#ThrowbackThursday – Today we time travel back to the corner of Pitt Street and Main Road, circa September 1966 where we will commence our walk eastwards to Bible Street.
On the southeast corner of Pitt and Main we see the iconic Eltham Hotel with its sunny Beer Garden out back and Drive In Bottle Shop accessed from Pitt Street. A sign on the left advises us of roadwork ahead. Reconstruction of Bible Street and a number of the cross streets was undertaken by the Shire of Eltham as part of infrastructure upgrades from 1966 through 1968. Typically the underground services would be completed then new footpaths and nature strips along with many of the characteristic rock retaining walls. Lastly, the new road surfaces would be sealed.
As we head towards Bible Street we have to walk along the road. Pitt Street is still unsealed and there are no footpaths on the nature strip, just the odd track. On the left we see some of the large underground pipes placed on the nature strips in preparation for the roadworks that are under way. On the right we see a glimpse of Stebbing Cottage at 88 Pitt Street, built by George Stebbing over 100 years ago around 1860. In the distance we can see Pitt Street climbing the hill east of Bible Street.
As we dip down the hill towards Bible Street we can now see the local Milk Bar on the southeast corner of Pitt and Bible streets. A Bulla delivery truck is pulled up out front delivering a fresh load of milk, cream and ice cream. A red Telephone Box stands on the nature strip. Apart from the Milk Bar, no other buildings or houses are visible on the southern side of Pitt Street and only a few on the northern side as we look up the hill. Some children are riding on bikes.
As we arrive at Bible Street, also unsealed, we notice the red kerosene warning lanterns placed on stakes on the road verges around the intersection in preparation for the road works. The Bulla truck just pulled away. A little girl walks past us carrying a bag and heading up Pitt Street. The local Milk Bar also offers a Delicatessen and Self Service Grocery and Drive Through customer car park. Perhaps she just picked up some groceries from the Milk Bar for her mum who has promised to bake her a cake for afternoon tea.
What memories do you have of the Eltham Milk Bar and other local neighbourhood Milk Bars? It remains a survivor in our time poor, modern society; a link to a more leisurely pace in our past. There used to be two others within a short distance; one in Hartland Way and one in Eucalyptus Road, both now re-purposed more than a decade ago.
I remember that the Milk Bar was owned and run by the McColls for ages and there was also a Milk Bar at the end of Mt.Pleasant road near Main rf run by Mrs.Mitchell who used to bake home made scones every Sunday AND thee was a Milk Bar on Main road across from there run by the Merriman’s and FINALLy I remember the Milk Bar almost on Burgoyne’s corner which WAS Burgoyne’s and then run for a time by an American family the Saunders. Up the Pitt street hill on the left was a property owned by Gordon Ford who was a landscaper and gardener.
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Yes Robyn, lots of Milk Bars not too far from each other and easily reached by the kids. Most have gone now sadly but understandable as it must be really hard to compete nowadays and make a living.
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Fantastic Photos. Pitt street Milk Bar, my local for many years growing up in the 70’s and 80’s. If you rode your bike and followed Bible st around to Beard St; there was the Milk Bar on the cnr of Main and Beard. Nice Old lady used to run it. Also Mrs Dancy’s@ wattletree Rd. Milk Bar near luck and Main. Great memories.
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Glad you enjoy the photos Glen. We appreciate hearing your recollections also
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