'Wimba' is of significance as one of the key nineteenth century houses of Kew and for remaining in a substantially intact state. Although probably built some time earlier, the first mention in the Rate Books of the property later known as 'Wimba Lodge' appears in the entry for 1870 when the property, owned by John Sharpe Denbigh, a civil servant, was given an N.A.V. of £72 2. Denbigh did however occupy a house in Cotham Road in 1863, and it is possible that was the same premises'. The house was occupied by Denbigh until at least May 1876 when the 'family residence...' \ 'as auctioned to Carlington George Edmund Marston 5, a chemist of Smith Street, Collingwood. At the time of the auction the house was described thus: The residence and grounds of the late J.S. Dendigh, situate in the most elevated part of Cotham Road Kew. The grounds comprise an area of 4a Or29p or thereabouts, and have a frontage to Cotham-road of 4 chains. The house has two large rooms in front, with 6ft hall built of brick, bay and side windows (plate glass), four rooms of wood behind with slate roofs, bathroom and closets, detached kitchen and servant's room, large shed with washing boiler, pantry and cellar under, brick and cement tank, and the Yan Yean laid onto house and grounds, cowshed, pigstye, &c, the whole securely fenced. First class orchard and flower garden. The paddocks laid with English grasses and drained... .' (Sanderson P, City of Kew Urban Conservation Study, Volume 2, 1988)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.The front entrance of Wimba in Cotham Road, Kew. The entrance is flanked by two polygonal bay windows, and a verandah with a concave corrugated iron roof returns around three facades, and accentuates the projections of the windows. The solid render parapet is very ornate and tall for the date of construction. It has panels of decoration along it and is surmounted by a number of render urns. The image was used by Dorothy Rogers in 'A History of Kew' (1973), facing page 144.Wimba ca. 1860 built by J.S. Denbigh (has been altered).wimba, kew, dorothy rogers

A formal group photograph of the grand opening of the Victoria Street Bridge on March 31 1884. The Argus was to report that: ‘The ceremony of laying the memorial stone of the Victoria-bridge, which connects Kew and Hawthorn with Richmond and Collingwood, was performed yesterday afternoon by the mayor of Richmond (Mr John Adam) in the presence of a large assemblage. Among the gentlemen present at yesterday’s proceedings were the mayor of Collingwood (Mr. M. Dwyer), the Mayor of Melbourne (Councillor C. Smith, M.L. A.) the mayor of Kew (Mr. Barnard), Mr. J. A. B. Koch and Mr. W. W. Shelley (ex mayors of Richmond), Mr. Joseph Bosisto, M.L.A., the Hon. L. L. Smith, Councillor De Mole (ex mayor of Kew), Mr. Jas. Lancashire and Mr. Winter (ex mayors of Ricmond), Mr. Walker (ex mayors of Collingwood), Mr. Johnson (engineer), Mr. C. Rowan, C.E. (engineer of the bridge alterations) and the town clerks of Richmond, Collingwood and Kew.’ Following the opening ceremony ‘… a ponderous steam roller was driven over the structure, with a view to test, or rather to demonstrate its stability … Most of the gentlemen present walked over the bridge, after which they were grouped by a photographer, with the memorial stone as a central feature, and several views of the scene were taken’.An original, rare silver albumen mounted and titled photograph of an important event in 19th century Melbourne.Original photograph mounted on display card of the opening of the Victoria Street Bridge. The original photograph is very faded and has been enhanced to improve the image's viewability.On the reverse of the card is an indecipherable stamp and an inscription identifying the photographers. "T. W. & C. A. McAlpine Bros, Photographers &., Campbell Parade East Richmond Melbourne March 31.1884victoria street bridge, john adam, m. dwyer, c. smith, barnard, j.a.b. koch, w.w. shelley, bridge, kew, collingwood, l.l. smith, joseph bosisto

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.Sepia-toned photograph of (L. to R.) Marion Smith, Maureen Lynch, Denise Lynch, and Marion Tilley in a performance of A Country Girl by Lionel Monckton. The performance was produced and directed by Graeme Cust with musical direction by John Trotter. The sets for the production in the Kew Recreation Hall were sourced from Melbourne Little Theatre, will the costumes came from the Princess Theatre. During this production, Marion Tilley acted as wardrobe mistress as well as being a member of the 'Chorus Ladies'. Inscribed underneath the photo in the scrapbook by Marion Tilley: "Marion Smith, Maureen Lynch, Denise Lynch. Me, Marion Tilley".marion tilley, kew light opera company, kew recreation hall -- wellington street -- kew (vic.), performing arts -- kew (vic.), theatre memorabilia

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 female cast members in Sidney Jones' The Geisha by The "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. The performance in the Kew Recreation Hall was produced by Beatrice Oakley with musical direction by John Trotter. The Kew Philharmonic provided the music during this series of performances. The scenery was constructed by the Company, while the costumes were sourced from the Princess Theatre. An annotation in the scrapbook identifies the following cast members from left: Rita Mandelbaum - Komurasaki San (Little Violet), Sally Wolters - O Kiku San (Chrysanthemum) , Val Breen - leading lady - O Mimosa San (Chief Geisha), Pat Stewart (O Kinkoto San (Golden Harp), Marion Smith - O Hana San (Blossom). Marion Tilley, the creator of the scrapbook, wrote the following names underneath the photograph: "Rita Mandelbaum, Sally Wolters, Val Breen - leading lady, Pat Stewart, Marion Smith"performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, kew light opera company, kew recreation hall, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria

An article in the Box Hill 'Reporter' (11 October 1907, p.2) refers to the presentation of the artefact to the Kew Town Hall. The report records: 'Presentation to Kew's Ex-Mayor In the mayor's room at Kew on Tuesday evening, Ex-Mayor Cr Wishart was made the recipient of a handsomely-illuminated and exquisitely-framed testimonial as a mark of appreciation by his colleagues of the highly satisfactory manner in which he had discharged the duties appertaining to the mayoral office. .... A framed group of the metropolitan mayors was subsequently presented by Cr Wishart as an addition to the pictures hung in the mayor's room.'The newspaper report in the Box Hill Reporter positively identifies the artefact and how it was placed in the Mayor's Room in the Walpole Street Town Hall. The collage is historically significant as it may include the only photograph of a mayor of a city at this period of time.A large framed photographic collage of Henry Weedon surrounded by the Mayors of Greater Melbourne (holding office for the year 1906-07). The photograph was assembled in recognition of the ‘slight favours to them’ showed by the Lord Mayor. The photograph is dated August 1907. Surrounding the central medallion is, from left to right: Cr. C. C. Mercy (Camberwell), Cr. T. L. Taylor (Northcote), Cr. Thos. Smith (Port Melbourne), Cr. W. Flintoft (Prahran), Cr. W. Collings (Fitzroy), Cr. C. D. Lloyd (Caulfield), Cr. W. Wishart (Kew). Cr. Eli Williams (Coburg), Cr. C. Pattison (Essendon), Cr. A. E. Wells (South Melbourne), Cr. H. B. Gibbs (St Kilda), Cr. J. F. Hamilton (Brighton), Cr. C. Dalley (Hawthorn), Cr. C. L. Davey (?), Cr. J. C. Hill (Heidelberg), Cr. D. Phillips (Brunswick), Cr. M. Alexander (Richmond), Cr. W. Johns (Collingwood), Cr. W. H. Edgar MLC (Malvern), Cr. T. P. Hannah (Williamstown) and Cr. A. A. Harris (Footscray). henry wheedon, c. c. mercy, t. l. taylor (northcote),thomas smith, w. flintoft, w. collings, c. d. lloyd), w. wishart, eli williams, c. pattison, a. e. wells, h. b. gibbs, j. f. hamilton, c. dalley, c. l. davey, j. c. hill, d. phillips, m. alexander, w. johns,w. h. edgar, t. p. hannah, a. a. harris, mayors, kew, henry weedon

The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) plans were produced from the 1890s to the 1950s. They were crucial to the design and development of Melbourne's sewerage and drainage system. The plans, at a scale of 40 feet to 1 inch (1:480), provide a detailed historical record of Melbourne streetscapes and environmental features. Each plan covers one or two street blocks (roughly six streets), showing details of buildings, including garden layouts and ownership boundaries, and features such as laneways, drains, bridges, parks, municipal boundaries and other prominent landmarks as they existed at the time each plan was produced. (Source: State Library of Victoria)This plan forms part of a large group of MMBW plans and maps that was donated to the Society by the Mr Poulter, City Engineer of the City of Kew in 1989. Within this collection, thirty-five hand-coloured plans, backed with linen, are of statewide significance as they include annotations that provide details of construction materials used in buildings in the first decade of the 20th century as well as additional information about land ownership and usage. The copies in the Public Record Office Victoria and the State Library of Victoria are monochrome versions which do not denote building materials so that the maps in this collection are invaluable and unique tools for researchers and heritage consultants. A number of the plans are not held in the collection of the State Library of Victoria so they have the additional attribute of rarity.Original survey plan, issued by the MMBW to a contractor with responsibility for constructing sewers in the area identified on the plan within the Borough of Kew. The plan was at some stage hand-coloured, possibly by the contractor, but more likely by officers working in the Engineering Department of the Borough and later Town, then City of Kew. The hand-coloured sections of buildings on the plan were used to denote masonry or brick constructions (pink), weatherboard constructions (yellow), and public buildings (grey). This plan covers parts of Sackville Street, John Street, Thomas Street and Cotham Road, and includes several very large houses in Sackville Street. Job Smith built ‘Berrington’ in about 1888-90 for himself, and ‘Pomeroy’ (now ‘Merridale’) in 1885 for James Mickleburgh. ‘Heathfield’ was built in 1888 for Henry Eeles, and was one of many fine homes in Kew, Hawthorn and surrounding suburbs designed by prolific architect John Beswicke; it later became “La Verna” and was a Franciscan monastery. Similarly, in Cotham Road, we can see ‘Bella Vista’ (now demolished), and ‘Charleville’, with its double-storeyed arcade frontage, built in 1889 for Charles Donaldson whose family occupied it until 1939. This was renamed ‘Ross House’ by the second owner, Dr. Thomas King, and then substantially restored in the 1960s by the Stillwell family, well known as car drivers and dealers. Bella Vista (later ‘Malinda’) was originally designed by the architect Robert Haddon and built for Abel Hoadley, inventor of the Violet Crumble Bar and many other delicious delicacies. He began by manufacturing jams and pickles in South Melbourne using fruit from his own orchard in East Burwood.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, mmbw 1569, cartography

Although probably built some time earlier, the first mention in the Rate Books of the property later known as 'Wimba Lodge' appears in the entry for 1870 when the property, owned by John Sharpe Denbigh, a civil servant, was given an N.A.V. of £72. Denbigh did however occupy a house in Cotham Road in 1863, and it is possible that was the same premises'. The house was occupied by Sharp until at least May 1876 when the 'family residence ... was auctioned' to Carlington George Edmund Marston, a chemist of Smith Street, Collingwood. At the time of the auction the house was described thus: The residence and grounds of the late J.S. Dendigh, situate in the most elevated part of Cotham Road Kew. The grounds comprise an area of 4a Or 29p or thereabouts, and have a frontage to Cotham-road of 4 chains. The house has two large rooms in front, with 6ft hall built of brick, bay and side windows (plate glass), four rooms of wood behind with slate roofs, bathroom and closets, detached kitchen and servant's room, large shed with washing boiler, pantry and cellar under, brick and cement tank, and the Yan Yean laid onto house and grounds, cowshed, pigstye, &c, the whole securely fenced. First class orchard and flower garden. The paddocks laid with English grasses and drained... .' (Sanderson P. Kew Conservation Study Vol 2)'Wimba' is a single storeyed rendered house. The front entrance is flanked by two polygonal bay windows, and a verandah with a concave corrugated iron roof returns around three facades, and accentuates the projections of the windows. The solid render parapet is very ornate and tall for the date of construction. It has panels of decoration along it and is surmounted by a number of render urns. (Sanderson P. Kew Conservation Study Vol 2)Reverse: "JOHN COLLINS / 11 Anderson Road / Hawthorn East, 3123 / Film 395 Exposure 15A / Kew / Wimba / Front verandah from east / 7-4-79wimba lodge, 235 cotham road -- kew (vic.), john s denbigh, carlington george edmund marston

The Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria, now known as Vicdeaf, (the Victorian Deaf Society), was founded in 1884 as the Victorian Society for Promoting the Spiritual and Temporal Welfare of the Adult Deaf and Dumb. The provisional committee being Mr W Bates, Mr J M Bruce, Mr J D Gowan, Mr Edwin Newbiggin, Mr C M Officer, M. L, A., and the Rev. W. Moss. The Adult Deaf and Dumb Mission's objects were: 1. To provide the means for religious worship and instruction for the adult deaf and dumb of Victoria 2. To visit the deaf and dumb in their homes, especially when sick or in distress 3. To assist the deaf and dumb of good character in obtaining suitable employment 4. To provide technical and other education for the adult and dumb 5. To give pecuniary assistance to adult deaf and dumb who are in needThe Annual Reports of the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society are historically significant providing insight into the history of the evolving Deaf Community in Victoria. They are a annual 'snapshot' of the year with references not only to the progress of the Society but also to the significant people and events within the Deaf Community.Cream Cover, Size 21.5Hx13.5W, 93 pagesarthur stanley, w. g. mcbeath, e. r. peacock, r. j. oehr, h. l. walters, m. l. miller, john higgins, g. g. mercy, harold w. bickford, george brown, a. macaulay caldwell, w. a. dickins, f. e. frewin, j. m. johnston, r. h. luff, h. sumner martin, george vial, ernest j. d. abraham, r. dow, e. empson, l. fletcher, d, hickey, a. graham, mrs c. robertson, e. r. smith, mrs a. wilson. h. gladmanw. j. craig, john cronin, john m. paul, alex williamson, adam c. muir, s. moss, m. g. b mortimer, blackburn, deaf workers club, ramblers club, j. johnston, m. maloney, lacrosse, cricket, t. a. nelson, a suthersland, w. a. paterson, n. amos, j. leber, j. cariss, alfred peacock, mrs abraham, collins, robertson, vial, cardwell, davis, martin, stinger, elwin, o'brien, turner

The Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria, now known as Vicdeaf, (the Victorian Deaf Society), was founded in 1884 as the Victorian Society for Promoting the Spiritual and Temporal Welfare of the Adult Deaf and Dumb. The provisional committee being Mr W Bates, Mr J M Bruce, Mr J D Gowan, Mr Edwin Newbiggin, Mr C M Officer, M. L, A., and the Rev. W. Moss. The Adult Deaf and Dumb Mission's objects were: 1. To provide the means for religious worship and instruction for the adult deaf and dumb of Victoria 2. To visit the deaf and dumb in their homes, especially when sick or in distress 3. To assist the deaf and dumb of good character in obtaining suitable employment 4. To provide technical and other education for the adult and dumb 5. To give pecuniary assistance to adult deaf and dumb who are in needThe Annual Reports of the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society are historically significant providing insight into the history of the evolving Deaf Community in Victoria. They are a annual 'snapshot' of the year with references not only to the progress of the Society but also to the significant people and events within the Deaf Community.Cream Cover, Size 21.5Hx13.5W, 56 pagesarthur stanley, w. g. mcbeath, e. r. peacock, r. j. oehr, h. l. walters, m. l. miller, john higgins, g. g. mercy, harold w. bickford, george brown, a. macaulay caldwell, w. a. dickins, f. e. frewin, j. m. johnston, r. h. luff, h. sumner martin, george vial, ernest j. d. abraham, r. dow, e. empson, l. fletcher, d, hickey, a. graham, mrs c. robertson, e. r. smith, mrs a. wilso, mab dow, ivy cole, j. craig, john cronin, alex williamson, adam c. muir, w. taylor, s. moss, m. g. b mortimer, blackburn, deaf workers club, ramblers club, j. johnston, m. maloney, lacrosse, cricket, t. a. nelson, a suthersland, w. a. paterson, n. amos, j. leber, j. cariss, alfred peacock, mrs abraham, g. rees, s. w. showell, w. warren, isabella fister, nora kennedy,