Henry Christian (c.1809-91), the grandfather of the photographer, was one of the first settlers in Kew. He arrived in Victoria with his wife Agnes and son Orlando in 1855 on the Gypsy Queen. He established a rope-making business in Bulleen Road by 1858 but was declared insolvent two years later. In his final years, he was celebrated as one of the oldest living settlers of the district. His son, Orlando Henry Beater Christian (c.1853-1930) became a member of the Hawthorn Band and a foundation member of the Willsmere Swimming Club. Orlando and his wife Elizabeth had four children of which Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) was the eldest.An item from an outstanding and diverse photographic collection, assembled by members of the Christian family of Pakington Street, Kew, comprising professional and amateur photography, depicting individuals, natural and settled environments and the interactions between these worlds. Many of the photographs vividly capture the worlds of three generations of men - Henry Christian, his son Orlando Henry Beater Christian, and his grandson of Henry Christian. The most important photographer was the youngest, Henry Christian, who was a keen explorer, not just of his immediate environment but also of the Victorian wilderness. His major opus is contained in two albums in which he records, sometimes in majestic detail and on other occasions the intimate features of the natural world. His photographic travels during the 1920s, often in solitary ramblings but on other occasions with companions, recall the heroic landscape photography of an earlier era, pioneered by Nicholas Caire. In addition to their aesthetic value, the albums are historically significant records within the State of Victoria, of what is now a distant point in time, and of places that have become radically altered through human intervention.Sepia photograph of the entrance gates to the Kew Asylum. Located in Princess Street, these gates were relocated to Victoria Park in the 1930s/40s. There is a shelter to the left of the gates. A horse-drawn covered carriage is exiting through the gates. An electric light is hung from a metal bar in the centre of the gates. The two-storey gate house on the right of the gates is outside the view of the photograph.kew lunatic asylum, kew lunatic asylum -- gates, henry beater christian, christian-washfold collection

The Kew Asylum Entrance Gateway and an adjacent gate lodge were built at the Princess Street entrance in 1873.1 The imposing sandstone pillars and cast-iron gates impressed upon visitors the therapeutic and civilising vision of the asylum. The entrance opened onto a tree-lined drive (now known as Main Drive) which culminated in an elliptical carriageway in front of the main building. (Heritage Council of Victoria)Colour photographic positive of the former Kew Asylum Gates which were relocated in 1942 to Victoria Park in High Street, Kew. The gates were listed by Heritage Victoria in 2020. The citation reads: "The Former Kew Asylum Entrance Gateway consists of two 4.5 metre sandstone gate piers on bluestone bases on either side of a 5.5 metre vehicle entrance set back from the High Street pavement. The 1870s gate piers are of Barrabool sandstone and repairs during 2015-16 were undertaken with sandstone from English Town, Tasmania. The gate piers are highly decorative and feature oculi, triglyphs, dentils, corbeling and other ornamental work. Each gate pier incorporates a pedestrian archway with a cast-iron pedestrian swing gate. Two curved sections of cast-iron palisade fencing on rusticated bluestone blocks extend from the outer edges of the piers to a set of shorter sandstone pillars on the High Street pavement. Straight sections of cast-iron fence extend 4.5 metres ending at two bluestone pillars. Garden beds have been created within the curved sections of fencing, bordered by concreted bluestone and planted with shrubs." (Heritage Council of Victoria)gates -- kew asylum, gates -- victoria park -- kew (vic.)

This photograph is part of a series taken at the Willsmere (Kew) Mental Hospital. The photographs were gifted to the Kew Historical Society in 2018 by Rosemary Barnes. The photos had been in the possession of her former husband, Dr Fred Stamp, the last medical superintendent of the hospital. In 2019, the photographs were transferred to the State Archives as Permanent Government Records, as the Society is only entitled as a Class-B Place of Deposit to hold Temporary Government Records. The Society was permitted to keep and publish a digital copy of each photograph. Many of the photographs include information on the reverse about individuals or locations. Where this is the case, these have been published here as images that can be viewed in the picture carousel. Permission for third parties to reproduce this record must be granted by the Public Record Office Victoria.Arrival of the Official Party. One of a series of photographs of the centenary celebrations at the Willsmere Mental Hospital in 1972.THE GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA'S CAR ENTERS THE DAY CENTRE GATES AT WILLSMERE 1972willsmere mental hospital, willsmere unit, kew mental hospital, kew lunatic asylum, willsmere hospital