The correspondent of The Argus recorded that: "The Parliament of the Commonwealth was opened yesterday by the Duke, of Cornwall and York, under a Commission signed by Queen Victoria and subsequently endorsed by King Edward VII. The ceremony was marked by the splendour and solemn impressiveness which befitted its historic importance. ... To-day the Heir to the Throne will review some 15,000 Australian troops at Flemington. ... It is a function which, on a lesser scale, might have been arranged at any time for many years past; but it could never previously have conveyed the meaning it does now. Soldiering was popularly regarded as a pastime here until South Africa tried the mettle of our men. It is serious business from henceforth. Those who followed the nascent aspirations of the volunteer soldiery in Australia must be impressed at the rapidity of their fulfillment. ... The document design has artistic and aesthetic merit. While it is not rare, it is representative of the kinds of formal designs used for the Australian Commonwealth celebrations at the time of Federation, and is in excellent condition. Such items as this invitation have local, state and national historic significance as mementoes of a key moment in Australia's history. Locally, the invitation is part of a group of Federation-related items owned and displayed at 'Fairyland' by Mrs Grace Tabulo, and a rare survivor of that collection.An invitation, mounted on card to the Royal Review held at Flemington racecourse on Friday 10 May 1901, as part of the Government of Victoria's Australian Commonwealth Celebrations. The border is vividly decorated with flags, shields and a large coat of arms. The photographic images depict various scenes of Flemington in Melbourne, in addition to two separate portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. Illustrations of military servicemen on foot and horseback flank the central block of text. The invitation was part of the 'Fairyland Collection assembled by Jim and Grace Tabulo. The name on the certificate was expunged.Printed: AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATIONS/ The Government of Victoria/ requests the honour of the presence of/ [name deleted] / AT THE/ ROYAL REVIEW/ at Flemington on Friday/ the 10th of May 1901. Reverse: Mrs G. Tabulo, 57 Malmsbury St.federation events, royal review - 1901, federation -- invitations, grace tabulo -- fairyland -- 57 malmsbury street -- kew (vic.)

The correspondent of the Argus on 10 May 1901 wrote: "The Parliament of the Commonwealth was opened yesterday by the Duke, of Cornwall and York, under a Commission signed by Queen Victoria and subsequently endorsed by King Edward VII. The ceremony was marked by the splendour and solemn impressiveness which befitted its historic importance. An immense assemblage of spectators, drawn mainly, of course, from this state, but in part also from each of the other federated states, and including representatives of other portions of the British Empire and of foreign powers, thronged the spacious, stately, and joyously decorated edifice. The picture was magnificent. It must have printed itself indelibly on the sensitive minds of the thousands of Australians who were privileged to behold it. We may assume that artists will reproduce it in worthy and imperishable forms, and that from generation to generation it will be familiar in the households of the Commonwealth. Our children's children, we may gladly say to-day, will not be ashamed of the function which inaugurated the self-governing rights of the southern British Nation. Nothing was omitted which could add to the grandeur and significance of the occasion. In a broad sense the proceedings were perfectly intelligible to the vast and sympathetic gathering, though the natural limits of a single human voice had to be accepted. The King's son, with his consort and the Governor-General and Lady Hopetoun by his side, and supported by the Governors of the states and other eminent personages, fulfilled his doubly-attested Commission with a simple dignity and a modest manliness altogether admirable. The ceremony was a brilliant spectacle, and, in its sentiment and suggestiveness, an inspiration to a loyal and patriotic people."The document design has artistic and aesthetic merit. While it is not rare, it is representative of the kinds of formal designs used for the Australian Commonwealth celebrations at the time of Federation, and is in excellent condition. Such items as this invitation have local, state and national historic significance as mementoes of a key moment in Australia's history. Locally, the invitation is part of a group of Federation-related items owned by Mrs Grace Tabulo, and displayed at her home - Fairyland - at 57 Malmsbury Street, KewAn invitation, mounted on card to an evening reception at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on 9 May 1901, to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall as part of the celebrations of the opening of the first Federal Parliament. A figure of Britannia, in red dress and mailed vest holding a shield like the Union Jack, is on the left of the invitation; she reaches out her hand towards a younger female figure, representing Australia, who is dressed in blue and holds a shield which is white with a blue cross decorated with stars. The writing is on a scroll in the centre of the certificate, and there is a border of vines and vine leaves. The royal crest is at the base of the certificate. Front, printed. gold ink: "His Majesty's Ministers of State for the Commonwealth of Australia request the honour of the presence of / ****l (handwritten) / In the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on Thursday, 9th May, 1901, to witness / the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. / Edmund Barton / Prime Minister." Front, bottom left, printed: "The Young Queen / Her hand was still on her sword hilt - the spur was still on her heel ... (and further text) KIPLING'S COMMONWEALTH ODE." Reverse: Mrs G. Tabulo, 57 Malmsbury Streetaustralia -- federation -- 1901, invitations, parliament -- opening -- 1901, grace tabulo -- fairyland -- 57 malmsbury street -- kew (vic.)

A report in the Ballarat Star on 8 May 1901 recorded that: "THE CONVERSAZIONE. A GREAT SUCCESS. The conversazion given by the Government of Victoria at the Exhibition was very largely patronised. the guests includ ing the Prime Minister and a goodly proportion of the distinguished personages now in Melbourne. A programme of high-class music was gone through, and refreshments were served during the evening. Australian wines were very prominent."The document design has artistic and aesthetic merit. While it is not rare, it is representative of the kinds of formal designs used for the Australian Commonwealth celebrations at the time of Federation, and is in excellent condition. Such items as this invitation have local, state and national historic significance as mementoes of a key moment in Australia's history. Locally, the invitation is part of a group of Federation-related items owned and displayed by Mrs Grace Tabulo, the owner of 'Fairyland', 57 Malmsbury Street, Kew.Colour lithograph mounted on card to an evening event, a conversazione, held in the Exhibition Building on the evening of Tuesday 7th May 1901, as part of the Australian Commonwealth Celebrations. The Government of Victoria hosted the event. The invitation shows an etching of the Exhibition Building, surrounded by an ornate border of heraldic shields, portraits of the Duke and Duchess, views of Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Hobart, and native flora (including wattle, waratah, pink heath, Sturt’s desert pea, and flannel flower), and native fauna (kookaburra, possum, lyre bird, cockatoo and koala). The royal crest ‘Dieu et mon droit’ and the Australian crest, ‘Advance Australia’ are also included.Printed front: UNITED AUSTRALIA 1901 / ONE FLAG / ONE HOPE / ONE DESTINY; AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATIONS / THE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA requests the honour of the presence of / [name deleted] / at a Conversazione in the Exhibition Building on the Evening of Tuesday 7th May 1901 at 8 P.M. Reverse [handwritten]: Mrs G. Tabulo, 57 Malmsbury St.sands & mcdougall ltd, documents - invitations, first commonwealth parliament 1901, grace tabulo -- fairyland -- 57 malmsbury street -- kew (vic.)

The smoker's hat was made for the grandfather of the historian Dorothy Rogers (nee Richardson) by her grandmother. Dorothy Rogers' grandparents lived in Malmsbury Street, Kew. The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. Most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women. There are however a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Smoker’s [lounging] hat made of dark green velvet, and hand embroidered with yellow and green silk thread and topped with a lime green tassle. Nilsmokers hat, lounging hat, men's clothing, dorothy rogers

'Fairyland' at 57 Malmsbury Street, Kew - the home and garden of Jim and Grace Tabulo - was a major local, state and international tourist attraction from the 1940s to the mid 1960s. The Kew Historical Society's collection contains original photographs, visitor books and items that were once displayed in the house by the Tabulos. Grace Tabulo died in 1973 and is buried with her husband Jim in the Boroondara General Cemetery (PRES B 1973). Following her death at the age of 88, the house was sold and its contents distributed. The cottage is now a private residence.The 'Fairyland' collection is of local and statewide significance, as a varied and comprehensive record of this major Melbourne tourist attraction.Large, original black and white print positive of the owner of 'Fairyland' Grace Tabulo, with two visiting children who watch a pet myna bird take food from Mrs Tabulo's mouth. The room, like the rest of the house (and garden) includes numerous mementos and decorative items. While there is no marking to the reverse, it may be that this photo was professionally taken by a press photographer.Nilgrace tabulo, fairyland, 57 malmsbury street

'Fairyland' at 57 Malmsbury Street, Kew - the home and garden of Jim and Grace Tabulo - was a major local, state and international tourist attraction from the 1940s to the mid 1960s. The Kew Historical Society's collection contains original photographs, visitor books and items that were once displayed in the house by the Tabulos. Grace Tabulo died in 1973 and is buried with her husband Jim in the Boroondara General Cemetery (PRES B 1973). Following her death at the age of 88, the house was sold and its contents distributed. The cottage is now a private residence.The 'Fairyland' collection is of local and statewide significance, as a varied and comprehensive record of this major Melbourne tourist attraction.Large, original black and white print positive of the owner of 'Fairyland' Grace Tabulo, with two visiting children who watch a pet myna bird take food from Mrs Tabulo's mouth. The room, like the rest of the house (and garden) includes numerous mementos and decorative items. While there is no marking to the reverse, it may be that this photo was professionally taken by a press photographer.Nilgrace tabulo, fairyland, 57 malmsbury street

The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) was established by an act of the Victorian Parliament in 1890 to prepare for and to implement a sewerage and water reticulation system across what was then inner Melbourne, its surrounding and middle distance suburbs, including Kew. The MMBW was disbanded in 1991.The map collection of the Kew Historical Society has at its core the historic maps assembled and originally stored in the City Engineer's Department of the City of Kew. These include maps in a number of scales. The vast majority of maps were produced by the MMBW in the first two decades of the twentieth century, and are solid working maps, backed by linen for durability. These maps are historically significant to Kew, the City of Boroondara and to the history of the development of state utilities in Victoria. A number of the Kew maps have additional details added by former municipal officers, including the levels reached by various floods. As these were working documents, information was added to them long after the period of their initial production and distribution.Early map of part of the Borough of Kew, created in the first decade of the twentieth century, at a scale 160 ft to 1 inch. The map covers what was then the south central part of Kew, bordered on its north by Malmsbury Street, in the west by Florence Avenue, in the south by Barkers Road, and in the east by Princess Street. The map shows the extent of urban development by that time, prominent institutions and the outlines of built structures in the municipality. Contour lines were added in ink to the map at a later stage.MELBOURNE AND METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS / PLAN NO. 65 / KEW & HEIDELBERGmelbourne & metropolitan board of works, mmbw maps, mmbw plans, borough of kew, cartography

The Municipality of Kew was granted independence in 1860. It was declared a borough in 1863, a town in 1910 and a city in 1921. In 1994, Kew was amalgamated into the new City of Boroondara.Black and white photographic positive of the front of the (former) Kew Town Hall in Walpole Street between High Street and Malmsbury Street, on the west side where Woolworth's supermarket now stands. The photograph, from August 1970 shows the detailing of the Italianate rendered-brick facade, added in the 1880s when the hall was renovated. The earliest building on the site was the Kew Athenaeum Hall (built 1860) which was purchased by Kew Council in 1865. The Town Hall was sold to Woolworth's and subsequently demolished in 1972 when the civic offices were transferred to a new building on the corner of Charles Street and Cotham Road."Old Kew Town Hall / Walpole St / Aug 1970/ Gift of Stewart West 1990"kew town hall -- walpole street, local government -- kew, civic buildings -- kew (vic.), town halls -- melbourne (vic.)

The Municipality of Kew was granted independence in 1860. It was declared a borough in 1863, a town in 1910 and a city in 1921. In 1994, Kew was amalgamated into the new City of Boroondara. In 1960, a new Town Hall in Cotham Road was opened. The Municipal Offices that had remained in the former Town Hall in Walpole Street until it was moved to the new Civic Centre on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street in 1972.This is a rare and important colour photograph of the Kew Municipal Offices (former Town Hall) taken on 11/2/1972 in the year that the building was demolished and replaced by a Safeway Supermarket.Colour photographic positive (polaroid) of the front of the (former) Kew Town Hall in Walpole Street between High Street and Malmsbury Street, on the west side where Woolworth's supermarket now stands. The photograph, taken in February 1972, shows the detailing of the Italianate rendered-brick facade, added in the 1880s when the hall was renovated. The earliest building on the site was the Kew Athenaeum Hall (built 1860) which was purchased by Kew Council in 1865. The Town Hall was sold to Woolworth's and subsequently demolished in 1972 when the civic offices were transferred to a new building on the corner of Charles Street and Cotham Road.kew town hall -- walpole street, local government -- kew, town halls -- melbourne (vic.)