E is for Eltham

I suppose Eltham shouldn't be in this series because I am not camping there...but I do visit often. Besides, it smells really good and I notice every time I get out of the car when I arrive...that very Australian eucalyptus aroma. And it is my home town. And this gorgeous picture is looking down the driveway of my childhood home. I won't bore you with the tale of how this is all gone now and how six two storey houses are being built there. *sigh*

This is the dead centre of Eltham.

Ok, I confess, it is the Eltham Cemetery, but so beautifully landscaped and maintained it is a lovely spot for a walk. 

Next to the cemetery is Monsalvaat, originally a bohemian artist colony. It had a 'bad' reputation among the mainstream Elthamites when it was in its infancy. It was viewed as a place of debauchery and (shock, horror) nudity. Now it is much more mainstream but still a hub for artists and exhibitions. 

If you drive through the main street, you will miss the newly re-vamped town square situated behind the shops. 

This mural features many of the animals indigenous to the area with the Yarra River flowing the full length.

An inhabitant of particular note is the Eltham Copper Butterfly which has a symbiotic relationship with a particular bush and species of ant. The adult butterfly lays its eggs on the roots of the sweet bursaria bush which grows at the base of eucalypt trees. The ants, have a nest among the roots of the bush.  The ants 'farm' the caterpillar, stimulating it so that it secretes a sugary syrup which the ants eat. During the day when the caterpillar is prey to birds, the ants herd it down into their nest for safety. It is herded back out at night to feed on the bursaria. The caterpillar pupates in the ant nest.

Okay, that's enough of Eltham....although I could go on and on and on.....