The Kew Historical Society collection includes almost 100 subdivision plans pertaining to suburbs of the City of Melbourne. Most of these are of Kew, Kew East or Studley Park, although a smaller number are plans of Camberwell, Deepdene, Balwyn and Hawthorn. It is believed that the majority of the plans were gifted to the Society by persons connected with the real estate firm - J. R. Mathers and McMillan, 136 Cotham Road, Kew. The Plans in the collection are rarely in pristine form, being working plans on which the agent would write notes and record lots sold and the prices of these. The subdivision plans are historically significant examples of the growth of urban Melbourne from the beginning of the 20th Century up until the 1980s. A number of the plans are double-sided and often include a photograph on the reverse. A number of the latter are by noted photographers such as J.E. Barnes.The Jaques Estate was a small subdivision of eight residential allotments bordering Jaques Street and Barkers Road in what is now Hawthorn East. Advertised in The Argus as being in ‘Upper Hawthorn’ the subdivision was claimed to include: ‘charming villa sites in excellent situations, with every convenience available, and with superior homes surrounding’.subdivision plans - hawthorn, jaques estate

A property illustration by Margret Picken Commissioned by the real estate agency Woodards Blackburn for the purpose of advertising 13 Jaques GVE., Forest Hill, This property is listed as having sold for $130,000 in 1996. Made by using Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens with Rotring ink on Rapidigraph polyester drafting film, double matte. Trained as a cartographic draftsman within the mining industry, Margaret Picken is an artist who worked producing property illustrations for real estate agencies in eastern suburbs of Victoria from 1983-2005. Retiring from the industry as technological changes favored coloured photography over illustrations, and commissioning companies over sole contractors.This artwork is of Historical Significance as a record of local domestic architecture.A black ink line drawing on drafters film by Margaret Picken, of 16 Jackson St., Forest Hill, depicting a single story brick house, with driveway leading to a connected carport on the left. In the foreground, a low brick fence and front lawn. There are two hole punch holes centre near the upper edge.16 Jackson St., Forest Hill Margaret Picken © 2003 Realtorwhitehorse historical society, schwerkolt cottage, housing, architecture, margaret picken, house, garden, forest hill

A property illustration by Margret Picken Commissioned by the real estate agency Woodards Blackburn for the purpose of advertising 14 Jaques GVE., Forest Hill, This property is listed as having sold for $157,000 in 1993. The house depicted in this artwork is no longer standing. Having been demolished and a new house built in its place between the time of this artworks creation in 1993 and 2024. Made by using Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens with Rotring ink on Rapidigraph polyester drafting film, double matte. Trained as a cartographic draftsman within the mining industry, Margaret Picken is an artist who worked producing property illustrations for real estate agencies in eastern suburbs of Victoria from 1983-2005. Retiring from the industry as technological changes favored coloured photography over illustrations, and commissioning companies over sole contractors.This artwork is of Historical Significance as a record of local domestic architecture.A black ink line drawing on drafters film by Margaret Picken, of 14 Jaques Grv., Forest Hill, depicting a single story brick house set back from a low fence and front yard, with a driveway on the right. There are two hole punch holes centre near the upper edge.14 Jaques Grv., Forest Hill Margaret Picken- 93 Woodards - B/Burnwhitehorse historical society, schwerkolt cottage, housing, architecture, margaret picken, house, garden, forest hill

'After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 23 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view.' (Margaret Picken, 2020)This property illustration is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a range of real estate agents in Melbourne between c. 1983 and c. 2006. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film.13 JAQUES STREET, HAW Margaret Picken ~94 WOODARDS - HAWTHORNartist - margaret picken 1950-