Connor's Creek is/was one of two major waterways bisecting Kew, both of which empty into the Yarra River. Connor's Creek originates near the grounds of Genazzano FCJ College, which is one of the highest points in Kew. Until the 1930s, this was an open creek until a barrel drain - the Kew Main Drain - was constructed. As the creek ran through Kew it cut across a number of roads the maintenance of which was a continuing concern for Kew Councillors. In August 1864, the Council called for tenders to erect a stone culvert and embankment over Connor's Creek, on Belford-road. This may be the embankment on which the boys are sitting.Original, small photographic positive on card of two boys, identified by the donor as 'Wal Ives and Bert' [Albert Watson] sitting on bluestone capping above an outlet of Connor's Creek. To the left of the boys is a barrel drain which at that stage was the outlet for Connor's Creek near the Yarra River. The retaining wall is constructed of brick. In ink on photo: "Wal & Bert"connors creek -- kew (vic), wal ives, albert watson, belford road, yarra river -- kew (vic.), creeks -- kew (vic.), drains -- kew (vic.)

'Kew, Kew East, Balwyn & Balwyn North are located approximately 7km north east of Melbourne. Four main stormwater drains service the area flowing from south to north. Three of the drains: Deepdene Drain; Balwyn Drain & Glass Creek converge in Kew East just west of Burke Road at Kew High School before discharging into the Yarra River. The fourth drain, Kew Main Drain connects directly with the Yarra River to the West of Glass Creek.' The Kew Main Drain is a barrel drain that was created in the 1930s, and follows the route of the former Connor's Creek from the vicinity of Genazzano FCJ College to the Yarra River in East KewImportant and verifiable evidence of the construction methods used by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works in building the Kew Main Drain, before its reconstruction in c.1985.Original print colour positive photograph of the Kew Main Drain, provided on 14/12.84 to the Chief Engineer of the City of Kew, Ian Poulter, by the Supervising Engineer (Works), Southern and Eastern Drainage, Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works. The record includes an image of the reverse as well as the donation document from the MMBW."A84/1855-9 / 750mm council drain looking D/S [down stream] and across Parkhill Road. To be replaced with 1200 mm R.C.P. [reinforced concrete pipe] as part of MMBW Kew Main Drain reconstruction works"kew main drain, stormwater drains -- kew (vic.), connor's creek -- kew (vic.)

'Kew, Kew East, Balwyn & Balwyn North are located approximately 7km north east of Melbourne. Four main stormwater drains service the area flowing from south to north. Three of the drains: Deepdene Drain; Balwyn Drain & Glass Creek converge in Kew East just west of Burke Road at Kew High School before discharging into the Yarra River. The fourth drain, Kew Main Drain connects directly with the Yarra River to the West of Glass Creek.' The Kew Main Drain is a barrel drain that was created in the 1930s, and follows the route of the former Connor's Creek from the vicinity of Genazzano FCJ College to the Yarra River in East KewImportant and verifiable evidence of the construction methods used by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works in building the Kew Main Drain, before its reconstruction in c.1985.Original print colour positive photograph of the Kew Main Drain, provided on 14/12.84 to the Chief Engineer of the City of Kew, Ian Poulter, by the Supervising Engineer (Works), Southern and Eastern Drainage, Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works. The record includes an image of the reverse as well as the donation document from the MMBW."A84/1855-10 / 750mm council drain looking U/S [up stream] from Parkhill Road, Kew."kew main drain, stormwater drains -- kew (vic.), connor's creek -- kew (vic.)

Streets and drains were the basic infrastructure problems for Kew in the 1880s. Decent streets and drains were fundamental to the quality of life of the residents. Without drainage, streets became muddy, boggy and sometimes impassable. Pools and puddles of stagnant water became smelly. The run off water, mixed with human and animal wastes, because there was no sewerage, became a health hazard. Streets and drains then became what were known as 'a nuisance'. Kew suffered from bouts of typhoid fever during the 1880s. Derrick Street was a private street on the margin of the business district of Kew and a well-used thoroughfare. We hear first about Derrick Street when the ratepayers applied to Council to have the street 'taken over' in January 1881. The Council agreed, after much debate, but ratepayers had to pay half the costs. The argument of the majority of the Council was that there was an established policy that ratepayers of private streets either had to hand over the street fully-formed or pay half the costs if Council did the work. It was felt that to make an exception for Derrick Street would create a precedent for ratepayers of other private streets. On the other hand the ratepayers, and a minority of Council, believed that there were extenuating circumstances in the case of Derrick Street. They believed that the costing by the Borough Surveyor was excessive. They felt the Council was partly responsible for the state of the street due to a channel on Bulleen Road, which deposited sand in the street. The Council had also put in some kerbing at the entrance to the street. Finally, the ratepayers believed that the street had become an important and convenient thoroughfare in Kew, and thus should be an exception to the policy on private streets. In the end a decision was delayed to allow the ratepayers to drain and form the street themselves. And there the matter stood till September 1882, when Miss Reilly complained about rubbish on a block of land in Derrick Street. So, in October 1882 the Council agreed to take over and form the street with the ratepayers paying half the costs. The ratepayers did not want to pay, so the argument continued in Council into 1883. There was a standoff for a further 18 months, until the problem could no longer be ignored. In October 1884 the Inspector of Nuisances and the Health Officer reported that Derrick Street was a health hazard as there was no drainage outlet for waste water. These reports changed the status of the problem of Derrick Street. It became an issue of public health, and thus the Council, acting as the Local Board of Health, had power to prepare plans and order the ratepayers to drain the street and pay all the costs, or let the Council do the work and charge ratepayers half the costs of the works. By April 1885, the time for ratepayers to complete the works themselves had expired, so the Council proceeded with the work and required ratepayers to pay for their share of the costs. All ratepayers had paid by the end of April except Mr Whiddycombe, who refused to pay. Mr Whiddycombe was warned to pay in October 1885. Legal action was taken against him in November. The Council lost the case on technical grounds. The Council, acting as the Local Board of Health, relaunched the legal action and won. The last we hear of Derrick Street is that seven day’s notice was given to Derrick Street ratepayers to pay for the drainage works in May 1887. We presume that Mr Whiddycombe paid. (Research: Andrew Frost)Rare and historic publication issued by the Board of Health in the Borough of Kew in 1885 to residents of Derrick street regarding the need for proper drainage for the purpose of improving public health.Printed formal notice sent by the Board of Health of the Borough of Kew to landowners in Derrick Street, Kew. The notice advised the owners that they were required to form and drain the street according to the levels and specifications approved by the Board. The letter was sent on January 23rd 1885, and signed by the Inspector of Nuisances.borough of kew -- greater melbourne (vic.), council notices -- public health, derrick street -- kew (vic.)

Although probably built some time earlier, the first mention in the Rate Books of the property later known as 'Wimba Lodge' appears in the entry for 1870 when the property, owned by John Sharpe Denbigh, a civil servant, was given an N.A.V. of £72. Denbigh did however occupy a house in Cotham Road in 1863, and it is possible that was the same premises'. The house was occupied by Sharp until at least May 1876 when the 'family residence ... was auctioned' to Carlington George Edmund Marston, a chemist of Smith Street, Collingwood. At the time of the auction the house was described thus: The residence and grounds of the late J.S. Dendigh, situate in the most elevated part of Cotham Road Kew. The grounds comprise an area of 4a Or 29p or thereabouts, and have a frontage to Cotham-road of 4 chains. The house has two large rooms in front, with 6ft hall built of brick, bay and side windows (plate glass), four rooms of wood behind with slate roofs, bathroom and closets, detached kitchen and servant's room, large shed with washing boiler, pantry and cellar under, brick and cement tank, and the Yan Yean laid onto house and grounds, cowshed, pigstye, &c, the whole securely fenced. First class orchard and flower garden. The paddocks laid with English grasses and drained... .' (Sanderson P. Kew Conservation Study Vol 2)'Wimba' is a single storeyed rendered house. The front entrance is flanked by two polygonal bay windows, and a verandah with a concave corrugated iron roof returns around three facades, and accentuates the projections of the windows. The solid render parapet is very ornate and tall for the date of construction. It has panels of decoration along it and is surmounted by a number of render urns. (Sanderson P. Kew Conservation Study Vol 2)Reverse: "JOHN COLLINS / 11 Anderson Road / Hawthorn East, 3123 / Film 395 Exposure 15A / Kew / Wimba / Front verandah from east / 7-4-79wimba lodge, 235 cotham road -- kew (vic.), john s denbigh, carlington george edmund marston