The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) plans were produced from the 1890s to the 1950s. They were crucial to the design and development of Melbourne's sewerage and drainage system. The plans, at a scale of 40 feet to 1 inch (1:480), provide a detailed historical record of Melbourne streetscapes and environmental features. Each plan covers one or two street blocks (roughly six streets), showing details of buildings, including garden layouts and ownership boundaries, and features such as laneways, drains, bridges, parks, municipal boundaries and other prominent landmarks as they existed at the time each plan was produced. (Source: State Library of Victoria)This plan forms part of a large group of MMBW plans and maps that was donated to the Society by the Mr Poulter, City Engineer of the City of Kew in 1989. Within this collection, thirty-five hand-coloured plans, backed with linen, are of statewide significance as they include annotations that provide details of construction materials used in buildings in the first decade of the 20th century as well as additional information about land ownership and usage. The copies in the Public Record Office Victoria and the State Library of Victoria are monochrome versions which do not denote building materials so that the maps in this collection are invaluable and unique tools for researchers and heritage consultants. A number of the plans are not held in the collection of the State Library of Victoria so they have the additional attribute of rarity.Original survey plan, issued by the MMBW to a contractor with responsibility for constructing sewers in the area identified on the plan within the Borough of Kew. The plan was at some stage hand-coloured, possibly by the contractor, but more likely by officers working in the Engineering Department of the Borough and later Town, then City of Kew. The hand-coloured sections of buildings on the plan were used to denote masonry or brick constructions (pink), weatherboard constructions (yellow), and public buildings (grey). That area of Kew bordered by Cotham Road, Park Hill Road, Ermington Lane (now Ermington Place), and Belmont Avenue contained some of the significant homes owned by Kew pioneers. Chief among these was ‘Park Hill’ on an enormous lot facing Park Hill Road. The Jubilee History of 1910 noted, six years after this plan was drawn, that: ‘Park Hill Road, forming the southern boundary of the cemetery, takes its name from Park Hill, the residence of Mr. Thomas Judd, who has resided there since December, 1852.’ Other named houses on the plan include ‘Ferndale’ facing Cotham Road; ‘Ermington’ adjacent to Judd’s Park Hill, facing Park Hill Road; and ‘Gilden’ and ‘Mont Belmont’ facing Belmont Avenue. Mont Belmont was designed by the architectural firm of Reed, Henderson and Smart for William George Lilley in 1887 and was completed in 1888. Lilley was Mayor of Kew in 1887-88, a Justice of the Peace and a member of the first Board of Guardians of Kew’s St. Hilary’s Church of England.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, survey plans - borough of kew, mmbw 1591, cartography

The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) plans were produced from the 1890s to the 1950s. They were crucial to the design and development of Melbourne's sewerage and drainage system. The plans, at a scale of 40 feet to 1 inch (1:480), provide a detailed historical record of Melbourne streetscapes and environmental features. Each plan covers one or two street blocks (roughly six streets), showing details of buildings, including garden layouts and ownership boundaries, and features such as laneways, drains, bridges, parks, municipal boundaries and other prominent landmarks as they existed at the time each plan was produced. (Source: State Library of Victoria). This plan forms part of a large group of MMBW plans and maps that was donated to the Society by the Mr Poulter, City Engineer of the City of Kew in 1989. Within this collection, thirty-five hand-coloured plans, backed with linen, are of statewide significance as they include annotations that provide details of construction materials used in buildings in the first decade of the 20th century as well as additional information about land ownership and usage. The copies in the Public Record Office Victoria and the State Library of Victoria are monochrome versions which do not denote building materials so that the maps in this collection are invaluable and unique tools for researchers and heritage consultants. A number of the plans are not held in the collection of the State Library of Victoria so they have the additional attribute of rarity.Original survey plan, issued by the MMBW to a contractor with responsibility for constructing sewers in the area identified on the plan within the Borough of Kew. The plan was at some stage hand-coloured, possibly by the contractor, but more likely by officers working in the Engineering Department of the Borough and later Town, then City of Kew. The hand-coloured sections of buildings on the plan were used to denote masonry or brick constructions (pink), weatherboard constructions (yellow), and public buildings (grey). In MMBW Plan No.1592, the pink line indicates that area of the plan for which the contracting engineer was responsible. Included in the Plan are a number of primarily brick villas in a section of Belmont Avenue off Cotham Road. The house ‘Uvadale’ north of Belmont Avenue, and facing Cotham Road is also included in the contract. Excluded from the contract but shown on the Plan are ‘Glendonald’, ‘Mont Belmont’ and ‘Gilden’.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, survey plans - borough of kew, mmbw 1592, cartography

The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) plans were produced from the 1890s to the 1950s. They were crucial to the design and development of Melbourne's sewerage and drainage system. The plans, at a scale of 40 feet to 1 inch (1:480), provide a detailed historical record of Melbourne streetscapes and environmental features. Each plan covers one or two street blocks (roughly six streets), showing details of buildings, including garden layouts and ownership boundaries, and features such as laneways, drains, bridges, parks, municipal boundaries and other prominent landmarks as they existed at the time each plan was produced. (Source: State Library of Victoria)This plan forms part of a large group of MMBW plans and maps that was donated to the Society by the Mr Poulter, City Engineer of the City of Kew in 1989. Within this collection, thirty-five hand-coloured plans, backed with linen, are of statewide significance as they include annotations that provide details of construction materials used in buildings in the first decade of the 20th century as well as additional information about land ownership and usage. The copies in the Public Record Office Victoria and the State Library of Victoria are monochrome versions which do not denote building materials so that the maps in this collection are invaluable and unique tools for researchers and heritage consultants. A number of the plans are not held in the collection of the State Library of Victoria so they have the additional attribute of rarity.Original survey plan, issued by the MMBW to a contractor with responsibility for constructing sewers in the area identified on the plan within the Borough of Kew. The plan was at some stage hand-coloured, possibly by the contractor, but more likely by officers working in the Engineering Department of the Borough and later Town, then City of Kew. The hand-coloured sections of buildings on the plan were used to denote masonry or brick constructions (pink), weatherboard constructions (yellow), and public buildings (grey). The laborious task of hand-tinting these Board of Works plans was not without hazards as is evidenced by Plan No. 1593. On the Plan, the original colourist spilt black and green ink, partially obscuring some parts. The most obvious casualty is ‘Clifton’ located on the corner of Cotham Road and Park Street [now Adeney Avenue]. Included in this Plan, and outlined in pink is that part of the section that the contracting engineer was tasked with completing. This included sewering on both sides of this part of Cotham Road, but excluded properties such as ‘Glendonald’ and ‘Monnington’. This area was to undergo a series of subdivisions including the ‘Clifton Estate’, which created housing lots on Adeney Avenue and Florence Avenue in 1916. The most notable occupant of Clifton was William Adeney [died 1893], a pioneer of Camperdown, after which Park Street was later renamed.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, survey plans - borough of kew, mmbw 1593, cartography

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

In 1888, in the section of Park Hill Road between Belmont Avenue and Normanby Road there was only one street running between Park Hill Road and Cotham Road. This was Park Road, later to be named Adeney Avenue. Subsequent 20th century subdivisions created the ‘through roads’ of Cecil Street, Wimba Avenue, Florence Avenue, Marshall Avenue, Uvadale Road, and Barrington Avenue. This subdivision represents an attempt by auctioneers, rather than town planners to create an urban environment from larger residential allotments or in many cases farmland. Existing streets such as Parkhill and Normanby Roads provided a convenient starting point for the surveyors, but the Road named ‘Street Street’ indicates the role of the private surveyor in creating streets. Given that a number of allotments are listed as sold on the plan, the street is presumably Cecil Street. Even those lots that had been sold do not quite match the dimensions of the blocks in this parcel of land today, indicating that either further subdivisions or boundary alterations occurred.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.Hand-drawn subdivision plan of 19 lots facing Parkhill Road, Normanby Road, and an unnamed street [now Cecil Street] in Kew.Estate Agent notes in ink indicate those lots which had sold.subdivision plans - kew, parkhill road - kew, cecil street - kew, normanby road - kew, cecil street -kew, parkhill road - kew, normanby road - kew, crown portion 83 - kew

A document outlining the relevant by-laws produced by the City Of Kew to regulate the minimum size of allotments in Barkers Road, Burke Road, Cotham Road, Glenferrie Road and Studley Park Road, as well as in other streets more generally. The by-laws specify the size of allotments in which single unit dwellings, attached houses and maisonettes, and flats could be built. In the ‘main streets’ a minimum land area for single unit dwellings was 8,100 square feet, with an average frontage of 60’ and a depth of 135’. In other streets this was reduced to an overall size of 6,250 square feet, with an average dimensions of 50’ x 125’. In specifying the land area required by flats, different sizes were regulated for the construction of between two and six flats. Six flats at the time when the regulations were passed must have been the upper limit permitted. Understanding the size of land listed in imperial measurements can be a challenge. Within Australia, the so-called quarter acre block was approximately 11,000 square feet. Those specified in the by-laws would appear to be smaller. The document was pasted on the reverse of a subdivision plan in the collection.This is a rare (undated) document produced by the City of Kew defining how subdivision within the municipality should occur. The document was created to constrain unbridled speculation in subdivisions in the various parts of Kew and East Kew.Undated typed document, issued by the City of Kew (1921-1994) indicating the minimum size of allotment required in Barkers Road, Burke Road, Cotham Road, Glenferrie Road and Studley Park Road. The document is mounted on board and waterstained. It was presumably used by a real estate agent. [Formerly catalogued as MAP.0066].city of kew - by-laws and regulations, subdivisions - kew - studley park

Graeme Butler & AssociatesProject FilesProvenance OrderBlack 4-Ring binder that includes research about, and an assessment of buildings previously graded B in the City of Kew Urban Conservation Study 1988 by Pru Sanderson Design Pty Ltd. The files were created by the heritage architect Graeme Butler and the paper files include maps, correspondence, title searches, readings, reviews of prior classifications, newspaper and journal articles, directories etc for each property assessed.graeme butler, heritage reviews - kew, 20 yarra street, 8 yarra street, 33 wills street, 25 wellington street, 11 wellington street, 118 walpole street, 84 walpole street, 83 walpole street, 63 walpole street, 52 walpole street, 51 walpole street, 14 vista avenue, 12 tara avenue, 89 studley park road, 75 studley park road, 44 studley park road, 25 studley park road, 13 studley avenue, 21 stoke avenue, 71 stevenson street, 34 stevenson street, 12 stevenson street, 36 stawell street, 11 second avenue, 3 second avenue, 2 second avenue, 34 rowland street, 21 redmond street, 11 redmond street, 16 queen street, 27 princess street, 82 molesworth street, 28 miller grove, 26 miller grove, 24 miller grove, 24 milfay avenue, 8 milfay avenue, 4 merrion grove, 25 mary street, 24 lister avenue, 2 john street, 9 hume street, 7 hume street, 24 howard street, 20 howard street, 19 howard street, 10 howard street, 2 howard street, 26 holroyd street, 12 holroyd street, 73 high street, 69 high street, 35 high street, 6 high street, 53 harp road, 6 gellibrand street, 48 foley street, 9 eglinton street, 25-27 edgecombe street, 21-23 edgecombe street, 5-7 edgecombe street, 23 dunlop avenue, 167 derby street, 8 denmark street, 1 denmark street, 2 daracomb avenue, 2 danielle place, 340 cotham road, 294 cotham road, 241 cotham road, 221-229 cotham road, 208 cotham road, 193 cotham road, 180 cotham road, 171 cotham road, 167 cotham road, 161 cotham road, 135-137 cotham road, 46 clyde street, 4 cameron court, 1291 burke road, 1223 burke road, 1205 burke road, 5 bowen street, 35-37 belford road, 389 barkers road, 387 barkers road, 311 barkers road, 231 barkers road, 83-85 barkers road, 15 adeney avenue, 6 a'beckett streetgraeme butler, heritage reviews - kew, 20 yarra street, 8 yarra street, 33 wills street, 25 wellington street, 11 wellington street, 118 walpole street, 84 walpole street, 83 walpole street, 63 walpole street, 52 walpole street, 51 walpole street, 14 vista avenue, 12 tara avenue, 89 studley park road, 75 studley park road, 44 studley park road, 25 studley park road, 13 studley avenue, 21 stoke avenue, 71 stevenson street, 34 stevenson street, 12 stevenson street, 36 stawell street, 11 second avenue, 3 second avenue, 2 second avenue, 34 rowland street, 21 redmond street, 11 redmond street, 16 queen street, 27 princess street, 82 molesworth street, 28 miller grove, 26 miller grove, 24 miller grove, 24 milfay avenue, 8 milfay avenue, 4 merrion grove, 25 mary street, 24 lister avenue, 2 john street, 9 hume street, 7 hume street, 24 howard street, 20 howard street, 19 howard street, 10 howard street, 2 howard street, 26 holroyd street, 12 holroyd street, 73 high street, 69 high street, 35 high street, 6 high street, 53 harp road, 6 gellibrand street, 48 foley street, 9 eglinton street, 25-27 edgecombe street, 21-23 edgecombe street, 5-7 edgecombe street, 23 dunlop avenue, 167 derby street, 8 denmark street, 1 denmark street, 2 daracomb avenue, 2 danielle place, 340 cotham road, 294 cotham road, 241 cotham road, 221-229 cotham road, 208 cotham road, 193 cotham road, 180 cotham road, 171 cotham road, 167 cotham road, 161 cotham road, 135-137 cotham road, 46 clyde street, 4 cameron court, 1291 burke road, 1223 burke road, 1205 burke road, 5 bowen street, 35-37 belford road, 389 barkers road, 387 barkers road, 311 barkers road, 231 barkers road, 83-85 barkers road, 15 adeney avenue, 6 a'beckett street

Graeme Butler & AssociatesProject FilesProvenance OrderBlack 4-Ring binder that includes research about, and an assessment of buildings previously graded B in the City of Kew Urban Conservation Study 1988 by Pru Sanderson Design Pty Ltd. The files were created by the heritage architect Graeme Butler and the paper files include maps, correspondence, title searches, readings, reviews of prior classifications, newspaper and journal articles, directories etc for each property assessed. graeme butler, heritage reviews - kew, 25 mary street, 4 merrion grove, 24 milfay avenue, 24 miller grove, 26 miller grove, 28 miller grove, 82 molesworth street, 27 princess street, 16 queen street, 20 yarra street, 84 walpole street, 118 walpole street, 11 wellington street, 83 walpole street, 25 wellington street, 8 yarra street, 33 wills street, 63 walpole street, 14 vista avenue, 89 studley park road, 12 tara avenue, 75 studley park road, 21 redmond street, 52 walpole street, 51 walpole street, 71 stevenson street, 34 rowland street, 21 stoke avenue, 34 stevenson street, 44 studley park road, 25 studley park road, 13 studley avenue, 2 second avenue, 11 second avenue, 3 second avenue, 36 stawell street, 12 stevenson streetgraeme butler, heritage reviews - kew, 25 mary street, 4 merrion grove, 24 milfay avenue, 24 miller grove, 26 miller grove, 28 miller grove, 82 molesworth street, 27 princess street, 16 queen street, 20 yarra street, 84 walpole street, 118 walpole street, 11 wellington street, 83 walpole street, 25 wellington street, 8 yarra street, 33 wills street, 63 walpole street, 14 vista avenue, 89 studley park road, 12 tara avenue, 75 studley park road, 21 redmond street, 52 walpole street, 51 walpole street, 71 stevenson street, 34 rowland street, 21 stoke avenue, 34 stevenson street, 44 studley park road, 25 studley park road, 13 studley avenue, 2 second avenue, 11 second avenue, 3 second avenue, 36 stawell street, 12 stevenson street

Graeme Butler & AssociatesProject FilesProvenance OrderBlack 4-Ring binder that includes research about, and an assessment of buildings previously graded B in the City of Kew Urban Conservation Study 1988 by Pru Sanderson Design Pty Ltd. The files were created by the heritage architect Graeme Butler and the paper files include maps, correspondence, title searches, readings, reviews of prior classifications, newspaper and journal articles, directories etc for each property assessed.graeme butler, heritage reviews - kew, 4 cameron court, 2 hodgson street, 20 fellows street, 26 fellows street, 23 highbury grove, kew lunatic asylum, kew mental hospital, willsmere, 36 stawell street, 13 studley avenue, 16 studley avenue, 20 studley avenue, raheen, studley park road, beament house, 33 uvadale road, 20 yarra streetgraeme butler, heritage reviews - kew, 4 cameron court, 2 hodgson street, 20 fellows street, 26 fellows street, 23 highbury grove, kew lunatic asylum, kew mental hospital, willsmere, 36 stawell street, 13 studley avenue, 16 studley avenue, 20 studley avenue, raheen, studley park road, beament house, 33 uvadale road, 20 yarra street

The donation was accompanied by the following letter from the donor: "Hi. I found these in with family photos. Taken by family as Mamie McLeod was living in Fellows Street, Kew, so would be near there. Retain (or discard) as you see fit." [Donor's name and address withheld from public view]. To gain an insight into the flood levels at Kew, it is worth reading newspaper accounts of the event. The Age published an article - Valuable Gardens Destroyed at Kew - on 25 September 1916: "VALUABLE GARDENS DESTROYED AT KEW. From the heights of Studley Park, Kew, a splendid view of the flood waters can be obtained, and yesterday afternoon, despite continuous rain, crowds of citizens assembled there to witness the spectacle. There is a vast stretch of water some 300 or 400 yards broad, above the foot bridge connecting Gipps-street, Collingwood, and Studley Park. The river is only about 3 feet from the top of the embankment connecting with the ramp of the bridge on the Studiey Park side. When the upper llood waters come down it is almost a certainty that tne embankment will be submerged and the bridge rendered impassible. Below the bridge the waters again stretch out, and have submerged all the low-lying land on the Collingwood side and invaded the back premises ot the Kodak Co., Phoenix Biscuit Factory, a tannery adjoining thereto, the Shamrock Brewery, and Chinese gardens in the vicinity. At Walmer-street-bridge, at the end of Studley Park, the low-lying land on the Kew side is covered with water to the depth of many feet. Tlie land in question is owned in a great part by Mr Frank Lavers who haa gone in for intense culture on a pretty liberal scale on both the slopes of the hill and on the river flat. On the latter he is cultivating many acres of asparagus, and has at a considerable cost spent three years in preparing the ground and installing an irrigation system, reticulated from the Yan Yean water supply. This year the asparagus was put down, and the plants were in a promising condition. Tlie flood waters are now flowing fast over the land. The crop is ruined, and three years' work and expenditure destroyed. Mr. Laver's private residence fortunately is high above flood level, but two houses he owns off Young-street have been flooded out. Having been warned in time, the tenants removed their furniture hefore the water came down to Mr. Laver's residence, where they themselves have been given accommodation in the meantime. All the river flats in East Kew are under water. One or two low-lying houses have been flooded. Chipperfield's boat shed at Willsmere is nearly covered, and some Chinese gardens in the vicinity are several feet under water."This, and the other three photographs donated of floods in Kew are believed to be the earliest in the collection. Together with our original MMBW River Yarra map showing flood levels, these items, when compared allow researchers to gain a visual perspective of the extent of the flood in 1916. Black and white photograph of flooded trees in Kew with rising dry ground in distance.Inscription on reverse in pencil: "Flood River Yarra Kew Vic"river yarra, kew, floods 1916

The donation was accompanied by the following letter from the donor: "Hi. I found these in with family photos. Taken by family as Mamie McLeod was living in Fellows Street, Kew, so would be near there. Retain (or discard) as you see fit." [Donor's name and address withheld from public view]. To gain an insight into the flood levels at Kew, it is worth reading newspaper accounts of the event. The Age published an article - Valuable Gardens Destroyed at Kew - on 25 September 1916: "VALUABLE GARDENS DESTROYED AT KEW. From the heights of Studley Park, Kew, a splendid view of the flood waters can be obtained, and yesterday afternoon, despite continuous rain, crowds of citizens assembled there to witness the spectacle. There is a vast stretch of water some 300 or 400 yards broad, above the foot bridge connecting Gipps-street, Collingwood, and Studley Park. The river is only about 3 feet from the top of the embankment connecting with the ramp of the bridge on the Studiey Park side. When the upper llood waters come down it is almost a certainty that tne embankment will be submerged and the bridge rendered impassible. Below the bridge the waters again stretch out, and have submerged all the low-lying land on the Collingwood side and invaded the back premises ot the Kodak Co., Phoenix Biscuit Factory, a tannery adjoining thereto, the Shamrock Brewery, and Chinese gardens in the vicinity. At Walmer-street-bridge, at the end of Studley Park, the low-lying land on the Kew side is covered with water to the depth of many feet. Tlie land in question is owned in a great part by Mr Frank Lavers who haa gone in for intense culture on a pretty liberal scale on both the slopes of the hill and on the river flat. On the latter he is cultivating many acres of asparagus, and has at a considerable cost spent three years in preparing the ground and installing an irrigation system, reticulated from the Yan Yean water supply. This year the asparagus was put down, and the plants were in a promising condition. Tlie flood waters are now flowing fast over the land. The crop is ruined, and three years' work and expenditure destroyed. Mr. Laver's private residence fortunately is high above flood level, but two houses he owns off Young-street have been flooded out. Having been warned in time, the tenants removed their furniture hefore the water came down to Mr. Laver's residence, where they themselves have been given accommodation in the meantime. All the river flats in East Kew are under water. One or two low-lying houses have been flooded. Chipperfield's boat shed at Willsmere is nearly covered, and some Chinese gardens in the vicinity are several feet under water."This, and the other three photographs donated of floods in Kew are believed to be the earliest in the collection. Together with our original MMBW River Yarra map showing flood levels, these items, when compared allow researchers to gain a visual perspective of the extent of the flood in 1916. Panoramic view, believed to be looking north towards Fairfield from the Zig-Zag Bridge on the River Yarra. The inscription on the reverese identifies it as taken before 1920.Inscription on reverse in ink "(pre 1920) Flood from Zig-zag bridge Yarra River, Kew Vic."river yarra, kew, floods 1916, zig-zag bridge

The donation was accompanied by the following letter from the donor: "Hi. I found these in with family photos. Taken by family as Mamie McLeod was living in Fellows Street, Kew, so would be near there. Retain (or discard) as you see fit." [Donor's name and address withheld from public view]. To gain an insight into the flood levels at Kew, it is worth reading newspaper accounts of the event. The Age published an article - Valuable Gardens Destroyed at Kew - on 25 September 1916: "VALUABLE GARDENS DESTROYED AT KEW. From the heights of Studley Park, Kew, a splendid view of the flood waters can be obtained, and yesterday afternoon, despite continuous rain, crowds of citizens assembled there to witness the spectacle. There is a vast stretch of water some 300 or 400 yards broad, above the foot bridge connecting Gipps-street, Collingwood, and Studley Park. The river is only about 3 feet from the top of the embankment connecting with the ramp of the bridge on the Studiey Park side. When the upper llood waters come down it is almost a certainty that tne embankment will be submerged and the bridge rendered impassible. Below the bridge the waters again stretch out, and have submerged all the low-lying land on the Collingwood side and invaded the back premises ot the Kodak Co., Phoenix Biscuit Factory, a tannery adjoining thereto, the Shamrock Brewery, and Chinese gardens in the vicinity. At Walmer-street-bridge, at the end of Studley Park, the low-lying land on the Kew side is covered with water to the depth of many feet. Tlie land in question is owned in a great part by Mr Frank Lavers who haa gone in for intense culture on a pretty liberal scale on both the slopes of the hill and on the river flat. On the latter he is cultivating many acres of asparagus, and has at a considerable cost spent three years in preparing the ground and installing an irrigation system, reticulated from the Yan Yean water supply. This year the asparagus was put down, and the plants were in a promising condition. Tlie flood waters are now flowing fast over the land. The crop is ruined, and three years' work and expenditure destroyed. Mr. Laver's private residence fortunately is high above flood level, but two houses he owns off Young-street have been flooded out. Having been warned in time, the tenants removed their furniture hefore the water came down to Mr. Laver's residence, where they themselves have been given accommodation in the meantime. All the river flats in East Kew are under water. One or two low-lying houses have been flooded. Chipperfield's boat shed at Willsmere is nearly covered, and some Chinese gardens in the vicinity are several feet under water."This, and the other three photographs donated of floods in Kew are believed to be the earliest in the collection. Together with our original MMBW River Yarra map showing flood levels, these items, when compared allow researchers to gain a visual perspective of the extent of the flood in 1916. Small black and white photograph of flooded trees in Kew.Inscription on reverse in ink "Flood R. Yarra Kew Vicriver yarra, kew, floods 1916

"Following the 1919 amalgamation of suburban tramway trusts, an electrified tram service extended along Doncaster Road. Housing estates such as the 1919 Balwyn Park Estate, 1922 Hillcrest Estate and the Camberwell City Heights Estate, also 1922, quickly followed. These estates were built over by expansive suburban villas, set in fine gardens and along tree-lined streets. North Balwyn, largely constructed since 1933, was typified by even grander houses, many of them in the 'ocean liner' style and seen at their most distinctive in the Riverview Estate." (Source; 'Balwyn' in eMelbourne)Portions of subdivision plan mounted on both sides of cardboard sheet. Coloured pink, probably to show allotments sold. Area covered: Doncaster Road, Mountainview Road, Panoramic Road, Cityview Road, Longview Road, Riverview Road, Hillview Road, Bulleen Road. Includes location diagram showing railway lines and existing and proposed tram routes.Cardboard backing has advertisement for "Tillock's soluble coffee"subdivision plans -- camberwell (vic.), camberwell city heights subdivision

This pair of milk bottles, produced for the Model Dairy in Cotham Road, Kew, were donated by Vik Sabaliauskas. They belonged to his father who worked at Model Dairy in the 1950s and 1960s. Vik wrote about his father: "As for my father, his whole life story is interesting. He was part of the big immigration program after WW2. He was a displaced person in Germany like lots of others who came out looking for a new life. Our family name is actually SABALIAUSKAS which is of Lithuanian descent. My Dad was also named Vik (Viktoras). He was known as Big Vik and I was little Vik. He arrived in Australia in 1947 and then did his 2 years of work organised by the Government and then he came to Melbourne. We lived in Tyler St Preston and he rode his pushbike to and from Kew every working day for years. In my estimation that was about 13 kms for about 6 or 7 years. Imagine that happening today. Freezing Winter mornings and hot Summer afternoons. His English was poor but he had a great work ethic like all European immigrants. His duties related to maintaining and operating all the machines. One story that he told me about was that after I was born (in 1959) he made friends with one of the drivers who delivered milk to the dairy. He asked him to get a container of milk from the farmer everyday which was just for me. I remember going to the Model Dairy Family Christmas parties which were always well patronised. I also remember visiting him in the PANCH Hospital (Bell Street Preston) where he was treated for kidney stones caused by drinking very creamy milk. He wasn't happy when he was told by the doctor to cut back on milk. My Dad was one month short of his 95th birthday when he died and he lived a pretty healthy life." (2019)Kew was a major milk producing district in the Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries, with three major dairy farms lining the Yarra between Studley Park in the west and Burke Road in the east. In addition to these dairy producers, there were also a number of accredited dairy retailers in the suburb. The largest and most enduring of these was the Model Dairy founded by the Kew pioneer James Venn Morgan. Milk bottles that include the name of the producer or retailer are historically significant as they represent a period in Kew's history before the mass production of milk in the second half of the Twentieth Century. A number of these named bottles have the additional attribute of rarity.Pair of plastic milk bottles, designated on the front as to be used in the refigerator on on picnics. One bottle has a red screw on lid and the other a green lid. The bottles are semi-transparent. [The record also includes a photograph of Vic Sabaliauskas, provided by his son. The photograph dates from the period when he was employed at the Model Dairy].Impressed on the front of both bottles: "Unbreakable picnic and refrigerator bottle made expressly for Model Dairy Pty Ltd Cotham Rd Kew"dairies - kew, model dairy - cotham road - kew (vic)

Dight’s Falls in Studley Park is an artificial weir built on a natural rock bar across the Yarra. The weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the ‘Ceres’ flour-mill, one of the first in Victoria. The falls were later to become known as Dight’s Falls after the owners of the mill. Later, a pumping station was built on the Kew side of the river, which pumped water uphill to a reservoir in Walmer Street that provided water to the Melbourne Botanical Gardens and to Albert Park Lake. The area around Dight’s Falls was and is frequently used for recreational activities.This photograph 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.Black and white photograph of the Richardson family seated on the Kew side of Dight's Falls in 1920. One of the girls in the photograph was to become the Melbourne historian Dorothy (Richardson) Rogers.Annotation on reverse: "Mrs D. Rogers, 29 Park Crst Kew. Dights Falls 1920"dight's falls - kew (vic) - fairfield (vic), sport and recreation - kew (vic), dorothy rogers

Yarra Street in the Studley Park section of Kew was subdivided in the 1940s and 1950sSmall black and white photograph looking north-west down Yarra Street, Kew from upper Stawell Street during street construction in 1956. Homes at 32 Stawell Street and 5 Yarra Street are partially visible on left.yarra street (kew)

The first cricket club in Kew in was formed in 1863, and played its matches in Wellington Street, and then later in O’Shaughnessy’s Paddock. In the early 1870s, a second club was formed and played at Victoria Park. The Kew Cricket Club gained its permanent name in 1888-89. One of the named players in the photograph - Albert Watson - was the son of the local Methodist Minister. The photograph entered the collection within a donation of items by Mrs Joy Ivory, a descendant of the Watson family, and a member of the Society.The photograph, dating from 1911 has local significance as an image of participation in sport and recreation.A monochrome photograph, mounted on card of the Kew Cricket Club's first XI cricket team in 1911. Annotations on the reverse identify three of the players: Standing left with bat: George Twycross; standing right: Albert Clements; Seated third on right: Albert Watson.Presented to Kew Historical by Mrs Ivory (nee Watson) Kew Cricket Club / Standing left with the bat Mr George Twycross / Standing right Mr Bert Clements / Seated third on right Mr Albert Watson / Year 1913kew cricket club (vic), sport - kew - victoria, albert watson, albert clements, george twycross

The Melbourne artist Alma Agnes Marion Figuerola, was the daughter of Juan Pedro Narciso Figuerola (1869-1919) and Alice Lucinda Walker Hanson (1889-1969). Each of their three daughters grew up to be involved in the arts: Alma as a painter; Carmen Irene (1906-1993) as a short story writer, poet and teacher of dancing; and Sylvia (also Silvia) Lyla Alice (1911-1992) as a composer and cellist. The first art lessons Alma Figuerola received were with Oscar Binder. Later she attended the art school established by the Melbourne 'tonalist' [Duncan] Max Meldrum (1875-1955). She graduated from his school in 1920, participating in her first group exhibition in the same year. Solo exhibitions of her work were to be held in 1933 at the Meldrum Gallery in Elizabeth Street, in 1937 and 1945 at the Athenaeum Gallery at 188 Collins Street, and in 1951 at Georges Gallery in Collins Street. Throughout her extensive career she participated in group exhibitions, usually with artists of the Meldrum School, and as a member of the Twenty Melbourne Painters, of which she was invited to become an associate in 1935. In 1953, her portrait of Professor ES Hills was entered in the Archibald Prize Competition of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. A resident of Kew from the 1930s - 51 Studley Park Road, often with her mother, her sister Carmen, or both - from c.1942 until her death she lived at 'D’Estaville', 7 Barry Street. From the late 1930s she is recorded as actively contributing to the arts at a local level. In 1939 and 1940 she participated in art exhibitions at the Hawthorn Municipal Library organised by Jessie Carbines. From 1944 to 1951 she co-organised successive Kew Arts Festivals, initially in the Presbyterian Church Hall in Highbury Grove and later at the Recreation Hall in Wellington Street. A foundation member of the Kew Historical Society in 1958, Alma Figuerola remained an active member of the Society until her death on 8 December 1970. She predeceased her two sisters who both died in the 1990s and who are buried at Andersons' Creek Cemetery in Warrandyte.Photograph of a group of adults attending an exhibition entitled Artists of Kew. Two people have been identified in the photograph - Cr WHS Dickinson and Alma Figuerola at centre. The location of the exhibition is at the old Kew Town Hall in Walpole Street. Both Miss Figuerola and Cr Dickinson were foundation members of the Kew Historical Society.Reverse: "Artists of Kew Exhibition. Founder of KHS Cr Dickinson in dark suit. Miss Alma Figrierola [sic] to his left". "KH-97" kew historical society - members, alma figuerola, cr whs dickinson, exhibitions - kew (vic), southesk - cotham road - kew (vic), kew town hall - walpole street