895 and 903-907 Main Road Eltham
The Eltham District Historical Society notes the recent advertising by Nillumbik Shire Council for the sale of properties at 895 and 903-907 Main Road Eltham.
Our Society has previously stated our position on these properties on our website and Facebook page and directly to all Nillumbik Shire Councillors.
We repeat this statement:
Our Society is of the firm opinion that the original Eltham War Memorial complex of buildings including the entrance gates should not be sold, nor demolished. The site should remain in community ownership and be retained as a form of living memorial with a specific focus directed towards the welfare of the children of the district to ‘be a constant reminder of those who fought for us and the little ones for whom they fought and died’.
Further, Eltham District Historical Society also holds the position that the three Mediterranean Cypress trees (Shillinglaw trees), which are well over 100 years old, still standing proudly in front of the adjoining former Shire of Eltham Office site, are of local heritage significance. These trees represent a navigational beacon between the past, present and future landscape and history of the district and are covered by a heritage overlay. The Society is determined that they should be protected; they should not be disturbed by relocation and that the land they reside upon should also remain in community hands, not private ownership.
The Eltham District Historical Society is disappointed there has not been full disclosure to prospective investors and developers of the historical value of the Eltham War Memorial complex and the Shillinglaw trees in this advertising information.
There are few historically related properties remaining in public ownership within our Shire. The property at 903-907 Main Road contains both First and Second World War memorials in commemoration of the members of our community who paid the ultimate sacrifice to benefit our future legacy. These memorials should be protected as sacred sites in perpetuity, held in community ownership and honouring the purpose for which they were intended and for which the land was donated by the community. They should not be sacrificed for short term gain nor placed in private ownership.
EDHS Position Statement download
Eltham District Historical Society Inc. 
WOW 😲😡 I went to kinder there and mum to me to health centre there and I took my babies there too. 😡😡😡 HANDS OFF ELTHAM COUNCIL!!!!!!!
LikeLike
I would like to see this left as a fairly open garden area, maybe with a cafe or two for people to sit and enjoy it though and I think since it is the memorial site, it would be fabulous if Council would commission Local sculpturist Leigh Conkie and his collegue Hikaru Kodama to do some war sculptures as they have at Greensborough. Now it would give people something to look at and enjoy while they had a coffee. Beautify the area, make the space usable and enjoyable, but don’t destroy it with units or just shops.
LikeLike