Collection of two The Footscray Advertiser Newspapers. Each newspapers contain typical public notices, stories and local advertising with many of them centred around Footscray & Williamstownthe footscray advertiser

This is a commemorative local history book, published by the Council which provides a comprehensive historical overview of Footscray after its founding in 1859.....at the turn of a century .... 1859..1959. There are messages from the Premier of Victoria, Henry E Bolte, M.L.A. and the Mayor, Councillor Walter E Richards.footscray, yarraville, history

Year book for the Williamstown High School 1962 school year. Contains staff, student leaders, captains, prefects, sports results, camp details, student work.Black and white printed publication. Off-white cover printed in yellow, red and black. 72 p.: ill.williamstown high school, 1962, high tide, yearbook

A copy of the The Herald Newspaper with the headlines Peace World Hails Jap Surrender, Hirohito To Order Cease Fireworld war 1939 - 1945

A copy of the The Sun Newspaper with the headlines War Ends In Europe Unconditional Surrender By Germans To All Allliesworld war 1939 - 1945

An election card for Eddie Walsh, used in the Footscray Football Club committee elections of 1960. The card outlines his credentials, including his associations with the senior and junior football club and the Footscray Colts Cricket Club. The card refers to Roy Russell, the late Secretary of the Footscray Football Club. See Supplementary Information for related information on the election campaign in the Footscray Advertiser.This item of ephemera is highly significant as only two copies of this election card are known to exist.A single-sided election card with blue text and image of Eddie Walsh'F.F.C Elections - 1960/For Progressive Administration Vote Eddie Walsh to Committee/Life Member Footscray Football Club/Hon. Secretary Footscray 3rd 18, 1948-57/Hon. Secretary F'scray Colts F.C., 1940-48/Life-Member Footscray Colts Cricket Club/Official Registrar F.F.C. 1959/Experienced and knowledge of recruiting gained with the late F.F.C. Secretary, Roy Russell/R. S. Smith, Printer, Footscray - MW 2871.'footscray football club, election, 1960

Newspaper article Sunshine Advocate 11 November 1965 Schools donate 45995 Eggs|Letter from Mary Wild about attending when the Sunshine Girls Technical School opened|Newspaper article 17 November 1998 Preserving a slice of Sunshines history|Newspaper article Sunshine Advocate 14 March 2000 Sunshine reveals treasure|Newspaper article Brimbank Independent 17 November 1998 grant to help historical society preserve precious materials|Newspaper article Sunshine Messenger 17 November 1998 Preserving a slice of Sunshines history|Newspaper article Sunshine Advocate 18 November 1998 Historys acid test|Newspaper article The Advertiser Footscray 23 August 1913sunshine district technical club, technical, schools document

Typed Report General Information on the City of Sunshine 1987 to 1988|Newspaper Article 13 October 1993 The Age How rubish tips can be a big turn on|Envelope Town Clerk Sunshine City Council|Flyer City of Sunshine Community Day Festival 23 April 1994|Brochure City of Sunshine City of the Future Community Meeting 5 March 1994 Moonee Valley|Brochure City of Sunshine Multicultural City of Victoria Community Meeting 14 September 1991 Moonee Valley|Brochure City of Sunshine The Conferring of The Freedom of Entry to the City of Sunshine Upon The First Try City of Sunshine Regional Cadet Unit on 16 May 1987|Brochure City of Sunshine The Conferring of The Freedom of Entry to the City of Sunshine Upon No 5 Flight Air Training Corps Tottenham 18 November 1989|Photograph and photocopies of building with handwritten notes 444 $136.89|Logo of City of Sunshine Victoria|Brochure Your share in Sunshine City of Sunshine A Progressive Municipality|Brochure City of Sunshine The Conferring of the Freedom of the City of Sunshine upon 5th and 6th Battalion The Royal Victoria Regiment 12 February 1994|Hand drawings with handwritten notes 441 $32.09|Hand drawings with handwritten notes 256 $12.64|Hand drawings with handwritten notes 258 $17.233|Hand drawings with handwritten notes 250 $15.60|Hand drawings with handwritten notes 260 $19.72|Hand drawings with handwritten notes 255 $8.26|Hand drawings with handwritten notes 440 $6.19|Hand drawings with handwritten notes 387 $34.09|Hand drawings with handwritten notes 259 $12.49|Brochure City of Sunshine Development Update October 1988|Newsletter Grapewine City of Sunshine Staff Newsletter June 1992|Typed Letter City of Sunshine Community Bus Information Sheet 21 March 1979|Map Greening Sunshine Current Work in Progress 1992 to 1993|Newspaper Article A Place in the Sun Exotic plants along Railway lines|Flyer Sunshine City Council News Vol 1 No 1 August 1974 Inflation Whats happening to Councils Money|Newspaper Article Footscray Advertiser 17 February 1917 Braybrook Council|Flyer Sunshine City Council News Vol 1 No 1 April 1975 Leaping into Sunshine New World|Flyer Sunshine your city August 1961 Facts you should know Administration commended|Flyer Sunshines Gardens Parks and Streets 1991 to 1992|Invitation sent 28 June 1982 Government Reception to farewell Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia on 8 July 1982 Commissioner AG and Mrs Gillen at National Gallery of Victoria|City of Sunshine Crest Motto is By Industry|Flyer Sunshine City Burke and Wills Camel Cup 24 April 1994 on Massey Ferguson Harvester site|Booklet Sunshine Yearbook 1972 Suburban Services Directories and Yearbooks|Enrolment form City of Sunshine Holiday Programme 7 May to 18 May 1984|Christmas Wishes Card from Chief Secretary Victoria t0 GM Prendergast Christmas 1927|Typed Letter 1 January 1984 A Personal Invitation from the Mayor|Newspaper Article The Advocate 9 September 1992 Public to have say Brooklyn tug of war|Newspaper Article Local Government Focus Special Feature November 1986 The City of Sunshine Multicultural City of Victoria Message from the Mayor|Brochure City of Sunshine Municipal Profile|Brochure City of Sunshine Accommodating the Future A Strategy for Housing Needs|Brochure Sunshine City Centre Development|Photocopy Mayors City of Sunshine|Brochure Local Solutions to a Global Problem our gift to future generations GEC ALSTHOM Energy Park Hulett St Albion|Brochure Melbournes West on the Move Melbournes Western Region Profile|Brochure Sunshine District Centre Market Square Interchange Public Transport|Certificate of Speical Civic Service for the Municipality of Sunshine|Brochure New Municipal Offices City of Sunshine Victoria|Newspaper Article Sunshine Community 1972 Can you imagine what $800 Million dollars looks like|Brochure Shire of Braybrook Office Welcome Home tendered to Maidstone Returned Services Personnel 2nd August 1946|Brochure City of Sunshine Live work and recreate in Sunshine|Sunshine City Council No 7 Council Report|Section of Minutes 24 March 199 Sunshine Logo competition won by Mr Stephen Jones of Laverton|Photocopy of Mayoral Pendant presented to City of Sunshine by Cr AG Pennel JP to commemorate its proclamatonas a city 16 May 1951|Flyer City of Sunshine Corporation Logo 24 March 1992 The logo was chosen from 94 other logos submitted as part of a community competiiton to find a new corporate logo. Designer ws Mr Steve Jones of Laverton.|Sunshine District Centre Aerial Perspective Market Sqaure : Pollard Reserve : The Overpass and Railway Line sketchcity of sunshine

Cardboard JS Willaton appreciation as Honorary Secretary|Invitation Official opening of the Sydenham Memorial 2006 Invite Brochure Tatura World War II Wartine Camps Collection Newspaper Artiicle Advocate War hero proves true inspiration Chris Hatzistavrou Newspaper Article 17 February 2004 War Hero proves inspiration Newspaper Article The Advocate 9 December 1998 Pride of city on parade 30th Regional Cadet Unit Newspaper Article SE News 23 November 2004 Reserve tribute to war hero Norm Talintyre Booklet Norm Talintyre Reserve Dedication Ceremony 22 November 2004 Newspaper Article Star 9 March 2004 Last Post for RSL clubs Newspaper Article Footscray Advertiser 1 September 1917 Sunshine Soldiers Newspaper Article Herald Sun 8 January 1995 Badges of Courage Internet Extract of List of World War II service people who gave Sunshine as place of birth when enlisting Typed Report Sunshine Sub Branch and Sunshine RSL Club Annual Report and Financial Statements 1972 Newspaper Article Advocate 30 October 2001 Miller name plan offends RSL club Tallintyre Reserve Booklet Twining Our Flag with Old Englands Newspaper Article Star Weekly 20 November 2018 Peace ethos takes root A lasting tribute to peace has been established at Kevin Wheelahan Gardens Newspaper Article ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony Shrine of Remembrance 25th April 1989 Brochure ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony 25 April 1989 and ANZAC Requiem Typed List Local Boys on Lost Warships Dec 1941 HMAS Australia Les Mudford HMAS Sydney Jim Lawson Jack Drake Les Ayton Tommy Clayton Arthur Webb Newspaper Article Brimbank Independent 21 April 1998 Wilfred Bill Clayton and Grandsons Newspaper Article Soldier tribute push for Gardens Plan for new Avenue of Honour Commemoration Ceremony to Dedicate the Sunshine Avenue of Honour Keven Wheelahan Gardens Stage 1 2015 Newspaper Article Star Weekly RSL honours Long Tan men Newspaper Article Herald Sun 18 August 2006 War within themselves Bill of Rights letter to Members of Parliament Beer Coaster Sunshine RSL Brochure Sunshine RSL ANZAC Day 25 April 2023 Brochure Sunshine RSL ANZAC Day 25 April 2019 Brochure Sunshine RSL ANZAC Day 25 April 2024 Brochure The Australian National Flag Letter from Bruce C Ruxton The Bill of Rights Newspaper Article Brimbank and Northwest Star Weekly 20 April 2021 Sunshine dawn service to go ahead Newspaper Article Brimbank Leader 15 April 2014 Soldier tribute pus Invitation Commemoration Ceremony to Dedicate the Sunshine Avenue of Honour and Sunshine RSL Memorial Garden 23 April 2015 Letter to Principal from Alan Dash Photocopy of photos Return Soldiers League RSL JS Willaton appreciation as Honorary Secretary Official opening of the Sydenham Memorial 2006 Invite Tatura World War II Wartine Camps Collection War hero proves true inspiration Chris Hatzistavrou Pride of city on parade 30th Regional Cadet Unit Reserve tribute to war hero Norm Talintyre Norm Talintyre Reserve Dedication Ceremony 2004|Last Post for RSL clubs Sunshine Soldiers|Badges of Courage List of World War II service people who gave Sunshne as place of birth when enlisting Sunshine Sub Branch and Sunshine RSL Club Annual Report and Financial Statements 1972 Miller name plan offends RSL club Tallintyre Reserve Twining Our Flag with Old Englands Peace ethos takes root A lasting tribute to peace has been established at Kevin Wheelahan Gardens Newspaper Article ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony Shrine of Remembrance 25th April 1989|ANZAC Requiem Local Boys on Lost Warships Dec 1941 HMAS Australia Les Mudford HMAS Sydney Jim Lawson Jack Drake Les Ayton Tommy Clayton Arthur Webb Wilfred Bill Clayton and Grandsons Newspaper Article Soldier tribute push for Gardens Plan for new Avenue of Honour Commemoration Ceremony to Dedicate the Sunshine Avenue of Honour Keven Wheelahan Gardens Stage 1 2015 The Australian National Flag Information Booklet|RSL honours Long Tan men|War within themselves Bill of Rights letter to Members of Parliament Beer Coster Newspaper Article Star Weekly 2nd April 2024 Page 4 Gather to remember Newspaper Article Star Weekly 30th April 2024 Page 4 Remembering Allan Godfrey Newspaper Article Star Weekly 18th November 2025 Page 4 Sunshine Community Pauses to Remember Newspaper Article Herald Sun Morning fires at two RSL branchesreturn soldiers league club, league, rsl document

This framed lithograph print in watercolour and gouache was produced on November 19th, 1924, by 20th-century marine artist, Mr R.N. Duffield. It depicts the event of a sea rescue that took place two years earlier. The framer was A.L. Frith of Footscray, Melbourne, who actively advertised from 1933 to 1935. The now disbanded Shiplovers' Society of Victoria (1930-2018) donated the print, and it seems likely that this print was framed for that organisation. This graphic image shows the conditions in which the rescue from the wrecked Helen B. Sterling happened. Captain George Harris was master of the American-owned, four-masted windjammer. His wife Edith and their ten-year-old son Leslie were on board, along with a crew of fifteen seamen. The ship set off from Newcastle, NSW, on January 5th, 1922, loaded with a cargo of coal to deliver to the Society Islands and on to San Francisco. Young Leslie later wrote a lively school composition for his teacher about his experiences on board the Helen B Sterling. He tells of a fire that broke out the day after they departed and burned a hole in a beam. Then another troublesome time on the 9th, when a strong gale blew a sail off the ship. Finally, he tells of the highlight of his voyage when, on the 18th January, the ship was right in the path of a strong cyclone, which broke the mainmast. Huge waves crashed over both sides of the deck, meeting in the middle, and the ship began to sink. The rescue from the wreck was an exciting time for the young boy, and even more so when one of his cats survived after being carefully wrapped in a pillowcase and thrown down from the ship for the boy. Reporters later wrote about Leslie’s comments, “... what had grieved him most was the thought that he might never see his two little sisters again”. Captain Harris said in a published statement, “… the gale was the worst he had met in his 12 years’ experience at sea. All went well for the first week. We then encountered a strong blow from the south-east. We tried the gasoline pump, but the engine broke down, and we had to do the pumping by hand. We at once shortened sail, but the sea increased in fury to such an extent that men were washed from the pumps. I was below at 5:30 on Sunday morning [January 22nd, 1922] when the main mast went over the side, … I at once sent out SOS signals, and got word that HMAS Melbourne was coming to our assistance. I had made a mistake with regard to our position, but did not know it until 11:30 o’clock, when I sent out the correct location. This was picked up by the Melbourne and I received the following reply: “We will reach you about 2 am. Keep a good heart. The Melbourne will do all she can.” Our ship was practically awash when we were taken off.” (Ref: the ‘Helen B. Sterling Disaster’, Maitland Weekly Mercury, NSW, 4-2-1922.) Officers from the Royal Australian Navy, Captain Henry J Feakes (later Rear-Admiral) and Commander Wilfrid Ward Hunt, were on board the light cruiser, HMAS Melbourne (1913-1928), when it left Sydney for New Zealand. After the SOS was received, the ship sped at full steam towards the sinking Helen B. Sterling. They found the vessel at about midnight and shone bright search lights on the distressed ship to illuminate the desperate scene. The Melbourne was unable to move close to the schooner, so sixteen seamen, including Commander Hunt, volunteered to man the Melbourne’s lifesaving 12-oared cutter. They rowed the sea boat with great urgency towards the victims of the sinking ship, keen to save lives no matter what the conditions. When the cutter was close to the Sterling, a line was secured between the Sterling and the cutter. The weary, waterlogged and anxious men on board could be rescued, one at a time, in the breeches buoy equipment, which looked like canvas shorts with a lifesaving ring in the waistband. The victims were hauled along the line and pulled aboard by many willing hands. All eighteen crew and passengers were saved, including Captain Harris and his family. The seamen of the Melbourne received a heroes’ welcome when they arrived in New Zealand. The grateful survivors were taken to Auckland, where they received the care and comfort they needed. Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Cr. Swanston, on behalf of the citizens of Melbourne, formally recognised the heroic rescue efforts of the seamen of the HMAS Melbourne on March 2nd, 1922, at a special presentation. Two large flags, a White Ensign and an Australian “Jack" Flag, were presented to the Captain of HMAS Melbourne, and souvenirs were awarded to the sea boat’s crew and its Commander, Wilfred Ward Hunt. Commander Hunt was also presented with an original watercolour depicting the heroic rescue from the wreck of the Helen B. Sterling, painted just after the event by renowned marine artist Arthur V Gregory (1867-1957), and he received a silver cigarette case bearing the City’s coat of arms and the inscription, "To Commander Ward Hunt from the Citizens of Melbourne as a memento of the rescue of the crew of Helen B. Stirling by H.M.A.S. Melbourne, on 23.1.22". Both the painting and the cigarette case are now treasured items inherited by his grandson; a reminder of “… a very fine naval gentleman who believed in leading by example." R.N. DUFFIELD: - The Lithograph print in our collection by 20th-century English artist R.N. Duffield is dated Nov. 19, 1924. It is very similar to, and possibly created from, the original A V Gregory watercolour presented to Commander Hunt and dated 1922. Mr R.N. Duffield has art works in the Yarmouth Museums, Norfolk Museums Collection; “Orient Liner Otranto …,” and "Convoy of six ships at sea", both painted in watercolour and gouache during the 1940s. Some of his other works, also painted in watercolour and gouache, have been advertised for sale on Internet sites. Some details differ between the original A.V. Gregory and this Lithograph Print: - -the words on the bow on the original watercolour are “Helen B. Sterling, Blain”, which is in Washington, USA, where the Sterling Shipping Company was registered from around 1919; the words on the print are “Helen B. Sterling, Halifax, N S”, for Nova Scotia, Canada, which is the hometown of Sterling Shipping Company founder’s wife, Helen B Sterling. -The watercolour is coloured and has fine details; the print is monochrome - The A V Gregory signed the watercolour in 1922, on the lower left; the print is signed with the Lithographer’s name on the lower right; “R N Duffield, Nov. 19. 1924” ARTHUR VICTOR GREGORY (1867-1957): - A.V. Gregory is a renowned marine artist who worked in watercolour and gouache. He painted actively between 1899 and 1932, creating over 3o0 works. South Melbourne, Victoria, was where he lived and worked. This Lithograph print is significant in that it depicts the rescuing of the passengers and crew of the schooner “Helen B Stirling”. At the time this was a significant event that made most Australian and New Zealand papers because of the involvement of the Australian cruiser “Melbourne”. The image demonstrates the perilous conditions experienced by seafarers. It includes an example of the line and breeches buoy method used to save lives at sea from the 1860s and into the 20th century. It reflects a time in our history when sail and steam ships cruised the world’s seas together, the former trading with a cargo of coal from Newcastle, the latter defending our country in World War I. The print is part of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum’s Collection of maritime artworks that depict famous events, vessels and locations, showing the evolution of sea craft, and aiding the interpretation of our maritime history. The Lithograph print is behind glass in a black painted timber frame and mounted under a cream matte. The vivid image depicts a sea rescue in progress. The night scene is illuminated by a light beaming from a steamship, the Cruiser HMAS Melbourne. It reveals figures on the deck of a sinking sailing ship, the schooner Helen B. Sterling, as foaming waves roll across it. The stricken ship has a broken main mast, and a sail has been detached. A small figure is floating in the choppy sea, secured in a breeches buoy that is attached to a rescue line between a lifesaving cutter and the sailing ship. The crewmen in the cutter are ready to haul the shipwrecked victim aboard, while the figures on the foundering ‘Sterling’ watch them. The print’s paper-covered wooden backboard is attached to the frame with small tacks. A metal hanging wire is secured to two dissimilar eyelet screws. Inscriptions include text on the bow of the sinking vessel, a handwritten title below the picture, and a handwritten name in the print’s lower right corner. On the reverse are two oval, black ink stamps and a round cream label with printed text. The hand-painted print was reproduced from a lithograph, signed in the lower right, by R.N. Duffield of England, on November 19th, 1924. A Frith of Footscray, Melbourne framed it. Painted on the ship’s bow: “HELEN B. STERLING / HALIFAX N S” [Nova Scotia, Canada] Handwritten below the print: “AUSTRALIAN CRUISER “MEMBOURNE” (Tons 5600) rescuing crew of sinking four-masted schooner “HELEN B. STERLING” of Halifax NS Canada, Tons 1343 in a gale in the Pacific Ocean.” Handwritten on lower right: “R.N. DUFFIELD / Nov. 19. 1924” (underlined) On paper label: “Phone: / Footscray 398 [some of the text has torn off] / “A. FRITH / PICTURE FRAMER / Manufacturer / 17 Paisley Street / Footscray.“ On both oval stamps: “SHIPLOVERS SOCIETY OF VICTORIA / LIBRARY” flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, lithograph, lithograph print, reproduction print, helen b. sterling, the sterling, american owned schooner, halifax, halifax n s, halifax nova scotia, nova scotia, halifax n s canada, schooner, windjammer, sailing ship, four-masted ship, captain george harris, george harris, edith harris, leslie harris, sterling shipping line, hmas melbourne, hmas melbourne (1), cruiser hmas melbourne, the melbourne, australian cruiser, captain henry j feakes, commander wilfred ward hunt, sinking ship, shipwreck, sea rescue, gale, cyclone, 1922 rescue, shipwreck rescue, breeches buoy, line rescue, rescue line, lifesaving, cutter, cutter melbourne, sea boat, lifesaving crew, 12-oar cutter, shipwreck victim, r.n. duffield, marine artist, nov. 19. 1924, 20th century artist, a frith, footscray picture framer, shiplovers’ society of victoria, shiplovers’ society library, watercolour, a v gregory, arthur victor gregory, melbourne artist, newcastle coal, newcastle nsw, society islands, san fracisco, aukland new zealand, school composition, ship’s cat, sos signal, lord mayor cr. swanston, heroes, cigarette case

Newspaper clipping - Bendigo Advertiser - (date unknown) - History of Bendigo Railway Line. Photo of Mary Robertson, Mayor Robin Adams and Susan Struan-Robertson, at Bendigo Railway Station. Mrs Susan Struan-Robertson is a great-great granddaughter of Jans Van Agnew Bruce, a partner in the form of Cornish and Bruce, builders of the Double-Track Railway line between Footscray and Bendigo, between 1858 and 1862.person, individual, basil miller

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Monday, August 2, 2004. Rochester's pride: the Rochester Country week cricket team, 1952. Back row: Vic Spiers (manager), Greg Francis, Doug Collins, Frank Collins, Jack Neilsen, Mac Hay and Rex Turner. Front row: Brian Florence, Norm Ryan, Bill Connell, Jack Anderson (captain), Vin Burke and Leo Francis. The photo was taken at Western Oval (now Whitten Oval) in Footscray.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Collection of Significant Papers

Provides notice to passengers about the consultation of the location of tram stops in the Footscray area of route 82. Has a printing date of August 2024.Yields information about the consultation re trams stops in Footscray on route 82.Paper card hanging notice for use in tramcars to advertise a consultation.trams, tramways, tram stops, route 82, footscray

Year 9 students at Footscray City College have recorded and published the stories of Australian war service nurses, titled 'Caped Crusaders: Stories of Australian war service nurses'. The book was compiled with stories from nurses who served in World War II and the Vietnam, Korean and Rwandan wars. A photocopy of a newspaper clipping of a black and white photo above three columns of text. The photo depicts an older woman sitting next to a girl.'Pat.__ / This story appeared in the / Williamstown Advertiser.'[black ink, bottom left]world war 2, wwii, ww2, world war ii, hayley mcdade, barbara cairns, maria bawden, department of veterans affairs, victoria universary, returned services league, rsl, returned and service nurses sub-branch

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. - Research by Peter Pidgeon, EDHS, May 2026Colour 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