments at Bentleigh and Moonee Ponds Bill lived in Milan, where he ministered to both Italian and English speaking Congregations. Served as Chairman of the Presbytery of Westernport 1985-1986. Frederick Phillips Strickland b. 1910. Ormond College. Ordained into the Presbyterian Church 1941 Rainbow-Jeparit. Chaplain A.I.F. 1944, Blackburn 1946, Syndal 1964. Retired 1977.B & W photograph of Rev. Bill Trewin and Rev. Fred Strickland standing in front of the former High St. Road Methodist Church.bill trewin, fred strickland, minister, mount waverley joint methodist presbyterian parish

Letter from Ministry for Planning and Environment to Sec., BHS re inclusion of (Former) Eaglehawk East Methodist church on Government Buildings Register. Dated May 8th, 1984. Therefore subject to the provisions of the Historic Buildings Act 1981.Karen Grey from Ministry for Planning and Enviroment, 235 Queen Street Melbourne.church, history, eaglehawk east methodist church, historic building act. eaglehawk methodist church.

Tynong North former Methodist Church, originally known as Christ Church, Berwick, has been an important community meeting place from c1870 and is significant to the Cardinia and Casey Shires as a major and early public building in both districts. The church may be the oldest (in part) public building in Cardinia Shire. This is a simple gabled church, clad with weatherboards and roofed with corrugated iron. It has a gabled porch with finial and distinctive arched openings (windows and doors) which may be indicative of its reputed early date (c1870), as linked with its classical styling. The windows have multi-paned glazing and the roof gable retains its finial. The concrete stumps and lack of mature planting around the church confirm that it has been moved to the site and restumped. Ref: https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/30143/download-reportColour exterior view of the Tynong North Uniting Church, Clarke Rd. Tynong. The image shows a timber church with a porch.tynong north uniting church

Tynong North former Methodist Church, originally known as Christ Church, Berwick, has been an important community meeting place from c1870 and is significant to the Cardinia and Casey Shires as a major and early public building in both districts. The church may be the oldest (in part) public building in Cardinia Shire. This is a simple gabled church, clad with weatherboards and roofed with corrugated iron. It has a gabled porch with finial and distinctive arched openings (windows and doors) which may be indicative of its reputed early date (c1870), as linked with its classical styling. The windows have multi-paned glazing and the roof gable retains its finial. The concrete stumps and lack of mature planting around the church confirm that it has been moved to the site and restumped. Ref: https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/30143/download-reportColour exterior view of the Tynong North Uniting Church, Clarke Rd. Tynong. The image shows a timber church with a porch.tynong north uniting church

This photograph is part of the Caulfield Historical Album 1972. This album was created in approximately 1972 as part of a project by the Caulfield Historical Society to assist in identifying buildings worthy of preservation. The album is related to a Survey the Caulfield Historical Society developed in collaboration with the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and Caulfield City Council to identify historic buildings within the City of Caulfield that warranted the protection of a National Trust Classification. Principal photographer thought to be Trevor Hart, member of Caulfield Historical Society. Most photographs were taken between 1966-1972 with a small number of photographs being older and from unknown sources. All photographs are black and white except where stated, with 386 photographs over 198 pages. From Victorian Heritage Database citation for HO47 Uniting Church, 254 Neerim Road https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/42432 (as at 28/10/2020) The former Methodist church (now Uniting church) complex at 252-54 Neerim Road, Carnegie, consists of the original timber church of 1886, the present brick Arts and Crafts influenced church of 1914, designed by A. Phipps Coles, the timber hall attached to the original church, built during the interwar period and the present brick hall of 1933, designed by J.F. Snell. From Victorian Heritage Database citation for HO47 Uniting Church, 254 Neerim Road https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/42432 (as at 28/10/2020) The complex has aesthetic, historical and social significance. Its aesthetic value is derived from the extreme simplicity of the original church and the highly picturesque, eclectic, Arts and Crafts influenced character of the main church and hall. Its historical value rests in the early date of the original building and the manner in which the remaining buildings are representative of the principal period of settlement of the locality. The social significance derives from the use of the site as a place of worship since the commencement of the closer settlement of Carnegie from as early as 1886. Page 146 of Photograph Album with four photographs (3 landscape, 1 portrait) of Carnegie Methodist Church, Neerim Road.Handwritten: Carnegie Methodist Church Neerim Road [top right] / 146 [bottom right]trevor hart, neerim road, carnegie methodist church, church, toolambool road, wesleyan methodist church, breslin gallery, anthony breslin, 1910's, american romanesque, spire, half gabled tower, art, gallery, cafe, arched doorways, red brick, uniting church, carnegie, arts and craft style, a p coles, a coles, j f snell, j snell, halls

Collection of photographs of various Bendigo church buildings with Cornish connections: a. front of simple (Methodist) wooden church with handwritten annotation of ''Webster St'' together with typewritten attachment to photo giving some of history of Methodism and the Cornish (and the four sects represented in Bendigo); b. Photo of interior of Chapel Street Gospel Hall (Mission Hall) decorated for Sunday School Anniversary (no date); c. three photos - Former Wesleyan Church, Kangaroo Flat; the former Primitive Methodist Church, Eaglehawk; former Bible Christian Church , California Gully (''now St Judes Anglican'' - typewritten attachment to photo).photograph, building, church, john wesley. united methodist free church. wesleyan mission hall. bible christian church. uniting church.

Ordained 1958: Darwin 1958–61; Alice Springs 1962–63; Launceston 1964–67; Tennant Creek 1968–73; Alice Springs 1974– Retired Minister of the Uniting Church. Former Methodist.Lloyd and Judy Shirley are seated facing the camera. Lloyd has a small girl on his lap, presumably their daughter."Rev. Lloyd Shirley, student at Otira 1950. Judy Shirley."shirley, lloyd, shirley, judy

Invitation printed on heavy yellow paper inviting Miss P. Toy and interested family and friends to the posthumous launch of 'The End of an Era' by the late William Perry. The launch took place at 12 noon, Saturday 18 November 1995 at the former California Gully Methodist Church, Esler Street, California Gully, by well known Bendigo historian Mr Frank Cusack. Invitation also has a brief history on William Perry.document, invitations, book launch, document, invitation to the launch of 'the end of an era', william perry, sam bartlett, south new moon mine, jack perry, gwen walls, bendigo railway workshops, bendigo training prison, rifle club, bendigo field naturalists', 'tales of the whipstick', 'the end of an era', miss p toy, mr frank cusack, jason conn

Land for the Methodist Church in Wodonga was reserved in 1864. By 1865 the Reverend Francis Neale, a Wesleyan minister was appointed to Albury from where he supervised the congregation at Wodonga Creek until a church was built in 1873. By 1885 Wodonga and the other preaching places on the Victorian side of the Murray had become a separate circuit under the Reverend L. J Rowlands. This circuit included Bethanga. Kiewa. Leneva, Kergunyah and Bonegilla. In the 1960s the Methodist congregation built a new chapel in Hovell Street, Wodonga. The creation of the Uniting Church during the 1970s meant that the services were held in the former Presbyterian Church and joint Sunday School classes were conducted in the Methodist Hall. In 1961 the Church building and land was purchased by the Ukrainian Community for £2,000. Ukrainian Catholic families in Wodonga donated £100 each towards the purchase. Additional fund raising such as carol singing in nearby towns (Benalla, Wangaratta, Albury and Wodonga) assisted with the purchase of the Church. The former Methodist Church was in poor condition and the members of its new congregation undertook the replacement of the floor, the footings, replastering of the walls and the construction of an altar. The renovations cost a further £400. Once a month a priest came up from Melbourne to conduct services in the Church. On completion it was blessed by Bishop Ivan Prasko to become St Olga's Catholic Church (Ukrainian). In 1965 the Church was dedicated to its patron St Volodymir, with Bishop Varlamm (Sydney) and Bishop Donat (Melbourne) taking part in the ceremony. The members of the Ukrainian Catholic community also built a hall and smaller chapel in Hunt Street, Wodonga. With a declining congregation, this property became more manageable to maintain than the original brick building and the decision was made to close the building in 2010. In 2022 the building and extensive block of land in Church Street was sold commercially for potential redevelopment.These images are significant because they depict an early Wodonga Church building.A collection of coloured photographs depicting the first Methodist Church in Wodonga, Victoria It was a red brick church with a steeply pitched gable roof and parapeted gable walls. There was a small front porch with matching roof and gable treatment to the front. Simple timber Gothic windows were along the sides, with a tri-partite window above the porch. Two sections of this window featured stained glass, the other was opaque glass. Red brick buttresses were topped with white-painted render, as were the parapets, and the windows were also outlined with white painted render. Timber joinery was painted white. A front path led directly to the porch and the Church was flanked by mature oak trees. A small, relatively modern red brick skillion extension was added to the rear of the building.wodonga churches, methodist church wodonga, ukrainian catholic church wodonga

This tiny picturesque building near the corner of John Street has served the community since 1878. At that time it served as an agency of the Heidelberg branch of the Commonwelath Bank of Australia. It has a small space inside measuring about 3.6 metres by 4.5 metres. It was built by George Stebbing who was also responsible for other heritage buildings nearby in Eltham. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p93 The tiny picturesque building on Main Road, Eltham, near the corner of John Street, has served the community since 1878. At that time the building, which inside measures only about 3.6m by 4.5m served as an agency of the Heidelberg branch of the Commercial Bank of Australia. The yellow and orange Victorian brick structure was built by Mr George Stebbing.1 Mr Stebbing, who also built the Anglican and former Methodist churches and the Shillinglaw Cottage, had come from England and lived in Pitt Street. The bank is a fine example of a once common but now rare building style – the single room bank. It compares with another in the municipality, also a former Commercial Bank of Australia branch, the timber Little Bank Building in Hurstbridge, built around the early 1900s.2 The Eltham bank, which was said to store gold from the Eltham - Research mining areas, has had exciting moments. A bullet hole still visible in a cedar bench testifies to the drama in 1949 when a youth held up the bank. After the 19-year-old opened an account as John Henderson, he walked to the door and then turned pointing a pistol. But it was shots fired by the clerk, Lindsay Spear, that saved the day, frightening the youth, who drove off empty-handed in a grey sports car. He was later apprehended and given a two-year sentence. Soon afterwards the agency was upgraded to a branch. However by 1954 the bank no longer needed the branch and the adjoining Methodist Church bought the building. It proved useful for the Church’s young people who furnished it and used it for their meetings. A youth club developed, led by young adult member, Ross Gangell. The building was also used as a Sunday School, which with junior membership numbered 27.3 Around 1960, Mrs Alma Bell, of the Methodist Church Women’s Guild, suggested using the building as an opportunity shop to raise funds for a chaplain at the Eltham High School. The women later asked the nearby St Margaret’s Anglican Church to help them in the shop. In 1960 the Eltham Combined Churches Opportunity Shop was established and staffed by Methodist and Anglican parishioners, notably Methodist Mrs Gwen Miller. The shop originally opened on Child Endowment Days to help the needy, but later for years, it opened twice a week. In 1962 it donated clothing and shoes to the Eltham Bushfire Appeal. By 1963 the chaplaincy scheme ceased. So the £450 raised was then donated to the Council for Christian Education and to the participating churches. Funds were also donated to local charities including the Eltham and Research Fire Brigades, the Austin Hospital Auxiliary, the Benevolent Society, the Red Cross and the Diamond Valley Hospital.4 In 2008 the Opportunity Shop volunteers continue to work together to help the local community. Although crammed with second-hand goods, the simple, almost stark interior, is still evident and is relieved only by a front rectangular window and an unused fireplace. Outside, the chimney, the corrugated iron peaked roof, and the surrounding varied plants, add to the charm of this sound building which continues to serve the community well.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, cba bank

St. David's Presbyterian Church Parkdale was constructed as an all-purpose hall on three blocks of land at the corner of Evan and McSwain Streets, Parkdale that had been purchased by the Home Mission Department. The hall was opened and dedicated by Rev. Paul Baker on February 11th 1962. The church was named the North Mordialloc Presbyterian Church at this time. The hall was extended in 1966, and in 1973 the church was re-named St. David's Parkdale. In 1977 St. David's became part of the Mordialloc-Parkdale Uniting Church Parish which comprised the former Mordialloc and Parkdale Methodist churches and St. David's Parkdale Presbyterian Church. The last service was held on 6th November 2011, and funds raised from the sale of the buildings were used to renovate the Parkdale Uniting Church. The Parkdale Uniting Church was subsequently re-named St. David's Parkdale Uniting Church in order to bring together the heritage of both the St. David's and the Parkdale congregations.B & W gloss photograph of the exterior of St. David's Uniting (formerly Presbyterian) Church Parkdaleparkdale, mordialloc, home missions, st. david's, uniting church

The Eltham Community and Reception Centre was Australia's first public mud-brick building. Commissioned in 1977 by Eltham Shire Council, led by Shire president (and architect) Robert Marshall, architects Whitford and Peck were asked to design a multipurpose facility in mud-brick and timber. The official opening was performed by the Hon. R.J. Hamer; E.D., M.P., Premier of Victorai on Saturday, April 22, 1978. Architects: Whitford & Peck Pty Ltd Quantity Surveyor: D.J. Cant & Associates Structural Civil Engineers: Charlett & Moore Pty Ltd Landscape: Peter Glass, Dennis Edwards Mech Elec: Lobley Treidel & Partners Pty Ltd Acoustics: Riley Barden & Kirkhope Builder: L.U. Simon Pty Ltd Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p177 The Wiggles performed there, so has the ABC’s Play School. New citizens have made their vows, volunteers have been honoured, school children have performed, weddings celebrated and people mourned at funerals. Since 1978 the Eltham Community and Reception Centre at the corner of Pitt Street and Main Road, has provided a beautiful and quintessential Eltham environment for people from all over Melbourne. Recognised as Australia’s first public mud-brick building, the centre was built partly on the site of the parsonage of the former Methodist Church (now the Uniting Church).1 Commissioned by the Eltham Council headed by President Robert Marshall, architects Whitford and Peck were asked to design a multipurpose facility in mud-brick and timber. Following public consultation, it was agreed to build a centre for dances, exhibitions, films, plays or concerts. The results – at a cost of around $620,000 – captured the Eltham rustic style. The building – in soft tones of mud-brick and timber and immense floor-to-ceiling windows – overlooks the Diamond Creek and sporting fields. Eltham’s strong artistic heritage is reflected in the centre. Although the lighting is not ideal for a gallery and labels cannot be placed on walls, the centre hosts the Nillumbik Art Awards and displays around ten to 20% of the Nillumbik Shire Art Collection, usually for around a year at a time.2 On permanent display, close to the entrance, is local artist Clifton Pugh’s White Choughs in the Landscape. Further to the right is the Walter Withers Gallery, named after a local member of the Heidelberg School of artists. As part of the Eltham Gateway opposite the Eltham Hotel, the centre stands on what was once part of the Eltham Town Centre along this section of Main Road, then known as Maria Street. On the same site once stood the house and flour mill owned by Henry Dendy, best known as the founder of Brighton, although he lived longer in Eltham. Beside the drive is a wheel-rim tool with accompanying plaque, illustrating a technology important during the horse-powered age and now almost completely gone, as has the blacksmith’s shop that had housed it nearby. The implement is a platform for fitting iron tyres to the wooden rims of cartwheels. Beneath it is a capsule placed in 1985 to commemorate Victoria’s 150 years, which is to be opened in 2035. Although the plants, forming part of the landscaping by Peter Glass and Denis Edwards, are largely indigenous and other native species, some exotic plants are protected as an important link with the site’s past. Planted at the front around 1920, is a large Peppercorn tree with two joined trunks growing from the base, and close by is a Bhutan Cypress (Cupressus torulosa). Three other Peppercorn trees fringe the drive. The building includes two halls – the larger seating 250 people – and a large foyer overlooking trees and ovals. Both halls have retractable rear walls providing varying spaces as required, and guests can use several external decks. A site for outdoor theatre has been carved out of the natural slope outside the entrance. The Bricklayers Union refused to use the traditional mud-bricks, which weigh more than 22kg. As a result the mud-bricks were redesigned to reduce their weight and were laid back-to-back to produce a wall of normal thickness.3 The centre’s massive timber frame is reminiscent of timber bridge construction, with infill panels of mud-brick.4 In accord with the rustic style are colossal rough-sawn posts, bolts and steel brackets. The combination of mud-brick, exposed feature timber framing and creative design in this centre, characterises Eltham’s innovative buildings and the social movement behind them from the 1940s to the 1970s.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, eltham community and reception centre, mudbrick construction