Wellers of Kangaroo Ground Vertical File Contents: 1. Article: History of Wellers Restaurant by Sandra Cahir, revised 2017. 7 pages 2. Article: Weller’s Hotel of Kangaroo Ground (final draft) by Jim Allan, 1 June 2017, including feedback email from Sandra Cahir (7 May 2017). 3. Printout of online image - Kangaroo Ground landholders from 1841, Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church. (2022, June 29). Retrieved from https://kgpc.pcvic.org.au/images/history_images/Kangaroo-Ground-landholders.jpg 4. Folder of printouts of historical newspaper articles referencing the hotel 1866-1911 https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/163201 5. Printouts (various versions) from Victorian Heritage Database (National Trust and Nillumbik Shire) https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/ 6. Collection of research notes, copies of records from various publications including EDHS Chronology of Events and Kangaroo Ground: The Highland Taken by Mick Woiwod, pp90, 180-181 (EDHS_01618). 7. Report: Request for ministerial amendment to use the property as a restaurant, includes existing conditions and plan for development, 1 November 1984 8. Papers donated by Diana and Peter Bassett-Smith including: a. Photocopy of Weller’s Hotel, Licensee M. Weller b. Letter: Shire of Eltham to Office of the Secretary for Planning and Environment, 23 Feb 1984 - Information regarding inclusion of Wellers Hotel into the Historic Buildings Register c. Letter: Historic Buildings Council letter to Peter Bassett-Smith seeking historical information on Wellers Hotel, 10 Jan 1985 d. Memo: Peter Bassett-Smith to Robert N. Hendrey on history of Wellers Hotel, 28 Jan 1985 - Includes extract of information about Mary Weller, Dept. of Crown Lands and Survey Map NILLUMBIK showing properties of John Weller and E. Weller and a Diamond Valley News article from 10 April 1973, p11, "Eltham on old coach route" 9. Information about the Weller family including family trees from various sources a. Edward Weller, Pioneer Families in Victoria, http://mepnab.netau.net/w/w09.html, 1 Jan 2017 (link broken) b. The WELLER family tree. (2017, January 1), 2 pages. Retrieved from https://www.weller.org.uk/cgi-bin/FamilyTree/ShowFamily.pl? and 27 pages Retrieved from https://www.weller.org.uk/cgi-bin/FamilyTree/ShowFamily.pl?ListAllPeople=A c. Edward WELLER on the WELLER family tree. (2017, January 1), 1 page. Retrieved from https://www.weller.org.uk/cgi-bin/FamilyTree/ShowFamily.pl?PersonID=516 d. Photograph (print copy), believed to be Edward Weller, 1836-1883 e. Photograph (print copy), Gravestone of Weller family at Kangaroo Cemetery f. Wellers of Kangaroo Ground, 1 page, possibly from History, http://www.wellers.com.au (broken) c.2016 g. Edward and Mary Weller miscellaneous biographical research notes (by Jim Allen?) including from Ancestry.com, and extracts from Chappel file (EDHS_04448) with relevant names highlighted h. Information about the Vernon Pitman family from Ancestry.com 10. Newspaper articles: a. Cobb & Co called here by Marguerite Marshall; Diamond Valley News, May 4, 1982, p2 b. Rich is history, 30 August 1983 (very similar to previous article) c. Weller’s Pub - restaurant, craft store or art gallery? Diamond Valley News, October 22, 1985, p3 d. Despite years of neglect a magical charm lies waiting, Diamond Valley News, October 29, 1985 e. Old pub fate still in doubt, Diamond Valley News, (?) 29 October 1985 f. Renovated Weller’s Pub to begin its new stage of life, DVN 26 January 1988 g. Wellers Restaurant, Lynne Hillier, Network, October 1988, p14 h. Revolution at Wellers, Nillumbik Mail, December 20, 2000 i. Wellers brings on good times, Valley Weekly, June 22, 2005 j. Dine in with ideal outlook, Valley News, 10 August 2005 k. Advertisement: Wellers of Kangaroo Ground, Enjoy lunch, afternoon tea and dinner at Wellers from Tuesday to Sunday, Valley Weekly, Wednesday, August 31, 2005 l. Advertisement: Wellers of Kangaroo Ground, Appearing live; Normie Rowe Fri 24 Feb, Diamond Valley Leader February 22, 2006, p11 m. Advertisement: Wellers of Kangaroo Ground, Lunch Special, Diamond Valley Leader March 27, 2010 n. Braithwaite abounds to Kangaroo Ground, Gig Guide, The Age, Friday, October 8, 2010, p14 o. History up for grabs, Diamond Valley Leader, March 28, 2012 p. Advertisement: Wellers Restaurant, Freehold only for sale, Morrison Kleeman, Diamond Valley Leader, March 28, 2012 q. Restaurant’s crash course, Megan Bailey, Diamond Valley Leader, January 1, 2014, p3. Also accessible online - Staff praised after car crashes through Kangaroo Ground eatery. (2022, June 29). Retrieved from https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/staff-praised-after-car-crashes-through-kangaroo-ground-eatery/news-story/021c896a1ab6d76bd6b73f2e57dc1854 r. Eatery set for revival, Brittany Shanahan, Diamond Valley Leader 15 February 2017; Also, online as Much-loved Wellers of Kangaroo Ground to be relaunched as Italian restaurant Fondata 1872. (2022, June 29). Retrieved from https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/muchloved-wellers-in-kangaroo-ground-to-be-relaunched-as-italian-restaurant-fondata-1872/news-story/665777fb347584ef483867ae2b536a8f s. Fondata 1872 proves a big hit with food, Diamond Valley Leader 3 May 2017, p3 11. Wellers of Kangaroo Restaurant Bar Entertainment Functions, tri-fold brochure promotional brochure 12. Website Printout: Wellers Restaurant, Live Guide, (2017, January 5). Retrieved from http://www.liveguide.com.au/Restaurants_Bars/VIC/Kangaroo_Ground/Food_Styles/3... 13. Website Printout: Wellers of Kangaroo Ground, Only Melbourne (2017, January 30). Retrieved from http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/wellers-of-kangaroo-ground 14. Printouts from Fondata 1872 website and Facebook page including colour photograph of sign in front and business card (2017).   Related EDHS Collection items • Wellers Hotel of Kangaroo Ground by Jim Allen, Part 1, Newsletter No. 235, Eltham District Historical Society, August 2017. Retrieved from https://elthamhistory.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/edhs-nl-235-aug-2017.pdf • Wellers Hotel of Kangaroo Ground by Jim Allen, Part 2, Newsletter No. 236, Eltham District Historical Society, October 2017. Retrieved from https://elthamhistory.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/edhs-nl-236-oct-2017.pdf • EDHS_03997 - Slide, Wellers Hotel, Pitmans Corner, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.1975 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5e59e36221ea671798ac40eb • EDHS_03998 - Slide, Wellers Hotel, Pitmans Corner, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.1975 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5e59e39e21ea671798ac9c27 • EDHS_03999 - Slide, Wellers Hotel, Pitmans Corner, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.1975 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5e59e3c721ea671798acd2ef • EDHS_04000 - Slide, Wellers Hotel, Pitmans Corner, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.1975 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5e59e3e021ea671798acfd68 • EDHS_04066-18 - Photograph, Wellers Restaurant, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.Mar. 1989 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/610f4dafa346aadcee7ac79c • EDHS_04041-26 - Photograph, Wellers Restaurant, 150 Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.May 1988 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/610e2f4a7d65e7c945a35e69 • EDHS_04437 – Newsclipping, Renovated Weller's Pub to begin its new stage of life by Linley Hartley, Diamond Valley News, 26 January 1988 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5de4913921ea6710a46a85c7 • EDHS_04438 - Newsclipping, Wellers Restaurant by Lynne Hillier, Network, October 1988, p14 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5de4916f21ea6710a46aea0f • ArtStreams magazine (from Volume 9, 2004) ‘partnered' with Wellers in promoting and supporting the arts and culture. Various advertisements throughout, particular with live performance acts. Numerous references throughout to art and music performances on site. • Stephen Cummings and Joe Camilleri at Wellers Kangaroo Ground, ArtStreams, Vol. 9, No. 4, Sep/Oct 2004, p17 EDHS_04406 - Journal, ArtStreams: Whittlesea, Banyule, Darebin, Manningham, Nillumbik, Yarra; Vol. 9, No. 4, Sep-Oct 2004 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5bcc086021ea6804a82a92a9 • Daryl Braithwaite rocks up at Wellers, Fiona Sievers, ArtStreams, Vol.10 No.2, 2005, pp6-7 EDHS_04409 - Journal, ArtStreams: Vol. 10, No. 2, 2005 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/60f5416ab06f0c13a9419541 • Ephemeral Sculpture by Peter Dougherty, ArtStreams, Vol.10 No.3, 2005, pp7-9. About sculptures created in or on the grounds of culinary establishments throughout the Shire. - Denise Keele-Bedford constructed ‘Ou Well’ at Wellers Restaurant and Vicky Shukuroglou, also at Wellers set up cotton banners printed and painted with natural dyes from onion skins, spinach, radish beetroot, turmeric and charcoal. EDHS_04410 - Journal, ArtStreams: Vol. 10, No. 3, 2005 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/60f5436db06f0c13a941ae19 • Music at Wellers Restaurant, ArtStreams, Vol.10 No.4, 2005, p23 EDHS_04411 - Journal, ArtStreams: Vol. 10, No. 4, 2005 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/60f543e4b06f0c13a941b059 • Weller’s Pub, Diamond Valley sketchbook / text by Brian McKinlay ; drawings by Graham Hawley, 1973, pp42-43 EDHS_00856 - https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/590852edd0ce7b14e8177da3 • Gold Field Coaches Stopped Here, Nillumbik now and then / Marguerite Marshall; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall, 2008, pp86-87 EDHS_00977 - https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5935f315d0cdd42c80f9cc52 External Links: • Historic Kangaroo Ground venue comes up for rare sale. (2022, June 29). Retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/historic-kangaroo-ground-venue-comes-up-for-rare-sale-20120325-1vshw.html • Wellers, Kangaroo Ground property sold with leaseback. (2022, June 29). Retrieved from https://www.urban.com.au/expert-insights/investing/37735-wellers-kangaroo-ground-property-sold-with-leaseback • Wellers, Kangaroo Ground | With Mark Seymour, at one of his …. (2022, June 29). Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/robertmilesdesign/4564390893/ • 2016 Notice of proposed deregistration - WELLERS OF KANGAROO GROUND PTY LTD 124 435 409. (2022, June 29). Retrieved from https://publishednotices.asic.gov.au/browsesearch-notices/notice-details/WELLERS-OF-KANGAROO-GROUND-PTY-LTD-124435409/35d43b89-159a-4435-963f-daec688a61ca • Search results for: Websites (archived). (2022, June 29). Retrieved from https://trove.nla.gov.au/search/category/websites?keyword=%22wellers%20restaurant%22 29 June 2022 edward weller, wellers of kangaroo ground, wellers hotel, wellers restaurant, mary weller, pittmans corner, fondata 1812 at wellers, historic buildings register, hotels, john weller, kangaroo ground, pitman's corner, bassett-smith collection

Originally Wellers Hotel, it was constructed by Edward Weller in 1872. Following his death in 1883 it was taken over by his widow, Mary Weller. The hotel was delicensed in 1909 and converted to a private residence. Around 1920 William Pitman bought the property, succeeded by his son Vernon who coined the term Pittman's Corner. Vernon and Isabel Pitman owned the house form 1945-1973. Following Vernon's death, Isabel remained there till her death in 1983. The property was converted to a restaurant in 1984 by owners Robert and Kath Hendry who undertook extensive renovations in 1988. Shawn and Stephanie Wolfe purchased the property from the Hendrys in 2003 and introduced live entertainment with many famous bands and entertainers from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s performing there, including James Reyne, Daryl Barithwaite, Brian Cadd and Billy Thorpe. In 2014 the Wolfe's sold the property and the entire contents were sold at auction. New (local ) owners Gregory Anderson, Craig Jones and Steve Gist refurbished the property and relaunched it as Fondata 1872 in 2017. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p87 A low-lying brick building at a turn on the main road, on the way to Kangaroo Ground, was once a welcome resting place for travellers. In the late 19th century Weller’s Pub, as it was called then, provided a store and an overnight stopping place and changing post for Cobb & Co coaches. The coaches were bound for the Caledonia Goldfields, near Queenstown (now St Andrews) and the Woods Point gold mines.1 Builder Edward Weller constructed the hotel and store on three acres (1.2 ha) in 1872 and after he died in 1883, his widow, Mary, continued to run the hotel, which was delicensed in 1909. This was not the first enterprise Weller ran in the district. In about 1866, he came to Kangaroo Ground and rented a general store and nine acres (3.6 ha) of land. The store, opposite the present school, was on the site of the present store and Weller also acted as the postmaster there. Mrs Weller was born in Scotland in 1841 and came to Victoria with her parents in about 1852. After two years in Melbourne the family moved to the Caledonia Goldfields where they remained for several years during which time she married Weller. The couple subsequently had five sons and five daughters. Weller’s Pub was made of handmade bricks fired from clay dug on the property. The pub must have been a haven on hot days with its 40cm thick walls throughout. One quaint reminder of its early use is that every room except the dining room has an outside door. Inside, the pub was converted to a home with extra doors connecting the inside rooms. There is no trace of the original bar room in the present dining room, where the steps leading to the cellar were bricked in. An unusual feature is the pressed metal which lines the ceilings, yet with moulding and white paint, looks like plaster. The main road once passed the back of the building and wound up to the top of the hill through a cutting. This steep hill was known to the bullock drivers in the early days, as Salvation Hill, because they were always very glad to reach its peak. After the hotel was delicensed it was converted to a private residence and extensive renovations were made, changing much of its design from a Victorian to an Edwardian style.2 Between 1912 and 1915, Gordon Cameron, a Cobb & Co coach driver and his wife rented the former hotel. Mr Cameron was related to the parliamentarian Ewen Cameron of Pigeon Bank, Kangaroo Ground, and his wife was related to Albert Pepper who owned Pigeon Bank from 1916 to 1919, when Gordon Cameron bought it. About 1920 William Pitman bought the property, which in turn was owned by his son, Vernon, who coined the name Pitman’s Corner. He and his wife Isabel owned the house from 1945 to 1973. Then as a widow Isabel Pitman lived there until her death in 1983.3 In 1984 the property was converted to a restaurant by owners P A Tribe, a barrister, his wife Sharon, and Robert and Kath Hendry. Extensive renovations maximised the splendid views of the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley.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-yarra glen road, fondata 1872, kangaroo ground, wellers restaurant, billy thorpe, brian cadd, craig jones, daryl barithwaite, edward weller, gregory anderson, hotels, james reyne, kath hendry, mary weller, restaurants, robert hendry, shawn wolfe, stephanie wolfe, steve gist

Romantic, charming . . . ''SUNNYBROOK'' ON the slope of a hill on the East side of Bolton street and overlooking willows that trail gracefully in a creeklet which shows no great haste to blend with Diamond Creek and so to the Yarra, there stands a great old-fashioned home. Outwardly it speaks of past opulence rather than beauty of design, but the velvet green lawns and the formal neatly weeded rose gardens, the well established trees, tennis courts, wisteria covered pergolas and the great curved fronds of old palms produce an atmosphere that cannot be built-up in less than decades. Here is irresistible old-world charm. The jangle of today cannot penetrate ... it is a place to remember ... a place where events to be remembered have a perfect setting ... it is "Sunnybrook." From the neighbouring ‘Beranto Lodge’ Mrs. Lenne can catch glimpses of ‘Sunnybrook,’ but the old home is well hidden from all quarters and only the faultlessly kept lawn can be seen by the curious. Like many other people, Mrs. Lenne was curious. Who can blame her. ‘Sunnybrook’ is a name to conjure with in Eltham. When the elderly men of the township were young bucks ‘Sunnybrook’ stood alone, a proud home that was known and established. Amongst the simple homes of the valley of the Diamond Creek, ‘Sunnybrook’ was Queen. In the roistering days of the Diamond Valley, when Kangaroo Ground was the seat of the Shire and when five pubs dotted the road from Lower Plenty to the civic centre, ‘Sunnybrook’ was off the track of the boisterous and tipsy. ‘Sunnybrook’ is still off the beaten track . . . but only slightly so; it no longer looks over cow pastures, but the neat, newly built houses which dot the length of the Main Road. They are still no closer than half a mile and while these houses have sprung up the fine trees and shrubs have quietly closed in around the boundaries of ‘Sunnybrook' as if to keep the old place to itself. That is how it has become something to whet the curiosity. When the course of events put the place on the market Mrs. Lenne bought it. When a modern house is bought it is pliable in the sense that the owner moulds it according to personality. It can remain severe, utilitarian and with a little neglect soon run to an ugly shabbiness. But with old 'Sunnybrook' it is different. There is in existence a character indelibly written into every line of the place . . . it is a LOVE OF ENGLAND. Upon ‘Sunnybrook’ has been lavished the devoted love of England to such a degree that it must be seen. The gardens and lawns are formal, and though lovely and speaking of the leisure of past years they are not English . . . they are just lovely, with the beauty that only the long established seem to possess. It is inside ‘Sunnybrook’ that the intense love of England is seen. Years ago the home was bought by a Mr. Martin, who was getting on in years, as a home for his much younger wife. The couple spent thousands of pounds as well as endless care and imagination in the complete redecorating of their home. Oak panelling imported from England was built in. Huge fireplaces shed their Colonial appearance to be become the fireplaces of England . . . and they were so in every sense because they were also imported from England. One lovely specimen whose gracious lines are remarked upon by all who see it, is a certified antique of finest English Oak. Care was taken to see what hand made wrought iron light fittings were in keeping. The old place has three lounge, dining or living rooms according to taste and requirements, and all are bigger than the biggest attempted in a “big” modern home. This does not include an outside living space of ample proportions, all fine flywired in and enclosing a fernery. A turn of a tap and spray as fine as mist is released over the rockery. On a scorching summer day when no relief short of a swim could help ordinary people, the resident of ‘Sunnybrook’ found the coolness of a dell in which to sit and enjoy their evening meal. What is more, the temperature of the whole house could be reduced by merely turning on this extensive spray water system. Yes, comfort to luxury standard is built in. And what happens to 'Sunnybrook' now? Mrs Lenne is famous to thousands for her quite fabulous catering. Her home and her "Wanda Inn" at Hepburn Springs have long been a Mecca for those who want the different in catering . . . different in the sense that every client is treated as a friend, not a customer and the hospitality and attention one would give to an honoured friend is accorded. And the food! – ask anyone who has enjoyed the privilege. Ask those who attended the reception given to Mr. Menzies by Eltham Shire Council; ask those members of the Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce who enjoyed it! [See EDHS_04736-1/2 https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5d4c2fb521ea6727d892df72] There is only one word anyone ever uses . . . “unbelievable!” it must be seen and eaten to be believed. And ‘Sunnybrook’ will ring to the laughter, and offer its spaciousness for the fun of all who join in the happiest occasion in the life of those just married, whose wedding reception is intended to be “remembered.” Mrs. Lenne is a dynamic ball of energy whose enthusiasm is not to be brooked. She has acquired the home of her dreams. 13 March 2020 Note: Historian Stella M. Barber via the GSV members Forum cites that Clair Samwell and Doris Good ran a nursing home in Balwyn called Penquite (1946-1952). Prior to that the women had run a rest home called Beranto in Eltham. Single newsprint page separated rest of paperberanto lodge, bolton street, houses, mrs. lenne, prime minister, properties, robert gordon menzies, sunnybrook

Digital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, cobb and co, diane towns, edward weller, kangaroo ground, kathi hendrey, robert hendry, weller's hotel