Kew achieved independence from the Boroondara Roads Board in 1860. As a new municipality, its first three leaders were designated as chairmen. On becoming a borough in 1863, its leaders were identified as mayors. The earliest photographs date from ca.1906, when the Town of Kew commissioned the noted local photographer Josiah E Barnes to produce standardised portraits of former mayors to be displayed in the Mayoral Chamber of the Town Hall. The collection also includes photographs by other well-known photographic studios such as Burlington Studios, Melba – Melbourne, Stuart Tompkins, Spencer Shier and Talma & Co. The majority of mounts identify the photographer. Eighty photographs are housed in their original frames.This portrait is one of a series of mounted and framed photographic portraits of mayors and town clerks of the former Borough, Town and City of Kew. The portraits were transferred by the City of Kew to the Kew Historical Society in March 1989. A Significance Assessment in 2018, funded by the National Library of Australia confirmed the historic, and often artistic significance of the series.Framed portrait of Cr. F.G.A. Barnard, Mayor of Kew 1920-1. The mounting and framing of the photograph follows a typical layout or style in that each is framed in dark wood, glazed, and laid down on an inscribed board. The inscription identifies the name of the mayor and the year/s that he/she served.[Inscription] "F.G.A. Barnard 1920-1"mayors of kew (vic), cr. f.g.a. barnard, kew (vic.) — municipal collection

The first comprehensive history of Kew, published in 1910 by Cr. F.G.A. Barnard, Mayor of Kew 1920-21.FGA Barnard, The Jubilee History of Kew, Victoria: Its Origins & Progress 1803-1910. Taped reinforced binding. One of the earliest items in the collection donated by Mr. Alfred Williams. Hard Cover 1st edition. Kew [Vic.] : E.F.G. Hodges, "Mercury Office", 1910 121 p. : ill. ; 19 cm. Thursday 8/12/10 J Lewis Carnegief.g.a. barnard, kew (history of), jubilee of kew - 1910

The first comprehensive history of Kew, published in 1910 by Cr. F.G.A. Barnard, Mayor of Kew 1920-21.FGA Barnard, The Jubilee History of Kew, Victoria: Its Origins & Progress 1803-1910. Paperback 1st edition. Kew [Vic.] : E.F.G. Hodges, "Mercury Office", 1910 121 p. : ill. ; 19 cm. f.g.a. barnard, kew (history of), jubilee of kew - 1910

This is a smaller version of the large framed photograph donated to the new City of Kew by Cr Wishart. The framed photograph was hung in the Walpole Street Town Hall. Presumably, each of the Councillors in the portrait was presented with a smaller version.This photograph was donated by a descendant of the Kellett family. This picture, like it framed counterpart, is historically significant as a record of a major civic event in Kew's history. It is also aesthetically significant as the last official photograph taken by the photographer Josiah Earl Barnes before his death in the same year.Kew Becomes a City, 1921. Small photograph mounted on card of the official portrait of the Mayor and Councillors of Kew in 1921. Josiah Earl Barnes, the photographer, posed the group in front of the Jubilee Rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens in Cotham Road, Kew. At the centre of the group in mayoral robes is the then mayor of Kew, Cr. F.G.A. Barnard. This was to be the last major commission by the Council for J.E. Barnes, who had been responsible for creating the series of 19th Century portraits of former mayors that was displayed in the Kew Town Hall in Walpole Street.J. E. Barnes / Photoj.e. barnes, kew (victoria), kew city council, alexandra gardens, f.g.a. barnard