Mr Charlie Milthorpe is the first known occupant of the Op Shop. Charlie’s father and family arrived in the district from Bournemouth, England in 1870, and took up a local property.
In the 1880’s the family moved to N.S.W. byt Mr Milthorpe’s son Charlie, moved back to Diamond Creek as an orchardist with a property in Broadgully Road. His quinces won first prize at the Diamond Creek Horticultural Show of 1905.
He was also a local carrier and store keeper occupying the op shop for a number of years as a railway agent and carrier.
At this time the op shop had a neighbour on the railway side, a double fronted wooden shop which was later demolished for Brooke Crescent making the op shop a corner property.
On the east side the op shop acquired a new neighbour when Charlie Wilson married Helen Rose, the local baker’s daughter. He built a weatherboard house next to the op shop and their first child was born in 1917.
When Charlie Milthorpe retired from business the next tenants, if any, are unknown. After World War two, local identify, Bill Wadeson ran an electrical repair shop at the op shop and a visiting solicitor used its rooms for meeting clients. By 1962 Robertson’s Estate Agency was on site to be followed by the op shop.
Charlie Wilson’s house survived until the 1960’s with the last occupant being Mrs Pym. The house was later demolished and replaced by the portable class room for displaying more stock.
In earlier days, as an office for carrier Charlie Milthorpe, a useful service was provided for many locals.
This little shop is part of Diamond Creek social history and because of a generous donation will continue to serve the community with the help of its loyal volunteers.
by Kevin Patterson Nillumbik Historical Society (with permission)
Diamond Creek News Spring 2011 page 3
Photo: New Diamond Creek Op Shop, rear view under construction December 2012. Photo: Kevin Patterson, Yarra Plenty Regional Library
