The Municipality of Kew (1860-1863), the Borough of Kew (1863-1910), the Town of Kew (1910-1921) and the City of Kew (1921-1994) were local government instrumentalities in the State of Victoria. In 1994, the City of Kew was amalgamated, together with the former Cities of Camberwell and Hawthorn, into the new City of Boroondara (1994- ). Like other local government entities of the period, Kew was administered by town clerks. The two notable town clerks in Kew's history were H. H. (Henry Hirst) Harrison (1868-1955) and W. D. (William Dickie) Birrell (1899-1974). Harrison was appointed to the position in 1901 and retired in 1938 after 37 years. Birrell, appointed Acting Town Clerk in 1921, became Town Clerk in 1938, following Harrison's retirement. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1966. A large part of this collection of civic ephemera was assembled by W. D. Birrell. This is part of an historically significant civic collection, containing hundreds of separate invitations, documents, greeting cards, programmes and tickets issued and/or collected by successive town clerks. Items in the collection illuminate the political, social and cultural history of the district. As a continuous record, ranging across most decades of the Twentieth Century, they reveal changing tastes in design, values and relationships in the history of local government in Victoria.civic ephemera, mayoral balls, civic invitations, w d birrell, city of box hill, cr h d campbell - mayor of box hill

Black and white photograph showing Sir Dallas Brooks and Mayor of Ringwood, Cr. Lavis standing on rostrum facing large group of spectators at ceremony.Typed below photograph: "City of Ringwood, 1960. Sir Dallas Brooks - Governor of Victoria, speaking."

Cornelius Bourke Mayor 1906Black and white photographbelfast, mayor, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government

K Crowe Mayor 1985Black and white photographbelfast, mayor, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government

Margaret Sutherland was the daughter of the first mayor of the Borough of Clunes, Charles Tytler Sutherland. He was elected Council Member 8/10/1861, elected Chairman 25/2/1862, elected Mayor 1/10/1863 - 8/8/1867, resigned from council 14/2/1867. He served as a councilor and mayor in the 1930'sGilded, decorative framed watercolour of farmhouse with cream matOn reverse, on paper glued, written in blue texta; For Clunes Museum, painted by Margaret Sutherland, daughter of C.T. Sutherland, 1st May of Clunescharles sutherland, watercolour

The Norman Oliver collection. Norman Oliver was three times Mayor of Bendigo - 1950-51, 1964-65, 1970-71. Three pages of typed notes titled 'The Mayor Speaks', date of 13/3/65 is handwritten on the top. Topics include: Pipe Bands, Golden Fleece 1000 report, Mayoral Ball, criticism of Commonwealth Government treatment of its citizens, and praise for Mr Rylah, Victorian Chief Secretary. Persons mentioned include : Cr Warren Cambridge, Mr Hamilton Sleigh, George Vasey, Mr and Mrs Malyon, Eliza Malyon, and Mr George Sutch.bendigo, council, report, norman joseph oliver , councillor norman oliver. mayor of bendigo.

Black and white photograph. James Curnow (Mayor of Bendigo) standing in a garden. Wearing a waistcoat, watch chain, hat with turned-up brim. Photo mounted on cream board. Inscriptions: on back- 'P 67', James Curnow, Councillor, Mayor of Bendigo 1902-04, 1912-13, 1919-20, 1927-28', Circular blue stamp 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch:. History of object: James Lerk, 2000 'James Curnow, four times mayor of the City of Bendigo. Curnow was a driving force behind the introduction of the Sewerage System to the city'. Photographed for Bendigo Advertiser 4.7.2000person, individual, james curnow

This Plaque was presented by the City of Caulfield to both Mr and Mrs E.F.S England, to commemorate their term of office as Mayor and Mayoress of the City. Councillor Egbert Frances Scott England was Mayor of the City of Caulfield in 1927.Silver shield attached by one screw to an irregular oval shaped segment of varnished Australian Mulga tree trunk. Label on the back of the tree trunk segment with a map of Australia and in the middle the words, "GENUINE AUSTRALIAN MULGA. S&D PRODUCT". Head of screw visible in the middle of the back of the plaque."PRESENTED TO to CR. E.F.S. AND MRS ENGLAND by the COUNCILLORS, RATEPAYERS AND CITIZENS of the CITY OF CAULFIELD TO COMMEMORATE THEIR TERM OF OFFICE IN THE YEAR 1928"

Home to Stawell Celebrations 1930 Souvenir Album presented to Stawell Borough Council Dec 17 1930. Includes Borough Councillors and Mayors 1929 and Past Mayors of Borough of Stawell 1869-1929stawell government

Written on back of photograph, '27 Mar. 1965. Mayor Ben Hubbard inspecting guard of honour'. Catalogue card reads, 'Freedom of City 1965. Mayor Ben Hubbard inspecting Guard of Honour - 3rd Division Engineers'.

Ringwood Mayoral Ball 10th June, 1955. Mayor and Mayoress Horman. Sir George and Lady Knox, Mrs Kelly (far right). All material is from Gwen Horman’s three albums that she owned. Some photos have been taken by Peter Payens of Ringwood Studios, 36 Whitehorse Road, Ringwood, WU-7609, probably for the Ringwood mail newspaper.

A folded cream card with gold printing on the front of which says 'Mayoral Ball 1920. Programme. Town Hall, Bendigo, June 5th.' On the inside are the words ' Reception, Dancing at 8.30 p.m.' followed by the programme itself. ' M.C. Mr. A. Truscott. Orchestra Conductor, Mr. G. Bruhn.' On the back of the programme are the words 'J.H. Curnow, Mayor. 1919-1920.' Yellow cord attached.program, music, dancing, lydia chancellor, collection, event, dancing, entertainment, invitation, civic, music, programme, program

The Norman Oliver collection. Norman Oliver was three times Mayor of Bendigo - 1950-51, 1964-65, 1970-71. Three typed pages titled 'The Mayor Speaks 11 June 1965'. Topics include: painting of the Town Hall, council spending money they do not have, issues relating to the proposed Bendigo Aerodrome, and grants towards the cleaning up of the Bendigo Creek.bendigo, council, report, norman joseph oliver , councillor norman oliver . mayor of bendigo. bendigo aerodrome.

The Norman Oliver collection. Norman Oliver was three times Mayor of Bendigo - 1950-51, 1964-65, 1970-71. Five typed pages, with pages 3 and 4, which are the same, crossed in red pen. The notes are titled 'Mayors Notes 23 January 1965'. Topics include: Australia Day, valuations and council rates, and the state of and problems with the livestock market,bendigo, council, report, norman joseph oliver , councillor norman oliver. mayor of bendigo.

Dance card for the Mayor's Ball, to be held at the Town Hall, Bendigo on June 30th, 1891. J. R. Hoskins, Mayor. Card is white with a gold border on the top, bottom and left side. On the back is the number and name of the dance, and who the dance was with. The readable names are Miss Lynch, Mrs Neil, and Mrs Jones. Miss Warnes. The back has a gold border on each edge.document, invitations, mayoral ball, document, dance card mayor's ball, j r hoskins, miss lynch, mrs neil, mrs jones, miss warnes

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Thursday, April 28, 2005. Digging in: Dr. W. Straede, Bendigo mayor Dick Turner, Bob Beasey, Norm Russell, three members of the St John Priory, Eaglehawk mayor Albert Roy and Bob Coakes turn the first sod for the new St John ambulance brigade headquarters in Golden Square.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Yields information about a Civic Function at the time of the closure of the tramways and method of invitations. Invitation or letter on quarto paper, dated 13/9/1971 from the City of Ballaarat to Mr. R. Prentice to a Civic Function at the Town Hall to mark the closure of the Ballarat Tramway system and to welcome the newly appointed SEC Chairman, Mr. N. R. White. Mayor Cr Chisholm and Mayor of Sebastopol Cr N F Donald. Addressed to Mr. R PrenticeOn rear in red ink "Max Scott". The invitee's name has been hand written.trams, tramways, civic functions, city of ballaarat, closure, sec

Prior to the election of female Councillor's and Mayors, the Mayoress role as wife of the Mayor, was one of the few ways women could officially undertake civic duties. Mayoress's played an important role in civic life through charity work, even stepping in on occasions to undertake Mayoral duties. Mayoress Niemann was born Ethel Emily May Harding in 1880 in Geelong and died in Canberra in 1959.Framed, oval photographic portraits with convex glass and print, created using a collodion wet plate process. Hand coloured detail.Verso; signed Vincent Kelly 1ethel harding, mayoress niemann, mayor niemann, vincent kelly photographer, city of bendigo, city of greater bendigo portraits

Rose Anne Murphy nee Herbel married Luke Murphy in 1902 and became Mayoress when Councillor Luke Murphy was elected 35th Mayor of Bendigo in 1905. The Mayor and Mayoress gave the customary ball at which over 400 guest attended and was regarded as one of the most successful in the municipals history. (p219 Mayors of Bendigo). This invitation is for a Mayoress Reception in November, 1906. Event program for a reception held by Mayoress of Bendigo Mrs J Semmens 1906. Gold ink on cream / pink card. Half fold with program listed inside. Front cover: Reception / The Mayoress of Bendigo. / Mrs J Semmens. / Town Hall, / Bendigo / (Picture: Coat of Arms) Thursday / 15th Nov. 1906bendigo town hall, making a nation exhibition, mayoress murphy, rose murphy, city of greater bendigo events, city of greater bendigo ceremonial item

A.T. Miles was a Mayor of Ringwood in 1924Buff coloured card with the Borough of Ringwood logo

Mr. McCaskill was a Mayor of Ringwood, Victoria.Buff coloured card inviting Cr and Mrs. McCaskill to the Autumn Show at Ringwood Town Hall on Saturday April 1st. 1950.

Mr. J. McCaskill was a Mayor of Ringwood. Cream coloured card with the City of Ringwood logo, blue writing, and small pencil hand written note "unable to attend".

Portrait of G. Trickey Mayor 1993-stawell government

David McLean Mayor 1989 ChemistColoured portraitbelfast, mayor, portrait, government, shire, council, municipal, local-government

Reginald F Harry Mayor 1993Coloured formal portrait photograph belfast, mayor, portrait, government, council, municipal, local-government, reginald harry, mayoral robes

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.)

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

2 photos - coloured - of the official Jubilee ceremony, Civic Centre, Ringwood, Victoria. People seated listening to speech by Mayor; Coach pulled by horses with onlookers