Nillumbik Shire, like its predecessor, Eltham Shire, has been well known for its painters, writers and creatives; conservation, the integration of architecture with the environment, mud-brick buildings, Montsalvat and more. But did you know it has a gold-mining history and once extended to the Kinglake district?
In 1970 in the lead up the centenary of the Shire of Eltham, the community was asked to contribute photos and stories to a history project. Original photos were lent to the Council, copied and returned. This project, managed by local author Alan Marshall, led to the publication of Pioneers & Painters: 100 years of Eltham and its Shire published in 1971.
The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection’. It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.
The collection was fully digitised in 2013 and is accessible online via our catalogue (advanced search) and EDHS’s catalogue on Victorian Collections.
In 1970 in the lead up the centenary of the Shire of Eltham, the community was asked to contribute photos and stories to a history project. Original photos were lent to the Council, copied and returned.
It is the first community-sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.
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The Collection includes images from the Kinglake district, part of the Eltham Shire when it was first established - from the early 1870s, Kinglake National Park, Queenstown, Christmas Hills, Panton Hill, Yarra Glen, Warrandyte, Kangaroo Ground, Research, Eltham, Montmorency, Briar Hill, Lower Plenty, Hurstbridge and Diamond Creek. It also includes photos of the Shire of Eltham early residents’ reunion, the opening of the Eltham Library in 1971, the Shire of Eltham Council members at the time of the centenary celebrations, the centenary official dinner, the launch of Pioneers and Painters, the centenary buffet dinner, procession of floats and stream train excursion during the centenary celebrations. The Shire of Eltham staff members during the centenary celebrations and works of various artists.
Images have been used in marketing collateral in the form of postcards and other material, displays, newsletters, presentations, HistoryPin , social media and more.
In 2017 images from the collection were used to inspire artists to create a collection of panels known as Our Eltham Artistic Reflections at Eltham Cemetery. Information about the images and images of the panels are provided in a booklet, available online.
Research and information about the images have continued to evolve over the years, especially since the advent of resources like Trove with its local historical digitised newspapers.
As time goes by, this significant collection becomes more valued as geographical landscapes and ways of life change. It continues to connect us to the past.
Local History Collections are held at Diamond Valley, Eltham, Ivanhoe and Mill Park Libraries. Recently published titles are available for loan.
Our hero photo is one of a series taken at the opening of the Eltham Pool located in Eltham Central Park on Saturday December 19, 1936. An "unsettled and sultry" day that reached a top of 28 degrees. It was opened by W.H. Everard, MP together with Councillors Braid and Kirkland who cut the ribbon. The pool was located in Eltham Central Park and operated until the early 1980s when the Eltham Leisure Centre was opened.
