The Municipality of Kew (1860-1863), the Borough of Kew (1863-1910), the Town of Kew (1910-1921) and the City of Kew (1921-1994) were local government instrumentalities in the State of Victoria. In 1994, the City of Kew was amalgamated, together with the former Cities of Camberwell and Hawthorn, into the new City of Boroondara (1994- ). Like other local government entities of the period, Kew was administered by town clerks. The two notable town clerks in Kew's history were H. H. (Henry Hirst) Harrison (1868-1955) and W. D. (William Dickie) Birrell (1899-1974). Harrison was appointed to the position in 1901 and retired in 1938 after 37 years. Birrell, appointed Acting Town Clerk in 1921, became Town Clerk in 1938, following Harrison's retirement. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1966.This card is part of an historically significant civic collection, containing hundreds of separate invitations, documents, greeting cards, programmes and tickets issued and/or collected by successive town clerks. Items in the collection illuminate the political, social and cultural history of the district. As a continuous record, ranging across most decades of the Twentieth Century, they reveal changing tastes in design, values and relationships in the history of local government in Victoria.CITY OF KEW / HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR (CR W J HAMBLY JP) AND THE COUNCILLORS OF THE CITY OF KEW EXTEND A CORDIAL INVITATION TO / ______ / TO BE PRESENT AT A / SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL / ON MONDAY EVENING, 22ND AUGUST, 1949, AT 8 O'CLOCK AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, TOWN HALL, KEW / WHEN HIS EXCELLENCY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA / SIR EDMUND HERRING, KCMG, KBE, DSO, MC, ED / WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE TO FORMALLY PRESENT A / GOLD MAYORAL CHAIN TO THE CITY ON BEHALF OF THE DONORS, / INCLUDING AND REPRESENTING FORMER MAYORS OF THE MUNICIPALITY / RSVP TOWN CLERK, 19TH AUGUST / DINNER DRESScivic ephemera - city of kew, civic invitations -- kew (vic), gold mayoral chain -- city of kew

The decade that began in national and domestic uncertainty was to end on a fancifully resolute moment, when Kew Council decided to apply for a gold mayoral chain. While most cities had previously been gifted mayoral chains by the Victorian Government, Kew had passed up an earlier opportunity in 1933. In that year, councillors had asked the Town Clerk to investigate whether previous mayors were willing to donate a gold link for the chain on which their name would be inscribed. Either the answer was negative, or else the Great Depression unnerved the decision makers. Hawthorn councillors, in contrast, accepted the offer of a gold chain, contributing the cost of the enamelled central medallion, while twenty former Hawthorn mayors agreed to each donate a link. At a Special Meeting of the Kew City Council on 22 August 1949, the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Edmund Herring presented a gold mayoral chain, worth £250 to the City of Kew. Contemporary newspaper accounts recorded that sixteen former mayors, or their families, donated a link inscribed with the name and term of its owner. The first mayor to wear the new chain of office was Cr Walter Hambly.Historically significant documentary record relating to the Insignia of Office of the City of KewNotice paper sent to councillors of a Special Meeting of Kew City Council, attended by the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Edmund Herring to receive the presentation of a gold mayoral chain to the City. The space where the invitee's name should be written is left blank, so presumably it was a spare copy originating in the Town Clerk's files.mayoral chain - kew, council papers - kew city council, insignia of office

Each mayor purchased their own link for the Mayoral Chain Digital copy of colour photographs showing the mayoral link for Mayor John H. Gervasoni, in the city of Kew Mayoral Chain.jack gervasoni, chain, gold, link, mayor, mayoral, mayoral chain, kew, city of kew, john hogan gervasoni