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 range of real estate agents in Melbourne between c.1983 and c.2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 3 Barnard Grove, Kew by Margaret Picken.3 BARNARD GVE., E. KEW / MARGARET PICKEN '92 / WOODARDS KEWartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 3 barnard grove -- kew (vic.)

Turinville in Barnard Grove Kew was built for the hotelier J.W. Cowell in about 1846. It is the oldest house in Kew. When purchased by Archibald Smart in the 1870s the house was significantly remodelled. This photo from ca. 1965 is of the middle section of the veranda that faces Barnard Grove. Annotation on reverse: "Turinville. J.W. Cowell (Knobly House) now Smarts. Chap 3. built about 1846/7"turinville -- barnard grove -- kew (vic, turinville, j.w. cowell, archibald smart