Historical information

Tents set up along the Diamond Creek on a property that would become "Willandra," a poultry farm and then in 1956, an aged care facility and residence known as Judge Book Village. It is located west of the railway line, north of the railway station in Eltham on Diamond Street.

it is believed that the convention camp was for young people for the purpose of Christian fellowship, bible study and worship. Other activities included local hikes.

A report in the Evelyn Observer on Friday, January 6, 1911, p2 noted:
"ELTHAM. The holiday season brought out lots of visitors to our beauty spot. The visitors booked to Eltham on Boxing-Day numbered about 1900, and New Year's Day (Monday) some 1500. The threatening aspect of the weather on the morning of the 2nd and no doubt deterred many from venturing out. Fine weather has prevailed throughout, and the chief sufferers are those who catered for hot, thirsty crowds and did not find them so bent on ices and fluid refreshments as is usual at this time of the year. Campers have been strongly in evidence. One especially large camp of Christian enthusiasts being located near the station with dining booth, gospel tent, cooking range, etc., all complete, numbering some twenty tents. These good folk evidently intend to make the best of both worlds, but some of their negro camp meeting methods appear to have shocked the sensibilities of sober-going folk. With the exception of a slight ruction on the railway platform on Monday night, which will probably be aired in the local court, the holiday makers as a whole were very orderly."

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 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