Frances Burke: Designer of Modern Textiles Australia’s most influential and celebrated textile designer of the mid-20th century, Frances Burke (1904-1994), employed Australian native flora, garden flowers, marine subjects, Indigenous culture and increasingly, abstract motifs in her stunning modern fabrics. A confident, determined designer and businesswoman; Burke made the shift from fine art to design in 1937. While she began by designing dress fabrics for Melbourne’s fashionable Georges Department store, printing them on linen using lino blocks, she was an early adopter of the screen-printing process and during the war years began printing on cotton. Burke’s furnishing fabrics took their place in influential modern buildings Australia-wide through collaborations with leading architects and interior designers. They included Robin Boyd’s 1949 House of Tomorrow, Roy Grounds’ Quamby flats, Guilford Bell’s Royal Hayman Island Resort for Ansett Airlines, and Yuncken, Freeman Brothers, Griffiths and Simpson’s Canberra Civic Centre Theatre. In the post-war period, Burke made regular trips to the United States and Europe, on her return advising homeowners and manufacturers on the latest trends in products, colours and home design in lectures and interviews. At New Design her fabric showroom and interior design consultancy Burke introduced furniture by emerging designers Clement Meadmore and Grant Featherston in the early 1950s and presented local and imported homewares, mostly from the United States. She was enthusiastic about the convenient and comfortable lifestyle experienced by ordinary American women. Her fabrics and advice were regularly featured in Australian Home Beautiful, Australian House and Garden and the newspapers of the day. Some of Burke’s designs had remarkable longevity. Tiger Stripe (1938) for example, continued to be produced in a wide range of colours until 1970 and Crete (1946) remained a popular choice for interiors into the 1960s. Drawing from a rich variety of sources including Indigenous culture in Goanna (c.1954) and Pacific Island tapa cloth designs in Bird and Tree (1940), Burke also looked to Japan in designs such as Plum Blossom (1948) and Zen (1965). She loved exploring the potential of native flora, seen in designs including Waratah (1955) and Flannel Flower (1955), while garden flowers were the source for many other designs including Belladonna (1940), Periwinkle (n.d.) and Rose (1947). Burke’s clever interplay of a single striking printed colour with lively gestural lines revealing the white base fabric, gave her designs a vibrancy that characterised the optimistic post-war era. This can be seen in Burke’s fabrics for Hayman Island including Angel Fish and Seapiece (both 1949) which expressed the freshness and excitement of the luxurious new tropical resort and led to further commissions. Burke’s three decades in business (1937-1970) were an unparalleled success in the story of Australian design. Her fabrics have been collected by the NGA, the Powerhouse Museum, NGV, RMIT Design Archives and Sydney Living Museums in addition to Ararat Gallery TAMA. Written by Nanette Carter and Robyn Oswald-Jacobs.

Frances Burke: Designer of Modern Textiles Australia’s most influential and celebrated textile designer of the mid-20th century, Frances Burke (1904-1994), employed Australian native flora, garden flowers, marine subjects, Indigenous culture and increasingly, abstract motifs in her stunning modern fabrics. A confident, determined designer and businesswoman; Burke made the shift from fine art to design in 1937. While she began by designing dress fabrics for Melbourne’s fashionable Georges Department store, printing them on linen using lino blocks, she was an early adopter of the screen-printing process and during the war years began printing on cotton. Burke’s furnishing fabrics took their place in influential modern buildings Australia-wide through collaborations with leading architects and interior designers. They included Robin Boyd’s 1949 House of Tomorrow, Roy Grounds’ Quamby flats, Guilford Bell’s Royal Hayman Island Resort for Ansett Airlines, and Yuncken, Freeman Brothers, Griffiths and Simpson’s Canberra Civic Centre Theatre. In the post-war period, Burke made regular trips to the United States and Europe, on her return advising homeowners and manufacturers on the latest trends in products, colours and home design in lectures and interviews. At New Design her fabric showroom and interior design consultancy Burke introduced furniture by emerging designers Clement Meadmore and Grant Featherston in the early 1950s and presented local and imported homewares, mostly from the United States. She was enthusiastic about the convenient and comfortable lifestyle experienced by ordinary American women. Her fabrics and advice were regularly featured in Australian Home Beautiful, Australian House and Garden and the newspapers of the day. Some of Burke’s designs had remarkable longevity. Tiger Stripe (1938) for example, continued to be produced in a wide range of colours until 1970 and Crete (1946) remained a popular choice for interiors into the 1960s. Drawing from a rich variety of sources including Indigenous culture in Goanna (c.1954) and Pacific Island tapa cloth designs in Bird and Tree (1940), Burke also looked to Japan in designs such as Plum Blossom (1948) and Zen (1965). She loved exploring the potential of native flora, seen in designs including Waratah (1955) and Flannel Flower (1955), while garden flowers were the source for many other designs including Belladonna (1940), Periwinkle (n.d.) and Rose (1947). Burke’s clever interplay of a single striking printed colour with lively gestural lines revealing the white base fabric, gave her designs a vibrancy that characterised the optimistic post-war era. This can be seen in Burke’s fabrics for Hayman Island including Angel Fish and Seapiece (both 1949) which expressed the freshness and excitement of the luxurious new tropical resort and led to further commissions. Burke’s three decades in business (1937-1970) were an unparalleled success in the story of Australian design. Her fabrics have been collected by the NGA, the Powerhouse Museum, NGV, RMIT Design Archives and Sydney Living Museums in addition to Ararat Gallery TAMA. Written by Nanette Carter and Robyn Oswald-Jacobs.

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

Part of a suite of materials used by Air Raid Precautions (ARP) wardens in Kew in the Second World War. Air raid wardens managed groups of people in using air raid facilities that were constructed throughout the district. The ARP scheme was based on that developed in the United Kingdom.Primary resources showing the materials and advice developed to protect civilians on the home front. Examples of such support in the Kew Historical Society's collection includes advice for authorised community representatives, insignia and equipment.Stationery to be used in an air raid warden's report during the second world war in Australia (Victoria)air raid wardens - kew (vic), second world war 1939-1945, second world war - air raid precautions, arp, air raid precautions, state emergency services victoria 1939-1945, world war 2 — 1939-1945, home front — kew (vic.)

Part of a suite of materials used by Air Raid Precautions (ARP) wardens in Kew in the Second World War. Air raid wardens managed groups of people in using air raid facilities that were constructed throughout the district. The ARP scheme was based on that developed in the United Kingdom.Primary resources showing the materials and advice developed to protect civilians on the home front. Examples of such support in the Kew Historical Society's collection includes advice for authorised community representatives, insignia and equipment.Small blue covered certificate identifying Mr. S. Gare, 5 Bowen Street Kew as an Air Raid Warden.arp, air raid precautions, state emergency services victoria 1939-1945, second world war — air raid precautions, state emergency council for civil defence victoria — 1939-1945, world war 2 — 1939-1945, home front — kew (vic.)

First Aid Tin issued to military personnel engaged on the war front in World War 2.Olive green first aid tin. On the lid in black writing is 'OUTFIT / FIRST AID / INDIVIDUAL'. On the inside of the lid written in black on a gold back ground is the 'DIRECTIONS OF USE'. Below the title is: 'BANDAGE 2 INCH Cut fingers and small wounds. / PLASTER ADHESIVE Cuts. / ANTISEPTIC PENCIL Apply to cuts and abrasions. / ANTISEPTIC JELLY Apply to burns. / TAB APC Take 2 tablets to relieve pain. / TAB ATEBRIN Directions on inside of Atebrin tin. / APERIENT PILLS 1 tablet to relieve constipation.' Remaining in the kit though not named in the list is a box of Sulphanilamide tablets with directions of use on the front. Also two used tubes of antiseptic jelly. first aid pack, australia - second world war 1939-1945

Elizabeth Nelson on eMelbourne has written that: "War Savings Streets were street-based savings groups that participated in the national war savings campaign during World War II. In May 1940 the Australian Government launched its Savings Certificates scheme which encouraged civilians to invest in the national war effort. Organisers of the savings campaign targeted Melbourne's suburbs individually with the aim of enlisting street savings groups. Each street group had a volunteer secretary who regularly sold war savings certificates to, and collected money from, other residents. The large number of war savings streets operating successfully in Melbourne made a significant contribution to the war effort."War Savings Street Street sign, presented to residents of Argyle Road, Kew (Vic) in 1942.Handwritten on reverse "Argyle Road Kew [Vic] 1942"second world war 1939-1945 - kew (vic), second world war 1939-1945 - fundraising, war savings street signs, ww2 -- savings certificates scheme

The Springthorpe Memorial is an elaborate late 19th century memorial located within Boroondara General Cemetery. Harold Desbrowe-Annear designed the memorial for the Melbourne doctor John Springthorpe, in honour of the doctor’s wife. Construction began in 1897, and the memorial was unveiled in 1901. Rare postcard showing details of Mackennal's sculpture on the monumentOn the sarcophagus is sculpted group of figures by Bertram Mackennal. This close-up of two of the figures shows an angel leaning over the representation of Dr Springthorpe’s wife. The postcard is historically interesting in that it shows the wreath, which is now missing.springthorpe memorial, boroondara general cemetery, funerary monuments, postcards -- kew (vic.)

The Kew Historical Society's Fashion & Design collection includes a small and representative collection of reticules, purses and handbags, inherited, owned, used and or donated by members of the Society. These items date from the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, and conform to fashions and styles popular during the period of their use. Some of the items are handmade, while others are mass-produced commercial products. Beaded evening bag on white metal framewomen's clothing -- accessories, bags -- handbags, bags -- reticules, bags -- purses, fashion accessories

A straight razor is a razor with a blade that can fold into its handle. They are also called open razors and cut-throat razors. This example of a straight razor was made in Germany for the export market by ERN. The company was registered in 1874.Steel and ebonised wood straight razor in original caseCase: "The Famous es-ex razor". Blade: "Made in Germany"es-ex razor, straight razors, cut throat razors, ern - germany

This subdivision known as the Riverside Estate wa sone of the largest and most significant in Balwyn's history.Subdivision Plan for 41 lots within the wider Riverside Estate in Camberwell North, now Balwyn, in February 1938. The auction featured lots in Burke Road, The Boulevard, Mt View Road, Wattle Avenue, Kyora Parade, Cascade Street, Riverside Avenue, Walbundry Avenue, Inverness Way, Bulleen Road and Doncaster Road.Allotments for sale are shaded grey on the map. Certain lots have an H in a circle. These are presumably where houses had already been constructed.subdivision plans - balwyn (vic), riverside estate - balwyn (vic)

Small lined rectangular brown fur stolefurs, costume accessories, fur stoles, fur collars

A Dunlop Maxply, Vincent Richards Personal Model tennis racquet, with plastic ribbon whipping around shoulders and shaft, and a cross-hatched leather handle. On the obverse, the Dunlop Maxply trademark features across base of head and throat, with the model name featured across the shaft. 'A Dunlop Production' logo features across the shaft on reverse. 'D Dunlop' trademark features on red butt cover. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Plastic, Ink, Leather, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, String, Enameltennis

A ken-Wel Two-Twenty model tennis racquet. Materials: Wood, Gut, Leather, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metaltennis

Book: 'Budge on Tennis', 180 pages. Hardcover. First edition. Materials: Paper, Ink, Cardboard, Clothtennis

Book: 'Budge on Tennis', 180 pages. Hardcover. First edition. Materials: Paper, Ink, Cardboard, Clothtennis

Book: 'Budge on Tennis', 180 pages. Hardcover. First edition. Materials: Paper, Ink, Cardboard, Clothtennis

An article from a magazine, entitled: 'Tennis Hits Beauty High at Wimbledon'. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

Several boathouses were built in Kew and Fairfield in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They included Chipperfield’s ‘Moorings’ and floating pontoon. The substantial two-storey house was named the Moorings, and incorporated an upper storey residence. The Moorings was almost washed away in the 1916 floods, and in 1934 almost totally submerged when the Yarra River rose 26 feet in 14 hours. Following the 1934 flood, the house was restored. The floating pontoon, sometimes referred to as a ‘kiosk’ or ‘canteen’, was used to store canoes. Both were removed in 1972 for the construction of the Eastern Freeway.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.Chipperfield's Floating Canteen (also known as the pontoon) on the Yarra River. at North Kew The children wading in the river are believed to be the three sons of Dorothy Rogers."Chipperfield's Floating Canteen & house in background. At extreme right - observe channel where Connors Creek flows in."chipperfield's boat house, river yarra, dorothy rogers, floods 1916, 1934

The Kew Historical Society collection includes almost 100 subdivision plans pertaining to suburbs of the City of Melbourne. Most of these are of Kew, Kew East or Studley Park, although a smaller number are plans of Camberwell, Deepdene, Balwyn and Hawthorn. It is believed that the majority of the plans were gifted to the Society by persons connected with the real estate firm - J. R. Mathers and McMillan, 136 Cotham Road, Kew. The Plans in the collection are rarely in pristine form, being working plans on which the agent would write notes and record lots sold and the prices of these. The subdivision plans are historically significant examples of the growth of urban Melbourne from the beginning of the 20th Century up until the 1980s. A number of the plans are double-sided and often include a photograph on the reverse. A number of the latter are by noted photographers such as J.E. Barnes.The Riversdale Estate in Hawthorn created a subdivision of 20 allotments bordering on Riversdale Road and Riversdale Court (which was created by the subdivision). The Locality Plan at right lists the major public buildings in the area: Burnely Horticultural Gardens, Hawthorn Tram Depot and Railway Station, Scotch College and the River Yarra and The Boulevard.subdivision plans - hawthorn, riversdale estate

Pru Sanderson, in her groundbreaking ‘City of Kew Urban Conservation Study : Volume 2 - Development History’ (1988), summarised the periods of urban development and subdivisions of land in Kew. The periods that she identified included 1845-1880, 1880-1893, 1893-1921, 1921-1933, 1933-1943, and Post-War Development. These periods were selected as they represented periods of rapid growth or decline in urban development. An obvious starting point for Sanderson’s groupings involved population growth and the associated economic cycles. These cycles also highlighted urban expansion onto land that was predominantly rural, although in other cases it represented the decline and breakup of large estates. A number of the plans in the Kew Historical Society’s collection can also be found in other collections, such as those of the State Library of Victoria and the Boroondara Library Service. A number are however unique to the collection.The Kew Historical Society collection includes almost 100 subdivision plans pertaining to suburbs of the City of Melbourne. Most of these are of Kew, Kew East or Studley Park, although a smaller number are plans of Camberwell, Deepdene, Balwyn and Hawthorn. It is believed that the majority of the plans were gifted to the Society by persons connected with the real estate firm - J. R. Mathers & McMillan, 136 Cotham Road, Kew. The Plans in the collection are rarely in pristine form, being working plans on which the agent would write notes and record lots sold and the prices of these. The subdivision plans are historically significant examples of the growth of urban Melbourne from the beginning of the 20th Century up until the 1980s. A number of the plans are double-sided and often include a photograph on the reverse. The advertisement for the ‘Kewdene Estate’ subdivision is pasted over a photograph of a property for sale. This is typical of the reuse of promotional materials in the period during, and subsequent to World War I. The subdivision included 14 lots bordered by Belmore Road, Birtles Street and Giles Street. On the other side of the subdivision [Glass] Creek is noted. The subdivision plan also shows part of the Outer Circle Railway and Deepdene Railway Station.subdivision plans - east kew, kewdene estate, belmore road -- kew east (vic.), giles street -- kew east (vic.)

Foldable padded ironing board designed for use on a table. Label: "Foldable Ironing Board. Patented No. 111,674 - 11/9.39"ironing board, sleeve ironing board

Kew Historical Society, founded in 1958, has an extensive reference library, of which this book is a part. Volumes in the library are used by members for research into aspects of local history and/or to support the Society's collections of pictures, maps, fashion and artefacts. Reference books have entered the collection through donation, presentation, collection and purchase.Booklet advising on standards for knitting items for soldiersaustralian comforts fund (victoria), second world war 1939-1945

This RAAF Kit Bag is one of a number of objects gifted to the Kew Historical Society in 2015. A number of the items relate to F.C.M. McArdle, the donors' father. Others belonged to his relatives. Some of the items testify to the family's close connection with the Sacred Heart Church in Cotham Road, Kew.A kit bag made of khaki cloth with brown leather handle, trim and nameplate belonging to F.C.M. McArdle (no 94449) of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The address on the plaque is 3 Wills Street, Kew, Victoria, Australia. second world war 1939-1945, mcardle, kew, royal australian airforce, raaf

The Kew Historical Society's postcard collection includes views of Kew, Melbourne and Greater Melbourne as well as those including overseas scenes sent or received from Europe or the Middle East. They date from the 1890s to the 2000s. These postcards may or may not include the name of the publisher or printer. A number of the cards were published as parts of popular series. A way of dating early postcards is to identify whether the reverse was divided by a central line which became the norm after 1902 in the United Kingdom. However, other postcards produced after this date do not always conform to this print layout.A Rose Series postcard of Ferny Creek in the Dandenongs to the north of Melbourne. The monochrome postcard is numbered P. 3811.Front: THE ROSE SERIES P. 3811 COPYRIGHT / VIEW AT FERNY CREEK, VIC. Reverse: POST CARD / THE ROSE SERIES DELUXE / A REAL PHOTOGRAPH PRODUCED IN AUSTRALIA / PUBLISHED BY THE ROSE STENOGRAPH CO., ARMADALE, VICTORIA / [Inscription] Many Happy Returns of the day, Mum.ferny creek - victoria, postcards

The Kew Historical Society's postcard collection includes views of Kew, Melbourne and Greater Melbourne as well as those including overseas scenes sent or received from Europe or the Middle East. They date from the 1890s to the 2000s. These postcards may or may not include the name of the publisher or printer. A number of the cards were published as parts of popular series. A way of dating early postcards is to identify whether the reverse was divided by a central line which became the norm after 1902 in the United Kingdom. However, other postcards produced after this date do not always conform to this print layout.A Rose Series postcard of "Labrador" in Ferny Creek in the Dandenongs to the north of Melbourne. The postcard is numbered P. 1511.Front: THE ROSE SERIES P. 1511 COPYRIGHT / "LABRADOR' FERNY CREEK, VIC / THE ROSE SERIES DELUXE / A REAL PHOTOGRAPH PRODUCED IN AUSTRALIAferny creek - victoria, labrador - ferny creek, postcards, guest houses -- ferny creek (vic.), labrador -- ferny creek (vic.)

This photograph was displayed at the ORs Mess at the Wangaratta depot of 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. When the depot closed the photograph along with other memorabilia from the depot passed to the Regimental Collection.Rare photo of a Light Horse Regiment group photograph taken shortly before the Second World War and shortly before horses were retired in favour of mechanisation. Black and White photograph mounted on mdf backboard with chamfered edge painted black showing large group of men in Light Horse uniform arranged in rows.On plastic plaque at centre lower edge "8th Indi Light Horse 'More Majorum' "8th light horse regiment, indi light horse

The 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) was raised in 1920 as part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Citizen Military Forces, with Headquarters at Seymour and depots along the Goulburn Valley from Mansfield to Tocumwal in southern NSW. In December 1941, 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 20th Motor Regiment. In 1943 redesignated 20th Pioneer Battalion and deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. The regiment was disbanded at the end of the war, 1945. 20th Light horse was the only light horse unit to serve overseas in WWII.This is one of a collection of pewters presented by officers of a Light Horse regiment drawn from rural and regional Victoria in the period between the World Wars.Silver plated mug with handle and inscribed on side."20th Light Horse Regiment / Presented by / Lieut R G Pryor 16-10-39"pryor rg lieutenant, 20th light horse, engravings, presentations, mugs, light horse regiment, wwii, world war two, second world war, pre-war militia

The Kew Historical Society’s collection includes a wide range of leisure objects. Many of the items are European-made, generally of British origin, however there are a number that were made for the Australian market by Australian manufacturers.In the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, there were large numbers of games produced for children and adults. These included: arcade games, board games, playing cards and puzzles. A representative sample, many now rare survivors, can be found in the collection.Scoring pad, possibly used for Bridge. The cardboard cover of the pad, now detached, has a hand-painted design of an English cottage. The paper pad includes headings and spaces for 'Honours' and Tricks' as well as 'Them' and 'Us'.card games -- score pads, leisure objects, scoring