Tour of Main Road Eltham 1968

Eltham District Historical Society welcome members and visitors to the first meeting of the year on Wednesday, 14th February 2018 at 8:00 pm at the Eltham Senior Citizen’s Centre.  The meeting will introduce Historypin.
50 years ago, in February 1968. Big changes to the Eltham township were afoot with the pending duplication of Main Road. A series of approximately 50 photos were taken in February 1968 by an unknown person of the section of Main Road planned for duplication, commencing at Pitt Street and travelling towards Research through the shopping centre, finishing at Elsa Court.
These images now form a showcase collections on Historypin, an online tool which combines with Google Street View to transition between views from ‘Then’ to ‘Now’.  A number of key images will be viewed with the opportunity to provide comments and personal recollections.

Eltham District Historical Society – 2018 Community Group of the Year

Nillumbik Shire Council this week recognised the work of the Eltham District Historical Society by awarding it the 2018 Community Group of the Year.  It was awarded at the Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony in Eltham on 26th January 2018.

Eltham District Historical Society President Jim Connor said: ‘I am very pleased to accept this award on behalf of all members, past and present, who have contributed to our historical society, since it was established in 1967. Our society appreciates this recognition, especially as it follows the celebration of our 50th anniversary in 2017. Each of the significant milestones and achievements over the last 50 years have been the result of consistent efforts by dedicated and passionate believers in our local history, intent on encouraging the recognition and preservation of our valuable historical records representing activities and events that have occurred in the Eltham area. Receipt of this award is another page in the history of the Eltham District Historical Society. Stories of history we tell not only shape our past, they shape our future as well.  We look forward to being an active part of Nillumbik’s future.’

Congratulations to Eltham District Historical Society.  Visit it's collection on Victorian Collections 

Eltham on display

Duck Pond, Alistair Knox Park, Main Rd. Eltham

Visit the Eltham District Historical Society exhibition at Eltham Library during June. The exhibition includes a photograph collection from the former Shire of Eltham from the 1980's illustrating people and places, including these lovely ladies enjoying a bite in the sunshine. If you were involved in this photographic project, recognise any of the people photographed and can relate any further information, we would love to hear from you.  Please speak with Library staff or email EDHS via their website.

Eltham District Historical Society is celebrating 50 years in 2017.

Walter Withers in Eltham

The Drover by Walter Withers.  Painting in the collection of the Bendigo Art Gallery.  Souce: Wikipedia Commons

The next meeting of the Eltham District Historical Society will be Wednesday 14th June 8.00pm at the Eltham Senior Citizens Centre.

Guest speaker will be Andrew Mackenzie OAM, Art Historian, Lecturer, Heritage Consultant, Archivist and Author of many books including the life of Walter Withers (1854-1914).  At this meeting Andrew will talk about Walter Withers in Eltham.

There are a number of strong connections between the Withers Family and early Eltham.  Not only did Withers establish his home in the township in 1902, he painted a number of his significant paintings around Eltham and the local area.  Including local butcher and returned serviceman William Capewell in his famous painting The Drover.

All welcome.

Thompsons Pharmacy, Eltham

Pharmacist   

Shortly after the First World War Ivan Thompson, a pharmacist in Fairfield, expanded into the Diamond Valley by opening pharmacies in Etham, Greensborough and Watsonia.

In the early 1950s Norm Williams considered he was fortuante to be able to serve an apprenticehip with Ivan Thompson at his Eltham pharmacy.  He was with the business when it moved in 1952 to the present site at 964 Main Road, Eltham, which was the first brick shop built in the Eltham Town Centre.  When in 1958 Ivan Thompson decided to sell his pharmacies Harry Brown and Norm Williams were able to purchase the Eltham business and expanded with pharmacies in Fairfield and Lower Plenty.

At the next meeting of the Eltham District Historical Society, Norm Williams will speak about how Thompsons Pharmacy has developed. while continuing to supply a range of services for generations of Eltham families.  His stories, supported by a collection of personal photographs and recollections, will entertain as well as give an insight into how pharmacy practices and the Eltham Shopping centre has changed.

Wednesday 8th June 2016 8.00 pm at Eltham Senior Citizens' Centre, Library Place, Eltham

Eltham Memorials Walk

Over the the past two years the Eltham District Historical Society along with other similar  organizations has participated in the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War. Their next heritage excursion on Saturday 7th May is a further event in that commemoration.
Within the local area many memorials, honour boards and the like were installed after that war. New memorials and additions to the earlier ones were established after the Second World War and there have been subsequent conflicts that are also commemorated.
Within Eltham there are a number of memorials dedicated to locals who served Australia in times
of war. This walk will visit a number of memorials along Main Road, Eltham starting with the heritage listed Avenue of Honour. Along the way there will be stories of some of those who are honoured on the memorials. It will include a visit to the EDHS Local History Centre where there will be a display featuring memorials beyond the area of the walk.

Visitors are welcome to attend this excursion, which is about 2 km in length and will take 2 to 2.5 hours. It will start at 2pm at the car park in Wingrove Park near the intersection of Main and Mount Pleasant Roads. (Melway ref.21 J8). This is a one-­way walk finishing at the Eltham shopping centre.
Private arrangements are required to return to the start, such as bus or a return walk.
This free walk is open to the general public as well as Society members.
Dogs are not permitted on Society excursions.

Laughing Waters Road

Jane Woollard will be the guest speaker for Eltham District Historical Society's Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 13th April at 8pm.

She will talk about her recently released book: Laughing Waters Road.  This book has recently been added to the local history collection at Eltham Library.

Jane who was the local history officer at the Shire of Nillumbik has a detailed knowledge of the history of the area.  She has an extensive background as a writer, theartre director and teacher.  She has woven together the experiences and art making of more than eighty artists, who since 2001 have been in residence at Laughing Waters in Birrarung Road and Riverbend, together with Wurundjeri, European and family histories to create an evocative account of a very special place in Eltham.

Eltham District Historical Society meet at the Eltham Senior Citizen's Centre, Library Place, Eltham.

Eltham District Historical Society online

The Eltham District Historical Society have announced the launch of their new online presence; spearheaded with a major upgrade to their website and a new domain name URL, www.elthamhistory.org.au.

It is a refreshing modern update with newly added material and featured content and now easier to navigate.  The site also has the ability to easily share content via social media connectivity buttons, as well as the capability for providing feedback and comments.

To complement the new website and further extend their online presence, a new Facebook Community Organisation page, Eltham District Historical Society Inc, as well as a new presence on Twitter, @ElthamHistory – EDHS has been established.

Feel free to share your own family stories of people, places and life in the Eltham district. 

Feedback and comments are welcome.

Eltham Pioneers Collection

Photo: SEPP_0049 Loading fruit for market, Kinglake (Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph collection)

Eltham District Historical Society kicks off its 2015 program of events on Wednesday 11 February highlighting photos from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph collection.  This collection of over 400 photos in total includes a large geographic area extending from Kinglake to Lower Plenty.

It is hoped that interested audience members will share their own memories, recollections and further insight about the photos that will be shown.  All welcome.

EDHS meets at the Eltham Senior Citizen’s Centre, Library Place, Eltham.  Wednesday 11 February at 7.30 pm.

Laughing Waters walk

The Eltham District Historical Society’s next walk is along Laughing Waters Road, Eltham to its eastern end and returning partly over the same route – a total distance of about 2.5km. On the way the tour will access the two artist in residence properties to view the houses (from the outside) that are associated with Alistair Knox, Gordon Ford and others in the local mud brick and artistic community.

The walk on 7th September will start at 2pm at the corner of Laughing Waters and Overbank Roads Eltham (Melway Ref. 22 F9). There is limited parking at this location so please park carefully.
The walk is along a well-formed bushland road but parts of the short driveways are a bit steep and rough. This free walk is open to the public as well as Society members. It should take about 2.5 hours. Dogs are not permitted.

Tim Burstall’s Eltham Characters

The Memoirs of A Young Bastard
Years before he became one of Australia’s best-known film directors, Tim
Burstall lived with his wife Betty in Napier Crescent, Montmorency. Betty
was also to become famous in her own right as the founder of “La Mama”
experimental theatre. The Burstalls were heavily involved in the Eltham
social scene that included the Montsalvat community.

“Tim Burstall’s Eltham characters” are part of a panel discussion at the next meeting of the Eltham District Historical Society Wed 11 September at the Eltham Senior Citizen’s Centre. All welcome

Eltham then and now

The next meeting of the Eltham District Historical Society will take place in the multipurpose room of Eltham Library this Wednesday 10th July.

The presentation will include a review of  a range of photographs taken by an unknown person as they walked along Main Road in Eltham in 1968. These provide an interesting snapshot of the precinct at that time and on the night will be compared with current photographs of the same locations. 

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.

Heritage Walk – Research Valley Views

The Eltham District Historical Society November Heritage walk will include

sites of historic interest close to the Research Shops and a walk through the 1940s subdivision that forms the southern part of Research. However, the main feature of the walk is the view of Research Valley and beyond as the group walks back into the valley along the power line easement track.

This walk will start at 2pm on Saturday 3rd November at the Research Shopping Centre in Main Road (Melway Ref. 22 G2). The distance is about 3.5km and it will take about two hours. There is no charge and the

walk is open to Society members and the general public.

For enquiries prior to the day ring Sue on 9439 9520.

Phone number of contact on the day is 0409 021 063.

Reading:  

Return to Research

Eltham Mud Brick walk

As part of the regular excursions program offered by the Eltham District Historical Society the next visit will comprise a guided walk through the precinct covering John Street, Eltham and nearby streets, where there is a concentration of mud brick houses dating from the 1940s through to quite recent times. This free walk, led by Russell Yeoman, passes houses built by Alistair Knox, Gordon Ford, Peter Glass and others who made significant contributions to the Eltham tradition of earth building.

The walk will start at the Eltham Local History Centre, 728 Main Road, Eltham at the corner of Brougham Street (Melway Ref. 21 J7) at 2.00pm on Saturday 7^th July. The distance is about 3 km and will take 2 to 2.5 hours.

This walk will traverse the streets of Josiah Holloway’s 1851 Little Eltham subdivision.

All welcome but numbers are limited.  Bookings required:

Russell on 0409 021 063 or email edhs1@bigpond.com

Eltham Gateway northern walk

Join the Eltham District Historical Society for a heritage excursion Saturday March 3rd. Meet at 2.00 pm at the Local History Centre, 728 Main Road, Eltham.

The Eltham Gateway is the name adopted for the section of Main Road Eltham leading from the roundabout at Fitzsimons Lane to the Eltham town centre.

The name has its origin in a 1987 planning report for Eltham Shire Council that identified this precinct as having special characteristics that warrant special planning protection. The area includes historic and other "Eltham character" buildings, significant parkland and extensive canopy tree cover. The land fronting this section of Main Road now has its own special planning controls that are intended to preserve the character that is so important to Eltham and its residents.

This part of Main Road has been the main entrance to Eltham from the earliest times of European settlement. Originally the only access was through Lower Plenty but 50 years ago the Fitzsimons Lane Bridge over the Yarra River was opened, providing alternative access. This joined Main Road at Eltham South and from there the traditional road into Eltham was followed.

Part of today’s Main Road follows Maria Street of Josiah Holloway’s 1851 subdivision of Little Eltham. It is well known local history that before the coming of the railway in 1902 the Eltham "town centre" stretched along Maria Street, generally between Brougham and Bridge Streets. The remaining buildings from this period provide a significant character component of today’s Eltham Gateway.

The Eltham District Historical Society's Eltham Local History Centre at 728 Main Road (cnr. Brougham Street, Melway ref. 21 J7) is about halfway along the Gateway and so provides a convenient starting place to walk the northern part. The walk is on Saturday 3rd March, starting at 2pm. The length is about 2km. There are many stops along the way so it will take about two hours. There is no charge and the walk is open to Society members and the general public.

The walk will extend northerly as far as the Eltham Library. It will pass many old Eltham Township buildings and we can look at photos of how they appeared in earlier times. In Alistair Knox Park we can see modern sculptures and signs on the Heidelberg School Artists’ Trail. The return walk is along the Diamond Creek path.

The Local History Centre will be open at the conclusion of the walk for those who want to view the displays, have a cuppa or a chat.

Please book with Russell at edhs1@bigpond.com

Lower Plenty River Red Gum Walk

Join Eltham District Historical Society members on their next local heritage walk

The predominant feature of this walk in the Bonds Road area, Lower Plenty is the large number of magnificent old River Red Gums that line the route. The walk also includes parts of the historic Cleveland Estate and Henry Stooke’s “Rosehill” homestead as described in the separate historical article in this Newsletter. From the southern part of Cleveland Avenue there are extensive views across and along the Yarra Valley.

This walk will start at 2pm on Saturday 5th November at the corner of Bonds Road and Stawell Road (Melway Ref. 33 B1). It is about 3 km. in length and will take about two hours. Parking is available in Montpelier Drive.

This free walk is open to Society members and the general public. The phone number for contact on the day is 0409 021 063.

Eltham walk to Killeavey

The next walk of the Eltham District Historical Society is a walk to "Killeavey"

“Killeavey” was the home of Sir William Irvine, Victorian and Federal Parliamentarian and Supreme Court Judge. Later it was the home of his daughter Beatrice Morrison, a significant personality in the Eltham community. The original house was destroyed by fire and its replacement has been demolished by Parks Victoria. The site sits high above the Yarra River near the south end of Reynolds Road. It contains garden remnants, including significant trees and a stone wall.

We will start our walk to “Killeavey” on 3rd September at the corner of Mt Pleasant and Reynolds Roads, Eltham (Melway Ref. 22 E7). Parking is available in Reynolds Road south of Mt Pleasant Road. This walk of about 3km will start at 2pm and take about two hours. It will be on unsealed roads and bush tracks that are mainly quite solid but with a few muddy patches, so appropriate footwear is recommended. The walk is mainly within a bushland section of the Yarra Valley Metropolitan Park where dogs are not permitted.

Doug Orford will join us on this walk and will talk about the former Orford family property in Reynolds Road.

Bring some afternoon tea for our stop at “Killeavey”. Those who would rather remain active could explore around this interesting site.

This free walk is open to Society members and the general public. Contact phone number on the day is 0409 021 063.

Eltham District Historical Society coming events

Coming Events…..you are invited

Saturday 6th November (2.00 pm) – HERITAGE WALK – TOM ORR’S FARM
Our next Heritage Walk this coming Saturday 6th November continues our series on local road names.

The Panorama Heights Estate in Montmorency South is a residential area of winding streets lined with ndigenous local trees and includes many secluded parks and walkways. Prior to its subdivision in the 1920s this was Tom Orr’s farm, a favourite painting place of Walter Withers. After it was subdivided by land developer John Quinn the sale of land and house building proceeded very slowly and much vacant
land remained in the 1970s.

The walk will not be one of historic buildings and the like. Rather it will be a pleasant walk led by Russell Yeoman through informal streets and parks, imagining the past landscape that inspired Walter Withers and looking at aspects of this unusual 1920s subdivision. The distance is about 4km and includes a couple of steep hills. The walk will start at 2.00 pm at the car park in Grand Boulevard
opposite the Montmorency South School (Melway Ref. 21E 7/8). The contact phone number on the day is 0409 021 063.

The Panorama Heights Estate was unusual for its time, although to some extent it emulates the subdivision designs of Walter Burley Griffin such as the heritage listed Glenard Estate at Heidelberg.
It includes winding streets, irregularly shaped lots, secluded parks at the rear of lots and connecting walkways. Its main street Grand Boulevard, originally Bonnevue Boulevard, has a very wide road reserve. It connects Main Road, Lower Plenty with Bolton Street Eltham and appears to be designed as an alternative route to Eltham from Lower Plenty.

The estate is bounded on the south by Main Road and on the east by Bolton Street and is shown highlighted on the map, which also shows all current street names. Many are family names but Bonnevue Boulevard and Buena Vista Drive are descriptive of their ridge location. All are welcome to attend this free event.

Wednesday 10th November – EDHS GENERAL MEETING
8 pm at the Eltham Senior Citizens’ Centre, Library Place Eltham

Since it was established in the 1930s by Justus Jorgensen, Montsalvat has played a major role in fashioning Eltham into the place we know today. It is far more than a unique collection of buildings, although these buildings were really the start of the tradition of mud brick and other vernacular styles of building that is now widely identified with Eltham.

Many of the people associated with Montsalvat have played a significant role in Eltham’s more recent history. These people and Montsalvat the place are an important component of Eltham’s artistic reputation.

Our guest speaker on this evening will be Mike Ridley,who is a volunteer tour guide at Montsalvat and has accumulated a wealth of knowledge about the place and its people. He is also a tour guide at the ABC Melbourne Studios where he previously worked in television. Other places in his tour guide repertoire are the Melbourne Cemetery and Gulf Station at Yarra Glen.

Mike has his own collections of photos of Montsalvat and these will be shown to illustrate his talk.

Participants in this meeting can be assured of an entertaining and informative evening. As at all meetings we welcome interested visitors and new members.

Sunday 14th November – ELTHAM CEMETERY VISIT

The historic Eltham Cemetery is currently celebrating its 150th Anniversary. Harry Gilham’s research on the cemetery includes information on Eltham pioneers from those early years, as well as details of interesting and important locals buried there in more recent times.

Harry will lead a further tour of grave sites on Sunday 14th November. It will include many sites not visited on previous cemetery visits.

The tour will start at 2.00 pm. Enter the cemetery from Mt Pleasant Road (Melway Ref. 21 K9) and proceed to the car park near the south-western corner. All are welcome to attend this free event.

Everyone is welcome to attend these free events from the Eltham District Historical Society

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