Sir Walter Carncross and Charles Wilkinson purchased 45 acres (18 ha) here in 1919.
Construction of workers' cottages was planned along the Highway 3 frontage but only six were eventually completed.
The park was developed during the Depression of the 1930s by unemployed workers as a memorial to those who lost their lives in World War I.
Colloquially known as 'Snake Gully' - possibly because of its twisting road but more likely as a reference to the popular Australian-outback radio serial of the time, 'Dad and Dave of Snake Gully'.
The whole reserve includes the Soldiers' Memorial Park, the Eltham Golf Club, a swimming pool, playground, skatepark and walkway.
The walkway through the park also passes the remains of Eltham's first sewage scheme which opened in 1918.
Please do not reproduce these images without permission from Puke Ariki.
Contact us for more information or you can order images online here.
