The National Wool Museum accepted a donation from Brian Licence in 2022 of several mementoes relating to his career in the wool industry. This Wool Classing Exercise Book was written by Brian in his time at the Gordon Technical College from 1960-62. Brian studied Wool Classing and worked for a decade in this profession before moving to Melbourne which required him to change careers.This Wool Classing Exercise book begins with a grey cover and a blue and silver metal binder. It has the number “240” handwritten in white pencil at the centre of the cover and “Brian Licence Animal Husbandry” written in blue ink on the top right corner. Internally, the book is handwritten with occasional hand drawn images. This work is completed on yellowed pages with faint blue lines, for assistance in clarity of handwriting. The pages are surrounded by a margin of red pen. The exercise book’s content is about basic animal husbandry for sheep that a Wool Classer may need to know while in a shearing shed. It is handwritten. A selection of pages have been photographed to give an impression of the information taught in classes 60 years ago. This includes information about: - Dentistry - Skeletal - Blood Circulation - Breathing - Internal parasites The book has 50 completed pages of handwriting on both front and back. Handwritten, white pencil. Centre of cover. “240” Handwritten, blue ink. Top right corner of cover. “Brian Licence. / Animal Husbandry” gordon institute geelong, 1960s sheep farming, wool classing, sheep dentistry, sheep skeletal, sheep blood circulation, sheep breathing, sheep internal parasites

Letter from the President of the Department of Agriculture, Victoria providing the outline of modules to be included in the Agricultural Apprenticeship courses at the Bendigo Technical College during 1982 Letter dated 2nd October 1981 Four modules: A70 Poultry Housing, 3 pages A71 Poultry Nutrition and Feeding, 3 pages A72 Poultry Flock Husbandry and Disease Control, 3 pages A73 Breeding Poultry, 3 pagescepa, department of agriculture

Pamphlet offering support to "men of the Land" who wish to extend their education. Help offered with mechanics, plumbing, carpentry, blacksmithing and woolclassing, husbandry and pasture improvement. This offer was extended by the Council of The School of Mines.Light fawn paper with dark brown printballarat school of mines, education, mechanics, plumbing, carpentry, blacksmithing, woolclassing, school council

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.)Invitationeltham living and learning centre, goat shed, peter graham

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Claire Fitzpatrick (red jacket) and Gillian Barclay (white jacket). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, 1989, claire fitzpatrick, goat shed, gillian barclay

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Claire Fitzpatrick (red jacket) and Gillian Barclay (white jacket). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, 1989, claire fitzpatrick, goat shed, gillian barclay

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Claire Fitzpatrick (red jacket) and Gillian Barclay (white jacket). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, 1989, claire fitzpatrick, goat shed, gillian barclay

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Claire Fitzpatrick (red jacket) and Gillian Barclay (white jacket). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, 1989, claire fitzpatrick, goat shed, gillian barclay

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Claire Fitzpatrick (red jacket) and Gillian Barclay (white jacket). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, 1989, claire fitzpatrick, goat shed, gillian barclay

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Claire Fitzpatrick (red jacket) and Gillian Barclay (white jacket). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, 1989, claire fitzpatrick, goat shed, gillian barclay

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Claire Fitzpatrick (red jacket) and Gillian Barclay (white jacket). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, 1989, claire fitzpatrick, goat shed, gillian barclay

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Claire Fitzpatrick (red jacket) and Gillian Barclay (white jacket). Black and white photocopy of probably colour photographeltham living and learning centre, 1989, claire fitzpatrick, goat shed, gillian barclay

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Claire Fitzpatrick (red jacket) and Gillian Barclay (white jacket). Black and white photocopy of probably colour photographeltham living and learning centre, 1989, claire fitzpatrick, goat shed, gillian barclay

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Claire Fitzpatrick (red jacket) and Gillian Barclay (white jacket). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, 1989, claire fitzpatrick, goat shed, gillian barclay

A clamp is a fastening device used to hold or secure objects tightly together to prevent movement or separation through the application of inward pressure. In the United Kingdom the term cramp is often used instead when the tool is for temporary use for positioning components during construction and woodworking; thus a G cramp or a sash clamp but a wheel, screw or surgical clamp. There are many types of clamps available for many different purposes. Some are temporary, as used to position components while fixing them together, others are intended to be permanent. In the field of animal husbandry, using a clamp to attach an animal to a stationary object is known as "rounded clamping." A physical clamp of this type is also used to refer to an obscure investment banking term, "fund clamps." Anything that acts to hold two surfaces together may be called a clamp, so this gives rise to a wide variety of terms across many fields. The subject item is a wooden-handled screw clamp used in cabinet or woodworking projects to hold two surfaces together while glueing or fixing. An item that has not changed in shape or use since its inception hundreds of years ago. These types of clamps are still produced today in many sizes by many woodworking tool companies.Wooden hand Screw Clamp two lengths of wood each beveled at one end and standing parallel. Two long wooden screws with handles and predominant thread that fits through wood lengths.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, wooden screw clamp, carpenters tools, cabinet makers tools, clamp

A clamp is a fastening device used to hold or secure objects tightly together to prevent movement or separation through the application of inward pressure. In the United Kingdom the term cramp is often used instead when the tool is for temporary use for positioning components during construction and woodworking; thus a G cramp or a sash clamp but a wheel, screw or surgical clamp. There are many types of clamps available for many different purposes. Some are temporary, as used to position components while fixing them together, others are intended to be permanent. In the field of animal husbandry, using a clamp to attach an animal to a stationary object is known as "rounded clamping." A physical clamp of this type is also used to refer to an obscure investment banking term, "fund clamps." Anything that acts to hold two surfaces together may be called a clamp, so this gives rise to a wide variety of terms across many fields. The subject item is a wooden-handled screw clamp used in cabinet or woodworking projects to hold two surfaces together while glueing or fixing. An item that has not changed in shape or use since its inception hundreds of years ago. These types of clamps are still produced today in many sizes by many woodworking tool companies.Wooden hand Screw Clamp two lengths of wood each beveled at one end and standing parallel. Two long wooden screws with handles and predominant thread that fits through wood lengths.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, wooden screw clamp, carpenters tools, cabinet makers tools, clamp

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Cr Graham plus Gillian Barclay (Co-ordinator), Liliana Unsworth (Engineering Design Draftsperson) and Bill Oakley (Corporate Development Officer). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, goat shed, gillian barclay, peter graham, liliana unsworth, bill oakley

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Cr Graham plus Gillian Barclay (Co-ordinator), Liliana Unsworth (Engineering Design Draftsperson) and Bill Oakley (Corporate Development Officer). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, goat shed, gillian barclay, peter graham, liliana unsworth, bill oakley

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Cr Graham plus Gillian Barclay (Co-ordinator), Liliana Unsworth (Engineering Design Draftsperson) and Bill Oakley (Corporate Development Officer). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, goat shed, steve, alan

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Cr Graham plus Gillian Barclay (Co-ordinator), Liliana Unsworth (Engineering Design Draftsperson) and Bill Oakley (Corporate Development Officer). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, goat shed, alan

Background to the two openings of the "Goat Shed": Following a need to clean up some of the old L&L Centre buildings, in 1989 Council decided to enclose the remaining goat shed in a steel truss frame for use as a store room. Claire Fitzpatrick, who had run animal husbandry and goat classes on the site from the 1975 opening of the L&L Centre, was invited by the Committee to officiate at the naming of the new building on 3/12/1989. Following a fire of the stables/workshops on 8/5/1990 (which had to be cleared off the site) Council/Committee decided to use the $15000 insurance money to upgrade/refurbish the 1989 building to replace classrooms lost in the "stables fire". This refurbished Goat Shed was officially opened on 30/5/1991 by Cr. Peter Graham, Shire President. (Gleaned from Committee file, 1987-1992.) Photos show Cr Graham plus Gillian Barclay (Co-ordinator), Liliana Unsworth (Engineering Design Draftsperson) and Bill Oakley (Corporate Development Officer). Colour photographeltham living and learning centre, goat shed, gillian barclay, peter graham, liliana unsworth, bill oakley

North face of house viewed from the current (1990) pottery area (now pathed) The kitchen was separate from the house as a safety measure in the late 1800s. A detailed history of the site and early development of the Eltham Living and Learning Centre can be found in EDHS_04870 - Folder, Shire of Eltham Living and Learning Centre, 1996 The original property was part of Josiah Holloways subdivision of Little Eltham. It had a 70 foot frontage to Maria Street and stretched down to the Diamond Creek. John Perason, a Tanner, purchased the property in 1857 for £100 and he built a solid brick house which over the years was modified significantly by various owners and which is the basis of the present-day Living and Learning Centre. Claire Fitzpatrick and her husband Alfred, a retired chemical engineer, bought it in the early 1950's. Claire's interest in farming and animal husbandry and breeding saw her modify and establish buildings on the property to house goats and poultry with a horse stable and storage sheds for the animal food. She also built the coach house with its horse box and tack room and built an adjoining garage for their car. Structural alterations to the house were also carried out during the period of their ownership. Their house renovations removed the four fireplaces and chimneys and added a wider verandah, a fibro cement extension on the north wall requiring a doorway to be made in the brick wall for access. Part of a passage wall was removed to join the northwest room, now the "sitting room". A new jarrah floor was put in as the old one was rotten with borer. The verandahs, front and back, were re-organised in design and the front door had its leadlighting panels removed to allow more light into the house. During this period the water catchment well was filled in. This well had a concrete slab fitted onto a collar around its top. The well is 12 feet deep and 8 feet in diameter. Septic sewerage was installed and an internal toilet fitted in the house. The former northeast room was divided into bathroom/toilet and passageway with cupboards to access the extension. Kitchen stove and sink was removed (they fell apart) and a slow-combustion stove with hot water heater installed. Basins and hot water were connected to the new bathroom. In the early 1970s Eltham Shire Council, Councillors Frank Maas and Don Maling, were proposing an extended communities activities program be set up and the Commonwealth Grants Commission was approached for financial assistance to such a scheme. During 1974 a $50,000 Commonwealth Government grant was received by the Shire Council to acquire the Fitzpatrick property as part of the Shire's planning to establish an "extended community activities program". Council's Committee recommended an annual budget of $26,950 for the program and the project was named the Living and Learning Centre and in charge of the program was the first co-ordinator, Carina Hack. The activities were planned to cover "practical skills for living" and included cooking, preserving, gardening, animal husbandry, home economics, electronics, carpentry, hairdressing, making children's clothes and car maintenance. Hobbies and arts and crafts that would include amongst other future items, winemaking, music spinning and weaving and painting. 739 main road eltham, eltham living and learning centre, living and learning centre, living and learning nillumbik (eltham), main road eltham

Restructure of the front verandah of 'Rosebank' by widening, c.1965. It was glassed in at a later date. The west facing front verandah was widened and enclosed for additional class room use by the Living and Learning Centre. A detailed history of the site and early development of the Eltham Living and Learning Centre can be found in EDHS_04870 - Folder, Shire of Eltham Living and Learning Centre, 1996 The original property was part of Josiah Holloways subdivision of Little Eltham. It had a 70 foot frontage to Maria Street and stretched down to the Diamond Creek. John Perason, a Tanner, purchased the property in 1857 for £100 and he built a solid brick house which over the years was modified significantly by various owners and which is the basis of the present-day Living and Learning Centre. Claire Fitzpatrick and her husband Alfred, a retired chemical engineer, bought it in the early 1950's. Claire's interest in farming and animal husbandry and breeding saw her modify and establish buildings on the property to house goats and poultry with a horse stable and storage sheds for the animal food. She also built the coach house with its horse box and tack room and built an adjoining garage for their car. Structural alterations to the house were also carried out during the period of their ownership. Their house renovations removed the four fireplaces and chimneys and added a wider verandah, a fibro cement extension on the north wall requiring a doorway to be made in the brick wall for access. Part of a passage wall was removed to join the northwest room, now the "sitting room". A new jarrah floor was put in as the old one was rotten with borer. The verandahs, front and back, were re-organised in design and the front door had its leadlighting panels removed to allow more light into the house. During this period the water catchment well was filled in. This well had a concrete slab fitted onto a collar around its top. The well is 12 feet deep and 8 feet in diameter. Septic sewerage was installed and an internal toilet fitted in the house. The former northeast room was divided into bathroom/toilet and passageway with cupboards to access the extension. Kitchen stove and sink was removed (they fell apart) and a slow-combustion stove with hot water heater installed. Basins and hot water were connected to the new bathroom. In the early 1970s Eltham Shire Council, Councillors Frank Maas and Don Maling, were proposing an extended communities activities program be set up and the Commonwealth Grants Commission was approached for financial assistance to such a scheme. During 1974 a $50,000 Commonwealth Government grant was received by the Shire Council to acquire the Fitzpatrick property as part of the Shire's planning to establish an "extended community activities program". Council's Committee recommended an annual budget of $26,950 for the program and the project was named the Living and Learning Centre and in charge of the program was the first co-ordinator, Carina Hack. The activities were planned to cover "practical skills for living" and included cooking, preserving, gardening, animal husbandry, home economics, electronics, carpentry, hairdressing, making children's clothes and car maintenance. Hobbies and arts and crafts that would include amongst other future items, winemaking, music spinning and weaving and painting. 739 main road eltham, eltham living and learning centre, living and learning centre, living and learning nillumbik (eltham), main road eltham

The 'back door' which faced the Main Road entrance to the office, Eltham Living and Learning Centre, herb garden at its peak, late 1980s A detailed history of the site and early development of the Eltham Living and Learning Centre can be found in EDHS_04870 - Folder, Shire of Eltham Living and Learning Centre, 1996 The original property was part of Josiah Holloways subdivision of Little Eltham. It had a 70 foot frontage to Maria Street and stretched down to the Diamond Creek. John Perason, a Tanner, purchased the property in 1857 for £100 and he built a solid brick house which over the years was modified significantly by various owners and which is the basis of the present-day Living and Learning Centre. Claire Fitzpatrick and her husband Alfred, a retired chemical engineer, bought it in the early 1950's. Claire's interest in farming and animal husbandry and breeding saw her modify and establish buildings on the property to house goats and poultry with a horse stable and storage sheds for the animal food. She also built the coach house with its horse box and tack room and built an adjoining garage for their car. Structural alterations to the house were also carried out during the period of their ownership. Their house renovations removed the four fireplaces and chimneys and added a wider verandah, a fibro cement extension on the north wall requiring a doorway to be made in the brick wall for access. Part of a passage wall was removed to join the northwest room, now the "sitting room". A new jarrah floor was put in as the old one was rotten with borer. The verandahs, front and back, were re-organised in design and the front door had its leadlighting panels removed to allow more light into the house. During this period the water catchment well was filled in. This well had a concrete slab fitted onto a collar around its top. The well is 12 feet deep and 8 feet in diameter. Septic sewerage was installed and an internal toilet fitted in the house. The former northeast room was divided into bathroom/toilet and passageway with cupboards to access the extension. Kitchen stove and sink was removed (they fell apart) and a slow-combustion stove with hot water heater installed. Basins and hot water were connected to the new bathroom. In the early 1970s Eltham Shire Council, Councillors Frank Maas and Don Maling, were proposing an extended communities activities program be set up and the Commonwealth Grants Commission was approached for financial assistance to such a scheme. During 1974 a $50,000 Commonwealth Government grant was received by the Shire Council to acquire the Fitzpatrick property as part of the Shire's planning to establish an "extended community activities program". Council's Committee recommended an annual budget of $26,950 for the program and the project was named the Living and Learning Centre and in charge of the program was the first co-ordinator, Carina Hack. The activities were planned to cover "practical skills for living" and included cooking, preserving, gardening, animal husbandry, home economics, electronics, carpentry, hairdressing, making children's clothes and car maintenance. Hobbies and arts and crafts that would include amongst other future items, winemaking, music spinning and weaving and painting. 739 main road eltham, eltham living and learning centre, living and learning centre, living and learning nillumbik (eltham), main road eltham