Shire of Eltham War Memorial Tower at Kangarooo Ground; view from the east and close up of entrance including Honour Roll. On November 11th 1926 the Shire of Eltham War Memorial Tower at Kangaroo Ground was opened. It is regarded as one of Melbourne’s most outstanding lookout towers. It commands a magnificent 360 degree panorama from Kinglake across the Diamond Valley to Macedon and the You Yangs. It is built on a peak which was once a volcano, 237 metres above sea level. After World War one a memorial cairn was erected on the site, and in 1925 a committee of public-minded citizens began to plan for a tower. Many generous donations of material and money were forthcoming so that in 1926 the Governor General Lord Stonehaven was able to unveil the plaque before a crowd of 500 people There was some concern in the 1960s when the Forests Commission wanted to build a firespotters cabin on the top. At first R.S.L. branches opposed the idea, but it was realised that this use could combine with its use as a tourist attraction, and would ensure its maintenance for the future. Today the Kangaroo Ground tower provides one of the best views around Melbourne and is a fitting memorial to those who died in two world wars. From: Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 (EDHS collection) On November 8th, 1951, the memorial was re-dedicated by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Dallas Brooks with the addition of the names of men from the Shire of Eltham who fell in the Second World War. Further wreaths were added subsequent to this image in time for the 2001 Reembrance Day service to commemorate the men from th shire who had fallen in the Malayan, Korean, Borneo and Vietnam campaigns.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 2 strips Kodak Safety 5035 Colour print (x1)Kodak Safety 5035garden hill, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground memorial, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, shire of eltham war memorial tower, war memorial, kangaroo ground relief committee

Letter from Postmaster-General's Department to J.T. Niclassen of Buttermans Track, St Andrews concerning telephone equipment destroyed in recent bushfires, 22 Feb 1962 Letter, Joan Kennedy to Mavis Gill, 8 Nov 1962 Letter, Dick (Windy) Gale to Mavis Gill, 18 Apr 1962 Letter, Winnifred Whyte to Mavis Gill, 25 Jun 1962 Letter, N. Cleary to Mavis Gill, 18 Dec 1962 Letter, Doris Young to Mavis Gill, 22 Dec 1962 Re-building of Pensioners Cottages, St Andrews 1962c Declaration of Trust, Eltham and Diamond Valley Benevolent Society, c/o Mrs Mavis Gill, 1973Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 Mavis Gill who is known to our 'older generation' of members (oh to be an octogenarian) has given the Society papers and photographs of the 1962 fires in the St Andrews area. Mavis was involved in obtaining funds for "building relief' purposes so that volunteers could rebuild for those who lost their homes in that area. It lists many voluntary groups who were also involved in the rehabilitation of the fire victims in the area.Folder of letters and documentsvictorian bushfires - 1962, bushfires, fire damage - buildings, houses, st andrews, mavis gill, pensioners cottages, christmas hills, alistair knox, arthur leonard sloman, brian redmond smyth, buttermans track, con sloan, d. goddard, dick (windy) gale, doris young, e. howard, frederick thomas scott, gaunt henry, grant lane, j.t. niclassen, jack niclassen, joan kennedy, joseph kennedy, kangaroo ground relief committee, molly clark, n. cleary, n.r. cleary, patterson, pmg, postmaster-general, robert barclay, robert william fell, winnifred whyte

Shire of Eltham War Memorial Tower at Kangarooo Ground; view from the east and close up of entrance including Honour Roll. On November 11th 1926 the Shire of Eltham War Memorial Tower at Kangaroo Ground was opened. It is regarded as one of Melbourne’s most outstanding lookout towers. It commands a magnificent 360 degree panorama from Kinglake across the Diamond Valley to Macedon and the You Yangs. It is built on a peak which was once a volcano, 237 metres above sea level. After World War one a memorial cairn was erected on the site, and in 1925 a committee of public-minded citizens began to plan for a tower. Many generous donations of material and money were forthcoming so that in 1926 the Governor General Lord Stonehaven was able to unveil the plaque before a crowd of 500 people There was some concern in the 1960s when the Forests Commission wanted to build a firespotters cabin on the top. At first R.S.L. branches opposed the idea, but it was realised that this use could combine with its use as a tourist attraction, and would ensure its maintenance for the future. Today the Kangaroo Ground tower provides one of the best views around Melbourne and is a fitting memorial to those who died in two world wars. From: Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 (EDHS collection) On November 8th, 1951, the memorial was re-dedicated by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Dallas Brooks with the addition of the names of men from the Shire of Eltham who fell in the Second World War. Further wreaths were added subsequent to this image in time for the 2001 Reembrance Day service to commemorate the men from th shire who had fallen in the Malayan, Korean, Borneo and Vietnam campaigns.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 2 strips Colour print (x1)Kodak Safety 5035garden hill, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground memorial, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial tower, war memorial, garden hill, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground memorial, kangaroo ground relief committee, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial tower, war memorial, shire of eltham war memorial

Building of Pensioners Cottages at St Andrews; for those burnt out in the 1962 bushfires. A voluntary scheme of Mavis Gill through the Kangaroo Ground Relief CommitteeBlack and white photo mounted on card'Windy' Gale's burnt out home, Wild Dog Creek Road Photo Geo. W. Bell, Jan. 1962victorian bushfires - 1962, bushfires, dick (windy) gale, fire damage - buildings, george w bell, houses, st andrews, wild dog creek road, mavis gill, pensioners cottages

Building of Pensioners Cottages at St Andrews; for those burnt out in the 1962 bushfires. A voluntary scheme of Mavis Gill through the Kangaroo Ground Relief CommitteeBlack and white photo mounted on cardMavis Gill making a turn near 'Windy' Gale's place Wild Dog Creek area Photo Geo. W. Bell, Jan. 1962victorian bushfires - 1962, bushfires, dick (windy) gale, fire damage - buildings, george w bell, houses, st andrews, wild dog creek road, mavis gill, pensioners cottages

Building of Pensioners Cottages at St Andrews; for those burnt out in the 1962 bushfires. A voluntary scheme of Mavis Gill through the Kangaroo Ground Relief CommitteeBlack and white photo mounted on cardChristmas Hills bushfire Photo Geo. W. Bell, Jan. 1962victorian bushfires - 1962, bushfires, fire damage - buildings, george w bell, houses, st andrews, mavis gill, pensioners cottages, christmas hills, water tank

"Staying at Dinsdales up the hill, Windy" Building of Pensioners Cottages at St Andrews; for those burnt out in the 1962 bushfires. A voluntary scheme of Mavis Gill through the Kangaroo Ground Relief CommitteeBlack and white photo mounted on cardMessage from resident Wild Dog Creek Road Photo Geo. W. Bell, Jan. 1962victorian bushfires - 1962, bushfires, dick (windy) gale, fire damage - buildings, george w bell, houses, st andrews, wild dog creek road, mavis gill, pensioners cottages, bill dinsdale