Joseph Benjamin North was a well-known professional musician in Melbourne in late 1800 to mid 1900s, teaching music and playing in what became the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He married Lucinda Matilda and their children were Tralford E and Camille D. With friend Leon Lambert, North purchased 60 acres of land around Karingal Drive and Sherbourne Road and built two houses; they paid for a wooden bridge for access. North eventually sold his house to a family named Green but later the land was sold to the Shire of Eltham, and it is now known as Meruka Park, and the house, Meruka House; Alan Gardner named the park. After Lambert's death, his property was bought by Fred Warne. Edley North was born in 1835, and died 26 March 1923; he married Caroline North, born 1835, died 23 July 1922. Edley's family migrated from England in 1859, settling in Adelaide. He was granted an allotment of 221 acres on Phillip Island 1868-1870. on 7 April 1874 he travelled to Pine Lodge and later moved his wife and five children. He and Caroline later moved to a small farm, Willow Grove in Eltham, purchased between 1905 and 1910 (first mentioned in the rate book in 1908 as being a house and 10 acres on Susan Street, and would also have had frontage on Brougham Street); Their daughter Violet Alice inherited it; she married Walter J Dobson around 1921; he died on 25 March 1948 aged 77 and Violet on 4 January 1947. Willow Grove was later purchased by A George and P Audrey Hester April/May 1947. Edley, Caroline and Violet are all buried in Eltham Cemetery. Marjorie Mary North was born in 1909 ; the family travelled in a horse-drawn waggon from Fitzroy to spend weekends in their little holiday house in Sherbourne Road on 10 acres of land. In 1933, she married Tralford Norman whose parents owned 62 acres of land including Meruka Park. Marjorie and Tralford lived in Looker Road, Montmorency; she died 7 February 2003. Contents Newspaper article: "When life centred on a weekender", Diamond Valley News, 25 September 1984, memories of Montmorency of Marjorie North. Newspaper article: "Worse floods seem likely", Diamond Valley News, 25 September 1984, floods in Eltham Handwritten notes: Information by Marjorie North's about her grandmother, September 1989. Handwritten and typed transcript: "J. B. North", by Marjorie North, history of Joseph Benjamin North. Letter: From Monash University to Marjorie North, 15 November 1989, being unable to assist with her enquiry about the meaning of name [unspecified in the letter but possibly Meruka] Letter: June Stanton (nee Hester) to Eltham District Historical Society, 17 February 1993, seeking information on her great grandfather Edley North and wife Caroline. Christmas card [attached to letter from June Stanton]: Line drawing Eltham Primary School 1856, text history of school Letter: Eltham Historical Society to June Hester, 11 June 1993, providing information held by the Society. Letter: Nancy Chandler (nee Williamson) to Jo McCormick 18 March 2001, providing information about Edley and Carline North, her great grandparents. Email: Patsy Moppett to Eltham District Historical Society October 2010: A photograph of Edley and Caroline North found, wish to return it to family. Family tree: North/Dobson family. Death notice: Marjorie May North, died 7 February 2003.Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcmarjorie north, tralford norman, sherbourne road montmorency, looker road montmorency, briar hill, montmorency, catholic ladies college, merton hall, melbourne girls grammar school, ivanhoe girls grammar school, wesley college, meruka park, st helena road, st faith's anglican church montmorency, william sapsford, floods in eltham, joseph benjamin north, leon lambert, melbourne symphony orchestra, karingal drive, meruka house, alan gardner, lucinda matilda north, tralford e north, camille d north, montmorency cricket club, diamond creek, eltham railway station, judge book village, fred warne, edley north, caroline north, eltham cemetery., violet alice dobson (nee north), willow farm eltham, edley north family tree, walter john dobson family tree, nancy chandler (nee williamson), pine lodge, elijah north

Marguerite Marshall, Eltham resident, worked as a journalist in the Diamond Valley from around 1980. In 2002, she published "Nillumbik Now and Then", about the shire's landmarks and characters (an update of "Eltham Shire, Historic Buildings, People and Places" 1983). It had photographs b Alan King and covered the Wurundjeri people, the Batman Tree legend, farmers, bushranger, gold mining, soldiers, artists, environmentalists and sportspeople. She was an environmental activist who created a comic character to show there can be a humorous side to the environmental challenge (Eartha Waters, a green tragic) for Nillumbik Climate Action Now event at Eltham Library. Contents Newspaper article: "New book on shire's past", Diamond Valley Leader, 6 February 2002, announcing publication of "Nillumbik Now and Then" by Marguerite Marshall, photographed with photographer Ron Grant and Eltham District Historical Society secretary Russell Yeoman. Newspaper article: "Humorous side on warming", Diamond Valley Leader, 4 June 2008, listing events for Nillumbik Climate Action Now marking World Environment Day, including Marguerite Marshall's character Eartha Waters. Newspaper article: "Green wedge a goldmine of history", Heidelberg and Diamond Valley Weekly, 25 November 2008, Announcing publication of Marguerite Marshall's book "Nillumbik Now and Then". Newspaper letter: "Worst, so we should lead", Diamond Valley Leader, 13 January 2010, Marguerite Marshall argued for climate action. Newspaper article: "Truths to be revealed in talk", Diamond Valley Leader, 23 July 2014, announcing talk by Marguerite Marshall on climate change at Montmorency Probus Club on 21 August and on renewable energy at Nillumbik Probus Club on 10 September 2014. Newspaper article: "Turning back the pages", Diamond Valley Leader, 19 November 2008, Announcing publication of Marguerite Marshall's book "Nillumbik Now and Then". Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcmarguerite marshall, nillumbik - now and then, eltham shire historic buildings people and places, ron grant, russell yeoman, eltham district historical society, eartha waters greenie tragic, nillumbik climate action now, alan king, montmorency probus club, nillumbik probus club