At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of the [unhistoric] report by a Trinity Grammar School student, dressed in costume as the surveyor Charles Grimes, reporting to the then Mayor of Kew, Cr Noel Whiting. Wurundjeri warriors are in the foreground. .Annotated on reverse: "GRIMES REPORTING TO MAYOR"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

Gerard Petrie was a former mayor of Kew and a member of the Kew Bowling Club.Colour photograph of a Kew Bowling Club Team,1991-2. The photo includes Gerard Petrie, standing back row, third from right.gerard petrie, kew bowling club

The Kew Recreation Hall was opened in 1880. For eighty years it was a major venue for concerts, performances, dances and civic events. It was demolished in 1960.This is an historically and culturally significant municipal photograph from Kew dating from 1906. The photograph has architectural significance as it is the only known, authenticated photograph of the interior of the Recreation Hall in Wellington Street before it was renovated. The Recreation Hall was of statewide significance as a centre of social activity in Kew from 1880-1960. The Mayor (Cr T.G. Jellis) and the Mayoress in the audience at a mayoral concert in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street. [Inscription on mount] "Mayoral Concert, Recreation Hall, Kew, 31st July 1906. Cr. T. G. Jellis Mayor." [Plaque] "Presented by Mayor T.G. Jellis, Mayor 1905-6"cr. t.g. jellis, mayors of kew, kew recreation hall (interior)

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of the Mayor of Kew, Cr Noel Whiting, and Cr Allan Hutchinson in period costume as a 'town crier'. Two 'brownies', part of a larger group, stand with their backs to the camera in the foreground. Annotated on reverse: :BROWNIES AT FESTIVAL / [UPPER RIGHT] M.ROLLEY, J. STEWART"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival, mavis rolley, joy stewart

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.This card 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.ON THE OCCASION OF THE CONFERRING OF THE / FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF MELBOURNE UPON HIS EXCELLENCY FIELD MARSHALL SIR WILLIAM SLIM / GCB, GCMG, GCVC, GBE, DSO, MC, KStJ, / GOVERNOR GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA / THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD MAYOR / (CR F W THOMAS) / REQUESTS THE PLEASURE OF THE COMPANY OF / Councillor F E O'Brien / AT DINNER / AT THE TOWN HALL, MELBOURNE / ON SATURDAY, 8TH NOVEMBER, 1958, AT 6.45 FOR 7 PM / EVENING DRESS - DECORATIONS / THE FAVOUR IS REQUESTED OF A REPLY BY 23RD OCTOBER, TO THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY TO THE LORD MAYOR / ON RECEIPT OF ACCEPTANCE ENTREE CARD WILL BE SENTcivic invitations -- kew (vic), city of melbourne, field marshall slim.-- governor general of australia

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.This card 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.MAYORAL DINNER/ ON THE OCCASION OF THE / ANNUAL INSPECTION / OF THE / CITY OF KEW / TOWN HALL, KEW / 14TH OCTOBER, 1937 / CR W D VAUGHAN / MAYOR Dates and names later changed in 1939 to 13TH OCTOBER, 1939 / CR H F MOGGcivic invitations -- kew (vic), mayoral dinners -- kew (vic.), w d vaughan

The first comprehensive history of Kew, published in 1910 by Cr. F.G.A. Barnard, Mayor of Kew 1920-21.FGA Barnard, The Jubilee History of Kew, Victoria: Its Origins & Progress 1803-1910. Taped reinforced binding. One of the earliest items in the collection donated by Mr. Alfred Williams. Hard Cover 1st edition. Kew [Vic.] : E.F.G. Hodges, "Mercury Office", 1910 121 p. : ill. ; 19 cm. Thursday 8/12/10 J Lewis Carnegief.g.a. barnard, kew (history of), jubilee of kew - 1910

The first comprehensive history of Kew, published in 1910 by Cr. F.G.A. Barnard, Mayor of Kew 1920-21.FGA Barnard, The Jubilee History of Kew, Victoria: Its Origins & Progress 1803-1910. Paperback 1st edition. Kew [Vic.] : E.F.G. Hodges, "Mercury Office", 1910 121 p. : ill. ; 19 cm. f.g.a. barnard, kew (history of), jubilee of kew - 1910

Considered a ‘worthy’ councillor, William [Bill] Wishart was ‘blunt’ in words and actions during his period of civic service. He was concerned with a picturesque Kew. This included street lighting, macadamised roads and improved access to Melbourne. Often accused of being German, he asserted his Australian birth and Scottish heritage. He was a strong advocate for women’s rights, believed in compulsory voting, favoured prison reform, opposed religious instruction in State schools, betting including horse racing, Home Rule, alcohol and sought to establish a tourist bureau. Cr. Wishart was ‘unanimously’ supported to nominate for the vacated seat of Richmond in Victoria’s Legislative Council. He narrowly lost the vote. After a sudden death, he was buried with Presbyterian rites in the Boroondara General Cemetery.Arthur Henry Dear was an employee of the City of Kew, acting as Hall Keeper of the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, and later the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road. The Arthur Dear Collection contains memorabilia - tickets, programmes, invitations - as well as his identification badge.Admission ticket to a musical and bioscopic entertainment in the Recreation Hall, Wellington Street, Kew, on Empire Day, Friday 24 May 1907. The ticket was tendered to schools of the district, presumably students and teachers, by the Mayor of Kew, Cr. W. Wishart.arthur dear collection, empire day - kew (vic.), kew recreation hall -- wellington street -- kew (vic.), cr william wishart, mayors of kew

Cr. Marie Dalley was the first female mayor of Kew in 1954-55. The photograph shows the interior of the Council Chamber in the 1950s.An original photograph of Cr. Marie Dalley and councillors in 1955. The photograph was once part of the Municipal Collection of the former City of Kew and was presented to the Kew Historical Society in 1989.Framed photograph of the Kew City Council at a meeting in the Council Chamber of the Walpole Street {Kew] Town Hall in August 1955; the Mayor Cr. Marie Dalley chairing the meeting. Names of the councillors and council staff are inscribed on the mount. mayors of kew (vic), kew city council - 1955, council chamber - walpole street (kew) town hall, kew (vic.) — municipal collection

W A Comeadow was a resident of Fellows Street, Kew. A one-time councillor and mayor of Kew, he was also a horticulturalist and journalist.Spiral bound, bright plasticised floral cover. Each month with a separate page and picture. Produced and distributed by WA Comeadow.w a comeadow, calendars, melbourne town council, christian-washfold collection

Cr William Wishart was Mayor of Kew in 1906-7, his wife Lily serving as Mayoress during his term of office. Unique handwritten manuscript about a family pet15-page hand written manuscript, bound in brown leather as a small book entitled 'Rollo My Good Dog'. The undated manuscript is unsigned and was attributed to William Wishart of 'Noranook', Fernhurst grove, Kew (Vic) when donated to the Kew Historical Society in c.2002. The manuscript is part of a collection of Wishart items owned by Lily Clara Wishart (nee Annear), donated by Rosemary McArthur, the granddaughter of Lily's sister, so it may be that the story was written by her rather than by William Wishart. The entire manuscript can be viewed in the carousel.Handwritten title and narrativedogs - kew, william wishart, clara wishart (nee annear), 'noranook', fernhurst grove (kew)

Cr William Wishart was Mayor of Kew in 1906-7, his wife Lily serving as Mayoress during his term of office. Locally significant portrait of Lily Wishart, mayoress of Kew in 1906-7. Photographs of past mayoresses are rare. The photograph also informs a number of other items in the collection created by or owned by Lily and William Wishart.Photographic portrait of Lily Wishart, mounted on card for a previous exhibition of items, including her dress from 1907-10.LILY CLARA WISHART / MAYORESS OF KEW 1906-7clara wishart (nee annear), stevenson street - kew (vic)

Cr William Wishart was Mayor of Kew in 1906-7, his wife Lily serving as Mayoress during his term of office. Biographical notes about William and Lily Wishart, created by Lily's sister's granddaughter. clara wishart (nee annear), stevenson street - kew (vic), william wishart, gellibrand street - kew (vic), 'noranook', fernhurst grove, kew (vic)

The hat was owned, worn and donated by by Jill O'Brien, member of the Kew Historical Society and a former mayor of Kew. The rose is a later addition.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Soft pink coloured woman’s hat; the high crown swathed in fine pink silk, while the brim is covered with white chiffon. Two large floppy silk roses are used to decorate the hat.Nilmilliners, hats, women's clothing, australian fashion, jill o'brien

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of participants in the Charles Grimes re-enactment at Yarra Bend during the 1978 Festival of Kew. From left to right they are: Cr Noel Whiting (Mayor of Kew), Stewart Brunt, Scott Fulton, and Cr Allan Hutchinson.Annotated on reverse: "RE-ENACTMENT OF GRIMES' JOURNEY UP THE YARRA 1803 / TRINITY GRAMMAR BOYS"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival, cr noel whiting, cr allan hutchinson

An item of ephemera relating to tourism and recreation on the Yarra River in Melbourne in the first half of the twentieth century.An item from a large collection assembled by the Christian and Washfold families of Kew, including photographs, postcards, and ephemera. Many of the items in the Christian-Washfold Collection relate to the Yarra River and its use as as a recreational resource. Numerous items in the collection are historically important in that they are rare and often unique records of vanished locations or past recreational activities.Article describing the effects of the partial collapse of the weir at Dight’s Falls and its impact on water levels between Kew, Fairfield, and Heidelberg. The article is undated however as it describes Cr Harry Tompkins as Mayor of Kew it must date to the years 1918-20.christian-washfold collection, river yarra -- recreation, dight's falls

Stradbroke Park. Extent: Kilby Road to Harp Road at Burke Road. Historical Documentation: 1851 - Portion 91 purchased by Edward Glynn; 1888 - The Harp of Erin Estate (which included Section 91) offered for sale; 1896 - The area now known as Stradbroke Park was bisected by a creek that flowed from the Yarra via Hay's Paddock (q.v.) and extended through to Burke Road; 1943 - W.D. Birrell, Town Clerk of Kew, proposed that the creek be filled and a reserve created; 1954 - Entire area designated as 'open space' and named 'Stradbroke Park'. The line of the creek that ran through the Park created a further reserve on the north side of High Street, now known as 'Harrison Reserve'. Existing Condition: The park is largely of mown grass that has mature trees set into it It is possible that a number of these are remnant of the original vegetation, while there are also a number of exotic trees introduced, particularly at the northern end of the park. The southern end is dominated by playing fields. (Source: Sanderson, P 1988. Kew Conservation Study)Colour photographic positive (with colour degradation) of sporting teams at a civic event in Stradbroke Park in Kew East in May 1976. The event was officiated by the Mayor of Kew, Cr Alan Hutchinson. Stradbroke Park is situated on the western boundary of Kew and bordered by Burke and Harp Roads.stradbroke park, cr alan hutchinson, team sports -- kew (vic.)

Stradbroke Park. Extent: Kilby Road to Harp Road at Burke Road. Historical Documentation: 1851 - Portion 91 purchased by Edward Glynn; 1888 - The Harp of Erin Estate (which included Section 91) offered for sale; 1896 - The area now known as Stradbroke Park was bisected by a creek that flowed from the Yarra via Hay's Paddock (q.v.) and extended through to Burke Road; 1943 - W.D. Birrell, Town Clerk of Kew, proposed that the creek be filled and a reserve created; 1954 - Entire area designated as 'open space' and named 'Stradbroke Park'. The line of the creek that ran through the Park created a further reserve on the north side of High Street, now known as 'Harrison Reserve'. Existing Condition: The park is largely of mown grass that has mature trees set into it It is possible that a number of these are remnant of the original vegetation, while there are also a number of exotic trees introduced, particularly at the northern end of the park. The southern end is dominated by playing fields. (Source: Sanderson, P 1988. Kew Conservation Study)Colour photographic positive (with colour degradation) of sporting teams at a civic event in Stradbroke Park in Kew East in May 1976. The event was officiated by the Mayor of Kew, Cr Alan Hutchinson. Stradbroke Park is situated on the western boundary of Kew and bordered by Burke and Harp Roads.stradbroke park, cr alan hutchinson, team sports -- kew (vic.)

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.This card 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.ENTREE CARD / SMOKE NIGHT GIVEN BY THE MAYOR OF KEW (CR JOHN S WEIR) / RECREATION HALL, KEW / MONDAY; 4TH AUGUST, 1913, AT 8 P.M.civic ephemera -- town of kew, entree cards, smoke nights

The Kew City Hall, designed by the architect Harold Bartlett of Leith & Bartlett, was opened by The Premier The Hon HE Bolte on 23rd April 1960. At the time of the opening, Cr Ferguson was Mayor of Kew.Original image of the new Town Hall of Kew, providing a detailed view of its interior.Monochrome photograph of the interior of the new Kew City Hall, taken during a Reception given by the Mayoress of Kew in 1960. The orientation of the photograph is directed from the northern (main) stage to the auditorium. The picture reveals the original interior of the Hall before it was converted into a library in 1986-7. Notable is the wooden partition which enabled the Hall to be divided into two halves, as well as the decorative brickwork. The auditorium is arranged with tables and chairs, while on the stage, a pianist is performing in a recital.Cr Ferguson / Mayoress Reception / City Hall 1960kew city hall, harold bartlett, leith & bartlett, city halls -- victoria, cr hugh ferguson

The Kew City Hall, designed by the architect Harold Bartlett of Leith & Bartlett, was opened by The Premier The Hon HE Bolte on 23rd April 1960. At the time of the opening, Cr Ferguson was Mayor of Kew. Monochrome photograph of the annual Anzac Day service on the front lawn of the newly opened Kew City Hall in 1960. The Town Hall faced Cotham Road in front of which are standing returned soldiers. Invited seated and standing guests have their backs to Charles Street and the lawns of South Esk. The speaker would appear to be the Deputy Premier, and local Member for Kew Arthur Rylah MP. Behind the Official Party [but unseen] are the two Memorial plaques by George Henry Allen (1900–72). In the distance are the Kew Presbyterian Church and the Sacred Heart Church. Cr Ferguson / Anzac Day Service 1960kew city hall, city halls -- victoria, cr hugh ferguson, kew town hall, kew (vic.) -- civic buildings, anzac day services -- kew (vic.)

A carte de visite is a photograph mounted on a piece of card the size of a formal visiting card—hence the name. The format was patented by the French photographer Andre Adolphe Eugene Disdéri (1819–1889) in 1854. While the identity of the individuals represented in the photographs was known to Annie Wishart, none are identified by name.Leather, ivory and paper photograph album including 18 ‘Cartes de Visit’. The album has a faint inscription at the front "Ann Wishart" [Photograph album]. Anne Wishart was a teacher of piano in Kew and an ancestor of the Wishart Family which was later to include a Mayor Of Kew (i.e. William Wishart)ANN WISHART / PHTOGRAPH ALBUMann wishart, cartes-de-visite, william wishart, mayor, photograph

The original Kew Town Hall offices were located in Walpole Street, Kew. Before 1960, even though it had been much discussed over a number of decades, Kew did not have a 'civic hall'. When required, events such as balls, exhibitions or theatrical events were held in the Kew Recreation Hall in Walpole Street. A new City Hall was to be opened by Sir Robert Menzies in 1960. It was located beside the Alexandra Gardens in Cotham Road. It is now used as the Kew Library. Cr Hugh George Ferguson (at right) was born in June 1900 in Williamstown. After his family moved to Kew, they lived in Fernhurst Grove while his future wife’s family lived in Fellows Street. He married in 1940 and subsequently joined the Australian Imperial Forces. After the war he worked as a Billeting Affairs Organiser for the Dutch Government, resettling migrants in Australia. He also worked in advertising as an account manager, and was campaign director for Arthur Rylah is Victorian politics. He organised the first major trade fairs at the Royal Exhibition Buildings after the Second World War, including a World Trade Fair. He built a home in Brougham Street and represented North Ward on Kew Council from 1952 to 1968. He was elected Mayor for the 1959-60 term. He died in 1975, aged 75, and is buried in Boroondara Cemetery.An item of historical interest donated by members of the Dods family in 2006. The Dods-Ferguson Collection includes a number of items once in the possession of the families related to or descended from two mayors of Kew: Cr. Hugh Ferguson and Cr. Frederick Dods.Publicity photograph of two men and a woman inspecting architectural models for a new Kew City Hall. The man at the right of the photograph is Cr Hugh George Ferguson, Mayor of Kew 1959-60. The Hall, now occupied by the Kew Library, was opened by The Hon H.E. Bolte MLA, Premier of Victoria in 1960.Herald Sun Feature Service / Hugh G. Ferguson & Associates / New Kew City Hall. kew city hall, hugh g. ferguson & asociates, architectural models - kew, cr hugh george ferguson

The Kew Historical Society was founded at a meeting called by the Kew Association in September 1958 at the home of Cr. WHS Dickinson, who was to become the first president of the Society.AGM of the Kew Historical Society coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the Society. The guest speaker was the Mayor of Kew, Cr. Jim Parke, while the patron of the Society, Sir Gus Nossal made presentations and cut the birthday cake. Presentations in recognition of service were made to Assoc. Prof. Don Garden, Brad Miles, and David Benwell.kew historical society inc -- anniversaries, kew historical society inc - agms

James Robbie Mathers was born in Pleasant Creek [Stawell] in 1867 to James Allen Mathers, a storekeeper and former councillor. He was later to become a storekeeper in Gippsland and then at Heywood, near Portland. Following a move to Melbourne, he established a real estate business. He initially lived in Hawthorn, before moving his business to Kew where he traded as Mathers & McMillan, 136 Cotham Road, and later at 283 Burke Road. For a short time, the family resided at Landene, in Cotham Road. They were to finally move to Rosalea, in Dale Street, Deepdene. Following the death of Cr Henry Kellett in 1924, Mathers was elected unopposed as representative of College Ward. Elected Mayor in September 1930, he convened a meeting of citizens in the Town Hall in Walpole Street to form a local unemployment relief committee. His social initiatives included handing over council-owned premises in Brougham Street, the building re-purposed as a workshop for the unemployed, who were also granted free use of the Kew Municipal Baths. The Mayoress, Jean Mathers, set to work raising funds through charity balls, and also raised funds for St Anthony’s Orphanage in Wellington Street. James Robbie Mathers died on 8 April 1945. He was buried at Box Hill Cemetery. This rare civic testimonial is historically significant, especially locally, as it contains the signatures of all present councillors and parliamentarians representing the City of Kew as well as the names and signatures of leaders of local churches, schools, public officials and leaders of community groups.Boxed presentation folder and correspondence presented to the retiring Mayor of Kew, James Robbie Mather, in 1931. The book is leather bound with gilt lettering on the front. The 4 page testimonial includes and hand written statements about his contribution to Kew and its civic life. Other pages are signed by councillors, parliamentarians and community leaders.james robbie mathers, mayors of kew, civic testimonials

Stradbroke Park. Extent: Kilby Road to Harp Road at Burke Road. Historical Documentation: 1851 - Portion 91 purchased by Edward Glynn; 1888 - The Harp of Erin Estate (which included Section 91) offered for sale; 1896 - The area now known as Stradbroke Park was bisected by a creek that flowed from the Yarra via Hay's Paddock (q.v.) and extended through to Burke Road; 1943 - W.D. Birrell, Town Clerk of Kew, proposed that the creek be filled and a reserve created; 1954 - Entire area designated as 'open space' and named 'Stradbroke Park'. The line of the creek that ran through the Park created a further reserve on the north side of High Street, now known as 'Harrison Reserve'. Existing Condition: The park is largely of mown grass that has mature trees set into it It is possible that a number of these are remnant of the original vegetation, while there are also a number of exotic trees introduced, particularly at the northern end of the park. The southern end is dominated by playing fields. (Source: Sanderson, P 1988. Kew Conservation Study)Colour photographic positive (with colour degradation) of sporting teams at a civic event in Stradbroke Park in Kew East in May 1976. The event was officiated by the Mayor of Kew, Cr Alan Hutchinson. Sporting teams in uniform included: footballers, athletes, cricketers, hockey players. Stradbroke Park is situated on the western boundary of Kew at Burke and Harp Roads.stradbroke park, cr alan hutchinson, team sports -- kew (vic.)

Pru Sanderson, in her groundbreaking ‘City of Kew Urban Conservation Study : Volume 2 - Development History’ (1988), summarised the periods of urban development and subdivisions of land in Kew. The periods that she identified included 1845-1880, 1880-1893, 1893-1921, 1921-1933, 1933-1943, and Post-War Development. These periods were selected as they represented periods of rapid growth or decline in urban development. An obvious starting point for Sanderson’s groupings involved population growth and the associated economic cycles. These cycles also highlighted urban expansion onto land that was predominantly rural, although in other cases it represented the decline and breakup of large estates. A number of the plans in the Kew Historical Society’s collection can also be found in other collections, such as those of the State Library of Victoria and the Boroondara Library Service. A number are however unique to the collection.Subdivision plans are historically important documents used as evidence of the growth of suburbs in Australia. They frequently provide information about when the land was sold on which a built structure was subsequently constructed as well as evidence relating to surveyors and real estate and financial agents. The numerous subdivision plans in the Kew Historical Society's collection represent working documents, ranging from the initial sketches made in planning a subdivision to printed plans on which auctioneers or agents listed the prices for which individual lots were sold. In a number of cases, the reverse of a subdivision plan in the collection includes a photograph of a house that was also for sale by the agent. These photographs provide significant heritage information relating house design and decoration, fencing and household gardens.An annotated subdivision plan for the Forres Estate, Kew East. The estate was advertised in 1919, the Melbourne Auctioneers being represented locally by Henry Kellett, Estate Agent of High Street, Kew. The name of the estate was derived from the mansion (demolished 2016) of the same name in Normanby Road, which was at one stage owned by the Mayor of Kew, Cr. J. S. Were.subdivision plans - kew, forres estate, argyle road, simpson street, hubert street, normanby road

This is a smaller version of the large framed photograph donated to the new City of Kew by Cr Wishart. The framed photograph was hung in the Walpole Street Town Hall. Presumably, each of the Councillors in the portrait was presented with a smaller version.This photograph was donated by a descendant of the Kellett family. This picture, like it framed counterpart, is historically significant as a record of a major civic event in Kew's history. It is also aesthetically significant as the last official photograph taken by the photographer Josiah Earl Barnes before his death in the same year.Kew Becomes a City, 1921. Small photograph mounted on card of the official portrait of the Mayor and Councillors of Kew in 1921. Josiah Earl Barnes, the photographer, posed the group in front of the Jubilee Rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens in Cotham Road, Kew. At the centre of the group in mayoral robes is the then mayor of Kew, Cr. F.G.A. Barnard. This was to be the last major commission by the Council for J.E. Barnes, who had been responsible for creating the series of 19th Century portraits of former mayors that was displayed in the Kew Town Hall in Walpole Street.J. E. Barnes / Photoj.e. barnes, kew (victoria), kew city council, alexandra gardens, f.g.a. barnard

The Kew Community Festival was initiated by Cr Gerard Petrie, Mayor of Kew in 1974. Initially a biannual event, it became an annual festival in the 1980s. Badges of different colours were distributed at various Festivals. These were typically undated but could be associated with a distinct year due to the font used and colours.Five identical "I'm a Kewite" buttons given out at the Kew Festival"I'M A KEWITE"kew community festival, commemorative buttons