Henry Christian (c.1809-91), the grandfather of the photographer, was one of the first settlers in Kew. He arrived in Victoria with his wife Agnes and son Orlando in 1855 on the Gypsy Queen. He established a rope-making business in Bulleen Road by 1858 but was declared insolvent two years later. In his final years, he was celebrated as one of the oldest living settlers of the district. His son, Orlando Henry Beater Christian (c.1853-1930) became a member of the Hawthorn Band and a foundation member of the Willsmere Swimming Club. Orlando and his wife Elizabeth had four children of which Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) was the eldest.An item from an outstanding and diverse photographic collection, assembled by members of the Christian family of Pakington Street, Kew, comprising professional and amateur photography, depicting individuals, natural and settled environments and the interactions between these worlds. Many of the photographs vividly capture the worlds of three generations of men - Henry Christian, his son Orlando Henry Beater Christian, and his grandson of Henry Christian. The most important photographer was the youngest, Henry Christian, who was a keen explorer, not just of his immediate environment but also of the Victorian wilderness. His major opus is contained in two albums in which he records, sometimes in majestic detail and on other occasions the intimate features of the natural world. His photographic travels during the 1920s, often in solitary ramblings but on other occasions with companions, recall the heroic landscape photography of an earlier era, pioneered by Nicholas Caire. In addition to their aesthetic value, the albums are historically significant records within the State of Victoria, of what is now a distant point in time, and of places that have become radically altered through human intervention.Sepia photograph of the entrance gates to the Kew Asylum. Located in Princess Street, these gates were relocated to Victoria Park in the 1930s/40s. There is a shelter to the left of the gates. A horse-drawn covered carriage is exiting through the gates. An electric light is hung from a metal bar in the centre of the gates. The two-storey gate house on the right of the gates is outside the view of the photograph.kew lunatic asylum, kew lunatic asylum -- gates, henry beater christian, christian-washfold collection

Henry Christian (c.1809-91), the grandfather of the photographer, was one of the first settlers in Kew. He arrived in Victoria with his wife Agnes and son Orlando in 1855 on the Gypsy Queen. He established a rope-making business in Bulleen Road by 1858 but was declared insolvent two years later. In his final years, he was celebrated as one of the oldest living settlers of the district. His son, Orlando Henry Beater Christian (c.1853-1930) became a member of the Hawthorn Band and a foundation member of the Willsmere Swimming Club. Orlando and his wife Elizabeth had four children of which Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) was the eldest.An album of photographs, compiled by Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) of Pakington Street, Kew, depicting individuals, natural and settled environments and the interactions between these worlds. Henry Christian, was a keen explorer, not just of his immediate environment but also of the Victorian wilderness. His major opus is contained in two albums in which he records, sometimes in majestic detail and on other occasions the intimate features of the natural world. His photographic travels during the 1920s, often in solitary ramblings but on other occasions with companions, recall the heroic landscape photography of an earlier era, pioneered by Nicholas Caire. In addition to their aesthetic value, the albums are historically significant records within the State of Victoria, of what is now a distant point in time, and of places that have become radically altered through human intervention.Digital copy of a photograph 24-page album loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to photograph and hold a copy in our collection. The album contains series of photographic positives taken by Henry Christian (a resident of Pakington Street), of places in Kew and throughout regional Victoria during the late 1920s. The mainly sepia photographs, while small, are of a very high resolution. Photographs are typically lightly glued onto pages. Individual pages may be identified by white ink, which in a number of cases is illegible due to wear. Identifiable locations include: Walhalla, Thomson River, Aberfeldy, Matlock, Jericho, Jordan River, Jamieson, Harrietville, Mt Feathertop, the Alpine Road, Cape Patton, Melbourne, and Kew.henry christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, photograph albums, walhalla (vic.) -- history —— photographs, thomson river (vic.) — history —— photographs, aberfeldy (vic.) -- history —— photographs, matlock (vic.) -- history —— photographs, jericho (vic.) -- history —— photographs, jordan river (vic.) -- history —— photographs, jamieson (vic.) -- history —— photographs, harrietville (vic.) -- history —— photographs, mt feathertop (vic.) -- history —— photographs, alpine road (vic.) -- history —— photographs, kew (vic.) — history—— macauley’s boathouse — photographs, kew (vic.) —— history - kew lunatic asylum — photographs, kew canoe club history — — photographs, cape patton — history— photographs, coronation — george vi — melbourne (vic.), christian-washfold collection

Circa 1920's the postcard depicts a pathway and manicured lawns leading to the Beechworth Mental Asylum administration building. The asylum was constructed between 1864 and 1867 to the designs by the Public Works Department (PWD) that was renamed Mayday Hills Mental Asylum. The now decommissioned asylum was cinsidered one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in Victoria and consisted of sixty-seven buildings, one thousand two hundred patients and five hundred staff members. The asylum was one of the first asylums to focus on treatment and rehabilitation instead of institutional confinement. At the asylum active works was considered imperative and workshops were located near the male accommodations and laundries and drying yards near the female accommodation.This postcard is significant as it depicts the historical, architectural, technical and aesthetic significance of the Beechworth Mental Asylum's administration building to the State of Victoria.Black and white rectangular postcard printed on card.Obverse: Valentine Series No.1858/ The Asylum Beechworth Reverse: 1997.2464/ Valentines/ Real Photo Series Published by Valentine Publishing Co. Pty. Ltd/ Queen St.. Melbpostcard, beechworth, beechworth mental asylum, beechworth lunatic asylum, mayday hills, mayday hills mental asylum, administration building, beechworth mental asylum administration building

Letter from E. Lawrence, Sec of Court Victoria, dated June 8th, 1877, in reference to the illness of Br C. Weyland who is the Melbourne Hospital. It is mentioned that he was good on the books. At the end is a letter from Wm Rowe, Sect of Court King of the Forest saying that C Weyland was considered an unfinancial member as the Court have not received any money from him or for him for the past 12 months. He may have been paying into another Court.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, c weyland, melbourne hospital, kew lunatic asylum, mrs weyland, e lawrence, court victoria, court king of the forest, w rowe

Letter from E. Lawrence, Secretary of Court Victoria, dated June 22, 1877, in reference to Bro C Weyland's financial position with the Court. Written on the back is a copy of the money he was paying to Court Victoria. He had a balance of £2-5-0.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, mr c weyland, court king of the forest, court victoria, mrs weyland, kew lunatic asylum, e lawrence

Letter from E. Lawrence Secretary of Court Victoria dated June 8th, 1877, in reference to the illness of Bro C. Weyland. Paper is watermarked and has Court Victoria impression stamp and printed letterhead.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, mr c weyland, melbourne hospital, kew lunatic asylum, e lawrence, court victoria

Letter dated June 22nd, 1877. Same as 6637.323 but written in a different hand and on paper with a printed letterhead.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, mr c weyland, court king of the forest, court victoria, mrs weyland, kew lunatic asylum, e lawrence