Historical information

Home to Eltham Shire Councillor Ernie Andrew, newsagent and his wife Ellen. Known locally as Cook's Cottage due to its resemblance to Captain Cook's cottage in Fitzroy Gardens. Ernie and Ellen can be seen standing at the entrance.

Erected after Nov 1931 and before Dec 1945, most likely by 1934. The Andrews owned the property next door (downhill) and it was there that Ernie Andrew loaned land for the first Eltham Fire Station in 1928. The house on that block was present in a November 1931 aerial photograph; the subject house was not. In November 1934 Mrs Ellen Andrew leased a 5-roomed brick villa in Arthur Street to Eltham Shire Council for use as temporary offices. The new Shire office was opened in November 1940 across the road. It is possible but not yet confirmed, that the Cooks Cottage was the brick villa leased to Council and then the Andrews moved in late 1940 after Council moved into their new offices across the road. Or, they could have built Cooks Cottage and leased their old home next door to Council. Further investigation will hopefully reveal more.

The cottage was situated immediately east of the underground carpark entrance off Arthur Street and directly opposite to the present-day entrance to the Eltham Village carpark.

Ernie Andrew's wife, Ellen, died 13 July 1946 and Ernie died 29 March 1950. Subsequent ownership has not been identified.

Aerial photos show the cottage was still present in April 1963. Local advice suggests the building was used as a doctor’s surgery in the mid-1960s. The property was purchased by Council in August 1964 and demolished shortly afterwards to provide additional area for a carpark already in existence from Pryor Street (Diamond Valley Mirror, 2 Sep. 1964, p1). The carpark was extended behind the Eltham Arcade from Pryor Street through to Luck Street in February 1966 (Diamond Valley News, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 1966, p7)

The same view today
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KfqGSDqYnPq6jCU69

ELTHAM SHIRE OFFICES (1934, November 9). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56746996
ELTHAM SHIRE OFFICES
The offices of the Eltham Shire Council are now at Arthur street, Eltham. The shire secretary (Mr. P J. McMahon) had a busy time during the week transferring all the books, documents, etc. of the council from the temporary offices (the shire secretary's residence at Kangaroo Ground) to the new offices. The new premises are owned by Mrs. E. J. Andrew, from whom the council has leased them, and consist of a five roomed brick villa which has been completed to meet the council's requirements.

See also 01777-4

Physical description

Sepia photograph of Ernie Andrews house, Arthur Street, Eltham c.1940s (now Safeway carpark)

Inscriptions & markings

Site: Arthur Street, Eltham
Now: Part of Woolworths, formerly Safeways Car Park
Was: Known as Cooks Cottage
Owner: Ernie Andrews, died 1950. House was demolished early 1950s
See also: 00183