EDHS Newsletter No. 271 August 2023 Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) is the Archive of the State Government of Victoria. Established fifty years ago under the Public Records Act 1973, PROV at the Victorian Archives Centre in North Melbourne now holds around 106 kilometres of public records from 1836 to the present day. There are also PROV collections at Ballarat, Beechworth, Bendigo, Geelong and the University of Melbourne. Our next meeting will be about PROV and former PROV staff member Andrew Lemon, will briefly reminisce about his work there, in it’s early days. As Assistant Director Access Services at PROV, David Taylor oversees the management of, and access to, the State collection. David will be outlining PROV’s unique role in Victoria, the nature of the public records it holds and how researchers can use increasingly sophisticated online resources to discover more about their ancestors and Victorian history. Finally, our Society member Irene Kearsey will talk about her experiences as a long-time volunteer at PROV.1:21:12 duration Digital MP3 file; 27.8MBaudio recording, eltham district historical society, meeting, society meeting, eltham, david taylor, dr andrew lemon, irene kearsey, public records office victoria (prov)

The original Shire of Eltham was founded in 1871. Prior to its founding, the district was managed by the Eltham District Road Board, which was established in 1856. The initial rate assessment commenced in 1857 for the year ending October 14, 1858. The honour of being recorded with the first assessment went to a farm of 110 cultivated acres at Lower Plenty, owned by John Porter and occupied by Albert Baines. It was assessed at 6d/acre providing for a rate income of £2 15s. In July 2017, officers at Nillumbik Shire Council discovered some early Eltham Road District Assessment books and donated them to the Eltham District Historical Society. The seven volumes were the district’s first six years of rate assessments. This was a unique and significant record of early settlers in the pre-Shire of Eltham. They immediately became one of the oldest and most valuable items in our collection. An article on page 5 in the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser, Friday, 21 November, 1941 titled: ‘District’s Early History‘ states: “The first rate book which is still in existence at the Shire Office is for the year ending October 14, 1858 and is probably the best record possible to indicate the development of the district. At the time properties were rated as follows: Cultivated land. 6d. per acre; pasture land, 1d. per acre: estimated annual value of buildings, etc., 6d in the (pound). The total amount of rate recorded for the year was £153/14/8. Properties were described as being situated at Lower Plenty, Yarra Yarra, Eltham, Lower Eltham, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Flats, Diamond Creek and the Yarra.” Given the precious nature of this collection, priority was given to digitise the rate books and place them in suitable archival storage to minimise further handling. Subsequent discussion amongst our Collections team arrived at the conclusion that the most appropriate home for this valuable record was the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV), the archive of the State Government of Victoria and who are charged with archiving and caring for all Government related records. An approach was made to PROV who confirmed these records would complete their collection of rate assessment books for Eltham. At a small ceremony held Friday, April 20 at the Local History Centre, Eltham, members of the Society and our Collections team, along with Ms. Vicki Ward, MP for Eltham, presented the seven volumes for 1858-1863 along with the complete set of digital files to Mr. David Taylor, Community Archives Manager and Mr. Charlie Farrugia, Senior Collection Advisor, Public Record Office Victoria.Born Digitalassessment ledger, donation, eltham courthouse, eltham road district, local history centre, public records office victoria (prov), rate books, eltham district road board

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. This note outlines land purchase costa and building costsCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .03 - 1886 document built environment - commercial, business and traders, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. Remodeled in the 1940sCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .07 1975 building built environment - commercial, business and traders, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891.COPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .04 - 1914 bank staff built environment - commercial, business and traders, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. Remodeled in 1940sCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .10 - 1980 building with car built environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. Remodeled in the 1940sCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .09 - 1978 building with cars built environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. The street frontage has been remodeledCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .05 - remodeled 1942 building with cars at front built environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. In this image the lot to the left is vacantCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .02 - 1886 building marked, but actually a 20th century photo built environment - commercial, business and traders, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. Remodeled in the 1940s and new verandah and ground floor entrance completed 1981/82COPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .11 - 1982 building with cars and remodeled entrance and full width verandahbuilt environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. Remodeled in 1940sCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .06 1948 building with cars (incl Holden) parked at front. Also shown are ANZ building to east and Riall Bros on West built environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria, general motors-holden, gmh

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. Remodeled in the 1940sCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .08 - 1975 building. View along bay St towards the Bay also shows part of ANZ Bank on left, Riall Bros on right. built environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria, general motors-holden, gmh

COPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria 02 - 1886 building as marked on rear, but actually a 20th century photo .03 - 1886 document .04 - 1914 bank staff .05 - 1942 building with cars at front .06 1948 building with cars (incl Holden) parked at front .07 1975 building .08 - 1975 building .09 - 1978 building with cars .10 - 1980 building with cars .11 - 1982 building with carsbuilt environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria, general motors-holden, gmh

Co-author Simon Flagg from the Koorie Records Unit, Public Record Office Victoria, did most of the research for the book. Rita Watkins, a descendent of Percy and Lucy, provided photographs and family stories for the book. "As well as brief chapter introductions, the book contains transcripts of the letters to, from and about the Pepper Family. Among various aspects of the family's life, the letters show Lucy Pepper's long battle with tuberculosis and her request to live with other family members on a mission. But she was denied this natural wish because 'half-caste' Aboriginal people were excluded from the missions." -co-author Simon Flagg from the Koorie Records Unit, Public Record Office Victoria,This book, with its transcripts of original letters, is an invaluable historical resource for university and school students on Aboriginal history in Victoria and what happened on Aboriginal reserves. A book titled "Footprints", which portrays the struggles of Lucy and Percy Pepper in the first half of the twentieth century. It was published jointly by the National Archives of Australia and Public Record Office Victoria, both of which hold original records of the family's correspondence with bureaucracy over the years. The book was authored by Simon Flagg and Dr Sebastian Gurciullo. The cover has a dark brown background with black footprints printed over it. They are both bare foot and shoe prints. It has a b /w photograph of a family posed for the camera. Across the top is the title FOOTPRINTS printed in pale yellow. At the bottom of the photo in pale yellow script is "the journey of Lucy and Percy Pepper". At the foot of the front cover is " An Aboriginal Family's struggle for survival". pepper-family aboriginal-history

8 A4 photocopies showing an inventory of municipal records dated between 1857 to 1945 lodged with the Public Records Office of Victoria.non-fictionInventory of municipal records for the Nunawading Road District (1857-1872), Shire (1872-1925) and City (1945-1994); Shire of Blackburn and Mitcham (1925-1945) and Box Hill Borough (1925-1927) and City (1925-1994)nunawading road district, shire of nunawading, city of nunawading, shire of blackburn and mitcham, city of box hill

Postcard or photograph of the Launch of Transporting Art tram No. 816 painted by Michael Leunig in 1986. Produced by the Public Record Office Victoria. Has on the rear a map of North Melbourne showing the PRO details and contact details. Photo shows the tram breaking through a banner at Preston Workshop paint shop held by Michael and some assistants. Two copies held.trams, tramways, transporting art, art works, preston workshops, launch, tram 816

The Willis family were early settlers at Lower Plenty, just near where the hotel and old bridge are today. This is a chapter from Historical Records of Victoria / editor-in-chief, Michael Cannon ; [compiled by the Public Records Office]. Vol. 6. The Crown, the land, and the squatter, 1835-1840.Diary of James L Willis from 1837, portraying hardships suffered in the young colony of Victoria.24 page photocopy of chapter of a book. Digitised copy included.Handwritten inscription on front page: Willis family of Lower Plentywillis family, plenty river, yarra river, lower plenty, james willis

Formation of Yan Yean Reservoir and its part in Melbourne's water supply system128 p. paperback, black and white and colour illus.yan yean reservoir, water supply