This mounted and framed photograph of a group of friends punting on the River Yarra has a number of historic and artistic associations. The photograph is primarily important as an informal photograph of the Australian baritone John Donald Mackenzie Brownlee (1900-1969), whose international career at the world's major opera houses from 1927 until his retirement in 1958 included singing at Melba's Covent Garden farewell in 1926, to recordings in the 1930s of a major series of Mozart operas in Glyndebourne Festival productions, conducted by Fritz Busch. Brownlee, born in Geelong, won the gold medal as champion vocalist at the South Street competitions in Ballarat in 1921. Moving to Paris in 1923 he began study with the French baritone, Dinh Gilly, making his operatic debut at the Trianon Lyrique in Montmartre in 1926. The most significant periods of his operatic career were with the Paris Opera from 1927 to 1936, and at the Metropolitan Opera from 1937 to 1957. After his move to Paris in 1923, he is recorded as revisiting Australia in 1928 as a member of the Melba-Williamson Company, and 24 years later in 1952. The photograph of Brownlee and the Gardners in a punt on the Yarra, while putatively dated to 1925, must be from earlier in the 1920s before his move to Paris, or later during the Melba-Williamson Company season. Before his move to Paris in 1923, Brownlee had lived in Belmont Avenue, Kew, where he must have developed a friendship with the Gardners. The photograph has additional artistic significance as it was produced at 'The Artorium', James Beament's design studio next to the Hawthorn Town Hall at 362 Burwood Road. With a home at 33 Uvadale Road (designed by Eric Nicholls, who managed the architectural practice of Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Grifffin from 1924 to 1932), Beament painted a number of significant murals for the Griffin practice, including those at the Capitol Theatre in Melbourne.A photograph of recreational activities on the River Yarra. The photograph is historically significant as a professionally produced photograph of the Australian operatic baritone John Brownlee, either before his move to Paris in 1923, or in 1928 during the Melba-Williamson Company operatic tour of Australia. The photograph has additional aesthetic significance as it was produced in James Beament's Hawthorn Studio - The Artorium - at 362 Burwood Road, next to the Hawthorn Town Hall.Framed photograph of John Duncan Brownlee, the Australian tenor, with Enid Gardner and friend in a punt on the Yarra River. Brownlee was born in Geelong but before his move to Paris in 1923, he lived for a period in Belmont Avenue, Kew. Three labels on reverse. 1. "John Duncan Brownlee, Operatic Star, originally of Geelong later resident of Kew at Belmont Av, on the pole. Also in the punt - Edith Gardner a friend. The Gardners lived on the east corner of Edgevale Rd. & Cotham. Approx. 1925." 2. "This picture is the property of Kew Historical Society 1/4/79". 3. Tel. Hawthorn 842 THE ARTORIUM ...."john brownlee (tenor), punting, recreation - yarra river (kew), james beament, the artorium -- 362 burwood road -- hawthorn (vic.)

Obtained by Secretary of Melbourne Athenaeum in 1972 (Mr Leslie Stephens) to see the advertisement for library membership that was included in the program. Includes a loose page documenting advertising rates in the Theatre program. Melbourne Theatre Company programs often included advertising for the library. MTC later leased the Athenaeum Theatre.Paper program for a play performed at the Russell St Theatre 24 October until 18 November 1972; coloured cover; 20 p. includes articles about the play, the actors and advertisementsmelbourne theatre company, russell st theatre, program, a touch of the poet, eugene o'neill, the university of melbourne, australian elizabethan theatre trust, melbourne city council

The program includes articles about the play, the actors and advertisements.Advertisement for Athenaeum Library included in the program.Melbourne Theatre Company Season Ten - Program; 20 pages.melbourne theatre company, rusell st theatre, sticks and bones, david rabe, the university of melbourne, australian elizabethan theatre trust, melbourne city council

Several programs of the Melbourne Theatre Company performing at Russell Street Theatre contained advertising for the Melbourne Athenaeum Library. Melbourne Theatre Company leased Athenaeum Theatre from 1977 season to 1985Paper program for a play performed at the Russell St Theatre 17 July until 5 August 1972; green cover; 20 p. includes articles about the play, the actors and advertisementsThe front cover has a message for the secretary Mr Stephens regarding future advertising for the seriesmelbourne theatre company, russell st theatre, jugglers three, david williamson, the university of melbourne, australian elizabethan theatre trust, melbourne city council, program

coloured brochures 750 outstanding musicians 130 extraordinary concerts 35 magical venues including: Melbourne town hall assembly hall athenauem theatre 1 athenauem theatre 2 Basement discs baptist church Cathedral room-ANZ Gothic Bank the melbourne club rauquet courts melbourne town hall council chambers miettas lounge gold vaults old treasury building 101 collins Street Scots Church 333 collins street capitol cinema city square kay croddocks antiquarian book shop gallery 101 melbourne town hall reception area mitre tavern novetel on collins micheals brasssere JJclark room 120 collins street reserve bank foyer the bzw colins street grand music promenade, athenaeum theatre one, the australian art orchestra, athenaeum theater two, the aspern papers, that, geoffrey tozer piano, roger woodward piano, nathan waks cello, stephen mcinytre piano, rita reichman piano

Book - 16 pages + textured grey covers, centre stapled, titled "An Invitation from the Tramways Benefit Hospital Clinic", giving details of the Private Hospital at Capitol House, Swanston St Melbourne. Gives details of the hospital and its facilities, operated by "The Mutual Benefit Society of the Employees of the MMTB", with contact details, photographs of the Operating Theatre, Masseur, Dental Clinic, Nose and Throat specialist, eye clinic, Mortality fund, ambulance, and the General Office. For full copy see i2.pdf, text searchable when opened as a separate file. Second copy added 20-04-2019 from Bob Prentice Collection.Has (1947) in ink in the top right hand corner.trams, tramways, mmtb, hospital, benefit society, employees, personnel