Flooding of the Yarra Valley, including that section of the Yarra bordering Kew and Kew East in the north and west of the municipality, was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916, 1923 and 1934. The Municipality of Kew's response to these floods was to enact planning decisions restricting residential development in flood prone areas following the floods of 1916, 1921 and 1934. While floods continued after the development of the Upper Yarra Reservoir (construction 1948-57), the regularity and extent of these inundations diminished. During the nineteenth century, the land abutting the south side of the Yarra in Kew was devoted to dairy farming. In the twentieth century, before and after the construction of the Eastern Freeway, much of this low-lying area was used as golf courses and public parks.One of a collection of photographs of flooding in the Kew section of the Yarra Valley which are in important research resource for the location and extent of flooding in the first half of the twentieth century. Flooding of the Yarra Valley at East Kew in 1916. The view is taken from a street (maybe Birdwood Avenue) intersecting with Kilby Road looking northeast across the flood waters to Ivanhoe and Heidelberg. The extensive flooded area shown in the photograph would have included remnant dairy farms and the Kew Golf Club. Verso: "Floods / Yarra River / East Kew / Kilby Road / 1917? / 87"yarra river, yarra valley, floods -- kew, kilby road -- kew (vic.), kew golf club

Railway viaduct, Yarra River, linking Kew and Fairfield. Built by John Monash for the Outer Circle Railway. In 1930 converted into the Chandler Highway Bridge for vehicular traffic. Annotations on reverse: "KH-71. Outer Circle Railway Bridge (over Yarra) looking from Kew side to site of Paper Mills, Alphington.outer circle railway, railway viaduct (kew), john monash, chandler highway bridge

The Zig-Zag Bridge which was constructed in the 1870s to link the Yarra Bend Asylum and Kew Asylum. Initially it transported bluestone from the west side of the Yarra to the east during the construction of the Kew Asylum.Real photo postcard of the Zig-Zag Bridge at Kew. In the middle ground there is a rowboat.Obverse: "River Yarra near Macauleys' Boathouse Kew". Reverse: "Gift from L Bennett"bridges -- river yarra, bridges - kew (vic.), zig-zag bridge

Sepia postcard of the Zig-zaf Bridge joining Yarra Bend and Studley Park. In the foreground is a rowboat in which a man is standing, behind whom are two women in hats and a young child. The man appears to be pushing the boat away from the Bank. In the distance is the wooden Zig-Zag Bridge, constructed in the 1870s to link the Yarra Bend and Kew Lunatic Asylums. [Destroyed by flood, 1929.]Obverse: "River Yarra near Macauleys' Boathouse Kew". Reverse: "Zig Zag Bridge / Gift from L Bennett 1980 / Bridge between Old Asylum & new Mental Hosp. / Kew side"zig-zag bridge -- kew (vic.), bridges -- river yarra, bridges -- kew (vic.)

Dight’s Falls in Studley Park is an artificial weir built on a natural rock bar across the Yarra. The weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the ‘Ceres’ flour-mill, one of the first in Victoria. The falls were later to become known as Dight’s Falls after the owners of the mill. Later, a pumping station was built on the Kew side of the river, which pumped water uphill to a reservoir in Walmer Street that provided water to the Melbourne Botanical Gardens and to Albert Park Lake. The area around Dight’s Falls was and is frequently used for recreational activities.Rare original print photograph of people walking across Dight's Falls when the river flow was low. View west towards Abbotsford. Photograph taken from Kew side of river above the Falls.Reverse: "M Holmes"dight's falls, river yarra -- kew - abbotsford

Macauley's boat sheds (aka Kew Boatsheds) was located on the river at the western end of Molesworth Street, Kew.Black and white enlargement. Two children pictured in a canoe at Macauley's Boathouse on the River Yarra at Studley Park.Reverse: "Macauley's Boatsheds / M Holmes"boathouses -- river yarra, boathouses -- kew, macauley's boat shed, recreation -- canoeing

Monochrome postcard titled lower right: “RIVER YARRA AT STUDLEY PARK, MELBOURNE”. The postcard was produced by ROBERT JOLLEY, MELB, (active 1900-1904). The photo is positioned to the left of the card and framed by an art nouveau design. A handwritten annotation on the front reads “BUT WITH THE MORNING / COOL REFLECTION CAME / BLANCHE STEPHENS”. On the reverse, there is a handwritten address in black ink to: MISS L STEPHENS / 26 WEST TERRACE / ADELAIDE. There is no division on the reverse of the postcard, dating it to before 1905. It lacks a postage stamp and postmark. Monochrome postcard of the River Yarra in Studley Park. The view is of the Yarra and its banks, with Kew on the left and Abbotsford on the right, as it appeared in the years 1900-1904. On the Abbotsford side of the river, there are a number of weeping willows lining the banks and houses on the hillside. The Studley Park side of the river includes some remnant vegetation and meandering walking tracks. Three very small figures are sitting on the Kew side. "RIVER YARRA AT STUDLEY PARK, MELBOURNE"river yarra -- kew (vic.), postcards -- kew, postcards -- studley park, robert jolley

This aerial photograph shows the Kew Cottages, and doctors/clergy residences on the north side of Wills Street, before the State Government sold the land for residential development. The doctors residences in Wills street were made of 'Glen Iris' Olympic Bricks. According to neighbours of the time most of the buildings were demolished overnight in the 1980s.Aerial photograph of Willsmere and the Kew Cottages bounded by the Boulevard, the Chandler Highway, Princess Street and Fellows Street. The roundabout at the intersection of Princess Street, Wills Street, and Eglinton Street is at the top left. The Eastern Freeway is at the lower edge of the photograph.kew cottages, eastern freeway, willsmere, yarra river, aerial photographs -- kew (vic), kew boulevard, willsmere mental hospital, kew mental hospital, kew childrens cottages

Dight’s Falls in Studley Park is an artificial weir built on a natural rock bar across the Yarra. The weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the ‘Ceres’ flour-mill, one of the first in Victoria. The falls were later to become known as Dight’s Falls after the owners of the mill. Later, a pumping station was built on the Kew side of the river, which pumped water uphill to a reservoir in Walmer Street that provided water to the Melbourne Botanical Gardens and to Albert Park Lake. The area around Dight’s Falls was and is frequently used for recreational activities.Original, black and white positive of water flowing over the 'Race' at Dight's Falls in MelbourneInscribed verso: "The Race at Dight's Falls / River Yarra Melbourne / 1.3.25" "Kodak Print"dight's falls, river yarra, yarra -- kew (vic.)

In 1928 a footbridge was erected to link Kew with the public golf course across the Yarra. The total cost of construction came to 250 pounds and the bridge became known as Kane's Bridge. During the 1934 floods the bridge was washed downstream, and was subsequently rebuilt. The present form of the bridge resembles the earlier bridge which crossed from the Yarra Bend Asylum to Kew, further upstream. (VHD)Original, black and white positive of Kane's Bridge in December 1934, when the 'great flood' of the Yarra caused the bridge's destruction. Inscribed verso: "Kane's Bridge Yarra in flood Dec 1934"river yarra, yarra -- kew (vic.), kanes bridge, 1934 floods

Blind Creek was located between the Abbotsford Convent and what is now the Collins Bridge in Studley Park. In an 1858 map of East Collingwood by Clement Hodgkinson, in the State Library of Victoria, one can see how the creek was originally a significant landmark in Collingwood; remaining vacant land until a barrel drain enclosed it. The area was later filled in, surveyed and developed. The position where Blind Creek entered the Yarra was in the immediate vicinity of Hodgson’s Punt, which had linked Kew to the other side of the Yarra from 1839. The Punt was purchased by the Colonial Government in 1852 and was in use until the opening of the Studley Park Road (Johnston Street) Bridge in 1858 made its continued use redundantThe point of view selected by the artist for the watercolour is from the banks of Blind Creek in East Collingwood, looking across the Yarra to the Kew side of the river.Inscribed verso 'Creek and Old Watering stage, on the Yarra East Collingwood 1854 / Trees, stage, &c have long since disappeared / [Artist Signature] / FT 110 / Creek itself now being filled in 1903.gb richardson, blind creek - abbotsford, yarra river - abbotsford (vic) - kew (vic), colonial artists, australian art - 19th century, george bouchier richardson

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.Photograph of works involved in construction of the F19 (now Eastern) Freeway. The photo shows works to divert the route of the Yarra River in Kew in order to construct a section of the F19 Freeway. "Eastern Freeway / River diversion works / Mar 72"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.Photograph of works involved in construction of the F19 (now Eastern) Freeway. The photo shows works to divert the route of the Yarra River in Kew in order to construct a section of the F19 Freeway. "Eastern Freeway / River diversion works / Mar 72"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.Photograph of works involved in construction of the F19 (now Eastern) Freeway involving rerouting the River Yarra in Kew."Eastern Freeway / pumping out old river bed"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations."Old bridge works MMBW, New bridge works CRB / Main bridges over Yarra River / Fairfield - Kew"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway

The heritage listed Fairfield Bridge was originally constructed for the Outer Circle Railway to bridge the Yarra River between East Kew and Fairfield stations. In the 1930s it was converted for vehicular traffic. In the 2010s a new concrete bridge was erected beside it to increase vehicular capacity. Original colour print positive of the (former) Chandler Highway bridge in 2001. The point of view is from the Fairfield side of the river looking towards Kew. The heritage listed bridge was originally constructed for the Outer Circle Railway to bridge the Yarra River between East Kew and Fairfield stations. In the 1930s it was converted for vehicular traffic. In the 2010s a new concrete bridge was erected beside it to increase vehicular capacity. Ink inscription on reverse: "Chandler Highway bridge / (Originally Outer Circle Railway Bridge) / From Fairfield side towards Kew / July 2001"bridges -- kew (vic), fairfield bridge, chandler highway bridge, outer circle railway viaduct

The railway viaduct linking Kew and Fairfield was created for the Outer Circle railway.Railway viaduct, Yarra River, linking Kew and Fairfield. Built by John Monash for the Outer Circle Railway. In 1930 converted into the Chandler Highway Bridge for vehicular traffic. The point-of-view of the photograph shows Kew in the distance. Annotations on reverse: "Outer Circle Railway Bridge (now Chandler Highway) Fairfield-Kew, about 1919. Property of Miss Foley.outer circle railway, railway viaduct (kew), john monash

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 4 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. This photograph is of the Yarra River at Kew."Yarra at Kew"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums

Several boathouses were built in Kew and Fairfield in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They included Chipperfield’s ‘Moorings’ and floating pontoon. The substantial two-storey house was named the Moorings, and incorporated an upper storey residence. The Moorings was almost washed away in the 1916 floods, and in 1934 almost totally submerged when the Yarra River rose 26 feet in 14 hours. Following the 1934 flood, the house was restored. The floating pontoon, sometimes referred to as a ‘kiosk’ or ‘canteen’, was used to store canoes. Both were removed in 1972 for the construction of the Eastern Freeway.This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.Chipperfield's Floating Canteen (also known as the pontoon) on the Yarra River. at North Kew The children wading in the river are believed to be the three sons of Dorothy Rogers."Chipperfield's Floating Canteen & house in background. At extreme right - observe channel where Connors Creek flows in."chipperfield's boat house, river yarra, dorothy rogers, floods 1916, 1934

Land along the Yarra River in Kew is now either designated open space, parkland or public golf links. By the 1930s much of this area remained open farmland, bought at auction for dairy farming in the 1840s.Original, black and white positive print of what is said to be the Yarra Flats near Burke Road Bridge. On the horizon, building can be seen, whereas in the middle ground, farm fencing and a windmill are the main features as well as remnant Eucalypts. Inscribed verso: "Yarra Flats near Burke Rd Bridge 1937" studley park -- kew (vic.)

An original photograph donated to the Kew Historical Society by the City's Engineering Department following the amalgamation of Kew into the City of Boroondara. While not all of the photographs are of Studley Park, Kew or East Kew, each photo provides a fine snapshot of the work of local government engineering departments of the period. They reveal they types of labour conducted, the techniques used and the equipment and machinery in the possession of the local government authority. Historic and rare photograph of major public works in Kew in the 1930s.Public works. Men at work in the creek bed of Connor's Creek in Kew, while constructing the underground drain. Connor's Creek was one of the two main tributaries of the Yarra River in Kew. It originated somewhere near the grounds of Genazzano FCJ College. The barrel drain was finally completed in 1941 at a cost of £14,000. Inscription on reverse: "City of Kew / Cecil st drain / November 1936". city of kew, city of kew (engineering department), engineering, connor's creek (kew)

An original photograph donated to the Kew Historical Society by the City's Engineering Department preceding the amalgamation of Kew into the City of Boroondara. While not all of the photographs are of Studley Park, Kew or East Kew, each photo provides a fine snapshot of the work of local government engineering departments of the period. They reveal they types of labour conducted, the techniques used and the equipment and machinery in the possession of the local government authority. Historic and rare photograph of major public works in Kew in the 1930sPublic works. Men at work in the creek bed of Connor's Creek in Kew, while constructing the underground barrel drain. Connors Creek was one of the two main tributaries of the Yarra River in Kew. It originated somewhere near the grounds of Genazzano FCJ College. The barrel drain was finally completed in 1941 at a cost of £14,000. Inscription on reverse: "City of Kew / Cecil st drain / November 1936". public works (kew), roadmaking, engineering, city of kew (engineering department), connor's creek (kew), cecil street drain

Dight’s Falls in Studley Park is an artificial weir built on a natural rock bar across the Yarra. The weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the ‘Ceres’ flour-mill, one of the first in Victoria. The falls were later to become known as Dight’s Falls after the owners of the mill. Later, a pumping station was built on the Kew side of the river, which pumped water uphill to a reservoir in Walmer Street that provided water to the Melbourne Botanical Gardens and to Albert Park Lake. The area around Dight’s Falls was and is frequently used for recreational activities.Dated postcard allowing one to analyse the form of the Falls in 1911Colour postcard, of Dight's Falls on the River Yarra between Kew and Fairfield. The photograph is taken looking upstream towards the Falls from the Kew side, from the embankment in the vicinity of the Pumping Station. Obverse: "Dight's falls, Kew" Reverse: "Printed in Great Britain Writing in ink on Reverse: "31/3/1911 / To dear Nell with best wishes for a happy birthday from your old friend Eve / [Addressed to] "Mrs N Dunn, Prahran" Franked Victorian 1d stamp on Reverse top rightdight's falls, dight's falls - kew (vic) - fairfield (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 2 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. The photograph is of waterlilies planted at Macauley's boat sheds on the Yarra River at Kew. The boat sheds were located at the west end of Molesworth Street. "Macauley’s Kew"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, macauley's boat sheds

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 6 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. This is a photograph of the Yarra River at Kew. The focus of the view is Orlando Henry Beater Christian in his row boat. Orlando was a founder of the Willsmere Swimming Club. "Yarra Rvr /Kew"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, orlando henry beater christian

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. A fine, early view of Macauley's boat sheds on the Yarra River at Kew. It is also one of the earliest views of Carnsworth, a notable mansion in Studley Park. Digital copy of a photograph from page 2 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. The photograph is of a stretch of the Yarra River at Kew. In the foreground are the boats of Macauley's Boat Sheds. On the horizon is the red brick tower of J Lewis Carnegie's house 'Carnsworth' in Stawell Street. "Macauley’s Kew"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, macauley's boat sheds, carnsworth -- stawell street -- 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 7 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. This is a photograph of the Yarra River at Kew in the vicinity of one of the boat sheds. On the right river bank is a small ferry or launch that carried passengers from Melbourne to Heidelberg, stopping at key locations en route. "Studley Park / Kew"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, yarra ferries, boat houses, boat sheds

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. A fine, early view of Macauley's boat sheds on the Yarra River at Kew.Digital copy of a photograph from page 2 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. The photograph is of Macauley's boat sheds on the Yarra River at Kew. The boat sheds were located at the west end of Molesworth Street. The photograph is taken from the Yarra Bend Park side of the river, or from a boat on the river. The canoes belonging to Macauley's are lined up on the river bank. "Macauley’s Kew"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, macauley's boat sheds

The heritage listed Fairfield Bridge was originally constructed for the Outer Circle Railway to bridge the Yarra River between East Kew and Fairfield stations. In the 1930s it was converted for vehicular traffic. In the 2010s a new concrete bridge was erected beside it to increase vehicular capacity.Print copy, enlarged from original snapshot, of the former railway viaduct crossing the Yarra and linking Kew and Fairfield. The original photo predates the conversion of the viaduct into the Chandler Highway Bridge in the 1930s, when the Bridge was adapted to carry vehicular traffic. The date on the reverse indicates the date of donation rather than the date on which the photograph was taken. CHANDLER HIGHWAY BRIDGE OVER RIVER / (ORIGINALLY PART OF OUTER CURCLE RAILWAY) / OCTOBER 1977railway viaduct -- kew (vic.), fairfield bridge, fairfield railway viaduct, outer circle railway, sir john monash