Landscaping works in progress at the newly built Kangaroo Ground Hall located at 35 Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Road, Kangaroo Ground The dedication plaque, mounted on a rock near the flag pole reads: This centre, jointly funded by the Shire of Eltham, Community Employment Programme, Country Fire Authority and State Emergency Service was opened by The Shire President of the Shire of Eltham Cr. Alan Baker at a ceremony attended by Members of Parliament, Councillors, & Representatives of the Victoria Police, Country Fire Authority, State Emergency Servicve, Ambulance Service Melbourne, Salvation Army & residents of the Shire of Eltham on Saturday, 13 February 1988. See also: Kangaroo Ground Hall. (2025, July 5). Retrieved from https://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Council/Facilities-and-property/Council-facilities-for-hire/Kangaroo-Ground-HallMarked "G 90%"1988, eltham shire council property, kangaroo ground hall, mudbrick construction, nillumbik shire council property

Original title: Official guests being entertained Kangaroo Ground Hall after Dedication of Tower and Cottage by Gen. Sir Dallas Brooks, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., K.St.J., 16 Nov 1951Black and white photograph of guests seated at three rows of tables, celebration dinner Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photo Collection, no. 414 (duplicate of hard copy held at Eltham Library)shire of eltham, ceremonies, sepp, kangaroo ground hall

The dedication plaque, mounted on a rock near the flag pole at entrance reads: This centre, jointly funded by the Shire of Eltham, Community Employment Programme, Country Fire Authority and State Emergency Service was opened by The Shire President of the Shire of Eltham Cr. Alan Baker at a ceremony attended by Members of Parliament, Councillors, & Representatives of the Victoria Police, Country Fire Authority, State Emergency Servicve, Ambulance Service Melbourne, Salvation Army & residents of the Shire of Eltham on Saturday, 13 February 1988. See also: Kangaroo Ground Hall. (2025, July 5). Retrieved from https://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Council/Facilities-and-property/Council-facilities-for-hire/Kangaroo-Ground-Hallkangaroo ground hall, mudbrick construction, nillumbik shire council property, ambulance service victoria, community employment program, country fire authority, cr. alan baker, eltham emergency operations centre, salvation army, shire of eltham, state emergency service (eltham), victoria police, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection

Colour photograph of Kangaroo Ground Hall just prior to demolition 1969. It was condemned 31 March 1969kangaroo ground, public halls

Source: Mr. R.B. Ness, Kangaroo GroundThis photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, kangaroo ground, roller skating club, kangaroo ground hall

Located at 35 Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Road, Kangaroo Ground The centre was jointly funded by the Shire of Eltham, Community Employment Programme, Country Fire Authority and State Emergency Service. It was opened by the Shire President of the Shire of Eltham, Cr. Alan Baker, at a ceremony attended by Members of Parliament, Councillors, & Representatives of the Victoria Police, Country Fire Authority, State Emergency Service, Ambulance Service Melbourne, Salvation Army & residents of the Shire of Eltham on Saturday, 13 February 1988.construction, kangaroo ground hall, mudbrick construction, state emergency service (eltham), eltham emergency operations centre

Built by James and Isabella Donaldson at the centre of their 1 square mile property southwest of the present day Presbyterian Church. The Donaldsons first arrived in Port Phillip on 17 December 1841. Their first house was a bark hut which was replaced by this substantial brick home around the mid 1840s. James Donladson died 1856. Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church http://kgpc.pcvic.org.au/history-2.html Pictures of the farm and homestead (rented by Mr E. Hobson) were published in The Weekly Times, 18 March 1911, p27 1911 'MR. E. HOBSON'S FARM AT KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 18 March, p. 27. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222243528 A letter from Mr Hobson published in the following edition clarified that he only rented the property and that the owner was Mr John Donaldson of Sandringham 1911 'KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 25 March, p. 47. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22224117935 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)bushfire, donaldson home, donaldsons road, isabella donaldson, james donaldson, kangaroo ground, kangaroo hall, victorian bushfires - 1969

Built by James and Isabella Donaldson at the centre of their 1 square mile property southwest of the present day Presbyterian Church. The Donaldsons first arrived in Port Phillip on 17 December 1841. Their first house was a bark hut which was replaced by this substantial brick home around the mid 1840s. James Donladson died 1856. Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church http://kgpc.pcvic.org.au/history-2.html Pictures of the farm and homestead (rented by Mr E. Hobson) were published in The Weekly Times, 18 March 1911, p27 1911 'MR. E. HOBSON'S FARM AT KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 18 March, p. 27. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222243528 A letter from Mr Hobson published in the following edition clarified that he only rented the property and that the owner was Mr John Donaldson of Sandringham 1911 'KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 25 March, p. 47. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22224117935 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)bushfire, donaldson home, donaldsons road, isabella donaldson, james donaldson, kangaroo ground, kangaroo hall, victorian bushfires - 1969

Built by James and Isabella Donaldson at the centre of their 1 square mile property southwest of the present day Presbyterian Church. The Donaldsons first arrived in Port Phillip on 17 December 1841. Their first house was a bark hut which was replaced by this substantial brick home around the mid 1840s. James Donladson died 1856. Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church http://kgpc.pcvic.org.au/history-2.html Pictures of the farm and homestead (rented by Mr E. Hobson) were published in The Weekly Times, 18 March 1911, p27 1911 'MR. E. HOBSON'S FARM AT KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 18 March, p. 27. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222243528 A letter from Mr Hobson published in the following edition clarified that he only rented the property and that the owner was Mr John Donaldson of Sandringham 1911 'KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 25 March, p. 47. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22224117935 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)bushfire, donaldson home, donaldsons road, isabella donaldson, james donaldson, kangaroo ground, kangaroo hall, victorian bushfires - 1969

Built by James and Isabella Donaldson at the centre of their 1 square mile property southwest of the present day Presbyterian Church. The Donaldsons first arrived in Port Phillip on 17 December 1841. Their first house was a bark hut which was replaced by this substantial brick home around the mid 1840s. James Donladson died 1856. Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church http://kgpc.pcvic.org.au/history-2.html Pictures of the farm and homestead (rented by Mr E. Hobson) were published in The Weekly Times, 18 March 1911, p27 1911 'MR. E. HOBSON'S FARM AT KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 18 March, p. 27. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222243528 A letter from Mr Hobson published in the following edition clarified that he only rented the property and that the owner was Mr John Donaldson of Sandringham 1911 'KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 25 March, p. 47. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22224117935 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)bushfire, donaldson home, donaldsons road, isabella donaldson, james donaldson, kangaroo ground, kangaroo hall, victorian bushfires - 1969

Built by James and Isabella Donaldson at the centre of their 1 square mile property southwest of the present day Presbyterian Church. The Donaldsons first arrived in Port Phillip on 17 December 1841. Their first house was a bark hut which was replaced by this substantial brick home around the mid 1840s. James Donladson died 1856. Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church http://kgpc.pcvic.org.au/history-2.html Pictures of the farm and homestead (rented by Mr E. Hobson) were published in The Weekly Times, 18 March 1911, p27 1911 'MR. E. HOBSON'S FARM AT KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 18 March, p. 27. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222243528 A letter from Mr Hobson published in the following edition clarified that he only rented the property and that the owner was Mr John Donaldson of Sandringham 1911 'KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 25 March, p. 47. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22224117935 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)bushfire, donaldson home, donaldsons road, isabella donaldson, james donaldson, kangaroo ground, kangaroo hall, victorian bushfires - 1969

Built by James and Isabella Donaldson at the centre of their 1 square mile property southwest of the present day Presbyterian Church. The Donaldsons first arrived in Port Phillip on 17 December 1841. Their first house was a bark hut which was replaced by this substantial brick home around the mid 1840s. James Donladson died 1856. Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church http://kgpc.pcvic.org.au/history-2.html Pictures of the farm and homestead (rented by Mr E. Hobson) were published in The Weekly Times, 18 March 1911, p27 1911 'MR. E. HOBSON'S FARM AT KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 18 March, p. 27. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222243528 A letter from Mr Hobson published in the following edition clarified that he only rented the property and that the owner was Mr John Donaldson of Sandringham 1911 'KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 25 March, p. 47. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22224117935 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)bushfire, donaldson home, donaldsons road, isabella donaldson, james donaldson, kangaroo ground, kangaroo hall, victorian bushfires - 1969

Built by James and Isabella Donaldson at the centre of their 1 square mile property southwest of the present day Presbyterian Church. The Donaldsons first arrived in Port Phillip on 17 December 1841. Their first house was a bark hut which was replaced by this substantial brick home around the mid 1840s. James Donladson died 1856. Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church http://kgpc.pcvic.org.au/history-2.html Pictures of the farm and homestead (rented by Mr E. Hobson) were published in The Weekly Times, 18 March 1911, p27 1911 'MR. E. HOBSON'S FARM AT KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 18 March, p. 27. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222243528 A letter from Mr Hobson published in the following edition clarified that he only rented the property and that the owner was Mr John Donaldson of Sandringham 1911 'KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 25 March, p. 47. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22224117935 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)bushfire, donaldson home, donaldsons road, isabella donaldson, james donaldson, kangaroo ground, kangaroo hall, victorian bushfires - 1969

Built by James and Isabella Donaldson at the centre of their 1 square mile property southwest of the present day Presbyterian Church. The Donaldsons first arrived in Port Phillip on 17 December 1841. Their first house was a bark hut which was replaced by this substantial brick home around the mid 1840s. James Donladson died 1856. Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church http://kgpc.pcvic.org.au/history-2.html Pictures of the farm and homestead (rented by Mr E. Hobson) were published in The Weekly Times, 18 March 1911, p27 1911 'MR. E. HOBSON'S FARM AT KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 18 March, p. 27. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222243528 A letter from Mr Hobson published in the following edition clarified that he only rented the property and that the owner was Mr John Donaldson of Sandringham 1911 'KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 25 March, p. 47. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22224117935 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)bushfire, donaldson home, donaldsons road, isabella donaldson, james donaldson, kangaroo ground, kangaroo hall, victorian bushfires - 1969

Built by James and Isabella Donaldson at the centre of their 1 square mile property southwest of the present day Presbyterian Church. The Donaldsons first arrived in Port Phillip on 17 December 1841. Their first house was a bark hut which was replaced by this substantial brick home around the mid 1840s. James Donladson died 1856. Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church http://kgpc.pcvic.org.au/history-2.html Pictures of the farm and homestead (rented by Mr E. Hobson) were published in The Weekly Times, 18 March 1911, p27 1911 'MR. E. HOBSON'S FARM AT KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 18 March, p. 27. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222243528 A letter from Mr Hobson published in the following edition clarified that he only rented the property and that the owner was Mr John Donaldson of Sandringham 1911 'KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 25 March, p. 47. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22224117935 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)bushfire, donaldson home, donaldsons road, isabella donaldson, james donaldson, kangaroo ground, kangaroo hall, victorian bushfires - 1969

Built by James and Isabella Donaldson at the centre of their 1 square mile property southwest of the present day Presbyterian Church. The Donaldsons first arrived in Port Phillip on 17 December 1841. Their first house was a bark hut which was replaced by this substantial brick home around the mid 1840s. James Donladson died 1856. Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church http://kgpc.pcvic.org.au/history-2.html Pictures of the farm and homestead (rented by Mr E. Hobson) were published in The Weekly Times, 18 March 1911, p27 1911 'MR. E. HOBSON'S FARM AT KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 18 March, p. 27. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222243528 A letter from Mr Hobson published in the following edition clarified that he only rented the property and that the owner was Mr John Donaldson of Sandringham 1911 'KANGAROO GROUND.', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 25 March, p. 47. , viewed 29 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22224117935 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)bushfire, donaldson home, donaldsons road, isabella donaldson, james donaldson, kangaroo ground, kangaroo hall, victorian bushfires - 1969

Dedication of Eltham War Memorial by His Exc. the Governor of Vic., General Sir Dallas Brooks, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., K.StJ., on Friday 16th November, 1951Function held in Kangaroo Ground Community Hall following Sir Dallas Brooks, Victorian Governor's task of dedication at War Memorial Park. Names of WW2 fallen and Caretaker's Cottage. Original 1927 cottage still in place.Red hard bound binder, 2-ring holder; 18 grey coloured page inserts (3 blank) with 7 photos. Two pages of text in white paint. Also includes inserted leaves of manila card with photocopies of relevant news clippings pasted to card. An additional photo mounted on card dated 1952 has also been inserted into album.eltham, dedication, opening day, sir dallas brooks, kangaroo ground, war memorial, kangaroo ground tower, kangaroo ground community hall

The present store was built circa 1900 to replace another which had been destroyed by fire in 1898, which had replaced a predecessor on the opposite side of the road in 1865. The store was also used as a post office until early 2000s. The general store is historically significant because it has a long association with Kangaroo Ground and has been an important centre of community life for more than 120 years - Council meetings used to be conducted in the front room of the store at a time when Kangaroo Ground rivalled Eltham as the major centre of the Shire. The general store is historically and aesthetically significant as one of a group of three well preserved public buildings in the Kangaroo Ground hamlet and as a major heritage component of Kangaroo Ground which was one of the earliest settled areas of the Shire and which has the character of an English village rather than an Australian settlement. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p77 Today the general store is an uncommon form of trade but the one at Kangaroo Ground continues a long tradition of friendliness and service. For more than 100 years it has been a centre of community life. In the settlement’s early days a previous general store, on the same site, was the meeting place for the Eltham District Road Board, precursor to the Eltham Shire Council. For years Kangaroo Ground rivalled Eltham as the shire’s major centre. It developed very differently from the rest of the shire as its rich soil attracted prosperous Presbyterian Scots who had large agricultural properties.1 The present store was built to replace another one, which had burnt down in 1898, after replacing a predecessor on the other side of the road in 1865. The store retains its outward character and its cellar, although inside it has changed considerably. It now includes a café and offers local produce, milk bar products, grocery items, gas and other fuel. Until early this century the store was also used as a post office. Kangaroo Ground’s first postmaster was Andrew Ross, who first operated from the school opposite, then from his hotel next to the present tennis court site. The first postmaster at this store was Edward Weller, followed in 1868 by James Anderson. At that time a mail coach ran three times a week between Eltham and Woods Point through Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Flats, Healesville, Fernshaw, Marysville and Matlock. Some early postmasters were Rodger, McLaughlin, Greenway and Burns.2 Burns was the only postmaster operating from the store. The others operated from Andrew Ross’s hotel. The mail service improved in 1892 when coaches ran from Melbourne to Queenstown (now known as St Andrews) and changed horses at Kangaroo Ground twice daily. The only telegraph office in the district at that time was at the Kangaroo Ground Post Office. Telegrams to outlying areas such as Queenstown and Kinglake had to be sent by hand. A local resident in the early 1900s often rode his pony to deliver telegrams and was paid one shilling a mile porterage. The store has also contributed to the lighter side of Kangaroo Ground life. During the years that Con Wraight owned the store, between 1906 and 1946, a new piano was needed for the Kangaroo Ground Hall, so monthly dances were held to raise money. When the piano was bought, a grand ball was held in the Kangaroo Ground Hall to celebrate the occasion and supper followed at Mr Wraight’s barn, cleaned especially for the occasion. Every New Year’s Eve, a Scottish piper would set off from between the store and the schoolhouse, playing his pipes, and march to Cameron’s Pigeon Bank homestead on the Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Road. Between 1914 and 1922, the store was a station for the Kangaroo Ground Bush Fire Brigade’s tanker. It consisted of a wooden barrel on a cart, fitted with a hand-pump, and stood on the side of the road outside the store. Joy Ness, who belonged to an early Kangaroo Ground family, moved here in 1940 and recalled her impressions of the store at that time: ‘It was a very dark shop stained in a dark colour and on the walls just below the ceiling hung hurricane lamps, ropes, kitchen utensils and other goods for sale. ‘Goods were weighed on a brass scale with weights, on which mothers also weighed their babies, because the nearest Infant Welfare Centre was at Greensborough. The bacon was cut with a hand slicer and later a pot-bellied stove warmed the store. Farmers and other locals used to gossip around it as they collected their daily mail. In those days the butter and cheese were kept in the cellar as no ice was delivered for cooling.’This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground general store

Original newspaper article from "The Age" May 11, 1963. Place with a view at Kangaroo Ground by Basil Hall about the construction of the War memorial. The Hall family resided at "Fairview" Panton Hill in the 1920s. Hall was a Eltham Shire Councilor in the 1920s and was associated with the Eltham Shire war Memorial Tower Bulding Committee from 1924 to 1926. Photocopies from "The Road to Gundagi" by Graham McInnes (Hamish Hamilton, 1965), Chapter 9 pages 132 - 153 an autobiography in which the author reminiscences about visiting the Hall family at "Fairview" in Panton Hill as a child. References also to Watson's Creek where MacPherson Robertson ("The Chocolate King") had a summer home, the Shannons, Shanhun and McLaughlin familes. Includes description of the day that Hurstbridge was declared a township (May 26th, 1924), a ralway journey, picnics and rabbiting. McInnes' reminiscences about the periods of his childhood spent visiitng the Hall family in Panton Hill in the 1920s are a rare first hand glimpse into the recreational, social and municipal life in the 1920s within the this rural area within the Shire of Eltham. "Road to Gundagi" was the first of three widely acclaimed autobiographies.Original newspaper article Photocopies, 12 pages.HG Booklet 36basil hall, click here to add keywords, cr. basil hall, eltham war memorial, graham mcinnes, harry gilham collection, hurstbridge, kangaroo ground tower building committee, macpherson robertson, mclaughlin family, panton hill, picnicing, rabbiting, reminiscences, shanhun family, shannon family, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, watson's creek

The Eltham Shire War Memorial, a tower of remembrance, was built with public donations to commemorate the memory of the fallen soldiers from the shire who enlisted in the 1914-1918 war. The tower is reminiscent of the peel-towers or watchtowers that lined the English-Scottish border from the mid 14th century to around 1600 and is constructed from locally quarried stone. This uncommon and picturesque war memorial, which affords an excellent view of the surrounding district was unveiled by His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Stonehaven) on November 11, 1926. In July 1922 a deputation of returned soldiers from Panton Hill, presumably the Panton Hill branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA), proposed to Eltham Shire Council that the monument should be a cairn of local stone “sufficiently high to form a prominent and conspicuous landmark, and crowned with some suitable device”. Eltham Shire Councillor and President of the Panton Hill branch of the RSSILA, Basil Hall, was credited with being the first to suggest a tower, and with organising a Memorial Park committee to raise funds for the monument in the Memorial Park. A meeting for those interested in the establishing a War Memorial monument in the park was held in January 1924 and the Eltham Shire War Memorial League was formed for this purpose. It appears that the broad and rounded cairn that had been recently built was considered by the League a temporary affair, and not the substantial cairn-as-monument, sufficiently high to form the conspicuous landmark, which had been envisaged by the Panton Hill RSSILA. A design competition was held for the monument. The chairman of the League, Councillor Basil Hall, suggested that the site of the memorial in Kangaroo Ground would lend itself to something rugged, instead of polished stone. By April 1924 thirty designs for a memorial had been received from which three designs were selected and of those, the design by the shire engineer Mr McCormack, for a 70ft tower suitable for construction in rough stone, was chosen. Artist Harold Herbert suggested that a peel tower-like design reminiscent of those along the English-Scottish border would be fitting for the site. Herbert drew up a rough sketch that was approved of, and later, Melbourne architect Percy Meldrum volunteered to draw up the design from sketch to architectural drawings. By January 1925 the Soldiers’ Memorial League had adopted Meldrum’s design for a 50ft high tower. Meldrum had also offered his design and supervision of construction free of charge. The Shire provided the stone to the builders, which was a gift quarried from land owned at Kangaroo Ground by Dr Ethel and Professor William Osborne The Shire of Eltham War Memorial, a tower of remembrance, and honour board were unveiled on November 11, 1926, by the Governor General Lord Stonehaven. At this stage a temporary honour roll was painted on the panels on either side of the tower entrance. In September 1930 bronze plates were added above the portal with the names of men who fell in the 1914-18 war. On November 16, 1951, the Governor of Victoria, Sir Dallas Brooks re-dedicated the war memorial tower and unveiled the names of men who gave their lives in the 1939-45 war. Two additional bronze plaques which recognise service in the armed conflicts of Korea, Borneo, Malaya, and Vietnam were unveiled November 11, 2001, by the Governor of Victoria, John Landy, A.C., M.B.E. The tower was first used for fire spotting activities following the Black Friday bushfire in January 1939 in response to a request from Mr R.D. Ness, secretary of the Kangaroo Ground bush fire brigade, who asked Council that the tower be used as an observation tower for detecting bush fires, and asked Council to arrange a telephone to be installed. It was suggested that if the Shire were to appoint a caretaker for the Memorial Park, his duties could also include raising the alarm in the event of a fire. Later in 1939 Council applied for a radio transmitter, which the Forestry Commission planned to install at vantage places throughout the state. The first dedicated fire spotter appointed from December1948, was Mr Smith of Warrandyte. A prefabricated glazed cabin was installed in 1974, which involved the removal of the original stone structure around the rooftop exit door. A new fire spotting cabin, which included the latest technology, was installed soon after the 2009 Black Saturday fires and is manned by CFA personnel on high fire danger days. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p123This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. While published in the book in black and white, this collection features the original colour digital photographs. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, garden hill, kangaroo ground, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial

Various news articles pertaining to the January 1962 Victorian bushfires in the Dandenong and Healesville districts which by the third day had encompassed large areas of the State. Specific Eltham Shire districts mentioned include Panton Hill and Hurstbridge on page 1, Warrandyte on page 2, 3, 4 and 5, Hurstbridge, Smith’s Gully, Kinglake on page 3 and 4, Strathewen, Kangaroo Ground, Panton Hill, St. Andrews, Smith’s Gully on page 4 and Pound Bend, Smith’s Gully and Warrandyte on pages 20-21 • They Flee Night Peril, p1 (Illust.) • Their grim picnic; A flash fire strikes, p2 (Illust.) • Night of terror as towns quitted, p3 • Fought till he dropped, p3 (Illust.) • Rain in fire area, p3 • Wye River town goes, p3 • Black Friday Hero Dies In Fire; with wife, grandsons, p4 • Surrounded!, p4 (Illust.) • Main street houses ablaze, p4 • Hurstbridge is evacuated, p4 • Scores jump in river at Warrandyte, p5 • Hills people leave homes, p5 • “Fire” cry at Parlt., p5 • Blind – he’s safe now, p5 (Illust.) • Police Chief Runs Battle, p7 • From Fire Front: Hospital treats 34, p7 • Firms send help, p7 • Tragedy and Ruin: Third Day; Ferntree Gully; Warrandyte; Pound Bend; Smiths Gully; Escape for 18, pp20-21 (Illust.) • Church was a haven for the hurt, weary, p39 (Illust.) • A home is lost, p40 (Illust.) tom fielding collection, victorian bushfires - 1962, victorian bushfires – 1962, panton hill, hurstbridge, five ways crossroads, warrandyte south, dandenongs, upwey, mt. evelyn, monbulk, olinda, sassafras, st. andrews, warrandyte, christmas hills, yarra river, mitcham, whitehorse roiad, donvale, park orchards, metropolitan fire chief, w.t. aldridge, loughnan’s hill, ringwood, woori yallock, leslie ockwell, linda ockwell, kalorama, healesville, daylesford, fire damage – buildings, wye river, portland, eganstown, ballarat, sherbrooke park forest, forest commission headquarters, kallista, r.t. seaton, montrose, yallourn, central gippsland, smith’s creek, black friday, geoffrey ockwell, ronald ockwell, preston town hall, e.j. tenner, strathewen, kangaroo ground, eric farnsworth, adele farnsworth, robin farnsworth, roy cleland, ann cleland, belgrave, sassfras, kaloramalice commissioner porter, mansfield, box hill hospital, pound bend, ferntree gully, ferntree gully state school, w. carew, ann quinton

Digital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.alistair knox, alma road, arthur munday, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, cameron jackson, carina hack, charlie macgillicuddy, charlie stevenson, circus, clifton pugh, david stephens, dorian le gallienne, eltham, eltham college, eltham hotel, eltham living and learning centre, eltham town square, eltham village, george paul, graham bell, great hall, green wedge, harold holt, jazz, jim chinaman's road, justus jorgensen, kangaroo ground, lower plenty, marcus skipper, matcham skipper, montmorency, montsalvat, mud brick construction, mudbrick, myra skipper, professor dick downing, professor macmahon ball, professor richard downing, research (vic.), roger bell, shire of eltham, shire president, shopping centre, swiper's gully, tim burstall, white cloud cottage

Used for the Society's Banner project. [note written by Joy Ness, "View Hill", Kangaroo Ground, 11 June 1986:] In 1878 while on a trip to Scotland and England, John Donaldson visited Windsor Castle Park, where he collected some acorns which he brought back to Australia, to his property, "Kangaroo Hall" at Kangaroo Ground. He and his son John Anstruther Davidson Donaldson, who was then 10 years old, planted one near the present Donaldson's Lane, in 1878. This is now a very fine tree, 108 years old. This information comes from Miss Victoria Donaldson, daughter of John Anstruther Davidson Donaldson. Miss Donaldson suggests that Wippell's Oak at Kangaroo Ground may also have been grown from one of the same Windsor Park acorns.Colour photographactivities, banner project, donaldsons oak, john anstruther davidson donaldson, kangaroo ground, significant trees, william donaldson