Dight’s Falls in Studley Park is an artificial weir built on a natural rock bar across the Yarra. The weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the ‘Ceres’ flour-mill, one of the first in Victoria. The falls were later to become known as Dight’s Falls after the owners of the mill. Later, a pumping station was built on the Kew side of the river, which pumped water uphill to a reservoir in Walmer Street that provided water to the Melbourne Botanical Gardens and to Albert Park Lake. The area around Dight’s Falls was and is frequently used for recreational activities.Dated postcard allowing one to analyse the form of the Falls in 1911Colour postcard, of Dight's Falls on the River Yarra between Kew and Fairfield. The photograph is taken looking upstream towards the Falls from the Kew side, from the embankment in the vicinity of the Pumping Station. Obverse: "Dight's falls, Kew" Reverse: "Printed in Great Britain Writing in ink on Reverse: "31/3/1911 / To dear Nell with best wishes for a happy birthday from your old friend Eve / [Addressed to] "Mrs N Dunn, Prahran" Franked Victorian 1d stamp on Reverse top rightdight's falls, dight's falls - kew (vic) - fairfield (vic)

An item from an outstanding and diverse photographic collection, assembled by members of the Christian and Washfold families of Kew.Small black and white photograph of the elderly Orlando Henry Beater Christian holding an oar while standing in a canoe, presumably on the Yarra River. He is wearing a suit and has a hat on.orlando henry beater christian, christian-washfold collection, row boats -- yarra river -- kew (vic.)

The donation was accompanied by the following letter from the donor: "Hi. I found these in with family photos. Taken by family as Mamie McLeod was living in Fellows Street, Kew, so would be near there. Retain (or discard) as you see fit." [Donor's name and address withheld from public view]. To gain an insight into the flood levels at Kew, it is worth reading newspaper accounts of the event. The Age published an article - Valuable Gardens Destroyed at Kew - on 25 September 1916: "VALUABLE GARDENS DESTROYED AT KEW. From the heights of Studley Park, Kew, a splendid view of the flood waters can be obtained, and yesterday afternoon, despite continuous rain, crowds of citizens assembled there to witness the spectacle. There is a vast stretch of water some 300 or 400 yards broad, above the foot bridge connecting Gipps-street, Collingwood, and Studley Park. The river is only about 3 feet from the top of the embankment connecting with the ramp of the bridge on the Studiey Park side. When the upper llood waters come down it is almost a certainty that tne embankment will be submerged and the bridge rendered impassible. Below the bridge the waters again stretch out, and have submerged all the low-lying land on the Collingwood side and invaded the back premises ot the Kodak Co., Phoenix Biscuit Factory, a tannery adjoining thereto, the Shamrock Brewery, and Chinese gardens in the vicinity. At Walmer-street-bridge, at the end of Studley Park, the low-lying land on the Kew side is covered with water to the depth of many feet. Tlie land in question is owned in a great part by Mr Frank Lavers who haa gone in for intense culture on a pretty liberal scale on both the slopes of the hill and on the river flat. On the latter he is cultivating many acres of asparagus, and has at a considerable cost spent three years in preparing the ground and installing an irrigation system, reticulated from the Yan Yean water supply. This year the asparagus was put down, and the plants were in a promising condition. Tlie flood waters are now flowing fast over the land. The crop is ruined, and three years' work and expenditure destroyed. Mr. Laver's private residence fortunately is high above flood level, but two houses he owns off Young-street have been flooded out. Having been warned in time, the tenants removed their furniture hefore the water came down to Mr. Laver's residence, where they themselves have been given accommodation in the meantime. All the river flats in East Kew are under water. One or two low-lying houses have been flooded. Chipperfield's boat shed at Willsmere is nearly covered, and some Chinese gardens in the vicinity are several feet under water."This, and the other three photographs donated of floods in Kew are believed to be the earliest in the collection. Together with our original MMBW River Yarra map showing flood levels, these items, when compared allow researchers to gain a visual perspective of the extent of the flood in 1916. Small black and white photograph of flooded trees in Kew.Inscription on reverse in ink "Flood R. Yarra Kew Vicriver yarra, kew, floods 1916

Extract - Ringwood, Place of Many Eagles - Hugh Anderson (1974): William Wedge Darke, from Hereford, England, was a nephew of John Helder Wedge of the Port Phillip Association, who was also a surveyor. William's most important work was probably his survey of the Dividing Range and the country between the Yarra River and Western Port, completed in May 1843, and during which he made a traverse between the Mullum and Dandenong creeks along the higher ground that he labelled the "best line of road from Melbourne". This road was for many years the major route to Gippsland and to the higher country about Alexandra and Mansfield, sometimes known as White Horse Road, and now Maroondah Highway.Surveyor's relief map of features to the east of Melbourne including Yarra Yarra River, Mullum Mullum Creek, Anderson's Creek, Dandenong Creek.Transmitted to the Surveyor General with my letter of 10th May 1843 (signed) Wm Wedge Drake, Assistant Surveyor. Scale: two inches to a mile. Descriptive remarks include upstream area of Yarra River - "impassable, appears to have been formerly a lake", and to the south - "barren and scrubby swamps of the Western Port Country". Marked tracks include "best line of road from Melbourne", "track to Dandenong", "Road to Port Albert may probably be found on this range", "Best line to Upper Yarra". Several huts also marked.

The motorboat Southern Cross was used for ship visits and also to Bring sailors back to the Mission or picnics.A group of ladies and seamen sitting on the "Southern Cross", the Mission's motor launch, leaving the Australian Wharf and crossing the Yarra River. In the background we can see the "Robur Tea House" warehouse and the south wharf.motor launch, southern cross, yarra river, australian wharf, south wharf, flag, lhlg, robur tea house, missions to seamen, goldsmith album, motorboat, charles blunt, blunt boatbuilders, geelong

The original book plate reflects the colonial use of the River Yarra fro both recreation and industry.View on the Yarra Near Dights Falls. Reproduction of a book plate from an original wood engravingg, showing men and boys on the banks of the River Yarra. The activities represented include logging and fishing. Annotation on reverse: [Original] "Caption: View on the Yarra Near Dights Falls."yarra river, dights falls

(1) 14 photographs showing views of where the Freeway would be going through near Burnley Gardens. (2) 2 photographs of views of the Yarra River near Burnley Gardens. (3) Aerial photograph of construction of the Freeway near Burnley Gardens and Yarra Boulevard. (4) 8 colour photographs of construction work in and over the River Yarra near the railway bridge. "Brian Ward Freeway Construction" handwritten on cover of folder. Student Dux 1973.freeway, burnley gardens, yarra river, yarra boulevard, river yarra, brian ward

Black and white photograph with a thin white border depicting the Australian wharf: two horses, steam ship, two men one siting on a barrel. Across the Yarra river: docks and in the background, the Robur Tea House.Stamps: In purple ink: Herschell's Print, Pathe Agents / in blue ink: "384" Handwritten in black ink and in pencil: "6" australian-wharf, yarra-river, robur tea house, weller album

Black and white photograph of an 8 man rowing team on the Yarra River Melbourne showing city buildings in the background, mounted on grey card within a thin black wooden frame, markings read 'Burlington Melb'Burlington Melborganization, club/society, rowing team, rowing team, yarra river, burlington

The motor boat built by Charles Blunt was donated in 1906, and was useful for ships' visit.Printed photograph published in the Annual Report for 1910 on page 35, depicting Reverend Alfred Gurney Goldsmith on board the mission's motor boat with another man. The image was taken on the Yarra River near the Docklands Gasworks.alfred gurney goldsmtih, motor boat, motor launch, southern cross, yarra river, gasworks, docklands, flinders street, charles blunt, blunt boatbuilders, geelong

Black and white negative, by Wal Jack, of W2 392 (from information in the Wal Jack Album) crossing the Swan St or Wallen St bridge over the Yarra River. Photo not dated, in the Wal Jack album.trams, tramways, swan st, wallen road, bridges, w2 class, yarra river, tram 392

Photocopy of a letter from James Anderson dated 2 October 1842 complaining of incursions by stock of Major Newman on Anderson's adjoining land. Includes sketch map of relative locations of neighbouring runs bordered by the Yarra River.anderson, james, newman, (major), dawsons station, ross station, yarra river, agriculture, pioneers, deep creek, nunawading

Copy of a painting (or etching) by S.T. Gill showing the Yarra River at Princess Bridge, Melbourne.Inscription reverse: "Eastern side of old Princess Bridge from Yarra"reproductions -- s t gill, princess bridge -- river yarra - melbourne (vic.)

245 p. : ill., bib., index, pbk ; 24 cm.non-fictionmelbourne - history, yarra river - history

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 4 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. This photograph is of the Yarra River at Kew."Yarra at Kew"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums

Colour photograph of black and white photograph. Aerial View of Burnley Campus. Enlargement. Shows position of Campus in bend of Yarra River after alterations to the position of the river due to building of Freeway, new ovals and Richmond Public Golf Course.burnley campus, aerial view, yarra river, richmond public golf course

The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People were the original owners of the land on which the City of Boroondara is now located. They made active use of the Yarra for food and transport [an original canoe is held in the collection of the Melbourne Museum]. From 1863, members of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung were resettled at the Corranderrk Aboriginal reserve at Healesville. The [now] best known member of the Wurundjeri People was William Barak, who may be pictured here.If the attribution in the annotation is correct, then this may be the earliest photograph of members of the Wurundjeri People at Kew. The photo may be unique.Hand tinted photograph on mounting card of members of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung on the banks of the River Yarra, allegedly at Studley Park before 1855 [according to the annotation on the reverse] The photograph of the river and its near and far banks includes two boats on the river, a row boat and a canoe, and people standing on the near bank or seated on the branch of a tree. In addition to men and women of the Wurundjeri People, there appears to be two Europeans pictured, one wearing a hat and the other standing at right. Annotations on the reverse identify a [possible] location and date. [Size: Mount 140 x 215mm | Photograph 125 x 190mm]Various hands and dates: "Original lead pencil lettering Studley Yarra Yarra / Yarra Yarra Studley / Studley (Park?) / Note aboriginals in a bark canoe / Prior 1855 / Very early photo Yarra River originally known as the Yarra Yarra / [illegible part word in ink]".wurundjeri woi wurrung, yarra river, aboriginal and torres straight islander

Norman MacGEORGE (08 July 1872– 2 September 1952) Born Adelaide, South Australia Norman Macgeorge taught drawing at Wesley College, Melbourne from 1902-06. He also taught at Melbourne Teachers' College and at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Framed landscape depicting the confluence of the Darebin Creek and the Yarra River. Purchased by the Ballarat Teachers' College in 1964. This work was exhibited in "Norman MacGeorge: Man of Art" at the Ian Potter Museum of Art, The University of Melbourne, 22 September to 25 November 2001.art, artwork, norman mcgeorge, mcgeorge, watercolour, available, landscape, darebin creek, yarra river, ballarat teachers' college art collection

Friars Falls is near Griffith Park, Eltham on the Yarra RiverThis photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years. The Reynolds family were early settlers in Research. The Reynolds/ Prior collection of photographs were taken by Tom Prior, the maternal uncle of Ivy Reynolds, around 1900 and the 60 photos in the album give a fine overview of many of the landmarks of Research and Eltham over 100 years ago. lvy lived in the family home for many years at 106 Thompson Cres Research. Ivy's father, Ernst Richard Reynolds and grandfather, Richard Reynolds, lived at the same address. Ivy's father Richard worked for Mr. Trail on his property in Research. Reynolds Road is named after the family. Mr Tom Prior (wife Eva) worked at the Melbourne zoo. He was very innovative and made his own camera, using the black cloth hood to exclude the light. The photographs are a reminder of the rural nature of Research and Eltham and its rich heritage.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, friars falls, griffith park, yarra river, reynolds prior collection

Postcard - 4 panel full colour - by Traveller's Notes, of the Yarra River, Cook's Cottage, Flinders St Station main entrance, and SW6 852, University, route 5. Divided back, published by Traveller's Notes, photos by Neil J Leed, 1997.trams, tramways, flinders st station, yarra river, sw6 class, route 5, tram 852

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 9 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The point-of-view selected by the photographer, Henry Christian, is of Dight's Falls on the Yarra River from the Kew side. Dight's Falls separates the saline and fresh water sections of the river. "Studley Park / Kew"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, yarra river -- studley park (vic.), dight's falls

"In 1839 John Dight purchased Melbourne block 88, which included 26 acres of land along the Yarra River for £481 at the Port Phillip land sales held in Sydney. Dight was already in the business of flour milling and had a mill near Campbell Town in New South Wales called ‘Ceres’. In April 1840, he notified his customers through The Sydney Herald that he was leaving to go to Port Phillip. The first steam powered flour mill was constructed in Melbourne in 1841. Dight built his water powered mill, soon after, from bricks bought over from Tasmania. Dight used the river to power his mill: Water flowed along an inlet channel to turn an undershot water wheel. In order to regulate flow or to ensure flow for times when river levels were low, Dight constructed a rough stone weir." (Melbourne Water)Dights Mill. Reproduction of a book plate from an original wood engraving, showing Dights Mill and Falls on the River Yarra. The image was originally published in Sands & Kenny, Melbourne & Sydney.Annotation on reverse: "Dights Flour".dights mill, yarra river

Letter re unsafe state of bridge over Yarra River This is a photocopy of the original letter which was written by A. Gable (?) on behalf of the Inspector General of Public Works. It comments on the unsafe state of the bridge over the Yarra River by the Botanic Gardens. Provided by Diane Nicholas Librarian at Hawthorn Library 1994Letter from Department of Public Works to Secretary of Horticultural Societybridge, yarra river, unsafe bridge, bridge safety melbourne, bridge safety 1800s, a. gable, inspector general of public works

A moded of HMAS Yarra F07/45 River Class Frigate under glass cover.Made in Williamstown and lauched on the 30th September 1958. It was decommisioned on the 22nd January 1985hmas yarra, model, cerberus collection

Flooding of the Yarra Valley, including that section of the Yarra bordering Kew and Kew East in the north and west of the municipality, was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916, 1923 and 1934. The Municipality of Kew's response to these floods was to enact planning decisions restricting residential development in flood prone areas following the floods of 1916, 1921 and 1934. While floods continued after the development of the Upper Yarra Reservoir (construction 1948-57), the regularity and extent of these inundations diminished. During the nineteenth century, the land abutting the south side of the Yarra in Kew was devoted to dairy farming. In the twentieth century, before and after the construction of the Eastern Freeway, much of this low-lying area was used as golf courses and public parks.Late example of the capacity of the Yarra Valley at Kew to flood, even though drainage works and the Upper Yarra Reservoir had reduced their regularity.Original black and white print photograph of Hay's Paddock under floodwater on 16 May 1974. The vantage point of the photographer is Keystone Crescent looking east. Flooding was caused by overflowing water in Glass' Creek and the River Yarra. Annotation verso: "Keystone Cr looking east / 16 May 1974 11.50am"hays paddock, floods, yarra river, glass' creek