Historical information
The store built in 1925 was located on Main Road just south of Bridge Street (present day No. 820 Main Road). An extension was added to the right in 1939.
The store was built in late 1925 at the same time as Mr C. Nicholls’s new store was constructed. Both were considered modern shops, and an improvement on most, business establishments of the time. Mr. Nicholls’s store included alongside it a modern, weatherboard villa residence. Mr. Burgoyne’s store incorporated the post and telegraph office, which was operated by John Neville Burgoyne’s half-aunt, Miss Anne Hunniford until her death in 1928 at which time J.N. Burgoyne became postmaster.
The unsealed footpath in front is reasonably extensive as not visible is a concrete kerb and channel which was laid from the Post Office to John Street during Nov-Dec 1926. Footpath construction in front of Burgoyne’s store commenced August 1942.
The extension to the right of the store was erected in 1939 for a new telephone exchange adjacent to the store and post office. A continuous telephone service operated by Mr Burgoyne and his family commenced operation 18 November 1939. Approximately 70 extensions were routed through the new exchange, 40 of which were transferred from the Greensborough Exchange. Entry to the exchange was via a separate door on Main Road or via the shop. The public telephone was initially mounted on the wall but later moved to the street.
Cross Ref: 0701 of the store c.1934
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
Subjects
References
- Eltham. (1926, January 15). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 2 (AFTERNOON). The two new stores – Mr. J. Burgoyne's and Mr C. Nicholls's are completed. Both are modern shops, and an improvement on most, business establishments here. Mr. Nicholls’s store has alongside it a modern, weatherboard villa residence. Mr. Burgoyne’s store will house the post and telegraph office, which I understand, will be continued by Miss Hunniford.
- Eltham Council Reports. (1926, November 5). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 4 (AFTERNOON). Kerb and channelling added from Post Office to John Street Nov-Dec 1926 One hundred-and thirty feet of combined kerb and channelling has been ordered to lay from the Post Office to John street. By using pre-cast sections-it will enable the present footpath alignment to be adopted and then at some future date, when it is necessary to correct the footpath alignment, this drain can be lifted and re-laid.
- ELTHAM COUNCIL NOTES. (1942, August 14). Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser (Vic. : 1940 - 1942), p. 3. Footpath construction in front of Burgoyne’s store commenced August 1942
- Continuous Telephone Service (1939, November 17). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939), p. 1. An extension to the store was erected in 1939 for a new telephone exchange adjacent to the store and post office.
