Built in 1926 the Ben Green memorial Rotunda was named after a local citizen of Charlton. Ben Green was a solicitor and member who supported many school prizes for literature. Ben was also president of the Charlton Club and of the Charlton Coursing Club. Ben was a keen tennis player, winning Victorian Championships in 1892, 1893, and 1984. The garden in which the Rotunda stands also contains the Boer War, World war I and II memorial and a bust of Harold "Pompey" Elliott.Standard colour photographcharlton, elliott gardens, rotunda, parks, mechanics institure, golden grains museum, ben green

Built in 1926 the Ben Green memorial Rotunda was named after a local citizen of Charlton. Ben Green was a solicitor and member who supported many school prizes for literature. Ben was also president of the Charlton Club and of the Charlton Coursing Club. Ben was a keen tennis player, winning Victorian Championships in 1892, 1893, and 1984. The garden in which the Rotunda stands also contains the Boer War, World war I and II memorial and a bust of Harold "Pompey" Elliott.Standard colour photograph.charlton, elliott gardens, rotunda, parks, green ben

This walking stick, which is also a horse measurer, belonged to Atwell George Bendall, the well-known racing man, judge and handicapper in the Western District early in the 20th century. Born in the Caramut district, he was the manager of the ‘Green Hills’ estate at Winslow, a property owned by his father who also operated a livery and coach service at Caramut. When his father died Bendall carried on the family business until the end of the 19th century when he went to live in Warrnambool. A lover of horses, Bendall was an amateur rider of note and an owner of several racehorses. He also took a keen interest in coursing and owned and bred many successful dogs. In Warrnambool he took an interest in trotting and owned several trotters. For the last sixteen years of his life Atwell Bendall was a handicapper for most of the Western District race clubs and his keen judgment and knowledge of horses were greatly admired and appreciated. He was also a judge at agricultural shows and other horse events and this is probably where he was made use of this horse-measuring walking stick. He died in 1922. This is a most significant item as it belonged to the prominent early 20th century horse racing identity in the Western District – Atwell Bendall. It is also of general historical interest as an ingenious object – a walking stick doubling as a horse measurer. This is a mottled brown-coloured wooden walking stick, slightly tapered and with seven segments. It has a wooden knob at the top curved and indented in an acorn shape. The knob has silver coloured nails or tacks driven into the raised sections. The knob lifts out and is actually a wooden ruler with silver casing at the top of the ruler. Also at the top of the ruler, at a right angle to the ruler, is a lift-out metal piece which has a spirit level at the top end and this metal piece is used to rest on the horse to estimate its measurement in hands. There is a leather strap near the top of the walking stick for attachment to the wrist and a gold metal cap at the bottom of the stick. A silver band near the top of the stick has an inscription. ‘A G. Bendall Warrnambool’ atwell bendall, history of horse racing in the western district, history of warrnambool

A razor strop (or razor strap) is a flexible strip of leather or canvas used to straighten and polish the blade of a straight razor, a knife, or a woodworking tool like a chisel. Unlike honing or sharpening a blade, in which a whetstone removes metal bent out of alignment from the blade's edge, stropping the blade re-aligns the indentations without removing any material. The strop may be a hanging strop or a hand-held paddle. Various abrasive compounds may be applied to the strop to aid in polishing the blade while stropping to obtain a mirror-like finish. The properties of the compound applied will alter the polishing result. Jeweller's rouge is a very fine abrasive compound. The green Chromium(III) oxide compound is most often used as an abrasive compound. Sprays containing diamond particles are another option. Stropping is primarily done with straight razors, used for shaving, as these are the thinnest blades in everyday use, and require stropping at each use, due to the thinness of the blade Two points are key to stropping: Draw the blade spine-first along the strop. By contrast, honing is done edge-first. When you turn the blade at the end of a stroke, turn it over the spine, so the edge moves away from the strop and faces you, and the spine rests on the strop. This preserves the edge – if the blade is turned over with the edge against the strop, this will roll the blade edge, defeating the purpose of stropping As the use of safety razors increased in popularity this 'Jason' strop prolonged the life of each razor blade thus making them economical.A leather 'Jason' strop, for sharpening safety shaving razor blades, with box. Top of Box: J / The JASON / STROP/ Reg. Trade Mark / for SAFETY RAZOR BLADES / Reg. Patent No. 25435/35 ; Back : How to operate the JASON STROP ( instructions) Side: JASON / Razor Strop Dressing / A keen smooth blade will always be assured by the / occasional use of JASON RAZOR STROP DRESSING/ Side: FIFTY SHAVES WITH ONE BLADE ! / by using - JASON and JASON / Razor Blade Strop Razor Blade Dressing. End: JASON / Made by MEIK BROS. Pty. Ltd. / 15-17 Bedford St., Collingwood, and / 287 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Vic. End: JASON / SAFETY RAZOR BLADE STROP.safety razors, the jason strop, shaving equipment, personal effects, strops, meik bros pty ltd, gillette, collingwood melbourne

Death notice in local newspaper - Ringwood Mail 19/12/1947, recently retired from his position as engineer to the Ringwood Cool Stores.Beloved hustand of Gertrude, dearly loved father of Jack, Clifford (deceased), Lloyd and Res, loved father-in-law of Joy. Aged 62 years. Outside his home and his work, his two great interests in life were his Lodge and bowls. He was one of the foundation members of the Ringwood Masonic Lodge, consecrated in 1925. He was Worshipful Master in 1929 and was appointed secretary in 1934. He took all the degrees in Masonry and was a member of the Grand Lodge. In the wporting world he took a keen interest in bowls and was a foundation member of the Ringwood Bowling Club. He was president of the Club in 1942, 43, 44 and 45.

This advertising material used as an ink blotter would have been given freely by salesmen, keen to sign up new buyers for their range of motorcar oils. Businesses had quickly recognized the potential for advertising on blotting paper, and began customizing sheets with company marketing. Ink blotting paper thus became a form of business card.often given away by salesman The Castrol company is headquartered in the UK. Castrol was founded by Charles “Cheers” Wakefield under the name of ‘CC Wakefield & Company’. In 1899. By 1960 it had become Castrol Ltd. This is a pictorial record of an advertising media not commonly used in the 21st century. Ink blotters remained in general use until the advent of the ball point pen, which in the period 1945 to 1960 progressively replaced the steel rib and liquid inks.A rectangular card with green and red print. It has two illustrations in red and green of plastic oil bottles with pourer tops. The underside is pink and it is designed for nse as an ink blotter. advertising-blotter castrol-motor-oils stationery

This is an empty box but the cover tells us that it was a box used for dentist materials from William Davidson, the Warrnambool dentist. Davidson (1870-1945) came to Warrnambool in 1892 and set up his dental business in the Tozer Buildings in Kepler Street. By 1915 Davidson had one of the most extensive dental practices in the Western District. He served in World War One and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was mentioned in despatches. In Warrnambool Davidson was a keen sportsman, being active in the cricket and bowls clubs. He retired in the early 1940s. This box is of some significance as it came from the dental practice of William Davidson, a prominent dentist in Warrnambool for nearly 50 years. It also shows the type of box used by dentists in the early 20th centuryThis is a cardboard box reinforced at the edges with metal clips. It is light brown in colour and is printed on the top of the box with the details of William Davidson the Warrnambool dentist.‘W.J. S. Davidson, Surgeon Dentist, Kepler Street, Warrnambool, Telephone 304’william davidson dentist, warrnambool dentists

These cloths were embroidered by Mrs J.W. Bird of Orbost for her daughter's trousseau. Hilda Bird, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs J.W. Bird married Mr. John Russell of Caulfield in April 1940. Jane Annie (Jean) Herbert married John Whitney Bird on December 18 1902. she was a long-time member of the St James Church of England choir and a very keen tennis player. she died in 1953. (ref, Mary Gilbert - "Personalities and Stories of The Early Orbost District")This item has aesthetic significance and shows the needlework skill of the women of the early settler families.Two white linen cloths with drawn thread work and embroidery in white. 1582.2 has a fringed edge. 1582.1 has a crocheted edge.

David Ancrum Alexander was born c1925 and died in 2015. He practiced medicine in Ballarat but also had a keen interest in drawing and painting, mostly water colour. The sketch books range from 1971 to 2012. Each appears to be related to a specific theme - people, places, and characters in novels. Often this is mentioned on the cover. He became a member of the Art Acquisition Committee at the University Campus at Mount Helen. A Thanksgiving Service was held in his honour at Federation University in the Caro Convention Centre on 27 March 2015.52 sketch books, spiral bound. Pencil drawings and water colour workYear printed on cover of each book. Themes contained in book written on coverdavid alexander, doctor, ballarat, drawing, painting, water colour, art acquisition committee, ballarat university, federation university, caro convention centre, thanksgiving service, 1971, 2012, c1925, 2015

From a glass negative taken by Ian Barkla's father, Frank Leslie Barkla of 37 Grovedale Road. He was a keen amateur photographer and member of the Melbourne Camera Club. The Benson Street Methodist Club became a Uniting Church during the amalgamation of protestant churches in the 1970s. It was sold and for a brief time was a Chinese church and then sold and demolished with town houses built on the site. There are 2 copies of the photo. There is a comprehensive folder of information about the church compiled by Jocelyn and Ken Hall, who were members of its congregation.1930s image of the interior of the Methodist Church, later Uniting Church, on Benson Street, Surrey Hills. The image shows the church organ, with pipes clearly visible, the pulpit and pews.churches, religious structures and establishments, surrey hills methodist church, sunday schools, surrey hills uniting church, church furniture, pews, pulpit, 1930, benson street methodist church, frank leslie barkla

William Jackson Thomas is credited with making the first ever telephone call in Victoria. Thomas was a customs inspector at the Geelong Customs House and a keen amateur scientist, astronomer and woodworker. He experimented with electricity and induction to develop his own telephone soon after its invention by Alexander Graham Bell. He built most of the experimental telephone equipment himself – right down to the screws. According to the Geelong Advertiser, on 27 December 1877, Thomas held a telephone conversation with friends in a summer house 40 metres away.This instrument is of great historic significance as the instrument which made Australia's first telephone call in 1877, between two houses in Geelong. Although predated by Alexander Graham Bell's invention, this instrument is an example of Australian innovation and design; characteristic of Australian communications history. The instrument has excellent provenance, carrying a descriptive plaque about the use of the item. As an early prototype of a telephone, it is an incredibly rare example of communications technology.Stained wooden rectangular box containing mechanism with circular turned section at one end being the receiver and transmitter. There are 3 metal screws at the rear and a leather strap running from one of these to the transmitter/receiver. A label is on the base.On label: "First telephone made in / Victoria 1878 / Used experimentally between / Geelong and Ballarat and Geelong Queenscliff. / Maker WJ Thomas Esq. / Late H.M. Customs Geelong / Certified by A.C. Thomas For the above W.J.T."telephone, inventions

The photograph was taken at an annual Ithacan Philanthropic Society picnic some time in the mid to late 1930s. The men appear to be lined up for a running race, a highlight of the picnic. First on the left is Andreas Papadopoulos president at the time (president from 1934-39); man in suit in the background unknown; Diogenes Cominos, Hector Andrews (Anagnostatos); George Kouvalias (behind him is Nick Fatouros (Fisher)); Spiros Digaletos, a keen wrestler as a a young man; Peter Zavitsanos (Shanos); Peter Drakopoulos; Stratos Paizis; Nick Mavrokefalos (Black).The Ithacan Greeks who settled in Melbourne between the two world wars worked long hours in their family businesses, however, Sunday was a day set aside for socialising within their community. A much anticipated event was the annual picnic where families gathered for the day at a picnic ground on the outskirts of Melbourne, such as Bacchus Marsh, Werribee and Mount Evelyn. The picnic today is still an important event in the club's social calendar. A scanned bl;ack and white photograph of eight men and the starter lined up before the start of a race at an outdoor function with onlookers behind the group. two of the men are dressed in shorts and singlet while some others in the group have rolled up their suit trousers and are wearing running shoes.

This book tells of the mounting sea power of the Allies told by men of the RAN who with their ships have added the weight of their blows to the common effort. It tells stories of which the Royal Australian Navy may be proud.This volume is a further unfolding of the story of WWII which because of its nature as a world wide conflict, is so largely the story of sea power and its influence on the final outcome HMAS MK III - The RAN's Third Book. Green hardcover with black text and Navy insignia on front cover, text on spine. Inside front and back cover green sepia drawing of a fleet of Navy ships. Graphs, drawings, photographs, maps, poems.Tribute - Grey she is and stately Young alive and shapely Lissome, yes, and graceful, With perfect lines of elegance and dignity Her noble, lovely head She nods and shakes, With confidence to face Whatever may come. She nurses me And nourishes; Shields me, gives me courage. Alone I have been with her, when afraid. And in a crowd of friends, both hers and mine. Through conflict tense, with element or foe; through danger from above and from below. Through anguish keen Of loss, of death, of pain. Through gaiety, through joy victorious and safe She is my life, my only love, My ship.wwii, royal australian navy, sea power, germans, europe, japanese, communications, rear admiral v.a.c. crutchley, v.c., d.s.c, destroyers, corvettes, frigates, escort duties, motor launches, aircraft carriers, battleships, battle cruisers, cruises, armed merchant cruisers, sloops, submarine sweepers, mediterranean, warspite, valiant, pacific, american forces, dneiper bend, solomon islands, makin, tarawa, h.m.a australia, h.m.a shropshire, h.m.a arunta, h.m.a warramunga, h.m.a.s westralia, arctic, h.m. jamaica, h.m.saumarez, u.s. marines, h.m.a.s benalla, h.m.a.s shepparton, royal australian navy reserves

Marriage licence issued to James Bostock and Alicen Aitkin to be executed within a period of 3 months. It has been issued by the Bishop of Melbourne of the United Church of England and Ireland. It is signed by P Teulon Beamish who was arch Deacon in Warrnambool for many years. Three Bostock brothers married three the Aitkin sisters. James was the youngest of the Bostock family as his mother died in childbirth at his delivery. He had a keen interest in horses and worked for both Augustus and John .He died in 1919. Alice died in 1896 at the age of 53.This is one of a number of documents which relate to the Bostock family who were one of the most important pioneering families of the Western District. They owned and leased various properties around Warrnambool and were involved in many aspects of social and business life. This particular personal document shows a link between two influential families in the district at the time.Heavy cream paper with black printing and handwritten black ink inserts. Oval stamped seal in bottom right hand corner. No 2782 stamped in top right hand corner.warrnambool, bostock, aitkin, james bostock, alice aitkin, 1875,

This book belonged to Pearl McCullagh whose address is given as Oak Grove (the name of the property) inYangery with the name of Illowa S. School under the address. Because of the content of the book it is presumed that the ‘S’ stands for Sabbath or Sunday and the Sunday School may have been a Presbyterian one. Yangery is situated between Woodford and Koroit and Illowa, nearby, is about 8 kilometres from Koroit and about 9 kilometres from Warrnambool. Pearl McCullagh was the daughter of Samuel James and Charlotte Jane McCullagh. She was born in 1906 and married Ernest Keen. This book is of interest because it belonged to an early 20th century resident, Pearl McCullagh who lived at Oak Grove in Yangery. This is a soft cover book of 104 pages. The cover is brown with black lettering on the front cover. The cover is crumpled and worn away in places and the pages are dog-eared. The inscription is handwritten in pencil. ‘Pearl McCullagh, Oak Grove Yangery, Illowa S. School’.pearl mccullagh, history of illowa, history of yangery, oak grove yangery

This ledger was used initially by H. James & Co., Shipping and General Commission agents in Orbost in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Henry James (1860-1932) was a well-known identity in the Orbost district.He was a stock agent and auctioneer. H. James proved a very keen businessman and did well. He eventually formed agencies, conducted an auctioneering business and controlled the bean market. He also helped to establish the seed bean industry in Orbost and was the second secretary of the Snowy River Shipping Co. as well as a shire councillor and prominent member of MUIOOF.Henry James (1860-1932) was a well-known identity in the Orbost district.He was a stock agent and auctioneer who helped to establish the seed bean industry in Orbost. He was the second secretary of the Snowy River Shipping Co. as well as a shire councillor and prominent member of MUIOOF.A heavy ledger. Covers are heavy cardboadr coloured green It has a brown leather spine. the bottom right hand corners have been cut off. It contains records of auction sales and lists goods sold on assignment.on spine : LEDGER On the first 3-4 pages in pencil are O's and 's gamesjames-harry shipping-orbost auctioneer

Between 1992 and 1998 Snuff Puppets was housed on the third floor directly above the Melbourne Museum of Printing at the old Bradmill Cotton Mills building on Moreland St in Footscray. Museum proprietor Michael Isaacson was keen to share his resources and gave Snuff Puppets carte blanche to use his Museum. Nearly all the promotional posters and materials from this time were printed in limited edition runs at the Museum using scrounged paper, odds and ends of ink, lead type, wooden type, lino cuts and an old press.A4 hand printed linocut on thin cream card in 3 colours; blue black, yellow, red. Depicts a pensive skeleton sitting on a small hill with a lowered flag with the initials SP, partly concealed by a giant yellow worm. The print also features the iconic fish skeleton logo. lino cut prints, skeletons, snuff puppets, puppetry, andy freer, melbourne museum of printing, footscray, michael isaacson

Between 1992 and 1998 Snuff Puppets was housed on the third floor directly above the Melbourne Museum of Printing at the old Bradmill Cotton Mills building on Moreland St in Footscray. Museum proprietor Michael Isaacsen was keen to share his resources and gave Snuff Puppets carte blanche to use his Museum. Nearly all the promotional posters and materials from this time were printed in limited edition runs at the Museum using scrounged paper, odds and ends of ink, lead type, wooden type, lino cuts and an old press. A4 linocut print in two colours. Black background. Right side of page has a skeleton walking on hill waving his left hand and holding a red flag with letters "SP". The iconic fish skeleton logo in top right corner. art, flag, print, snuff puppets, lino cut, puppetry, andy freer, melbourne museum of printing, puppets, footscray, theatre, performing arts, promotional book, skeleton

An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006.minerva, ballarat mechanics institute, statue

An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006.chancery house, punshon & plummer pty ltd, harry irvine, legal & general assurance society ltd, j.a. dellaca, estate agents, parking meters, gas lamps, ansonia hotel

An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006.barkly street, east ballarat, main road, len t frazer reserve

An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006.reid's guest house, reid's palace, lydiard street north, palace cafe, coffee palace, tawana lodge

An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006.botanical gardens, statuary pavillion, marble lions statues

An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006.masonic lodge, peel street

An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006.doveton street north, perry maher, barber, carrier's arms hotel, carrier's arms antiques, melbourne bitter sign

Rudi Mineur was born in Holland and grew up in Tasmania. He came to live in Surrey Hills with his wife Betsie and their 3 sons in 1974. Rudi worked as a taxidermist. With a keen interest in natural science, he is also a talented watercolourist and model-maker. His work included model-making for the Melbourne Museum and creating special effects for films including 'Mad Max'. He is also renowned for his sculpting of netsuke. He illustrated the book 'Growing up in the Goldrush' by Michael Dugan (pubd. 1989), who also lived locally. A colour photo in portrait format taken on Surrey Hills Day. He has greying hair and beard and seated behind a table on which are an assortment of stuffed animals / birds, shells, bones and a microscope.Nilrudi mineur, taxidermy, artist, netsuke, surrey hills day

At harvest time farmers had relied on itinerant teams of workers descending on the district looking for work. The three Barrie brothers on their adjoining farms combined forces to cut their crop at its optimum time while the weather was in their favour. Up to many 20 workers at times formed a team in earlier times. Agricultural university students were also keen to gain practical experience in the field. Each of the brothers had a particular skill, and Tom Barrie was the expert on stack building. The district haystacks had a distinctive shape and could be recognised by their builder. Harvesting at Ferris Road, Meltonpioneer families, local identities, agriculture

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 Eastern Freeway through the Yarra Valley 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.Opened in 1960, the California Motel at 138 Barkers Road, Hawthorn, was located opposite the entrance to Xavier College and built on the site of the former Barker railway station of the closed Kew branch line. The motel was advertised as “away from the hustle and bustle of the city and offering affordable accommodation for the business or leisure traveller”. Special amenities included air-conditioning, a business centre, and swimming pool. The motel had 82 suites. A possibly forgotten, but perhaps essential feature of the motel, was the Caltex Service Station at its entrance. The building was closed in April 2008, extensively vandalised and finally demolished in 2013."California Motel"ron setford, photographs -- kew (vic.) -- 1960s, california motel -- barkers road -- hawthorn (vic.)

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 Eastern Freeway through the Yarra Valley 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.Yarra Street was not made a trafficable thoroughfare until October 1956. Until then, the gully was used as a dump, a shortcut to the river, and for communal Guy Fawkes night bonfires. The open landscape in the photo reflects near-total clearing by the original estate owners for grazing livestock. Post-war homes fronting Stawell St dot the landscape. Of particular note are the Broons House (c.1952–54) by Anatol Kagan (top right), and the homes of two architects, Kurt Elsner (c.1950) (middle) and Geoffrey Danne (c.1954) (lower right). Dual carriageways made blocks accessible, but building was difficult due to steeply sloping land and complex drainage easements.  Nevertheless, these challenges resulted in highly innovative designs, making Yarra Street the core of the Yarra Boulevard Heritage Precinct."Yarra St Kew"ron setford, photographs -- kew (vic.) -- 1960s, yarra street -- kew (vic.)