Eltham ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District. Its local government area is the Shire of Nillumbik. At the 2011 Census, Eltham had a population of 18,162.
Eltham is one of the 'green wedge' areas that provide relatively undeveloped, accessible environments within the Melbourne suburban region. These green wedge areas are under constant pressure from developments such as road and freeway expansions, but Eltham has managed to retain many tree-lined streets and leafy reserves. However, the character of the suburb is changing rapidly, with increased road traffic and higher-density housing becoming more common.
Eltham's tourist attractions include the artists colony Montsalvat and the Diamond Valley Railway, the largest ridable miniature railway in Australia.
History
Eltham developed around what is now Main Road from the 1840s. A reserve for a village at the junction of the Diamond Creek and Yarra River is shown on maps around 1848. By 1851 the first Crown allotments were being subdivided and sold, along with a private subdivision developed by T. M. Holloway, known as Little Eltham. At this time, the town's centre was located around the intersection of Pitt Street and Main Road.
Eltham Post Office opened on 1 February 1854.
The arrival of the railway line in 1902 drew business further north along Main Road to the current town centre.
Appeal to artists
Eltham is famous for the Montsalvat artist community, which built a rustic set of medieval-style buildings in the 1930s.
Aside from the Montsalvat artist community, Eltham has also been home to artists such as Walter Withers and Neil Douglas, as well as to writers such as Alan Marshall and Mervyn Skipper.
Education
Eltham encompasses the state secondary school, Eltham High School, as well as a private girls secondary school, the Catholic Ladies' College (CLC) Catholic Ladies College, Eltham. Another private secondary school, Eltham College of Education, takes its name from Eltham, but is located in nearby Research. Primary schools include Eltham Primary, Our Lady Help Of Christians Primary, Eltham East Primary and Eltham North Primary School. There are various childcare and early learning centres available. Several schools are also located in the exclusive connecting area of Eltham North, including St. Helena Secondary College, Plenty Valley International Montessori School, Holy Trinity Primary School, Glen Katherine Primary School and near ELTHAM College there is Research Primary.
Transport
Eltham has a local train station, Eltham Station, located on the Hurstbridge Line.
Eltham also has local buses, that go up to Warrandyte and Diamond Creek, one also goes around the back streets of Eltham.
Sport
The suburb is home to the Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club.
Eltham Eagles Soccer Club and Eltham Cricket Club are also popular gathering points.
Eltham Old Collegians Football Club competing in the VAFA
Eltham Football Club, known as the Panthers is an Australian Rules Club competing in the Northern Football League. Eltham Rugby Union Football Club is centrally located in Bridge St with teams for all groups including Masters.
The suburb is home to the Eltham Tennis Club, one of the largest tennis clubs in the Nillumbik Shire.
Eltham Little Athletics Club is one of the largest of the eight clubs competing weekly at the Diamond Valley Little Athletics Centre at Willinda Park, Greensborough.
Eltham is home to the Eltham Bowling Club. The club has both grass and synthetic greens.
Eltham Netball club