The bridge over the Yarra River was initially opened September 22nd, 1961. Newspaper reports at the time of opening stated it linked Bolton Street, Eltham, with Fitzsimons Lane, Templestowe. In 1955 the Country Roads Board (CRB) produced survey plans that showed proposed land acquisition for the future bridge and road approaches. The 1955 plan shows that it was proposed to connect Fitzsimons Lane with Bolton Street in Eltham by a diagonal road across the river. The road connection would then continue along Bolton Street to Main Road. Prior to construction of the bridge the CRB modified the proposal significantly so that there was a new road parallel with Bolton Street and then curving to join Main Road at what was then its intersection with Old Eltham Road. This involved significantly more land acquisition and altered the pattern of land subdivision through this corridor. Initially the new road was just a single two-way carriageway as it would have required a significant widening of the cutting on the Shire of Eltham side of the river. The road was officially un-named but was known locally as the Eltham-Templestowe Road. The 1966 Melway street directory and other 1960s editions also listed the road as the Eltham-Templestowe Road. In December 1970, Eltham Shire Council, in pursuance of the provisions of the Local Government Act, named it Templestowe Road. The road was renamed Fitzsimons Lane around 1984 in conformity with the section south of the river. In 1991 a new bridge was built to the west of the original bridge. Fitzsimons Lane was widened to four traffic lanes although on the Eltham side this was done within the limits of the existing cutting. NEW BRIDGE STARTS THEM EXPLORING Without any fanfares, Country Roads Board workmen on Friday afternoon put the finishing touches to the approaches, removed the barricades, and let the traffic roll over the new Yarra bridge linking Bolton Street, Eltham, with Fitzsimons Lane, Templestowe. Over the week-end many “bridge watchers” who were making one of their periodic inspections of the progress on the new bridge found to their surprise that they could drive over it, so that people who had gone for a run out to Eltham suddenly found themselves wandering through Templestowe and Doncaster. By Monday the word of the bridge’s opening had got around sufficiently for many regular travellers to the city from Eltham and beyond to vary the monotony by going to town via Templestowe and Kew instead of through Heidelberg. They were surprised at the distances – about 3 ½ miles from Eltham to Templestowe, 6 miles from Eltham Shire hall to the Lower Heidelberg Road-Banksia Street intersection. NEW NEIGHBOURS For people on both sides of the river, the new bridge has turned distant friends into near neighbours. A Greensborough man on Sunday took 35 minutes to reach the home of a friend in East Doncaster, but the return trip over the new bridge took only 17 minutes. It will be some time yet before most people work out the possibilities in shorter and quicker trips form the north-eastern areas to the eastern and south-eastern suburbs. The coming of the warmer months will soon teach many, though the short cuts to Peninsular beaches and eastern suburban drive-ins. And before very long it is likely there will be a Tramways bus running from Templestowe to Eltham station. NEW BRIDGE STARTS THEM EXPLORING (1961, September 27). The Diamond Valley News (News clipping held in SEA_74-1_047) The previously un-named road between Main Road and Yarra River, Eltham South, east of Bolton Street was named Templestowe Road, December 15, 1970 NAMING OF STREETS AND ROADS. (1970, December 15). The Diamond Valley News (News clipping held in SEA_74-2_022)Black and white photographinfrastructure, shire of eltham infrastructure, bridge, fitzsimons lane bridge, yarra river

The bridge over the Yarra River was initially opened September 22nd, 1961. Newspaper reports at the time of opening stated it linked Bolton Street, Eltham, with Fitzsimons Lane, Templestowe. In 1955 the Country Roads Board (CRB) produced survey plans that showed proposed land acquisition for the future bridge and road approaches. The 1955 plan shows that it was proposed to connect Fitzsimons Lane with Bolton Street in Eltham by a diagonal road across the river. The road connection would then continue along Bolton Street to Main Road. Prior to construction of the bridge the CRB modified the proposal significantly so that there was a new road parallel with Bolton Street and then curving to join Main Road at what was then its intersection with Old Eltham Road. This involved significantly more land acquisition and altered the pattern of land subdivision through this corridor. Initially the new road was just a single two-way carriageway as it would have required a significant widening of the cutting on the Shire of Eltham side of the river. The road was officially un-named but was known locally as the Eltham-Templestowe Road. The 1966 Melway street directory and other 1960s editions also listed the road as the Eltham-Templestowe Road. In December 1970, Eltham Shire Council, in pursuance of the provisions of the Local Government Act, named it Templestowe Road. The road was renamed Fitzsimons Lane around 1984 in conformity with the section south of the river. In 1991 a new bridge was built to the west of the original bridge. Fitzsimons Lane was widened to four traffic lanes although on the Eltham side this was done within the limits of the existing cutting. NEW BRIDGE STARTS THEM EXPLORING Without any fanfares, Country Roads Board workmen on Friday afternoon put the finishing touches to the approaches, removed the barricades, and let the traffic roll over the new Yarra bridge linking Bolton Street, Eltham, with Fitzsimons Lane, Templestowe. Over the week-end many “bridge watchers” who were making one of their periodic inspections of the progress on the new bridge found to their surprise that they could drive over it, so that people who had gone for a run out to Eltham suddenly found themselves wandering through Templestowe and Doncaster. By Monday the word of the bridge’s opening had got around sufficiently for many regular travellers to the city from Eltham and beyond to vary the monotony by going to town via Templestowe and Kew instead of through Heidelberg. They were surprised at the distances – about 3 ½ miles from Eltham to Templestowe, 6 miles from Eltham Shire hall to the Lower Heidelberg Road-Banksia Street intersection. NEW NEIGHBOURS For people on both sides of the river, the new bridge has turned distant friends into near neighbours. A Greensborough man on Sunday took 35 minutes to reach the home of a friend in East Doncaster, but the return trip over the new bridge took only 17 minutes. It will be some time yet before most people work out the possibilities in shorter and quicker trips form the north-eastern areas to the eastern and south-eastern suburbs. The coming of the warmer months will soon teach many, though the short cuts to Peninsular beaches and eastern suburban drive-ins. And before very long it is likely there will be a Tramways bus running from Templestowe to Eltham station. NEW BRIDGE STARTS THEM EXPLORING (1961, September 27). The Diamond Valley News (News clipping held in SEA_74-1_047) The previously un-named road between Main Road and Yarra River, Eltham South, east of Bolton Street was named Templestowe Road, December 15, 1970 NAMING OF STREETS AND ROADS. (1970, December 15). The Diamond Valley News (News clipping held in SEA_74-2_022)Black and white photographinfrastructure, shire of eltham infrastructure, bridge, fitzsimons lane bridge, yarra river

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.'Roseneath' was constructed in stages in the I850s by John Ambrose Kitchen, a soap-maker. In 1870 the brick house received an N.A.V. of £60 while in 1885 it was purchased by Edward John Dunn, a geologist. A new wing was built at the right side of the house and several rooms as well as the coach house, loft and groom's quarters were added. In 1903, during Dunn's ownership, the property was described as having eight roorns. The garden is recorded as having been designed by Baron von Mueller who was the Government Botanist from 1853. Source: City of Kew Urban Conservation Study, 1988"32"historic houses -- kew (vic.), roseneath -- pakington street -- kew (vic.)

Six photographs showing traffic congestion that detains progress of trams in city streets. Road traffic congestion that detained tramcars in the city centre and on selected suburban roads had been a major concern to tramway operators dating back to the early 1900s. During the 1960s, and perhaps earlier, the Tramways Board regularly proposed ways of keeping motor traffic off the trams tracks, but little progress was achieved.Yields information about the perennial issue of motor traffic detaining trams. Incomplete series of photographs showing street traffic congestion in Flinders Street and Spencer Street5. Date 10/9/54, Time 1355 hrs, Flinders St, from Railway Buildings looking West over Degraves St. General traffic clear of tram tracks. 7. Date 17/9/54, Time 1355 hrs, Flinders St, from Railway Buildings looking West near Degraves St. 2 cars, 1 truck & 1 van parked & unattended. All moved within ten minutes. 8. Date 17/9/54, Time 1359 hrs, Flinders St, from Railway Buildings looking East towards Swanston St. Two utilities parked & unattended outside SEC. (Note policeman directing traffic.) See also Photo No 9. 9. Date 17/9/54, Time 1417 hrs, Flinders St, from Railway Buildings looking East towards Swanston St. Progressive view to No 8, two utilities in same position after 18 minutes. 12. Date 17/9/54, Time 1431 hrs, Flinders St, from Railway Building, Safety Zone at Swanston St. Progressive view to No 11 (missing from this album). Front truck about to leave after 10 minutes, rear truck remained parked. 11. Date 28/9/54, Time 0910 hrs, Spencer St, from roof of J S Gordon's near Flinders Lane, looking South. Three Northbound & 2 Southbound tramcars held up by truck caught in Southbound traffic when turning into lane. congestion, flinders st, spencer st, motor traffic

Brothers John (left) and Tom Raftopoulos. John and Tom were both involved in the fruit and vegetable business; John owned a business for 18 years at the Victoria market (Central Fruit Agency); whilst Tom ran a fruit shop in Nicholson Street Carlton for more than 30 years. Over a period of time Tom gave a regular morning market report on the John Eden show on radio 3DB. A black and white photograph of two men standing by a front gate in a front garden in a suburban home. raft, patakias

Stathi Raftopoulos is pictured at his home cinema at his residence in Sylvander Street North Balwyn. In 1949 Stathi Raftopoulos imported the first Greek film into Australia, entitled 'Voice of the Heart'. It was screened at Nicholas Hall in Lonsdale Street. Stathis went on to become a travelling picture show man showing Greek films to the Greeks in regional centres around Australia. He later established a film distribution and exhibition company, The Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures, in partnership with Mr Panayioti (Peter) Giannoudis. With the advent of television in the 1950, former suburban picture theatres were being closed down. Stathi and Peter took over many of these cinemas to show imported Greek films to the post WWII burgeoning Greek community.A coloured photograph of a man seated on a red theatre seat in a home cinema. Posters, photographs and film memorabilia are displayed on the three surrounding wallsWritten on the back : 520/BAhome theatres, greek movies

The photo is of Stathi and Kassiani Raftopoulos arriving at the at 33rd Festival International du Film Cannes in 1980. Stathi was passionate about the motion picture industry and was instrumental in bringing Greek cinema to Australia. At one stage the Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures company, in which he was a partner, operated 12 picture theatres across inner suburban Melbourne screening Greek films. Because of his active interest in the film industry it is no surprise that he attended film festivals.The screening of Greek films at the Cosmopolitan cinemas provided a key source of entertainment to the large post WWII Greek immigrant population living in inner suburban Melbourne. Stathi's promotion of Greek films in Melbourne helped to establish greater interest in foreign films across the city. Cosmopolitan cinemas were the first to screen Indian films in Melbourne.A coloured photograph of a couple in formal attire arriving at an event.33rd. FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL/ DU FILM CANNES 1980.cannes film festival

A coloured photograph of a young boy dressed in a sailor's uniform and standing on a verandah in a suburban home.

Stathy Raftopoulos was instrumental in bring Greek films to Melbourne and screened them in various picture theatres in the inner Melbourne suburbs where most post WW2 migrants were living. Prior to the opening of Greek cinemas various venues were used for screenings including Nicholas Hall in Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.With the advent of television many suburban cinemas were no longer drawing the crowds. It was at this time that Stathi Raftopoulos with his partners in the Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures company purchased cinemas in the in suburbs of Melbourne where Greek immigrants were living - in 1960 the National Theatre in Richmond; 1961 the Sun Theatre Yarraville; 1965, the Paramount Theatre Oakleigh, Kinema Theatre Albert Park, and the Empire Theatre Brunswick and Westgarth Theatre Northcote. Here they screened Greek movies which entertained the Greek community supporting them to maintain their link with Greece and their culture and traditions. A black and white photograph of a man standing between two film projectors in a room.

Anastasia Coutsouvelis is pictured wearing the white apron and standing behind the counter in her shop with her godson, Ilias Raftopoulos. Anastasia ran the successful mixed business in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, opposite the former Fitzroy Football ground from 1951 to c1976. Anastasia is the mother of George Coutsouvelis who was the founding president of the Ithacan Historical Society established in 1993.This business is another example of businesses which some Ithacan Greeks still operated in suburban Melbourne up until the 1970s, around which time this type of business was in gradual decline and fewer and fewer owned by Ithacans. By this time the second and third generation of Australian born Ithacans were working in a variety of industries and professions.A coloured photograph with a surrounding white border of as lady and boy standing behind the counter in a well-stocked mixed business.

A photograph of the milk bar which Anastasia Coutsouvelis owned and ran in Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy from 1951 to c1975.This business is another example of businesses which some Ithacan Greeks still operated in suburban Melbourne up until the 1970s, around which time this type of business was in gradual decline and fewer and fewer owned by Ithacans. By this time the second and third generation of Australian born Ithacans were working in a variety of industries and professions.A coloured photograph with a white surrounding border of a two storey suburban corner shop of red brick construction.

Penelope Maroudas is photographed with her granddaughter in a suburban garden. A coloured photograph of a young girl standing in a garden with an older lady.

Speros Defteros is standing in the doorway of his fruit shop, the Acropolis Fruit Shop. Speros owned a series of fruit shops in South Yarra, Coburg and Bentleigh. A black and white photograph of a shopkeeper standing at the door of a suburban fruit shop. A display of fruit is in the window and two boxes of vegetables are by the door.

The fruit shop photographed was owned and run by Spiros Kallinikos and was one of the many similar businesses that Ithacans, who had settled in Melbourne during the first half of the twentieth century, operated within the CBD and surrounding suburbs. Pictured us Spiro's wife Evrilikia holding her daughter Calliope together with her Spiro's sister Chrisoula Sikiotis (nee Kallinikos). A black and white photograph of two ladies standing in the doorway of a suburban fruit shop. One of the ladies is holding a little child. The display window is attractively stocked with a variety of fruit and vegetables. There are also cauliflowers stacked on the right side of the doorway, and fruit in boxes on the left.