Historical information

New verandah Eltham Living and Learning Centre on the western face looking down over the Tannery site and Diamond Creek. Pavilion in place (LH Side). The verandah with its upgrade of curtains 1995. Originally 4 feet 6 inches wide.

A detailed history of the site and early development of the Eltham Living and Learning Centre can be found in EDHS_04870 - Folder, Shire of Eltham Living and Learning Centre, 1996

The original property was part of Josiah Holloways subdivision of Little Eltham. It had a 70 foot frontage to Maria Street and stretched down to the Diamond Creek. John Perason, a Tanner, purchased the property in 1857 for £100 and he built a solid brick house which over the years was modified significantly by various owners and which is the basis of the present-day Living and Learning Centre.

Claire Fitzpatrick and her husband Alfred, a retired chemical engineer, bought it in the early 1950's. Claire's interest in farming and animal husbandry and breeding saw her modify and establish buildings on the property to house goats and poultry with a horse stable and storage sheds for the animal food. She also built the coach house with its horse box and tack room and built an adjoining garage for their car.

Structural alterations to the house were also carried out during the period of their ownership. Their house renovations removed the four fireplaces and chimneys and added a wider verandah, a fibro cement extension on the north wall requiring a doorway to be made in the brick wall for access. Part of a passage wall was removed to join the northwest room, now the "sitting room". A new jarrah floor was put in as the old one was rotten with borer. The verandahs, front and back, were re-organised in design and the front door had its leadlighting panels removed to allow more light into the house. During this period the water catchment well was filled in. This well had a concrete slab fitted onto a collar around its top. The well is 12 feet deep and 8 feet in diameter. Septic sewerage was installed and an internal toilet fitted in the house. The former northeast room was divided into bathroom/toilet and passageway with cupboards to access the extension. Kitchen stove and sink was removed (they fell apart) and a slow-combustion stove with hot water heater installed. Basins and hot water were connected to the new bathroom.

In the early 1970s Eltham Shire Council, Councillors Frank Maas and Don Maling, were proposing an extended communities activities program be set up and the Commonwealth Grants Commission was approached for financial assistance to such a scheme.

During 1974 a $50,000 Commonwealth Government grant was received by the Shire Council to acquire the Fitzpatrick property as part of the Shire's planning to establish an "extended community activities program". Council's Committee recommended an annual budget of $26,950 for the program and the project was named the Living and Learning Centre and in charge of the program was the first co-ordinator, Carina Hack. The activities were planned to cover "practical skills for living" and included cooking, preserving, gardening, animal husbandry, home economics, electronics, carpentry, hairdressing, making children's clothes and car maintenance. Hobbies and arts and crafts that would include amongst other future items, winemaking, music spinning and weaving and painting.

Physical description

Black and white photo print 9 x 12.5 cm