The Yarra Scenic Boulevard stretching from Hawthorn to the Chandler Highway was completed as a major project between 1933 and 1936 during a period of significant unemployment. Key dates in the construction this section the road include: 1933 when Kew Council supported the construction of the road from Studley Park to the Kew Asylum; and 1936 when the road from the Johnston Street Bridge to the Chandler Highway was opened. The inscription on the reverse of the photo 'Boulevard Fairfield' is misleading as there is no section of the Boulevard in Fairfield. A more likely interpretation is that it is a photograph of the Kew section of the Yarra Boulevard with the factories of Fairfield in the distance.Rare early photograph of the Yarra Boulevard, taken one year after the opening of the road. The photograph is an important historical record of the results of 'Susso' labor in the creation of major works in Melbourne by the Victorian Government. Original, black and white positive print of the Boulevard at Kew in 1937. Key aspects to note about the photograph is that the road is bituminised; that the gutters are concreted; that the kerb is constructed of concrete blocks; and that there is an unmade footpath on what appears to be the right hand side of the road. The landscape is sparsely treed, and those trees that remain are presumably remnant vegetation. At the right, the land is fenced. The land at the left falls away sharply to the river below. On the horizon, at left, there is an industrial complex including a tall chimney that is burning fuel creating smoke. "Boulevard Fairfield" great depression, susso projects, roads -- kew (vic.), yarra boulevard, yarra valley

Those sections of Studley Park closest to the River Yarra were set aside as parkland in the 1850s. After initial discussions about whether it was a suitable site for a Government House, much of the land was instead gazetted in the 1860s as the location for a new lunatic asylum, to expand overcrowded mental health facilities at the Yarra Bend Asylum on the other side of the river at Fairfield. Those sections of Studley Park bounded by the Yarra River, Studley Park Road, Princess Street and Fellows Street were subdivided and sold at the Crown Land Sales in 1851. Much of this urban area remained open farmland until the twentieth century, apart from mansions, largely located along the main roads.Original, black and white positive print of what is said to represent Studley Park in 1937. If the attribution and date is literally to be understood, then it would appear that the photograph may have been taken from the Kew side of the river looking across to open farmland in the Yarra Bend Park. If the designation of Studley Park is to be understood more loosely, then it might be a view of what is now East Kew, taken from a section of Kilby Road. Inscribed verso: "Studley Park 1937" studley park -- kew (vic.)

Land along the Yarra River in Kew is now either designated open space, parkland or public golf links. By the 1930s much of this area remained open farmland, bought at auction for dairy farming in the 1840s.Original, black and white positive print of what is said to be the Yarra Flats near Burke Road Bridge. On the horizon, building can be seen, whereas in the middle ground, farm fencing and a windmill are the main features as well as remnant Eucalypts. Inscribed verso: "Yarra Flats near Burke Rd Bridge 1937" studley park -- kew (vic.)

'Kew, Kew East, Balwyn & Balwyn North are located approximately 7km north east of Melbourne. Four main stormwater drains service the area flowing from south to north. Three of the drains: Deepdene Drain; Balwyn Drain & Glass Creek converge in Kew East just west of Burke Road at Kew High School before discharging into the Yarra River. The fourth drain, Kew Main Drain connects directly with the Yarra River to the West of Glass Creek.' The Kew Main Drain is a barrel drain that was created in the 1930s, and follows the route of the former Connor's Creek from the vicinity of Genazzano FCJ College to the Yarra River in East KewImportant and verifiable evidence of the construction methods used by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works in building the Kew Main Drain, before its reconstruction in c.1985.Original print colour positive photograph of the Kew Main Drain, provided on 14/12.84 to the Chief Engineer of the City of Kew, Ian Poulter, by the Supervising Engineer (Works), Southern and Eastern Drainage, Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works. The record includes an image of the reverse as well as the donation document from the MMBW."A84/1855-9 / 750mm council drain looking D/S [down stream] and across Parkhill Road. To be replaced with 1200 mm R.C.P. [reinforced concrete pipe] as part of MMBW Kew Main Drain reconstruction works"kew main drain, stormwater drains -- kew (vic.), connor's creek -- kew (vic.)

'Kew, Kew East, Balwyn & Balwyn North are located approximately 7km north east of Melbourne. Four main stormwater drains service the area flowing from south to north. Three of the drains: Deepdene Drain; Balwyn Drain & Glass Creek converge in Kew East just west of Burke Road at Kew High School before discharging into the Yarra River. The fourth drain, Kew Main Drain connects directly with the Yarra River to the West of Glass Creek.' The Kew Main Drain is a barrel drain that was created in the 1930s, and follows the route of the former Connor's Creek from the vicinity of Genazzano FCJ College to the Yarra River in East KewImportant and verifiable evidence of the construction methods used by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works in building the Kew Main Drain, before its reconstruction in c.1985.Original print colour positive photograph of the Kew Main Drain, provided on 14/12.84 to the Chief Engineer of the City of Kew, Ian Poulter, by the Supervising Engineer (Works), Southern and Eastern Drainage, Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works. The record includes an image of the reverse as well as the donation document from the MMBW."A84/1855-10 / 750mm council drain looking U/S [up stream] from Parkhill Road, Kew."kew main drain, stormwater drains -- kew (vic.), connor's creek -- kew (vic.)