Site of original tea rooms opposite what was then Eltham Park, now Eltham Lower Park on Main Road, present-day 573 Main Road since early 1970s, immediately prior to which it was 271 Main Road. It is believed a Mrs M Willoughby operated the tea rooms around October 1919. Arthur James McDonald became proprietor of the Eltham Park Tea Rooms some time between 1942 and 1945. In the 1942 Electoral Roll he was recorded living in Moonee Ponds as an aircraft fitter and was then recorded as a tea-room proprietor at Main Road, Eltham in the 1946 Electoral Roll. By 1949 he had moved to Leongatha where he was a café proprietor. A picture of the 1934 floods (EDHS_00103) shows the tea rooms surrounded by waist height flood waters. This building was a different structure. It is not known whether the building was demolished and rebuilt because of this flood event or sometime later to the building seen in this photograph, however it appears to be of a mid-1950s style. During the 1950s it was a milk bar as seen in this photograph and served Devonshire teas in the late 1950s, open only on weekends to service the park and miniature railway opposite. Locals who were children of the late 1950s on recall buying bags of lollies and drinks such as Blue Heaven Spider (ice cream float) and crackers for cracker night. At one point the shop also had pinball machines. It is believed the section of the building to the right was a residence. During the 1980s the shop was operated by Ansell and Muir and they offered takeaway fast food, such as spring rolls and especially hot chicken and chips. Locals also fondly recall their chicken schnitzel with lemon juice. It is remembered as one of the best takeaway food shops, fresh food and fast service with great parking. The residence section to the right was developed as an art, pottery and crafts gallery, Bimbadeen, run by Don Brown, then a local artist. It was taken over in the late 1980s as River Clay run by Leo Haanappel and Coeny Dommers. Unfortunately, the store stood within the 1934 flood zone and the property was unable to be redeveloped. The former Shire of Eltham acquired the land, and the building was subsequently demolished. In December 1993 company registration for Ansell and Muir Prestige Catering was cancelled and the business dissolved. The location is now the site of the current Fleur de Feliss flower stall tent. 17 December 1993 company registration cancelled for Ansell and Muir Prestige Catering Pty. Ltd. [CORPORATIONS LAW Subsection 574(1) (1994, January 12). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Periodic (National : 1977 - 2011), p. 20. Retrieved May 24, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238039370]Black and white photograph of Eltham South Store later Ansell & Muir c.1960573 main road eltham, 1960, a.j. mcdonald, ansell, ansell and muir, arthur james mcdonald, bimbadeen gallery, eltham, eltham park tea rooms, eltham south, george w. bell collection, main road eltham, milk bar, muir, riverclay craft gallery, shops, take away food