After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 23 years from 1983. I initially 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' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 10 Marshall Avenue, Kew by Margaret Picken.10 MARSHALL AVE., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN ~88 / WOODARDS ~ artist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 10 marshall avenue - 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.The first subdivision of Monnington took place in 1935. At that time, Monnington and 10 new allotments were offered for sale bordering Adeney and Marshall Avenues. In this subdivision plan, Monnington is one of 13 lots for sale. The subdivision created the irregular land holding of Monnington today. The excision of southwest corner of Monninton was caused by the need to have regular allotments facing the curve in Marshall Avenue.monnington - adeney avenue -- kew (vic.), subdivision plans -- kew (vic.)

In the mid 1960s, the Monnington Special Education Centre was established at 15 Adeney Avenue as an offshoot to 'Glendonald' in Marshall Avenue. In 1988, the amalgamation of Princess Elizabeth Junior School for Deaf Children, the Monnington Centre and Carronbank School for Deaf Blind Students allowed the Victorian Government to sell each of the sites. Monnington [Adeney Avenue, Kew] reverted to private ownership, while Glendonald and Carronbank in Marshall Avenue were demolished and subdivided. The donor, Mr Murray Osler, was Principal of the Monnington Special Education Centre in Adeney Avenue (Kew) from 1976. This photo, and an accompanying drawing of 'Carronbank' are important primary resources for the history of the delivery of education to and for deaf-blind children in Victoria.Gift of Murray Osler, 2021This limited and numbered print [number 10/100], framed under perspex, is of Monnington in Adeney Avenue, Kew when it functioned as a Special Education Centre for deaf/blind children during the 1960s to the 1990s. . "Monnington Special Ed. Centre / 60s-90s / (Parent Guidance for Deaf/Blind Ch. / Adeney Ave, Kew / Murray Osler / Principal 76-80s"schools -- kew (vic.), mornington -- adeney avenue