The Eltham Community and Reception Centre was Australia's first public mud-brick building. Commissioned in 1977 by Eltham Shire Council, led by Shire president (and architect) Robert Marshall, architects Whitford and Peck were asked to design a multipurpose facility in mud-brick and timber. The official opening was performed by the Hon. R.J. Hamer; E.D., M.P., Premier of Victorai on Saturday, April 22, 1978. Architects: Whitford & Peck Pty Ltd Quantity Surveyor: D.J. Cant & Associates Structural Civil Engineers: Charlett & Moore Pty Ltd Landscape: Peter Glass, Dennis Edwards Mech Elec: Lobley Treidel & Partners Pty Ltd Acoustics: Riley Barden & Kirkhope Builder: L.U. Simon Pty Ltdjim connor collection, eltham community and reception centre, eltham community centre, mudbrick construction

A trail travels through the Arboretum where you may see resting kangaroos and wallabies, crosses a creek that holds a vulnerable colony of frogs commonly known as Victorian Smooth Froglet (Geocrinia victoriana), and admire the grass trees (Xanthorrhea australis) that grow on the campus behind accommodation. In 2018 2000 native trees planted by State Library Victoria and Federation University in the Arboretum .Planted with the help of locals, students, and kindergarten children as part of the joint project the plantings included indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses native to Ballarat. Federation University student Clancy Meaney is managing the tree planting project as part of her studies. “The arboretum is a fantastic resource that is used extensively by Federation University students as an outdoor classroom,” Ms Meaney said. “Being situated in between two main forests, our campus is also an important connection for native animals. These new trees will help migrating wildlife to move from one forest to the other.” State Library Victoria Project Management Office Director, Sarah Slade said the project was a wonderful opportunity to work with Mount Helen residents and the University to help protect the native landscape. “We’re thrilled to be able to give back to students, local residents and native flora and fauna through this valuable environmental initiative,” Ms Slade said. The tree planting project is a result of State Library Victoria’s ongoing partnership with Federation University. Construction of the Library’s second state-of-the-art storage facility, BOSS2 (Ballarat off-site store 2), is currently underway on the Federation University site. The existing storage facility at the Mount Helen Campus already holds more than half of the State Library’s collection, including newspapers, books, journals, textiles, paintings, architectural drawings, furniture and photographic glass plate negatives. In addition to State Library collection, BOSS2 will also provide two dedicated storage areas for the University’s collection. When completed, BOSS2 will provide additional storage of 25-30 linear kilometres, the equivalent of driving from Ballarat to Clunes or running 175 lengths of the MCG. The Mount Helen Campus Arboretum was established c1992.arboretum, mt helen campus arboretum, graeme ambrose, mt helen campus

This sign is a part of the "human" factor required for remote and difficult, large impact (both labour and other resources) projects. It is one of the "human" factors which was clearly used in the big 1930's to the 1970's "landscape redevelopment" schemes which started in the early 1900's and is highly regarded as lifting the Australian psyche of only primary producers to an industrial level, equal to any in the world.This "Wet Canteen" sign was installed at the entrance of the Bogong "workers" village "provision's hut" detailing the operational times for the SEC Victorian staff and construction workers, involved in the building of the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme to obtain alcoholic beverages. This facility lasted for over the extensive period (1938 to 1961) of the "Schemes" building phase. This large project was the forerunner when industrial legislation provided for the welfare of workers living in the Bogong Village. The provision of facilities such as a "wet canteen" was of the utmost importance not only to ensure that the long running project was both successful, production wise, but also that its employees were not only physically but also mentally healthy. This sign details that all aspects required for a fit and productive labour force were in place, in this remote and demanding work environment. The majority of heavy equipment and machinery used was either made in England or Europe. A section of the specialised workforce came from local and European expertise in dam construction and water management in alpine terrain. The majority of labour came from migrants and some specialists recruited from England and Europe. At this point in time, the quality of the machines used came from England, Europe and the USA and could not be matched from anywhere else in the developed world. With a specialised workforce came the responsibility of providing all the "comforts of home" including alcoholic beverages. On site accommodation for the workforce is still a requirement for some mining areas but high market returns have produced fly in/out labour.This anodised metal sign has been "block" stenciled on. Black lettering and numbers with the main headings underlined with a red and a yellow line(emphasising the headings)In black stenciled type "BOGONG WET CANTEEN" underneath this "TRADING HOURS" Below this "MONDAY TO THURSDAY 5.15 PM TO 5.50 PM, 7.00 PM TO 9.00 PM" "FRIDAYS SHORT WEEKEND 4.30 PM TO 5.20 PM 7.00 PM TO 9.00 PM" Below this "FRIDAYS LONG WEEKEND 10.00AM TO 11.30 AM" Below this "SATURDAYS PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 4.30 PM TO 5.30 PM 7.00 PM TO 8.30 PM" bELOW THIS "CANTEEN WILL BE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS, GOOD FRIDAY AND UNTIL 4.00 PM ON ANZAC DAY"saucer, plate, secv, state electricity commission of victoria, canteen, bogong mess hall, recreational amenities, socialisation of sec vic kiewa hydro scheme labour force