Queenstown (St Andrews) looking towards Panton Hill . A picnic is taking place. Streetscape with dirt road, buildings, Model T Fords and people. Police station far left, the gaol was behind (not visible). On the right is a boarding house according to Mr. Ninks, next to right the Mechanics Institute or library according to Miss Muller. On far right, Coach House (stables not shown) - end of coach run from Heidelberg. This is possibly a picnic for returned servicemen from Gallipoli. The house on the right still existed c.1970 and was alongside Hotel on Kinglake side. Reproduced page 35 Pioneers & Painters also on the back cover and on page 59 of "St Andrews: a village built on gold". Described in chapter headed "The Police Paddocks". This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg Prints 20 x 25 and 9 x 12.5 cm sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, queenstown, cars, police station, st andrews, model t ford, pioneers and painters, boarding house, gallipoli, picnic, police paddocks, retuned soldiers

Possibly a picnic for returned servicemen from Gallipoli. This photo was taken in front of the Police Paddocks with the police station on the left. Model T Fords parked with soldiers, drivers and locals resting on the police paddock in front of the Queenstown (St Andrews) station. The RACV Volunteer Motor Corps service during World War One was the reason the organisation was granted its Royal prefix. Automobile Club of Victoria members volunteered their time and vehicles to collect returning soldiers and nurses from ships at Princes Pier, Port Melbourne. Trips were also often arranged for convalescing soldiers to country areas for picnics and to “revive spirits”. The soldiers were also picked up from the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg and Mont Park Military Hospital in Macleod. Queenstown (St Andrews) was a common picnic spot. The Evelyn Observer reported on June 9. 1916 "Some 75 returned soldiers visited Queenstown on Sunday, 28th ult., and were hospitably entertained by local residents who had provided refreshments sufficient for 150. Mr. Milne in an appropriate speech welcomed the soldiers, and Mr. Robison suitably responded.” The photo was reproduced page 108 of “The Diamond Valley Story" by Diane H. Edwards.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image, 16 x 24 and 12.5 x 9 cm and 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, queenstown, cars, police station, st andrews, soldiers, picnic, exhibition yprl 2019-12, gallipoli, model t ford, pioneers and painters, police paddocks, retuned soldiers