Historical information

Lyon Bros Eltham Motor Garage originally opened as an old tin shed garage in 1923 alongside Dave Lyon’s weatherboard home, a Californian bungalow at present-day 856 Main Road, Eltham in the dip between York and Henry Streets - there was a wood yard and garage at the back. That house remains standing today (2026). It later became a Chiropractor’s practice now operating as Eltham Cosmetic Clinic. Earliest advertisements for the business date from March 1923 – advertise that they have opened a motor garage near the post office, where a car or petrol may be procured day or night, and repairs effected. (The Advertiser, 2 March 1923)

Between May 1942 and December 1945 [based on a newspaper article "Eltham Killed in Brownout" (1942, May 15). Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser (Vic. : 1940 - 1942), p. 3. Retrieved May 23, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57496549 and aerial photos taken in December 1945], the brothers relocated the business to 283-287 Main Road Eltham, opposite Arthur Street. The garage was an official RACV Road Service Station and offered vehicles for hire in addition to conducting repairs. It was also an Agent for Shell petrol.

During the war Dave was working in the garage one night with a motor running. He was almost unconscious, and Jack Burgoyne happened to stop off with his truck and went and dragged him out.

John Lyon used to live on the comer of Bridge Street and Main Road on top of the cliff. He was later killed in an accident at Rosanna railway crossing 29th Feb, 1960 [Source: Doug Orford].

This photo is dated circa 1964 and the address is clearly 283-287 Main Road however by 1971 street numbers had been revised to present-day numbering and by the time the site had been redeveloped as Lyon Bros. Ford the address was 953 Main Road.

Community memories after posting this photo on Facebook include: "I can remember my dad putting 2 shilling pieces into a bowser to get petrol after hours."

Significance

This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book, "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.'
It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.

Physical description

Digital image
4 x 5 inch B&W Neg