Streets and drains were the basic infrastructure problems for Kew in the 1880s. Decent streets and drains were fundamental to the quality of life of the residents. Without drainage, streets became muddy, boggy and sometimes impassable. Pools and puddles of stagnant water became smelly. The run off water, mixed with human and animal wastes, because there was no sewerage, became a health hazard. Streets and drains then became what were known as 'a nuisance'. Kew suffered from bouts of typhoid fever during the 1880s. Derrick Street was a private street on the margin of the business district of Kew and a well-used thoroughfare. We hear first about Derrick Street when the ratepayers applied to Council to have the street 'taken over' in January 1881. The Council agreed, after much debate, but ratepayers had to pay half the costs. The argument of the majority of the Council was that there was an established policy that ratepayers of private streets either had to hand over the street fully-formed or pay half the costs if Council did the work. It was felt that to make an exception for Derrick Street would create a precedent for ratepayers of other private streets. On the other hand the ratepayers, and a minority of Council, believed that there were extenuating circumstances in the case of Derrick Street. They believed that the costing by the Borough Surveyor was excessive. They felt the Council was partly responsible for the state of the street due to a channel on Bulleen Road, which deposited sand in the street. The Council had also put in some kerbing at the entrance to the street. Finally, the ratepayers believed that the street had become an important and convenient thoroughfare in Kew, and thus should be an exception to the policy on private streets. In the end a decision was delayed to allow the ratepayers to drain and form the street themselves. And there the matter stood till September 1882, when Miss Reilly complained about rubbish on a block of land in Derrick Street. So, in October 1882 the Council agreed to take over and form the street with the ratepayers paying half the costs. The ratepayers did not want to pay, so the argument continued in Council into 1883. There was a standoff for a further 18 months, until the problem could no longer be ignored. In October 1884 the Inspector of Nuisances and the Health Officer reported that Derrick Street was a health hazard as there was no drainage outlet for waste water. These reports changed the status of the problem of Derrick Street. It became an issue of public health, and thus the Council, acting as the Local Board of Health, had power to prepare plans and order the ratepayers to drain the street and pay all the costs, or let the Council do the work and charge ratepayers half the costs of the works. By April 1885, the time for ratepayers to complete the works themselves had expired, so the Council proceeded with the work and required ratepayers to pay for their share of the costs. All ratepayers had paid by the end of April except Mr Whiddycombe, who refused to pay. Mr Whiddycombe was warned to pay in October 1885. Legal action was taken against him in November. The Council lost the case on technical grounds. The Council, acting as the Local Board of Health, relaunched the legal action and won. The last we hear of Derrick Street is that seven day’s notice was given to Derrick Street ratepayers to pay for the drainage works in May 1887. We presume that Mr Whiddycombe paid. (Research: Andrew Frost)Rare and historic publication issued by the Board of Health in the Borough of Kew in 1885 to residents of Derrick street regarding the need for proper drainage for the purpose of improving public health.Printed formal notice sent by the Board of Health of the Borough of Kew to landowners in Derrick Street, Kew. The notice advised the owners that they were required to form and drain the street according to the levels and specifications approved by the Board. The letter was sent on January 23rd 1885, and signed by the Inspector of Nuisances.borough of kew -- greater melbourne (vic.), council notices -- public health, derrick street -- kew (vic.)

A civic campaign for new public offices developed in Kew in the 1880s. After much deliberation, the location chosen was the junction of Bulleen and Cotham Roads. The buildings were designed by George Watson and John Henry Harvey, architects within the Department of Public Works (Victoria). Building was commenced in 1887, and after one year, the buildings were opened. The Post Office was transferred to the new Commonwealth Government in 1901. The Police Station and Court House, sold by the Victorian Government to the City of Boroondara in 2007, are now a community cultural centre and performing arts venue.The buildings were listed on the Victorian Heritage Register Register (HO885) in 1991. They are historically and architecturally significant to the State Of Victoria because Watson and Harvey's designs exhibit diversity in integrating civil offices, they accommodate the apex of road junctions, and they demonstrate a departure from the contemporaneously favoured High Victorian Classical to the Queen Anne style in the design of civic buildings. 35mm colour transparency of an original plan by George Watson and John Henry Harvey, architects of the Department of Public Works (Victoria), in 1887 for New Public Offices at Kew. This plan was copied by the donor from an original held at the Commonwealth Archives in Brighton (Vic). The copy was made to illustrate a report that the donor made on ‘The functional planning design, building materials and construction methods of the Kew Post Office’ as part of course work at RMIT.SITE AND DRAINAGE PLAN / SCALE 16' TO 1"kew court house, kew police station, kew post office, architectural drawings, khs - slides, new public offices -- kew (vic.), architecture — queen anne style

Two handwritten pages with extracts from the Bendigo Advertiser Mining Intelligence. Notes mention making arrangements with other mines to resume bailing, Victoria Quartz still shaft sinking despite strong flow of water, Lansell's 180 preparing to bail water from the deep levels, so that the Victoria Quartz may continue shaft sinking and finishing cutting of plat at 4454 ft. Also a weather report on the 14/6/1910. From the Albert Richardson Mining History Collection.gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, water problems, bendigo advertiser mining intelligence 18/4/1910, 9/5/1910, 23/5/1910, 30/5/1910, 6/6/1910, 13/6/1910, victoria quartz, lazarus coy, lansell's 180, albert richardson

Handwritten notes from Bendigo Advertiser reports. (1) Mr J. H. Craig reports- Victoria Reef Quartz - Cleaned and tested No 3 boiler. Have bailed 3,905 tanks. Water now 2.953 feet from surface. At Lazarus - Bailed 4,828 tanks. At New Chum Railway - Cleaned and tested boilers and flues, effected repairs to machinery and shaft, and started bailing at 3 pm on Friday 29th inst, and bailed 965 tanks. Bendig Advertiser 3/8/1910 Page 2 Mining Intelligence. (2) New Chum Mines - Better progress is now being made in lowering the water in the deep level workings at the New Chum Mines. At the Victoria Quartz, the water which on Monday stood at 3073feet, has been lowered 70 feet during the past four days. The pumping service at the New Chum Railway was in operation yesterday, and the winding plant is fully occupied. There is a considerable quantity of water toraise, and the companies have a difficult task before them. Bendigo Advertiser 5/8/1910 Page 2. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, new chum mines drainage problems 1910, bendigo advertiser 3/8/1910 page 2, mr j h craig, victoria reef quartz, lazarus, new chum railway, bendigo advertiser 5/8/1910 page 2, albert richardson

Handwritten copy of Bendigo Advertiser report 15/8/1910. '' Mining Intelligence''. 'return from New Shenandoah very poor. Crushing material drawn from eastern formation at 280 feet. Water - 'Bailing of water is occupying attention in the other mines, but very little progress is being made'. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, bailing of water, bendigo advertiser 15/8/1910 page 2, new shenandoah, albert richardson

Handwritten copy of reports from the Bendigo Advertiser regarding water in the mine. (1) The bailing of water is occupying attention in other mines (from Shamrock North) to the Victoria Quartz. The water despite the efforts of the companies engaged bailing, continues to rise. Bendigo Advertiser July 18th Page 3. (2) Victoria Quartz Half Yearly Meeting, Lapsed, No quorum. Directors' Report: Sinking of shaft carried on till 14th June, when it was 4,614 ft. deep. Progress very satisfactory. Progress very satisfactory considering increase of water. As water was interfering with work, made arrangements on 3rd May, that 180 Mine should bail, and Minister of Mines agreed to allow, expense to be charged against work subsidised by Government. Arrangements now made for Lazarus, 222 and New Chum Consolidated mines to bail to unwater line of reef. Victoria Consols, Ironbark, 83, and Hercules and Energetic Companies have undertaken to contribute to cost, and Gov't will allow this to be charged on grant. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, victoria quartz, bendigo advertiserjuly 18th page 2 mining intelligence, bendigo advertiser 20/7/1910 page 3, lazarus, 222, new chum consolidated, victoria consols, ironbark, 83, hercules and energetic, albert richardson

Handwritten copy of a report from the Bendigo Advertiser 25/7/1910. 'A Weeks Record. On Monday, July 18th, water level at Victoria Quartz was 3034 feet. On Saturday (July 23rd) the water had only been lowered to 3059 feet. A gain of 25 feet for a week. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, drainage problems new chum line, victoria quartz, bendigo advertiser 25/7/1910 & 23/7/1910, albert richardson

Handwritten notes from a Bendigo Advertiser report 7 Jan 1907. Three shifts of men working all Saturday and Sunday had not located the main. A large are of Eaglehawk and the City are without water. Had to timber a hole to a depth of 25 ft. Victoria Quartz, Windmill Hill, Needle, Confidence Ext'd, Princess Dagmar, Golden Age, Golden Pyke, Macduff, constellation, Gt Northern, (partly), Specimen Hill, Clarence, New Argus, Comet, Gt Central Victoria and Victoria Consols had to close because they had no water and five to six hundred men believed to be out of work. City Council will put water-carts on and supply residents free of charge. New Moon, South Moon, Virginia , Catherine and Devonshire mines get their water direct from the water race so they did not close down. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, burst water main under garden gully sandheap, bendigo advertiser, 7/1/1907, victoria quartz, windmill hill, needle, confidence ext'd, princess dagmar, golden age, golden pyke, macduff, constellation, gt northern, (partly), specimen hill, clarence, new argus, comet, gt central victoria, victoria consols, north johnsons, johnson's reef, snobs hill line, new moon south moon, virginia, catherine, devonshire, albert richardson

Two handwritten copies of a Bendigo Advertiser report 16/6/1910 Page 7. This is a longer version of 3600.14. It was thought that the rush of water was from a dam bursting in one of the other mines, but as the water showed no signs of slowing that theory was discarded. The temperature of the incoming water was much higher than the Victoria Quartz was accustomed to bail, and this circumstance is significent in view of the increased temperature of the water at the deep levels in the New Chum Railway. Some months ago, the water commenced to flow from the New Chum Railway workings into the New Shenandoah, which is the next mine north. The water rose so rapidly that a disaster was narrowly averted. The mines along the line were connected at different levels and with the cessation of bailing at the deep levels in the southern mines, it was only to be expected that the water would find its way north to the Victoria Quartz. The water raised from the operating mines under the direction of the New Chum Drainage Association, a yeart or two ago used to exceed six million gallons per month. At that time there were eight companies bailing water, and even then some of the plants, especially those at the deep mines, were severely taxed in coping with the water, and performing ordinary work. Since some mines had discontinued bailing, the water has been filling up extensive workings, and as was predicted in the ''Advertiser'' some time ago, the Victoria Quartz Company could not expect to succeed with its deep sinking project without making some special provision for raising the water, which ultimately would become a source of trouble. The Victoria Quartz Company was allotted a special grant of 10,000 pound to assist in sinking the shaft 1000 ft from the 4254 ft level. Under the conditions of the grant, the Company had to contribute half the cost of the sinking, and the raising of the water has also been an exensive item. For the present, all attention will be concentrated in lowering the water, and should the appliances prove unequal to the task the deep sinking scheme can only be accomplished by resorting to some comprehensive system of combating the water'. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, inrush of water at the victoria quartz, bendigo advertiser 16/6/1910 page 7, mine reports 13/6/1910, victoria quartz, lansell's 180, mr stevens, mr w abraham, new chum & victoria mine, new chum railway, new shenandoah, new chum drainage association

Six pages of handwritten notes regarding the New Chum Drainage Proposals. Extracts from the Bendigo Advertiser mentioning the rising of the water in the New Chum Mines. An Advertiser report 27/12/1910 mentions that deep mining will have to be abandoned owing to the absence of some proper scheme to cope with the water. An arrangement had been made by which the companies affected along the line should contribute to a scheme. Suggestions made that the water be lifted by electric pumps. Baling with tanks had been tried for 6 months and then abandoned. Directors Report Victoria Reef Quartz Jan 1911 mentions unwatering had been carried on with assistance of Government. On the 20th Dec, one rope gave out. Decided that replacing it and doing the necessary work could not be met in the present financial conditions. It was also considered that the costof trying to reach the bottom reefcut in the New Chum Railway could not be continued by baling as its cost proved too expensive, while it could probably be done economically & effectively by electric pump which is now subject to negotiations with the Mining Dept.' At the end of the report is a Balance Sheet. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, new chum drainage proposals, bendigo advertiser 11/1/1911 page 7, victoria quartz, victoria consols, bendigo advertiser 5/7/1910 page 3, mr h v whitelaw, mines dept, insp ross, lansell's 180, 222, new chum consolidated, lazarus, bendigo advertiser 6/7/1910 page 7, 9/7/1910 page 9, drainage troubles, bendigo advertiser 8/7/ page 8, new chum railway, south belle vue, eureka ext'd, bgo adv 25/7 1910, 27/12/1910 page 2, rae's machine, bendigo advertiser 2/1/1911, mr mcbride, mines dept, mr stanfield, mines act, bendigo advertiser 16/1/1911 page 3, victoria reef quartz half yearly meeting 1911, directors report and balance sheet, geo paynting

Handwritten notes from a Bendigo Advertiser report, Thursday June 16th 1910. Management had for some time been apprehensive that the flooding in the deep mines to the south would affect them. Lansell's 180 took the precaution of baling. On the Tuesday night the men at the Victoria Quartz had a sensational experience. The storage dam at 3324 ft level receives the overflow from the flooded mines to the south. The level connects with the 3310 level at the Big 180. The water flows uninterrupted into thestorage dam which has a capacity of about 270 tanks. The dam had been emptied on Tuesday morning and work continued until 10 pm that night. The platman noticed that the water was coming down the shaft in a regular torrent. They didn't take much notice as they thought it was a leakinig outlet valve on the ascending tank. At 11 pm the releiving shift came down the shaft and said that the dam at 3,324 ft must be overflowing. The velocity of the water pouring down the shaft increased and the men made a hurried exit from the bottom of the shaft which is down 310 ft from the 4.254 ft plat (a total depth of 4,564 ft). An inspection of the dam at the 3324 ft level found it to be overflowing. By morning (Wednesday) the shaft had filled, and the water rose to 7 ft in the plat at 4254 feet. Mining inspector hgave orders that men were not to go below the 3324 ft level. Baling continued without cessation at the Big 180 all day and could not lower the water. Drilling machines etc and a powerful air winch at the 4254 ft plat are under water. An inspection made of the 3100 ft level at the 180 mine where the workings are connected with the New Chum & Victoria showed that water was running strongly from that mine proving that the inrush was due to flooded water from the southern deep mines to the south. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage scheme, miners sensational experience at the victoria quartz, bendigo advertiser 16/6/1910 page7, lansell's 180, big 180, new chum & victoria

Handwritten copy of a report in the Bendigo Advertiser 24/5/1907. ''Serious break in Water Main which is situated about 100 yards south of the mine. Main service pipe which supplies Harveytown has been leaking for some time past. Water soaking through old surface workings into the Belmont & Saxby shaft where it rose 60 feet and filled two x-cuts, one out weat 208 ft, and the other out east about 45 ft. Ellenborough began baling on Sunday 26th May, and it will take many days before work can be resumed. The mine was only working one shift and no men were underground at time of in rush''. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, ellenborough flooded, bendigo advertiser, 27/5/1907, harveytown, belmont & saxby, ellenborough, albert richardson

Handwritten copy of a report in the Bendigo Advertiser 12/7/1910 Page 2. New Chum Mines. Progress of Bailing Operations. The bailing operations at the New Chum mines have not yet had the desired effect of lowering the water. On the contrary the water continues to rise in the Victoria Quartz which is the mine most directly affected. It is expected that the necessary preparations at the Lazarus will be completed today when it is hoped that bailing will be commenced at that mine. The success of the bailing scheme will largely depend on the efforts of the Lazarus to cope with the water and the progress made during the next few days will be awaited with interest. It is generally believed that the great volume of water is coming north from the southern group of mines. The companies south of the New Chum Consolidated are not bailing, and the pumping service at the New Chum Railway which is installed down to the 550 ft. level has not been operated since that company abandoned work a few months ago. A perusal of the statistics of the New Chum Drainage Association shows that the pumps at the New Chum Railway were lifting on anaverage close on 1,000,000 galls of water per month in the winter. That great volume of water is now pouring from storage dams at 550 feet to the deep levels, and in the natural order of things will have to be lifted by the tanking system in vogue at the mines N.' Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, victoria quartz influx of water, bendigo advertiser 12/7/1910 page 2, victoria quartz, lazarus, new chum consolidated, new chum railway, new chum drainage association

Handwritten extract of the Victoria Reef Quartz Half-Yearly Meeting from the Bendigo Advertiser Wed 18/1/1911 Page 5. The meeting lapsed for want of a quorum. Director's Report states unwatering had been vigorously carried on with assistance of the Government. On 20 December, one rope gave out. After discussion, it was decided it was too costly to replace with the present financial condition of the Company. It was also considered that the cost of trying to reach the bottom reef cut in the New Chum Railway could not be continued by baling, as its cost proved too expensive, while it probably could be done profitably and effectively by electric pump, which is now subject to negotiations with the Mines Department.'' Also included is a Balance Sheet. From the Albert Richardson Mining History Collection.document, gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, victoria reef quartz half-yearly meeting, bendigo advertiser, 18/1/1911 page 5, new chum railway, mines department, balance sheet victoria reef quartz, ar

Handwritten copy of Bendigo Advertiser reports of water in New Chum Mines. (1) 'The water rose yesterday, 9 feet in the Victoria Quartz mine and now at 3215 ft. Bgo. Adv 6/7/1910 page 7. (2) 'New Chum Mines. Futile attempts to cope with water. Despite the fact that bailing is being carried on steadily, the water has risen 55 feet in the last 24 hours, and is now up to 3160 feet. New Chum Consolidated has since last week raised 327,000 galls, but the bailing has made no perceptible difference. The Lazarus to start on Monday.' Bgo Adv 9/7/1910 Page 9. (3) Letter to Adv by A. L.N. Excerpts. 'Bailing should have commenced at New Chum Railway.' 'The bulk of water is at South end. 3.5 million galls per month, divided between South Belle Vue, Eureka Extended and New Chum Railway.' 'In black and white, the Railway in the wet season, July last year with the aid of the Cornish Lift, raised 2.25 million galls, besides attending to those employed below.' 'Safe to say that 3.5 million galls per month could be raised from the present water level.' 'The plant is strong with abundance of steam space which would allow the firewood to be used economically under the barborous Cornish Boiler or wood-eaters'. Bgo Adv 14/7/1910. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, water in new chum mines, victoria quartz, new chum consolidated, lazarus, new chum railway, south belle vue, eureka extended, cornish lift, bendigo advertiser 6/7/1910 page 7, bendigo advertiser 9/7/1910 page 9, bendigo advertiser 14/7/1910

Handwritten copy of Bendigo Advertiser report 22/6/1910. 'Victoria Quartz. At time of inrush of water on Tuesday night, the shaft had reached a depth of 4,614 feet. Water has since risen in the shaft to above the 4,154 ft. plat and the large workings at 4,254 feet and 4,154 feet have also been filled. As there are no reef workings from 4154 feet to 3,424 feet, the waters will no doubt rise rapidly until that level is reached'. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association - drainage problems victoria quartz, bendigo advertiser 22/6/1910 page 7, victoria quartz

Two copies of the Victoria Reef Quartz Mine Managers report. The report mentions putting up the poppet heads, drainage assessment, water level and two men offered 50/- per week. Dates 14/6/1861, 22/6/1861, 18/10/1861 and 13/12/1861.document, gold, victoria quartz, victoria quartz, victoria reef quartz mine manager's report, victoria reef gold mines, gerraws, mr cook, mr sterry, mr mollison, endeavour coy, the victoria reef gold mines coy, ironbark co, endeavour, chenoweth, mr hoskins

Three typed and one handwritten copies of notes on the Victoria Quartz Mine. Notes include Size of Lease, Depth of Shaft, Locality, P;lant, Early History, Leading & Prominent, Best Gold and Gold Yield.document, gold, victoria quartz, victoria quartz, notes on the victoria quartz mine, goldmines hotel, mr william rae, lansell's 180, mr e j dunn, geological branch of the mines department, new chum railway mine, new chum drainage association, mines dept special edition australian mining standard 1/6/1899, mines dept booklet 'bendigo goldfield' 1936, mines dept annual and quarterly reports, annals of bendigo, a richardson

Radio Transcript or script, 7 foolscap typed pages, double spaced titled "Wireless Talk -- Mr. J. D. Barton Staff Officer MMTB - Melbourne Street Transport No. 2". Report looks at the history of horse bus routes in Melbourne, building of the cable trams, the Parliamentary Bills for the cable trams, constructing the lines, Mr. G. Duncan, Mr. Clapp, construction difficulties, the Melbourne Tramway Trust, MTOC, drainage issues, bridges, alterations to the Act, Patent issues with a London company, opening dates and comments about wire rope. Could be a few pages missing given the way it ends, no thank you or formal ending. Item noted dated, presumed late 1920's.Has pencil notation in top left hand corner "6 copies"trams, tramways, public transport, radio stations, horse buses, mto co, melbourne, cable trams, mtt

Set of two comb bound drawings for the "St Georges Road - Merri Parade to Miller St - Rehabilitation of Tramway and Divided Road", stippled card covers, providing details of plans, drainage, cross sections, track locations for the reconstruction of the roadway. Prepared Dec. 1988, used 1989. 621.2 Second volume titled "Amended Cross Sections" Prepared by the Road Construction Authority - RCA - Road Design Group Team 2. See Reg item 2653 for reports prior to the work being undertaken.trams, tramways, st georges rd, thornbury, northcote, tramways, road works, construction