Photograph - Colour Print, Harry Gilham, Eltham Roll of Honour, Eltham War Memorial Hall, Nov 2004

Historical information

The Eltham Roll of Honour Board was originally commissioned and paid for by the Eltham War Memorial Trust from funds raised by public donation. It was originally hung in the Infant Welfare Centre.

In 1999 the Honour Roll Board was removed from the Eltham War Memorial by members of the RSL and relocated to the Eltham RSL sub-branch on Main Road. Following financial collapse of the Eltham RSL sub-branch and merger of the Eltham and Montmorency sub-branches and subsequent sale of the Eltham property, the WW1 obelisk was relocated to a location in front of the Eltham War Memorial. The Honour Roll Board was retrieved by former Eltham District Historical Society President, Harry Gilham in September 2004 who arranged for it to be re-hung in the Eltham War Memorial Hall (former Children's Library) where it was attached to the brick wall face of the west (rear) wall of the Hall (as seen in this photograph).

Sometime around late 2018 when Council was investigating the potential sale and development of the Eltham War Memorial, the Eltham Honour Roll Board was once again removed from the Eltham War Memorial by persons unknown, under the pretext of ‘safekeeping,’ to a location outside of the Shire of Nillumbik, in the City of Banyule.

In early 2021 Eltham District Historical Society was made aware of the removal of the Honour Roll Board. A formal request was made by EDHS to return this community asset to its rightful place as intended when it was commissioned and paid for by the Eltham War Memorial Trust. This request was rebutted.

Nillumbik Shire Council has also since been made aware of the removal of this community asset and formally requested its return prior to Anzac Day, 2021 where it can once again be made accessible to members of the community to pay their respects as originally intended.

As of July 2022, the Honour Board remains missing from its rightful place at the Eltham War Memorial.

Physical description

Colour print on commercial photo paper 10 x 15 cm

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