Rev. John O’Reilly ministered at Tenant Creek.Gloss, black and white image of Rev. John O’Reilly.o’reilly, j, methodist, tenant creek

Rev. John O’Reilly ministered at Tenant Creek.Gloss, black and white image of Rev. John O’Reilly.o’reilly, j., methodist, tenant creek

Rev. John O’Reilly ministered at Tenant Creek.Gloss, black and white image of Rev. John O’Reilly.o’reilly, j., methodist, tenant creek

Built by William Ellis in 1865 of local uncut stone about 30cm thick, the cottage is now a museum and home to the Nillumbik Historical Society. Ellis Cottage is historically significant for its association with the Ellis family, who were pioneers of the Diamond Creek district and the benefactors of the notable Nillumbik Cemetery gateway. It illustrates the development of farming in the area. Ellis Cottage is historically and technically significant for its rare use of uncut local stone for building purposes. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. National Estate Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p79 Ellis Cottage, built by William Ellis, is a memorial to the courage of pioneers in the Diamond Valley area.1 Now a museum and home to the Nillumbik Historical Society, it is a fine example of an early settler’s house in Diamond Creek – and one of the few original buildings standing from the middle of the 19th century. It is a poor man’s cottage – typical of the dwellings of those who had to work hard to wrest a living in this district, because most of the land was not fertile enough for major forms of farming. The pretty stone cottage at 10 Nillumbik Square, built in 1865, is made of local uncut stone about one foot (30 cm) thick. It once stood near the centre of the 147 acres (59.4ha) Ellis bought in 1850. The property extended from Diamond Creek to Reynolds Road and from Perversi Avenue to the Wattle Glen School. It stood in the electoral parish of Nillumbik. The Nillumbik township (later called Diamond Creek) was not created until 1867. In 1912 the property was cut in half by the new railway to Hurstbridge. Ellis paid £147/10/- for the land - about three times what a Victorian farmer would usually earn in a year. Despite the poor quality soil Ellis became a very successful farmer with an orchard, vegetables and a dairy herd. Five years later, in 1855, Ellis bought 70 acres (28.3ha) from neighbour, Hugh Larimour. In 1857 Ellis bought 208 acres (84ha) at Yarra Glen. In 1877 he bought 122 acres (49.3ha) at Diamond Creek and later bought land at Greensborough and Woodstock. Ellis was born in 1815 at Blackawton, a small Devonshire village, and became a tenant farmer. It is not known why Ellis came out to Australia or settled in Diamond Creek. In 1847 he married Margaret Child at the Melbourne Presbyterian Church. Ellis and Child had no children and 18 years after the wedding, while probably living in Kangaroo Ground, Ellis built this small cottage. The simple cottage has a central hall and two rooms on each side. To maximise the small space the ceiling cavity was designed large enough to provide sleeping accommodation accessed via a ladder. Each room was heated by an open fireplace and the one in the kitchen was large enough to roast a sheep. A large cellar under the front room probably stored farm produce. Water came from a well as reticulated water did not arrive at Diamond Creek until 1914. In 1870 Ellis’ 22 year-old nephew Nathaniel joined him from England.2 Until 1890 they developed Ellis Park, praised in The Evelyn Observer, May 30,1890 as a model farm. Ellis had become wealthy, and on his death in 1896 his estate was valued at £9000. In his will he left £100 to construct memorial gates at the Nillumbik Cemetery where he was buried.3 Ellis left the farm to his second wife Louisa. As he had no children, upon her death the farm passed to Nathaniel, but he did not take it up. The farm was sold and leased several times until 1967, when engineer Phillip Lovitt bought the property and carried out major structural works. The Shire of Diamond Valley bought it in the 1980s and in 1989 restored it with the Nillumbik Historical Society. The stone walls of the cottage had been plastered with mud and straw mortar, which were removed as they were riddled with vermin. Doors, windows and a floor were replaced and the original roof of timber shingles had been replaced with slate. The well was too deeply cracked to be restored, so was used for a flower bed. Two mature Italian Cypresses at the entry are also heritage protected as they relate to similar trees planted at Shillinglaw Cottage and other early buildings in Nillumbik Shire.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, ellis cottage, diamond creek, nillumbik historical society, william ellis

Main Street Looking West. Kays Star Hotel c1907 The Star Hotel had a chequered life. Like a number of other hotels it started life on Commercial Street Pleasant Creek, the first License being held by Mr. William Francis in 1858. It was shifted to Main Street Quartz Reefs in 1860 and had many tenants over a long period. For many years it stood in the centre of the roadway in Main Street and had to be moved to give more room for traffic. It is one of the reasons we have a bend in the Main Street. As a Hotel it had 54 years without a conviction against it. Although it had many licensees it was owned by one family for the last 27 years of its life as a Hotel. It was delicensed in 1916 because it was too close to the Albion which was a better building. Currently (2025) occupied by the Stawell Club and is licensed. The walkway beside it to the carpark is names Star Lane.Main Street Stawell looking West c1907. Bull & Mouth Hotel with verandahs on Left, Kay's Star Hotel on Right. Group of men talking in roadway at right. Telegraph pole prominent near centre of photo.Main St. Stawell Looking West.stawell, hotel

non-fictionA history of Reginald and Gladys Skelton from Sorrento to being tenants in Schwerkolt Cottage and working as a butcher in Mitcham.skelton reginald, skelton gladys, schwerkolt cottage, blaney's butcher shop mitcham

The photograph was taken on the property owned by the Beer family, situated on Lancefield Road. When Europeans first settled the area and the property was acquired by Michael Coolaton in the 1850s, it straddled either side of the Emu Creek. After the death of Michael Coolaton in 1896 and until the Beer family purchased it in 1953, the property was leased to a number of tenants who concentrated on a variety of grazing and cereal growing pursuits. The Beer family have raised cattle and a Clydesdale stud. Today there are remains of drystone fences and some stone buildings on the property.The Clydesdale Stud raised on this property is of significance in the former Shire of Bulla.A non-digital black and white photograph with a narrow cream border of a man driving a team of three Clydesdale horses pulling a wagon loaded with hay along a pathway . A row of gum trees is in the background.beer family, lancefield road, clydesdale stud, horses, cattle, emu creek

Photo sent to Mary Jack, Pittsburgh USA. Accompanying text sent by Charles - 'This is the side facing the creek. It is probably the side you asked me to take a photo of. Notice the bathroom behind the towel on the washing line. This was erected to give the tenant privacy. It cost over 100 pounds. The place was condemned a month or so later. You will notice there is nothing growing here. This part was always used for growing vegetables, there is not one there now. If I get him out the place will have to be demolished. We are not allowed to let it to another person to live in.Black and white photo of Schwerkolt Cottage. Recently built detached Bathroom , visible to left of photo. Thin Black Border.schwerkolt, charles clarence victor, whalen, rosalie, jackschowsky, mary elizabeth, schwerkolt cottage