Rotunda, Alexandra Gardens (1910-c.1960). The Alexandra Gardens’ rotunda was located within three acres of ‘gem like’ gardens ‘bright with verdant lawns and choice blooms’ in the centre of Kew. Designed by architects Grainger and Little, the ornate two-storey wooden kiosk functioned as a children’s shelter on the ground level and a bandstand and oratory dais on the upper. Funded by council and community subscription, it was a ‘symbol of the public spirit of Victoria’ and a Kew Jubilee commemoration memorial. Opened in 1910, the Kew Brass Band christened it the ‘finest band rotunda in Melbourne’. Deterioration saw its demise 50 years later. 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.Lawn and original rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens, Cotham Road, Kew. The Alexandra Gardens were opened in 1908. The land on which the gardens were formed originally formed part of the Madford Estate. A feature of the gardens was a large brick, wood and tiled rotunda. "Alexandra Gardens. Formerly part of S. King. (Rest of Estate mainly belongs to St Anthonys home). Opened 1908. Alexandra Gardens. (Rotunda now demolished)"alexandra gardens, kew, dorothy rogers

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. A partial record of performances by the company includes: 1952 Florodora, 1953 The Cingalee - San Toy or The Emperor's Own, 1954 While the Sun Shines - A Country Girl - Our Miss Gibbs, 1955 The Toreador - The Arcadians, 1956 The Maid of the Mountains - Whiteoaks - Goodnight Vienna!, 1957 A Country Girl. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.Black and white photograph of cast members in The Kew Light Opera Company's Australian premiere of Goodnight Vienna!, performed during the 1957 Moomba Festival in the Alexandra Gardens and also in the Kew Recreation Hall. Goodnight Vienna! was composed by George Posford with additional lyrics by H. V. Purcell. The lyrics were by Holt Marvell who had written the book on which the musical was based. Goodnight Vienna! was produced and directed for The Kew Light Opera Company by Lance Nicholls with musical direction by John Trotter. The scenery and lighting was designed by James L. Alexander, while the costumes were by Ada Colton.Marion Tilley has written underneath the photograph: "In Alexandra Gardens. Moomba Festival"performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, kew light opera company, kew recreation hall, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria, alexandra gardens - melbourne

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. A partial record of performances by the company includes: 1952 Florodora, 1953 The Cingalee - San Toy or The Emperor's Own, 1954 While the Sun Shines - A Country Girl - Our Miss Gibbs, 1955 The Toreador - The Arcadians, 1956 The Maid of the Mountains - Whiteoaks - Goodnight Vienna!, 1957 A Country Girl. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.Black and white photograph of a performance of A Country Girl by The Kew Light Opera Company in 1957. The performance at which this photo was shot took place in The Alexandra Gardens, Melbourne. Inscribed underneath the photo in the scrapbook by Marion Tilley: "X me. Alexandra Gardens." [The 'me' referred to in the photo is the woman with her back to the camera at left.]performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, kew light opera company, kew recreation hall, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria

The "Q" Theatre Guild was formed out of the Kew Light Opera Company in 1957. It marked the transition of the company that had initially been directed by Lance Nicholls to one directed by Beatrice Oakley. It continued to perform in the Kew Recreation Hall, but, with its demolition in 1960, and the opening of the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, moved its productions to that venue. Productions of the "Q" Theatre Guild included The Geisha (1957), Maritana (1958), They All Do It (1959), Blossom Time (1959), Love's A Luxury (1959), There And Back & The Bohemian Girl (1960), Die Fledermaus (1960), Gay Rosalinda (1961), The Land Of Smiles (1961), Kisses For A Kid & Hansel And Gretel (1961), Die Fledermaus (1962), Monsieur Beaucaire (1964), Macbeath or The Beggar's Opera, and So To Bed.The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.One of five small black and white photographs of members of the cast in The "Q" Theatre Guild's production of Blossom Time in 1957. The were presumably promotional photographs as they are shot in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. A newspaper report in the Age on 27 October noted that the performance was held in the Kew Recreation Hall. performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, 'q' theatre guild, kew light opera company, kew recreation hall, theatre programmes, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria

The "Q" Theatre Guild was formed out of the Kew Light Opera Company in 1957. It marked the transition of the company that had initially been directed by Lance Nicholls to one directed by Beatrice Oakley. It continued to perform in the Kew Recreation Hall, but, with its demolition in 1960, and the opening of the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, moved its productions to that venue. Productions of the "Q" Theatre Guild included The Geisha (1957), Maritana (1958), They All Do It (1959), Blossom Time (1959), Love's A Luxury (1959), There And Back & The Bohemian Girl (1960), Die Fledermaus (1960), Gay Rosalinda (1961), The Land Of Smiles (1961), Kisses For A Kid & Hansel And Gretel (1961), Die Fledermaus (1962), Monsieur Beaucaire (1964), Macbeath or The Beggar's Opera, and So To Bed.The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.One of five small black and white photographs of members of the cast in The "Q" Theatre Guild's production of Blossom Time in 1957. The were presumably promotional photographs as they are shot in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. A newspaper report in the Age on 27 October noted that the performance was held in the Kew Recreation Hall. performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, 'q' theatre guild, kew recreation hall, theatre programmes, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria

The "Q" Theatre Guild was formed out of the Kew Light Opera Company in 1957. It marked the transition of the company that had initially been directed by Lance Nicholls to one directed by Beatrice Oakley. It continued to perform in the Kew Recreation Hall, but, with its demolition in 1960, and the opening of the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, moved its productions to that venue. Productions of the "Q" Theatre Guild included The Geisha (1957), Maritana (1958), They All Do It (1959), Blossom Time (1959), Love's A Luxury (1959), There And Back & The Bohemian Girl (1960), Die Fledermaus (1960), Gay Rosalinda (1961), The Land Of Smiles (1961), Kisses For A Kid & Hansel And Gretel (1961), Die Fledermaus (1962), Monsieur Beaucaire (1964), Macbeath or The Beggar's Opera, and So To Bed.The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.One of five small black and white photographs of members of the cast in The "Q" Theatre Guild's production of Blossom Time in 1957. The were presumably promotional photographs as they are shot in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. A newspaper report in the Age on 27 October noted that the performance was held in the Kew Recreation Hall. performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, 'q' theatre guild, kew recreation hall, theatre programmes, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria

The "Q" Theatre Guild was formed out of the Kew Light Opera Company in 1957. It marked the transition of the company that had initially been directed by Lance Nicholls to one directed by Beatrice Oakley. It continued to perform in the Kew Recreation Hall, but, with its demolition in 1960, and the opening of the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, moved its productions to that venue. Productions of the "Q" Theatre Guild included The Geisha (1957), Maritana (1958), They All Do It (1959), Blossom Time (1959), Love's A Luxury (1959), There And Back & The Bohemian Girl (1960), Die Fledermaus (1960), Gay Rosalinda (1961), The Land Of Smiles (1961), Kisses For A Kid & Hansel And Gretel (1961), Die Fledermaus (1962), Monsieur Beaucaire (1964), Macbeath or The Beggar's Opera, and So To Bed.The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.One of five small black and white photographs of members of the cast in The "Q" Theatre Guild's production of Blossom Time in 1957. The were presumably promotional photographs as they are shot in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. A newspaper report in the Age on 27 October noted that the performance was held in the Kew Recreation Hall. performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, 'q' theatre guild, kew light opera company, kew recreation hall, theatre programmes, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria

The "Q" Theatre Guild was formed out of the Kew Light Opera Company in 1957. It marked the transition of the company that had initially been directed by Lance Nicholls to one directed by Beatrice Oakley. It continued to perform in the Kew Recreation Hall, but, with its demolition in 1960, and the opening of the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, moved its productions to that venue. Productions of the "Q" Theatre Guild included The Geisha (1957), Maritana (1958), They All Do It (1959), Blossom Time (1959), Love's A Luxury (1959), There And Back & The Bohemian Girl (1960), Die Fledermaus (1960), Gay Rosalinda (1961), The Land Of Smiles (1961), Kisses For A Kid & Hansel And Gretel (1961), Die Fledermaus (1962), Monsieur Beaucaire (1964), Macbeath or The Beggar's Opera, and So To Bed.The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.One of five small black and white photographs of members of the cast in The "Q" Theatre Guild's production of Blossom Time in 1957. The were presumably promotional photographs as they are shot in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. A newspaper report in the Age on 27 October noted that the performance was held in the Kew Recreation Hall. performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, 'q' theatre guild, kew light opera company, kew recreation hall, theatre programmes, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria

The "Q" Theatre Guild was formed out of the Kew Light Opera Company in 1957. It marked the transition of the company that had initially been directed by Lance Nicholls to one directed by Beatrice Oakley. It continued to perform in the Kew Recreation Hall, but, with its demolition in 1960, and the opening of the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, moved its productions to that venue. Productions of the "Q" Theatre Guild included The Geisha (1957), Maritana (1958), They All Do It (1959), Blossom Time (1959), Love's A Luxury (1959), There And Back & The Bohemian Girl (1960), Die Fledermaus (1960), Gay Rosalinda (1961), The Land Of Smiles (1961), Kisses For A Kid & Hansel And Gretel (1961), Die Fledermaus (1962), Monsieur Beaucaire (1964), Macbeath or The Beggar's Opera, and So To Bed.The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.Faded photograph of Jeanette Rayment in full costume in the Royal Botanical Gardens to promote The "Q" Theatre Guild's performances of Blossom Time during the Moomba Festival of 1959. The performances took place in the Alexandra Gardens. Rayment played the role of Therese in the production.Marion Tilley, the creator of the scrapbook, wrote the following underneath the photograph: "Jeanette Rayment, Botanical Gardens, promoting Blossom Time."performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, 'q' theatre guild, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria, kew recreation hall

The "Q" Theatre Guild was formed out of the Kew Light Opera Company in 1957. It marked the transition of the company that had initially been directed by Lance Nicholls to one directed by Beatrice Oakley. It continued to perform in the Kew Recreation Hall, but, with its demolition in 1960, and the opening of the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, moved its productions to that venue. Productions of the "Q" Theatre Guild included The Geisha (1957), Maritana (1958), They All Do It (1959), Blossom Time (1959), Love's A Luxury (1959), There And Back & The Bohemian Girl (1960), Die Fledermaus (1960), Gay Rosalinda (1961), The Land Of Smiles (1961), Kisses For A Kid & Hansel And Gretel (1961), Die Fledermaus (1962), Monsieur Beaucaire (1964), Macbeath or The Beggar's Opera, and So To Bed.The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.Faded photograph of Esme Melville and Jeanette Rayment in full costume in the Royal Botanical Gardens to promote The "Q" Theatre Guild's performances of Blossom Time during the Moomba Festival of 1959. The performances took place in the Alexandra Gardens. In the production, Melville performed the role of Countess Fritzi Frangipani, while Rayment played the role of Therese.Marion Tilley, the creator of the scrapbook, wrote the following underneath the photograph: "Esme Melville, Jeanette Rayment, Botanical Gardens, *** Blossom Time."performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, 'q' theatre guild, kew recreation hall, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria

The Kew Garden Club is a community organisation in Kew, Victoria.Brass plaque and wreath on rectangular stained wood mount awarded to the Kew Garden Club in 1979.Inscription: "City of Kew / Recreational Achievement / 1979 / Standard Newspapers Ltd Award / For Organisation Achievement / Won by / Kew Garden Club."kew garden club, standard newspapers