Vol. 5, No. 6 (5), Summer Issue 2000 CONTENTS John Perceval and Helen Daniel 2 Two who served their communities well Gateway Sculpture Project 3 New public art in Manningham The Artary Project 5 Getting onto the net Tucker: Australian Gothic 6 Albert and Barbara Tucker's gift to Australia Short Story 8 Learning Curves Interview 10 Elizabeth James on drawing Open Studios 12 40 artists welcome the public Banyule Youth Awards 18 Support for emerging young artists Not Just a Pretty Place 20 Nillumbik art in Public Places CD Reviews 22 Book Reviews 23 Australian Classical Music 24 Elizabeth Scarlett Theatre Reviews 25 Artin About 26 Wining & Dining 30 Book Review 32 Artist's Services 32 "Peter Dougherty has been involved in the local art scene for many years. As publisher and editor of the arts magazine Artstreams, his comments on the various branches of the arts are widely respected. His "The Arts" column in the Diamond Valley Leader presents a brief summary for a much wider cross section of the local community. Peter also operates his own gallery and the Artstreams Cafe at the St Andrews market. Peter has a wealth of knowledge about present day and historical aspects of local art and artists." - Eltham District Historical Society Newsletter No. 161, March 2005Colour front and back cover with feature articles and literary pieces with photographs and advertisements printed in black and white. 36 pages, 30 cm. Vol. 1, no. 1 (Nov. 1996) - Vol. 10, no. 5 (summer ed. 2005/​06) art streams, public art, sentinal, river peel, manningham, artary project, plenty views golf park, albert tucker, barbara tucker, kinglake gallery, bulleen art & garden centre, st andrews gallery, steve flanagan, eltham wiregrass gallery, elizabeth james, willy wonka's ice cream gourmet food, nillumbik artists' open studios, accadia ceramics, alan martin, alan sartori, attunga, veronica holland, leanne mooney, sally nihill, bend of islands, michael skewes, elizabeth vercoe, creek house studio, syd tunn, ona henderson, chris pittard, mary lou pittard, diamond creek living & learning centre, drew gregory, jane annois, jane trikojus, jenni mitchell, grace mitchell, mervyn hannan, girraeen studio, jill forrest, kangaroo studios, peter burns, jules burns, muddy waters studio, nel ten wolde, overbank end, kay steventon, kim tarpey, reg cox, robert phillips studio, stained glass studio, shan shnookal, matthew holderness, ray macminn, jane viola, john hewish, open pottery studios, linda detoma, judith roberts, cassandra tobias, christian benetto, kevina-jo smith, julianne piko, hugh crosthwaite, sarah slater, peter doyle, stuart sinclair, carly young, lenister farm, not just a pretty place, kangaroo house, dynamic vegies, old bakery cottage bookshop, nick charles, felicity nottingham, michael mcgirr, eltham little theatre, heidelberg theartre company, montsalvat, recherche, ken eckerall, thompsons pharmacy, st andrews market, 2000 banyule young artists award, heide museum of modern art

October 2000 articles include: Safer roads for the Shire Eltham Festival program announced Commercial Place design released 2000-2003 Council Plan Released National Reconciliation Framework Living and Learning Centres More Playgrounds Susan St Pavilion completed Study to plan for BMX/skate track Wattle Glen Township Strategy Community Weed Control Program Count Koala Day Environment Centre proposed for Edendale Farm Open Space Strategy findings Neighbourhood Character Study and Residential Design Guidelines Friends groups Clean Drains – Living Creeks, National Water Week Nillumbik Shire Council Cultural Plan 2000-2005 adopted 2001 Alan Marshall Short Story Award Artists’ Open Studios program Kangaroo Ground Tower Advisory Committee Environment leaders at Eltham North primary Dollars saved by regular road maintenance Regional Road upgrades Rural roads grading program Stormwater Management Plan Locality boundary update council newsletters, nillumbik news, nillumbik shire council

When he died at Camperdown in February 1883, Wombeetch Puyuun (Camperdown George) (c1820-1883), was the last member of the Liwura Gundidj clan of the Djargurd Wurrung, still living on Country.Black and white studio photograph of Wombeetch Puyunn (Camperdown George) in traditional dress wearing a headband, kangaroo tooth necklace and possum skin cloak, holding a boomerang and carved shield Back: WOMBEETCH PUUYUUN, CHIEF, AND LAST OF THE LOCAL TRIBEScdhs, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, cdhsfirstnations

Vol. 2, No. 5, Oct-Nov 1997 CONTENTS ART BRIDGES GAP IN WAR-TORN NATION Painter Piers Batman captures life in Eritrea 3 TENACITY OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT A teacher's road back from road trauma 7 EXHIBITIONS 10 POETRY Ray Liversidge 11 STUDIO WALKABOUT Artists open studios for Eltham Festival 12 ART FROM THE HEART Interview with Herman Pekel 14 ERITREAN JOURNEY Bill Moseley's camera in Eritrea 16 ART AND THE INTERNET Two Kangaroo Ground women bring art to a wider audience 18 HOUSE AND GARDEN IN SUBURBIA Exhibition of sculpture at Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre 20 THEATRE New Playbox - powerful advocate of Australian theatre 21 SHORT STORY Goodbye Dave, by Sherry Clarke 22 BOOK REVIEW 27 POETRY READING 28 BOOK REVIEW 29 EXPATRIATES COME HOME Former Nillumbik artists exhibit works 30 "Peter Dougherty has been involved in the local art scene for many years. As publisher and editor of the arts magazine Artstreams, his comments on the various branches of the arts are widely respected. His "The Arts" column in the Diamond Valley Leader presents a brief summary for a much wider cross section of the local community. Peter also operates his own gallery and the Artstreams Cafe at the St Andrews market. Peter has a wealth of knowledge about present day and historical aspects of local art and artists." - Eltham District Historical Society Newsletter No. 161, March 2005Colour front and back cover with feature articles and literary pieces with photographs and advertisements printed in black and white. 36 pages, 30 cm. Vol. 1, no. 1 (Nov. 1996) - Vol. 10, no. 5 (summer ed. 2005/​06) art streams, thornton mccamish, bill moseley, eritrea, darebin festival, christine durham, michele lonsdale, ray liversidge, ona henderson, syd tunn, eltham festival, artists open studios program, nillumbik artists' open studios, david armfield, janet boddy, jules christian burns, wendy donald, jill forest, annie keil-taggart, ming bellamy mackay, jenni mitchell, grace mitchell, mervyn hannan, mary lou pittard, chris pittard, maureen runge, herman pekel, austin and repatriation medical centre, carolyn pickett, sherry clarke, manningham artspace, alan marshall short story award, eltham arts council inc., eltham library community gallery, harriot dance, chapman & bailey artists' stretchers and furniture, eltham high school

George Frederick PIERCE No 2839 AIF. The phot shows him wearing the award of the “DCM” which has been superimposed on the photo. Cat No 1891P has Georges full service details, award and his death. 1891P is a very large colour enhanced framed version of this one.Photo B & W, portrait of a soldier with studio background pasted onto a larger grey background with flowers, flags, kangaroo, emu and details under. On the cardboard, writing relates to the award of the “DCM”. The grey background has a darker surround and red stamp in the right hand corner.“No 2839 Pte G.F.PIERCE DCM (Infy)”photography, military, remembrance

Small portrait of a lady standing beside a chair with her left hand resting on the back of the chair. She is wearing a long, high neck dress with a brooch at the neckline. The skirt of her dress is very wide at the hemline. She also has a belt with a buckle at the waistline. Photographer's name and address printed on the back. Also a Coat of Arms with a kangaroo and an emu with their backs to the shield in the centre.F. H. Dufty & I. V. Caroline, New Carte de Visite Studios, Piper St., Kyneton, Vic. Aust.photograph, portrait, female, portrait of a lady, new carte de visite studios, f h dufty, i v caroline

Grand Variety Concert, Kiwanis Club of Bendigo. J B Osborne Theatre, Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo. Saturday, 8th September, 1990. What Is A Kiwanian? A Kiwanian is.. . The Kiwanis Story Kiwanis was founded in Detroit.. . Kiwanis Club Of Bendigo All the performers in tonight's programme have given their services in a voluntary capacity.. . Acknowledgements: Official Accompanist - Leila Watson, Stage Manager - Geoff Hamblin, Sound System - Alan Williams, Production Co-ordinator - Doug Sayle, Ticket Sales - Collins Booksellers, News Media - Bendigo Advertiser. The Kiwanis International major emphasis program for the next three years is: ''Children : Priority 1'' Programme - Paul Andison - President. Dance Central, Kathryn Field, Ric Cutler, Emma Symes & Renee Jeffrey (Ann-Maree Dancers), Eileen Hetherington, Katherine Emond, Christine & Elizabeth Roberts, Bendigo Dance Studio. Doris Leadbetter, Bendigo Chamber Choir, Dance Central, Rod Reeve, Ric Cutler, Bendigo Dance Studio, Ana Mitsikas, Tania De Jong, Dance Central. Comperes: Tony Fittock & Ric Norris. Advertisement; Gillies.entertainment, theatre, kiwanis club of bendigo, grand variety concert, kiwanis club of bendigo. j b osborne theatre, kangaroo flat, bendigo. 8 september, 1990. story kiwanis founded detroit. acknowledgements: accompanist - leila watson, stage manager - geoff hamblin, sound system - alan williams, production co-ordinator - doug sayle, ticket sales - collins booksellers, - bendigo advertiser. international major emphasis: ''children : priority 1'' programme - paul andison. dance central, kathryn field, ric cutler, emma symes & renee jeffrey (ann-maree dancers), eileen hetherington, katherine emond, christine & elizabeth roberts, bendigo dance studio. doris leadbetter, bendigo chamber choir, dance central, rod reeve, ric cutler, bendigo dance studio, ana mitsikas, tania de jong, dance central. comperes: tony fittock & ric norris. ad; gillies.`

Old Ballarat Pottery was set up by John Gilbert as part of the Old Ballarat Village, opposite Sovereign Hill. Gilbert had lectured at Ballarat College of Advanced Education before establishing the Edinburgh Pottery at Sovereign Hill in 1972 to enable visitors to see traditional trades at work. The Old Ballarat Pottery was a much larger concern, producing wares for sale through department stores and on party plan via Faberware as well as through the village. Early works looked as though they might have been made in the 1850s, with unturned bases, crude marks and dark treacle-like glazes. Peter Pilven, one of Gilbert's students, worked there after graduating from the Ballarat College of Advanced Education, teaching throwing to students like the potter John Ferguson, who was there from 1978-79. Potters were initially employed by Gilbert's company Pontresina Pty Ltd, registered in 1973. (The Old Ballarat Pottery was registered as a company from 1984-1994.) Early works are marked with an impressed long-tailed 'B', or an 'OB' on either side of a mine tower. A printed stamp also features a mine tower surrounded by the text 'Old Ballarat Pottery Made in Australia'. Later work is impressed 'Stoneware Old Ballarat Pottery Australia' with a kangaroo.Hand thrown blue glazed jug.Stamped 'Stoneware Old Ballarat Pottery?old ballarat pottery, australian studio pottery, jug, pontresina, ceramics

Old Ballarat Pottery was set up by John Gilbert as part of the Old Ballarat Village, opposite Sovereign Hill. Gilbert had lectured at Ballarat College of Advanced Education before establishing the Edinburgh Pottery at Sovereign Hill in 1972 to enable visitors to see traditional trades at work. The Old Ballarat Pottery was a much larger concern, producing wares for sale through department stores and on party plan via Faberware as well as through the village. Early works looked as though they might have been made in the 1850s, with unturned bases, crude marks and dark treacle-like glazes. Peter Pilven, one of Gilbert's students, worked there after graduating from the Ballarat College of Advanced Education, teaching throwing to students like the potter John Ferguson, who was there from 1978-79. Potters were initially employed by Gilbert's company Pontresina Pty Ltd, registered in 1973. (The Old Ballarat Pottery was registered as a company from 1984-1994.) Early works are marked with an impressed long-tailed 'B', or an 'OB' on either side of a mine tower. A printed stamp also features a mine tower surrounded by the text 'Old Ballarat Pottery Made in Australia'. Later work is impressed 'Stoneware Old Ballarat Pottery Australia' with a kangaroo.Hand thrown black glazed bottle with lip. Stamped 'Stoneware Old Ballarat Pottery' and impressed with a long tailed B.old ballarat pottery, australian studio pottery, pontresina, bottle

Red and white covered booklet titled 'Naming Bendigo evolution of a city's identity 1836 - 1891. It has a sketch map of Bendigo and Golden Square in 1851. It has a number of photos of early paintings, postcards and objects. The Foreword is written by Cr Rod Campbell, Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo and the Introduction is written by Karen Quinlan, Director. The chapters are titled: Naming Bendigo evolution of a city's identity 1836 - 1891; The Gibson brothers soon renamed the run a popular choice in the 19th century; and to direct that the said place shall be called and known as Sandhurst; endeavoured to ascertain from what source, and at what time, the name of Bendigo arose: "The diggers...at Bendigo are recherché as to names;" and the Exhibition Checklist.event, exhibition, naming bendigo, naming bendigo - evolution of a city's identity 1836-1891, post office gallery, bendigo art galery, studio round, bambra, sandra bruce, karen quinlan, ian hill, national library of australia, city of greater bendigo, elaine harrington, vic lane, reg and judy macdonald, dennis o'hoy, sandhurst trustees, phil wilkins, darren wright, eaglehawk, eppalock, epsom, flora hill, golden square, kangaroo flat, strathfieldsaye, mount alexander run (north, or no 2 - ravenswood run

David Miller (Dave) Mair (1879-1938) married Lily Vipond Deakin (1890-1945) in 1910. They had 5 children: Geoffrey David (1913-1970), Beryl (1916-1976), Gwynneth (1917-1997), Isabel Lillian (1921-1997) and Shirley Inez (1928-1968). His parents were Isabella Brown (1856-1944) and William Mair (1850-1924). Personal communication from Laurie Newton, Beryl's daughter: Dave and Beryl initially lived in East Melbourne after they married. Geoffrey, Beryl and Gwynneth were born in East Melbourne. They subsequently moved to Louise Avenue, Mont Albert and Isabel may have been born while they were there. Later they purchased 20 Barton Street, Mont Albert. Shirley was born after they moved to Barton Street. The children attended Mont Albert Central School. Dave was an extremely keen sportsman (particularly bowls and cricket). He started the Kangaroo Cricket Club and worked for the Melbourne Cricket Club.This is part of a large donation related to the Deakin, Mair and Young families with connections to the Surrey Hills / Mont Albert area.A sepia coloured post card photo of (?) a studio portrait with a cream border of 2 children sitting on a couch. The infant is in a light-coloured dress with a lacy border along the hemline and lace embellishments to the sleeves and bodice. The top of the boy's shirt has a 'sailor' collar.REAR: In black ink - "Beryl taken at 8 months / Geoff " " (taken at) 3 years. / 10 Nov. 1916" Handwriting is thought to that of Lily Vipond Mair (nee Deakin). beryl mair, geoffrey david mair, children

Alice McGREGOR Born: 1908; unknown parents. Possibly adopted by the Salter family? Electoral Roll 1936: Highland Terrace Kangaroo Flat. Alice Mary Salter and William Robert Salter living together; presumed to be sister and brother. William Robert Salter was killed in a MVA in Bendigo in 1937 aged 26. In Victoria in 1938, Alice Mary Salter married James Thomas McGregor (born Victoria 1917, died Victoria 1983, buried Fawkner Cemetery) Lived: 1968; 22 Wade Street Golden Square Alice McGregor Died: 1999 aged 91 at Anne Caudle Centre, Bendigo Buried: Kangaroo Flat Cemetery See additional research. Postcard Album of Alice McGregor contained 86 post cards.Postcard Album of Alice McGregor containing 86 post cards. See 1400. B&W photo of a young girl dressed in white holding a small branch of a tree. In a studio forest setting. Addressed to Mrs Shatford, The Anchorage, Beach Road, Black Rock Sender A C, Postage stamp dated 31.12.06 postcard, collector, alice mcgregor

Alice McGREGOR Born: 1908; unknown parents. Possibly adopted by the Salter family? Electoral Roll 1936: Highland Terrace Kangaroo Flat. Alice Mary Salter and William Robert Salter living together; presumed to be sister and brother. William Robert Salter was killed in a MVA in Bendigo in 1937 aged 26. In Victoria in 1938, Alice Mary Salter married James Thomas McGregor (born Victoria 1917, died Victoria 1983, buried Fawkner Cemetery) Lived: 1968; 22 Wade Street Golden Square Alice McGregor Died: 1999 aged 91 at Anne Caudle Centre, Bendigo Buried: Kangaroo Flat Cemetery See additional research. Postcard Album of Alice McGregor contained 86 post cards.Postcard Album of Alice McGregor containing 86 post cards. See 1400 Studio colour photo of Miss Nellie Stewart in a long blue dress and wide hat holding a small dog Addressed to Miss A. Stapleton, Arcade, Bendigo Sender -Ethel dated 24/11/05 postcard, collector, alice mcgregor

Alice McGREGOR Born: 1908; unknown parents. Possibly adopted by the Salter family? Electoral Roll 1936: Highland Terrace Kangaroo Flat. Alice Mary Salter and William Robert Salter living together; presumed to be sister and brother. William Robert Salter was killed in a MVA in Bendigo in 1937 aged 26. In Victoria in 1938, Alice Mary Salter married James Thomas McGregor (born Victoria 1917, died Victoria 1983, buried Fawkner Cemetery) Lived: 1968; 22 Wade Street Golden Square Alice McGregor Died: 1999 aged 91 at Anne Caudle Centre, Bendigo Buried: Kangaroo Flat Cemetery See additional research. Postcard Album of Alice McGregor contained 86 post cards.Postcard Album of Alice McGregor containing 86 post cards. See 1400 Studio colour photo of Miss Mary Studholme in a blue dress and white cape wearing a blue hat. Addressed to Miss Stapleton, The Arcade, Bendigo Sender - H. C Undated postcard, collector, alice mcgregor

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: a rocking chair gifted to Alice McClelland on her 60th year of involvement, retirement of Merle Griffin, 'Please Touch' exhibition at National Gallery of Victoria, creation of the Benalla Studio - funded by the Benalla Auxiliary and able to accommodate 3-4 people in a session, Margaret Ingham appointed Children's Book Specialist, renaming of existing studios to R Graeme Orr Studios (to honour former President), Library Talk commended at Public Relations Awards given by Australian Library Promotions Council, visit by children's television character 'Norm the Kangaroo' who filmed a segment of 'Shirl's Neighbourhood' around the building, thanks for Joyce Nicholson, Barrett Reid and Dr Stephen Murray-Smith as Award Selection Panel for Braille Book of the Year, need for newer building as Commercial Road premises are expensive to heat and light and all available space is occupied, book bounty scheme available for braille and audio books, Louis Braille Productions Ltd set up as a subsidary company, book reading broadcasts by ABC shows will be donated free of charge, inaugural children's catalogue of Braille books produced, resignations of Dr Simon Haskell and David Hume, appointment of Elaine Leahy and Norm Fidge, and death of Maxene Hewitt and establishment of children's book collection known as 'The Maxene Hewett Collection for Children' in her honour. There is also a photograph and staff listing as part of the annual report.1 volume of text and illustrationsbraille & talking book library, hector bathurst, maxene hewitt, alice mcclelland, alison forbes, jan smark, norm the kangaroo, nick gleeson, john poliness, andrew turk, merle griffen, gladys fanning, e.e. haynes, janene morrison, beverley jackson, dianna martin, margaret komen, penny crawford, merrie handbury, shirley robinson, sue hanson, faye donnelly, jane grimwade, jennifer spry, iris whittaker, john cockayne, martin nicol, jan odle, peter sellars, paul korsten, blanche d'alpuget, luu ngac hua, sir brian murray, warren horton, robert miller, sydney alderson

Built by noted artist Theodore Penleigh Boyd, father of architect Robin Boyd. Covered under National Estate, National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Local Significance and Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p111 The Robins at Warrandyte,* was once home to a member of a famous family and is also one of the first reinforced concrete houses in Victoria. The builder, Theodore Penleigh Boyd, born in 1890, was a talented painter1 noted for his works of the Warrandyte bush. He was the father of architect Robin Boyd, author of the Australian Ugliness and the uncle of painter, Arthur Boyd. Penleigh Boyd’s great grandfather was Sir William A’Beckett, Victoria’s first Chief Justice. Penleigh Boyd is considered by some to be an ‘unsung hero’ overshadowed by more famous members of his family. Mornington Gallery Director Andrea May said many believed Boyd ‘had never received the national acclaim that he deserved’.2 Classified by the National Trust3 and part of the Australian National Heritage,4 The Robins is set well back near the end of Kangaroo Ground – Warrandyte Road, unobserved by passers-by. Built in 1913, The Robins has some Art Nouveau influences and is a descendant of the Queen Anne style. It is covered in stucco and has a prominent attic, which Boyd used as a studio. Some parts of the house are up to 33 centimetres thick and built in part with pisé (rammed earth) and in part with reinforced concrete. Amazingly, Boyd built The Robins without an accessible driveway, and only a narrow track along which he had to cart building materials. The journey was uphill and Boyd terraced the land with Warrandyte rock5 without the aid of machinery. At only 33 years, Boyd was killed in a car accident in 1923. He was buried in Brighton near the home of his parents. Several people have since owned the house, including political journalist, Owen Webster. Boyd was born at Penleigh House, Wiltshire, and studied at Haileybury College, Melbourne and The Hutchins School, Hobart. He attended the Melbourne National Gallery School and in his final year exhibited at the Victorian Artists’ Society. He arrived in London in 1911 and his painting Springtime was hung at the Royal Academy. He painted in several studios in England and then worked in Paris.6 There he met painter Phillips Fox through whom he met artists of the French modern school and also his wife-to-be, Edith Anderson, whom he married in Paris in 1912. After touring France and Italy, the couple returned to Melbourne. In 1913 Boyd held an exhibition and won second prize in the Federal Capital site competition, then the Wynne Prize for landscape in 1914. In 1915 Boyd joined the Australian Imperial Force, and became a sergeant in the Electrical and Mechanical Mining Company. However he was severely gassed at Ypres and invalided to England. In 1918 in London Boyd published Salvage, writing the text and illustrating it with 20 black-and-white ink-sketches of army scenes. Later that year he returned to Melbourne, and, despite suffering from the effects of gas, he held several successful one-man shows, quickly selling his water-colour and oil paintings. In his short career Penleigh Boyd was recognized as one of Australia’s finest landscape painters. He loved colour, having been influenced early by Turner and McCubbin. His works are in all Australian state galleries, the National Collection in Canberra as well as in regional galleries.7 His wife Edith was also an artist having studied at the Slade School, London, and in Paris with Phillips Fox. After her marriage she continued to paint and excelled in drawing. In later years she wrote several dramas, staged by repertory companies, and radio plays for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, in which she took part. She was the model for the beautiful red-haired woman in several of Phillips Fox’s paintings and the family hold three of his portraits of her. *Possibly named after the Aboriginal words warran, meaning ‘object’ and dyte, meaning ‘thrown at’.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, kangaroo ground-warrandyte road, north warrandyte, the robins

'Fulling', the half-hectare property at Pitt Street, Eltham was the home of landscape designer Gordon Ford and his wife Gwen. Ford bought the property in 1948, originally part of an orchard. The garden encapsulates the major trends of Australian garden design in the second half of the 20th century. The garden design is based on mass (plants) and void (paths and pools), textures and forms. It epitomises the Eltham style because of its relaxed informality and attraction to native wildlife. The mud brick house and designed and built by Ford commenced in 1948. Several extensions were added up to 1970 and were built by Graham Rose (Source: information panel for exhibition, n.d.) Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p147 A narrow timber gate opens onto a garden that has had a huge impact on natural garden development in Australia since the 1950s.1 Fulling, the half-hectare property at Pitt St, Eltham, was the home of the landscape designer, Gordon Ford, who died in 1999. The garden ‘encapsulates the major trends of Australian garden design in the second half of the 20th century...and epitomises the Eltham style of garden’.2 It in turn, was influenced by several Victorian major landscape designers of the mid 20th century – Ellis Stones, Peter Glass and Edna Walling. The gate opens onto a sandy gravel path, one of several, which wind around dramatic pools and what appear to be natural bush, but on close inspection are carefully integrated native, indigenous and exotic plantings. Retaining walls and steps of rock through the garden link different terrace levels. Lichen-covered boulders serve as steps across a pool, leading to the triple level mud-brick house. Ford bought the property, which was originally part of an orchard, in 1948. As the son of a Presbyterian minister, Ford received a good education, which included learning Latin. This was advantageous when he worked in plant sales for the Forestry Commission, before the Second World War. In the late 1940s, however, Ford turned to building and landscape gardening. He worked on the Busst house, an early mud-brick building designed by Alistair Knox and at the same time, Ford was employed by Ellis Stones. Knox described Ford as, ‘one of the funniest men of the district. ...Rocky’s (Ellis Stones) Depression stories and Gordon’s memory and quick tongue made the jobs the most enjoyable of all those hysterical times that made Eltham the centre of the eternal laugh, between the years of 1945 and 1950’.3 Ford’s house, like so many after the war, was built progressively, as more space was needed and formerly scarce materials became available. It began with an army-shed of timber-lined walls, now used as the kitchen. Ford then built what is now the lounge room, and the house grew ‘like topsy and on a shoestring,’ says his widow Gwen. A lot of second-hand materials such as window frames were used, a style made famous particularly with their extensive use at Montsalvat, the Eltham Artists’ Colony. The house was constructed as a joint venture with friends, including artist Clifton Pugh, who built Ford’s bedroom for £10. The polished floorboards and solomite (compressed straw) ceilings, interspersed with heavy beams, exude warmth. The result is a home of snug spaces, with soft light and garden vistas. Several other mud-brick buildings were constructed as needed, including a studio and units for bed-and-breakfast clients. The garden, which has been part of the Open Garden Scheme since the mid 1980s, is based on a balance of mass (plants) and void (paths and pools), textures and forms. It epitomises the Eltham style because of its relaxed informal ethos and attracts native animals. Wattlebirds, scrub wrens, pardalotes, currawongs, owls and even kangaroos, have been seen at Fulling. Gwen, a former English teacher who has worked on the garden since around 1970, urged and helped Ford write his book, The Natural Australian Garden.4 Several of Ford’s favourite trees are in the garden, including the native Casuarina or She-Oak. In spring, the garden is dusted with the purple Orthrosanthus multiflorus or blue native irises and rings with the calls of birds attracted to plants like the callistemons, correas and grevilleas.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, fulling, gordon ford garden, pitt street, eltham mud brick buildings, mud brick house