Pru Sanderson, in her groundbreaking ‘City of Kew Urban Conservation Study : Volume 2 - Development History’ (1988), summarised the periods of urban development and subdivisions of land in Kew. The periods that she identified included 1845-1880, 1880-1893, 1893-1921, 1921-1933, 1933-1943, and Post-War Development. These periods were selected as they represented periods of rapid growth or decline in urban development. An obvious starting point for Sanderson’s groupings involved population growth and the associated economic cycles. These cycles also highlighted urban expansion onto land that was predominantly rural, although in other cases it represented the decline and breakup of large estates. A number of the plans in the Kew Historical Society’s collection can also be found in other collections, such as those of the State Library of Victoria and the Boroondara Library Service. A number are however unique to the collection.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 Cotham Vale Estate was a subdivision of land between Alfred, Thomas, Rowland and John Streets. It was promoted in the same time as the nearby Normanby Heights Estate. Cotham Vale included 28 allotments. Contemporary newspaper advertisements noted that the Estate ‘is most conveniently situated in a well elevated position, only 2 minutes from Cotham rd. Electric Cars, penny section to Kew station’.subdivision plans - kew, cotham vale estate, rowland street -- kew (vic.), thomas street -- kew (vic.), john street -- kew (vic.)

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 drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 9 John Street, Kew by Margaret Picken.9 JOHN ST., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN is the @ 2000 / WOODARDS ~ HAWTHORNartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 9 john street kew (vic)

John Harcourt - b. 1817 England, d. 1893 Kew Vic. Vic & Tas Conference President 1875.Sepia toned head and shoulders carte de visite of the Rev. John Harcourt.harcourt, john, president of vic/tas conference, 1875

John Harcourt - b. 1817 England, d. 1893 Kew Vic. Vic & Tas Conference President 1875.Sepia toned head and shoulders carte de visite of the Rev. John Harcourt.harcourt, john, president of vic/tas conference, 1875

From the early 1950s, the Kew Repertory Players performed more substantial, if less spectacular fare in the Recreation Hall, and later in the new Kew City Hall, after the former’s demolition in 1960. Their repertoire ranged from plays by Noel Coward to J.B. Priestley. Many of their programmes, the earliest from 1953, and the last from 1965, form part of our collection.Arthur Henry Dear was an employee of the City of Kew, acting as Hall Keeper of the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, and later the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road. The Arthur Dear Collection contains memorabilia - tickets, programmes, invitations - as well as his identification badge. Items in the collection dates from the 1940s to the 1970s. The Kew Recreation Hall (Wellington Street) and later the Kew City Hall (Cotham Road) were major locations in suburban Melbourne in the postwar period for civic and private events including theatre productions and exhibitions. The Arthur Dear Collection (in conjunction with the scrapbooks compiled by Marion Tilley) provide a comprehensive snapshot of performing arts in Kew during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The collection includes valuable data about performances, performers, directors etc., during this period. Programme issued by The Kew Repertory Players for a performance of The Happiest Days of Your Life, a farce in 3 acts by John Dighton. Performances took place in the Kew City Hall in March 1965. The 8-page programme includes a cast list, some profiles, a synopsis and advertisements for local businesses.the happiest days of your life, john dighton, kew repertory players, arthur dear collection, performing arts -- kew -- victoria, kew city hall -- cotham road -- kew (vic.), theatre memorabilia -- kew (vic.)

The ‘Thornton Estate’ was the final subdivision of ‘Thornton’ in Studley Park Road. Thomas Cubitt Balmain originally owned Thornton, next to John Carson’s ‘Clutha’. Before its final subdivision, the Thomson family owned it. The Estate was a subdivision of 15 residential allotments running between Studley Park Road and Stevenson Street. The allotments faced these streets as well as Thornton Street, which the vendor undertook to make. Contemporary newspaper advertisements advised that ‘The estate possesses many advantages, notably its private and secluded, though convenient, position, splendid frontages and depths, and being close to the electric tram and Kew train, also within easy walking distance of the Victoria-street cable tram’. The terms offered purchasers were ten per cent deposit, with the balance to be paid in ten equal half-yearly payments at a rate of 5 per cent.The ‘Thornton Estate’ was the final subdivision of ‘Thornton’ in Studley Park Road. Thomas Cubitt Balmain originally owned Thornton, next to John Carson’s ‘Clutha’. Before its final subdivision, the Thomson family owned it. The Estate was a subdivision of 15 residential allotments running between Studley Park Road and Stevenson Street. The allotments faced these streets as well as Thornton Street, which the vendor undertook to make. Contemporary newspaper advertisements advised that ‘The estate possesses many advantages, notably its private and secluded, though convenient, position, splendid frontages and depths, and being close to the electric tram and Kew train, also within easy walking distance of the Victoria-street cable tram’. The terms offered purchasers were ten per cent deposit, with the balance to be paid in ten equal half-yearly payments at a rate of 5 per cent.subdivision plans - kew, thornton estate, studley park road -- kew (vic.), thornton avenue -- kew (vic.), stevenson street -- kew (vic.)

The first St. Hilary’s Church of England (Kew) was a timber building on the corner of John and Rowland Streets, designed in 1888 by Albert Purchas. This timber building was demolished in the 1940s to make way for a new church and tennis courts. The drawing was made to accompany a newsletter article by Dione McIntyre.Pen and ink drawing of the rear view of ‘old’ St Hilary’s, drawn by Dione McIntyre, 2013. "Rear view of 'old' St Hilary's"st hilary's church (kew), dione mcintyre, churches -- kew (vic)

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. A partial record of performances by the company includes: 1952 Florodora, 1953 The Cingalee - San Toy or The Emperor's Own, 1954 While the Sun Shines - A Country Girl - Our Miss Gibbs, 1955 The Toreador - The Arcadians, 1956 The Maid of the Mountains - Whiteoaks - Goodnight Vienna!, 1957 A Country Girl. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.Sepia-toned photograph of (L. to R.) Marion Smith, Maureen Lynch, Denise Lynch, and Marion Tilley in a performance of A Country Girl by Lionel Monckton. The performance was produced and directed by Graeme Cust with musical direction by John Trotter. The sets for the production in the Kew Recreation Hall were sourced from Melbourne Little Theatre, will the costumes came from the Princess Theatre. During this production, Marion Tilley acted as wardrobe mistress as well as being a member of the 'Chorus Ladies'. Inscribed underneath the photo in the scrapbook by Marion Tilley: "Marion Smith, Maureen Lynch, Denise Lynch. Me, Marion Tilley".marion tilley, kew light opera company, kew recreation hall -- wellington street -- kew (vic.), performing arts -- kew (vic.), theatre memorabilia

An item forming part of a collection of costumes, photographs and documents relating to the Weir family who lived in a mansion, originally named Illapa, at 84 Princess Street, Kew, from c.1917 to 1950. This historically significant collection includes items relating to both George Weir (1866-1937), his wife Edith Mary Weir (1867-1948) and their children. George Weir attained national prominence in the mining industry, becoming General Manager of the North Broken Hill Silver Mining Company in 1903 (later renamed North Broken Hill Mining Company 1905-12, and North Broken Hill Ltd 1912-1988), and subsequently President of the Mine Owners Association. He was to remain General Manager of North Broken Hill Ltd until his retirement in 1926.Handwritten register of owners of 84 Princes Street, Kew. Built for John Hedderwick, the house was variously known throughout its history as Illapa and Parcnacilla. The list, compiled for the Weir family before they sold the house in 1950, includes the names of owners between 1890 and 1949.84 princess street -- kew (vic.), george weir

This indenture once formed part of the City of Kew's Municipal Collection. Cr. W.D. Vaughan in his history 'Kew's Civic Century' (1960) records on page 194 that: "The original deed of conveyance of the land being all of Crown Portion 86, Kew, purchased by John Quick, James Venn Morgan, Samuel Derrick and William Derrick was presented by the Historical Society of Victoria on behalf of Mrs Fryer, a daughter of the later J.V. Morgan, to the [Kew] Council on August 5, 1941. Crown Portion 86, comprised all the land between Cotham Road and High Street to an alignment opposite the east boundary of Glenferrie Road. On it the first residential house was built by Mr. J.V. Morgan in 1852." Following the donation, the Indenture was surrounded by other original related text and explanatory notes and framed. The resulting framed documents are the largest framed objects in the collection.The Indenture and the accompanying contextual documents are some of the most historically significant manuscripts to have survived since the settlement of Kew in the 1850s. They provide a link to Kew's most famous pioneering families.Framed 1952 Indenture recording the sale of land in Kew to pioneering Kew families.james venn morgan, john quick, william derrick, samuel derrick, kew (vic) - history, kew (vic) - pioneers, samuel watts, kew (vic.) — municipal collection

The original oil portrait is held by the Australian War Memorial.Large official framed colour print of King George V in military uniform. The linked article by Laura Cook, published by the AWM in 2017 gives a history of the original Berrie portrait and reproductions."His Majesty King George V"king george v, kew (vic.) — municipal collection, wwi

The Springthorpe Memorial is an elaborate late 19th century memorial located within Boroondara General Cemetery. Harold Desbrowe-Annear designed the memorial for the Melbourne doctor John Springthorpe, in honour of the doctor’s wife. Construction began in 1897, and the memorial was unveiled in 1901. Rare postcard showing details of Mackennal's sculpture on the monumentOn the sarcophagus is sculpted group of figures by Bertram Mackennal. This close-up of two of the figures shows an angel leaning over the representation of Dr Springthorpe’s wife. The postcard is historically interesting in that it shows the wreath, which is now missing.springthorpe memorial, boroondara general cemetery, funerary monuments, postcards -- kew (vic.)

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).Colour photograph of the front lawn and façade of ‘Southesk’ (formerly ‘Ordsall’, built for John Halfey in 1882). The house was located on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street, Kew. The Italianate mansion was built in the Renaissance villa style on a bluestone plinth. Two balustrades surrounded the parapet of the roof and ran between the groups of pillars on either side of the entrance porch. The verandah was tiled and wide and Corinthian columns supported its roof. When the house passed into the hands of the City of Kew in 1948, the landscaping and formal flower beds were removed and replaced by lawns.The house was demolished in 1970.david carnegie, john halfey, southesk - cotham road - kew (vic), ordsall - cotham road - kew (vic)

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).A colour photograph of the façade of ‘Southesk’ taken at an oblique angle. Formerly known as ‘Ordsall’, the house was built for John Halfey in 1882 on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street. The Italianate mansion was built in the Renaissance villa style on a bluestone plinth. Two balustrades surrounded the parapet of the roof and ran between the groups of pillars on either side of the entrance porch. The verandah was tiled and wide and Corinthian columns supported its roof. When the house passed into the hands of the City of Kew in 1948, the Council used it for a kindergarten, an elderly citizen centre and as a home for the Leo Baeck Centre. The house was demolished in 1970.david carnegie, john halfey, southesk - cotham road - kew (vic), ordsall - cotham road - kew (vic)

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).A colour photograph of the façade of ‘Southesk’ taken at an oblique angle. Formerly known as ‘Ordsall’, the house was built for John Halfey in 1882 on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street. The Italianate mansion was built in the Renaissance villa style on a bluestone plinth. Two balustrades surrounded the parapet of the roof and ran between the groups of pillars on either side of the entrance porch. The verandah was tiled and wide and Corinthian columns supported its roof. When the house passed into the hands of the City of Kew in 1948, the Council used it for a kindergarten, an elderly citizen centre and as a home for the Leo Baeck Centre. The house was demolished in 1970.david carnegie, john halfey, southesk - cotham road - kew (vic), ordsall - cotham road - kew (vic)

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).Rare colour photograph of the exterior of SoutheskA colour enlargement of the entrance to ‘Southesk’. Formerly known as ‘Ordsall’, the house was built for John Halfey in 1882 on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street. This Italianate mansion was built in the Renaissance villa style on a bluestone plinth. The picture provides photographic evidence of the tiling on the veranda and the typically arched doorway. The neon sign above the door was added during the period when it was owned by the City of Kew (1948-70).david carnegie, john halfey, southesk - cotham road - kew (vic), ordsall - cotham road - kew (vic)

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).The ceilings of and architraves of Ordsall were painted by artists employed by the decorating company, Cullis Hill & Co. The frescos, of which fragments survive, were some of the most important murals used as elements of interior decoration in Melbourne during the Boom Period of the 1880s. These photographs were taken immediately prior to the demolition of the house, and are the best examples of the murals.Notwithstanding its grand Italianate façade, the most important aspect of Southesk (formerly ‘Ordsall’) were the murals in the front two rooms. An article in the Melbourne Argus in 1882 records that Mr Vandenbrandt and Signor Rizzi created these under the supervision of Cullis Hill. This fresco from the ceiling of the ballroom depicts ‘Night, represented by a female figure in a diaphanous garment, skirted with flowers, wafted before the approaching dawn into space illuminated by the moonlight, and peopled by the fairies, is a striking picture. Flying with her are an attendant Cupid bearing an artificial light, and a tired little votary of Bacchus with a reversed wine-pitcher and goblet’.david carnegie, john halfey, southesk - cotham road - kew (vic), ordsall - cotham road - kew (vic)

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).The ceilings of and architraves of Ordsall were painted by artists employed by the decorating company, Cullis Hill & Co. The frescos, of which fragments survive, were some of the most important murals used as elements of interior decoration in Melbourne during the Boom Period of the 1880s. These photographs were taken immediately prior to the demolition of the house, and are the best examples of the murals.The most significant decorative aspects of Southesk (formerly ‘Ordsall’) were the murals in the front two rooms. An article in the Melbourne Argus in 1882 records that Mr Vandenbrandt and Signor Rizzi created these under the supervision of Cullis Hill. This fresco from the ceiling of the ballroom is believed to depict two of the Seasons. Signor Rizzi was a renowned painter of flowers. He is credited with painting these parts of the murals. Examples of his floral paintings can still be seen at Villa Alba in Walmer Street.david carnegie, john halfey, southesk - cotham road - kew (vic), ordsall - cotham road - kew (vic)

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).The ceilings of and architraves of Ordsall were painted by artists employed by the decorating company, Cullis Hill & Co. The frescos, of which fragments survive, were some of the most important murals used as elements of interior decoration in Melbourne during the Boom Period of the 1880s. These photographs were taken immediately prior to the demolition of the house, and are the best examples of the murals.The most significant decorative aspects of Southesk (formerly ‘Ordsall’) were the murals in the front two rooms. An article in the Melbourne Argus in 1882 records that Mr Vandenbrandt and Signor Rizzi created these under the supervision of Cullis Hill. This fresco from the ceiling of the ballroom is believed to depict ‘Africa’. The article records that: ‘Notwithstanding the large size of the drawings they are often marked by delicate touches, and a minuteness of detail in evident sympathy with nature. The figures have grace, life and animation and the skillful shading of the colours used — chiefly amber, gold, light blue, green, light fawn and brown – is in harmony with the quiet tone of the general furnishing of the rooms.’david carnegie, john halfey, southesk - cotham road - kew (vic), ordsall - cotham road - kew (vic)

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).The ceilings of and architraves of Ordsall were painted by artists employed by the decorating company, Cullis Hill & Co. The frescos, of which fragments survive, were some of the most important murals used as elements of interior decoration in Melbourne during the Boom Period of the 1880s. These photographs were taken immediately prior to the demolition of the house, and are the best examples of the murals.The most significant decorative aspects of Southesk (formerly ‘Ordsall’) were the murals in the front two rooms. An article in the Melbourne Argus in 1882 records that Mr Vandenbrandt and Signor Rizzi created these under the supervision of Cullis Hill. This fresco from the ceiling of the ballroom is believed to depict one of the ‘boldly drawn four great geographical divisions of the Earth’. The crowned woman, believed to represent Europe, stands aloft in a chariot drawn by cherubs holding garlands of flowers.david carnegie, john halfey, southesk - cotham road - kew (vic), ordsall - cotham road - kew (vic)