After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 22 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 111 Sackville Street, Kew by Margaret Picken.11 SACKVILLE ST., KEW - BAINES ©2001 M.PICKENartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 111 sackville street - kew (vic)

After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 22 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 130 Sackville Street, Kew by Margaret Picken.130 SACKVILLE ST., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN ~97 / WOODARDS ~ HAWTHORNartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 130 sackville street - kew (vic)

'Mandalay' at 3 Molesworth Street, Kew was originally named 'Kaikoura'. Pru Sanderson's 'Kew Urban Conservation Study' (1988) describes the house as: "The first documentary evidence of this property records that William Dawson was the original owner and occupier of this substantial two-storey mansion, built at the outset of the economic depression of the 1890s. Having an initial N.A.V. of £120 4, the house was occupied by Dawson until at least 1904. This two-storeyed rendered house is Italianate in styling and is dominated by a two-storeyed loggia that spans two facades. At ground floor level it is supported on coupled cast iron colonettes and above has single colonettes that support stilted segmental arches. The house is quite typical of its time, however it bears a strong resemblance to 39 Sackville Street probably by Beswicke and Coote (q.v.), and 'Kawarau'.in Hawthorn, designed by Coote. The similarity of these buildings and the fact that Beswicke and Coote called tenders for a house in Molesworth Street, both suggest that this house was also by that firm.Large original, black and white print positive photograph of 3 Molesworth Street, Kew The two storey Italianate mansion has a double loggia and two bay windows on the side of the property. A car is parked in front.manadaly - molesworth street (kew), historic houses -- kew, italianate architecture -- kew (vic.), kaikoura -- molesworth street -- kew (vic.), beswicke & coote

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.A photographic reproduction of a plan in the Vale Collection of the State Library of Victoria. The plan shows lots in a subdivision bordered by Cotham Road; Edward Street; Sackville Street and Thomas Street. The undated plan does not include the land occupied by Bella Vista and Charleville.subdivision plans -- kew (vic), st helliers estate