The Ballarat Camp housed the Goldfields administrators. It was from this site that the troopers left on the morning of 3 December 1854 to attack the Eureka Stockade. Much of the area shown in on the west side of Camp Street is now used by the Federation University Arts Academy.Hand-drawn plan on white linen showing the camp reserve in what is now known Ballarat's Camp Street. The plan shows allotments in an area bounded by Mair, Sturt and Lydiard Streets. The plan has colours indicating wooden buildings, stone buildings, brick buildings, Wood & zinc buildings, and wood & brick buildings.ballarat, camp street, horace walker, henry mornes, goldfields architecture, reserve for public, buildings, goldfields administration, eureka stockade

This plan is associated with former Ballarat School of Mines Student Richard Squire (1875-1876). Gift of the Squire FamilyA plan showing the Borough of Smythesdale, Smythesdale, Browns and Scarsdale, allotments, water reserve, Timber reserve, Nintingbool Pre-emptive Right, Reserve for public gardens, Reserve for Cricket Ground, Reserve for Reservoirsmythesdale, scarsdale, browns, yarrowee, carngham, samuel barlett, sheridan, wrigley, p. land, r. simpson, d. davis, nintingbool, mclachlan, a. mclachlan, c. taylor, w. c. smith, d. davies, w. williams, m. jones, t. mcgurk, r. selkirk, a. mooney

Parish Plan of Creswick showing Slaty Creek, Old Gold Workings, Police Reserve, Railway Station, Public Gardens, Sawpit Gully, Hospital Reserve, Nigh Soil Depot, Eureka Terracotta Tile COmpany, Creswick Creek, Forest COmmission, Roycroft's Racecreswick, eureka terracotta tile co, parish plan

Yellow soft covered report of 95 pages . The contents of the report include: Parks, reference areas, wildlife reserves, water production, hardwood production, softwood production, flora Reserves and Flora and Fauna reserves, bushland reserves, historic area and reserves, rivers and streams, Roadside conservation and Highway parks, Education areas and School Plantations, Lake Reserves, geological reserves, recreation, scenic reserves, agriculture, mineral and stone production, utilities and survey, township land, Uncommitted Land, military training, other reserves and public land. Maps include: The Study area 1: 250 000 Supplementary Mapsland conservation authority, ballarat, endowment plantations, pine plantations, langi ghiran state park, mount buangor state park, enfield state park, ballarat-creswick regional park, rossbridge, black lake, flax mill swamp, dereel lagoon, lake bolac, lake wongan, langi ghiran reservoir, gong gong reservoir, pincotts reservoir, beales reservoir, wilsons reservoir, moorabool reservoir, korweinguboora, korweinguborra reservoir, learmonth bores, sago hill, illabarook reservoir, ballarat water commission, dunneworthy, mount cole, mont lonarch, ben major, waterloo, trawalla, linton, ross creek, canadian, shepherds flat, lal lal, mount doran, raglan, chute, carngham, buninyong, watsons hill, enfield, cape clear, illabrook, rokewood junction, mount warrenheip, nerrina, jubilee, golden stream, australasian deep lead mine, happy valley school, piggoreet, berringa, bulldog, ballarat common, wildlife, water, timber, flora, rivers, geology, agriculture, warrenheip, biodiversity

In late 1958 bore put down in an attempt to obtain good quality water for a reticulated town water supply. Water unsuitable, but during drought years when water supply from Nicholson River was restricted, water from this bore available for public use. Bore plugged, structure removed December 2000. Site marked with plaque March 2001, by Lakes Entrance Historical Society.Colour photograph of the head works including feed pipe of water bore sunk in late 1958 on the Public Reserve bound by Marine Parade and the highway approach to North Arm Bridge, Lakes Entrance, Victoria.water supply, public utilities

The Tullamarine Airport opened in 1970 and replaced Essendon Airport as Melbourne's main airport terminal. Gellibrand Hill was incorporated with Woodlands Park and became a public reserve during the 1980s.A coloured landscape photograph with rounded corners taken from Gellibrand Hill and overlooking the Tullamarine Airport which is on the RHS of the photograph. The Melbourne City skyline can be seen in the distance.gellibrand hill, tullamarine airport, melbourne skyline, george evans collection

Photograph shows ten men in cricket gear & two in ordinary clothes. Names not recorded. The grounds at Mountain Grange were used for sport long before 1939 when Lillydale Council purchased the property to use as a public reserve and it later became the Kalorama Memorial Reserve.kalorama memorial reserve, mountain grange, cricket

Plan of Eastlakes development NSW (north of Botany) with home units, housing commission, shopping centre and public reserve between Gardeners RD, Universal Street, Grafton Street, Florence Street and Maloney Street.Photocopy, double page taped on reverse. Handwritten and typewritten.

These chainsaw sculptures were created by Leigh Conkie at his home in Main Road. There were so many at times it would be a regular sight to see them sprawled across the public reserve adjacent to his home.fay bridge collection, 1305 main road, 2000-10-21, chainsaw sculpture, eltham, leigh conkie, main road

These chainsaw sculptures were created by Leigh Conkie at his home in Main Road. There were so many at times it would be a regular sight to see them sprawled across the public reserve adjacent to his home.fay bridge collection, 1305 main road, chainsaw sculpture, eltham, leigh conkie, main road

Douglas Street shown in the estate plan did not eventuate, but was developed as a public reserve. Refer also to Reg. No. 5149 for 1924 auction sale of land also titled Grand View Estate situated further north in Ringwood.Double sided multi-folded page advertising public auction sale on Saturday, 31st October, 1925, of residential allotments highlighting local facilities, services and layout of the estate. Includes panoramic view of Ringwood and other local photographic images.Subdivision includes Great Ryrie Street, Heathmont Road, Douglas Street, Garden Street, and Bellevue Avenue. Agents - Knight & Harwood, 315 Collins Street, Melbourne, Phone 10615, 10616 Central, in conjunction with J.B. McAlpin, Opposite Railway Station, Ringwood. Phone Ringwood 7.

This is an early map of the Borough of Warrnambool (1872/3) showing the central town area of Warrnambool and the surrounding district. Reserves, public buildings and some businesses are marked. The map was photolithographed by John Noone, a Melbourne artist and photographer who claimed in 1858 to have the oldest-existing photographic studio in Melbourne. Photolithography was a process first developed in Melbourne. For several years Noone was the official photographer for the Victorian Crown Lands Office and for the Victorian Public Library and Museum. The map has the stamp of the seller of the map – Charles Hider, the well-known stationer and bookseller in Timor Street, Warrnambool. The owner of the map, Henry George Marfell, (1883-1962) was the son of John and Mary Ann Marfell. The Marfells were well-known in Warrnambool as grain merchants and managers of the Warrnambool Co-Operative Milling Company. It is surmised from the writing on the Marfell label that this map was at some stage given by Henry Marfell to the old Warrnambool MuseumThis map of early Warrnambool is of considerable significance, firstly because its original state and early date (1873) make it of antiquarian and historical interest. Also the connection with the names, Charles Hider and Henry Marfell and the old Museum gives it added provenance and interest.This is a wax paper map mounted on cloth. At the top it is attached by nails to a piece of wood and at the top it has a cloth ring for hanging the map. The map is in black shadings on a yellow background. The map is badly creased and coming away from the cloth at the edges and at other various points. There is some red or pink marking or staining on the township area of the map (originally the sold lands on this map were coloured in brown and the reserves, buildings, etc in pink). On the left hand corner there is a piece of paper glued on with some handwriting in ink (Marfell). There is also the stamp of the seller of the map – Charles Hider, stationer and bookseller, of Timor Street Warrnambool‘Early Map of W’bool, H.G. Marfell’ history of warrnambool, charles hider, henry marfell

This seal was used for official police and court documents by the Belvoir Police Office.The initial land survey for the city now known as Wodonga was first undertaken in 1852 by Thomas Wedge - Assistant Surveyor. The new township was called "Belvoir" and was proclaimed by that name in 1852 and again in 1861. The first sale of land in Belvoir was held at Wangaratta on April 28, 1854, when all the allotments surveyed by Thomas Wedge (excepting those set apart for reserves, government and public areas) were offered at auction. Following representations by the Postmaster General on June 23, 1869, the Governor in Council, on July 12, 1869, approved of its Aboriginal name "Wodonga" being restored. The seal was found at the Yackandandah Courthouse by the Circuit Judge, the late Mr. Jim Humphrey. As the Wodonga Historical Society was in recess at that time, the seal was held in trust by the North-East Historical Society in Wangaratta. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society in 1987.This item was the official seal of the Belvoir Police office from the beginning of the European settlement of the modern day city of Wodonga, then known as Belvoir. It is one of the earliest relics of that period of history, until its name was changed in 1869.Wood and metal seal bearing the official emblem of the Police Office Belvoir. It would have been used to apply a wax seal to official documents. The seal is mounted in a timber and glass case so that the imprint of the seal can be seen reflected in a mirror mounted in the base of the box.Around the edges of the seal "POLICE OFFICE / BELVOIR"belvoir police, official seal, history wodonga

This edition includes a report on the Progress Association's September 1973 meeting, Councillor's report, Lot 3 St. Helena Road, In Memoriam [Frank Andrew], School and Kinder news, St. Helena Road... now and before, Forward planning and balanced development, Preservation of the local environment, Public reserves and how to protect them. A digital copy of this Newsletter is available from Greensborough Historical Society.Newsletter, 20 p., illus.greenhills and north greensborough progress association, greenhills

Fawcett Hall is 14 kilometres North West of Alexandra, North East Victoria, in Spring Creek Road and is set amongst a small picturesque rural farming and business community with hills as a backdrop and Stony Creek running alongside the public reserves property boundary. Part of our hall building dates back to its establishment in 1882. Originally the hall served as a Mechanics Institute and Public Library and later as a primary school.Colour photograph of a weatherboard Hall.fawcett hall and public library, fawcett, fawcett mechanics' institute

In 1871, Victoria Park, beside the Boroondara General Cemetery was set aside as a public reserve. As the Park developed, exotic plants were added to existing specimens. In 1910, a photograph of ‘The Oldest Inhabitant: A Giant Red-gum Tree’ in the Park was included in the Jubilee History of Kew. Fifty-one years later the tree was re-photographed by Colin Campbell. A 2007 Master Plan developed for the City of Boroondara advises the retention of this now dead River Red Gum, including a ‘managed risk zone’ and planting under the heavily lopped tree.‘The Old Gum Tree’ in Victoria Park. In the distance a game of cricket is being played on the oval. The old grandstand can be seen in the photo. Photographer Colin Campbell 1961. THE OLD GUM TREE / COLIN CAMPBELL KEW 1961victoria park (kew), colin campbell (photographer), victoria park, red gum tree, eucalypts, kew (vic.) -- historic trees

In 1871, Victoria Park, beside the Boroondara General Cemetery was set aside as a public reserve. As the Park developed, exotic plants were added to existing specimens. In 1910, a photograph of ‘The Oldest Inhabitant: A Giant Red-gum Tree’ in the Park was included in the Jubilee History of Kew. Fifty-one years later the tree was re-photographed by Colin Campbell. A 2007 Master Plan developed for the City of Boroondara advises the retention of this now dead River Red Gum, including a ‘managed risk zone’ and planting under the heavily lopped tree.This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers (1905-1973), donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian from the 1960s to the 1970s. Small monochrome snapshot of the former giant River Red Gum that until it died was a major feature of Victoria Park, Kew. In the background is the red brick wall of the Boroondara General (Kew) Cemetery.Annotation verso: "Giant Red Gum. Victoria Park. Still there over 100 yrs old"dorothy rogers, victoria park (kew), river red gums

Community information book issued by City of Ringwood for 1992 - covering the facilities and activities of the Ringwood Council and other local organisations and associations. Includes two Aquatic Centre entry vouchers valid until June 30th, 1992.CONTENTS: (page no.) 1991/92 COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES 4 1992 CALENDAR 51 AQUATIC CENTRE 8 AQUATIC CENTRE VOUCHERS 49 CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT 6 CIVIC CENTRE TELEPHONE INDEX — DIRECT DIALLING 53 COMMUNITY DIRECTORY 35-47 COMMUNITY SERVICES 17-19 COUNCIL & COMMITTEE CYCLES 4 COUNCIL FINANCES & 1991/92 RATES 16 COUNCILLORS 3 FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 15 HISTORY OF RINGWOOD 5 HOUSING & RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 29-30 INFRASTRUCTURE 34 LOCAL, STATE & FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 32 MANAGEMENT TEAM 14 MAYORAL MESSAGE – Cr. Max Williams 1 NEIGHBOURHOOD MAP 26-27 NOTES 52 PAPER & CARDBOARD COLLECTION SERVICE 22 PARKS & RESERVES — PUBLIC FACILITIES 31 PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY 23-24 PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT 20-21 RINGWOOD FESTIVAL & HIGHLAND CARNIVAL 13 RINGWOOD GOLF COURSE 7 STRATEGIC BIKE PLAN 11 STREET INDEX A-L 25 STREET INDEX L-Z 28 THE LIBRARY 12 THE RINGWOOD CONVENTION & PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 10 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT 33 YOUR PERSONAL DIRECTORY 50 rinx

Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918. Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/caire-nicholas-john-3139/text3683, published first in hardcopy 1969, accessed online 1 July 2016.An original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.Albumen Silver Photograph, mounted on Board.printed in ink on support l.c.: VIEW OF PORTION OF THE CITY OF SANDHURST, AS SEEN FROM THE HILL, CAMP RESERVE / COPYRIGHT REGISTERED. printed in ink on support reverse c.: VIEWS OF VICTORIA. / (GENERAL SERIES.) / No. 4. / VIEW OF PORTION OF THE CITY OF SANDHURST AS SEEN FROM THE HILL, CAMP RESERVE. / The Camp Reserve is the principal public promenade in this City. The Rotunda in the foreground, formerly used / by the local bands on festive occasions, is now regarded as a relic of the past. To the right of the picture is shown the / City of Sandhurst claim, supposed to be on the Hustler's line of reef. St. Paul's Church tower may be seen in the / distance. To the left of the picture Williamstown-street branches out from Pall Mall. On one side of the street is the / far-famed Shamrock Hotel; on the other stands the Bank of Australasia, with St. James's Hall immediately behind it. printed in ink on support reverse l.c.l.: J.W. FORBES, Agent, printed in ink on support reverse l.c.: ANGLO-AUSTRALASIAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY, MELBOURNE. printed in ink on support reverse l.c.r.: 10 Temple Court, Collins Street West.nicholas caire (1837-1918), landscape photography

This book was a donation to Federation University Australia's Professor David Battersby from Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman of Central Queensland University.Soft cover. Front cover with some red. 80 pages. Back cover Plan of Ballarat Map. Photographic plates. Brief history of Ballarat and the topics photographed. . Ballarat City Municipal Chambers . The Ballarat Banking Company Limited . Art Gallery Ballarat . The Ballarat Trustees, Executors & Agency Company Limited . John MacLeod & Coy Pty Ltd . The Ballaarat Gas Coy . Ballarat's Homes . J. J. Goller & Co. . Ballarat East Views . Star Office . The Ballarat Courier . Morshead's . M. B. John Ballarat - The largest Inland Brass Foundry in Australia . Rowlands Koomah Spa . Huttons the Jewellers . Botanical Gardens Ballarat . Millers the Clothiers . Jas Smith Agricultural Machinery . Views of Lakes Learmonth & Burrumbeet . Coles & Pullum Stock & Station Agents . Harry Davies & Co. . Views about the City . Benoit's Sun Foundry . Ballarat College (for Boys) . Wm Paterson's . Lydiard Street Views . Eureka Terra-cotta & Tile Co. of Australia Limited . Churches of Ballarat . The Ballarat Woollen & Worsted Co. Ltd Sunnyside Mills . Red Shop Tea Rooms . Tyler's - Bridge Street, Ballarat . Allchin Bros Ballarat . Loreto Abbey Mary's Mount Ballarat . Brinds - Dunnstown . Ballarat Brewing Co. . Turnbridge's Arcade . Zoological Gardens Ballarat . A. Cant Plumber & Gasfitter . Interiors of some Ballarat Churches . Hugh Jones & B . W. F. Coltman . Views in Eureka Reserve . Loveland & Haslem, Moter Engineers . Public Institutions Ballarat . G. Warner & Co. Prop. Ltd . The Electric Supply Company of Victoria Limited . Ballarat East Views . Longhurst's Specialities . P. C. Thornton Proprietor Sturt St Ballarat . Cowley's Eureka Ironworks Pty Ltd . W. Owen Sports Depot & Tobacconist . Clarendon Ladies' College . Crocker's . Evening Echo Office . London Bank Chambers . Proprietors of Business . Broadbent Bros & Co. Gifted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman Central Queensland University, 2014.ballarat, school of mines, evening echo, john scullin

Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :5 Project : MELBOURNE AND METROPOLITAN AREA PROJECT Run : 36 Frame : 60546 Date : 12/1945 Film Type : B/W Camera : EAG4 Flying Height : 10200 Scale : 6000 Film Number : 195 GDA2020 : 37°42'47"S, 145°09'56"E MGA2020 : 338306, 5824438 (55) Melways : 22 C4 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes