The Kew Historical Society's Pictures Collection is comprised of photographs and original works of art. The photographs include original (mainly) images dating from the 1870s to the present. A number of these photographs derive from the former City of Kew's Civic Collection while others are the work of amateur and professional photographers. Most of the images in the collection depict people, places and objects within the suburbs of Kew and Kew East. Other photographs depict other locations in Melbourne and Victoria. A number of the photographs are of statewide and/or national significance.View from junction of High and Strathalbyn Sts., Kew East, looking approximately west toward Cemetery, October 1977. Inscription reverse: "KH-72. View from junction of High St. & Strathalbyn Sts, Kew E. Looking approx. west, towards Cemetery. October 1977."high street -- kew (vic.), streetscapes -- kew (vic.)

Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. These skills were readily transferable to work as a property illustrator for the real estate industry. Process: “Sketches were ordered by phone initially as there were no mobile phones or computers then. I would take our 2 year-old son with me to the houses when the other 2 boys were at school. I photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a ‘thumbnail’ sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the ‘pen and ink’ was completed. This process was the only one I used the entire time. Polaroid photos gave an instant usable photo. I then delivered the sketches by hand to the offices. There were deadlines each week on a Tuesday.” “… about 2003 coloured photos began to take over the sketches and mainstream companies replaced sole traders like myself providing a one-stop shop for all advertising. I produced my last Real Estate sketches in late 2005.” Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. This architectural drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a range of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated. Margaret Picken approached a number of historical societies in July 2020 with a view to donating her work. Sketches for post code 3127 arefheld by this collection. Others for suburbs including Ashburton, Balwyn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Blackburn, Box Hill, Burwood, Glen Iris, Hawthorn, Kew, Mont Albert North and Nunawading have been donated to the relevant historical group in those suburbs. (See Balwyn Historical Society, Box Hill Historical Society, Camberwell Historical Society, Hawthorn Historical Society, Kew Historical Society, Whitehorse Historical Society). In some cases, this collection also has a copy of the matching newspaper advertisement. Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 2 Austral Street, Surrey Hills (VIC) by Margaret Picken. The drawing, dated 1991, was commissioned by the Woodards real estate company.2 AUSTRAL ST., SURREY HILLS / MARGARET PICKEN - 91 / WOODARDS ~ C'WELLarchitectural drawing, houses, surrey hills / mont albert (vic.), artists, margaret picken 1950-, 1950, austral street

Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. These skills were readily transferable to work as a property illustrator for the real estate industry. Process: “Sketches were ordered by phone initially as there were no mobile phones or computers then. I would take our 2 year-old son with me to the houses when the other 2 boys were at school. I photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a ‘thumbnail’ sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the ‘pen and ink’ was completed. This process was the only one I used the entire time. Polaroid photos gave an instant usable photo. I then delivered the sketches by hand to the offices. There were deadlines each week on a Tuesday.” “… about 2003 coloured photos began to take over the sketches and mainstream companies replaced sole traders like myself providing a one-stop shop for all advertising. I produced my last Real Estate sketches in late 2005.” Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. This architectural drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a range of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated. Margaret Picken approached a number of historical societies in July 2020 with a view to donating her work. Sketches for post code 3127 arefheld by this collection. Others for suburbs including Ashburton, Balwyn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Blackburn, Box Hill, Burwood, Glen Iris, Hawthorn, Kew, Mont Albert North and Nunawading have been donated to the relevant historical group in those suburbs. (See Balwyn Historical Society, Box Hill Historical Society, Camberwell Historical Society, Hawthorn Historical Society, Kew Historical Society, Whitehorse Historical Society). In some cases, this collection also has a copy of the matching newspaper advertisement. Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 11 Agnes Street, Surrey Hills (VIC) by Margaret Picken. The drawing, dated 1990, was commissioned by the Woodards real estate company.11 AGNES ST., SURREY HILLS / MARGARET PICKEN '90 / WOODARDS ~ BALWYNarchitectural drawing, houses, surrey hills / mont albert (vic.), artists, margaret picken 1950-, agnes street, californian bungalow

Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. These skills were readily transferable to work as a property illustrator for the real estate industry. Process: “Sketches were ordered by phone initially as there were no mobile phones or computers then. I would take our 2 year-old son with me to the houses when the other 2 boys were at school. I photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a ‘thumbnail’ sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the ‘pen and ink’ was completed. This process was the only one I used the entire time. Polaroid photos gave an instant usable photo. I then delivered the sketches by hand to the offices. There were deadlines each week on a Tuesday.” “… about 2003 coloured photos began to take over the sketches and mainstream companies replaced sole traders like myself providing a one-stop shop for all advertising. I produced my last Real Estate sketches in late 2005.” Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. This architectural drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a range of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated. Margaret Picken approached a number of historical societies in July 2020 with a view to donating her work. Sketches for post code 3127 arefheld by this collection. Others for suburbs including Ashburton, Balwyn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Blackburn, Box Hill, Burwood, Glen Iris, Hawthorn, Kew, Mont Albert North and Nunawading have been donated to the relevant historical group in those suburbs. (See Balwyn Historical Society, Box Hill Historical Society, Camberwell Historical Society, Hawthorn Historical Society, Kew Historical Society, Whitehorse Historical Society). In some cases, this collection also has a copy of the matching newspaper advertisement. Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 11 Agnes Street, Surrey Hills (VIC) by Margaret Picken. The drawing, dated 1990, was commissioned by the Woodards real estate company.37 ALBANY CRES, SURREY HILLS / MARGARET PICKEN -91 / WOODARDS ~ C'WELLarchitectural drawing, houses, surrey hills / mont albert (vic.), artists, margaret picken 1950-, albany crescent, 1980

Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. These skills were readily transferable to work as a property illustrator for the real estate industry. Process: “Sketches were ordered by phone initially as there were no mobile phones or computers then. I would take our 2 year-old son with me to the houses when the other 2 boys were at school. I photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a ‘thumbnail’ sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the ‘pen and ink’ was completed. This process was the only one I used the entire time. Polaroid photos gave an instant usable photo. I then delivered the sketches by hand to the offices. There were deadlines each week on a Tuesday.” “… about 2003 coloured photos began to take over the sketches and mainstream companies replaced sole traders like myself providing a one-stop shop for all advertising. I produced my last Real Estate sketches in late 2005.” Margaret Picken (1950-) trained and worked as a cartographic draftsman from 1968-1975 within the mining industry. This architectural drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a range of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated. Margaret Picken approached a number of historical societies in July 2020 with a view to donating her work. Sketches for post code 3127 arefheld by this collection. Others for suburbs including Ashburton, Balwyn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Blackburn, Box Hill, Burwood, Glen Iris, Hawthorn, Kew, Mont Albert North and Nunawading have been donated to the relevant historical group in those suburbs. (See Balwyn Historical Society, Box Hill Historical Society, Camberwell Historical Society, Hawthorn Historical Society, Kew Historical Society, Whitehorse Historical Society). In some cases, this collection also has a copy of the matching newspaper advertisement. Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 11 Agnes Street, Surrey Hills (VIC) by Margaret Picken. The drawing, dated 1990, was commissioned by the Woodards real estate company.37 ALBANY CRES, SURREY HILLS / MARGARET PICKEN -91 / WOODARDS ~ C'WELLarchitectural drawing, houses, surrey hills / mont albert (vic.), artists, margaret picken 1950-, albany crescent, 1980

A black and white map of Victoria showing the railway lines where mail is transported and the individual towns listed next to the dot that provides location of such. Underneath is written "Map of Victoria showing the localities beyond the suburbs of Melbourne to which library books are sent to blind members. Books are carried over the railways FREE there is no charge to the readers." Through the work of Tilly Aston, braille postage was provided free by the Victorian Railways which greatly assisted the Braille Library in reaching members who resided outside of Melbourne. This map was produced to show the extent of the work by the Victorian Association of Braille Writers and the need for reading materials across the state.Paper of Victorian railway lines mounted in framevictorian association of braille writers, marketing

This instrument was manufactured in 1969 to a design developed in 1905. It was used in private practice in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It was donated to the Optometry museum in August 2000. The instrument's inventor, Hjalmar August Schioetz (1850-1927) was born in Stavanger, Norway. He graduated in Medicine in 1877 in Kristiania. He studied ophthalmology in Vienna and in Paris. He was appointed professor of medicine with the obligation of teaching eye medicine in Kristiania in 1901. He demonstrated his tonometer in 1905 and for the next half century it was generally accepted as a reliable means of measuring intraocular pressure.Many examples of Schiotz tonometers can be found in near-mint condition as they were superseded in the latter half of the twentieth century. Although this example is in fine condition it is not historically significantCased stainless steel instrument to measure intra-ocular pressure. Grey leatherette case lined with grey satin and felt. Case contains stainless steel spring balance tonometer, convex test block and two calibration weights. Slipped within upper lining of case are a yellow card of instructions and a greencertificate of accuracy.Case cover imprinted "Schioetz-Tonometer Improved". Tonometer engraved "6988" and logo of "JJW". One weight engraved "7,5", other "10"tonometer schiotz pressure optometry ophthalmology

The Kew Historical Society's map collection includes a substantial number of real estate subdivision plans, mainly of Kew but also of surrounding suburbs in Melbourne. Most of the subdivision plans date from the 1920s and 1930s when the districts old homes and local farmland were being split up to accommodate residential growth in the postwar period. These early plans were assembled by a local firm, Jas R Mather & McMillan, which had an office in Cotham Road. Many of the plans, and sometimes photos, were annotated by the agents.Subdivision plans are historically important documents used as evidence for the growth of suburbs in Australia. They frequently provide information about when the land was sold 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.The photograph may also be aesthetically significant depending o the importance of the photographic atelier.Real estate photograph for a local agent by the Kew photographer, Josiah Earl Barnes. The photo is of a weatherboard or brick rendered bungalow with a twisted wire fence. Given Barnes' status a a Kew photographer, the house is probably locate din Kew or East Kew. Unfortunately the handwritten information on the mount bordering the photo is damaged and cannot be read. The bungalow has a gabled, tiled roof with terra cotta finials at the front of both gables. The house has a central doorway, framed by a pseudo portico supported by four wooden columns. On each side of the doorway, at the front, there are paired sash windows, which, like the half-timbered gable, are picked out in a darker colour.Handwritten, mostly illegible description by selling agent on mount surround: " .... in Diningroom, Drawing Rooms, ... Photographers details printed on mount: "J. E. Barnes / Photo / Phone 1966 Haw KEW"houses - kew, bungalows - kew, real estate photographs, j.e. barnes -- photographer