Nillumbik Shire Council is seeking to permanently protect the historic Eltham home and workplace of famed Australian author Alan Marshall.
Amendment C133 to the Nillumbik Planning Scheme, which is now on public exhibition, proposes to amend the Heritage Overlay at 13 Park Road West to preserve what is known as the Alan Marshall Bungalow and surrounds.
The bungalow was built in 1955 and is historically significant as the home and workplace of Alan Marshall until 1972.
Marshall was a prominent Australian writer, story teller, humanist and social documenter.
While living at the Park Road West property, Marshall wrote several important publications including his best-known work, I Can Jump Puddles in 1955 – the first of a trilogy of fictionalised biographies which was followed by This is the grass in 1962 and In Mine Own Heart in 1963.
He also wrote the historical book Pioneers & Painters: One Hundred Years of Eltham and its Shire in 1971.
A heritage overlay for the property was first applied in 2001, however, it only covers part of the bungalow and the rear of the site. Amendment C133 seeks to redress this issue, ensuring permanent protection of the bungalow as a significant historic place.
Council is seeking feedback on the amendment, which can be viewed at Council's community engagement website Participate Nillumbik, www.participate.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/amendment-C133.
Submissions in writing about the amendment can be made until Monday 12 July 2021.
Picture: Alan Marshall with secretary Pat Wiltshire, c.1970, in his bungalow at 13 Park Road, Eltham (presently Park West Road).
From the Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph collection held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library.
