We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Untitled image
Can you reuse this media without permission? No (with exceptions, see below)
All rights reserved
This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Southern Sherbrooke Historical Society Inc.
Road from Belgrave to Monbulk. A woman stands on the road holding a stick. There is a creeper growing on the verge. Tall treeferns surround a house on the right side, below the road. The house has a verandah extending all the way around. There is smoke coming from a chimney which may be on the visible house or from one behind. c.1920.
This album is made of strong cardboard now held together by ribbon and it contains 17 images taken around Belgrave in the early 1920s. The photographer is unknown but it could have been Charles Ladd, engraver, farmer, and amateur photographer, who lived with his family in Dewhurst. The photos are of local beauty spots in the Sherbrooke Forest, Lipscombe's Hill, Biffin's Hill and Selby trestle bridge areas. Several people appear in various photos and appear to be a group of family and/or friends.
Photo shows a bend in the road, Belgrave, most likely on Monbulk Road below Sherbrooke Forest. An unmade road crosses a small gully. A group of three or so young people are leaning over the bridge railing. The area is heavily treed.
A BEND IN THE ROAD hand-wriiten in ink below the photo on the album page
Sepia photo shows a track through bush at Belgrave. Tall gum trees in foreground. Treed hill in background with houses visible among the trees. Presumably taken from near Sherbrooke Forest.
Photo of a worker bringing in a log on a dray with what appear to be narrow steel wheels. Dray is being pulled by eight or ten steers or small bullocks. Heavy bush and tall, straight timber on side of the road. Most likely Sherbrooke Forest. Road bends to left behind team then possibly to the right, going up a small rise. The man could be well-known bullocky Bill Martin. He is dressed in a wellworn hat, a pale shirt with sleeves rolled up, and darker pants, and is carrying a long, slender stick or possibly a whip in his right hand.
Photo of the cover of Jacobson photo album. Cover is dull brown cardboard with a photo of Belgrave stuck on (now loose) and a dark pattern, possibly hand-drawn. Cover is now held together by two short white ribbons (not original).
"Belgrave" has been handwritten on the photo.
Photo which was originally stuck to Jacobson photo album. Photo shows a man in a dark jacket, pale shirt and pale hat, standing or walking along a road above two houses in a steep valley, probably the valley below Monbulk Road. Man is visible from waist up. One house is probably the house which features in other photos. The name 'Belgrave' has been hand-drawn on the top of the photo in an elegant script. The word is in black with a white outline.
"Belgrave' hand-drawn on the photo.
Photo of Belgrave township from Biffin's Hill (present-day site of Mater Christi School). Road running across front of photo is now Belgrave-Gembrook Rd. There is a sign on the side of the road advertising Biffin Hill Estate for sale. Belgrave main street is visible in background. c. 1920s
Ten cows, steers, or bullocks hauling logs to a sawmill (possibly McLaren's sawmill in Belgrave). Bullocky standing behind team with backs to camera. The team is on a manmade track, surrounded by bush but in sunshine. c. 1920s
Photo of Puffing Billy coming around the horseshoe bend at Selby and beginning to cross the trestle bridge, heading away from Belgrave. The engine is only part shown. It is hauling four open-sided carriages with canvas covers, and a further six or so enclosed carriages. There appears to be no wind as the smoke is hanging above the train. Railway infrastructure (barrier fences) can be seen in the foreground, and there are wires across the left side of the photo. c. 1920
Photo of Jacob's Ladder in Sherbrooke Forest. Looks to be water under the bridge at the bottom of the photo. Very steep wooden steps going up through ferns. There is a wooden seat halfway up the visible steps, to the right of the steps. There are three signs attached to a tree on the right side of the photo near the creek. The sun is shining on the ferns.
Groups of people are standing on Monbulk Road, up from Belgrave. In the background are four women abreast walking away. There are two men, a young boy and a woman standing together in the middle ground and two younger women closer to the camera, standing beside a cart (with only a large cartwheel visible). There may be another man speaking to them. There is a path going up the hill to the right, with fence posts on the high side and a closed gate at the top. On the left of the photo there is a house below the road. There are two water tanks which look new. It may be the same house as appears in other photos in this collection. Another building is visible in the distance.
Group of four people standing on Monbulk Road just out of Belgrave. Possibly Beauty Bend. Holiday makers, all well dressed. There is a wooden seat on the left side of road. There is a gully on the right side. The left side has heavy bush. A house roof is just visible beyond the bush. c.1920.
Ten or more cattle pulling logs to a sawmill (possibly McLaren's sawmill in Belgrave). The land around the track is cleared and it is heavily treed in the background. There is dead timber lying around and the land looks dry. c.1920.
Photo shows a team of cattle (bullocks, cows or steers) hauling a log down to the sawmill. A huge piece of timber is clearly seen chained to the dray. Heavy timber both sides of the road, most likely present-day Sherbrooke Forest. c.1920.
Photo of the falls in Sherbrooke Forest. Huge amount of large rocks in and around creek bed. Ferns grow up sides of banks. Low volume of water indicates dry season. At the top of the falls a man sits with another person who appears to be a woman. c.1920.
Fern gully in Sherbrooke Forest. A bridge with long log sides crosses a creek. Tree ferns edge the track.
Photo of a woman of about sixty standing in a garden with a house in the background. The woman has thick grey/white hair swept back, and she is unsmiling and looking to her left. She is wearing a dark skirt and jacket with three buttons over a pale blouse with a frilled collar. In her hands is a twig or piece of grass or similar. There is a wedding ring on her hand. The house in the background is the same house as in other photos. The land slopes upwards and Monbulk Road is most likely hidden by the thick bush behind the house. Trees and bracken edge a cleared area of land. The house is probably located at present-day 20 Monbulk Road, Belgrave and is no longer standing.
Closer shot of house in previous photo with white-haired woman. The house is timber weatherboard with a tin roof. Three woman and a man stand on the verandah: the white-haired woman, who appears to be quite stout; a younger woman who appears in another photo; a man in a pale hat who also appears in other photos; and an elderly woman. They are all looking off to their left. The verandah has fancy timberwork. There is a deckchair. A water tank is on the left side of the photo with a sapling growing close to it. The house is surrounded by trees. c.1920.
Photograph of debutantes at Belgrave ball in 1951 or 1952. (FRONT ROW L to R) 1.?, 2.?, 3.?, 4.?, 5.?, 6. Isabel Haines (who later married Mr Connell who worked for the SEC). (MIDDLE ROW L to R) 1.?, 2.?, 3.?, 4.?, 5.?, 6. Ferntree Gully Shire councillor Violet Lambert, 7.?, 8.Glenda Reid, 9.?, 10. Barbara Haig. (BACK ROW, L to R) 1.?, 2.?, 3.?, 4.?, 5.?, 6. Geoff Beasley, 7. Royce Beasley, 8.?, 9. Eric Taylor, 10.?, 11.?, 12.?, 13.?. They are seated and standing in front of decorations of foliage. Behind the back row, part of a sign can be seen, advertising Art Franklin's Band and the phone number Belgrave 36. Also reverse of photo showing photographer's stamp, 'D. R. Pearce/Belgrave Studio/Phone 64'.
Colour photo of Rowan Matta, aged one, being held by her mother, Rhiannon Matta, out the front of the Southern Sherbrooke Historical Society's building prior to Rowan getting her vaccinations at the Progress Hall next door. Rowan is wearing a red dress with a yellow stars -and-moon pattern over a white shortsleeved top, and Rhiannon is wearing a black sleeveless top. The society's hall and their church in the background are still in the condition they were in when moved from Belgrave South School. On the door of the hall is a handwritten sign, 'Historical Society'. Photo taken by Marian Matta.
Black and white photo of the Belgrave South Cubs taken between 1976 and 1978, probably at the Belgrave South oval. Photo and info supplied by Martin Kirby on 20th June1993. Back row: Baloo (Lyn Lashmar), Peter Wragg, Gavin Smith, Brett Lashmar, Grant Fuller, Phillip Denby, Kaa (Kathie), Martin Kirby. Middle row: David Kirby, Andrew Van Vloten, Michael Dowling, Damian Argoon, Akeila, Nicholas Van Vloten, Geoff Fowler, Damian Vanwray. Front row: Matthew Hempol, Ian Burke, David Cummings, Mowgli (Alan Quincey), Allister Miller, Brian Fuller. Also sheet with names.
Black and white photo showing the Narre Warren East Methodist Church in 1968 being backed onto a block on the north side of Wellington Rd near the intersection with (now) Edebohls Rd. It was moved from a site closer to Kerrs Park. Photo copied from Edna Boothroyd whose family lived on Wellington Rd, Narre Warren East. Also mud map showing where the church was moved from and to.
Black and white photo of a steam-driven tractor being driven down Duffys Rd, Narre Warren East. Steam is rising about the tractor. There is at least one other person on the tractor apart from the driver, possibly a woman and a boy. The driver lived further down Duffys Rd. His house was moved prior to work beginning on the Cardinia Reservoir. A sedan is driving behind the tractor. Photo copied from Edna Boothroyd whose family lived on Wellington Rd, Narre Warren East.
Black and white photo ten students at Narre Warren East School on its last day before closing permanently in December 1987. The children are sitting and standing in front of the school building which has a sign on its wall reading "NARRE WARREN/EAST/PRIMARY SCHOOL". An outside light is on the wall above the sign. On the right is a short flight of steps to the classroom entrance and on the left is a water tank. Photo copied from Edna Boothroyd whose family lived next door to the school.
Black and white photo of the Eastern Regional Libraries' mobile van parked at Narre Warren East School. The van's steps and side extension are in place. Photo copied from Edna Boothroyd whose family lived next door to the school.
Black and white photo showing Greg Boothroyd, son of the photographer, looking at the camera as he stands on a low hill above the carpark. Behind him is a man in a peaked cap who is looking at him. Another man in a suit is watching proceedings. He has paper or similar tucked under his left arm. Another boy is running behind Greg. A large group of people is walking down a path to the left.
Three members of the official party watch on as the 'first' blasting takes place at Cardinia Reservoir, May 1970. It is clear from the extensive earthworks below the blast site that work has already commenced.
Black and white photo of the opening ceremony to mark the beginning of works at Cardinia Reservoir, May 1970. The official party is seated on a small podium beneath a temporary marquee. The Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe, is addressing the audience from behind a wooden podium. Seated behind him are several men including Alan Croxford, then Chairman of the Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works.
A set of four black and white photos of the official opening of works at Cardinia Reservoir, Narre Warren East, May 1970. The photos were taken by Edna or Mick Boothroyd of Wellington Rd, Narre Warren East and were brought by Edna to the first display of the Southern Sherbrooke Historical Society on 20th June 1993.
Black and white photo showing the carpark at the Cardinia Reservoir site on the day of the official ceremony for the start of works in May 1970. Several dozen cars and one bus can be seen in the carpark, and groups of people are gathered there. In the foreground members of the official party can be seen. Between them and the carpark is a wide strip of long grass.
Black and white photo of the pupils and teacher of Narre Warren East School in 1965. Twenty children sit and stand in three rows. The Head Teacher, Jim Rees, stands in the centre of the back row. Trees and a white wooden railing are visible behind them. Photo copied from Edna Boothroyd whose family lived next door to the school.
Black and white poto of entire enrollment a Narre Warren East School in 1962. Thirty-five children sit and stand in four rows. Trees are visible behind them. Photo copied from Edna Boothroyd whose family lived next door to the school.
Black and white photo of the entire enrollment at Narre Warren East School in 1959. Thirty-one children sit and stand in four rows with trees and hills in the background. Photo copied from Edna Boothroyd whose family lived next door to the school.
Narre Warren East School operated from 1912 to 1987. The school building on Wellington Rd, Narre Warren East now functions as a childcare centre.
A set of five colour photos showing Cardinia Dam beginning to fill after its completion in 1973. One photo shows smoke or possibly dust rising on a distant hillside. The set was donated to the society by David Howe.
A set of four colour photos showing the area around where Cardinia Reservoir is now located. The photos show various views of the hillsides and valleys prior to the damming of Cardinia Creek. Each photo has 'Belgrave Cardinia Creek' handwritten on the back. They date from prior to May 1970. The set was donated to the society by David Howe.
'Belgrave Cardinia Creek' handwritten on the back of each photo.
Black and white photo of the Smith family house on Park Drive just past Belgrave Lake Park. The House appears to have an enclosed verandah. A man, possibly Oscar Smith, is looking out of the window and a second person, possibly Pam Harris's sister, is also looking out. Below them, two young people, a boy and a smaller girl, are standing in the garden. This was possibly the caretaker's place. '1627' is stamped on the back of the photo. The photo probably dates to the 1940s and is part of a collection of family photos donated by Pam Harris, Shire of Sherbrooke President, 1982-1983 & 1987-1988.
Black and white photo of Terry Smith, Pam Harris's younger brother, aged about 6 or 7, during the building of a septic tank for the caretaker's house at Belgrave Lake Park. Terry is sitting in a concrete mixer. On the ground are bags of concrete. A pile of sand is on a tarpaulin. Behind Terry there are shrubs and small trees and behind them are tall trees on a steep hillside. The Belgrave Reservoir is at the bottom of the slope. A house can be seen in the distance, possibly the house visible in B0399. Terry and Pam's father, Oscar Smith, built the caretaker's house, selling it in 1960 for £1250. The photo probably dates to the 1940s and is part of a collection of family photos donated by Pam Harris, Shire of Sherbrooke President, 1982-1983 & 1987-1988.
Black and white photo showing three adults and two children with a horse and cart. Mr Archibald William Muirhead, of 7 Colby Drive, Belgrave Heights (then called Glen Rd) stands to the left of the cart with his left hand resting on the wheel and his right hand on his hip. His left leg is crossed in front of his right leg. He is wearing a light-coloured suit. Sitting in the cart are two women and a boy and a girl. The girl is Pam Harris. They are on a dirt road with trees on either side. Behind them is a cleared area with more trees in the background. The photo was taken on Glen Road close to Monbulk Creek. On the back of the photo is printed '1627'. It probably dates to the 1940s and is part of a collection of family photos donated by Pam Harris, Shire of Sherbrooke President, 1982-1983 & 1987-1988.
Black and white photo taken at Fairy Dell in Belgrave Lake Park. There is felled timber in the foreground and what appears to be a plaid blanket lying to one side next to three or more long objects. Two kookaburras sit on the logs. In the background is a cleared area and a small covered eating area where some people are seated. On the back of the photo is printed '1920'. It probably dates to the 1940s and is part of a collection of family photos donated by Pam Harris, Shire of Sherbrooke President, 1982-1983 & 1987-1988.
Black and white photo showing six children and a dog seated around a water tank. Two girls an a boy are sitting on top of the tank. One of the girls is Pam Harris. The girls are wearing jumpers and long pants. Three boys are sitting on the tank stand. At least two of the boys are also wearing long pants. They are holding a small dog, either a dachshund or a spaniel. There is a low building behind the tank. There are trees in the background. The house where the tank is situated is the white house visible in B0399 which belonged to Laura (surname unknown). On the back of the photo is printed '1532'. It probably dates to the 1940s and is part of a collection of family photos donated by Pam Harris, Shire of Sherbrooke President, 1982-1983 & 1987-1988.
Black and white photo showing a group of people on the spillway of Belgrave Reservoir (at the time in the Belgrave Autocamp which is now called Belgrave Lake Park). The photo is taken from a person in a boat, the prow of which is visible at the bottom of the image. Three older boys are crouched to the left of the image. All are wearing shorts, shirts, and shoes with long socks, and two have pullovers. In the middle of the photo is a man with three children. The man is crouching. The children are in a huddle. To the right of the image are two adults standing on the spillway. The person on the right is male but the other's gender is uncertain. Between them and the children is what looks like a large portable radio. Behind the group is a heavily treed area which includes three or more white-trunked trees close to the spillway. In the distance is a white house with a verandah running across the front. This house belonged to Laura (surname unknown) before WW2. The house appears to be (now) 30 Judkins Ave.The photo has a white border and on the back is printed '1627'. It probably dates to the 1940s and is part of a collection of family photos donated by Pam Harris, Shire of Sherbrooke President, 1982-3 & 1987-1988.
A set of six small photos donated to the Southern Sherbrooke Historical Society by Pam Harris (nee Smith), Shire of Sherbooke councillor 1979-1988. They show the Smith holiday home in Belgrave and surrounding areas in the 1940s.
Black and white photo showing a large family group in a flower field. In the background there are low hills with cleared paddocks and forested areas. According to the National Archives of Australia: 'Land was life for nurseryman Theo Spykers and his ancestors who had tilled the soil for generations; good land to own and to pass on to sons and their sons. At 42 Theo had one and a half acres near Rotterdam for a prosperous nursery, but he could only rent it and his family was growing. So, in 1948, Theo left his wife and six children at their home and set off by himself for Australia. Within a year he had paid a deposit on a broken-down property of 35 acres in the Dandenong ranges. His family joined him and they started to rehabilitate their new property. Mr and Mrs Spykers and twelve of their thirteen children pick chrysanthemums for sale in Melbourne, a city of 1,750,000. The children are; Theo, 20; Gerald, 15; Niko, 8; Frank, 5; Adolf, 22; Corrie, 11; Ria, 18; Terisa, 4; Anthony, 7; Tommy, 2; Elly, 10; Bill, 16.' Mr & Mrs Spykers are each holding one of the smaller children. This farm was on the corner of Birds Rd and Avon Rd, Avonsleigh. On the NAA records, Theodorus Gerardus Spykers arrived in Melbourne on the Muiderkerk on 27th February 1948. Black and white photo showing 15 year old Gerald Spykers carrying bundles of chrysanthemums tied ready for market. He is at the family farm on the corner of Birds Rd and Avon Rd, Avonsleigh.
Black and White Photograph of the Narre Warren East shop, possibly taken 1953-1956, featuring a building at the top of a driveway. About seven cars are parked out the front of the building. The shop has a high-pitched roof, a central door, and large windows or a verandah. Under the left windows is an advertisement for Swallows ice cream. There are trees surrounding the shop. This was the first and only store in Narre Warren East. It is now a house on Wellington Road. The home and store was built by Bert Dorning, and the Dornings opened and ran the store.
Photograph features a Graham Paige car at Lysterfield Reservoir. Bill Lord is dressed in dark trousers, open-necked shirt (with rolled-up sleeves), and a fedora. Ann Lord in a patterned summer dress. Bill Slingo junior in dark shorts, light shirt and sunhat, and Bill Slingo Senior in trousers with braces, a white shirt and a peaked cap. They are seated on a bench or wall. The Lords are seated on a satin-edged blanket. Behind the group a dam wall is visible. Photo was most likely taken by Alice Lord on the same day as VSSHP0267.03. .
Photo of two women, a man and a boy posed in front of a Graham Paige car at Lysterfield Lake. This photo appears to have been taken on the same day as VSSHP0267.04 and was probably taken by Bill Lord.
Photograph features two men in hats standing side by side in a paddock with trees in the background.
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
