The St Kilda Presbyterian Church is now part of the St Kilda & Balaclava Presbyterian Church. Its first service was inaugurated by the Free Church Synod of Victoria in May 1855, in a building at the corner of High Street and Alma Road. In October 1855 the congregation moved to a wooden building in Inkerman Street, purchased from the Independent (Congregational) Church. The present church site was purchased and the first church opened in 1860. The foundation stone for the present church building, the second to be built on the site, was laid by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Brougham Loch, on 27 January 1885. The building was opened on 30 May 1886. Wilson and Beswicke were the architects. Ralph Wilson designed the Methodist church on the corner of Princes and Fitzroy Streets and lived diagonally opposite the Presbyterian church. Charles Beswicke had toured Britain and the Continent in 1886 armed with a camera and returned to Australia with photographs of what he considered the greatest examples of architecture. He was responsible for the town halls in Brighton, Malvern, Hawthorn and Essendon and Wesleyan churches in Camberwell and Dandenong. Thomas Corley was the builder. The lofty spire was ‘a landmark to the mariner’ used by sea captains sailing up Port Phillip Bay. On a prominent position, the highest point in St Kilda, the church attracted wealthy people with legal, merchant and pastoral backgrounds.colour photographst kilda, churches, presbyterian church, balaclava

Otira was designed and built in 1887 by architect Mr Crouch, first Secretary of the Institute of Architects for Mr Henry Berry, founder of a successful wholesale grocery business. The house was acquired by the Methodist Church in 1923 for use as a home missionary training college. The house is of faced stone on a bluestone foundation. The large front door is surrounded by lead light windows surmounted by a fan light. The land on which the house stands has now been subdivided.B & W gloss photograph mounted on card of the rear of Otira, the Home Missionary Training College located at 73 Walpole Street Kew. Otira 73 Walpole Street Kew. Home MIssionaries Training College. otira, methodist home missionary training school walpole street kew, henry berr crouch

Otira was designed and built in 1887 by architect Mr Crouch, first Secretary of the Institute of Architects for Mr Henry Berry, founder of a successful wholesale grocery business. The house was acquired by the Methodist Church in 1923 for use as a home missionary training college. The house is of faced stone on a bluestone foundation. The large front door is surrounded by lead light windows surmounted by a fan light. The land on which the house stands has now been subdivided.B & W gloss photograph mounted on card of Otira, the Home Missionary Training College located at 73 Walpole Street Kew. The photograph was taken from the street.Otira 73 Walpole Street Kew. Home MIssionaries Training College. otira, methodist home missionary training college walpole street kew, henry berr crouch

Rev Henry Clarnette: born 1898 in N.S.W. Ordained into the Methodist Church in 1921. Served in Yackandandah, Wodonga, Longford & Bracknell, Latrobe, Launceston South, Colac, Warracknabeal, Warrnambool, Bendigo (Forest Street). Connexional Editor Tasmania 1933 - 1935. Chairman of District 1946 - 1949. Died in 1954.B & W matte photograph of the Rev Henry Clarnette laying the foundation stone of the Hotham St. Methodist Church Mont Albert. Mounted on buff card.rev henry clarnette, methodist, minister, mont albert

Small silver commemorative trowel with black bakelite handle.Presd to Henry H Kemp G.R.I.B.A. on the occasion of laying the foundaiton stone of the Kew Presbyterian Church S.S. by F. Bruce Kemp A.R.A.I.A. 2nd Dec 1939.henry h kemp g.r.i.b.a., kew presbyterian church sunday school

Grade 2 of Pakenham Consolidated School in 1953 with their teacher Mrs Joyce Hosking. Back row L to R: Paul Manestar or Bill Vallender, Bernie Carter, (?), Norman Whitelaw, Richard Shelton, Rodney Shallard, Ian Reid (Reidy?) or Duncan Beard (Reidy), Ken Jarred, Glen Jolly. 2nd back row L to R: Keith Crofts, Peter Johnstone, Kevin Lewis, Robert Tulloch (Bones), Nipper Reid, Duncan Beard(?), Bruce Weatherhead, Peter Hobson (Hobbo). 2nd row from front L to R: David Langley, Kath Mauger, Jill Peck, Rosamund Hunt, Beth Schilling, Roslyn Smith, Lynne Tuena, Pat Stone, Joy Higgins, Lynette Wheeler, Grif Fearon or Kevin McInnis. Front row L to R: Ken McCaffrey, Marion Butcher, Helen Stephens, Mary Lou Walsh, Glenis Tuena, Dawn Hillderbrick/ Hillbrick(?), Marion Hansford, Kaye Wollard, Beverley Payne (Payney), Edna Sinclair(?), Paul Braemar. In the 1940s and 1950s there was a movement to consolidate small rural schools into one larger school. This was partly a response to a shortage of teachers, due to many male teachers enlisting during the Second World War. The War also caused a shortage of materials and labour and many Schools fell into disrepair. The Education Department decided that Pakenham would be one of the first six Consolidated Schools to be established and that all schools within 8 kms or 5 miles would be closed. The Pakenham Consolidated School was officially opened on May 29, 1951, on the site of the Pakenham State School, No.1359, in Main Street. The original Pakenham School had opened on a site near the Toomuc Creek in January 1875 and it moved to the Main Street site in 1891. The first Head Master was Charles Hicks. The School offered classes up to Year 10 (Form 4). The schools that formed the Consolidated School were Pakenham Upper No. 2155 (closed January 1952), Pakenham South No. 3755 (closed September 1951), Toomuc Valley No. 3034 (closed September 1951), Army Road No. 3847 (closed April 1947), Mount Burnett No. 4506 (closed October 1949), Tynong No. 2854 (closed April 1951), Tynong North No.4464 (closed December 1951), Nar Nar Goon North No. 2914 (closed October 1951), Nar Nar Goon South No. 4554 (closed May 1951), Rythdale No. 4231 (closed September 1951), Officedale No. 4242 (closed May 1951), Cora Lynn No. 3502 (closed May 1951) and Koo-Wee-Rup North (Five Mile) No. 3198 (closed November 1959). The School consisted of new buildings, which at the time cost one hundred thousand pounds, and many of the old School buildings. Some towns did not realise that their School buildings would be removed from the sites and transferred to Pakenham. The Pakenham Consolidated School moved from its original location in Main Street to its current location in Rundell, Way in 1997.This photograph is of historic and social significance. Pakenham Consolidated School was one of the first six Consolidated Schools established by the Education Department, and was born out of shortages of teachers, labour, and materials during World War II. The school can be used more broadly to reflect on the evolution of education in the state of Victoria, as the school can trace its origins all the way back to 1875, when the original Pakenham School was opened near Toomuc Creek. The photograph is also of social significance to many community groups, including Cardinia Shire, past and current students and teachers, allowing various groups to reflect on and share intangible memories of times spent at Pakenham Consolidated School.Copy of a rectangular black and white photograph on matte photographic paperpakenham consolidated school, primary school, class photo, grade two, grade 2, pakenham, school, photo

Back Row L to R: Robert Tulloch, Kevin Lewis, Ron Lamb, Peter Johnson, Ian Reid, Paul Braemar, ?? Paul Manestar ? 2nd back row L to R: ? Terry, Rodney Shallard, Duncan Beard, Terry Norris, Ray Murphy, Mrs Joyce Hosking, Richard Shelton, ?? Keith Crofts 2nd row from front L to R: Joy Beard, Joy Higgins, Kath Mauger, Lynette Giles , Mareka Slot, Sue Kinsella, Carol Waterhouse, Beth Schilling, Lyn Tuena, Roslyn Smith, Maree Vale Front row L to R: Marion Butcher,?, Glenys Tuena, Pam Huntingford, Sue Scott, Pat Stone, ?, Helen Stephens

Black and white photograph of the band in procession, Major Joe Nott leading, during the ceremonial laying of the Foundation Stone for the Rutherglen Bush Nursing Hospital. This one is an enlarged photographic duplicate of 449.6ahospital, foundation stone, parade, joe nott, joseph henry nott, nott family, ww1, wwi, ww2, world war 1, world war i, world war 2, croix de guerre, military cross

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. mason's marks, carlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. carlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. The sign of Thomas Crump, stonemasoncarlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks, thomas crump, crump

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. Sign of Thomas Crump, stonemasoncarlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks, thomas crump, crump

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. Sign of Thomas Crump, stonemasoncarlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks, thomas crump, crump

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. Sign of the cross (plus sign)carlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. Digital photographG. N.carlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. Digital photographG.N.carlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. Digital photographTwo "X" marks joined by a vertical linecarlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. Digital photographcarlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. A pentagram (sometimes known as a pentalpha, pentangle or star pentagon) is the shape of a five-pointed star. They were known as apotropaic or witch's marks and were thought to ward off evil spirits. Digital photographApotropaic mark carved into columncarlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks, apotropaic mark, witch's mark

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. digital photographcarlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. Digital photographA square with a shape like a "W" at the bottomcarlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. Digital photographcarlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks

Carlisle Cathedral The Priory near the cathedral was founded in 1122 by King Henry I. There were earlier buildings on the site. Ten years later the priory church became the Cathedral and the Kind created the diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Celebrated architect Ivo de Raughton who lived a few miles south of Carlisle designed the intricate masonry. Many interesting features are recorded about Carlisle Cathedral in tourist brochures and its homepage, however they do not mention the many mason’s marks clearly visible on the stone columns inside the Cathedral. There have been hundreds of marks recorded, some being similar to those on the Yarrowee Channel in Ballarat. Digital photographmonarch's head - wearing a crowncarlisle, cathedral, stonemasons, mason's marks

Lanercost Priory was founded around 1169 by Robert de Vaux, and was home to an order of Augustinian canons until 1538 when is was dissolved by Henry VIII. In 1542 the priory and lands were granted to Thomas Dacre, an illegitimate son of Thomas, Lord Dacre. Mason's marks can be found throughout the undercroft. Plan on white paper with black and red ink printing and a drawingEnglish Heritage Lanercost Priorymason's marks, marks, stone marks, stonemasons, lanercost, priory, plan, 1169

"METHODIST CHURCH. In 1881, during the ministry of Rev. W. H. Fitchett, B.A., at Hawthorn, a number of members of the denomination living at Kew considered that the time was opportune for founding a local Church. The Superintendent of the Circuit, the Rev. W. A. Quick of Richmond, met the members and formed them into a society class under the leadership of Mr. A. Brown and a Church was formally instituted at the house of Mr. T. J. Eaton, of Eglinton Street, in December, 1881. Services were regularly held for some time at the same place, and funds for purchasing a block of land were gradually collected, resulting in the present site in Highbury Grove being purchased for £350. Messrs. W. Cleverdon, A. Money, T. E. Serpell, and T. Vasey, of Hawthorn, and Messrs. A. Brown, R. Eyre, and T. J. Eaton of Kew, were appointed trustees. A public meeting was held a the Town Hall, when over £100 was raised. The Rev. John Harcourt, who had just been placed on the supernumerary list, was persuaded to undertake the charge, and commenced services in the Town Hall on 29th April, 1882, which were continued for eighteen months. A Sunday School was started, and altogether the effort progressed so satisfactorily that in October, 1882, the foundation and memorial stones of the present Church were laid by Mr James Huddart. At the tea meeting held in connection with this event nearly £200 was raised and a few months later £250 more was obtained by means of a bazaar. The contract for building Church was let for £1,200. The Sunday School celebrated its first anniversary in June, and the Church was opened on 7th October 1883, the preachers on the occasion being Revs. E. J. Watkin, S. Chapman, and John Harcourt, the collections amounting to £230. Towards raising these sums of money the ladies of the congregation helped very materially. In 1886 the foundation stone of a Sunday school, to cost about £900, was laid by Mrs. H Berry, the building being opened in April 1887. During the same year the Church was enlarged. In 1889 parsonage was erected, and again arrangements had to be made for a further enlargement of the Church, at a cost of nearly £2,000. The foundation stones of the tower were laid by Rev J. Harcourt, and of the transepts by Mrs. Job Smith and Mrs. John Watson. These additions were made during the ministry of Rev. P. R. C. Ussher, the first minister appointed to Kew by conference. He has been succeeded by Revs. Henry Howard, J. de Q. Robin, J. J. Brown, J. G. Wheen, A. E. Albiston, M.A., and F. J. Nance, M.A., who is at present ably filling the pulpit. For the musical portion of the services, the Church has been greatly indebted to the enthusiasm of Mr. C. Gardner, the leader of the choir, and Mr. C. E. Gardner, the organist. The Sunday School has had a number of excellent workers, among whom may be mentioned Messrs. Burchett, Allum, Hillard, Tonkin, Dent, Avery, McDonald, Green, and B. Hoadley, who have acted as Superintendents, and Messrs. Arnall and McCaghern as Secretaries. The present trustees are Messrs. H. Berry, Job Smith, A. Hoadley, F. Vial, C. Powers, H. L. Carnegie, C. H. Green, W. R. Rylah, E. M. Tonkin, S. Gaylard, J. Gregory, J. R. McDonald, T. J. Eaton, F. S. Fitchett, and S. Lamble; Society Stewards, T. J. Eaton and B. Hoadley; Poor Stewards, G. Hinchliffe and G. Fraser; Church Stewards, C. H. Green and G. Hinchliffe; Treasurer, F. S. Fitchett; Secretary, S. Lamble." Source: FGA Barnard, Jubilee History of Kew, Victoria, 1910Commemorative tributes were regularly produced in the 19th and early 20th Century to honour community service. Most were adapted from traditional lithographed models. This example, while created within a formal lithographed border has been transmuted into the equivalent of an illuminated document, hand-painted, and therefore rare. The use of flowers in the design emphasises the sentimental and spiritual aspects of the certificate. The document is a rare unique record of the Kew Methodist Church's history.A hand written testimonial for John Watson Esq from the Trustees of the Kew Methodist Church. The customised colour lithograph includes, at lower left, a turn of the century photograph of the Kew Methodist Church in Highbury Grove. The entire certificate is surrounded by floral art and scroll work. The central text uses neo-gothic lettering.‘Dear Sir … in view of your compulsory retirement on health grounds, from the position of Church Steward, [the Trustees] desire to express their great appreciation of your long service of over 22 years, in that and other offices in the Church. They trust that you will yet be spared many years in fellowship with our Church, and that God’s richest blessing be on you, and your family. We remain, Yours sincerely A. E. Albiston (Minister), S. Lamble (Secretary), F. S. Fitchett (Treasurer), T. J. Eaton (Trustee), C. H. Green and Hubert S. Howell (Church Stewards); March 28th 1907’. john watson esq, kew methodist church, highbury grove, certificates, tesimonials

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)Plaque commemorating the opening of a new town hall in KewMetal plaque recording the official opening of the Kew City Hall, 23rd April 1960. This plaque was given to the Kew Historical Society in 1991 by the former City of Kew.Kew City Hall / Opened by / The Hon. H.E. Bolte M.L.A. / Premier of Victoria / 23rd April 1960 / Cr. H.G. Ferguson J.P. - Mayor.kew city hall, foundation stones - kew (vic), sir henry bolte, local government -- kew (vic.)

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.)

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 23 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. In the 1920s, the photographer travelled throughout Victoria, including on the west coast from Port Campbell to Port Fairy. Trips were presumably made by train and by foot. Lynda Tieman and her team at the Port Fairy Historical Society were able to identify a number of Henry Christian's photographs of Port Fairy, of which this is one. The scene is of Boarding School Beach at Port Fairy and of bathing boxes on the stone reef.henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, port fairy (vic.), boarding school beach