1823-1923.MR. JAMES VENN MORGAN. "FATHER OF" KEW."In a Village in Somersetshire in England on February 21, 1823, a son was born to George and Sarah Morgan. The child was so delicate that his parents feared that he would not live. How little ground the parents parents had for their fears may be judged from the fact that the boy, christened James Venn Morgan is still alive and hale. He is able to exhibit with pride the paper with its faded ink on which a clergyman wrote the certificate of his baptism almost 100 years ago. But for some slight infirmities of sight and hearing, Mr. Morgan, who is within six weeks of completing the 100th year of his life, is in good health, and is well able to attend to his business affairs. His immediate cause for regret is that he is not now able to do a day's work in his garden, as he was 12 months ago. After spending his early life in England, where he learned his trade as shoemaker, Mr Morgan came to Australia in April, 1851. He carried letters of introduction to Mr. Tripp, a solicitor, of Melbourne, who strongly recommended him to begin business as a shoemaker, and accordingly he opened a shop at the corner of Swanston and Bourke streets, where the Leviathan Stores now stand, and was not long in working up a good connection. Among his customers at that time Mr. Morgan recalls Mr. Justice A'Beckett and many leading men in law and medicine of the day. Then the news was flashed through Melbourne of the discovery of gold at Ballarat. Nothing can give a clearer idea of the excitement this news caused in Melbourne than that Mr. Morgan, who was a member of one of the first parties to leave for the diggings, left uncompleted in his workshop one of a pair of riding boots he was making for Mr. J. B. Weir. As the purchase of suitable clothing would have taken time, he set out to make his fortune wearing a top hat. At Ballarat he stayed for five or six weeks, and returned to Melbourne with 10oz. of gold. He remained in the city long enough to finish the second of the two riding boots, and then, with three companions, set out for Chewton, near Castlemaine. Here fortune smiled. The party tried their luck in an abandoned shaft, and in two weeks returned to Melbourne again after having won 35lb. weight of gold. How Kew Was Born. Mr Morgan was content with his success, and induced his partners to invest their money with him in land. After obtaining the advice of a friend, the party negotiated with Mr Samuel Watts, of Collngwood, who had recently purchased land from the Crown, and from him they took over at £15 an acre about 32 acres of land in the district that is now known as Kew. This land extended from where the Kew Post-office now stands to the locality of the Boroondara Cemetery. At that time there was not a house in the district, and there was a fairly large population of aborigines, but no white men. Here it was that Mr Morgan decided to settle, and, after having had the land surveyed, the partners apportioned it by drawing straws for the four sections into which it had been divided. One of them sold his holding later in the year for £100 an acre, and was sorry for it afterwards. In 1853 Mr. Morgan built the first house in Kew, and this house is the one in which he still resides. Here with his wife, he settled down to market gardening and dairying. He tells with a laugh how he was paid 1/ a lb for the first potatoes he grew, and 1/ a quart for milk. So successful was the new venture that he induced his father and other members of the family to come out to Australia to assist him. How different Kew of those days was from the Kew of to-day will be understood from Mr. Morgan's statement that for weeks at a time they never saw a a white face other than those of the family. The blacks, he says, although very noisy, were entirely friendly. Gradually the district became settled, Mr. Morgan parted with a portion of his holding, and subdivided and built on the remainder which he still retains. In 1884 he found himself in a position to retire from active business. Youth in Old Age. In Mr Morgan's garden, which is a large, one trees which he and his father planted more than 60 years ago are still bearing heavy crops of apples. Mr. Morgan has been a widower since 1915. He has three daughters all of whom are married, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One of the great-grand children reccntly informed Mr. Morgan that he was about to be married. Perhaps the most striking characteristic of Mr. Morgan to-day is his activity. Not only does he move about with surprising alacrity, but is able to go into the streets and attend to his business affairs with but little fatigue The Argus, 17 January 1923, p.12.This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.A group portrait on the occasion of the 100th birthday of James Venn Morgan in 1923. Dorothy Rogers used this photograph in 'A History of Kew' (1973). It faces page 17. In the book, the caption reads "JAMES VENN MORGAN'S 100TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY. The party was held at 'Morganville'. Mr Morgan is shown with a group of descendants."James Morgans 100th Birthday Party. james venn morgan, kew, model dairy, dorothy rogers

The Kew Historical Society’s collection includes a wide range of leisure objects. Many of the items are European-made, generally of British origin, however there are a number that were made for the Australian market by Australian manufacturers. In the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, there were large numbers of games produced for children and adults. These included: arcade games, board games, playing cards and puzzles. A representative sample, many now rare survivors, can be found in the collection.Wooden drafts board with the counters contained in an internal drawer.drafts, board games, leisure activities

Under the auspices of the Deaf Committee of the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria - Edited by R. H. Lambert assisted by H. PuddyThe Victorian Deaf Newsletter is significant publication as an historical record giving and insight into the people, activities and events of the Deaf Community in Victoria.Vol. 1 No. 4 July-August 1930; Size 21.5cmHx14cmWlord somers, dr f. w. head, a graham, mrs w. taylor, alex hull, w. h. crush, victorian school for deaf children, thomas williamson, mr e. f. carmichael, c. a. buck, h. puddy, ben hall, william newton, lacrosse, tennis, young ladies guild, young mens guild, deaf church

The photograph was taken when children at Bulla Primary School enjoyed a Fun Day. On that day a variety of fun activities featured which included face painting.Two girls with painted faces are posing for the camera.bulla primary school, schoolfun days

The children were trying out a variety of outdoor activities on their dress-up day. These group were practising a variety of ball-handling skills.A coloured photograph of a teacher showing a boy how to dribble a ball around a witch's hat with two other adults and four children watching.ball handling skills, bulla primary school dress-up day

The juggler was invited to Bulla Primary School to entertain the children. It was included as part of the school's extra curricular activities.As Bulla Primary School was a semi-rural school, there were many opportunities to introduce the children to a number of interesting extra curricular activities.A coloured photograph of a juggler attempting to mount a wall while playing an accordion. His assistant is standing to his right.jugglers, bulla primary school, entertainments

The painting of the didgeridoo was one of the activities the students at Bulla Primary School engaged in on their Colonial Dress Day.A coloured photograph of two children painting a didgeridooart activities, colonial dress day, bulla primary school

The photograph was taken when the Bulla Primary School was having an activities day with students, staff and parents participating in the event. It took place within the attractive restored school grounds.The former Bulla Primary School included many activities in its curriculum that involved the community. A coloured photograph of children and adults gathered around a picnic area.activities days, bulla primary school

The photograph was taken in 1994 shortly after the improvements to the garden and play are at Bulla Primary School had been completed. Some of the improvements included a school garden and updated playground equipment.The upgrading of the outdoor area at the Bulla Primary School resulted in the students enjoying many more interesting and beneficial physical activities at their school. A coloured photograph showing five children playing on a climbing frame with an man supervising the group. The photograph was taken with a conventional camera.climbing frame, playground equipment, bulla primary school

The photograph was taken when the school was conducting its sports day when all the students were taught various sporting skills that were included in inter-school sports. he program took place within the school grounds and parents were invited to attend the day.This was one of the events when both the school and the local community were involved on the day.A coloured pre-digital photograph of a section of the former Bulla Primary School outdoor area with a partial view of the cream weatherboard classroom to the left of the image. Some of the children are involved in sporting activities on the netball court in the foreground. The photograph was taken before digital cameras were used.bulla primary school, sports day

The four children are working with their teacher Barbara Springfield who was on the staff at Bulla Primary School in 1993. It was a time before computers and other related devices were used in classrooms.A non-digital photograph of four children in a classroom standing at a table with their teacher. A lot of the children's work folders are displayed on a rack on the LHS and other items are displayed on the window and overhead. barbara springfield, bulla primary school, classroom activities

The children in the art class were pupils at Bulla Primary School in the early 1990s. Bulla Primary School was a semi -rural school in the township of Bulla, about 10kms from the Tullamarine Airport. There is no evidence of computers or other IT aids in the classroom as these items did not come into widespread use until 2 decades later.A non-digital coloured photograph of six children in an art class at school. The four visible sets of tables and chairs are strewn with art materials and there are shelves in the background where books, folders and other items are kept along with a guitar. art activities, bulla primary school

The children from Bulla and MIckleham schools were attending a school camp at Beechworth and one of the activities was hiking in one of the nearby hills. While hiking they came across a tunnel which captured the attention of these children.A non-digital coloured photograph of four children looking into a tunnel, which is under an embankment.school camps, hiking, beechworth

The children were attending a school camp at Beechworth and on this particular day, they were hiking for one of the activities.A non-digital coloured photograph of a group of children walking along a bush track, in single file with an adult holding a camera bringing up the rear. school camps, hiking, beechworth

The children were on a school camp at Beechworth. During their time at the camp they visited various places of interest as well as engaged in various activities. One of the activities was hiking to the Woolshed Falls and looking at the terrain. Bulla and MIckleham Primary School combined and attended the camp.A non- digital coloured photograph of ten children with an adult standing on a rocky outcrop above a waterfall in bushland.school camps, beechworth, bulla primary school, mickleham primary school

The manager of the trout farm is preparing to talk to the students from Bulla and Mickleham Primary Schools about the function and purpose of the trout farm which is in the Beechworth area. The children with their teachers and some parents were attending a school camp in Beechworth and a visit to the trout farm was one of the activities. A non- digital coloured print of a man talking to some children who are sitting in front of him on the grass in a paddock.trout farms, school camps, beechworth

The people in the photograph were students, teachers and parents from Bulla and Mickleham Primary School who were attending a school camp at Beechworth. One of the activities was a visit to a local trout farm.A non-digital coloured print of a group of children and adults walking around a lake in bushland.trout farms, beechworth, school camps

Students from Bulla and MIckleham Primary Schools attended a camp at Beechworth in 1988 where they undertook a number of different outdoor activities such as busk walking, fishing, visits to the Chinese Cemetery and boomerang throwing. In this photograph the children met with one of the local First Nation's people and were shown the art of boomerang throwing. This activity allowed the students to become familiar with aspects of the culture of First Nation's People.A coloured non-digital photograph of six children listening to a man who is holding a boomerang in each hand and instructing them in boomerang handling.The group are standing in a large sports ground with clubrooms nd tall trees in the background.school camps, mickleham primary school, bulla primary school, boomerang handling

Children from Bulla and MIckleham Primary schools attend a camp at Beechworth in 1988. While there they experienced a number of varied activities as part of their outdoor education course. In this and the following set of photos the students went on a hike and cooked their lunch on a camp fire as well as identifying the local bird life .This activity gave the children an understanding of correct camp-fire procedures as well as observing the native wildlife.A non-digital coloured photograph of three boys in bushland watching over a small campfire.school camps, beechworth, camp fires, picnics, native birds

The ranger was helping the students from Bulla and MIckleham Primary Schools how to encourage the birds, that they were studying, how to perch on their arms.The children were attending a school camp at Beechworth and one of their activities was to become acquainted with the native birds in the area.A non-digital coloured photograph of a park ranger with a crimson rosella perched on her arm.school camps, beechworth, crimson rosellas, bulla primary school, mickleham primary school

In 1988 the Grade 2 and 3 children from Bulla Primary School attended a camp at Red Rock, where they were engaged in a variety of activities. In this image a teacher is explaining the rules of a game that the children are about to play. School camps are an important part of students' outdoor activities and socialisation.A non-digital coloured photograph of a teacher in a room with eight of his students. They are holding poles in preparation to playing a game.bulla primary school, school camps, red rock school camp

The children and their teacher were engaged in a variety of outdoor gardening activities for the three days from 26th - 28th April 1989 for Arbor Week. Over the three days a new garden bed was set out as well as tree planting. During Arbor Week, people are encouraged to plant trees as well as caring for established gardens. The date varies from across different countries and takes into account suitable seasonal planting conditions. Arbor Week gives an awareness of the importance of trees in the environment and the need to provide green areas in the community.A non-digital coloured photograph of seventeen children and an adult moving a long log to a designated area.arbor week, bulla primary school

The students along with the teachers at Bulla Primary School were celebrating Arbor Week in April 1989 by working in the school garden and planting more native trees in the surrounding area.The Arbor Week activities helped to give the children an appreciation of the environment and the importance of trees in our daily lives. A non-digital coloured photograph of six children and an adult planting trees in a gardenarbor, bulla primary school, tree planting, gardening

The older children from Bulla Primary School were attending a school camp at Hanging Rock where one of the activities involved learning basic rock climbing skills.The rock formations at Hanging Rock offer many opportunities for rock climbing. A non-digital coloured photograph of a group of children and hanging onto a rope that is suspended from a tree while one person is swinging from it. An adult is with the group supervising the activity.hanging rock, rock climbing, school camps, bulla primary school

The photo was taken when children in the upper grades at Bulla Primary School were on a school camp any Hanging Rock where they experienced a variety of activities such as rock climbing and cave exploration. These activities were carefully supervised by qualified people.A non-digital coloured photograph of a person entering a small cave.hanging rock, school camps, cave exploration, bulla primary school

The students from Bulla Primary School visited a farm in the local area to learn about farm life in the district, where there are many small hobby farms. In this photograph the girls came up close to a pig in its pen enjoying a meal.The farm excursion introduced to a variety of farming activities in their local area. a non-digital coloured photograph of four children standing in a pig pen while watching the animal eat its food.farms, pig farming, school excursions, bulla primary schooil

The students from Bulla Primary School were taken on ain excursion to Williamstown Beach where they enjoyed a number of activities. One of them was a cricket match.The beach excursion allowed the children to be involved in a number of activities related to t6he seaside,A non-digital coloured photograph of a group of children playing cricket on a beach. In the background there are a number of buildings.school excursions, bulla primary schooil, williamstown beach, beach cricket