Heritage Walk: Eltham Gateway – Saturday, 4th November 2023

Meet at 2.00 pm at the Local History Centre, 728 Main Road, Eltham

Jarrold family and cottage, Main Road, Eltham, 1911 (Photo: J.H. Clark, Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection)

The Eltham Gateway is the name given the section of Main Road south of the Eltham town centre together with adjoining areas.

It contains many sites of historical interest including a number with heritage overlays under the Nillumbik Planning Scheme.

We intend to cover the section between Bridge Street and the Main Road bridge over the Diamond Creek including both Main Road and the creek environs.

This walk on Saturday 4th November will start at 2pm at the Eltham Local History Centre, 728 Main Road Eltham. The distance is about 3 km and it will take about 2 hours. At the conclusion there will be an inspection of the refurbished Court House.

This free walk is open to the general public as well as Society members. Dogs are not permitted on Society excursions.

October Meeting: The Prize, Eltham Films 1959

Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 7:30pm

Eltham Senior Citizens’ Centre, Library Place, Eltham

Australian Film Director Tim Burstall

Our next meeting will be a special evening, if not a little unusual.

On pages 3 and 4 in this month’s newsletter there are articles about
Eltham Films, with particular reference to the film, The Prize, directed by Tim Burstall, 1958-1959.

As Burstall had strong connections with Eltham it would have been an easy decision for him and his associates to use the local area as the setting for his first film. Following this film Burstall went on to make many more. He became a key figure in Australian postwar cinema and was instrumental in helping to rebuild the Australian film industry, at a time when it had been effectively dead for years.

The film features Lisa Jacka, Dan Burstall, Marcus Skipper, Matcham Skipper, John Turner and Syd Webster with music composed by Dorian le Gallienne and conducted by George Logie-Smith. Technical assistance was provided by Matcham Skipper, Patrick Ryan, Hal Peck and Alistair Knox.

But who is who and what is where?

At this EDHS meeting we will take the opportunity to review the film and attempt to identify the main actors and where certain scenes were filmed around Eltham. Some locations may be more obvious than others. The actors are mainly children playing the characters in the film.

As always, Society members and visitors are most welcome to attend this meeting, at 7:30pm on Wednesday 11th October 2023 in the Eltham Senior Citizens’ Centre, Library Place, Eltham.