Amherst, a former gold rush town, is located 13 kilometres south-west of Avoca on the Pyrenees Highway in the Pyrenees Shire in Victoria, Australia. It is 183 kilometres north west of Melbourne. The police station, in Camp Street, opened in 1853 and was originally in the District of Castlemaine. In 1857 it came under the District of Avoca, in 1858 the District of Carisbrook, in 1859 the District of Avoca, in 1866 the District of Maryborough, in 1879 the South Western District, and Central District in 1883. The station closed on 8 August 1892. In 1861 the station was staffed by 1 Mounted Constable, 1 Foot Senior Constable and 2 Foot Constables. Amherst "Outstation" opened in 1854 and was part of the Avoca District until it closed in 1856 An outstation was opened in 1854 and closed in 18561 photopolice stations; amherst police station

Guests at the West Riding Hall, Henry Petrie Community Centre, Montmorency on the occasion of a buffet dinner as part of the Shire of Eltham centenary celebrations. Left: Mr Higgins, Methodist Minister, Eltham and Mrs Higgins and Brian & Irene Robertson, both Captains in the Salvation Army. Reverend William ‘Bill’ Leslie Higgins (b. 15/1/1925, Renmark, Victoria, d. 18/10/1998) and Mrs Ella May Higgins (née Leersen b. 3/11/1921, Avoca, Victoria, d. 24/5/2003). William was ordained to the Methodist Church of Australia on September 1, 1959. Bill and Ella were involved with many communities throughout Bill’s full-time service until 1989. These parishes included Underbool, Wycheproof, Drysdale, Wonthaggi, South Yarra, Eltham, Nathalia, Murchison and Seymour. Bill and Ella touched many thousands lives during their ministry. Bill passed away in 1998 while assisting with a Sunday evening service near Drysdale, and Ella continued to dedicate her time to others until her death in 2003. Information received via Brian and Irene Robertson's son, Mark (15 Dec 2023), noted that in 1969 they lived in Prahran and by 1971 they would have been appointed to Briar Hill (now Greensborough). Brian Robertson's parents and at least one set of his grandparents were also Salvation Army officers (primarily from Victoria), whilst Irene was originally from Perth and she had 2 other sisters that became Salvation Army Officers as well. Irene also had 3rd sister and younger brother who were linked to the Salvos (as was Brian’s brother). After several years in church work, Brian and Irene transferred over to the Social Services branch of the Salvos and worked with homeless men, broken families, drug & alcohol dependent clients (similar to what Brendan Nottle does in Burke St), family stores and eventually seniors (nursing homes). Brian, known as Robbie passed away in 2013, and Irene is currently living in a retirement unit. [Dedc 2023]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 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 imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, shire of eltham, shire of eltham centenary, henry petrie community centre, centenary celebrations, buffet dinner, higgins, rev. william (bill) higgins, ella may higgins (nee leersen), salvation army, brian robertson, irene robertson

Aerial photo looking down Armstrong St. Camp street on the left, Shire Hall on the right. High St runs across the photo. The Avoca River is visible in the top LH side. The swimming pool and bowling green is above the rive. On High St (from L-R) Dr Surgery, H Bath Chemist, Grocery, Roy Dobson, Hairdresser, Stowe's, Westpac Bank (two storey white building), Dillon's Building, Globe Hotel, Charlton Club, butcher shop, Arundell's shoe shop, Watson's Stock & Station Agency, Bullock's grocery, Williams St (Curtin Ave), Bannon's Butchers, East Charlton Hotel, MB Luth & Co, Lou's cafe. The old sale yards are at the end of Williams Street. Camp St lower side (from L-R) Court House, Police residence, Police Station, Telecom on corner. The photo is thought to be taken from Ossie Sanderson's airplane in 1974.Black & white aerial photo looking down a broad street that ends in a t-intersection. There is a street that comes off to the left about 1/3 of the way up the photo. There is a large building directly opposite this street. In the upper right there is a two storey building with arches on its verandah. In the upper LH side there is a swimming pool and bowling greens.

significant as a work of art by local Pyrenees artist, locally significant to the Central Highlands Region of Victoria as a representation of local landscape and/or culture painting of building a sheep yardsSigned: R READ 03 (lower right)

significant as a work of art by local Pyrenees artist, locally significant to the Central Highlands Region of Victoria as a representation of local landscape and/or culture painting of a old house on the streetSigned: R READ 2000 (lower left)

Avoca and Lexton District WW1 Roll of Honour significant to the Pyrenees Shire and Lexton communityAvoca and Lexton District WW1 Roll of Honour 1914

1973 flooded Avoca River. Viewed from west side of Paterson Bridge behind the shire office.B/W photograph of 1973 flooded Avoca River. View West side of Paterson Bridge behind Shire Officeflood, avoca river, charlton

Thomas Langdon (1832-1914) was born in Somerset, England and came to Australia in 1853. He started in Bendigo as a miner and carter before beginning farming at Laanacoorie. He married twice; Esther Temlett in 1855 and Sarah Coventry in 1862. He was elected to the Marong Shire Council in 1871 and went on to become a member of the Victorian parliament. He was the Member for Avoca and later Korong. In 1907 he was the Minister for Labour.Black leather folder, 5 pages inside. On front of folder in gold print ' In Memoriam. The Honorable Thomas Langdon, Chairman of Committees of the Legislative Assembly' Inside, first page: In Memoriam, The Honorable Thomas Langdon, M.L.A., member of the Legislative Assembly for - The Avoca District from 1880 - 1889; The Korong District from 1892 - 1914. Died 27th May, 1914. Following pages cite extracts from the minutes of the Lagislative Council that discuss Thomas Langdon's passion and significance in representing his constituents in Parliament. His passing is noted. 'Wednesday June 24 1914' The One. W.L. Baiullieu ' it is with much regret that I have to propose the following motion 'that this House desires to place on record its deep regret at the death of the Honorable Thomas Langdon .....'person, government, thomas langdon