Historical information

Newsletter No. 116, September, 1997
846-848 MAIN ROAD ELTHAM
Nillumbik Shire Council has granted a permit for a funeral parlour on land which includes this site at the corner of Main Road and York Street. The site contains an architect's office in a building which was formerly a shop and dwelling dating from the 1920's. The proposal requires demolition of this building which is one of the few remaining old shops which formed the rather spread out "town centre" of Eltham.
Prior to making its decision the Council obtained a report from Graeme Butler and Associates, the heritage consultants who carried out Stage 1 of the Nillumbik Heritage Study. The report summarized the historical significance as follows:-
"This brick comer shop with associated residence has potential local historical significance as a late 1920's grocer's shop, now much altered and one of only a few shops of that era left in Eltham's Main Road. This significance is qualified by the many changes. The other examples are better preserved and still function as shops."
With this type of expert advice it is difficult to make a strong case for preservation of the building although, of course, it is a shame to see it demolished.
The report includes details of the site itself and its history based on research carried out by Carlotta Kellaway. The building dates from the late 1920's when it was owned by C.R. Nicholls. From the early 1930's it was Charles Cockroft's grocery shop and he also ran a grain store there. According to his daughter, Edna Brown, he delivered groceries around the district taking his truck as far as Kangaroo Ground. In 1950 he shifted to Traralgon. Since then several different businesses have operated from the site including a bottle merchant and produce store.
Conversion to the present office use involved alterations to the shop front and rebuilding the galvanized iron store at the rear.

Newsletter 119 March 1998
In our Newsletter No. 116 it was reported that the former shop on the comer of Main Road and York Street, Eltham was to be demolished as part of a funeral parlour development. If you have passed the site recently you will have noticed that it has now been demolished - another part of the old Eltham township has disappeared.

Physical description

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 strips
Also photographic prints 10 x 15 cm

Inscriptions & markings

Kodak Gold 200-6