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. Francis Barnard, Mayor of Kew for the years 1866-7 and 1883-5. 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.Francis Barnard, Mayor [of Kew] 1866-7, 1883-5mayor of kew, cr. francis barnard, photographers - kew (vic) - josiah earl barnes, kew (vic.) — municipal collection

Historically significant and rare photograph of Kew Councillors playing in a Cricket Team in the early 1920s.Kew Council Cricket Team. The City of Kew at times had its own cricket team. Identified players of the 1922-23 team include: Back row, left to right: Cr. Coleman, Cr. Edwards, Staff, Staff, Cr. Barnard, Mr Birrell, Cr. Wishart. Front row, left to right: Cr. Ramsey, Cr. Woolcock (Mayor), C. Cole, and Cr. Carnegie. Of the eight councillors in the team, each either had been or would be Mayors of Kew: William Wishart (1906-07), Jabez Carnegie (1908-09, 1924-25, 1934-35), Francis Barnard (1920-21), Henry Coleman (1921-22, 1929-30), James Woolcock (1922-23, 1923-24), George Ramsey (1925-26), George Cole (1926-27), and Percy Edwards (1928-29). W. D. Birrell became Town Clerk of Kew in 1938. The photographic studio's name at front is identified as C.S. Tompkins Ainar Studios, Auburn. Annotation on reverse include the names of the players, an original accession number "KH-22" and information about donor "Presented by Joy Stewart, given to her by the Edward[s] family, Mr Edward[s] once Mayor of Kew (1928-29)city of kew, kew councillors and staff, sports -- cricket -- kew (vic.)