Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 8 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, the walkway was reached via a wooden staircase on the Kew side. The steps were required due to the different levels of the banks on this stretch of the river. "Zig-Zag Bridge"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 8 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, the walkway was reached via a wooden staircase on the Kew bank of the river. The steps were required due to the different levels of the banks on this stretch of the river. The photo is taken from the Kew side of the river and shows clearly the width of the walkway on top of the bridge. "Zig-Zag Bridge"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Rare photograph of the demolition of the Zig-Zag Bridge linking the two asylums on either side of the Yarra River.Digital copy of a photograph from page 16 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, the walkway was reached via a wooden staircase on the Kew bank of the river. The steps were required due to the different levels of the banks on this stretch of the river. The photo is of the bridge after its partial destruction in a flood. An empty boat floats on the river. There is a car on the far bank and a man sits on one of the cross supports preparing to set the structure alight."Demolishing Zig-Zag / 6. 1929"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Rare photograph of the demolition of the Zig-Zag Bridge linking the two asylums on either side of the Yarra River.Digital copy of a photograph from page 16 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, the walkway was reached via a wooden staircase on the Kew bank of the river. The steps were required due to the different levels of the banks on this stretch of the river. This is a photo of the bridge before part of it was destroyed in a flood in 1929. A man, perhaps Henry Christian, stands at the right of the foreground."Demolishing Zig-Zag / 6. 1929"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Rare photograph of the demolition of the Zig-Zag Bridge linking the two asylums on either side of the Yarra River.Digital copy of a photograph from page 16 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, the walkway was reached via a wooden staircase on the Kew bank of the river. The steps were required due to the different levels of the banks on this stretch of the river. This is a photo of the bridge showing the level of destruction caused by the initial damage from the flood and subsequent dismantling of the horizontal struts and walkway, prior to to its destruction by fire."Demolishing Zig-Zag / 6. 1929"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Rare photograph of the demolition of the Zig-Zag Bridge linking the two asylums on either side of the Yarra River.Digital copy of a photograph from page 16 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, the walkway was reached via a wooden staircase on the Kew bank of the river. The steps were required due to the different levels of the banks on this stretch of the river. This is a closeup view of the bridge showing the level of destruction caused by the initial damage from the flood and subsequent dismantling of the horizontal struts and walkway, prior to to its destruction by fire."Demolishing Zig-Zag / 6. 1929"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Rare photograph of the demolition of the Zig-Zag Bridge linking the two asylums on either side of the Yarra River.Digital copy of a photograph from page 16 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, the walkway was reached via a wooden staircase on the Kew bank of the river. The steps were required due to the different levels of the banks on this stretch of the river. This is a view of the bridge showing the level of destruction caused by the initial damage from the flood, the subsequent dismantling of the horizontal struts and walkway, and the setting on fire of the remaining structure."Demolishing Zig-Zag / 6. 1929"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Rare photograph of the demolition of the Zig-Zag Bridge linking the two asylums on either side of the Yarra River.Digital copy of a photograph from page 16 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, the walkway was reached via a wooden staircase on the Kew bank of the river. The steps were required due to the different levels of the banks on this stretch of the river. This night-time photograph shows the remaining parts of the bridge being destroyed by fire."Demolishing Zig-Zag / 6. 1929"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

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.Map of the City of Kew showing part of the River Yarra Beautification Schemes. The map shows development to date and the flood levels reached in 1923 and 1924. This map may have been adapted from an earlier map, as most development in central Kew and Studley Park had occurred by this date yet numerous streets are not represented. Public buildings and institutions are clearly represented and named on the map as are significant public transport infrastructure (eg the Outer Circle railway).MELBOURNE AND METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS / RIVER YARRA BEAUTIFICATION SCHEMES / SCHEME / SCALE 10 CHAINS TO AN INCHmelbourne & metropolitan board of works, mmbw maps, mmbw plans, city of kew, flood levels -- kew (vic.), cartography

In 1980, Mr Laurie Bennett presented the Kew Historical Society with a number of photographs and postcards from the estate of his mother Eileen Mary Bennett (nee Clark). His mother was the daughter of Lawrence FH Clark(?-1946) and Mary Clark (?-1925) of 22 Harp Road, East Kew, in whose yard the photograph was taken. A year before the donation occurred a notice appeared in the Canberra Times stating that: "BENNETT, Eileen Mary. — May 8th at Tuross Heads, N.S.W. Late of 22 Harp Rd, East Kew, (Vic). Dearly loved wife of the late Harold Bennett, loved mother and mother in law of Laurie and Shirley (Melbourne), Kevin and Doreen (Canberra), grandmother of Linda, Stephen, Paul, Gabrielle, Peter, Mark and Jon."Part of a large collection of photographs and postcards in the collectionPanoramic photographic positive of North Kew where the Belford and Kilby Farms were located on the south side of the Yarra River. This photo, donated in 1980 by Laurie Bennett is the original of the two identical photos in the collection.laurie bennett, eileen mary bennett, eileen mary clark, floods -- yarra -- 1903

Major floods recurred of the Yarra River on a regular basis. A flood in 1901 destroyed this house in Victoria Street, Abbotsford. Later print copy of an original photograph. Home of C/N Burgess on the south side of Yarra River. The buildings were washed away in a flood in 1901 The house was in the same location as that on which Handley & Tilly was later built. This would locate it on the north side of Victoria Street, Abbotsford between Burnley Street and the Victoria Street Bridge. Photo shows three men and one woman working in an established garden in front of a weatherboard cottage."Home of C/N Burgess on south side of river; washed away in 1901; Handley & Tilly on site"yarra river -- floods, yarra river flood -- 1901, burgess family -- victoria street -- abbotsford (vic.)

Flooding of the Yarra Valley, including that section of the Yarra bordering Kew and Kew East in the north and west of the municipality, was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916, 1923 and 1934. The Municipality of Kew's response to these floods was to enact planning decisions restricting residential development in flood prone areas following the floods of 1916, 1921 and 1934. While floods continued after the development of the Upper Yarra Reservoir (construction 1948-57), the regularity and extent of these inundations diminished. During the nineteenth century, the land abutting the south side of the Yarra in Kew was devoted to dairy farming. In the twentieth century, before and after the construction of the Eastern Freeway, much of this low-lying area was used as golf courses and public parks.One of a collection of photographs of flooding in the Kew section of the Yarra Valley which are in important research resource for the location and extent of flooding in the first half of the twentieth century. Flooding of the Yarra Valley at East Kew in 1916. The view is taken from the intersection of Kilby Road with what is believed to be Birdwood Street, looking across the flood waters to Ivanhoe. The extensive flooded area shown in the photograph would have included the Kew Golf Club. Verso: "Floods along Kilby Road / near Birdwood St? & Kilby Road / 1917? / 87yarra river, yarra valley, floods -- kew, kilby road -- kew (vic.), kew golf club

Flooding of the Yarra Valley, including that section of the Yarra bordering Kew and Kew East in the north and west of the municipality, was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916, 1923 and 1934. The Municipality of Kew's response to these floods was to enact planning decisions restricting residential development in flood prone areas following the floods of 1916, 1921 and 1934. While floods continued after the development of the Upper Yarra Reservoir (construction 1948-57), the regularity and extent of these inundations diminished. During the nineteenth century, the land abutting the south side of the Yarra in Kew was devoted to dairy farming. In the twentieth century, before and after the construction of the Eastern Freeway, much of this low-lying area was used as golf courses and public parks.One of a collection of photographs of flooding in the Kew section of the Yarra Valley which are in important research resource for the location and extent of flooding in the first half of the twentieth century. Flooding of the Yarra Valley at East Kew in 1916. The view is taken from a street (maybe Birdwood Avenue) intersecting with Kilby Road looking northeast across the flood waters to Ivanhoe and Heidelberg. The extensive flooded area shown in the photograph would have included remnant dairy farms and the Kew Golf Club. Verso: "Floods / Yarra River / East Kew / Kilby Road / 1917? / 87"yarra river, yarra valley, floods -- kew, kilby road -- kew (vic.), kew golf club

In 1928 a footbridge was erected to link Kew with the public golf course across the Yarra. The total cost of construction came to 250 pounds and the bridge became known as Kane's Bridge. During the 1934 floods the bridge was washed downstream, and was subsequently rebuilt. The present form of the bridge resembles the earlier bridge which crossed from the Yarra Bend Asylum to Kew, further upstream. (VHD)Original, black and white positive of Kane's Bridge in December 1934, when the 'great flood' of the Yarra caused the bridge's destruction. Inscribed verso: "Kane's Bridge Yarra in flood Dec 1934"river yarra, yarra -- kew (vic.), kanes bridge, 1934 floods