Historical information
Note: Between April 1923 and August 1926, electric trains from Melbourne terminated at Eltham. A connecting steam train ran between Eltham and Hurstbridge.
Pages from a scrapbook belonging to Heather Jenkins (nee Cone) who lived as a child in the Police Residence at 728 Main Road, Eltham from 1911 to the early 1920s. (Reported in Newsletter No. 98, Sept. 1994)
Heather McKnight Cone born Eltham 1911 (Vic. 19538/1911), daughter of John Thomas Cone (b1859) and Charlotte Helena McKnight Cone (nee Black, schoolteacher b1875) who were married in 1906 (Vic7936/1906). It was John’s second marriage, his first wife, Mary Jane Lannin (b1865) died in 1899.
Constable John Thomas Cone, Badge #3935 served at Eltham Police Station 1 May 1911 to 9 July 1922. He died at Eltham in October 1922 and was buried October 6 at Melbourne General Cemetery. The procession commenced from his home in Main Road, Eltham.
Cone was succeeded by Constable William Charles Sergeant Badge #4625 who served from 1 August 1922 to 1 March 1927
Electoral Roll Records
Eltham Police Residence, Main Road
1911-1922, Cnst. John Thomas Cone and Charlotte Helena Cone and daughter Heather McKnight Cone (b1911)
Eltham, John Street
1925-1934, James Gardiner Jenkins, Railway employee
Eltham (Main Road?)
1924: Charlotte Helena Cone, home duties
Malvern, 229 Glenferrie Rd
Charlotte Helena Cone, Registrar of Births 1934
Heather McKnight Cone, Clerk, 1934
James Gardiner Jenkins, Railway employee 1935-1936
Glen Iris, 13 Ashburton Rd
Charlotte Helena Cone, Home duties 1936-1946
Heather McKnight Cone, Clerk 1936-1954
Heather McKnight Jenkins, Receptionist 1963-1972
James Gardiner Jenkins, Railway employee 1936-1972
From records and family trees (Ancestry.com) James Gardiner Jenkins was born in 1892 in Whittlesea. He served in the AIF in WW1. According to Electoral Roll records, Jim was employed with the railways at Eltham, living in John Street. It was probably around then that he met and married Fanny Davidson Carrucan. They were married in 1925 (Vic 7206/1925). Fanny died 1929 at age 30.
At the time of Fanny’s death in 1929, Jim Jenkins was 37, Charlotte Cone was 54 and Heather Cone 18.
Some time between 1924 and 1934 but most probably closer to 1934, Charlotte and daughter Heather left Eltham and were living at 229 Glenferrie Road, Malvern. By 1935 Jim Jenkins was living with them. By 1936 all three moved to 13 Ashburton Road, Glen Iris where it appears they may have lived out their lives. Charlotte died in 1952, and Heather was still living under her maiden name in 1954 but by 1963 was recorded as Heather Jenkins. Jim is last found in the Electoral Rolls for 1972; he died in 1975. Heather died in 2010.
JENKINS. - Heather. Passed away peacefully at Cabrini Ashwood on Oct. 24, 2010 Reunited with Jim and Jonathon No Funeral at her request [Herald Sun 26/10/2010]
Sources:
• VIC BDM
• Electoral Roll Records via Ancestry.com
• Family Notices (1922, October 6). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 16. Retrieved July 30, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205053816
• Police Honour Roll Eltham Police Station
Significance
Heather Jenkins was the daughter of Constable John Thomas Cone, Badge #3935 served at Eltham Police Station 1 May 1911 to 9 July 1922.
Physical description
Glued on a brown paper scrapbook page (torn from scrapbook) with 8 black and white/sepia photos of varying sizes, 1 newspaper clipping and one greeting card with printed sketch and handwritten captions in ink. On back of page is 1 black and white photo and a large newspaper clipping.
