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. James M. Campbell, Mayor of Kew 1889-91; 1892-3. 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] "James M. Campbell, Mayor 1889-91; 1892-3" [Photographer] "J.E. Barnes / Kew"mayors of kew (vic), photographers - kew (vic) - josiah earl barnes, cr. james m. campbell, kew (vic.) — municipal collection

OUTER CIRCLE LINEAR PARK, joint submission by cities of Kew, Camberwell, Malvern and Caulfield. A bound fifteen page submission, dated 08/07/1985, by four councils urging the creation of the Outer Circle Linear Park. Includes map and photographs. OUTER CIRCLE RAILWAY: A PLAN FOR A LINEAR PARK, report of the Outer Circle Study Group. Bound booklet of one hundred and thirty five typewritten and photocopied pages about the creation of this park. The Introduction was signed by Tom Roper, Minister for Planning and Environment, and by Joan Kirner, Minister for Conservation, Forests and Lands. Undated but the Introduction states that public submissions must be received by 31/05/1988. Includes maps, sketches of proposed facilities, a history of the former Outer Circle Railway Line, and a description of notable plants and trees. A double sided, one page leaflet, published by the Murrumbeena Outer Circle Parkland Retention Group, MOCPRG, with timeline of the park and map. Undated but the last date on the timeline is 1985. Includes small sheet headed WHAT CAN YOU DO? Cutting from the CAULFIELD CONTACT titled A NEW PARK IT’S OFFICIAL, dated 26/02/1988, on official announcement of the new park. Two copies of OUTER CIRCLE LINEAR PARK, a four paged pamphlet published by Outer Circle Linear Park Implementation Committee on the new park. Includes detailed map. Letter between Felicitie E. Campbell of the Caulfield Historical Society, dated 14/09/1988 supporting the naming of a section of the Linear Park as Boyd Park. Two pages typed and a hand written copy. Also a type written letter from Jim Badger, Manager, Cultural Services, City of Caulfield, supporting the naming as Boyd Park, dated 16/08/1988. An album of thirty five colour photographs by Peter Foeden and Associates, of the official opening of the Outer Circle Linear Park by Premier John Cain, 1988. Photographs are numbered and the album includes handwritten descriptions of each photograph. Two mounted photographs of the Caulfield section of Linear Park, undated. One black and white and one colour.outer circle linear park, outer circle railway, parks, saunders r. e., briggs a. g., quinn m., rudski b., outer circle study group, roper tom, kirner joan, dunstan david, railways, trees, murrumbeena, campbell felicitie e., badger jim, peter foeden and associates, campbell adack, lang robert, gallney cr., cain john, cain nancy, boyd john, boyd arthur, boyd merric, boyd penleigh, boyd robyn, boyd james, boyd guy, ballantyne mr.