The foundation stone for St George's Church of England, Mont Albert was laid in 1886 on land donated by Edward Dyer and the first service was preached in January 1887. From 1904 until 1907 it was known as Holy Trinity, Surrey Hills. The original church was weatherboard and replaced by a brick one in the Gothic Revival style which was designed by local architect George J V Blackburne, who also designed the Wesleyan School at Surrey Hills. The building was partly funded by donations, profits from a bazaar and concert, and other people donated furnishings. The church had boundaries along Mont Albert Road and St Georges Road. In 1998 the Church was sold and converted into a complex of units. Its current address is 19 St Georges Avenue, Mont Albert.Black and white photo of 8 boys in suit jackets. 3 boys standing, 3 kneeling with one hanging his arm around shoulder of boy next to him and hand on shoulder of one of 2 boys sitting in front. Outdoor setting with tree and foliage behind. First names of boys identified as Barrie, Maurice, Robin, David, Arthur, Geoff, David and Ian.REAR: Barrie, Maurice, Robin/ David, Arthur/Geoff, David, Ian/March 1945/St Georges SS/1945/children, mary clucas, clothing and dress, 1945, st georges sunday school, holy trinity church, mont albert, sunday schools, surrey hills, st george's anglican church, 1940-1949

This book was given as a prize to William Giles in the late 19th century. It came from the Skiddaw Sunday (or Sabbath) School. Skiddaw was the home of the Batterbee family and was situated on the old Princes Highway in East Warrnambool near Simpson Street today. The corner here was known as ‘Batterbees Corner’ and there is a Skiddaw Street in the locality today. George Batterbee had a ham and bacon business in Warrnambool. For 36 years his wife, Mary, conducted a Sunday School at Skiddaw (from 1882 to 1918). This Sunday School was under the auspices of St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Warrnambool. Mrs Batterbee was assisted by her daughter Florinda and other teachers. Florinda and her brother Rex were both artists of note. William Giles and his family lived on the Allansford Road. The Logan family farm was in the vicinity of where Logans Beach is today. This book, though tattered and stained, is most important as the only item we have in our collection that is associated with the Skiddaw Sunday School. Situated in a family home, this Presbyterian-sponsored Sunday School operated for 36 years under the direction of Mary Batterbee. This is a book of 32 pages with the cover and perhaps some of the pages missing. It has been stapled but the staples have been removed. The book has large print and illustrations on all the pages. The illustrations have been coloured in by hand. The first page is loose and scribbled on. The pages are very stained and torn in places. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Skiddaw S. School, Second Prize, Awarded to William Giles for diligence in class, S. Logan, Teacher’. skiddaw, east warrnambool, batterbee family, giles family, logan family, history of warrnambool

Samuel McGeorge was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1850. He was trained for the ministry at Moore College, Sydney. He was Vicar in Ararat for 10 years prior to coming to Warrnambool in 1899, to become the 3rd Vicar of the Parish. He was inducted on June 1st by Bishop Cooper. He showed a deep regard for the welfare and happiness of his parishioners. Christ Church progressed well under his charge. He suffered a very painful and distressing illness which forced him to obtain leave of absence from his clerical duties, but he continued to visit and encourage the sick and sorrowing. On December 4th 1904, Canon McGeorge opened the new Church and Sunday School in Koroit St, East Warrnambool, of which he had established. It was opened as a Mission Hall. It was to become St. George's and the first recorded service was on February 11th 1906. He preached his last sermon at Christ Church on Dec 4th before illness prevented him performing his duties. He resigned from the Vicariate shortly before his death in Warrnambool on December 16th, 1905. The stained glass window in the north wall of the second nave was a gift of many parishioners. Depicting St. Michael, it was erected in memory of Rev Canon McGeorge, and was unveiled by Dean Parkyn on December 23rd, 1906. His widow Mrs Emma McGeorge, remained an active church worker until her death in 1933. The Lych gate at the Koroit Street entrance was built with a bequest from her.Stained glass lancet window, north wall, north nave, depicting Saint Michael, the arch-angel Michael.Saint Michael. To the Glory of God and in memory of/ Samuel McGeorge Vicar 1899 - 1903

Christ Church is the main Anglican Church in Warrnambool. The Anglican Church held services in Warrnambool from 1847 on and a Sunday School operated from that time. The building of Christ Church was commenced in the early 1850s with the tower and spire added in the 1880s. The program under study here was for the annual concert of the Anglican Sunday Schools in Warrnambool. The concert featured items from Christ Church Sunday School and two other local Sunday Schools from St. George’s, East Warrnambool (established 1906 and now closed) and St. Peter’s, South Warrnambool (established 1911 and closed in 1974). This item, though ragged, is of interest as an example of the type of entertainment featured at Sunday School concerts in Warrnambool during the 20th century. At that time Sunday Schools would have been important as the children of the adherents of most Protestant religions in the city would have attended a Sunday School which provided religious instruction and some social activities. The program contains the names of those participating in the concert and these are useful to researchers. This is a piece of paper folded in two to make four pages, three with typed material. The pages are now completely detached and are a little torn and crumpled. It is a program of a mid 20th century Warrnambool Christ Church Sunday School concert. It has probably been produced by church officials as it is not a professional printing job. Front page: ‘Christ Church Annual Sunday School Concert’christ church warrnambool, warrnambool anglican sunday schools, history of warrnambool

The building was designed by Charles Maplestone of Heidelberg, son-in-law to Anthony Beale of St Helena. Maplestone was a prominent architect who came out to Australia with his family in 1852. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs Isabella Maplestone on 11th November 1867. The bricklayers for the church were George Stebbing, H Limmer, H Spicer and a Mr Timm while Thomas Day was the stonemason. Another three years were to pass before sufficient money could be raised for its completion. It was opened by Bishop Perry on 1st November, 1870. The church bell which hung under a tree for 50 years until it was incorporated in the parish hall was brought out from England and presented by Charles Orme. In 1916, the estate of George Martin Pizzey left sufficient money to build the red brick hall, which still stands today (2023) though in January 1969 the hall and bell tower were badly damaged by bushfire. Coincidentally the former home of benefactor, George Pizzey was destroyed in the same fire. Of particular significance are the interior and exterior of the church, the Sunday school and hall with emphasis on pre-World War I fabric (excluding the 1990s additions) and the three coloured glass windows currently suspended in the 1990s entry foyer. In 2011 further alterations were made to the front of the Church. The church is historically significant because it was the oldest public building in the former Diamond Valley Shire, is amongst the oldest buildings in the Shire of Nillumbik and is associated with the early settlement of the Diamond Creek district. The church is historically, socially and spiritually significant because it has been a place of worship for over 150 years and continues to be, an important meeting place in the Shire. The church is aesthetically significant for the three stained glass windows executed by the noted stained glass manufacturers, Ferguson & Urie, as well as the supporting coloured glass windows in the church. The Sunday school & parish hall is architecturally significant because the hall is a well executed and preserved example of the work of noted church architects, North & Williams. It is historically significant because it is connected with local parishioner and Melbourne industrialist, George Pizzey, who bequeathed funds for its construction. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. National Estate Ntionl Trust of Australia (Victoria) Local significance Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p85 References: St Johns Anglican Church complex, Sunday School and Parish Hall 61 Main Street DIAMOND CREEK, NILLUMBIK SHIRE. (2023, June 7). Retrieved from https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/64023 Diamond Creek, VIC. – St John’s Anglican (2023, June 7). Retrieved from https://www.churchhistories.net.au/church-catalog/diamond-creek-vic-st-johns-anglican This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, st john's anglican church, diamond creek, parish hall

David George Clark was the first and longest-serving headmaster at Eltham State School No. 209 (Eltham Primary) in Dalton Street, Eltham. David (then aged 26) and his sister Catherine first established their ‘private’ school which began in 1855 and was held in the Wesleyan Chapel in Henry Street, a slab built, shed-like building on land acquired by the Church in January 1855. Parents lobbied the Government to establish an official school, and a School Inspector came out to investigate. He found that the Clarks were of good moral and religious character (David taught Sunday School at St. Margaret's later on) and gave them his endorsement despite some perceived technical shortcomings. In 1856 a small stone building of 40 feet by 16 feet was erected on the school's present site at the corner of Main Road and Dalton Street. Half of the building was the school, the other half was the residence of David and Catherine and their mother, also Catherine. It appears that they were well respected by the local community: David constantly battled with the authorities to have facilities (such as toilets) at the school improved. As enrolment gradually increased, over-crowding became an issue. As well, David married Elizabeth in 1863. Needing to move out of the schoolhouse, in 1866 the Clarks bought a block of land in Metery Road next to the school and built the house "Shoestring" (which still exists albeit with significant modifications). Catherine retired in 1887 followed by David in 1889 after a period of ill health and was succeeded as Head Teacher by John Brown. David died in 1911 and is buried with his wife Elizabeth in Eltham Cemetery. In Loving Memory Of D. G. & E. ClarkBorn Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, david george clark, elizabeth clark, eltham primary school, eltham wesleyan chapel, state school no. 209

This book was given to Ivy Scouller in 1899 as a Sunday School prize. Ivy Scouller married Harry Herbert George Watson (son of Mr. and Mrs. Watson of Warragul) James Cameron (1846-1922) was a prominent Orbost citizen - a justice of the peace, shire councillor, guardian of St James Anglican Church, Sunday school superintendent and president of the local agricultural society. James married 19-year-old Sarah Scouller, of Birregurra on 30 April 1879 at Colac, .This book, one of a series, was a popular example of children's literature with a religious theme in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.A hard cover book, titles "Chrissy's Endeavour". The cover is grey. The title is in black print on a gold background with a dotted border. The cover is decorated with green leaves and silver flowers. Below the title is "Pansy" and at the bottom left is "The Lily Series".Handwritten in ink " Ivy Scouller Mr Cameron's Prize for Repeating XX111 Psalm St James Sunday School Orbost 31st Dec 1899"cameron-james scouller-ivy pansy-books

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2000. St Paul's church and primary school: the first service of st Pail's Church of England was conducted in 1860. The Rev George Pakenham Despard arrived in August 1868. The weatherboard Sunday school was erected in 1872 with the rectory being finished in 1885. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Two pages titled Sir John Quick's Early Days at Long Gully. One is printed in blue and has long Gully History group at the end. The other is printed in black in a bigger print. At the end is written To School newsletters next week 13/9 From George, and below that is - below Derwent Drive off Energetic Street. Article mentions Sir John's years at school and his early employment.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - sir john quick's early days at long gully, anglican school, old long gully state school, wesleyan sunday school and church, st mathews church, jopling ironbark foundry, bendigo evening news, energetic company's mine, endeavour company's mine, australia's federation, long gully history group

271 page hardcover titled 'The Modern Self Instructor in Phrenology, Physiognomy and physiology or The Peoples Hand book of Human Nature. Red in colour with gold print.The first page is yellow paper which has a hand written note in black ink which reads: 'Presented to Henry Gough by his teacher A. Hampson for obtaining the highest number of marks during 1887 in his class at St. Paul's Sunday School dated 1/04/88. The book is Cohen's view into the mind, body, and sole of human beings.Gustavus Cohen. George Whitehead & Sons, Printers, New Street & Kings Street, Huddersfield.medicine, mental health, phrenology, henry gough, a. hampton

The Rev. Ronald W Albiston 28/9/1919–16/08/2006 was educated at Melbourne Boys' High School, the Victorian Congregational College and the University of Melbourne. From a young age he held positions within the local church, was secretary of the East Kew Congregational Church at the age of 16, as well as superintendent of the Sunday School from the age of 15. Ron was supported during his life and ministry by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy. He was ordained at Northcote Congregational Church on 21 December 1942. His ministry was exercised in Northcote/Clifton Hill (1942–45), Yarrawonga and associated district (1945–50), Ballarat Dawson Street and "Zion" Sebastopol (1950–68), and Rockdale Congregational, Sydney, later Uniting (1968–83). Due to ill health, Ron retired on the 30th of April 1983. He was President of the Australian Council of Churches from 1971 to 1973, President of the Congregational Union of NSW from 1973 to 1975. As a member of the Joint Planning Committee he was involved in the development of the Uniting Church and inaugural Chairperson. Following union, he was a member and later Chairman of the Board of Social Responsibility. He was instrumental in founding the Mayflower Village for the Aged, the Rockdale Community Aid Service, and helped form the St George Community Conference.The Rev. Ronald W Albiston 28/9/1919–16/08/2006 was educated at Melbourne Boys' High School, the Victorian Congregational College and the University of Melbourne. From a young age he held positions within the local church, was secretary of the East Kew Congregational Church at the age of 16, as well as superintendent of the Sunday School from the age of 15. Ron was supported during his life and ministry by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy. He was ordained at Northcote Congregational Church on 21 December 1942. His ministry was exercised in Northcote/Clifton Hill (1942–45), Yarrawonga and associated district (1945–50), Ballarat Dawson Street and "Zion" Sebastopol (1950–68), and Rockdale Congregational, Sydney, later Uniting (1968–83). Due to ill health, Ron retired on the 30th of April 1983. He was President of the Australian Council of Churches from 1971 to 1973, President of the Congregational Union of NSW from 1973 to 1975. As a member of the Joint Planning Committee he was involved in the development of the Uniting Church and inaugural Chairperson. Following union, he was a member and later Chairman of the Board of Social Responsibility. He was instrumental in founding the Mayflower Village for the Aged, the Rockdale Community Aid Service, and helped form the St George Community Conference.The Rev. Ronald W Albiston 28/9/1919–16/08/2006 was educated at Melbourne Boys' High School, the Victorian Congregational College and the University of Melbourne. From a young age he held positions within the local church, was secretary of the East Kew Congregational Church at the age of 16, as well as superintendent of the Sunday School from the age of 15. Ron was supported during his life and ministry by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy. He was ordained at Northcote Congregational Church on 21 December 1942. His ministry was exercised in Northcote/Clifton Hill (1942–45), Yarrawonga and associated district (1945–50), Ballarat Dawson Street and "Zion" Sebastopol (1950–68), and Rockdale Congregational, Sydney, later Uniting (1968–83). Due to ill health, Ron retired on the 30th of April 1983. He was President of the Australian Council of Churches from 1971 to 1973, President of the Congregational Union of NSW from 1973 to 1975. As a member of the Joint Planning Committee he was involved in the development of the Uniting Church and inaugural Chairperson. Following union, he was a member and later Chairman of the Board of Social Responsibility. He was instrumental in founding the Mayflower Village for the Aged, the Rockdale Community Aid Service, and helped form the St George Community Conference.Informal B & W photo of the Rev. Ron Albiston. Albiston is standing, hands clasped behind back, smiling into the camera. He's dressed in a suit with clerical collar and waistcoat. The photo has been taken outdoors, possibly at a picnic."Rev. Ron Albiston"albiston, ron, congregational minister

Sepia group photo consisting of Sunday School teachers and students unidentified.Typewritten on white paper and pasted in centre. ST ANDREW'S SUNDAY SCHOOL / TEACHERS, PAST + PRESENT / SCHOLARSchurches, st andrew's presbyterian church, st andrew's uniting church, boardman, eric, george evans collection

Red board cover with an etching of floral design in black on the cover and back - 128 pagesfiction

PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS MANSE PREBYTERIAN [ST ANDREWS[ CHURCH METHODIST [WESLEY[ WITHOUT SPIRE, SUNDAY SCHOOL AND PARSONAGE MARKET, POST OFFICE SITE TOWN HALL PHOTOGRAPH OF BALLARAT ROAD [SERVICE STREET] CLUNES. PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN FROM GEORGE STREET TOWARDS SMEATON ROAD. .1 SEPIA PHOTOGRAPH MOUNTED, WITH POINTS OF INTEREST NOTED AROUND EDGE. PERIOD 1865 .2 BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO PRINT .3 SMALL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO PRINTBALLARAT ROAD, CLUNES, SOUTH WESTphotography, photographs, township, churches

Presented to Mrs George Barnes, Congregational Sunday School January 26th 1893stawell religion

Newspaper clipping Bendigo Advertiser Saturday August 2 2014.Articles of friends who enlisted for WWI together. Private George Every, son of W. H. Every enlisted in July 1915, and sailed for Egypt in January 1916, and his imminent return home wounded. Private S. H. R. Elliott No. 782, K.I.A. April 25 1915, aged 28 years. Son of the late Mr. & Mrs George Elliott of Peg leg Road Eaglehawk, enlisted in August 1914 and embarked from Melbourne. N. S. Draper enlisted at the same time. Sydney Elliott was a member of the Eaglehawk Fire Brigade, Rifle club and was chosen to do sniping duty. G. Of the Loyal Catherine lodge, M.U., Odd fellows band , Comrade's class connected with the Eaglehawk West Methodist Sunday School, Church Choir ,Lawn party , and the swastika club, esteem of the Eaglehawk mechanics institute, Foundry man at the Austral Drill foundry at Eaglehawk. He had one sister, Mrs W. Graham, of Peg leg Road and five brothers - Messrs George & Abe, Bootmakers of Eaglehawk, Fred of Vine Street Bendigo, William of Farnsworth Street Eaglehawk,Stanley of Eaglehawk, and well know in musical circles and as choirmaster at St. Pauls Church Bendigo.military, world war 1, bendigo soldiers

The drags would have been leaving St George's Church of England in Mont Albert Road. The foundation stone for St George's Church of England, Mont Albert was laid in 1886 on land donated by Edward Dyer and the first service was preached in January 1887. From 1904 until 1907 it was known as Holy Trinity, Surrey Hills. The original church was weatherboard and replaced by a brick one in the Gothic Revival style which was designed by local architect George J V Blackburne, who also designed the Wesleyan School at Surrey Hills. The building was partly funded by donations, profits from a bazaar and concert, and other people donated furnishings. The church had boundaries along Mont Albert Road and St Georges Road. In 1998 the Church was sold and converted into a complex of units. Its current address is 19 St Georges Avenue, Mont Albert. The annual Sunday School picnic was held at Hampton and drags were the usual mode of transport. 'Lugano' was built in 1893 for William Wilson, a prominent stonemason and importer of marble fireplaces. In 1903 it became the home of William Holmes who was Chief Electrical Engineer for the Victorian Railways. He designed the electrification of the Melbourne suburban network. 'Lugano' stayed in the Holmes family until the 1930s. The annual Sunday School picnic was held at at a variety of locations and drags were the usual mode of transport. Donor information is that this was taken as the congregation prepared to depart for at Hampton on the picnic held on 25/2/1922. There are 2 copies: the original donated print and an enlargement. The original was mounted on card with photo mounts along with 506, 871, 872, and 873. It measures 13 cm x 9 cm.Black and white photo of 4 'drags' (horse-drawn hooded carriages) lined up in Mont Albert Road near the corner of St George's Avenue, in readiness for departure for the Sunday School picnic. The carriages are loaded with people and decorated with flags. The front carriage has a material sign attached to the side; the top line of writing is not decipherable, but the bottom one reads "SURREY HILLS". Four men stand in the road, which has bluestone curb and channelling. In the background is 'Lugano'.On rear in ink: "S.S. picnic to Hampton / 25th. Feb. 1922" and in a different hand in biro: "At Mont Albert. St George's Church"churches, holy trinity church, anglican church, sunday schools, picnics, lugano, horse-drawn vehicles, william wilson, willaim holmes, st george's church of england, mont albert, mont albert road

St George's Church of England, Mont Albert was built in 1886 and from 1904 until 1907 was known as Holy Trinity, Surrey Hills. As the population increased there was a need for a church in Surrey Hills. This brick church was consecrated in 1922 and replaced the earlier one built in 1907 on the adjacent site in Union Road. After construction of the brick church, the earlier one became a Sunday School. The copper spire was added in 1926, which dates this photo as post-1926. Norman Carter took many photos of Surrey Hills and Mont Albert in the 1920s; many were associated with events and activities of the Church of England.Black and white photo of the 'newly' constructed brick Holy Trinity Church in Union Road, Surrey Hills taken from near the south-west corner of Guildford Road. Further up the hill is the earlier church. Both buildings are bounded by a simple post and rail fence. Immature street trees are planted on both sides of Union Road.churches, holy trinity church, anglican church, sunday schools, norman carter

The building was designed by Charles Maplestone of Heidelberg, son-in-law to Anthony Beale of St Helena. Maplestone was a prominent architect who came out to Australia with his family in 1852. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs Isabella Maplestone on 11th November 1867. The bricklayers for the church were George Stebbing, H Limmer, H Spicer and a Mr Timm while Thomas Day was the stonemason. Another three years were to pass before sufficient money could be raised for its completion. It was opened by Bishop Perry on 1st November, 1870. The church bell which hung under a tree for 50 years until it was incorporated in the parish hall was brought out from England and presented by Charles Orme. In 1916, the estate of George Martin Pizzey left sufficient money to build the red brick hall, which still stands today (2023) though in January 1969 the hall and bell tower were badly damaged by bushfire. Coincidentally the former home of benefactor, George Pizzey was destroyed in the same fire. Of particular significance are the interior and exterior of the church, the Sunday school and hall with emphasis on pre-World War I fabric (excluding the 1990s additions) and the three coloured glass windows currently suspended in the 1990s entry foyer. In 2011 further alterations were made to the front of the Church. The church is historically significant because it was the oldest public building in the former Diamond Valley Shire, is amongst the oldest buildings in the Shire of Nillumbik and is associated with the early settlement of the Diamond Creek district. The church is historically, socially and spiritually significant because it has been a place of worship for over 150 years and continues to be, an important meeting place in the Shire. The church is aesthetically significant for the three stained glass windows executed by the noted stained glass manufacturers, Ferguson & Urie, as well as the supporting coloured glass windows in the church. The Sunday school & parish hall is architecturally significant because the hall is a well executed and preserved example of the work of noted church architects, North & Williams. It is historically significant because it is connected with local parishioner and Melbourne industrialist, George Pizzey, who bequeathed funds for its construction. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. National Estate Ntionl Trust of Australia (Victoria) Local significance Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p85 St John’s Anglican Church stands like a beacon on the hill on Main Street, Diamond Creek. Today the church has a large congregation, but its early years were marked by a small congregation struggling to find enough money to survive. It was gold in Diamond Creek that resulted in the building of this National Trust registered property.1 This church is far removed from William Wilson’s humble barn (later the Bowling Green) where the first Anglican church services were conducted – probably the first in the district.2 In the mid 19th century services were infrequent as the Rev Francis Hales, travelling on horseback, also conducted services elsewhere, including at Heidelberg, Coburg, Kinglake, Arthurs Creek, St Andrews and Kangaroo Ground. In 1860 Diamond Creek came under the jurisdiction of the Eltham Parish. Until the mid 1860s the Diamond Creek settlement included only about 20 families who were struggling farmers. But this changed when gold was found in 1862. Then the township grew to 200 families, including miners, civil administration workers and shopkeepers. The resulting growth of Church of England adherents prompted them to petition the Government in 1866 for land to build a church. The area chosen, on which the original building still stands, was at the centre of the proposed township. Today church leaders believe that this conspicuous location is one of the reasons for its exceptional growth. Prominent architect Charles Maplestone designed the building as he did the Presbyterian Church at Kangaroo Ground. St John’s, which is still intact, was built in the Gothic Revival style with the traditional rectangular plan of a central nave and sanctuary at the end. It is typical of small churches built in Victoria at that time, with polychromatic hand-made bricks, a porch, diagonal buttresses and a slate roof.3 The church was officially opened by Lord Bishop Perry on November 1, 1870. But during the next 40 years, due to the varying fortunes of gold mining, the church struggled to remain viable. In 1909 it separated from the Eltham Parish to form a parish with Greensborough. Life became more difficult with the privations of World War One. Then disaster struck in 1915 when fire destroyed the Diamond Creek Gold Mine, wiping out the major livelihood of most parishioners. However the church’s morale was lifted in 1916, when it received a bequest to build the red brick hall, from late parishioner and prominent leather manufacturer, George Pizzey. As prosperity grew, in 1924 the congregation separated from Greensborough, but they rejoined in the 1930s Depression. In the 1950s the wider population soared, impacting on St John’s, and it became a separate parish, becoming responsible for six churches at St Andrews, Hazel Glen, Hurstbridge, St Helena and Yarrambat. As parishioner numbers outgrew the building, extensions were added in 1989 and then in 1993, blending in well with the original building. Church members have made a huge contribution to the local community. John Ryan was a Heidelberg Shire Councillor for 25 years from 1931, Mayor in 1939 and headed several local sporting and other organisations. His son Jock became a clergyman and a local historian heading the Nillumbik Historical Society. Another parishioner, Dr Ted Cordner, came to Diamond Creek in 1920. One of his sons Donald, who was a local doctor, won the Brownlow Medal, was President of the Melbourne Cricket Club and President of the Melbourne Grammar School Council. Roy ‘Monty’ Vale was a state Liberal MP and was related to May Vale, a member of the Heidelberg School of Artists.4 In the early 21st century St John’s Anglican Church is one of the fastest growing congregations in Melbourne. References: St Johns Anglican Church complex, Sunday School and Parish Hall 61 Main Street DIAMOND CREEK, NILLUMBIK SHIRE. (2023, June 7). Retrieved from https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/64023 Diamond Creek, VIC. – St John’s Anglican (2023, June 7). Retrieved from https://www.churchhistories.net.au/church-catalog/diamond-creek-vic-st-johns-anglican This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, st john's anglican church, diamond creek