Rotunda, Alexandra Gardens (1910-c.1960). The Alexandra Gardens’ rotunda was located within three acres of ‘gem like’ gardens ‘bright with verdant lawns and choice blooms’ in the centre of Kew. Designed by architects Grainger and Little, the ornate two-storey wooden kiosk functioned as a children’s shelter on the ground level and a bandstand and oratory dais on the upper. Funded by council and community subscription, it was a ‘symbol of the public spirit of Victoria’ and a Kew Jubilee commemoration memorial. Opened in 1910, the Kew Brass Band christened it the ‘finest band rotunda in Melbourne’. Deterioration saw its demise 50 years later. This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.Lawn and original rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens, Cotham Road, Kew. The Alexandra Gardens were opened in 1908. The land on which the gardens were formed originally formed part of the Madford Estate. A feature of the gardens was a large brick, wood and tiled rotunda. "Alexandra Gardens. Formerly part of S. King. (Rest of Estate mainly belongs to St Anthonys home). Opened 1908. Alexandra Gardens. (Rotunda now demolished)"alexandra gardens, kew, dorothy rogers

The Kew Historical Society's map collection includes a substantial number of real estate subdivision plans, mainly of Kew but also of surrounding suburbs in Melbourne. Most of the subdivision plans date from the 1920s and 1930s when the districts old homes and local farmland were being split up to accommodate residential growth in the postwar period. These early plans were assembled by a local firm, Jas R Mather & McMillan, which had an office in Cotham Road. Many of the plans, and sometimes photos, were annotated by the agents.Subdivision plans are historically important documents used as evidence for the growth of suburbs in Australia. They frequently provide information about when the land was sold as well as evidence relating to surveyors and real estate and financial agents. The numerous subdivision plans in the Kew Historical Society's collection represent working documents, ranging from the initial sketches made in planning a subdivision to printed plans on which auctioneers or agents listed the prices for which individual lots were sold. In a number of cases, the reverse of a subdivision plan in the collection includes a photograph of a house that was also for sale by the agent. These photographs provide significant heritage information relating house design and decoration, fencing and household gardens.The photograph may also be aesthetically significant depending on the importance of the photographic atelier.The Normanby Estate, which was adjacent to Normanby Road, Kew East, included thirty-one lots for sale. Streets on the subdivision plan include Adeney Avenue, Park Hill Road, Normanby Road, Weir Street and Wharton Street. Cotham Road and its tramway are shown nearby. The plan is interesting as it shows Wharton Street, named after the architect and town planner George Wharton, who was the first chairman of the Municipality of Kew. The street was to later be renamed Cecil Street. Also shown are proposed ‘Municipal Gardens’ where Parkhill Drive is now located."D" in top left corner. Stamped auctioneers contact details: "Jas. R. Mathers & Son & McMillan / Auctioneer & Land Salesmen, / 271 Collins Street / Melbourne" and Jas. R. Mathers / Estate & Financial Agent / Cotham Road / Kew".weir street - kew, wharton street - kew, normanby road - kew, cotham road - kew, municipal gardens - kew, park hill parkhill road - kew, braemar - kew, subdivision plans - kew

Rare real estate brochure relating to the sale of a historically significant Kew mansion. The rarity the document is increased due to the photographs of the front of the house and of the extensive rear garden.Four page flyer advertising the sale of Goldthorns in Normanby Road, Kew in October 1931. The flyer contains a photograph of the front of the house, a list of its rooms, a site plan (including possible subdivisions). and a photo of the rear garden.goldthorns - normanby road, kew (vic), real estate - kew (vic), griffith family - kew (vic), gardens - kew (vic), subdivisions - kew (vic)

In 1979, a series of photographs of significant gardens in Kew (Victoria) were taken during a tour by Peter Watts, Historic Gardens Coordinator of National Trust Victoria. These were later purchased to add to the collection. In the case of each photo the colour had badly degraded over time. Original colour (degraded) positive photograph of the coach house of 'Roseneath', 37 Pakington Street Street, Kew.Annotated in ink reverse: "Coach House Roseneath / Peter Watts National Trust Historic Gardens Coordinator / Donated by Mavis Rolley"gardens -- kew (vic.), pakington street -- kew (vic.), roseneath

In 1979, a series of photographs of significant gardens in Kew (Victoria) were taken during a tour by Peter Watts, Historic Gardens Coordinator of National Trust Victoria. These were later purchased to add to the collection. In the case of each photo the colour had badly degraded over time. Original colour (degraded) positive photograph of 'Roseneath', 37 Pakington Street Street, Kew.Annotated in ink reverse: "Roseneath Pakington St / View of home from front / Mr Creed owner / Oct 1979"gardens -- kew (vic.), roseneath, 37 pakington street -- kew (vic.)

In 1979, a series of photographs of significant gardens in Kew (Victoria) were taken during a tour by Peter Watts, Historic Gardens Coordinator of National Trust Victoria. These were later purchased to add to the collection. In the case of each photo the colour had badly degraded over time. Original colour (degraded) positive photograph of 'Roseneath', 37 Pakington Street Street, Kew.Annotated in ink reverse: "Roseneath / Bamboo walkway / Taken by P Watts N Trust for Historic Garden Study / Oct 1979 / Purchased by KHS"gardens -- kew (vic.), roseneath, 37 pakington street -- kew (vic.)

In 1979, a series of photographs of significant gardens in Kew (Victoria) were taken during a tour by Peter Watts, Historic Gardens Coordinator of National Trust Victoria. These were later purchased to add to the collection. In the case of each photo the colour had badly degraded over time. Original colour (degraded) positive photograph of 'Burke Hall' [Xavier College], (formerly 'Studley Hall', 'Waverley'), Nolan Avenue, Kew. A view of the south facing facade. Annotated in ink and pencil reverse: "Burke Hall once Waverley / Early 1870s / in 1903 name changed to Studley Hall / 1926 Burke Hall / Oct 1979"gardens -- kew (vic.), burke hall, studley hall, waverley, nolan avenue -- kew (vic.)

In 1979, a series of photographs of significant gardens in Kew (Victoria) were taken during a tour by Peter Watts, Historic Gardens Coordinator of National Trust Victoria. These were later purchased to add to the collection. In the case of each photo the colour had badly degraded over time. Original colour (degraded) positive photograph of 'Raheen', Studley Park Road, , Kew. A view of the south facing facade. Annotated in ink on reverse: "Raheen Front View with sweeping driveway / Oct 1979"gardens -- kew (vic.), raheen, studley park road -- kew (vic.)

In 1979, a series of photographs of significant gardens in Kew (Victoria) were taken during a tour by Peter Watts, Historic Gardens Coordinator of National Trust Victoria. These were later purchased to add to the collection. In the case of each photo the colour had badly degraded over time. Original colour (degraded) positive photograph of 'Mynda', 5 Molesworth Street , Kew. Architect - Lloyd Taylor.Annotated in ink on reverse: "Miss Anderson's cottage garden and home / Front view / Built 1884 by Lloyd Taylor architect / Photo taken by Peter Watts, Historic Gardens Project Coordinator, National Trust / Purchased by Society 14/11/1979."gardens -- kew (vic.), mynda, 5 molesworth street -- kew (vic.)

In 1979, a series of photographs of significant gardens in Kew (Victoria) were taken during a tour by Peter Watts, Historic Gardens Coordinator of National Trust Victoria. These were later purchased to add to the collection. In the case of each photo the colour had badly degraded over time. Original colour (degraded) positive photograph of 'La Verna', (formerly 'Heathfield'), Sackville Street , Kew.Annotated in ink on reverse: "Laverna (Retreat) / Front view of vast lawns, huge pines, home beyond / Taken by P Watts, National Trust / Purchased by Society Oct 1979."gardens -- kew (vic.), heathfield, la verna, sackville street -- kew (vic.)

In 1979, a series of photographs of significant gardens in Kew (Victoria) were taken during a tour by Peter Watts, Historic Gardens Coordinator of National Trust Victoria. These were later purchased to add to the collection. In the case of each photo the colour had badly degraded over time. Original colour (degraded) positive photograph of 'La Verna', (formerly 'Heathfield'), Sackville Street , Kew.Annotated in ink on reverse: "Laverna Retreat Sackville St / View of sweeping rows of trees, lawn through portico / Purchased by Society Oct 1979."gardens -- kew (vic.), heathfield, la verna, sackville street -- kew (vic.)

In 1979, a series of photographs of significant gardens in Kew (Victoria) were taken during a tour by Peter Watts, Historic Gardens Coordinator of National Trust Victoria. These were later purchased to add to the collection. In the case of each photo the colour had badly degraded over time. Original colour (degraded) positive photograph of 'Inverkelty' (later Kiora, Baroona), 11 Redmond Street , Kew. The original attribution of the house as Red Bluff (or Yarra Bluff) owned by the Nott family is incorrect. An analysis of ownership from 1888 was completed by Lovell Chen (2005), Boroondara Heritage Review B Graded BuildingsAnnotated in ink on reverse INCORRECTLY AS : "Red Bluffs / 11 Redmond Street / Nott family 1888 / Front garden with fountain / Home in foreground / October 1979"gardens -- kew (vic.), inverkelty, kiora, redmond street -- kew (vic.), baroona

Brass and wood trophy shield awarded as the ‘Recreational Achievement Award’ to the Kew Garden Club in July 1979 by the City of Kew. The plaque includes the coat of arms of the former City of Kew.kew garden club

The first section of Raheen was commenced in 1870 with an extension added in 1884. It was designed by William Salway and built for Edward Latham of the Carlton Brewery. Original colour positive photograph (Kodak print) of the garden on the west side of 'Raheen' in Studley Park Road, KewInk on reverse: "Raheen 1979 / Donated by M Rolley"raheen, 96 studley park road -- kew (vic.), historic gardens -- kew (vic.)

Brass and wood trophy shield awarded as a ‘Kew Festival Community Service Award' to the Kew Garden Club in 1983 by the City of Kew. The plaque includes the coat of arms of the former City of Kew.kew garden club, trophies, awards

Colour photograph of Hays Paddock in East Kew taken by a Country Roads Board photographer. The reverse provides details of the negative and the purpose of the photograph.Reverse: "Hays Paddock. Tops of bank to be rounded gently, grassed & planted."hays paddock - kew east (vic), parks and gardens - kew (vic)