"The first Presbyterian Church service was conducted at the Orbost Station Homestead in 1885, during a visit by Sir William Clarke, who was accompanied by two ministers. The organist was resident Grace Jennings Carmichael. Services were later held in Mr J. W. Borland’s shop and the Mechanics Hall. In 1887, the land on which the church now stands was purchased from Mr James Hossack snr, for £50 ($100). The trustees were Mr John, Peter and Hugh Cameron, Mr John A Watt and Mr James Hossack Jnr. Timber from Richardson’s Tabbara Mill was used by builder Mr R. P. Cameron and at a cost of £311.3.7 ($622) the church was opened January 9th 1898." (from Newsletter 90 Margaret Smith) In 1928 the Sunday School hall was added to the church. Mr R.P. Cameron was the contractor for both the manse and the church. The first communion service was held on July 17 1892. the Presbyterian Church was commenced in Orbost in 1855 when the Reverend Chas Attwood was settled in pastoral charge.This is a pictorial record of the Presbyterian Church in Orbost as it was in the mid 20th century. It is now the Orbost Uniting Church hall, known as St Andrews Hall,A black /white postcard photograph of the Orbost Presbyterian Church, a wooden structure with a wooden picket fence at the front and trees on right and left sides. on back - " H Gap, Presbyterian Church Orbost"presbyterian-church-orbost religion

An Octant is a doubly reflecting navigation instrument used primarily by sailors to measure the angular distance between two visible objects and was a forerunner of the sextant. The name comes from the Latin octo, or "one-eighth of a circle," for the Octan'ts arc which spans 45°, or one-eighth of a circle. The primary use of an Octant is to measure the angle between an astronomical object and the horizon for celestial navigation. The estimation of this angle, is known as sighting or shooting the object, or taking a sight. The angle, and the time when it was measured, can be used to calculate a position line on a nautical chart (latitude), for example, sighting the Sun at noon or Polaris at night (in the Northern Hemisphere) gives an angle by which the latitude can then be estimated. Sighting the height of a landmark on land can also give a measure of distance. This fine octant once belonged to Captain Farquhar Chisholm and was donated by his granddaughter, Margaret Ruth Greer (nee Chisholm, born 1914). The label inside the Octant's box reads “Thomas L. Ainsley, Instrument Maker … etc”. Farquhar Chisholm was born in 1832 in Inverness, Scotland. He regularly sailed on perilous voyages between Quebec, Canada and the Baltic ports of Europe. In 1854 he migrated to Australia during the Gold Rush, to a place called Fiery Creek (near Beaufort Victoria) where he was fairly successful in his quest for gold. In the years of the Great Gold Rush, it was said that there were over 40,000 diggers in the goldfields of the Beaufort area! In 1857 having made sufficient money, he hired another crew and returned to Clachnacuddin, Inverness shire, Scotland and in that same year, he studied and obtained his Master Mariner Certificate (which would have included the use of an octant for navigation). He was appointed to Mr George (or James) Walker, as commander of his sailing ship, the 3-masted ELIZABETH, built 1859 and known as “The Walker barque”. In 1870 he married, then in 1887 returned to Australia with his wife and children (Kenneth Chisholm (1871), Mary Bremner Chisholm (1873), Margaret Hood Chisholm (1874), Farquhar Chisholm (1878)). They arrived in Port Melbourne, Victoria and sadly, only six weeks after landing, his wife Caroline passed away (in Geelong,1888). In 1900 Capt. Chisholm lived in Camperdown (Victoria) and not long after this his daughter Margaret died of consumption. In his later years, he went to live in the manse of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Wangaratta, with his son, Rev. Farquhar Chisholm. He died there on Sat, 23rd March 1912, 80 years old. He was known as “… quiet, unobtrusive and competent, respected by all with whom he came in contact”. Some other members of Captain Chisholm’s family are; his older son Kenneth Chisholm, who was a contractor in Camperdown; a nephew Donald Macintosh (of 23 Douglas Row, Inverness); a grandson Brian Jones (son of Caroline Belle-Jones nee Chisholm, who lived in Camperdown in the earlier part of her life).The octant, the forerunner of the sextant, was a significant step in providing accuracy of a sailors latitude position at sea & his vessels distance from land when taking sightings of land-based landmarks.Octant, once belonging to Captain Farquhar Chisholm. Wedge shape (the size of an eighth of a circle), made of wood, glass and metal. Used in the 1880s. Maker’s name across centre “L. SIMON - - - SHIELDS”. Three (3) light filtering, coloured glass shades. Two (2) eyepieces. Scale attached for measuring angles. Label inside the fitted, wedge-shaped case "Thomas L. Ainsley, Optician"Label inside case "Thomas L. Ainsley, Optician" Maker’s name across centre “L. SIMON - - - SHIELDS”.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, maritime navigation, navigation instrument, migration, captain chisholm, farquhar chisholm, sailing ship, the elizabeths, thomas l. ainsley, l. simons, shields england, octant, john hadley, chisholm

In 1983, the National Trust advised the Shire of Eltham that it was investigating a number of trees within the shire which had been nominated for recording the Register of Significant Trees of Victoria. The trees involved were described in the Shire of Eltham Historical Society Newsletter No. 29, March 1983 as follows:- 1. Eucalyptus melliadora (Yellow box) . a) An outstanding mature specimen 42 metres high in Laughing Waters Road, Eltham. b) Another mature specimen in Arthurs Creek road, Hurstbridge is reported to be the tree under which the bushranger Robert Bourke was tied after he shot and killed Henry Hurst in 1866 . 2. Quercus robur (English Oak). a) "Donaldson's Oak", Donaldsons Road, Kangaroo Ground was planted by John Donaldson from seed collected from Windsor Great Park in 1878. b) "Wippells Oak". This now misshapen tree is located on the St. Andrews Road near the Kangaroo Ground Fire Station. Its origins may have been similar to Donaldson's Oak, and as a young tree it apparently slipped from higher up the hill during wet weather. Both oaks are of local historical importance. 3. Eucalyptus globulus (Blue Gum). A large mature specimen at the corner of the Kangaroo Ground-St. Andrews Road and Bakehouse Road, Panton Hill. 4. Plantanas acerifolia (Plane tree) A number of trees forming the Avenue of Honour to Eltham's First World War soldiers along Main Road between Dalton and Pitt Streets, Eltham. 5. Pinus canariensis (Canary Island Pine), Pinus pinea, (Stone pine) and Cedras altlantica, (Cedar) These trees are located at the Hurst family graves in the grounds of the Hurstbridge Pre-school Centre. In 1991 the Shire of Eltham introduced controls into its planning scheme to protect sites of architectural, historic or conservation interest and significant trees. The controls were approved by the Minister for Planning and Housing. As advised in the Shire of Eltham Historical Society Newsletter No. 78, May 1991, a planning permit is required to demolish or alter any listed building or to destroy, lop or remove any listed tree. Provision is made for comments to be obtained from the National Trust or Historic Buildings Council in considering any applications. The buildings and trees listed were: Buildings: 250 Bolton Street Eltham (former Walter Withers home) "Rosehill" - Bonds Road Lower Plenty St Andrews Church of England - St Andrews "Montsalvat" - Hillcrest Avenue Eltham St Margarets Church and former vicarage - Pitt Street Eltham Presbyterian Church - Kangaroo Ground Parks and Environment Office (former police quarters) Main Road Eltham Former Court House - Main Road Eltham "Shillinglaw Cottage" - Main Road Eltham "The Robins" - Kangaroo Ground Road Warrandyte Trees: "Donaldsons Oak" - Donaldsons Road Kangaroo Ground Yellow Box - Laughing Waters Road Eltham Yellow Box - Arthurs Creek Road Hurstbridge Wippells Oak - St Andrews Road Kanqaroo Road Pines and Cedar - Hurst family cemetery Greysharps Road Hurstbridge Yellow Box - Parsons Road Eltham A large Blue Gum at Panton Hill has been listed but has recently died (1991). In 1993 work by Council Parks and Environment staff and volunteers resulted in the preparation of a Significant Tree Register listing forty-one trees or groups of trees. According to Shire of Eltham Historical Society Newsletter No. 91, March 1993, a similar number remained to be assessed for inclusion in the register. There is a wide range of indigenous and planted trees on private and public land and extending through the Shire of Eltham from Lower Plenty to Kinglake. Most can be viewed from publicly accessible locations. The Significant Tree Register lists 41 trees or groups of trees throughout the Shire. It contains a wide range of naturally occurring and planted trees. They have been assessed according to eleven criteria including size, age, rarity, historical value and the like. The list includes large old Red Gums at Lower Plenty, historic Oaks at Kangaroo Ground and Mountain Ash at Kinglake. The register includes a set of slides showing each tree. Garry Bartlett of the Council's Parks and Environment Section and Faye Shepherd were extensively involved in establishment of the register (Newsletter No. 93, November 1993). In 1999 Niliumbik planners prepared an amendment to the Planning Scheme to provide protection for approximately 200 of the places listed in the heritage studies and also in the Significant Tree Register commenced by the Eltham Council (Eltham District Historical Society Newsletter No. 127, July 1999. In 2004, The Register of Significant Trees was presented to the Eltham District Historical Society by Nillumbik Shire Council as part of a wider collection of of its memorabilia of the former Eltham Shire Council (EDHS Newsletter No. 159, July 2004. Album of loose handmade paper sheets contained within a handmade slip cover constructed of handcrafted card with encapsulated flora material (flowers, vines, ferns) and tinted. Each page also contains an embedded/adhered fern leaf also tinted with lacqueur or similar, text as appropriate in ink by hand calligraphy. Each page also has a white protective sheet cut to size and adhered to back surface with sticky tape and folded over face of page. Pages variously have photographs and coloured masks adhered with a gum resin. Over time much of this resin has let go and photos/masks have been reattached using acid free archival safe adhesive. 15 pages 41 x 29 cm inclusive of 3 blank pages. Slip case 42 x 30 x 1 cm; face cover of slip case has broken off at left hand margin as insufficient depth/flexibility for contents.arthurs creek road, blue gum (eucalyptus globulus), canary island pine (pinus canariensis), couties road, donaldsons oak, donaldsons road, eltham, english oak (quercus robur), eucalyptus melliodora, graysharps road, hurst tree, hurstbridge, ironbark (eucalyptus tricarpa), ironbark hill, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground-kinglake road, laughing waters road, panton hill hotel, panton hill, parsons road, significant trees register, sonia van bodegraven, sonjart, stone pine (pinus pinea). atlantic cedar (cedrus atlantica), wippells oak, yellow box gum (eucalyptus melliodora), yellow box gum

Includes information of Saint Margaret, Early days of Saint Margaret's Eltham, The Years between, kneelers, and brief descriptions of other churches with Saint Margaret connections including: Saint Margaret's Anglican Church Mildura, Saint Margaret's Anglican Church Caulfield, Burwood Presbyterian Church, Saint Margaret's Catholic Church and School Maribyrnong, Saint Margaret's Primary School and Catholic Church Keon Park and Saint Margaret's Catholic Parish East Geelong.Paperbackchurches, st margarets anglican church, st margarets church, eltham, st margaret

Typed notes mentioning the history of the Hepburn Family and Margaret Cotton McLachlan coming by sailing ship to Australia to marry her fiance who was a miner in Sandhurst and extracts from the diary of William Thompson.document, names of bendigo pioneers, bendigo historical society, settlers under sail, alexander hepburn stone, loch ard centenary commemoration committee, professor j. j. auchmuty, mr don charlwood, andrew hepburn, james hepburn, mary queen of scots, black bothwell, captain hepburn, the 'hope', george b crow, george baker, the 'marlbro', archives department of the latrobe library, mr loman, the 'david clarke', captain hepburn of the royal scots, sir john hepburn, mr howard hepburn, victoria reef lease no 60, ebenezer neill, becker, stirton, margaret cotton mclachlan, ina hepburn, the 'donald mckay', black ball line, james baines and company of liverpool, onedin line, passenger contract ticket, james mclauchlan, christian ferguson, robert miller, william thompson, mr stanwin, the 'shomberg', itchell and son, the 'dunbar', margaret stirton, canon horace stirton, dr james nish, p pentreath, jane pentreath, st andrew's presbyterian church sandhurst, james hepburn, corporate high school, bendigo high school, iron bark school of john rae, rae's hill school, mr john rae, rae anderson, bendigo branch of the royal historical society of victoria, victoria reef mine, 'gourdie farm', mr howard hepburn, john fortey, margaret cotton hepburn

The church was built in 1953. It is now part of the St Kilda & Balaclava Presbyterian Church https://www.churchhistories.net.au/church-catalog/balaclava-north-vic-st-margarets-presbyterianblack and white photographPresbyterian Church, Balaclava, Vic. Circa 1960 pix. My mother attended this church and a lectern memorial is in place (as of 1980s). SHKS 00769st kilda, balaclava, presbyterian church, st margaret

B1904 in Surrey UK, Married Dr Margaret Trowell. In 1933 Ordained Presbyterian Church in England, Moved to Ipoh Malay, in 1942 Scots Church Sydney, 1943 Director of Audio Visual Education, Minister at StAidans North Balwyn 1951-1955, Director of Stewardship and Promotion 1956-1962, Managing Director Australian Religious Films Society, 1969-1977 Editor of Out Reach. Passed Away Nov 3 1983 St Andrew's Hospital Melbourne.B&W gloss waist length studio portrait of Rev. Hamilton Aiken. He is wearing his trademark bowtie, jacket and white shirt.rev. hamilton aiken; presbyterian minister; director stewardship and promotion; photography; australian religious film society; outreach journal

B 1900 Fielding NZ, Educated Otago University, Dunedin NZ. Ordained assist 1925. 1st Church Dunedin, 1927 East Taieri NZ, 1932 Christchurch St Pauls NZ; 1942-1967 Toorak; 1953 Moderator Victoria; 1959-1962 Moderator General Australia; 1967 emeritus, Presbytery of Flinders. Died 15 January 1976. B & W photograph of the Very Rev. Dr Alan C. Watson dressed in the formal evening coat of the Moderator General with his daughter Margaret St. John in her wedding dress, his wife Mrs Eileen Watson and Mrs Bain. alan watson, margaret st. john, eileen watson, moderator, presbyterian, minister, mrs bain

Margaret Johnson was born and raised in the country. She came to Melbourne to attend secondary school at age eleven. She stayed with the family of her uncle, Dr Carrington, in their home / surgery still located at 174 Union Road, the Surrey Hills Medical Centre. Later, whilst waiting to commence her kindergarten training course, she met Jessie Black and they became firm friends and it was through Jessie that Margaret met Jessie’s brother and her future husband, Thorby Black. The Black family had been residents of Mont Albert for many years and Thorby was in the air force at the time. Margaret and Thorby were married at St Stephens Presbyterian Church in Surrey Hills on 1 May 1948. Her wedding dress was bought at Canns on the corner of Elizabeth Street & Flinders Lane. It was one in an exhibition held as part of a Surrey Hills Festival in the early 2000's. Like others in the exhibition, it no longer had its train and the sleeves have been shortened. Margaret recalled that after her wedding she wore it as an evening dress. Her bridesmaids’ dresses were a little unusual for the time, as they too were white and their flowers were subdued pink and blue. According to Margaret, the popular fashion was for brightly coloured dresses and bright flowers for the bridesmaids. The positioning of the garlands of flowers in their hair was also unusual. They were placed at the back so that the congregation could see them during the ceremony. Housing was in very short supply in the years following the war, so after they were married, Margaret and Thorby moved into a small flat created at Dr Carrington’s surgery. They later moved to a house built in 1926 in Black Street, Mont Albert, which continued to be Margaret’s home until her death. weddings, mrs margaret black, miss margaret johnson, mr thorby black, st stephens presbyterian church, bridal wear

This dress was made for and belonged to Mrs Elizabeth McLachlan (nee Duncan, 1820-1904), wife of Reverend John Hamilton McLachlan (1813-1908), who was the first Minister of St Cuthbert's Presbyterian Church in Brighton. Elizabeth and John were married at the Free Church of Ayr at Lindsaystonn in the Parish of Kirkmickach, Ayrshire, Scotland on 15 October 1849. At this time his occupation was listed as "Minister of Presbyterian Church" and hers as "Governess". They left for Australia on the 1 November 1849 and arrived in Australia 6 months later. Apparently John's hair turned snow white during the journey due to his seasickness! The McLachlans first went to Geelong upon their arrival in 1850, then to the Western District, then Brighton, then Talbot at the height of the gold mining era. The couple had seven children: John Campbell Duncan McLachlan (b. Geelong, October 1850), Mary McLachlan (b. Geelong, November 1851), Agnes McLachlan (b. Hopkins River near Wickliff, May 1853), twins Elizabeth and Walter McLachlan (b. June 1854), Elizabeth McLachlan (b. Hesham, June 1855), Margaret McLachlan (b. Brighton, 1857). Elizabeth died in 1904. She and John are both buried in Amherst Cemetery. The dress was donated by one of her granddaughters. This circa 1849 silk blue grey window pane check dress features a high round neck and pleats on either shoulder extending over the natural shoulder line. The dress shows evidence of nine ornamental buttons down the centre front with only four blue silk buttons currently still attached. The dress fastens with thirteen concealed hook and eye closures to the waist. The Pagoda sleeves inset into the bodice in a small high armhole flaring out and finishing just below the elbow. A pale blue silk ribbon with a diagonal drawn stitch design decorates the front of the sleeve in a simple geometric design. The Pagoda sleeve is lined in a matching pale blue silk. The full skirt is pleated into the waistband and finishes just above the floor at the front. At the back the bodice features a squared off design to the princess panels shaping the dress into the body. The skirt is heavily pleated at the centre back into the waistline and finishes slightly longer at the back than the front. The skirt features two very small pockets on either side of the dress, just inside the hips. reverend john hamilton mclachlan, st cuthberts presbyterian church brighton, elizabeth mclachlan, amherst cemetery, 1840s fashion, brighton

Eltham's original Wesleyan Methodist Church Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p97 The pretty Uniting Church building at the corner of John and Main Roads Eltham has served the community since 1881.1 Originally called the Eltham Wesleyan Church, the church became the Eltham Methodist Church in 1902, the year it united with the Primitive Methodists.2 As the church community developed, influencing and being influenced by the wider community, its buildings changed accordingly. Eltham Wesleyans first worshiped together in 1850 at the home of William and Mary Crozier on 24 acres (9.7ha) bounded by Mount Pleasant Road and Pitt Street. From 1855 the Wesleyans worshipped in a slab-and-bark hut; then in 1858 in a chapel on Henry Street close to Maria Street (now Main Road). Meanwhile, in 1860, the Primitive Methodists opened a brick chapel at the corner of Susan and Bridge Streets. The John Street building – in the Early English Gothic style with biochrome brick window frames, buttress heads and pinnacle – was designed by architects Crouch and Wilson. Church member George Stebbing built the church as he did Eltham’s St Margaret’s Anglican Church and Shillinglaw Cottage. The Church Honour Roll is a poignant reminder of how church members have served the wider community: 27 members enlisted and 11 died in World War One. Despite the Great Depression, 1931 was a time of expansion for the church. Its red-brick hall was opened by prominent Methodist and philanthropist F J Cato of the Moran and Cato Grocery chain. The hall enabled the church to attract people from outside through activities like its gymnasium – with 40 boys and youth participating – and the girls’ callisthenics club, which competed at the Ballarat South Street Competitions. The church also held concerts, bazaars, picnics and sports, with badminton and tennis played on the church court at 23 John Street. Two stained-glass windows commemorate tragic events. A dove representing the Holy Spirit and Comforter marked the death in 1936 of member Effie Lowerson from scarlet fever at 14 years. The other depicting the Biblical story A sower went forth to sow, commemorates Ross Gangell, who died in 1961 at 23 years of a rare blood condition. Eltham’s population expanson resulted in the growth of the church and an extension in 1971, designed by member and architect Colin Jones. The church was linked to the hall and additions included a foyer, vestry, meeting room and toilets. The design reflected the Eltham style of the time, with its simplicity, extensive clear glass, reused baked clay-bricks from the 1881 church, heavy ceiling beams and solomite (compressed straw) ceiling. On June 26, 1977 the church became part of the new Uniting Church in Australia consisting of the former Methodist and Congregational and most of the Presbyterian Churches. In 1981 membership peaked at 159 – about 20 years after most Protestant churches – and continued to reach out to the wider community.3 In 1987, 147 children attended Selihoo, the weekly after-school program organised with St Margaret’s Anglican Church. From 1993, the church with other local churches, participated in LINC (Love in the Name of Christ), helping the wider community in various ways including babysitting, transport, gardening and visiting. Despite such initiatives, church numbers declined, and on June 23, 1996, the church merged with the Montmorency Uniting Church.4 However, the church continued to proclaim its message of love in community service and strong social justice action, such as in Jubilee 2000, supporting debt relief to the world’s 45 poorest countries. Some of the many church members who have had an outstanding impact on the wider community include Philip Shillinglaw, farmer and poet, and Arthur Bird (after whom the Arthur Bird Reserve is named), a pioneer orchardist and the Sunday School Superintendent for 33 years. Others were: the Rev Dr Cliff Wright, who established the Methodist Youth Fellowship and was prominent in the World Council of Churches, the Rev Brian Howe, who became Deputy Prime Minister and Tim Marshall, awarded the Order of Australia in 2000 for his work on salinity.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, eltham uniting church, eltham methodist church

Worship began in 1854 and in 1859 St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Myers Street opened.St Anrew's Church Bendigo 1854-1965. Written and cCollated by Margaret Temple.