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. William Wishart, Mayor of Kew]1906-7. 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.William Wishart, Mayor [of Kew] 1906-7mayors of kew (vic), photographers - kew (vic) - josiah earl barnes, cr. william wishart, kew (vic.) — municipal collection

Considered a ‘worthy’ councillor, William [Bill] Wishart was ‘blunt’ in words and actions during his period of civic service. He was concerned with a picturesque Kew. This included street lighting, macadamised roads and improved access to Melbourne. Often accused of being German, he asserted his Australian birth and Scottish heritage. He was a strong advocate for women’s rights, believed in compulsory voting, favoured prison reform, opposed religious instruction in State schools, betting including horse racing, Home Rule, alcohol and sought to establish a tourist bureau. Cr. Wishart was ‘unanimously’ supported to nominate for the vacated seat of Richmond in Victoria’s Legislative Council. He narrowly lost the vote. After a sudden death, he was buried with Presbyterian rites in the Boroondara General Cemetery.Arthur Henry Dear was an employee of the City of Kew, acting as Hall Keeper of the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, and later the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road. The Arthur Dear Collection contains memorabilia - tickets, programmes, invitations - as well as his identification badge.Admission ticket to a musical and bioscopic entertainment in the Recreation Hall, Wellington Street, Kew, on Empire Day, Friday 24 May 1907. The ticket was tendered to schools of the district, presumably students and teachers, by the Mayor of Kew, Cr. W. Wishart.arthur dear collection, empire day - kew (vic.), kew recreation hall -- wellington street -- kew (vic.), cr william wishart, mayors of kew

Cr William Wishart was Mayor of Kew in 1906-7, his wife Lily serving as Mayoress during his term of office. Unique handwritten manuscript about a family pet15-page hand written manuscript, bound in brown leather as a small book entitled 'Rollo My Good Dog'. The undated manuscript is unsigned and was attributed to William Wishart of 'Noranook', Fernhurst grove, Kew (Vic) when donated to the Kew Historical Society in c.2002. The manuscript is part of a collection of Wishart items owned by Lily Clara Wishart (nee Annear), donated by Rosemary McArthur, the granddaughter of Lily's sister, so it may be that the story was written by her rather than by William Wishart. The entire manuscript can be viewed in the carousel.Handwritten title and narrativedogs - kew, william wishart, clara wishart (nee annear), 'noranook', fernhurst grove (kew)

Cr William Wishart was Mayor of Kew in 1906-7, his wife Lily serving as Mayoress during his term of office. Locally significant portrait of Lily Wishart, mayoress of Kew in 1906-7. Photographs of past mayoresses are rare. The photograph also informs a number of other items in the collection created by or owned by Lily and William Wishart.Photographic portrait of Lily Wishart, mounted on card for a previous exhibition of items, including her dress from 1907-10.LILY CLARA WISHART / MAYORESS OF KEW 1906-7clara wishart (nee annear), stevenson street - kew (vic)

Cr William Wishart was Mayor of Kew in 1906-7, his wife Lily serving as Mayoress during his term of office. Biographical notes about William and Lily Wishart, created by Lily's sister's granddaughter. clara wishart (nee annear), stevenson street - kew (vic), william wishart, gellibrand street - kew (vic), 'noranook', fernhurst grove, kew (vic)

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.)