that had attracted painter and artisan for many years (although Montsalvat, the artists' colony, had been standing for less than 20 years). Some of our walks led through or past the arts and crafts areas of Montsalvat - with its wattle-and-daub, pise and mud-brick constructions and pottery kilns - just before Eltham was destined to become fashionable.

My introduction to Gronow's van was on a November walk from Britannia Creek to the Big Pats Creek Road on the far side of Warburton. Gronow's van had its rear covered (but only when necessary, if raining or dusty) with a tarpaulin drop. After leaving a bitumen-surfaced road the van would stop, and the tarp would be lowered. Everyone inside the van would don their cape groundsheet and pull the hood well over their heads, so as to minimise the dust that still came swirling in past the tarp. When the van returned to the bitumen, or the party disembarked, there would be much slapping and shaking out of dust-encrusted gear.

Federation Weekend, circa 1950.
Hans Eisfelder