The decade that began in national and domestic uncertainty was to end on a fancifully resolute moment, when Kew Council decided to apply for a gold mayoral chain. While most cities had previously been gifted mayoral chains by the Victorian Government, Kew had passed up an earlier opportunity in 1933. In that year, councillors had asked the Town Clerk to investigate whether previous mayors were willing to donate a gold link for the chain on which their name would be inscribed. Either the answer was negative, or else the Great Depression unnerved the decision makers. Hawthorn councillors, in contrast, accepted the offer of a gold chain, contributing the cost of the enamelled central medallion, while twenty former Hawthorn mayors agreed to each donate a link. At a Special Meeting of the Kew City Council on 22 August 1949, the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Edmund Herring presented a gold mayoral chain, worth £250 to the City of Kew. Contemporary newspaper accounts recorded that sixteen former mayors, or their families, donated a link inscribed with the name and term of its owner. The first mayor to wear the new chain of office was Cr Walter Hambly.Historically significant documentary record relating to the Insignia of Office of the City of KewNotice paper sent to councillors of a Special Meeting of Kew City Council, attended by the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Edmund Herring to receive the presentation of a gold mayoral chain to the City. The space where the invitee's name should be written is left blank, so presumably it was a spare copy originating in the Town Clerk's files.mayoral chain - kew, council papers - kew city council, insignia of office

Folder with papers or file with manila covers, secured with white cloth shoelace type retaining mechanism and red Bakelite type clips containing papers concerned with the construction of the tramway extension at Victoria Bridge (to run alongside the cable tram), the conversion of Kew Horse Tramway and construction of a new electric tramway to Burke Road - titled "16/298 - Tramway Along Victoria St, Barkers Road and High Street to Burke Road". Compiled by the Public Works Department of Victoria - generally dated 1914 to 1916 Shows the nature of the paperwork required for an Act of Parliament to authorise the work, orders in Council, drafts, actual copies of Parliamentary documents, letters to and from Councils, Members of Parliament, PMTT, plans, bridges and footpaths. Includes letters with the City of Collingwood, Kew and Richmond.trams, tramways, kew, high st, victoria st, bridges, collingwood, barkers rd, construction, cable trams, burke rd, pmtt, public works department, parliament