Eltham District Historical Society General Meeting – Edendale Farm

Eltham District Historical Society General Meeting – Edendale Farm

Wednesday 13th February 2013 8.00pm

Eltham Senior Citizens’ Centre Library Place, Eltham

The area known for many years as Edendale Farm was purchased from the Crown in 1852 by pioneer Eltham farmer Henry Stooke. He initially purchased 51 acres and later expanded his holdings by purchasing another three adjacent Crown allotments.

While he worked and cleared the land he did not actually reside on the site. The existing Edendale homestead was constructed in 1896 after the 51 acre holding was purchased by Thomas Cool, who used Edendale as his Eltham residence but did not farm the land. There has been an interesting history from the time Stooke established the property through to the current day.

At our meeting on 13th February our president Jim Connor will cover this story, as well as touch on future plans for Edendale, which is now owned and operated by the Nillumbik Shire Council.

Edendale Walk

The next heritage walk organised by Eltham District Historical Society is on Saturday 3rd July will visit Edendale Farm and nearby areas of interest. It will start from the Edendale car park in Gastons Road at 2pm and will take about two hours. Gastons Road runs off Wattletree Road between the Eltham North bridge and the railway crossing (Melway ref. 22 A2)

Edendale Farm now operates as Nillumbik Council’s environmental centre. The historic farmhouse has undergone recent restoration works. A brief history of this property was included in the last EDHS Newsletter (May 2010). The house and gateway sculpture “The Fences Act” are included in the Heritage Overlay in the Nillumbik Planning Scheme.

The walk will pass through the farm property and radiate to a number of other points of interest, including mud brick houses, the Eltham home of author Alan Marshall and Colemans Corner where the early road system has undergone some unusual changes. It will also traverse the north western corner of “Belle Vue Farm”, the subject of EDHS's July meeting.

There is no charge for this walk which is open to everbody. The distance is about 3.5km and it will take about 2 hours, Contact Russell for further information on 0409 021 063 including on the day contact.

For more information on Edendale Farm read the following article on Wikinorthia
Lade Family of Edendale Farm