Frank May gained employment with the SEC on 1st July 1950 and was initially placed at Mount Beauty as a clerk. In September 1950 he transferred to a similar position at the Rocky Valley Dam construction site. He worked from October to April at Rocky Valley but then moved to Bogong Village as the construction site was closed during the winter. In October 1951 he returned to Rocky Valley but in November 1951 government funding cutbacks forced the SEC to he and many others from the Kiewa Hydro-Electricity Scheme were transferred or retrenched. Frank was transferred to the SEC in Colac where he worked as a meter reader. During his time at Falls Creek, Frank was a member of the Bogong Ski Club and enjoyed many adventures skiing on the High Plains.These images are significant as they depict an early SEC working skiing at Falls Creek.Two black and white images of Frank Mayfrank may, sec falls creek, bogong ski club

Gordon Spittle was the youngest of Three brothers. He grew up in Creswick and attended Creswick Grammar School. Gordon purchased 'Mt Cavern' in 1912. It had 4 years of a 10 year lease to run. His mother and father took delivery of it on 1 April 1916. They lived there and farmed it until Gordon returned from active service in May 1919. He married Violet Holmes and both lived at "Mt Cavern" until their deaths. Gordon died in 1942 aged 51. Violet Holmes-Spittle died in 1949 aged 56. Image of eight Australian soldiers during World War One. They stand in front of damaged palm trees alongside their horses. Each of the soldiers are from Ascot, Victoria. They are Harry [Holmes], Jack Nase, Harold Reid, Gordon Spittle, Les Walters, Archie May, Frank Thomas, Joe Fawcett.'Verso 'A group of the Ascot boy. Taken with our own horses. from left to right:- Harry [Holmes], Jack Nase, Harold Reid, Gordon Spittle, Les Walters, Archie May, Frank Thomas, Joe Fawcett.'chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, france, ascot, harry holmes, gordon spittle, les walters, archie may, frank thomas. mase, reif, spittle, walters, may, thomas, fawcett

The Orford family, a pioneer family remained continuously living and working in Eltham for 170 years from 1854 to 2024. James and Sarah Orford arrived in Sydney in 1839 aboard the ship “Orestes”; they had several children there before settling in Eltham in 1854. Three children, James Mathias, Sarah Amelia and Thomas Henry initially remained in the Eltham area. James eventually moved to Brunswick. Sarah married Arthur Butler Young and finally lived in Bunyip. Thomas who was six years old when the family arrived in 1854 remained in Eltham, married Helen Logan who died, leaving a large family. They lived in a slab hut by the Yarra at Laughing Waters and Thomas managed the Panton Park Estate, a selection owned by Magistrate Thomas Panton. Thomas’s son, Ernest Orford was born 1892 at Pitt Street, Eltham and also lived his entire life in Eltham working as a labourer, orchardist and later as a gardener and grounds keeper for Sir William Irvine, a former Chief Justice and Premier of Victoria. Ernest married Kate Thomas; their two sons Ron and Doug stayed in the area. Another of Thomas' sons, Arthur, also lived in Eltham. Four Orford generations attended Eltham schools. Doug Orford was born on the kitchen table (reference, son Ted Orford) of the family home at the corner of Reynolds Road and Mount Pleasant Road. Doug married Gwen and they established a family however Gwen died at a young age from cancer. Doug eventually remarried another Gwen and they lived for several decades in Napoleon Street, Eltham. Doug was actively involved in EDHS over many years, including serving as a committee member and vice president. Contributions by Doug and Gwen (Treasurer/Membership Secretary), his wife, assisted EDHS to continue to develop as a not-for-profit group intent on promoting and preserving our local history. Both Doug and Gwen were made Life Members of EDHS. They also acted as EDHS delegates to the Eastern Region of Historical Societies. His significant work with assisting to establish our valued Local History Centre helped develop our home base and supported the continued growth of our society. Doug’s local knowledge, suggestions and family connections were highly valued, Until recent times, he continued to regularly attend our Collections Team workshops providing his insights and historical information about photographs and society records. Doug died peacefully July 8, 2024, and represents the last link in the Orford Eltham chain which spanned 170 years. His funeral was held Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Le Pine Funerals, 848 Main Road, Eltham. Contents: Typed notes, no date: Memories of Ernest Orford [taped 1979] about his school days. Handwritten notes, no date: History of Ernie Orford Typed notes, no date: History of Thomas Henry Orford and family. Photocopy: Shire of Eltham General Rate Receipts. Received from D Orford 7 June 1923 and Received from E F Orford, 4 August 1924. Letter, no date: Nillumbik Shire to Russell Yeoman, Gwen Orford to receive Volunteer Recognition Award. Newsletter article: "The Orford Family, Eltham", Shire of Eltham Historical Society, No.80 September 1991. History of Orford family. Handwritten notes: 21 March 2011, genealogy of George Orford. On reverse Melways map makred with Orford and other land ownerships. Newspaper advertisement, 21 March 2011: "264 Reynolds Road, South Eltham", property for sale [land in ownership of Orford family]. Letter: St Margaret's Anglican Church Eltham to Doug Orford, 17 November 2011, Extracts from church records relative to Orford family. Newspaper article: "Timely facelift at war memorials', Diamond Valley Leader, 30 April 2024, Nillumbik war memorial will have some work and a bronze plaque will be installed at the Eltham Avenue of Honour, Wingrove Park; photograph of Doug Orford Newsletter item: "Welcome home medal", Eltham District Historical Society newsletter no.216 May 2014, World War I two 'Welcome Home Medals' in ownership of local men, being Harry Gilham and Doug Orford. Order of Service, Le Pine Funerals (Eltham), In Loving Memory of Douglas Frederick Orford 22nd August 1929 - 8th July 2024 Doug Orford Reminiscences (2002) in conjunction with Jock Read and Peter Bassett Smith; 4 pages - 3 typed, 1 handwritten possibly transcribed from an audio tape recording (location unknown). New word file and associated pdf created [\Dropbox\EDHS DATA\DOCUMENTS\COLLECTION CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS AND PDFs\2-2 Family Folders\EDHS_06110-2 Doug Orford reminiscences 2002.docx - 1 April 2025] Doug Orford Eulogy by daughter Kathryn Whiteside 2024 and associated PDF [D:\Dropbox\EDHS DATA\DOCUMENTS\COLLECTION CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS AND PDFs\EDHS_06110 Doug Orford Obituary 2024.docx] Gwen Orford (nee Best) Eulogy 2025 and associated PDF [D:\Dropbox\EDHS DATA\DOCUMENTS\COLLECTION CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS AND PDFs\EDHS_06110 Gwen Orford (nee Best) Eulogy 2025.PDF]Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcdoug orford, harry gilham, welcome home medal, eltham avenue of honour, nillumbik war memorial, wingrove park, henry dendy, alfred armstrong, james orford, 264 reynolds road south eltham, george orford, george joseph orford, maryanne george joseph, thomas henry orford, ernest orford, e f orford, eltham cemetery, helen orford, joseph panton, panton park, gordon lyon, banyule estate heidelberg, james matthias orford, wurundjeri, constable peter lawlor, george hill, franklin street eltham, ronald orford, eltham primary school, john brown, robert gamble school inspector, sarah orford, mary ann orford, james mathias orford, sarah amelia orford, james peet, arthur butler young, watsons creek victoria, kangaroo ground victoria, helen logan, william orford, jane orford, arthur orford, frederick orford, florrie orford, victor orford, chem orford, sunnymede eltham, panton hill estate, sir william irvine, gordon lyons, kate thomas, north eltham gospel church, harold clapp, eltham cricket club, research primary school, dalton street school eltham, keith banks, betty banks, benjamine boyd, laughing waters road eltham, freddie gilsinen, douglas frederick orford, eltham district historical society, funeral service, le pine funeral home, life member, order of service, 1934 flood, 1939 bushfires, alcock & pierce, ansell, associated schools sports, blacksmith shop, boakes, bridge street, bryce family, bullock track, butcher, catholic church, cliff lester, cliffy green, daisy smith, dave lyon, diamond creek, diana bassett smith, dick tooth, dr. frank may, eltham higher elementary school, ernie andrew, fire station, flower stall, fodder business, fruit shop, furniture store, gahan family, garni burges, greensborough, harold norman, harry hawker, hat factory, hawker & owen, hay and com store, henry hawker, henry street, j .harry butherway, jack burgoyne, jack ryan, jock read, john lyon, junk yard, kevin gahan, kilpatricks, len parsons, lyon family, machine factory, mc leans, memorial, metery road, miss reynolds, monteith 's bus, mr. gadd, mrs. bird, mrs. morrison, napoleon street, peter bassett smith, peter's gahan, plenty river, plumridge, produce store, public hall, rechabite hall, reynolds road, roger bird, rutter family, ryan family, shoe factory., staffs produce store, studley cairn gahan, sweeneys lane, swimming pool, taylor street, tennis court, warren family, wooden bridge, yarra brae road

In earlier years (c1923-1943), the shop was known as Mrs Sim's shop. Note that prior to c1928 the property was numbered 292 Mont Albert Road. Electoral rolls describe Victoria May Sims (nee Munday) as a confectioner but she also sold school requisites and other general household items. Her husband Harry Pascoe Sims died in 1926. The shop was taken over by Leonard William James Etheridge, whom electoral rolls and probate records variously describe as a grocer, stationer or builder. His sons Austin, Douglas and Leonard attended nearby Chatham Primary School. Leonard senior and his wife Marie Wanda (nee Chambers) lived in various locations around Surrey Hills after leaving the shop. Austin went on to establish Etheridge Ford in Ringwood.A black and white photograph of a man dressed in a suit wearing a hat. He is standing beside a car parked beside a shop.mrs sims shop, mont albert road, surrey hills, chatham school, austin etheridge, frank etheridge, victoria may sims, leonard william etheridge, douglas etheridge, leonard etheridege, marie wanda etheridge, marie wanda chambers

This book was owned by F.B. Dicken. Frank and May Dicken moved to Orbost in 1936 where Frank became manager of Pardew Brothers store in Nicholson Street. In 1945, Frank purchased the business and in 1947, formed a partnership with his son, Selwyn. The store was then called F.B. Dicken and Son. The premise are still retained by the Dicken family although the shop business was sold in 1981. (ref. In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall)A brown covered book with an embossed design on the front cover. Written by Rev. Charles Clayton M.A. Published by Seeley, Jackson & Halliday, Fleet Street London.o Hand-written on the flyleaf at the front - To Frank Dicken the Rev'd with the best wishes R. Weston of his old Friend and Vicar April 1926book dicken-frank religious-literature sermons

This book was owned by F.B. Dicken. Frank and May Dicken moved to Orbost in 1936 where Frank became manager of Pardew Brothers store in Nicholson Street. In 1945, Frank purchased the business and in 1947, formed a partnership with his son, Selwyn. The store was then called F.B. Dicken and Son. The premises are still retained by the Dicken family although the shop business was sold in 1981. (ref. In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall) Richard Weston was the vicar at Burntwood in Staffordshire, England from 1886–1922.A book with a brown cloth cover. Stanhope Sermons - second edition.Inside- To Frank Dicken, in memory of Burntwood days from Vicar Richard Weston 1926sermons dicken-frank weston-richard burntwood religious-literature

This knife was found in a drawer from the estate of Judy Walcott who died in 2016 in Orbost. The Dicken Bros, shop is in the main street of Orbost . Frank B. Dicken and his son, Selwyn, were General Merchants. Frank and May Dicken moved to Orbost in 1936 where Frank became manager of Pardew Brothers store in Nicholson Street. In 1945, Frank purchased the business and in 1947, formed a partnership with his son, Selwyn. The store was then called F.B. Dicken and Son. The premise are still retained by the Dicken family although the shop business was sold in 1981. (ref. In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall) This item is an example of an item produced for advertising and promotion. The Dicken General Merchandising business is no longer an Orbost feature.A bone handled butter knife with an inscription on one side of the blade. Handle is a cream bone with a rounded end. Stainless Steel Made in Sheffield Expressly fo F.B. Dicken & Son ORBOST

See Paybooks Cat 4967.21. Plain sheet of white paper from Commonwealth of Australia (Defence Forces). Printed with black ink. This shows how many days Attwood served overseas and how many days for other qualifying service (24 months @ 15/-). 2. Commonwealth Government Envelope, has a window with a rubber stamp for 2 1/2p, Franked Melbourne 7 May 45. On the rear is a wartime note - "Gossip is Sabotage".Rubber stamp - checking staff 3rd M.D. 201ww2, gratuity payments, documents

Photograph shows car 586 in Queens Parade, Clifton Hill with the rail line and over bridge in the background. The grip mechanism has been lifted. The tram has the destination of Spencer St. Same handwriting as that of Frank Shennen though it may not be his photograph. Yields information about Clifton Hill cable tram depot and tram 586.Black and white photograph with notes on the rear.On rear in pencil "Car 586, possibly at Clifton Hill." Has the number "179" in pencil in top right-hand corner.tramways, cable trams, clifton hill, tram 586, clifton hill depot

Book. ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION. 257 page hardcover book subtitled 'Incidents and Interviews on a Leisurely Journey by Air from Australia to London' with Frank Clune. January to May 1947. Includes 93 B & W photographs. Published in 1948 by Angus & Robertson and printed by Halstead Press, Sydney. Catalogue sticker ''2238 CLU'' on spine. Handwritten in ink on flyleaf ''To Alec Chisholm the Bird man from Clune the Crank Yours Sincerely Francis Patrick Clune, Viceroy of Vaucluse Anzac Day 1948''Frank Clunebooks, collections, travel, alec h chisholm collection, frank clune, air travel

Jacqueline SLAYMAKER This work was undertaken in 1992 when Jacqueline Slaymaker was a 3rd Year student at Ballarat University College. The catalogue for the End of Year exhibition in 1992 states "The figures importance is purposeful. The strong sculptural form of the torso, tensions of the skin and volume are the aspects I focus on. Drawing is vital to my painting. The heavily layered works that I sand, scratch and rub back into eventually resolve some of the problems associated with painting. I believe this constant re-addressing creates a sense of history and building a texture creates a sense of history and build up of texture illustrates the concrete solid way I see the figure. I draw resource from ancient sculpture in particular Etruscan coffins and tomb wall painting. More recently I am interested in the draftsmanship of Jim Dine and monoprints of May Frank.' This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Framed life painting of a female nude. art, artwork, jacqueline slaymaker, nude, life study, oil on canvas, alumni, end of year exhibition

Hilda Hill collection. Combination of Sepia & Black & White Photos Total of 9. Photos. Five boys all dressed in white and wearing white boaters playing instruments in a band, left foreground Tuba, two in centre playing trombones, man in background playing smaller tuba like instrument, Clem Easter Fair procession1920. Four young ladies and four young men sharing a picnic at the lake, (Weeroona?), ladies wearing white or light coloured outfits and the men and boys all dressed in darker clothing, background left building on far side of the lake, at the lake 'Hungry' January 1920. Ken at Lockwood April 25th 1920, wearing white shirt dark waistcoat and trousers, left arm on top of gate post, two stays for the gate post and dry tree limb on ground, background open paddock with trees further in the background. Babe & Hilda at the Easter Fair 1920, Both wearing broad brimmed hats, one light the other dark, dark coat and skirt combinations with white accessories. 'the Three Graces' Queen street, April 25th 1920, 1 wearing dark suit and hat with white shirt and dark tie, centre wearing grey suit hat white shirt and dark tie also holding a ball his left hand round the shoulder of the man to his left, man on right wearing dark coat grey trousers white shirt and dark tie his left hand is holding round stick. Group of seated ladies, lady to left wearing light broad brimmed hat and white blouse holding bunch of leaves, next lady also wearing light broad brimmed hat dark dress white blouse with large collars folded over the coat lapel, and glasses, next at rear of group lady in hat white dress and dark coat left hand on shoulder of person left front of herself, This lady wearing dark wide broad brimmed hat dark coat and skirt with white blouse and also holding a bunch of leaves, last lady on right wearing a floppy brimmed hat with white blouse and dark coloured outfit with light coloured lapels, One Tree Hill April 18th 1920. Family group Lockwood April 25th 1920,some of the males are wearing hats others not, most are in dark coloured suits with or without coats, all of the ladies are wearing hats of varying kinds, all appear to have white blouses on with dark skirts or dresses, photo in open paddock with trees in the background. Girlie & Frank Queen street April 25th 1920, Girlie in foreground seated on rug of which more next to her is where Frank may sit, to her wearing glasses dark dress with white blouse and white hat, Frank wearing grey suit and hat is holding an object over the head of Girlie,background left a suitcase on the ground, centre background is a slim tree, right background house with gabled roof and bull nose verandah, high picket fence, trees on footpath. Left side buildings fronting the footpath. Babe seated on the hand rail at the bottom of wooden stair case, wearing broad brimmed hat dark dress and white blouse, shadow in foreground of the photographer and assistant, left is wire fence with wooden posts and top rail, April 1920.australia, history, post war life

Princess Theatre, YMCA, Complimentary Concert by the Combined Orpheus Society Australasian Champions, Ballarat, 1923-24, and Orchestral Society, Frank Grose-Conductor. 10th Nov, Artists Assisting: Miss May McGauchie, Olive Kilfeder, Winnie Pithie, Mabel McGauchie. Madame Dorothy Duval. Mr. Ernest Ash, Dudley Melrose, Orchestral Society. President: Barkly Hyett. Treasurer: W G Lansell. Hon. Sec.: N M Young. Programme. Pirates of Penzance, Gipsy Rondo, Elegie, Liebesfreud, Asra, The Ballad of Clamperdown, To the Forest, Down in the Forest, Allegro, Russian Boatman Song, Sunset, Chanson de Nuit, Chanson de Matin, Softly Sighs, Melanie, The Serial Story, Turkish, My Prayer, Mavis, Coronation March. Picture on page 4 YMCA Orpheus Society, Australasian Champions, Ballarat, 1923-24. Photograph by Bartlett Bros. Mr. Dudley Melrose, Miss Olive Kilfeder, Mr. Ernest Ash, Miss Winnie Pithie, Miss Mabel McGauchie, Mr. Frank Grose, Miss May McGauchie, Madame Dorothy Duval. Block by courtesy of the 'Bendigo Sun.'Bolton Print, Bendigoprogram, music, princess theatre, ymca, orchestral society, australasian champions, ballarat

Town Hall, The Bendigo Choral Society. (Season 1920-First Concert) Twelfth Grand Concert. Wednesday, March 31st, 1920. Artists: Miss Dorothy Penfold, A.R.C.M., Miss Winnie Mayberry, Mr. E H Collett, Mr. E A Miller. Conductor: Mr. W C Frazier, A.R.C.O. Pianiste: Miss Eileen Hains, A.T.C.L. Patron: His Worship the Mayor (Cr J H Curnow). President: Mr. H M Leggo. Vice President: Sir john Quick, Cr W Beebe, Mr. Oscar Flight, Mr. E S Cahill, Mr. D Berriman, Mr. A L Bolton, Dr W J Long, Dr O Penfold, Mr. J G Oliphant, Mr. Alf E Wallis, Mr. A Whitehead, Mr. W Watts, Mr. Magnus Cohn, Mr. R H S Abbott, Mr. Geo. Mackay. From the performing Members: Mr. E H Collett, Mr. A W McGibbony. Conductor: Mr. W C Frazier, A.R.C.O. Sub Conductor: Mr. E A Miller. Pianiste: Miss Eileen Hains, A.T.C.L. Asst. Sec.: Mr. Fred A Wittscheibe. Treasurer: Mr. D H Holden. Librarians: Mr. R J Duguid. Assistants: Mr. H Veale & Mr. Mansell. Auditors: Mr. H T Bayton, A.A.I.S. & Mr. Harold Walker. Committee-Office Bearers: Mesdames T Scott & Chisolm, and Misses Colgan, Gall Field & Lethean, and Messers Sleeman, Jeffrey, McClure, Carwardine, F J Walter & Frank Wittscheibe. Subscribers may book at Flights on and after 25th March, without extra fee. Holders' of 2/2 tickets may also book without fee. Holders of 1/1 tickets may book by paying difference, 1/1. J Hudspeth, Hon Secretary, 85 Wills Street, Bendigo. Programme. Soloists: Soprano-Miss Dorothy Penfold. Contralto-Miss Winnie Mayberry. Tenor-Mr E H Collett. Bass-Mr E A Miller. Conductor: Mr W C Frazier. Pianiste: Miss Eileen Hains.In the excerpts for performances there breathes the whole of the Passion of the Messiah. The opening Chorus is in itself an epitome of the sacred event, beginning, as it does, with 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain' to the triumphant 'Blessing and honor and glory and power be with Him for ever and ever' Commencing with solemn and beautiful chorus 'Behold the Lamb of God,' where the attention of the whole world is called to the supreme sacrifice, we are . . . Passion Music from the 'Messiah.' . . . . . Foreword for 1920. The Committee desire to express their thanks to all our patrons. It is very gratifying that our Conductor, Mr. W C Frazier, is more and more being appreciated at its true value. It is absolutely true that 'man connote live by bread alone,' and when the finer instincts are being fostered by the appreciation of good music . . . . J Hudspeth, 85 Wills Street.Bolton Bros., Printerstown hall, bendigo choral society

Town Hall, The Bendigo Choral Society. (Season 1919-Third Concert) Eleventh Grand Concert, Town Hall. Wednesday, December 17th, 1919. Artists: Miss Claire Colgan, Miss Myrtle Knight, Mr. E H Collett, Mr. A E Sayer. Conductor: Mr. W C Frazier, A.R.C.O. Pianiste: Miss Muriel Hyett, L.A.B. Patron-His Worship the Mayor (Cr. J H Curnow). President-Mr. H M Leggo. Vice-Presidents-Sir John Quick, Cr. C W Beebe, Mr. Oscar Flight, Mr. E S Cahill, Mr. D Berrriman, Mr A L Bolton, Mr. G E Bolton, Dr W G Long, DR O Penfold, Mr. J G Oliphant, Mr. Alf E Wallis, Mr. A Whitehead, Mr. W Watts. From the performing Members-Mr. E H Collett, Mr. A W McGibboney. Conductor-Mr. W C Frazier, A.R.C.O. Sub-Conductor- Mr. E A Miller, Pianist-Miss Muriel Hyett, L.A.B. Ass. Sec.-Mr. Fred A Wittscheibi. Treasurer-Mr. D H Holden. Librarians-Mr. R J Duguid & G L McCoy. Auditors-Mr. H T Bayton, A.A.I.S. * Harold Walker. Committee-Office Bearers: Mesdames T Scott, & Chisholm, & Misses Colgan, Gall, Field & Wheaton, & Messrs. Sleeman, Jeffrey, McClure, Brown, F J Walter & Frank Wittscheibe. Subscribers may book at Flights on and After 12th December, without extra fee. Holders of 2/2 tickets may also book by paying difference, 1/1. Admission- 2/2/ Reserved, 1/1/ Ordinary, including tax. J Hudspeth, Hon. Secretary, 85 Wills Street, Bendigo. Programme. 'Comfort Ye' 'Every Valley' 'And the Glory', Hungarian Danse' No.3, 'Softly Sighs', 'Fire, Fire my Heart', 'Spring', 'Best Pair of Sirens', ' Legende', 'Eleanore', 'Dream Wind', 'Ave Maria', 'Fantasie Pastorale', 'O Great is the Depth'. 'Dream Wind' Words by William Sharp. 'Fire, Fire My Heart' Words by Morley. 'Blest Sirens' ''Voice'' and ''Verse'' Words by Milton. The Bendigo Choral Society. Exists for the worthy production of the choral works of the great composers. Under the leadership of Mr. Frazier, it can fairly claim to have accomplished this, at least in some degree, during the past year. Works have been. . . . . . Note - The rehearsals will be resumed 2nd week in February 1920. Annual Meeting 3rd week. A and b are same, a is in excellent condition, b has some slight discoloration on the back. Both have been folded in half and in half againBolton Bros, Printersprogram, theatre, the bendigo choral society

Sixteen theatre programmes from the Royal Princess Theatre: 1) ''A chapter in her life'' with Claude Gillingwater, Jacqueline Gadsen & Jane Mercer - ''Within the law'' with Norma Talmadge. 2) ''Who's Who'' directed by William Anderson. 3) ''The old woman who lived in a shoe'' with Lily Clarke, Fred Heinz, Neal Connelly, Gladys Spencer, Nellie Hornby, Willie Howard, Mary Nuttall, Frank Rossmore, George McGuire, May Bryer, Claud Chevely, Vera Nuttall, Vera Bromley, Dorothea Liddle, Coral Spencer, Ruby May, Irene McGuire, Nellie McGuire, Euston Moloney. 4) ''Splendid Fellows'' with Isabelle Mahon, frank Leighton, Eric Colman, Leo Franklin, Frank Bradley. 5) ''David Copperfield'' with W.C. Fields, Lionel Barrymore, Madge Evans, Maureen O'Sullivan, Edna May Oliver. 6) ''The Gay Divorcee'' with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. 7) ''One Night of love'' with Grace Moore. 8) grand Operettas ''Life at sea'' by the pupils of the Marist Brothers' College. On Saturday, December 16th, 1916. 9) ''John Gilpin'' music by Sr Frederick Cowen. First appearance of the Marist Bros. Boy's brass band with miss Pauline Bindley, Miss Mary Bentley, Miss Vera O'Donnell, Mr. Hector Goldspink, Mr. Tom Pritchard, Mr. Frank Bensen. Wednesday, December 7th, 1910. 10) ''A night at a Maori Pah'' featuring forty full blooded Maoris from the thermal regions of New Zealand. 11) Royal Princess Bendigo eighty first birthday souvenir programme. 31st August, 1955. 12) '' The Merry Widow'' royal comic opera company with Gladys Moncrieff, Arthur Stigabt, Leslie Holland, Lance Lister. 13) ''Grand National Concert'' Tuesday, 17th March, 1925 with Rita Miller, Vera O'Donnell, Percy Blundell, W. Donohue, Donald McNeath, Pat Coleman, Arthur Douglas. 14) 15th Annual tour of the original ''Blind Entertainers'' Monday, September 3rd, 1928. 15) The joy event of the year. 5th annual Paramount week, August 31st to September 5th. 16) Princess Bendigo, programs December 5 to January 4, 1933entertainment, theatre, royal princess

James Redmond Gilbert (sr) was born in 1837 at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He married Ellen Spouse. He , James Gilbert died on 26 July 1900 at Melbourne, and is buried at Boroondara Cemetery (Kew). J.R Gilbert lived at Running Creek (later Havilah) for some time, and during that time was employed in one of the bigger mines in the district. (Research by Ren at Havilah Research, 2019) Leatherbound ledger with hand written names, professions, residence and remarks relating to visitors to the Ballarat School of Mines. Sample Names: 1881 May 2 David Kerr Diamond Miner South Africa May 2 S. R. Dodds Diamond Miner South Africa May 3 Albert E. King Accountant Adelaide, South Australia "see signature 6 leaves back" May 6 William Morley Wesleyan Minister Auckland, New Zealand May 6 Rainsford Ravin Wellington, New Zealand May 7 Frank E. Lawrence, Lake River, Tasmania May 9 M. Richter Engineer Germany May 9 Dr Wilhelm Landall naturalist Berlin, Germany May 10 William Ralph Heaton Mercantile Birmingham May 11 Arthur I. Traill Grazier Llanpollen, New South Wales May 10 Marian Traill 1882 July 10 Arthur W.W. Brown London July 10 Benjamin Spargo Mining Mananger and owner Snowy Creek July 10 Thomas Cooke Miner Ballarat July 14 Robert H. Kenny July 14 Mr and Mrs Buston, [Indigo Planter?] Bengal, Indonesia July 14 Samuel H. Halker Ballarat July 14 Charles Phelan Talbot July 14 E. Walker Ballarat 1884 June 30 M.N. Cooper Dunedin, new Zealand June 30 Richard Hosking gardiner Gong Gong Well pleased with School June 30 Humphrey John Ballarat July 1 Cecily Gilbert Melbourne July 1 Florence Shrivall Melbourne July 1 [W.N. Marsh?] Colonial Secretary Hong Kong July 1 Louis Fause Engine Driver Dunolly July 1 John L. Bertram Blacksmith Melbourne July 1 Thomas Eardley Coachmaker London "Exceedingly obliged to Mr Oddie for a very pleasant instruction time spent in inspection of the various scientific appliances in the Ballarat School of Mines." (Donation 2/6) July 4 E. Goodwin [David?] Artist Spellbound July 4 W. Glumley Station Master Murtoa July July 4 James Thomas Miner Corrinondie, New Zealand "Very pleased with the School in all its branches. I hope to contribute to the specimen department. J.T." July 8 Robert Wall Engine Driver 1885 September 16 J.W. Springthorpe, M.D., Melbourne (very much pleased in every way) September 26 M. Oddie, Ballarat 1886 January 12 William Piekard, Leicester, England January 12 Robert Linford, Norwich, England January 12 H. Tipping, Draughtsman, Adelaide (Very instructive and should be taken advantage of by all who can) January 12 Fred H.K. Dreslecher, London (ditto) January 23 Walter Redgate, Manchester (ditto) April 7 Annie Bellingham, Richmond April 9 Fred Kruger, Landscape Photo, Geelong April 14 Mary Barry, Murtoa April 19 N.J. Tabuteau Accountant Napier, New Zealand April 19 George N. [Baroft?] Gentleman Cheshire, England April 21 Hon. George D'Almaine, Peer of England, London April 21 Lord Augustus Honour April 21 William Holt, South Melbourne April 21 H. Bartell, Gentleman, Smythes April 21 Fred Musgrove, Gentleman April 21 A. Chirnside, Squatter April 23 Alice Cravino, student, Buninyong April 24 East Melbourne Bicycle Club April 28 J. Kinnear, Kyneton April 28 J.P. Kinnear, Kyneton May 19 Bob Selby, Doctor, Ballarat May 19 J.W.M.. Quiggin, globe trotter, Picton (NS Wales) May 25 Arthur Night, Sutton Hotel, Ballarat (very fair) May 28 D. Kelly, attendant, China May 28 J. Kelly, schoolboy, China June 1 Joseph Jelbart, Blacksmith, Harrow September 9 David Ham, M.L.C. Ballarat ( A right to be pleased) September 9 J.J. Green, Merchant, Adelaide (Very much pleased with my visit to this intitiution it has my hearty sympathy and appreciation, Much pleased at what I have seen its value to the community) 9 December James H. Tappin, Agent, Ballarat (very pleased with instruction 1887 March 20 Thomas Bath Learmonth March 20 James R. Gilbert= Miner Running Creek March 20 C. Holtermann Out of business Adelaide 1890 21 May Mr and Mrs Fairchild, gentleman. Yarra house, Dalgety St, St Kildaballarat school of mines, visitors, j.w. springthorpe, chinese visitors, visitors' book, running creek, james redmond gilbert sr, havilah

This majestic peacock embodies the technical achievement, skill and ingenuity of artisans during the 19th century. It is now known as the 'Loch Ard Peacock' and was designed and modelled in 1873 by Paul Comolera (1818-1897) and fired in one piece at the Minton factory at Stoke-on-Trent in the United Kingdom in 1875. The peacock has been portrayed in symbolic motifs and has figured heavily in folktales and fables since antiquity, and many cultures around the world see it as a symbol of beauty, rebirth and power. Wealthy Victorians loved majolica, and the large peacock would have been the ultimate home accessory as a conservatory ornament – combining their desire for nature, the exotic and vibrant colours. The peacock model was listed in catalogues by Minton & Co. for a retail price of 35 guineas or sold as a pair for 90 guineas. Minton & Co. was founded in 1793 by Thomas Minton (1765–1836) and became a famous pottery and porcelain manufacturer. Comolera was a French artist and sculptor, renowned for dramatic naturalistic forms and life-size renditions of birds and animals that won him admiration in public and artistic circles. He was employed by Minton & Co. from 1873 to 1880, and the life-sized peacock became his best-known work. Comolera kept a live peacock loaned from the nearby Duke of Sutherland's Trentham Hall Estate in his studio to create a life-size model of fine buff earthenware model, which was then hand painted in brilliantly coloured green and blue glazes to mimic the peafowl’s dazzling plumage. There are no surviving production records, but according to documents in the Minton Archive, nine peacocks were made by Comolera. However, today, some historians now believe that twelve were fired at the Minton factory; research is ongoing. These peacocks were so admired that Minton & Co. used them as exhibition showpieces at International Exhibitions in London, Paris, and the United States of America, ensuring the company had a worldwide reputation. So, when Melbourne hosted an International Exposition in 1880, Minton & Co. sent out ceramics and tiles, and in particular, this peacock was intended to be part of their exhibit in the British Court in the Exhibition Building, built in the Carlton Gardens. The early dispatch date (1878) indicates that the company may have intended to exhibit their wares, including the peacock, at the 1879 Sydney International Exhibition, but the company did not take up this option. The ship that Minton & Co. used to bring the peacock and their other wares to the Australian colonies was the ill-fated Loch Ard, which sunk after striking Mutton Bird Island near Port Campbell, Victoria, in calm foggy weather in June 1878 on the final leg of the ship's journey to Melbourne. The loss of 52 lives made it one of Victoria’s worst shipwrecks. Therefore, this peacock never made it to the grand exposition in Melbourne, as Minton & Co. had planned. Charles McGillivray dragged this peacock, still in its original packing case, onto the beach in the gorge just two days after the Loch Ard went down. The peacock was rescued unscathed apart from a chip on its beak (only repaired in 1988). After a disagreement with a Melbourne Customs Officer, Joseph Daish, McGillivray stopped his salvage operations, leaving the peacock on the beach. The second salvagers were James Miller and Thomas Keys. Miller was a member of the firm Howarth, Miller and Matthews, Geelong, who had brought the salvage rights to the Loch Ard wreck on 10 June. When Miller and Keys arrived at the wreck site, a storm had washed many of the salvaged goods, including this peacoc,k back into the sea. The two men found the peacock in its case ‘bobbing along in the water’ and pulled it back to the beach. To ensure the peacock wasn't washed out to sea again, Miller and Keys hauled the packing case containing the peacock up the gorge's cliff face to the top, ready to be transported. In an interview in 1928, Keys claimed that at the time of the rescue, the head had broken from the body. This account was proven to be true in 1988, following the birds' display in Brisbane. This peacock began its life in Australia, not in the grandeur of an International Exhibition as intended, but in the hallway of a simple domestic house in Geelong. It appears Minton & Co. did not attempt to buy this peacock back. Florence Miller, daughter of James Miller (Loch Ard salvage rights holder), later remarked that the only item of real value rescued from the wreck had been the peacock and that this had been kept by her father in the family home at Malvern for many years and became a treasured family possession. As such, this 'Loch Ard peacock' was almost forgotten and mistaken with other Minton peacocks around the world. Miss Florence Miller tried to sell the peacock due to financial difficulties in the 1930s but was unsuccessful. While attempting to sell her Loch Ard relic, it was displayed in the window of the old Argus newspaper office, which was at 76 Collins Street, Melbourne; the Argus had relocated to the corner of Elizabeth and La Trobe Streets in 1926. Between 1935 and 1939, the old Argus building was occupied by the Joshua N. McClelland Print Room, which sold not only paintings and prints but also antiques and authentic replicas, as well as hosting exhibitions. Miss Florence Miller loaned her peacock for display at the Victorian Historical Exhibition held in the National Gallery on 1st June 1935, the 57th anniversary of the Loch Ard wreck. As a result, the peacock attracted public attention in books, newspapers and magazine articles that told the story of its survival from a shipwreck. Miss Florence Miller was keen to sell the peacock, even writing overseas to Captain Blain on November 30th, 1938, about the possibility of a sale, but this became no longer possible due to the outbreak of war. Recent information points to the Loch Ard peacock being owned by John S R Heath before its sale to Frank Ridley-Lee in May 1941. Research is ongoing, but it seems likely that John Samuel Robert Heath, a leading Melbourne dentist with a practice in Collins Street, and his wife, a dental mechanic, had purchased Miss Miller’s Loch Ard peacock before its sale in 1941. They were lovers of fine arts, music, wine and food. The peacock in the window of the old Argus building could have attracted their attention as they had already purchased the old stone Presbyterian Church on Warrigal Road, Oakleigh, in 1933 and had converted its interior. The home, renamed The Studio, even included Melbourne’s first all-electric kitchen. The peacock was perfect for display in the Studio’s entrance. A magazine article published after the conversion was completed included photographs of the interior. The picture of the ‘portico’ had a caption below that stated, “Some of her [Mrs Heath’s] finest pottery was salvaged from the Loch Ard Wreck”. In 2025, Heath’s two remaining sons remember running around in the entrance with the peacock standing there, oblivious to its value. Heath was an accomplished artist, studying under Max Meldrum. He painted and exhibited his works at The Studio and in a public exhibition, and he was a finalist eight times in the coveted Archibald Prize portrait competition, including the submission of his self-portrait that is now part of his grandson’s collection. The next owner of the Loch Ard Peacock was Frank Ridley-Lee. He displayed it at his home in Ivanhoe after buying it at an auction in May 1941. The peacock remained in the hands of the Ridley-Lee family until it was offered for sale by auction in 1975 as part of an art collection belonging to Mrs Ridley-Lee's estate. The peacock was not sold at this time, as the reserve price of $4500 was not met. This news was passed on to the board of the newly created Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. Urgent efforts were made to collect the necessary money through fundraising by the Warrnambool City Council and public donations. The Fletcher Jones Company and the Victorian Government contributed half the cost. On 9 September 1975, the Loch Ard peacock was purchased by Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and it found a new home at the maritime museum. Since then, it has only left Warrnambool twice. Firstly, in 1980, at the centenary celebrations of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, and secondly, in 1988, the peacock was given pride of place at the entrance to the Victorian Pavilion at the Brisbane World Expo, acknowledging that this Minton Majolica peacock is the most significant shipwreck object in Australia. The Minton majolica peacock is considered of historical social and aesthetic significance to Victoria and is one of only a few 'objects' registered on the Victorian Heritage Register (H 2132), as it is a most notable and rare object associated with the Minton factory of the 1870s and works by the celebrated sculptor Paul Comolera along with the wreck of the Loch Ard on the Victorian coastline. This Minton peacock is historically significant for its rarity; it was one of only 9-12 known to exist. The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is also of significance for Victoria and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register Ref (S 417). Flagstaff Hill has a varied collection of artefacts from Loch Ard and its collection is significant for being one of the largest accumulation of artefacts from this notable Victorian shipwreck. The collections object is to also give us a snapshot into history so we can interpret the story of this tragic event. The collection is also archaeologically significant as it represents aspects of Victoria's shipping history that allows us to interpret Victoria's early social and historical themes. The collection is historically significant is that it is associated, unfortunately with the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria's history. The peacock, resplendent in polychrome glaze, stands perched on a rocky plinth decorated with vines, leaves, flowers, blackberries and wild mushrooms. The peacock’s breast is cobalt blue; the wings and legs are in naturalistic colours. The tail is a mass of feathers coloured in green, ochre blue and brown — a fantastic display of artistry and Minton expertise. Inscribed at the base :P Comolera, and a Minton & Co. design number: 2045.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, loch ard, loch ard gorge, peacock, paul comolera, victorian heritage register, minton peacock, minton & co., stoke upon trent, bird figures, mintons, ceramics, international expositions, majolica, naturalistic, staffordshire, john samuel robert heath, peacock statue, loch ard peacock, majorca peacock

This item was used in Dicken's Store. Originally the Pardew Brothers store in Nicholson Street, Orbost, Frank Dicken purchased the shop business. It was a bakery and general store and was known as F.B. Dicken and Son. In 1948 they bought the shop freehold . The store remains today converted into two separate shops. The meat slicer was purchased from Henry Berry and Company a large wholesale grocers and general merchant company, first established in Melbourne in 1859.The Dicken store is a prominent Orbost building. Frank and May Dicken moved to Orbost in 1936 where Frank became manager of Pardew Brothers store in Nicholson Street. In 1945, Frank purchased the business and in 1947, formed a partnership with his son, Selwyn. The store was then called F.B. Dicken and Son. The premises are still retained by the Dicken family although the shop business was sold in 1981. (ref. In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall)A heavy commercial meat slicer which sits on bench. Frame is painted red. The tray moves as the handle turns. The main structure is cast iron. It has a circular steel blade. The chrome output tray is detachable. The movable carriage has a cast aluminium tray with spikes to hold the meat and there is an adjustable clamp to secure the meat.INVICTA Model No 302 21 HENRY BERRY PTY LTD MELBfood-preparation dicken-store meat-slicer

This book was written at the same time as the replica of the PS Curlip was being built in Orbost. The great grandson of Samuel Richardson is Gil Richardson who lives in Bete Bolong just outside Orbost. Gil and Heather Richards presented the author, May Leatch with a box of old diaries written by Sam Richardson and Sam's sons, Alan and Frank. Using these as the basis of the story, May wrote the full story of the Curlip and the Richardson family.This book about a local icon and a local family was written in Orbost by a local historian.A green and grey covered book titled, CURLIP The life and times of a Snowy River Paddle Steamer and the family who built her. On the front cover is a black and white photograph of the PS Curlip taken shortly after its launch in 1890. On the back cover is a black and white photograph of phragmites on the Snowy River floodplain. The book traces the history of the Richardson family from Godalming, Surrey, England to Orbost, East Gippsland, Victoria in Australia. It contains b/w photographs, diary extracts and newspaper extracts. The book was written by May Leatch.p.s.curlip paddle-steamers orbost richardson-family richardson-samuel

This stamp was used for official correspondence, minutes etc by the Warrnambool 150th Anniversary Committee in 1997. The occasion was the 150th anniversary year of the establishment of Warrnambool in 1847. The President of the Committee was Frank Jacobs and the Secretary was Gordon Reid. The donor of the stamp was a member of the Co-ordinating Committee.This stamp is part of the collection of items from Warrnambool’s 150th celebrations in 1997. It has no intrinsic value but the stamp may be used for future historical exhibitions.This is a modern self-inking stamp which stamps out ‘Warrnambool 150th Anniversary Co-ordinating Committee’. It is made of black and grey plastic with a red button and blue and black printing. It is in a cardboard box which contains an explanatory brochure.Stamp – ‘Warrnambool 150th Anniversary Co-ordinating Committee’ Side – Trodat, Printy 4913 150th anniversary warrnambool, warrnambool

The Tawonga School was a weatherboard building built on 8 acres of land catering for children from the surrounding grazing farms to ride their horses to school. It opened on 27th July 1880. The original school building and records were erased by fire in 1900. The Tawonga hall was used until 1910 when 3 acres of land was donated by Frank Cooper. It still operates today (2015) with its numbers having fluctuated over the years with the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme, tobacco farming and now tourism. The Tawonga community published a cook book to celebrate the school's centenary.This book may have also been used as a fund raiser.The Tawonga school celebrated its centenary with a cookbook with contributions from the community. This indicates that the school was very proud of reaching its centenary and the community co-operated with each other to develop this book.This book is a good source of the names of people who lived in Tawonga in 1980.Yellow book with brown writing and sketch of school held together with brown hard plastic binding. It has 90 pages of recipes most of which give the contributor's name.Tawonga State School Centenary 1880 - 1980 (stamped on front & back cover) In pencil on front cover: Ada Ryder An advertising for Kelvinator sticker has been stuck on the inside front cover with 18-3-92 written on it & on the inside back cover and 'Energy Rating' sticker.tawonga school. centenary of school. 1880-1980. cooking. food. kiewa valley

Brass Collection Plate presented to St Paul's Anglican Church, Allansford, by the mother of Joseph & Frank Dallimore as a Memorial to the two brothers who drowned at Ryan's Den (near Cape Otway) on Jan 1st 1903. Major Joseph Dallimore (aged 32) was on leave from Sth Africa during the war and he, his wife (Beatrice Wiggs) and baby, his brother Frank Rupert Dallimore (aged 22), a farm hand Arthur Geach (aged 19) and a house maid servant, were picnicing at Ryan's Den (near Cape Otway) when the three men went walking, but never returned, all assumed drowned. One theary has it - Mrs M.E. Dallimore was picnicing at Lake Gillear beach when an enormous wave swept over the shore - (much larger than any other during that day) and rolled in all along the beach. This wave may have also reached the area where the three men were walking on the rocks and swept them into the ocean. Only one body was recovered - some 4 weeks later - that of Frank Rupert Dallimore and washed into Brown's Creek, 1 mile from the Johanna River and ten miles east of Ryans Den.It is a memorial plate and records the family's attachment and importance to the Church.Brass engraved and embossed Memorial Collection PlateEmbossed wording around edge of plate in Old English font reads - "All things come of Thee and of Thine own have we given Thee". The inscription on the tondo of the plate reads - "TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN MEMORY OF / JOSEPH & FRANK RUPERT DALLIMORE, / WHO WERE DROWNED AT RYAN'S DEN, / JAN 1ST 1903. / PRESENTED BY THEIR LOVING MOTHER, / M.E.DALLIMORE."brass st pauls anglican church allansford warrnambool church of england christ church parish of warrnambool collection plate memorial plate dallimore drowning ryan s den alms dish

Margaret Rose Crenny (1875-1946) married John Thomas Teagle (1864-1948) in 1893. Their children were: Albert Edward (Ted) Teagle 1894-1917 Mary Elizabeth (Bess) 1896-1958 Louisa (Lou) Helen 1896-1919 Ernest Thomas 1897-1969 William George 1899-1982 Leslie John 1901-1976 - never married Francis David (Frank) 1903-1958 James Michael (Jim) 1905-1951 Clifford Joseph (Cliff) 1907-1986 Reta Agnes (Rta) 1910-1961 Margaret Rose (Rosie) 1912-1982 Violet Amelda 1914-1982 Edwina May Theresa (Ted) 1917-2002 Margaret's sister was Julia Crenny 1871-1936. This photo shows Margaret Teagle and her older (spinster) sister Julia Crenny with her twin daughters Bess and Lou and most likely eldest son Ted and possibly son Ernest (dressed like the twins). It was common place in those times for young boys to wear dresses until they were toilet trained.Inscibed on back in ink Mrs J Teagle & Aunt Julia & some of familyalbert edward teagle, ernest thomas teagle, julia crenny, louisa helen teagle, margaret rose teagle (nee crenny), mary elizabeth teagle, pam thoonen (nee ingram) collection

Margaret Rose Crenny (1875-1946) married John Thomas Teagle (1864-1948) in 1893. Their children were: Albert Edward (Ted) Teagle 1894-1917 Mary Elizabeth (Bess) 1896-1958 Louisa (Lou) Helen 1896-1919 Ernest Thomas 1897-1969 William George 1899-1982 Leslie John 1901-1976 - never married Francis David (Frank) 1903-1958 James Michael (Jim) 1905-1951 Clifford Joseph (Cliff) 1907-1986 Reta Agnes (Rta) 1910-1961 Margaret Rose (Rosie) 1912-1982 Violet Amelda 1914-1982 Edwina May Theresa (Ted) 1917-2002 In this picture standing L-R are all the brothers of Margaret Rose Fielding and her husband Richard: Leslie John Teagle, Jim Teagle with son Tony, ? , ? , ? , ? , Cliff Teagle, Richard Fielding, ? Anthony James Teagle 1944-2010 would make photo about 1949 anthony james teagle, cliff teagle, jim teagle, leslie john teagle, pam thoonen (nee ingram) collection, richard fielding, teagle family, tony teagle, eltham, thomas street

Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :5 Project : MELBOURNE AND METROPOLITAN AREA PROJECT Run : 36 Frame : 60546 Date : 12/1945 Film Type : B/W Camera : EAG4 Flying Height : 10200 Scale : 6000 Film Number : 195 GDA2020 : 37°42'47"S, 145°09'56"E MGA2020 : 338306, 5824438 (55) Melways : 22 C4 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes

Centred over present day Reynolds Road and Mount Pleasant Road, Eltham (including Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd) Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :1931 Project : MALDON PRISON Run : 21 Frame : 3160 Date : 11/1931 Film Type : B/W Camera : F8 Flying Height : 11000 Scale : 18860 Film Number : 60 GDA2020 : 37°43'31"S, 145°10'20"E MGA2020 : 338912, 5823086 (55) Melways : 22 E8 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes

Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :65 Project : MELBOURNE AND METROPOLITAN PROJECT NO. 2 Run : 8 Frame : 71 Date : 01/1951 Film Type : B/W Camera : EAG9 Flying Height : 12200 Scale : 12000 Film Number : 1419 GDA2020 : 37°43'14"S, 145°09'46"E MGA2020 : 338081, 5823608 (55) Melways : 22 C6 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes