Formerly Burges Blue Gum Cafe being demolished, cnr Pryor Street and Main Road, Eltham, Sept. 1960. A new two story brick building was erected on site approximately 1961 for Mr Millet - visible in 1962 aerial photos Film poster is advertising The Blob (1958) and "I married a monster from outer space" (1958) which both appear to have been screened in Australia in 1960 and 1961 1922 Originally opened in October 1922 by Miss Barber, it was known as the Blue Gum Soda Fountain. It was named after a prominent Bluegum which stood on the property. 1928 It was taken over by W. Jim Burges in 1928 and by 1929 was known as the Blue Gum Café but also as the Blue Gum Tea Rooms from around August 1931. 1935 In August 1935 Jim Burges sold the Blue Gum Café to Mr and Mrs L.H. Herring of Kallista. The Herrings maintained the name Blue Gum Café 1938 In July 1938 the Herrings sold the business as the Eltham Confectionary And Soda Fountain to Misses Robinson and Pringle effective from August 1st. 1939 In April 1939, Misses Robinson and Pringle sold the Eltham Confectionary And Soda Fountain to Mr Herbert Eugene Borner and Miss Edith Florance Borner, (brother and older sister), formerly of Yarra Glen and it became known as H.E. Borner’s Shop. It is not known when the Borners sold the shop. Both were recorded there in the 1949 Electoral Roll. However, it is noted that Herbert Borner of Blackburn, late of Eltham, died as a result of an accident in August 1952. Sister Edith married railway employee John Stephens in in 1962. She died December 1978. So it is most likely they sold it possibly sometime between 1950 and 1951. 1950 The ownership between 1950 and 1954 is unknown but at some time during that period, the business was acquired by John Henry Millett and his wife, Esther. In 1949 they are listed in Footscray North and are recorded in the 1954 Electoral Roll as shopkeeper, Main Road, Eltham. It is possible they purchased it from the Borners between 1950 and 1951. It was advertised in the 1955 Easter Gymkhana Program as The Blue Gum, J. Millet, Proprietor. c. Aug. 1960 OLD LANDMARK GOES EDHS_05531 ELTHAM’S GROWTH HAS BEEN RAPID IN RECENT YEARS Possibly Diamond Valley News c.August 1960 Perhaps the most famous landmark in Eltham's' business section disappeared last Wednesday when the towering blue gum in Pryor Street at the rear of Main Road shops was felled. The tree, stated to be more than 80 feet high, was the one for which the adjoining café was named, when that business was Eltham’s only provision store, long before the turn of the century. Mr. J. Millett, who now owns the property on which the tree stood, deeply regretted its removal, but was mindful of the need for expansion in the business area. The "Old Blue Gum" was removed by Mr. A. Wilson, expert tree feller, from Heidelberg. Its proportions might be assessed by these facts – it took a gang of experienced men two days to completely fell and clear the tree, and, falling sections being brought down by cable tipped electricity wires on the opposite side of Pryor Street. Sep. 1960 The original store was demolished in September 1960 to make way for a new two-story brick building which became known as Millett’s Foodland. Aerial imagery shows that this was erected by 1962. 1968-1985 The name Blue Gum did not disappear but was reincarnated a few doors up some years later as the Blue Gum Milk Bar at 1006 Main Road (present-day Vyve Beauty & Wellness building on the northern side of Pryor Street one premises up from Westpac bank) “As a lifelong resident of the Diamond Valley, Ian Chesser (Chess) is a well-known face within the local community due to his involvement with numerous sporting clubs, and for being the “kid from the Blue Gum Milk Bar” many years ago” “From the time he was a child, Ian would assist his parents Graeme and Shirley at the Blue Gum Milk Bar working behind the counter.” "Ian Chesser - Barry Plant - Eltham." realcommercial.com.au https://www.realcommercial.com.au/agent/ian-chesser-1704490 Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.Colour photograph copy of originalColour photograph copy of original. Possibly donated by Peter Bassett-Smith, noted as Sept 19601960, blue gum milk bar (eltham), butcher, coca cola, eltham shopping centre, eltham shops, estate agency, fire, four n twenty, i married a monster from outer space (film 1958), main road eltham, milk bar, noon pies, peters ice cream, pryor street, staffs general store, summer, the blob (film 1958), eltham, shops, blue gum café, blue gum milk bar, blue gum soda fountain