The Municipality of Kew was proclaimed on 19 December 1860, then upgraded to a Borough (1863), a Town (1910) and finally a City (1921). From 1865, its offices were based in the former Athenaeum Hall in Walpole Street, which, although extended in 1883, inevitably became inadequate. Plans for a new purpose-built Town Hall were first mooted in the late 1880s, but fell prey to six subsequent decades of debate. During that time, many sites were considered and rejected, and several schemes prepared. Finally, in 1945, it was resolved to build a new civic centre as a war memorial. The council acquired Southesk, a mansion on the south-west corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street – first mooted as a possible Town Hall site two decades earlier – and plans for a civic precinct were drawn up by John Scarborough. The project stalled until 1957, when a Town Hall Committee was formed and a new architect appointed: Harold Bartlett of Leith & Bartlett. He also proposed an entire civic precinct, of which a large public hall would constitute Stage One. Designed to accommodate almost any public or official function, the space had had a small stage at one end for intimate theatrical productions, a larger stage at the other (with operable sunken orchestra pit) for musical performances, plus the most up-to-date equipment for live TV transmission. The building, befitting its original intent as a war memorial, was also to include a sculpted monument, for which a separate design competition was held. First prize went to George H Allen (1900-1972), long-time head of the Sculpture Department at RMIT and a former war artist himself (the only one, in fact, to have worked in the medium of sculpture). At the time of the Kew project, Allen was best known for his Cenotaph at the Shrine of Remembrance (1955) and a controversial abstract sculpture at Hume House in William Street (1957). Tenders for the new hall were called and the contract (worth £104,986) was awarded to H F Yuncken. The foundation stone was laid by the Mayor, Cr F C O'Brien, on 1 June 1959. Completion (initially scheduled for October) was delayed by the unavailability of certain materials; it was barely finished in time for the official opening (by Premier Henry Bolte) on 23 April 1960. The war memorial was unveiled two days later (Anzac Day) by Bolte's deputy, the Hon A G Rylah. Fittingly, that year also marked Kew's municipal centenary, and many celebratory events were held in and around the new civic centre in December, including a special council meeting (attended by the Prime Minister), a tree planting ceremony and a youth ball. Source: Survey of Built Heritage in Victoria: Stage Two (Built Heritage Pty Ltd., 2010)Plaque commemorating the opening of a new town hall in KewMetal plaque recording the official opening of the Kew City Hall, 23rd April 1960. This plaque was given to the Kew Historical Society in 1991 by the former City of Kew.Kew City Hall / Opened by / The Hon. H.E. Bolte M.L.A. / Premier of Victoria / 23rd April 1960 / Cr. H.G. Ferguson J.P. - Mayor.kew city hall, foundation stones - kew (vic), sir henry bolte, local government -- kew (vic.)

The Municipality of Kew was proclaimed on 19 December 1860, then upgraded to a Borough (1863), a Town (1910) and finally a City (1921). From 1865, its offices were based in the former Athenaeum Hall in Walpole Street, which, although extended in 1883, inevitably became inadequate. Plans for a new purpose-built Town Hall were first mooted in the late 1880s, but fell prey to six subsequent decades of debate. During that time, many sites were considered and rejected, and several schemes prepared. Finally, in 1945, it was resolved to build a new civic centre as a war memorial. The council acquired Southesk, a mansion on the south-west corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street – first mooted as a possible Town Hall site two decades earlier – and plans for a civic precinct were drawn up by John Scarborough. The project stalled until 1957, when a Town Hall Committee was formed and a new architect appointed: Harold Bartlett of Leith & Bartlett. He also proposed an entire civic precinct, of which a large public hall would constitute Stage One. Designed to accommodate almost any public or official function, the space had had a small stage at one end for intimate theatrical productions, a larger stage at the other (with operable sunken orchestra pit) for musical performances, plus the most up-to-date equipment for live TV transmission. The building, befitting its original intent as a war memorial, was also to include a sculpted monument, for which a separate design competition was held. First prize went to George H Allen (1900-1972), long-time head of the Sculpture Department at RMIT and a former war artist himself (the only one, in fact, to have worked in the medium of sculpture). At the time of the Kew project, Allen was best known for his Cenotaph at the Shrine of Remembrance (1955) and a controversial abstract sculpture at Hume House in William Street (1957). Tenders for the new hall were called and the contract (worth £104,986) was awarded to H F Yuncken. The foundation stone was laid by the Mayor, Cr F C O'Brien, on 1 June 1959. Completion (initially scheduled for October) was delayed by the unavailability of certain materials; it was barely finished in time for the official opening (by Premier Henry Bolte) on 23 April 1960. The war memorial was unveiled two days later (Anzac Day) by Bolte's deputy, the Hon A G Rylah. Fittingly, that year also marked Kew's municipal centenary, and many celebratory events were held in and around the new civic centre in December, including a special council meeting (attended by the Prime Minister), a tree planting ceremony and a youth ball. Source: Survey of Built Heritage in Victoria: Stage Two (Built Heritage Pty Ltd., 2010)Historically significant commemorative plaqueMetal plaque relating to special Council meeting to mark centenary of Kew, 13th December 1960. This plaque was given to the Kew Historical Society in 1991 by the former City of Kew.A Special Meeting Of The / Kew City Council Was Held In / This Hall On 13th December 1960 / To Commemorate / The Centenary of Kew / Cr. W.H.S. Dickinson, M.B.E., J.P., / Mayorkew city hall, foundation stones - kew (vic), cr. w.h.s. dickinson, local government -- kew (vic.)

Phyllis Catherine Hore (née Kiss) was born in 1918. A Kew resident from 1949, she was elected to Council in 1972, after several attempts, and served for twenty- three years until her death in 1994. A secondary teacher by profession, Cr Hore represented College and Sackville Wards. While a councillor, she was a resident of High and later Pakington Streets. She served on Council committees and was a delegate to the Kew Elder Citizens Association, the Family and Community Services (FACS) Local Consultative Committee, and the Kew Music Centre Board of Management. During her Mayoral year, she was instrumental in memorialising Vance and Nettie Palmer, significant Kew writers and poets, by unveiling a plaque at the Kew Library in the year of the centenary of their births. In May 1994, the Mayor of Kew, Cr Tom Indovino, named a meeting room at Kew Library, the Phyllis Hore Room in recognition of her service to the City. She is buried in the Heidelberg (Warringal) Cemetery. (Source: Chairmen and Mayors of Kew 1960-1994, p. 88)Two colour 'proofs' of mayoral photos of Cr Phyllis Hore, donated by her daughter in 2019cr phyllis hore, mayors of kew (vic)

George Henry Allen (8 February 1900 – 12 October 1972) was an Australian sculptor and teacher, an official war artist in the latter years of the Second World War. He served as an official war artist with the rank of lieutenant from December 1943, working at Port Moresby and the Australian War Memorial, retired February 1945. The plaque by George Allen on the exterior wall of the north side of Kew Library commemorating WW2 was funded by a bequest from the late Mrs Annie Anderson.One of two black and white snapshots (polaroid photos) of George Allen's sculpture at Kew Library. Mavis Rolley wrote about the memorial in 1980 as: This impressive piece of Sculpture, a memorial to the sacrifice of those who served in the Second World War, was completed in 1960 to coincide with the One Hundred Centenary Year of the City of Kew, and was unveiled on Anzac Day of that year by the Hon. A.G. Rylah, Chief Secretary, Deputy Premier of Victoria. Mr. George Allen, sculptor, submitted the winning design and through the contribution of a generous bequest of the late Mrs. Annie Anderson, a former resident of Kew, the Municipal Office was able to commission this gentleman’s work. The memorial is mounted on a wall of granite blocks and carved in Sydney Freestone, depicting a scene of war and loved ones at home.war memorials -- kew (vic.), memorials -- world war 2. -- kew (vic.), george henry allen, artworks -- kew library

George Henry Allen (8 February 1900 – 12 October 1972) was an Australian sculptor and teacher, an official war artist in the latter years of the Second World War. He served as an official war artist with the rank of lieutenant from December 1943, working at Port Moresby and the Australian War Memorial, retired February 1945. The plaque by George Allen on the exterior wall of the north side of Kew Library commemorating WW2 was funded by a bequest from the late Mrs Annie Anderson.One of two black and white snapshots (polaroid photos) of George Allen's sculpture at Kew Library. Mavis Rolley wrote about the memorial in 1980 as: This impressive piece of Sculpture, a memorial to the sacrifice of those who served in the Second World War, was completed in 1960 to coincide with the One Hundred Centenary Year of the City of Kew, and was unveiled on Anzac Day of that year by the Hon. A.G. Rylah, Chief Secretary, Deputy Premier of Victoria. Mr. George Allen, sculptor, submitted the winning design and through the contribution of a generous bequest of the late Mrs. Annie Anderson, a former resident of Kew, the Municipal Office was able to commission this gentleman’s work. The memorial is mounted on a wall of granite blocks and carved in Sydney Freestone, depicting a scene of war and loved ones at home.war memorials -- kew (vic.), memorials -- world war 2. -- kew (vic.), george henry allen, artworks -- kew library

History of Kew, marking the City's Centenary in 1960non-fictionHistory of Kewkew (vic.) -- history, kew historical society