A story about an attempted hold up at the former Commercial Bank of Australia agency in Main Road Eltham, now used as an opportunity shop.Photocopy of page from unknown book. Black and white text and line drawing.lindsay spear, stebbing, eltham, commercial bank eltham

This tiny picturesque building near the corner of John Street has served the community since 1878. At that time it served as an agency of the Heidelberg branch of the Commonwelath Bank of Australia. It has a small space inside measuring about 3.6 metres by 4.5 metres. It was built by George Stebbing who was also responsible for other heritage buildings nearby in Eltham. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p93 The tiny picturesque building on Main Road, Eltham, near the corner of John Street, has served the community since 1878. At that time the building, which inside measures only about 3.6m by 4.5m served as an agency of the Heidelberg branch of the Commercial Bank of Australia. The yellow and orange Victorian brick structure was built by Mr George Stebbing.1 Mr Stebbing, who also built the Anglican and former Methodist churches and the Shillinglaw Cottage, had come from England and lived in Pitt Street. The bank is a fine example of a once common but now rare building style – the single room bank. It compares with another in the municipality, also a former Commercial Bank of Australia branch, the timber Little Bank Building in Hurstbridge, built around the early 1900s.2 The Eltham bank, which was said to store gold from the Eltham - Research mining areas, has had exciting moments. A bullet hole still visible in a cedar bench testifies to the drama in 1949 when a youth held up the bank. After the 19-year-old opened an account as John Henderson, he walked to the door and then turned pointing a pistol. But it was shots fired by the clerk, Lindsay Spear, that saved the day, frightening the youth, who drove off empty-handed in a grey sports car. He was later apprehended and given a two-year sentence. Soon afterwards the agency was upgraded to a branch. However by 1954 the bank no longer needed the branch and the adjoining Methodist Church bought the building. It proved useful for the Church’s young people who furnished it and used it for their meetings. A youth club developed, led by young adult member, Ross Gangell. The building was also used as a Sunday School, which with junior membership numbered 27.3 Around 1960, Mrs Alma Bell, of the Methodist Church Women’s Guild, suggested using the building as an opportunity shop to raise funds for a chaplain at the Eltham High School. The women later asked the nearby St Margaret’s Anglican Church to help them in the shop. In 1960 the Eltham Combined Churches Opportunity Shop was established and staffed by Methodist and Anglican parishioners, notably Methodist Mrs Gwen Miller. The shop originally opened on Child Endowment Days to help the needy, but later for years, it opened twice a week. In 1962 it donated clothing and shoes to the Eltham Bushfire Appeal. By 1963 the chaplaincy scheme ceased. So the £450 raised was then donated to the Council for Christian Education and to the participating churches. Funds were also donated to local charities including the Eltham and Research Fire Brigades, the Austin Hospital Auxiliary, the Benevolent Society, the Red Cross and the Diamond Valley Hospital.4 In 2008 the Opportunity Shop volunteers continue to work together to help the local community. Although crammed with second-hand goods, the simple, almost stark interior, is still evident and is relieved only by a front rectangular window and an unused fireplace. Outside, the chimney, the corrugated iron peaked roof, and the surrounding varied plants, add to the charm of this sound building which continues to serve the community well.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, cba bank

Thursday, December 15, 1949, the quiet little bank was embroiled in an infamous wild shoot-out between a daring thief and two bank officers. Today, the building still carries the scars ; a bullet hole remains visible in a cedar bench testifying to the events that played out that day. 3.30 a.m., Friday, December 9. The manager of the Commercial Bank branch at Greensborough, Mr Harry Wallace and his wife are asleep in their bedroom of the little house behind the branch. Harry is awakened by a noise and sees an intruder in a corner of the bedroom. He calls out but the intruder who has switched off the power in anticipation flees through a side door and scarpers down Main Street. Harry summons the police but a search by First Constable Thomas of the Greensborough Police assisted by a wireless patrol car is unsuccessful. A report is filed noting the theft of a .25 calibre pistol from the wardrobe. Thursday, December 15th. It is 1pm and the Commercial Bank has just opened. The branch is only open Mondays and Thursdays from 1-3pm. The morning started off a little cool with some scattered showers but it has fined up and the temperature is now around 61 degrees (16 C). A new grey Singer sports car with soft-top pulls up on the opposite side of the road and a young man, neatly dressed in a dark blue suit, wearing a grey hat and carrying a brief case exits the vehicle. He looks around then crosses the road and walks up the steps and through the door into the bank. There are three people inside; Mr. Jack Burgoyne whose grocery store is situated just 50 yards up the road, Mr. Lindsay A. Spears, the Eltham Agency Receiving Officer and by chance, Mr Harry Wallace, manager of the Greensborough branch. Jack Burgoyne takes note of the young stranger; thinking to himself he appears nervous. The man approaches the counter and introduces himself as John Henderson of Greensborough and explains that he wishes to open a new account. He places his hat and £3 on the counter. Mr Spears attends to the paperwork. He asks the young man to sign two forms, which he does but then he withdraws from the counter and starts walking towards the door. Suddenly he spins around pulling an automatic pistol from his right-hand pocket. He exclaims forcefully; “The game’s on! I’ll take the lot!” Spears appears to comply by pretending to open a drawer. The man shouts loudly, “Keep your hand away from that drawer.” Spears instead reaches for a pistol in his pocket and challenges the man, “Here it is. Come and get it!” At the same time, Harry Wallace pulls a pistol from his pocket as well. The bandit fires a shot but misses, the bullet striking the counter. Both Spears and Wallace open fire and Jack Burgoyne ducks for cover. As the bandit turns and runs for the door leaving his £3 behind, he fires another shot, which strikes the ceiling. Spears fires back, and thinks he may have hit him in the foot. The bandit flees the bank and heads for the grey Singer car, registration NO-106, parked opposite. Wallace and Spears pursue him to the door and open fire again, striking the car three times around the driver’s door. Spears lets off eight shots and Wallace, seven before his gun jams. The getaway car initially heads slowly down Main Road towards Bridge Street. About 100 yards down the road, Dave Adams, a PMG employee, who has heard the shots, throws a steel manhole step at the driver. It hits the roof of the car nine inches above the driver’s head and tears the hood. Another witness claims to have seen the door blow open and the driver raise his hand. The car gathers speed and swings left into Bridge Street racing along at about 60 miles an hour careering recklessly past council employee, Mr. Percy Williams, who is driving a dray along Smarts Road [believed to be Bridge Street]. At the end of the road the Singer fails to get round the sharp turn and crashes into an embankment skidding to a stop outside the home of Mr John Clifford. One side of the car is wrecked. Mr Clifford, an aircraft engineer hears the fast travelling car bump heavily into the road bank at about 1.25 p.m. Hearing the whine of an engine he goes outside to find the grey Singer parked at the side of the road. Jack George also lives at the corner and hears the car crash. “The bandit opened the car door, ran 50 yards, and suddenly turned back,” exclaims Jack. “He took something from the car. It might have been a gun.” In his haste, the bandit drops his grey felt hat, size 6 7/8, on the road and dashes up Sherbourne Road for about 200 yards then disappears into the scrub carrying a brief case and a bundle in which a sailor’s cap can be seen. About 3 p.m., Mr H.D. Pettie of Mountain View Road, Montmorency is looking through his field glasses and notices a young man walking through thick scrub on private property some distance from his house. The man is wearing a sailor’s cap and disappears along the railway track toward Montmorency. As the day progresses, ten police cars, one motor cycle, and about 40 police led by Det. Sgt. McMennemin of Malvern CIB are searching for him. They believe he is hiding in thick scrub along the bank of the creek about half-a-mile outside Eltham township. Wireless patrol cars, four mobile traffic cars and the CIB area cars from Malvern and Kew are taking part. Police check the thief’s car and discover it was stolen from Helen Baxter, of Doncaster Road, North Balwyn from outside Victoria Barracks. Harry Wallace informs the police that he believes he recognised the bandit as the man who took his pistol from his bedroom the previous Friday morning. As night falls, armed police are posted at strategic points in the Eltham-Greensborough district. Police in cars are watching the roads. Others are searching the bush and checking passengers on trains. Little do they realise the young man has already slipped out of the net. SEQUEL YOUTH OF 19 CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY OF BANK AT ELTHAM Weekly Times, Wednesday 15 February 1950, page 6 Detectives who raided a house in Bell St., Coburg, Melbourne, charged a 19-year-old youth, of South Yarra, with attempted armed robbery at the Commercial Bank’s Eltham (Vic.) receiving depot on Dec. 15. Police say they recovered a loaded automatic pistol, diamond and signet rings worth more than £200, a complete set of house-breaking instruments, a sailor’s uniform, and chloroform gauze in the raid. The youth was charged that while armed with an offensive weapon, he attempted to rob Lindsay George Spears of a sum of money. He was further charged on six counts of breaking, entering and stealing. Police allege that the person who tried to hold up Mr Spears in the Commercial Bank receiving depot at Eltham on December 15. escaped in a stolen car, after Mr Spears and Mr Henry Wallace, manager of the bank’s Greensborough branch, had fired at him. After the car crashed, he escaped into thick scrub and is alleged to have changed into a sailor’s uniform. On December 9 an automatic pistol was stolen from Mr Wallace’s bedroom at the Greensborough bank. The chloroform pad recovered is alleged to have been stolen from the Dental Supply Company, Plenty Road, Preston. The rings are alleged to have been taken in a £513 burglary from the shop of James Paton. Sydney Road, Coburg. Det. Sgt. H. McMennemin conducted the investigations with Senior Dets. R. Newton and M Downie, Detectives l. Dent, R. Rayner, P. Pedersen and M. Handley and First Constable A. Thomas. The youth will appear at Eltham Court on February 22. Manager’s Gun Used in Holdup at Bank The Age, Thursday 23 February 1950, page 4 It was stated in Eltham court yesterday that a youth who robbed a bank manager of his pistol, later used it in an attempt to hold-up the bank. Kay Arthur Morgan, 19, draftsman, of Castle-street, South Yarra, was committed for trial on charges of breaking and entering, and stealing a pistol and attempted robbery while armed with an offensive weapon. He pleaded guilty. The manager of Eltham branch of the Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd., Henry Clifton Cabot Wallace, said he disturbed someone in the bedroom, in which he and his wife were sleeping, at 3 a.m. on December. 9, 1949. Later he found that his automatic- pistol was missing. On December 15 a youth, who said his name was John Henderson, entered the bank and opened a new account. As the youth was leaving the bank he turned round with a pistol in his hand and said: — “I want the lot.” Spear indicated a drawer under the counter; and said.— “Here it is. Come and get it.” The youth said:— “Keep your hand away from that drawer.” Witness said Spear then drew his pistol from his hip pocket. The youth fired at them, and Spear returned the fire. “I pulled my pistol and fired, too” said witness. The youth fired again, ran out to a car and drove off. Witness and Spear fired several shots at the car. The youth was the accused Morgan, sitting in court, witness said. Evidence was given that one bullet was found in the celling and the other in the bank. Morgan was allowed £100 bail on each charge. Morgan ended up serving three years for the failed armed robbery and became a notorious criminal. He had twin sons, Peter and Doug and even though only ten years old, Morgan would get his sons to act as lookouts whilst he committed burglaries. The lads became building contractors but when the industry suffered a downturn in 1977 and they were short on cash, they returned to the family business. Over the following 23 months they undertook 24 raids on country and outer-suburban TABs and banks. Whilst robbing one country bank for the third time, just like their father, it all went wrong ending up with a police officer shot. They were nick-named the “After-dark” bandits and are considered to be Australia’s last bushrangers. They were convicted and served 17 years in prison.5 x A4 photocopied pagesbank hold-up, cba bank, det sgt mcmennemin, eltham, h.d. pettie, harry wallace, jack burgoyne, kay arthur morgan, lindsay a. spears, main road

ICI Fabrics Deer Park Opening 1928 E Thorne 22 Thompson StREET Sunshine 3020 93111034 Photograph Accompanying paper lists in separate book photographic subjects L-R. Back Row Jack Smith Jock Burgess Jack Davidson Tom Shaw Bill Power Roy Furzer Jock McLeod Stan Harding Ernie Bevers Tom Brumley Albert Sidell Jim Livingston Abe Thomas Albert Millership Bill Stephenson Bill Millership Jim Valentine Jack Smith Jack Ray Don Paxton John Smith Clarrie Hughes Norm Self Ron Govett Lance Neville Clarrrie Turner George Salmon Tom Strong Hec Ross George Peart Arthur Nicholson Frank Jenkins Dick Otoway Scotty Hood Jim Lawrence Alf Clayton Ted Roberts Lou Roberts Charlie Johnson Jack Broown Eddie Jock Buchan Bill Turner Jack Capper Cyril Reid Unknown Dan Maloney Bill Roberts Middle Row Unknown Joe Briggs Sen Ted Gorham Bill Baker R Shepherd Alf Ferringdon George Russel Jack Dockerty Andy Flannagan Mac Rodrique Jack Neil Union Delegate Harry Bowman Percy Smith George Clayton Mick Storey Jack Horan Ben Matthews Alf Hayes Tommy Hill Ted Hing Bob Norris Harry Hingus Spears Jim Reidy Joe Wilson Bill Robinson Wally Catton Jock Charmers Arthur Ayton Tom the Pom McIntyre George Farnsworth Fred Lewis Eddie McIntyre Jack Allen Reg Murphy Jess Ball Dan Mahoney Bill Roberts Front Row Annie McLeod Ruby Githens Elsie Wrigley Dorrie James Mrs Burland Lindsay Morton Trevor Frazer Bill Kendrick Bill Wilson Russ Matthews Bill Bailey H Jones Mr Gregg Jim Mace Tony Cox Unknown Bert Stewart A Stoneham Girlie Sturgess Winnie Burwood Bill Grogan Manager Miss Guthrie Dorothy Frazer Horace Ockley Harry Sutherland Alan Digger Slee Supervisor Mr Eckland Joe McIntyre Bill Pope Frank Stephens Fred Foley Jim Phillips Percy Spratling Dick Perry Jean Salmon Eza Wilson Pat Monahan Mrs Farrerdeer park, ici, employee, industry

Copies obtained from National Archives of Australia, during research undertaken by Olwen Ford for the book 'Harvester Town: the making of Sunshine 1890-1925', first published by Sunshine & District Historical Society, 2001, reprinted 2011.world war 1914 - 1918

This item contributes to an understanding of the impact that involvement in the war in Vietnam (1962 - 1972 ) had on Australian servicemen.Casualty List of 1 Fld Sqn and 3 Fld Troop in Vietnam. This is a list of names of those injured or killed in action (not complete). This list was done by Bob Coker who is compiling the list of Australian causalities. See media for more information.casualty list, 1 fld sqn, 3 fld troop, killed in action, wounded in action, royal australian engineers, sapper denis william gooding, sgt denis william gooding, 18690, sapper frank charles mallard, 5411253, cpl (temp) william ronald gallagher, 214407, sapper terence mervyn bradbury, 54968, sapper barry john harford, 43323, sapper clement william coolburra, 17587, sapper peter michael cachia, cpl (temp) peter michael cachia, 1410862, cpl robert walter bowtell, 213151, cpl richard james seddon, sgt richard james seddon, 22834, sapper maxwell roy livingston, 38151, sapper david john peters, 42853, sapper koostantinoes william unmeopa, 18464, sapper eric walter holst, 54725, sapper ronald john borinelli, 3787259, sapper leslie prowse, 18409, l/cpl dave cook, cpl (temp) dave cook, 214933, sgt barry william sant, 242802, pte barrie john ganley, 4717619, sapper noel roy mcduffie, cpl noel roy mcduffie, 37050, sapper ross edward comben, l/cpl ross edward comben, 54733, sapper bruce noel bevan, 2783013, cpl anthony george evans, l/cpl anthony george evans, 2783420, sapper john cyril thompson, 38309, sapper ashley john culkin, 2783384, sapper dennis lindsay brooks, 3787889, sapper ramon john peter deed, 3788300, sapper john laurence o'hara, 2782779, sapper gregory vincent brady, 2782812, sapper brian geoffrey roberts, 6708336, sapper terrence james renshaw, 3788172, capt grahame leslie alwynne hellyer, 335126, sapper donald spence wride, 18665, wo2 (temp) barry john moore, 242811, sapper trevor john drummond, 3411826, sapper robert neil creek, 3791192, sapper lyndon ross stutley, 4719196, sapper david james lawson, 39259, s/sgt (temp) colin william mclachlan, 13053, sapper allan graham pattison, 44042, sapper david john steen, 4719232, l/cpl john edgar garrett, 1200473, sapper mervyn john spear, 5714596, sapper peter john macdonald, 55214, sapper john henry powe, 3791364, sapper malcolm leonard paine, cpl (temp) malcolm leonard paine, 5411670, sapper peter neil chenoweth, 3411964, sapper ian campbell leach, l/cpl ian campbell leach, 2786713, cpl david malcolm mcgregor, 3411692, s/sgt peter james gollagher, 172377, sapper kenneth roy nicholson, 2412486, cpl kevin john moon, 243292, sapper norman william le bherz, 18395, sapper trevor john cox, 5715629, sapper christopher david carroll, cpl christopher david carroll, 218155, sapper graham john hooper, 3791253, sapper john robert gilmore, 2789080, sapper alan graham hooke, 2786487