Salvation Army Barracks/Baptist Church/ (Eltham)

According to the entry in the Eltham Heritage Inventory this timber building was erected in 1904 for the Salvation Army in London Street. In 1905 it was shifted from there to its present site at 29 York Street. The Eltham Heritage Inventory records that the builder was Mr Thomas of Melbourne, along with local labour.

However, the late Russell Standish, in his history of Eltham writes that the barracks opened on 30 July 1894 in London Street. This is also confirmed by Alison Robinson in her book about the Salvation Army in Stratford and Eltham. She states that it was moved to the new site in 1904 (actually 1905) by W.C. Page and reopened on 22 January 1905.

In 1904 the Salvation Army's request to move their barracks to York Street were initially opposed by the council on the grounds that buildings in this location were now required to be built in brick. However, at a council meeting in September 1904 the council acceded to the Salvation Army's request and permission was granted. The building was shifted in January 1905 and the first meeting at the new location was held on 20 January 1905. 

At some stage the building was handed over to the Baptist Church.