W.D. Vaughan (Kew's Civic Century, 1960, pp.195-6) quotes Council Minutes of 1938 and 1939 to record that: "After protracted negotiations between the Council, the Railways Department and the Tramways Board agreement was reached in June, 1938, for the filling of the railway cutting at the Harp Junction and shifting tram tracks to the High Street alignment ... The Outer Circle railway land from Princess Street to Park Crescent was purchased by the Kew Council in October, 1939, for 2,750 [pounds]. The land from Park Crescent to High Street was leased for 1 [pound] per annum. Considerable work was done in levelling the embankments to the original surface level."Important and rare photograph of the period, showing major works by Kew Council in Kew East working on a significant piece of urban infrastructure.Small, original black and white positive (photograph) showing workers and vehicles filling in the tracks of the former Outer Circle railway at East Kew. In the background is the metal bridge with brick piers, adjacent to the Harp Junction. The bridge crossed the cutting, linking the two parts of High Street. Behind the tip truck, painted on the side with the name 'Fowler Quarries' [located Keilor Road, North Essendon], one can see shops [including T.G. Garroway, Cash Grocer] in High Street. What appears to be the City of Kew Steamroller is immediately in front of the bridge. A group of passers-by watch from the bridge and from the road. Annotation in pencil on verso: "Filling in Outer Circle line at High St East Kew prior to straightening High St. (c. Feb 1930?)outer circle railway, railway cuttings, harp junction, high street -- kew east

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, showing road works. The photos variably include council workers, signage and equipment.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of street works of the period. Original black and white photographic positive of a sign advertising roadworks in the City of Kew. The photograph was probably taken in what was then the Kew Council Depot on the corner of High and Disraeli Streets. The sign reads: "City of Kew / Roadworks in Progress / High Street - Belford Road to Derby St. / Duration of works May to Aug 77 / Motorists are advised to use alternative route". city of kew, local government -- city of kew, road works, street works, kew city depot

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, showing road works. The photos variably include council workers, signage and equipment.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of street works of the period. Original black and white photographic positive of a road works in the former City of Kew. The photo shows an excavation in Studley Park Road near the corner of Carson Street in 1968/9. A Council officer and worker inspect the pit. Excavation equipment and a Council truck are at the back of the view. STUDLEY PARK ROAD AT CARSON STREET 1968/9city of kew, local government -- city of kew, road works, street works, kew city depot, studley park road -- kew (vic.)

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, relating to road works. The photos variably include council workers, signage and equipment.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of street works of the period. Original black and white photographic positive of a sign advertising roadworks in the City of Kew. The photograph was probably taken in what was then the Kew Council Depot on the corner of High and Disraeli Streets. The sign reads: "City of Kew / Roadworks in Progress / High Street - Belford Road to Derby St. / Duration of works May to Aug 77 / Motorists are advised to use alternative route".city of kew, local government -- city of kew, road works, street works, kew city depot

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, relating to road works. The photos variably include council workers, signage and equipment.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of street works of the period. Original black and white photographic positive of roadworks and earth moving equipment. city of kew, local government -- city of kew, road works, street works

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, relating to road works. The photos variably include council workers, signage and equipment.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of street works of the period. Original black and white photographic positive of roadworks in East Kew north of McCubbin Street, near Hays Paddock.Reverse: "JULY '77 / SHOWING AREA NORTH OF MCCUBBIN / STREET STRIPPED OF TOPSOIL"city of kew, local government -- city of kew, road works, street works, kew east

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, relating to road works. The photos variably include council workers, signage and equipment.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of street works of the period. Original black and white photographic positive of roadworks in the former City of Kew. This is a close up technical view of creating a bitumen and gravel road with the City's steam roller in the distance.city of kew, local government -- city of kew, road works, street works

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, relating to road works. The photos variably include council workers, signage and equipment.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of street works of the period. Original black and white photographic positive of roadworks in the former City of Kew. This is a a technical close up of the surface of a newly steam-rolled roadcity of kew, local government -- city of kew, road works, street works

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, relating to road works. The photos variably include council workers, signage and equipment.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of street works of the period. This example is one of the few shot in colour in the 1960s. Original colour photographic positive of roadworks in Studley Park Road in the former City of Kew. A tip truck carrying bitumen unloads it contents on the road which is then levelled by a tray. Road workers supervise the road making. "STUDLEY PARK ROAD RECONSTRUCTION / 1 1/2" NOM [sic] SIZE BIT BINDER COURSE / JANUS CONSTRUCTIONS / 9TH OCT 1968"city of kew, local government -- city of kew, road works, street works, studley park road -- kew (vic.)

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, relating to road works. The photos variably include council workers, signage and equipment.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of street works of the period.Original black and white photographic positive of a portable workmen's hut and toilet in Stevenson Street, Kew in September 1972. The hut is made of wooden boards with a corrugate iron roof. The four-sided portable toilet has a metal frame. Th exact location has not been identified. "WORKMEN'S HUT & TOILET / STEVENSON ST 8/9/72 / (THESE ARE THE UNITS WHICH WERE IN SWINTON AV. 30/8/72)"city of kew, local government -- city of kew, road works, street works, stevenson street -- kew (vic.)

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, relating to road works and rubbish removal.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of council works of the period.Original black and white photographic of the Yarra Boulevard near the corner of Molesworth Street, Kew"BOULEVARD AT MOLESWORTH ST"city of kew, local government -- city of kew, yarra boulevard, molesworth street

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, relating to road works and rubbish removal.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of council works of the period.Original black and white photographic of an overgrown right-of-way at the rear of houses in Parkhill Road and Lalla Street, Kew, in 1973."ROW AT REAR OF PROPERTIES / PARKHILL RD / LALLA ST / JULY '73"city of kew, local government -- city of kew, right-of-ways, lanes, parkhill road, lalla street

Tom Bentley (1912-1993) was born in Lancashire (UK). From circa 1951, he was the Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for Kew City Council. Until his retirement in the 1970s, he was based at the Kew Council Depot, located in the former MTB Horse Tram Depot on the corner of Disraeli and High Streets, Kew. Accompanying the set of twelve photographs is a 12-page illustrated biography of the Bentley and Plumridge families, separately kept in the 'Bentley' subject file.Duplicate black and white positive print photograph of road works in Studley Park Road, Kew, carried out under the supervision of Tom Bentley, Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for the City of Kew. The location at which the photograph was taken is believed, by the donor, to be in the vicinity of Tara Hall (dem. 1960).city of kew, public works, road-making, studley park road, tom bentley

Tom Bentley (1912-1993) was born in Lancashire (UK). From circa 1951, he was the Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for Kew City Council. Until his retirement in the 1970s, he was based at the Kew Council Depot, located in the former MTB Horse Tram Depot on the corner of Disraeli and High Streets, Kew. Accompanying the set of twelve photographs is a 12-page illustrated biography of the Bentley and Plumridge families, separately kept in the 'Bentley' subject file.Duplicate black and white positive print photograph of public works in Studley Park Road, Kew, carried out under the supervision of Tom Bentley, Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for the City of Kew. The location at which the photograph was taken is believed, by the donor, to be in the vicinity of Tara Hall (dem. 1960). The palm tree on the back of the Council vehicle was believed to have been taken by Council from Tara Hall and relocated to the Alexandra Gardens.city of kew, public works, studley park road, tom bentley, tara hall

Tom Bentley (1912-1993) was born in Lancashire (UK). From circa 1951, he was the Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for Kew City Council. Until his retirement in the 1970s, he was based at the Kew Council Depot, located in the former MTB Horse Tram Depot on the corner of Disraeli and High Streets, Kew. Accompanying the set of twelve photographs is a 12-page illustrated biography of the Bentley and Plumridge families, separately kept in the 'Bentley' subject file.Duplicate black and white positive print photograph of public works in Studley Park Road, Kew, carried out under the supervision of Tom Bentley, Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for the City of Kew. The location at which the photograph was taken is believed, by the donor, to be in the vicinity of Tara Hall (dem. 1960). The palm tree on the back of the Council vehicle was believed to have been taken by Council from Tara Hall and relocated to the Alexandra Gardens.city of kew, public works, studley park road, tom bentley, tara hall

Tom Bentley (1912-1993) was born in Lancashire (UK). From circa 1951, he was the Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for Kew City Council. Until his retirement in the 1970s, he was based at the Kew Council Depot, located in the former MTB Horse Tram Depot on the corner of Disraeli and High Streets, Kew. Accompanying the set of twelve photographs is a 12-page illustrated biography of the Bentley and Plumridge families, separately kept in the 'Bentley' subject file.Duplicate black and white positive print photograph of road works in Studley Park Road, Kew, carried out under the supervision of Tom Bentley, Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for the City of Kew. The location at which the photograph was taken is believed, by the donor, to be in the vicinity of Tara Hall (dem. 1960). The photograph shows two Council vehicles.city of kew, public works, studley park road, tom bentley, road works

Tom Bentley (1912-1993) was born in Lancashire (UK). From circa 1951, he was the Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for Kew City Council. Until his retirement in the 1970s, he was based at the Kew Council Depot, located in the former MTB Horse Tram Depot on the corner of Disraeli and High Streets, Kew. Accompanying the set of twelve photographs is a 12-page illustrated biography of the Bentley and Plumridge families, separately kept in the 'Bentley' subject file.Duplicate black and white positive print photograph of road works in Studley Park Road, Kew, carried out under the supervision of Tom Bentley, Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for the City of Kew. The location at which the photograph was taken is believed, by the donor, to be in the vicinity of Tara Hall (dem. 1960). The photograph shows a Council vehicles shifting soil.city of kew, public works, studley park road, tom bentley, road works

Tom Bentley (1912-1993) was born in Lancashire (UK). From circa 1951, he was the Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for Kew City Council. Until his retirement in the 1970s, he was based at the Kew Council Depot, located in the former MTB Horse Tram Depot on the corner of Disraeli and High Streets, Kew. Accompanying the set of twelve photographs is a 12-page illustrated biography of the Bentley and Plumridge families, separately kept in the 'Bentley' subject file.Duplicate black and white positive print photograph of road works in Studley Park Road, Kew, carried out under the supervision of Tom Bentley, Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for the City of Kew. The photograph shows a Council-owned front end loader and a Council trailer.city of kew, public works, tom bentley

Tom Bentley (1912-1993) was born in Lancashire (UK). From circa 1951, he was the Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for Kew City Council. Until his retirement in the 1970s, he was based at the Kew Council Depot, located in the former MTB Horse Tram Depot on the corner of Disraeli and High Streets, Kew. Accompanying the set of twelve photographs is a 12-page illustrated biography of the Bentley and Plumridge families, separately kept in the 'Bentley' subject file.Duplicate black and white positive print photograph of road works in Studley Park Road, Kew, carried out under the supervision of Tom Bentley, Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for the City of Kew. The photograph shows a Council-owned steamroller used for road construction.city of kew, public works, tom bentley, road works, steamrollers

Tom Bentley (1912-1993) was born in Lancashire (UK). From circa 1951, he was the Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for Kew City Council. Until his retirement in the 1970s, he was based at the Kew Council Depot, located in the former MTB Horse Tram Depot on the corner of Disraeli and High Streets, Kew. Accompanying the set of twelve photographs is a 12-page illustrated biography of the Bentley and Plumridge families, separately kept in the 'Bentley' subject file.Duplicate black and white positive print photograph of road works in Studley Park Road, Kew, carried out under the supervision of Tom Bentley, Overseer/Superintendent of Outdoor Works for the City of Kew. The blurred photograph shows Council-owned vehicles used for road construction and council workers.city of kew, public works, tom bentley, road works

Streets and drains were the basic infrastructure problems for Kew in the 1880s. Decent streets and drains were fundamental to the quality of life of the residents. Without drainage, streets became muddy, boggy and sometimes impassable. Pools and puddles of stagnant water became smelly. The run off water, mixed with human and animal wastes, because there was no sewerage, became a health hazard. Streets and drains then became what were known as 'a nuisance'. Kew suffered from bouts of typhoid fever during the 1880s. Derrick Street was a private street on the margin of the business district of Kew and a well-used thoroughfare. We hear first about Derrick Street when the ratepayers applied to Council to have the street 'taken over' in January 1881. The Council agreed, after much debate, but ratepayers had to pay half the costs. The argument of the majority of the Council was that there was an established policy that ratepayers of private streets either had to hand over the street fully-formed or pay half the costs if Council did the work. It was felt that to make an exception for Derrick Street would create a precedent for ratepayers of other private streets. On the other hand the ratepayers, and a minority of Council, believed that there were extenuating circumstances in the case of Derrick Street. They believed that the costing by the Borough Surveyor was excessive. They felt the Council was partly responsible for the state of the street due to a channel on Bulleen Road, which deposited sand in the street. The Council had also put in some kerbing at the entrance to the street. Finally, the ratepayers believed that the street had become an important and convenient thoroughfare in Kew, and thus should be an exception to the policy on private streets. In the end a decision was delayed to allow the ratepayers to drain and form the street themselves. And there the matter stood till September 1882, when Miss Reilly complained about rubbish on a block of land in Derrick Street. So, in October 1882 the Council agreed to take over and form the street with the ratepayers paying half the costs. The ratepayers did not want to pay, so the argument continued in Council into 1883. There was a standoff for a further 18 months, until the problem could no longer be ignored. In October 1884 the Inspector of Nuisances and the Health Officer reported that Derrick Street was a health hazard as there was no drainage outlet for waste water. These reports changed the status of the problem of Derrick Street. It became an issue of public health, and thus the Council, acting as the Local Board of Health, had power to prepare plans and order the ratepayers to drain the street and pay all the costs, or let the Council do the work and charge ratepayers half the costs of the works. By April 1885, the time for ratepayers to complete the works themselves had expired, so the Council proceeded with the work and required ratepayers to pay for their share of the costs. All ratepayers had paid by the end of April except Mr Whiddycombe, who refused to pay. Mr Whiddycombe was warned to pay in October 1885. Legal action was taken against him in November. The Council lost the case on technical grounds. The Council, acting as the Local Board of Health, relaunched the legal action and won. The last we hear of Derrick Street is that seven day’s notice was given to Derrick Street ratepayers to pay for the drainage works in May 1887. We presume that Mr Whiddycombe paid. (Research: Andrew Frost)Rare and historic publication issued by the Board of Health in the Borough of Kew in 1885 to residents of Derrick street regarding the need for proper drainage for the purpose of improving public health.Printed formal notice sent by the Board of Health of the Borough of Kew to landowners in Derrick Street, Kew. The notice advised the owners that they were required to form and drain the street according to the levels and specifications approved by the Board. The letter was sent on January 23rd 1885, and signed by the Inspector of Nuisances.borough of kew -- greater melbourne (vic.), council notices -- public health, derrick street -- kew (vic.)

The ‘Alexandra Gardens’ in Cotham Road were designed and laid out by George and Thomas Pockett. The Governor of Victoria officially opened them in 1908. A report of the opening stated that “…the gardens have been laid out in large sloping lawns, divided by wide graveled paths, and dotted with tastefully arranged flower beds, which are now bright with autumn bloom”. The massed beds of shrubs and flowers included beds of chrysanthemums, a specialty of George Pockett, the Garden’s first curator. A large rotunda was constructed in 1910 to mark the Jubilee of Kew. A plaque memorialising the contribution of George Pockett, was attached to the original rotunda after his death in 1922. By 1911, electric lighting was installed to allow the public to access the Gardens, and the concerts that were held within them on summer nights. The Gardens were later to include the Jubilee Fountain, moved from the front of the Kew Post Office in 1925. The Kew Council commissioned the substantial bluestone entrance gates in 1933.The Kew Historical Society is fortunate that the City Engineer, Mr Poulter, donated a number of items held by the City of Kew to the Society for safekeeping, rather than identifying them for destruction. The most significant items donated included old maps, including those issued by the Board of Works. Other items included photographs of public works undertaken by the Department. The By-laws are part of that donation and tell us lots about the social values of the period.The Mayor, Councillors and Burgesses of the Borough of Kew published By-Law No.45 in 1908 to regulate the “Conduct of Persons whilst at or Within the Gardens known as the Alexandra Gardens”. The By-Law also set a charge for “Persons Using or Entering in or upon the said Gardens”. The 17 by-laws included predictable prohibitions on expectorating, using indecent language, interfering with the floral displays, or indeed with the caretaker gardeners. Other acts prohibited included a warning that “Children under the age of ten years not being under the control of some competent person may be removed from said gardens”. The Alexandra Gardens were at one stage surrounded by a picket fence. This might explain the prohibition on climbing upon or getting through over or under any fence at or within the gardens. The financial penalty for breaching the By-Law was determined as “…not exceeding Ten pounds and not less than Five shillings”. This original copy of the By-Law was donated to the Kew Historical Society by the City of Kew.alexandra gardens (cotham road, kew), city of kew