Subdivision plans are historically important documents used as evidence of the growth of suburbs in Australia. They frequently provide information about when the land was sold on which a built structure was subsequently constructed as well as evidence relating to surveyors and real estate and financial agents. The numerous subdivision plans in the Kew Historical Society's collection represent working documents, ranging from the initial sketches made in planning a subdivision to printed plans on which auctioneers or agents listed the prices for which individual lots were sold. In a number of cases, the reverse of a subdivision plan in the collection includes a photograph of a house that was also for sale by the agent. These photographs provide significant heritage information relating house design and decoration, fencing and household gardens. The photograph is of additional aesthetic significance as it was photographed by J. E. Barnes. Josiah Earl Barnes is a nationally significant photographer. He was also the most important photographer to have worked in Kew. He was active as a photographer in the district from c.1906 until his death in 1921. Best known as 'the Embarkation Photographer' (see the Australian War Memorial collection), J. Earl Barnes was also the official photographer employed by the Borough (and later Town, then City) of Kew. He clearly also completed commercial jobs for local businesses, as is the case in this photograph of a house for a local real estate and financial agent.A photograph, mounted on board of a double fronted Federation-era brick villa in Kew, photographed for a local real estate agent and financier by J. E. Barnes of Kew. On the reverse of the photograph is a subdivision plan for the Normanby Estate, East Kew - 2016.0039.1. As can be seen from the image, there is a large tear on the surface of the photograph.The brown card on which the photograph is mounted includes the following handwritten description, which may aid the identification of the house: "Kew, 3 minutes from tram, 8 roomed DF Brick Villa, tile roof including two attics, sleepout, bathroom, heater, E Light, Entrance Hall, double doors, leadlights, laundry, garden, lawns, land 75 x 170, 1975 pounds". Also photographers inscription on mount, lower left: J. E. Barnes / Photo / Phone 1966 Haw. KEW.j. e. barnes, josiah earl barnes, j. earl banes - photographer, architecture - federation style, houses - kew, real estate photographs