The Municipality of Kew was proclaimed on 19 December 1860, then upgraded to a Borough (1863), a Town (1910) and finally a City (1921). From 1865, its offices were based in the former Athenaeum Hall in Walpole Street, which, although extended in 1883, inevitably became inadequate. Plans for a new purpose-built Town Hall were first mooted in the late 1880s, but fell prey to six subsequent decades of debate. During that time, many sites were considered and rejected, and several schemes prepared. Finally, in 1945, it was resolved to build a new civic centre as a war memorial. The council acquired Southesk, a mansion on the south-west corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street – first mooted as a possible Town Hall site two decades earlier – and plans for a civic precinct were drawn up by John Scarborough. The project stalled until 1957, when a Town Hall Committee was formed and a new architect appointed: Harold Bartlett of Leith & Bartlett. He also proposed an entire civic precinct, of which a large public hall would constitute Stage One. Designed to accommodate almost any public or official function, the space had had a small stage at one end for intimate theatrical productions, a larger stage at the other (with operable sunken orchestra pit) for musical performances, plus the most up-to-date equipment for live TV transmission. The building, befitting its original intent as a war memorial, was also to include a sculpted monument, for which a separate design competition was held. First prize went to George H Allen (1900-1972), long-time head of the Sculpture Department at RMIT and a former war artist himself (the only one, in fact, to have worked in the medium of sculpture). At the time of the Kew project, Allen was best known for his Cenotaph at the Shrine of Remembrance (1955) and a controversial abstract sculpture at Hume House in William Street (1957). Tenders for the new hall were called and the contract (worth £104,986) was awarded to H F Yuncken. The foundation stone was laid by the Mayor, Cr F C O'Brien, on 1 June 1959. Completion (initially scheduled for October) was delayed by the unavailability of certain materials; it was barely finished in time for the official opening (by Premier Henry Bolte) on 23 April 1960. The war memorial was unveiled two days later (Anzac Day) by Bolte's deputy, the Hon A G Rylah. Fittingly, that year also marked Kew's municipal centenary, and many celebratory events were held in and around the new civic centre in December, including a special council meeting (attended by the Prime Minister), a tree planting ceremony and a youth ball. Source: Survey of Built Heritage in Victoria: Stage Two (Built Heritage Pty Ltd., 2010)Historically significant commemorative plaqueMetal plaque relating to special Council meeting to mark centenary of Kew, 13th December 1960. This plaque was given to the Kew Historical Society in 1991 by the former City of Kew.A Special Meeting Of The / Kew City Council Was Held In / This Hall On 13th December 1960 / To Commemorate / The Centenary of Kew / Cr. W.H.S. Dickinson, M.B.E., J.P., / Mayorkew city hall, foundation stones - kew (vic), cr. w.h.s. dickinson, local government -- kew (vic.)

One of three scrapbooks created by Eva Grant, a past member of the Kew Historical Society which were donated by her niece, Julie Thomson, in 2013. The scrapbook includes photographs and descriptions of the following sites. (Many of these are now demolished and so the photographs and descriptions may be rare records of a site.) Sites include: Abbotsford (Vic) - Abbotsford Convent, Mayfield (c.1962), prefabricated house - Church street Armadale (Vic) - church (c.1959) - Thomson & Wattletree Roads Arthur’s Seat (Vic) - McCrae homestead Ballarat (Vic) - Memorial plaque on site of Bentley’s Hotel, Memorial on site of Eureka Stockade, Early municipal buildings - East Ballarat, Adam Lindsay Gordon’s cottage - Botanical Gardens, View from Sovereign Hill, Shell house Broken Hill (NSW) - panorama (1963), Flying Doctor’s base (?1963) Eltham (Vic) - Hassell’s outdoor art gallery Essendon (Vic) - Niddrie Homestead and stables (1963) Geelong (Vic) - first Bishopscourt Hawthorn (Vic) - Convent (1930), The Hawthorns, Keilor plains (Vic) - pioneer homes, pioneer cemetery Kew (Vic) - Roseneath (1951), Tarring - Ruyton, Turinville, house - Foley street (c.1960). Malvern (Vic) - church Mount Ridley (Vic) - Summerhill Melbourne (Vic) - Old Brewery - Custom’s House Lane (1960), Customs House, Scott’s Hotel (1962), Western market (c.1960) Phillip Island (Vic) - Grave Toorak (Vic) - Mandeville Hall, Merna (sic) - Arthur Streeton’s house, Toorak House Wentworth (NSW) - Harvey’s Hotel, Sturt Memorial, Sturt’s Tree, Wentworth Gaol Williamstown (Vic) - Williamstown Dairy Yan Yean (Vic) - Bear’s Castle (c.1947) Beveridge/Big Hill (Vic) - Kelly’s cottageImportant photograph record (and notes) about historic buildings in Victoria.38-page scrapbook with additional text created by Eva Grant, a past member of the Kew Historical Society. In addition to the 68 photographs, there are two postcards and a number of publications/handouts.collected by Eva on her trips to heritage sites in Victoria and New South Wales. The pages of the album can be viewed in the image carousel above. Most of the photographs of heritage buildings were taken in the early 1960s.See imagesheritage sites - victoria - australia, eva grant, scrapbooks - 20th century

At the beginning of the 1890s, the Kew businessman and Town Councillor, Henry Kellett, commissioned J.F.C. Farquhar to photograph scenes of Kew. These scenes included panoramas as well as pastoral scenes. The resulting set of twelve photographs was assembled in an album, Kew Where We Live, from which customers could select images for purchase.The preamble to the album describes that the photographs used the ‘argentic bromide’ process, now more commonly known as the gelatine silver process. This form of dry plate photography allowed for the negatives to be kept for weeks before processing, hence its value in landscape photography. The resulting images were considered to be finely grained and everlasting. Evidence of the success of Henry Kellett’s venture can be seen today, in that some of the photographs are held in national collections.It is believed that the Kew Historical Society’s copy of the Kellett album is unique and that the photographs in the book were the first copies taken from the original plates. It is the first and most important series of images produced about Kew. The individual images have proved essential in identifying buildings and places of heritage value in the district.When the Kew Lunatic Asylum was opened in 1871, its extensive 340 acres of grounds were intended for farming, agriculture and recreation for the inmates. The point-of-view chosen by Farquhar for this panoramic photograph focuses on the ordered open fields, haystacks and remnant trees that extended from the foreground to the rear of the Asylum. The inmates are the absent players in this pastoral idyll. In 1891, The Argus reported on the Annual Asylum Picnic: “Wednesday saw the Kew picnic, the yearly festival of the mad folks and their keepers. Once a year the public subscribes for cakes and ale for all these mad folks, and their keepers, from superintendent to lowest wardsman, turn out, and use their best endeavours to make one day in the year sanely merry.” Regardless of such merriment, the Asylum’s development and ongoing status were frequently a source of disquiet to the residents of Kew, who regularly petitioned the State Government for its removal. Despite these views, the Asylum was to remain a functioning institution from 1871 to 1988. Kew Asylum & Groundskew illustrated, kew where we live, photographic books, henry kellett, kew lunatic asylum

A copy of the earliest known photograph of the former Kew Post Office on the corner of Cotham Road and High Street, Kew. The Post Office was opened in 1888. The original architectural drawings are held at the Public Record Office Victoria.The photograph is significant as the earliest known image of this Heritage Victoria designated historic building.The Kew Post Office on the corner of High Street and Cotham Road, Kew. The photograph includes the Queen Victoria Jubilee fountain at left. The image predates the large fig tree planted on the corner and the later Kew War Memorial (1925). What are presumed to be government employees stand beside the horse and buggy.

Victoria Bridge is a riveted and welded steel Warren truss bridge over the Yarra River completed in 1884 to a design by Fraser & Chase following a controversial design competition held in 1880. Funds for the bridge's construction were provided by the councils of Collingwood, Hawthorn, Kew and Richmond. The contract was awarded to Mr P. Platt. Charles Rowand was officially appointed Supervising Engineer in 1883. The winning design was based on the theoretical work of William Charles Kernot (1845-1909) who campaigned for economy in public works design and the application of scientific principles in engineering. ... The bridge was widened in 1890 by the addition of a third line of truss on new piers on the up stream side to carry horse trams. Work commenced in 1914 to convert the horse tramway to an electric tramway by the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust, part of the Trust's extension of its tramway into the eastern suburbs between 1913-18. In 1915 the bridge was further strengthened to accommodate the extra weight of electric trams and widened by the addition of two six feet cantilever footpaths. During this period the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust erected two ornamental gantries over the roadway to support overhead wires for the electric tramway. Further widening and reconditioning of the bridge took place in 1933, including the addition of four new welded trusses, two intermediate and two on the outside. The latter were supported on new cantilevered truss cross beams attached to the top of the piers. (Source: Heritage Victoria)Early and rare postcard of the Victoria Street Bridge linking Victoria Street and Barkers Road.Polychrome postcard of the Victoria Street Bridge which links Richmond and Abbotsford with Kew and Hawthorn.View from Harrison Cres embankment / former Xavier College boatshed on site of tree in foreground. / Chimney left corner - Wool Scoring Mils in Victoria St. / On horizon - Studley Villa, Studley House circa 1880s, Studley Hall / Chinese gardens to be seen behind three set of columns / M.J. Slatterypostcards -- yarra river, postcards -- bridges. -- greater melbourne (vic.), victoria street bridge

Boroondara Cemetery, established in 1858, is within an unusual triangular reserve bounded by High Street, Park Hill Road and Victoria Park, Kew. The caretaker's lodge and administrative office (1860 designed by Charles Vickers, additions, 1866-1899 by Albert Purchas) form a picturesque two-storey brick structure with a slate roof and clock tower. A rotunda or shelter (1890, Albert Purchas) is located in the centre of the cemetery: this has an octagonal hipped roof with fish scale slates and a decorative brick base with a tessellated floor and timber seating. The cemetery is surrounded by a 2.7 metre high ornamental red brick wall (1895-96, Albert Purchas) with some sections of vertical iron palisades between brick pillars. Albert Purchas was a prominent Melbourne architect who was the Secretary of the Melbourne General Cemetery from 1852 to 1907 and Chairman of the Boroondara Cemetery Board of Trustees from 1867 to 1909. He made a significant contribution to the design of the Boroondara Cemetery. (Source: Heritage Victoria)This photograph is one of the earliest known photographs of the cemetery, showing the early plantings and fences.Later print copy of an undated original photographic positive of the entrance to the Boroondara General (Kew) Cemetery. The Cemetery had been opened in 1855. This view is from Bulleen Road (now High Street) showing a group of 12 or 13 men standing in a line outside the entrance. At this time, the clocktower and high brick fence had not been constructed, but the trees have reached a substantial heightPencil inscription on reverse - "Boroondara Cemetery Entrance 1862"boroondara general (kew) cemetery, cemeteries -- melbourne (vic.)

The Kew Asylum Entrance Gateway and an adjacent gate lodge were built at the Princess Street entrance in 1873.1 The imposing sandstone pillars and cast-iron gates impressed upon visitors the therapeutic and civilising vision of the asylum. The entrance opened onto a tree-lined drive (now known as Main Drive) which culminated in an elliptical carriageway in front of the main building. (Heritage Council of Victoria)Colour photographic positive of the former Kew Asylum Gates which were relocated in 1942 to Victoria Park in High Street, Kew. The gates were listed by Heritage Victoria in 2020. The citation reads: "The Former Kew Asylum Entrance Gateway consists of two 4.5 metre sandstone gate piers on bluestone bases on either side of a 5.5 metre vehicle entrance set back from the High Street pavement. The 1870s gate piers are of Barrabool sandstone and repairs during 2015-16 were undertaken with sandstone from English Town, Tasmania. The gate piers are highly decorative and feature oculi, triglyphs, dentils, corbeling and other ornamental work. Each gate pier incorporates a pedestrian archway with a cast-iron pedestrian swing gate. Two curved sections of cast-iron palisade fencing on rusticated bluestone blocks extend from the outer edges of the piers to a set of shorter sandstone pillars on the High Street pavement. Straight sections of cast-iron fence extend 4.5 metres ending at two bluestone pillars. Garden beds have been created within the curved sections of fencing, bordered by concreted bluestone and planted with shrubs." (Heritage Council of Victoria)gates -- kew asylum, gates -- victoria park -- kew (vic.)

Originally known as Caulfield Shire Hall, the original 1884 building was designed by Shire surveyor Sydney Smith. In 1931 the Caulfield Town Hall, as it was then known, was remodelled to include the main hall and foyer and a Neo-Grecian portico with Corinthian Order columns. Major works completed since 1945 include Caulfield Arts Complex (opened 20 August 1988), Caulfield Library (opened 4 December 1993) and the award-winning Caulfield Municipal Offices extension which opened on 24 February 1991. The building is listed as No. H0106 in the GECC Heritage Overlay Schedule. The site also includes a Significant Tree (H&H Register No. 034). Brick exterior of two storey building painted white and featuring pillared portico entrance and solid glass doors on Glen Eira road facing north. On the eastern side of the portico is a two storey clock tower with clock surmounted by a flagpole and flag. Some of the eastern section of the building is original with various alterations over the years. The award winning service centre and offices in the westerly aspect of the town hall were extended on to the original buliding in 2000.building, town hall, council, local government, caulfield, glen eira, moorabbin, sydney smith

Souvenir Programme from the Councils of the Municipalities of the City of Caulfield and the Town of Brighton for a Public Demonstration to be held on Sat 3rd August 1918 at 3 o'clock for the proposed Avenues of Honour to be planted in memory of fallen WWI soldiers. One of two known copies, this copy has "Town Clerk" stamped in the upper corner, rhs.Commemorative booklet, grey cover with text printed on the grey textured paper and an image of four trees and a wreath. Image of a kookaburra on the back. Inside, 28 numbered pages with b/w text and photographic images including a transparent paper representation of the proposed Avenues of Honour on Brighton Road and Point Nepean Road. Souvenir programme for a Public Demonstration for the Avenues of Honour as detailed on the front. From Honour Roll Display 2019 interpretation panel - Brighton-Caulfield Avenue of Honour It is hard to imagine but a grand arboreal Avenue of Honour once lined parts of North Road, McMillan Street and Point Nepean Road (now Nepean Highway). The Avenue of Honour was a distinctly Australian phenomenon with hundreds being constructed throughout Australia during and following World War One, most of these in Victoria. Consisting of tree lined streets with each tree representing a solider, the Avenue of Honour signalled a more egalitarian approach to commemoration where rank was not a consideration. Arguably the most famous Avenue of Honour in Victoria still exists at Ballarat. Stretching for nearly 22 kilometres, the entrance to the Avenue is marked by the imposing Arch of Victory. Smaller in scale, the Brighton-Caulfield Avenue of Honour was dedicated to the ‘memory of (Brighton and Caulfield’s) kith and kin who came from (the) district and who died in the Great War’. A joint project between the neighbouring Councils, the idea was first reported in The Argus on 1 July 1918. Plans moved along quickly and on 3 August 1918 the Governor of Victoria Arthur Stanley planted the first Australian flowering gum. The next of kin were then invited to plant trees for lost sons, brothers, uncles, nephews and husbands. In all, over 400 trees were planted. Intensely personal, the Avenue also acted as a focus of grief and remembrance for the wider community. For many years, the annual civic Anzac Day service was held at the Avenue on Point Nepean Road, near Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick. The service was moved to Caulfield Park upon the completion of the Cenotaph in 1930. Due to road widening and disease the last original tree was replaced in the 1980s, however a plaque in Caulfield Park records the Avenue’s plantation. Inkstamp upper corner rhs: "TOWN CLERK"

This Plaque was presented by the City of Caulfield to both Mr and Mrs E.F.S England, to commemorate their term of office as Mayor and Mayoress of the City. Councillor Egbert Frances Scott England was Mayor of the City of Caulfield in 1927.Silver shield attached by one screw to an irregular oval shaped segment of varnished Australian Mulga tree trunk. Label on the back of the tree trunk segment with a map of Australia and in the middle the words, "GENUINE AUSTRALIAN MULGA. S&D PRODUCT". Head of screw visible in the middle of the back of the plaque."PRESENTED TO to CR. E.F.S. AND MRS ENGLAND by the COUNCILLORS, RATEPAYERS AND CITIZENS of the CITY OF CAULFIELD TO COMMEMORATE THEIR TERM OF OFFICE IN THE YEAR 1928"

The photograph features the Administration building of the former Sunbury Asylum and its Ha-ha wall which are located in the Jackson Hill estate. The former Sunbury Asylum was an important Sunbury institution for many years.A coloured photograph of an Edwardian style brick building on a hill and a high brick wall with trees in the background and green lawn in the foreground.sunbury asylum, jackson hill

In the early 1990s a number of upgrades and improvements were made to the buildings and the playground at the Bulla Primary School. The climbing frame which these children are using was one of the items installed in the school's playground.A coloured pre-digital photograph of four children playing on a climbing frame in a playground. There are trees growing behind the boundary cyclone fence.playground equipment, bulla primary school, climbing frame

This is a photograph of the students from grades 3 to 6 in their classroom with their teacher, Pam Telfer at Bulla Primary School in December 1993. The decorations and the Christmas tree indicate it is close the Christmas and the blackboard indicates the era was before whiteboards were introduced into school, not to mention i pads.This is a photograph of classroom prior to the use of white boards, computers and i pads in schools. A coloured non-digital photograph of children sitting on the floor of their classroom in front of their chairs and tables while their teacher is reading to them. It is Christmas time as there is a tree near the blackboard and the room is decorated with streamers and balloons. Three large windows with beige drapes are along one wall. Photograph P0250 is similar. pam telfer, bulla primary school, grades 3to 6

The building was one of the classrooms brought to the Bulla Primary School in the early 1990s to accommodate the increased school enrolments. These rooms were easily transportable and were uses extensively in Victorian Government schools from the early 1950s onwards to cope with growing school attendances. A non-digital photograph of a weatherboard building with a low pitched metal roof and brown and white striped sun-blinds erected in an open ground with tall conifer trees in the background.bulla primary school, portable classrooms

The children were students at Bulla Primary School in 1991 and were playing on the playground equipment that was later replaced with more updated items,A non-digital coloured photograph of children playing on playground equipment in a school yard. There are tall trees in the backgroundbulla primary school, playground equipment

The two little girls were in Prep grade at Bulla Primary School c 1992/93. They are playing on the old playground equipment which was replaced in 1994 when the school underwent many interior and exterior improvements. A non-digital photograph of two little girls playing on climbing frame in a school playground. The classrooms are visible through the conifer trees in the background.bulla primary school, playground equipment

The weatherboard building was one of three erected in the former Bulla Primary School grounds. The original school building was constructed from bluestone as was the case with many other buildings in the district. A non-digital coloured photograph of a cream weatherboard building with brown trims. There are tall conifers and gum trees trees in the background and a concrete pathway leading to the building's front door.bulla primary school, school buildings

The children and their teacher were engaged in a variety of outdoor gardening activities for the three days from 26th - 28th April 1989 for Arbor Week. Over the three days a new garden bed was set out as well as tree planting. During Arbor Week, people are encouraged to plant trees as well as caring for established gardens. The date varies from across different countries and takes into account suitable seasonal planting conditions. Arbor Week gives an awareness of the importance of trees in the environment and the need to provide green areas in the community.A non-digital coloured photograph of seventeen children and an adult moving a long log to a designated area.arbor week, bulla primary school

The students attending Bulla Primary School celebrated Arbor Week in 1989 by improving the school garden and planting native trees on the surrounding area adjacent to the school.The experience gave the children an awareness of the importance of trees and an understanding of the local native flora.A non-digital coloured photograph of six children and an adult doing gardening in a bushland setting.arbor week, bulla primary school, gardening, native vegetation

The students along with the teachers at Bulla Primary School were celebrating Arbor Week in April 1989 by working in the school garden and planting more native trees in the surrounding area.The Arbor Week activities helped to give the children an appreciation of the environment and the importance of trees in our daily lives. A non-digital coloured photograph of six children and an adult planting trees in a gardenarbor, bulla primary school, tree planting, gardening

Nicholas Ruthen was a student at Bulla Primary School when the children were celebrating Arbor Week in April 1989. He had planted a tree and had placed a guard around it to give the young plant protection. A non-digital coloured photograph of a boy kneeling on the ground beside a small tree which has a plastic protection around it.arbor week, nicholas ruthen, bulla primary school

The children from Bulla Primary School were taken on an excursion to Werribee Mansion and Open Range Zoo as part of their nature and environmental studies. On that day they saw a variety of exotic animals that inhabit open savannah areas.The excursion was included in the students' environmental and nature studies.A non-digital photograph of two large rhinoceros lying in a large sand pit in a large fenced off enclosure with trees in the middle distance beyond the fence line.werribee park open range zoo, werribee mansion, bulla primary school, school excursions

The older children from Bulla Primary School were attending a school camp at Hanging Rock where one of the activities involved learning basic rock climbing skills.The rock formations at Hanging Rock offer many opportunities for rock climbing. A non-digital coloured photograph of a group of children and hanging onto a rope that is suspended from a tree while one person is swinging from it. An adult is with the group supervising the activity.hanging rock, rock climbing, school camps, bulla primary school

After the police spoke to the students from Bulla Primary School and they had all had a chance to look over the rescue helicopter, the children were taken a safe distance away from the craft and watched it take off.A non-digital coloured photograph of a group of children lined up and looking at a police helicopter in a paddock. There are a number of tall gum trees in the background. police helicopters, policemen, bulla primary schooil

The students from Bulla Primary School were taken on a school excursion to nearby Woodlands Park where they took part in a tree planting activity. They were planting trees that were native to the area in a bid to replenish the parkland with natural vegetation.The excursion aimed to give the students an awareness of the native vegetation in the area and the importance of conserving natural growth areas. A non-digital photograph of a group of children planting young trees in a prepared area in parkland while being supervised by a number of adults tree planting, woodlands park, bulla primary school, native vegetation

As part of Environment Day observation, the students from Bulla Primary School enjoyed a tree-planting excursion to nearby Woodlands Park, a nature reserve situated close to Melbourne Airport. While they were there, the children were taken for a drive in a fire truck around the park.The excursion was aimed to give the students an awareness of their natural environment and the importance of the native vegetation in their area.A non-digital photograph of a number of children on the back of a fire truck waiting to be taken for a ride around the parkland. An aeroplane is flying overhead.

The children from Bulla Primary School were taken for a ride around Gellibrand Hill on the back of a truck used by the park rangers at Gellibrand Hill near Bulla. The rangers were responsible for maintaining the bushland in the park and the students were at the park doing some tree planting.The excursion was included in then children's science and environmental studies.A non-digital photograph of a group of children in the back of a red conservation and environment truck in a bushland park.tree planting, gellibrand hill, bulla primary school, conservation

The students from Bulla Primary School were taken on an excursion to Gellibrand Hill, a native parkland near Bulla. They did tree-planting and were taken for a ride around the park in the conservation and environment truck. After the ride a park ranger spoke to the group about the park and its importance in the local area.The excursion was included as part of the students science and environmental studies.A non-digital photograph of a group of children gathered around a red truck controlled by the Conservation and Environment personnel while a man explains to the children the importance of the vehicle. They are in a semi-bushland area. gellibrand hill, tree planting, bulla primary school, school excursions