The Kew Civic Centre (A K Lines, MacFarlane & Marshall, 1972) was built next to the Kew Civic Hall (A C Leith & Bartlett, 1960) on the site of the former mansion Ordsall (later renamed South Esk). Whereas the entrance to the Civic Hall was positioned off Civic Drive, the main entrance to the Civic Centre faced Cotham Road, as shown in the undated perspective drawing of the proposed building. The Civic Hall was used for public functions and performances, while the Civic Centre was used for civic offices. It also contained the Council Chamber. The building opened in 1972, following the relocation of the councillors and council officers from the former Town Hall in Walpole Street (now a Woolworth's supermarket). Following the amalgamation of the former City of Kew into the City of Boroondara in 1994, the Civic Centre was sold to Trinity Grammar School. The exterior of the Centre has been modified by Trinity Grammar.A report for Heritage Victoria (date) describes how two architectural firms dominated the designs for new civic buildings in Victoria during the post war period. The report claims that: "An interesting sub-theme in the erection of post-war municipal offices in Victoria is that a considerable proportion were designed by the same three or four Melbourne-based architectural firms, who established themselves as the leading specialists in this type of work. The two most prolific firms in this regard were A K Lines, MacFarlane & Marshall, and A C Leith & Bartlett; both, in fact, had made names for themselves as designers of local government offices prior to the Second World War. Lines' office, for example had designed the Eltham Shire Offices in 1941, while Leith's firm had been responsible for the celebrated Heidelberg Town Hall in 1937). Both practices parleyed this early experience into a lucrative post-war career, designing numerous municipals offices well into the 1970s." (Survey of Post-War Built Heritage in Victoria, Built Heritage Pty Ltd, 2010.) The perspective drawing importantly captures the original design and function of the exterior of the building and its public entrance.Hand-coloured perspective sketch of the new Kew Civic Centre, completed in 1972 to designs by A K Lines, MacFarlane & Marshall; and located on the corner of Charles Street and Cotham Road, Kew. The sketch represents the front elevation of the building and its relation to the preexisting Kew Civic Hall at right. The three storey building features strong vertical concrete buttresses that extend across the three levels. KEW CIVIC CENTRE / A K LINES, MACFARLANE & MARSHALLkew civic centre, a.k. lines, macfarlane & marshall, architectural drawings, civic buildings -- kew (vic.), town hall -- kew (vic)

The Kew Civic Centre, as opposed to the adjacent Kew Civic Hall (see also Kew City Hall), was built to house a new Council Chamber and Council Offices in 1972. The Kew Library was to be located on the ground floor and accessed from the current carpark. This building replaced the former Town Hall in Walpole Street, Kew which had served as a town hall from 1865-1972. After the sale of the old Town Hall, the new Civic Centre was built to a design of the architects A K Lines, MacFarlane & Marshall. A fit-out of the building was still occurring when councillors and council officers moved into the building. In 1987, the Kew Library (and the Kew Historical Society) moved across the road to the reconfigured Civic Hall. The Civic Centre, pictured here, was ultimately sold to Trinity Grammar School following the amalgamation of Kew into the City of Boroondara.These four black and white photographs were taken by a photographer in the City Engineer's Department during the final construction phase. Each is dated and inscribed with a description.Forecourt of the new Kew Civic Centre in 1972.Annotated verso: "Civic Centre - Forecourt / 16.7.72"kew civic centre, kew civic offices, city of kew -- council chamber

The Kew Civic Centre, as opposed to the adjacent Kew Civic Hall (see also Kew City Hall), was built to house a new Council Chamber and Council Offices in 1972. The Kew Library was to be located on the ground floor and accessed from the current carpark. This building replaced the former Town Hall in Walpole Street, Kew which had served as a town hall from 1865-1972. After the sale of the old Town Hall, the new Civic Centre was built to a design of the architects A K Lines, MacFarlane & Marshall. A fit-out of the building was still occurring when councillors and council officers moved into the building. In 1987, the Kew Library (and the Kew Historical Society) moved across the road to the reconfigured Civic Hall. The Civic Centre, pictured here, was ultimately sold to Trinity Grammar School following the amalgamation of Kew into the City of Boroondara.These four black and white photographs were taken by a photographer in the City Engineer's Department during the final construction phase. Each is dated and inscribed with a description.Creating the forecourt to the new Kew Civic Centre in 1972.Annotated verso: "Civic Centre - Forecourt / 16.7.72"kew civic centre, kew civic offices, city of kew -- council chamber

The Kew Civic Centre, as opposed to the adjacent Kew Civic Hall (see also Kew City Hall), was built to house a new Council Chamber and Council Offices in 1972. The Kew Library was to be located on the ground floor and accessed from the current carpark. This building replaced the former Town Hall in Walpole Street, Kew which had served as a town hall from 1865-1972. After the sale of the old Town Hall, the new Civic Centre was built to a design of the architects A K Lines, MacFarlane & Marshall. A fit-out of the building was still occurring when councillors and council officers moved into the building. In 1987, the Kew Library (and the Kew Historical Society) moved across the road to the reconfigured Civic Hall. The Civic Centre, pictured here, was ultimately sold to Trinity Grammar School following the amalgamation of Kew into the City of Boroondara.These four black and white photographs were taken by a photographer in the City Engineer's Department during the final construction phase. Each is dated and inscribed with a description.Tiling the steps leading from the forecourt to the new Kew Civic Centre in 1972.Annotated verso: "Civic Centre - Forecourt / 16.7.72"kew civic centre, kew civic offices, city of kew -- council chamber

The Kew Civic Centre, as opposed to the adjacent Kew Civic Hall (see also Kew City Hall), was built to house a new Council Chamber and Council Offices in 1972. The Kew Library was to be located on the ground floor and accessed from the current carpark. This building replaced the former Town Hall in Walpole Street, Kew which had served as a town hall from 1865-1972. After the sale of the old Town Hall, the new Civic Centre was built to a design of the architects A K Lines, MacFarlane & Marshall. A fit-out of the building was still occurring when councillors and council officers moved into the building. In 1987, the Kew Library (and the Kew Historical Society) moved across the road to the reconfigured Civic Hall. The Civic Centre, pictured here, was ultimately sold to Trinity Grammar School following the amalgamation of Kew into the City of Boroondara.These four black and white photographs were taken by a photographer in the City Engineer's Department during the final construction phase. Each is dated and inscribed with a description.Laying of concrete tiles in the forecourt of the new Kew Civic Centre in 1972. The Civic Hall (now the Kew Library) is in the background. Annotated verso: "Civic Centre - Forecourt / 17.7.72"kew civic centre, kew civic offices, city of kew -- council chamber

In 1979 Cr Gerry Petrie was the President of the Kew Festival. Kew resident Philip Brady was the festival presenter. They stand in front of the Kew Civic Centre.Left to right: Cr Gerry Petrie and Phillip Brady at the Kew Festival. They stand in Petrie Square in front of the Kew Civic Centre.city of kew, kew festival, philip brady, gerry petrie, kew civic centre, marble

Cr John H. Gervasoni's great grandfather was born in Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy, and settled at Yandoit Creek near Daylesford. He served for the Mt Franklin Road Board in the early 1900s.Colour photograph of Mayor of Kew Cr John Hogan Gervasoni, and his father Gus Gervasoni. The photo is taken at the Kew Civic Centre in Charles Street, Kew. john hogan gervasoni, gus gervasoni, mayor, cit of kew, kew civic centre

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 1960s. The Arthur Dear Collection is a comprehensive collection of theatrical ephemera relating to performances by theatrical and musical organisations from within and outside the former City of Kew who typically performed at venues in Kew during the 1950s and 1960s.One page flyer issued by the Steering Committee for the proposed Kew Recreation Council to individuals to attend a Special Get-together in No.3 Hall, Kew Civic Centre, on 27 November 1975 at 7.15 p.m.arthur dear collection, city of kew, kew civic centre, mrs henri serroni

One of three scrapbooks of photographs and newspaper cuttings taken and or collected by Eva Grant, a past member of the Kew Historical Society, which were donated by her niece, Julie Thomson. The albums include many photographs of Kew from the 1950s to the 1970s. Buildings included in the scrapbook include: Billy Hughes' house - 167 Cotham Road Congregational Church - Walpole Street (c.1978) Country Roads Board - Denmark Street (1960) Dorothy Rogers Reserve - Studley Park Road Ellsmere (also Ellesmere/Ellsmore) - Princess Street Field Place - 3 Henty Court Fernhurst - 13 Fernhurst Grove Kew Civic Centre (1959) Kew Junction (1958) Kew Railway Station (1902, 1959) Kew Recreation Hall - Wellington Street (1960) Neama (Hall) - Studley Park Road Southesk (formerly Ordsall) - Cotham Road (c.1960) St Anthony's Home for Babies (formerly Madford) - 43 Wellington Street (c.1976) Studley House - Nolan AvenueThe scrapbook contains historically significant, rare and sometimes unique images of significant heritage buildings in Kew, including their erection and demolition. 11-page scrapbook of photographs and newspaper clippings with annotations by Eva Grant, a past member of the Kew Historical Society. The pages of the album can be viewed in the image carousel above. Based on the text and known dates of demolition of a number of the buildings, the scrapbook was assembled over a twenty year period between c.1958-c.1978.Includes letter from donoreva grant, billy hughes' house - 167 cotham road, congregational church - walpole street - kew, country roads board - denmark street - kew, dorothy rogers reserve - studley park road - kew, field place - 3 henty court - kew (vic), ellsmere (also ellesmere/ellsmore) - princess street - kew, fernhurst - 13 fernhurst grove - kew (vic), kew civic centre - civic drive - kew (vic), kew junction - kew (vic), kew railway station - denmark street - kew (vic), recreation hall - wellington street - kew, neama - hall - studley park road - kew (vic), southesk - ordsall - cotham road- kew (vic), st anthony's home for babies - madford - 43 wellington street (vic), studley house - nolan avenue - kew (vic)

117 pp : illustrated : Appendices Chapters: Preface / Robert Baker p4. The collection / Robert Baker p5. Cartwheel penny / Robert Baker p6. Creek and old watering stage / David White p10. John Carson: Mayor 1863–4 1 / Julie King p4. Wedding dress / Suzanne McWha p18. Back to Kew 1875 / Judith Scurfield p22. Barnard’s clock / Margaret Robinson p26. Denbigh quilt / Suzanne McWha p28. Fragments of art decoration / Robert Baker p32. Mr Richardson’s sock / Felicity Renowden p36. Kew Volunteer Fire Brigade / David White p38. Kew Where We Live / Judith Scurfield p42. [MMBW} Detail Plan No. 1580 / Judith Scurfield p46. Adeney Avenue / Suzanne McWha p50. Young Workers’ Patriotic Guild / Margaret Robinson p54. Roll of Honor [Thomas Rand] / Robert Baker p56. Alice Anderson in her tourer / Felicity Renowden p60. Kew War Memorial / David White p62. Beaded dance dress / Suzanne McWha p 66. The great flood of 1934 / Desley Reid p68. Depression-era toolbox / Robert Baker p72. War Savings Street / Julie King p74. Kew Public L.ibrary / Suzanne McWha p78. Signature supper cloth / Desley Reid p82. View from the garden of Rockingham / Desley Reid p86. Cr Marie Dalley / Felicity Renowden p90. Centenary of Kew / Robert Baker p94. Doris Dickinson’s gown / Julie King p98. [Model Dairy] Milk bottles / Robert Baker p100. Kew Civic Centre / David White p102. Bicentennial tapestries / Margaret Robinson p106. Crest of the City of Kew / Desley Reid p110. Town Crier [outfit] / Desley Reid p112. Acknowledgements p114. List of works p115.non-fiction'Stories They Tell : A history of Kew through objects' explores diverse narratives from European settlement to the first decades of the twenty-first century. These stories use as their starting point artworks, texts and artefacts from the nationally significant collection of the Kew Historical Society. Limited to 100 copies.collection -- kew historical society, museum catalogues, henty family, cartwheel pennies, kew lunatic asylum, patchwork quilts, john carson, george bouchier richardson, gb richardson, coombs family, james dannock, back to kew 1875, francis barnard, denbigh family, cullis hill & co, ordsall, southesk, kew volunteer fire brigade, jfc farquhar, henry kellett, mmbw detail plan 1580, william nicholls anderson, young workers patriotic guild, roll of honor -- town of kew, alice anderson, kew war memorial, flapper dresses, fairfield bridge, chandler highway bridge, warren trestrail, furniture -- 1930s, war savings streets, kew library, children's libraries, voluntary aid detachments - kew (vic.), rockingham, james govett, centenary of kew, mayoresses -- kew (vic.), model dairy -- kew (vic.), doris dickinson, crests -- city of kew (vic.), town criers -- kew (vic.), joy stewart, australian bicentennial -- kew (vic.), kew civic centre, ak lines mcfarlane marshall, adeney avenue -- kew, wwi

Kew Municipal Brass band playing on the forecourt of the Kew Civic Centre, Cotham Road, Kew. city of kew, kew festival, kew municipal brass band

Two photographs showing the City of Kew Crest of the exterior of the Kew Civic Hall, as well as a sculpture attached to the wall.city of kew, kew town hall, kew civic centre, crest, cresco

Two photographs showing the City of Kew Crest of the exterior of the Kew Civic Hall, as well as a sculpture attached to the wall.city of kew, kew town hall, kew civic centre, crest, cresco

Two photographs showing the City of Kew Crest of the exterior of the Kew Civic Hall, as well as a sculpture attached to the wall.city of kew, kew town hall, kew civic centre, walking stick

WADE, Ivan Mayor 1969-70, 1970-71 Ivan Wade grew up in Bendigo and Brunswick, one of eight children. After his marriage, he moved with his wife and young family to Kew in 1951. In 1959, he took a year’s sabbatical in 1959 to build a new family home for his wife and four children at 222 Cotham Road, Kew. He worked professionally in the Meat Industry, successfully building a small chain of retail butcher shops, and a meat exporting business. He worked for improvements in the Trade through involvement in the Meat and Allied Trades Federation, of which he was the first State, and then Federal President. He was to be awarded an OBE for his services to the Meat Industry in 1979. Having been a long-time member of Melbourne Lions Club, he helped start Chadstone Lions’ Club as an inaugural tenant of the Chadstone Shopping Centre in 1979. He was also a tireless worker for charity, making his home available for functions raising funds for local groups. His passion for the community led him to stand for Kew Council as a representative of College Ward. As a councillor, he was elected mayor for two terms. During his term of office, new Kew Municipal Offices were constructed in Cotham Road. An active worker for the Kew Elder Citizens Association, he was involved in the establishment of an Opportunity Shop in Walpole Street to raise funds for the development of a new Centre in High Street. The Opportunity Shop was used to train locally unemployed youth skills such as furniture repair. (GW)Silver presentation trowel associated with the opening of significant civic projects in the former City of Kew.Commemorative, inscribed silver-plated presentation trowel given by the City of Kew to the Mayor, Cr Ivan Wade, on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the new Kew Civic Centre on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street, now part of Trinity Grammar School. The silver trowel was presented in a black leather case lined with blue velvet. The trowel was to be used a second time in 1982 when Cr Wade and his wife laid the foundation stone of Hamer Court. The trowel was later donated to Kew Historical Society Inc by Gwlad Wade, the wife of Cr Ivan Wade, on 20 August 2000. Front: "Presented to Cr Wade J.P. / Mayor of / the City of Kew / at the laying of the / foundation stone / of the / Kew Civic Centre /20-8-1971." Reverse: This trowel was also used / by / Cr Ivan Wade OBE JP & Mrs Gwlad Wade / at the laying / of the foundation stone / of / "Hamer Court" / Hostel for the Aged / 22nd August 1982"cr ivan wade, hamer court, commemorative trowels, kew civic offices, city of kew 1860-1993

Copy of a black and white photograph of City of Kew Mayor John H. Gervasoni. He stands in front of the Kew Coat of Arms on the exterior marble of the Kew Civic Centre.mayor, mayoral, portrait, kew, gervasoni, john, jack, coat of arms, cresco, city of kew, kew mayors

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. One page flyer issued by the Social Welfare Coordinator, City of Kew, inviting groups to a Special Get-together in No.3 Hall, Kew Civic Centre on 27 November 1975.arthur dear collection, city of kew, welfare -- kew (vic.)

Jack Gervasoni was born in Dayledford. After a football career with Fitzroy Football Club he ran the North Kew Authorised Newsagency, at which time he was elected to the City of Kew Council. Colour photograph of City of Kew Mayor John H. Gervasoni in mayoral robes. This photograph was taken in the top floor of the Kew Civic Centre outside the council chamber. This buildinglater became part of Trinity Grammar School.mayor, mayoral, portrait, kew, gervasoni, john, jack, city of kew, kew mayors, mayoral robes, john hogan gervasoni, mayors of kew

Digital images od a hand on a wlaking stick - a detail of a sculpture attached to the front of Kew Library.sculpture, art, artwork, public art, walking stick, kew, town hall, civic centre, library, hand, cane

The Kew Historical Society, founded in 1958, is one of the oldest continuing historical societies in the Greater Melbourne region. For over 60 years, the Society has worked with local government and other community organisations to stimulate interest in Kew’s history and heritage. The Society has regularly held local exhibitions, sometimes in shop windows, on other occasions in civic halls, and now at the Kew Court House and Kew Library. This and other photos taken in the same year are examples of an exhibition in the Kew City Hall.Two foundation members of the Kew Historical Society at an early exhibition mounted by the Society. The historic 1890s oil painting of Adeney Avenue, donated to the Society in 1965 [1965.0002], can be viewed on one of the screens in the background. Reverse: "KH27. Kew Historical Society member Mr Clark, and Mrs Reed in attendance at the Historical Exhibition, Festival of Kew 1976. Kew Civic Centre (Town Hall), Mr Clark, background, Mrs Reed, facing camera."kew historical society - exhibitions, kew city hall, kew (vic.) -- history

This school case was the type of case carried to school by thousands of children growing up in the early to mid 1900's. It was used by the Orbost Municipal BandThis case was used by the Orbost Municipal Band when they travelled to Kew to compete in the Australian National Band Championships in 1978.A brown "Globite" cardboard school case with brown-painted metal handle, two plated spring-loaded metal locking fasteners an internal metal frame and eight external metal corners for reinforcing. Inside the case there are an additional four internal reinforcing corners . Inside is a sticker from 1978 : Austn National Band Championships KEW CIVIC CENTRE, Easter March 24-27, 1978container globite orbost-municipal-band

Photographs donated by past student and staff member Rochelle Obel, c. 1970s. Includes her first day of prep in 1972, Grade 1 1973, Speech Night at Kew Civic Centre, Principal Mieri at Shakespeare Grove. Please contact [email protected] to request access to this record.

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.OFFICIAL OPENING OF KEW MUNICIPAL OFFICES / BY / THE HONOURABLE R J HAMER, PREMIER OF VICTORIA / THE MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS OF THE CITY OF KEW / REQUEST THE PLEASURE OF THE COMPANY OF / ___________ / OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW MUNICIPAL OFFICES & LIBRARY / KEW CIVIC CENTRE / THURSDAY, 22ND MARCH, 1973, 3 P.M./ RSVP TOWN CLERK , KEW 8TH MARCH, 1973 / ON RECEIPT OF ACCEPTANCE ENTREE CARDS WILL BE FORWARDEDcivic invitations -- kew (vic), kew town hall -- charles street -- kew (vic.), kew civic offices

The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) plans were produced from the 1890s to the 1950s. They were crucial to the design and development of Melbourne's sewerage and drainage system. The plans, at a scale of 40 feet to 1 inch (1:480), provide a detailed historical record of Melbourne streetscapes and environmental features. Each plan covers one or two street blocks (roughly six streets), showing details of buildings, including garden layouts and ownership boundaries, and features such as laneways, drains, bridges, parks, municipal boundaries and other prominent landmarks as they existed at the time each plan was produced. (Source: State Library of Victoria)This plan forms part of a large group of MMBW plans and maps that was donated to the Society by the Mr Poulter, City Engineer of the City of Kew in 1989. Within this collection, thirty-five hand-coloured plans, backed with linen, are of statewide significance as they include annotations that provide details of construction materials used in buildings in the first decade of the 20th century as well as additional information about land ownership and usage. The copies in the Public Record Office Victoria and the State Library of Victoria are monochrome versions which do not denote building materials so that the maps in this collection are invaluable and unique tools for researchers and heritage consultants. A number of the plans are not held in the collection of the State Library of Victoria so they have the additional attribute of rarity.Original survey plan, issued by the MMBW to a contractor with responsibility for constructing sewers in the area identified on the plan within the Borough of Kew. The plan was at some stage hand-coloured, possibly by the contractor, but more likely by officers working in the Engineering Department of the Borough and later Town, then City of Kew. The hand-coloured sections of buildings on the plan were used to denote masonry or brick constructions (pink), weatherboard constructions (yellow), and public buildings (grey). Development in the 20th century has irreparably altered that part of Kew represented in this plan. In the block bounded by Cotham Road, Charles Street, Wellington Street and Gellibrand; just one house standing in 1903 remains. This block included two of the most historic houses in Kew: ‘Ordsall’ (later ‘Southesk’) and ‘Madford’ (previously ‘Elm Lodge’). Ordsall was the home of the second chairman of Kew, John Halfey. It contained some of the most significant interior murals in Kew, created for Halfey by artists working for Cullen & Co. It was demolished in 1960 to make way for the Kew Civic Centre. Elm Lodge had been built for William Siddeley in ca. 1864. Arthur Septimus King purchased it in 1874. The lower paddocks of Madford were sold in 1905 by his wife to the Borough of Kew and, after landscaping by George and Thomas Pockett, opened as the Alexandra Gardens in 1908. Elm Lodge/Madford was in 1922 to become St. Anthony’s Home for Little Children before its subsequent demolition in the 1980s.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, maps - borough of kew, mmbw 1576, cartography

The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories.Late Victorian black watered silk cape with a wide border of machine made lace. The cape is extensively adorned with beads of black jet. Two long pieces of black lace fall from the neck at centre front. The cape was owned by one of the donor's maternal ancestors.capes, australian fashion, women's clothing, victorian fashion

The Municipality of Kew was proclaimed on 19 December 1860, then upgraded to a Borough (1863), a Town (1910) and finally a City (1921). From 1865, its offices were based in the former Athenaeum Hall in Walpole Street, which, although extended in 1883, inevitably became inadequate. Plans for a new purpose-built Town Hall were first mooted in the late 1880s, but fell prey to six subsequent decades of debate. During that time, many sites were considered and rejected, and several schemes prepared. Finally, in 1945, it was resolved to build a new civic centre as a war memorial. The council acquired Southesk, a mansion on the south-west corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street – first mooted as a possible Town Hall site two decades earlier – and plans for a civic precinct were drawn up by John Scarborough. The project stalled until 1957, when a Town Hall Committee was formed and a new architect appointed: Harold Bartlett of Leith & Bartlett. He also proposed an entire civic precinct, of which a large public hall would constitute Stage One. Designed to accommodate almost any public or official function, the space had had a small stage at one end for intimate theatrical productions, a larger stage at the other (with operable sunken orchestra pit) for musical performances, plus the most up-to-date equipment for live TV transmission. The building, befitting its original intent as a war memorial, was also to include a sculpted monument, for which a separate design competition was held. First prize went to George H Allen (1900-1972), long-time head of the Sculpture Department at RMIT and a former war artist himself (the only one, in fact, to have worked in the medium of sculpture). At the time of the Kew project, Allen was best known for his Cenotaph at the Shrine of Remembrance (1955) and a controversial abstract sculpture at Hume House in William Street (1957). Tenders for the new hall were called and the contract (worth £104,986) was awarded to H F Yuncken. The foundation stone was laid by the Mayor, Cr F C O'Brien, on 1 June 1959. Completion (initially scheduled for October) was delayed by the unavailability of certain materials; it was barely finished in time for the official opening (by Premier Henry Bolte) on 23 April 1960. The war memorial was unveiled two days later (Anzac Day) by Bolte's deputy, the Hon A G Rylah. Fittingly, that year also marked Kew's municipal centenary, and many celebratory events were held in and around the new civic centre in December, including a special council meeting (attended by the Prime Minister), a tree planting ceremony and a youth ball. Source: Survey of Built Heritage in Victoria: Stage Two (Built Heritage Pty Ltd., 2010)Plaque commemorating the opening of a new town hall in KewMetal plaque recording the official opening of the Kew City Hall, 23rd April 1960. This plaque was given to the Kew Historical Society in 1991 by the former City of Kew.Kew City Hall / Opened by / The Hon. H.E. Bolte M.L.A. / Premier of Victoria / 23rd April 1960 / Cr. H.G. Ferguson J.P. - Mayor.kew city hall, foundation stones - kew (vic), sir henry bolte, local government -- kew (vic.)

The Municipality of Kew was proclaimed on 19 December 1860, then upgraded to a Borough (1863), a Town (1910) and finally a City (1921). From 1865, its offices were based in the former Athenaeum Hall in Walpole Street, which, although extended in 1883, inevitably became inadequate. Plans for a new purpose-built Town Hall were first mooted in the late 1880s, but fell prey to six subsequent decades of debate. During that time, many sites were considered and rejected, and several schemes prepared. Finally, in 1945, it was resolved to build a new civic centre as a war memorial. The council acquired Southesk, a mansion on the south-west corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street – first mooted as a possible Town Hall site two decades earlier – and plans for a civic precinct were drawn up by John Scarborough. The project stalled until 1957, when a Town Hall Committee was formed and a new architect appointed: Harold Bartlett of Leith & Bartlett. He also proposed an entire civic precinct, of which a large public hall would constitute Stage One. Designed to accommodate almost any public or official function, the space had had a small stage at one end for intimate theatrical productions, a larger stage at the other (with operable sunken orchestra pit) for musical performances, plus the most up-to-date equipment for live TV transmission. The building, befitting its original intent as a war memorial, was also to include a sculpted monument, for which a separate design competition was held. First prize went to George H Allen (1900-1972), long-time head of the Sculpture Department at RMIT and a former war artist himself (the only one, in fact, to have worked in the medium of sculpture). At the time of the Kew project, Allen was best known for his Cenotaph at the Shrine of Remembrance (1955) and a controversial abstract sculpture at Hume House in William Street (1957). Tenders for the new hall were called and the contract (worth £104,986) was awarded to H F Yuncken. The foundation stone was laid by the Mayor, Cr F C O'Brien, on 1 June 1959. Completion (initially scheduled for October) was delayed by the unavailability of certain materials; it was barely finished in time for the official opening (by Premier Henry Bolte) on 23 April 1960. The war memorial was unveiled two days later (Anzac Day) by Bolte's deputy, the Hon A G Rylah. Fittingly, that year also marked Kew's municipal centenary, and many celebratory events were held in and around the new civic centre in December, including a special council meeting (attended by the Prime Minister), a tree planting ceremony and a youth ball. Source: Survey of Built Heritage in Victoria: Stage Two (Built Heritage Pty Ltd., 2010)Historically significant commemorative plaqueMetal plaque relating to special Council meeting to mark centenary of Kew, 13th December 1960. This plaque was given to the Kew Historical Society in 1991 by the former City of Kew.A Special Meeting Of The / Kew City Council Was Held In / This Hall On 13th December 1960 / To Commemorate / The Centenary of Kew / Cr. W.H.S. Dickinson, M.B.E., J.P., / Mayorkew city hall, foundation stones - kew (vic), cr. w.h.s. dickinson, local government -- kew (vic.)

"The Kew Advertiser , published by WD Vaughan Pty Ltd, commenced publication in January 1926 and, before the year's end, a modern printing plant had been established at 128 Denmark Street (demolished). This later became the nerve centre for publication of four other local newspapers: The Hawthorn Standard (1932), the Eastern Suburbs Advertiser (1934), the Coburg Courier (1935) and the Brunswick Sentinel (1936). The last two were later sold to another publisher, and the remaining three merged in 1959 to form the Eastern Suburbs Standard. This, in turn, continued under that name until 1974, when it merged with a counterpart from Doncaster, the Whitehorse Standard, and then carried on (under various names) until 1980." (Source: City of Boroondara : Thematic Environmental History, p. 75)Kew Newspaper produced in 1941 by W D Vaughamn Pty Ltd. The newspaper was printed at his offices in Denmark Street. The banner headline claims that it had a distribution of 6,000 copies.the kew advertiser, newspapers -- kew (vic), wd vaughan pty ltd