Kew achieved independence from the Boroondara Roads Board in 1860. As a new municipality, its first three leaders were designated as chairmen. On becoming a borough in 1863, its leaders were identified as mayors. The earliest photographs date from ca.1906, when the Town of Kew commissioned the noted local photographer Josiah E Barnes to produce standardised portraits of former mayors to be displayed in the Mayoral Chamber of the Town Hall. The collection also includes photographs by other well-known photographic studios such as Burlington Studios, Melba – Melbourne, Stuart Tompkins, Spencer Shier and Talma & Co. The majority of mounts identify the photographer. Eighty photographs are housed in their original frames.This portrait is one of a series of mounted and framed photographic portraits of Mayors and Town Clerks of the former Borough, Town and City of Kew, for the period 1863 to 1969. The portraits were transferred by the City of Kew to the Kew Historical Society in March 1989. A Significance Assessment in 2018, funded by the National Library of Australia confirmed the historic, and often artistic significance of the series. Framed portrait of Cr. H. E. Wiltshire J.P., Mayor of Kew during 1968-9. The mounting and framing of the photograph follows a typical layout or style in that each is framed in dark wood, glazed, and laid down on an inscribed board. The inscription identifies the name of the mayor and the year/s that he/she served.Cr. H. E. Wiltshire J.P., / Mayor 1968-69mayor of kew, cr. h. e. wiltshire, kew -- municipal collection

David Medhurst (1855-1939) and wife Martha Ruston Medhurst (1860-1943). This studio portrait (date unknown) shows them as a middle aged couple.Pioneer family of Greensborough.Black and white studio portrait, man standing holding a small piece of paper, woman seated. Open book on small table at her right hand.On back: 'Mr and Mrs Medhurst who did much to help Greensborough. Mrs Medhurst born in Greensboro'. Also later additions of dates of birth and death and connections with descendants.medhurst family, partington family, martha medhurst, david medhurst

Photograph of Jessie May Partington as a child.Jessie Angus was a Greensborough identity for her work with the local choral society and as a member of the pioneering Partington family.Postcard Studio portrait of small child in lace dress. Photograph in oval mount.In pen on mount: Jessie May Partingtonjessie may partington, jessie angus, jessie scholes, partington family

This is a studio portrait of Jessie May Partington (1911-1999), possibly in her 20s.Jessie May is a member of the Partington family, Greensborough pioneers.Sepia photograph on postcard depicting young woman (seated) in dark sleeveless dress with pearls.On back: "Auntie Tim" in blue pen and "Jessie" in black pen.jessie may partington, jessie angus, jessie scholes, partington family

Thompson collectionStudio portrait, sepia photograph mounded on brown card; man age (40-50) dressed in suit and tieNone, but manufacturer's details on card; Melba, Melbournethompson collection, nightingale

Jean Stirling , born 1901 in Orbost, married Charles Frances Reginald Joyes on 15th July 1922 in Orbost. Jean's father was John Stirling, son of James Stirling and Ann Gray. Her mother was Robina Harvey McNair, Aged 19 James Stirling arrived in Melbourne on January 26, 1842 with his family - parents, three sisters and two brothers. James Stirling moved around a lot to Whittlesea, Ballarat goldfields, Cunninghame, (now Lakes Entrance), then to the Old Station about 36 miles to the east along the coast near the mouth of the Snowy River and for a time settled there with his wife also from Wigton, Scotland, and their family four sons two daughters (James, John, William, George, Margaret and Polly). The first settler to occupy the Marlo township area was James Stirling around the year 1875. He built a bark hut on the bluff that had two rooms, bark walls, earthen floors and a shingle roof. By 1884, this structure had expanded to a 9 roomed accommodation house and in 1886 became the Marlo Hotel when a liquor license was granted. (more information from “Snowy River Mail”, Wednesday, April 13th 1977: MEMORIES OF MARLO by Mrs Elsbeth Conlon (nee Stirling )This photograph is associated with the Stirling family early settlers of Marlo. It is also a pictorial record of styles of wedding dress popular in the 1920s.A black / white studio portrait / photograph of a bridal couple. The bride on the left is wearing a typical 1920s wedding dress. tTe front is short with a hem that is in different length in front than behind. She is wearing a hat in the cloche-style. She is holding a bouquet of flowers and her train is draped to the left. The groom is wearing a three piece morning suit. he has a with a wingtip collar white dress shirt and a cravat tie.on front - hand - written "Jean Stirling's wedding (Marlo) ? Joyce"stirling-jean-wedding melba-&co wedding-clothing-1920s joyes-charles-francis-reginald

Sepia photograph of an infant aged about six months. She is wearing a white dress and has bare feet. On the reverse is written: Marie Melba Drusilla Sleeth, 'Cardouia', 4 Baxter St. Coburg. This is a studio portrait taken by 'Allen Studio' 318 Smith St., Collingwood.Allan Studioperson, individual, infant, marie melba drusilla sleeth, cardouia, 4 baxter st. coburg, allan studio, 318 smith st. collingwood

Studio sepia photograph of Basil Watson as a youth, possibly in school uniform. Aged about 12 years. 'Basil Watson' handwritten in biro on back.Melba & Co., Melbourneperson, individual, basil watson, melba photography melbourne

Born in England in 1881. Died in 1950 in Springvale, Victoria. No information other than this is in the 9th Edition of the Ministerial Index. He was minister of the Prince of Wales Park Methodist Circuit in 1917 when it celebrated its 25th anniversary.Sepia toned studio head and shoulders portrait oval photograph of the Rev. Francis E. Blyth. He has a moustache and is wearing a three-piece suit with a white tie and is looking directly at the cameraIn pencil on the front "Rev. F E Blyth" On a sticker on the back in ink "Rev F E BLYTH"rev f e blyth methodist minister, prince of wales park methodist circuit, northcote (prince of wales park)

Rev. E. H. Chapple (1866 - 1956) was educated at the University of Melbourne, and was ordained a Wesleyan minister. He was admitted Presbyterian in 1904. Matte, black and white 3/4 studio portrait of Rev. Edward Henry Chapple who is standing and looking directly at the camera. He is dressed in an academic gown over his clerical suit and collar and is holding a rolled document in his left had. The photograph has a grey which has a gold border and a black and gold script inscription. It is tipped onto brown card which has some pencil handwriting and an ink handwritten dedication at the bottom right.Front: "REV. E. H. CHAPPLE - B.A. MINISTER ST. ANDREWS 1913 - 1934" Back: "For Victor Taken 1930"rev e h chapple ba, st andrew's presbyterian church oakleigh, rev e h chapple ba presbyterian minister

This mounted and framed photograph of a group of friends punting on the River Yarra has a number of historic and artistic associations. The photograph is primarily important as an informal photograph of the Australian baritone John Donald Mackenzie Brownlee (1900-1969), whose international career at the world's major opera houses from 1927 until his retirement in 1958 included singing at Melba's Covent Garden farewell in 1926, to recordings in the 1930s of a major series of Mozart operas in Glyndebourne Festival productions, conducted by Fritz Busch. Brownlee, born in Geelong, won the gold medal as champion vocalist at the South Street competitions in Ballarat in 1921. Moving to Paris in 1923 he began study with the French baritone, Dinh Gilly, making his operatic debut at the Trianon Lyrique in Montmartre in 1926. The most significant periods of his operatic career were with the Paris Opera from 1927 to 1936, and at the Metropolitan Opera from 1937 to 1957. After his move to Paris in 1923, he is recorded as revisiting Australia in 1928 as a member of the Melba-Williamson Company, and 24 years later in 1952. The photograph of Brownlee and the Gardners in a punt on the Yarra, while putatively dated to 1925, must be from earlier in the 1920s before his move to Paris, or later during the Melba-Williamson Company season. Before his move to Paris in 1923, Brownlee had lived in Belmont Avenue, Kew, where he must have developed a friendship with the Gardners. The photograph has additional artistic significance as it was produced at 'The Artorium', James Beament's design studio next to the Hawthorn Town Hall at 362 Burwood Road. With a home at 33 Uvadale Road (designed by Eric Nicholls, who managed the architectural practice of Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Grifffin from 1924 to 1932), Beament painted a number of significant murals for the Griffin practice, including those at the Capitol Theatre in Melbourne.A photograph of recreational activities on the River Yarra. The photograph is historically significant as a professionally produced photograph of the Australian operatic baritone John Brownlee, either before his move to Paris in 1923, or in 1928 during the Melba-Williamson Company operatic tour of Australia. The photograph has additional aesthetic significance as it was produced in James Beament's Hawthorn Studio - The Artorium - at 362 Burwood Road, next to the Hawthorn Town Hall.Framed photograph of John Duncan Brownlee, the Australian tenor, with Enid Gardner and friend in a punt on the Yarra River. Brownlee was born in Geelong but before his move to Paris in 1923, he lived for a period in Belmont Avenue, Kew. Three labels on reverse. 1. "John Duncan Brownlee, Operatic Star, originally of Geelong later resident of Kew at Belmont Av, on the pole. Also in the punt - Edith Gardner a friend. The Gardners lived on the east corner of Edgevale Rd. & Cotham. Approx. 1925." 2. "This picture is the property of Kew Historical Society 1/4/79". 3. Tel. Hawthorn 842 THE ARTORIUM ...."john brownlee (tenor), punting, recreation - yarra river (kew), james beament, the artorium -- 362 burwood road -- hawthorn (vic.)