Of the eight hotels established in Kew since European settlement, The Hotel Kew, known for most of its existence, as the Clifton Hotel was the seventh to be built in 1868. Its location on the corner of Studley Park Road and High Street at Kew Junction makes it a prominent landmark. Its current name is confusing for local historians as its main rival for the first 52 years was O'Shaughnessy's Hotel (1855), later renamed the Kew Hotel, on the corner of High Street and Denmark Street. Looking at the façade of the Hotel Kew, it is hard to imagine its mid-nineteenth appearance. There have probably been at least four renovations or rebuilding(s) of the structure. The documented renovations have occurred in the 1930s when the late Victorian façade was given an Art Deco update. In about 1970 its façade was again 'improved'. The many publicans who have held the licenses of the Clifton Hotel have been identified in in the 'Tetlow Index' and on the 'Boroondara Local History Wiki'. The most significant of these are Henry Madden (1880-87); Michael O'Donnell (1902-1920); and the Cronin-Ryan family (1935–53ff).Fading colour positive photograph of the Clifton Hotel at Kew Junction on the corner of High Street South and Studley Park Road. The hotel had been modified extensively over time, disguising the original Italianate facade. This is the colour scheme of the fourth restoration, including huge advertising billboards on the roof.Reverse: "Clifton Hotel. Studley Park Road at Kew Junction. 1994clifton hotel -- kew (vic.), hotels -- kew (vic.), kew junction

The Council Family Hotel was the fifth of the eight hotels to be licensed in Kew during the 19th Century. They were licensed in the following date order: The Woodman Inn (1854), The Harp of Erin (1854), O’Shaughnessy’s Kew Hotel (1855), the Prospect Hill Hotel (1858), the Council Family Hotel (1861), the Princess Hotel (1864), the Clifton Hotel (1868) and the Greyhound Hotel (1873).Rare photograph of a landmark Kew HotelExterior - Council Family Hotel, Cotham Road, Kew, circa 1888.Mr Pat Ryan in doorwayhotels - kew, council family hotel - kew (vic)

The Council Family Hotel was the fifth of the eight hotels to be licensed in Kew during the 19th Century. They were licensed in the following date order: The Woodman Inn (1854), The Harp of Erin (1854), O’Shaughnessy’s Kew Hotel (1855), the Prospect Hill Hotel (1858), the Council Family Hotel (1861), the Princess Hotel (1864), the Clifton Hotel (1868) and the Greyhound Hotel (1873).Rare photograph of a landmark Kew hotelExterior - Council Family Hotel in Cotham Road, Kew (Vic) with Mrs Ryan, wife of the licensee at frontMrs Ryanhotels - kew, council family hotel - kew (vic), licenees - ryan family

The Council Family Hotel was the fifth of the eight hotels to be licensed in Kew during the 19th Century. They were licensed in the following date order: The Woodman Inn (1854), The Harp of Erin (1854), O’Shaughnessy’s Kew Hotel (1855), the Prospect Hill Hotel (1858), the Council Family Hotel (1861), the Princess Hotel (1864), the Clifton Hotel (1868) and the Greyhound Hotel (1873).Rare photograph of a landmark hotel in KewExterior - Council Family Hotel, Cotham Road, Kew, circa 1888.hotels - kew, council family hotel - kew (vic)

Image copied from older postcard (c.1890-1900) showing horse drawn vehicles and a horse tram. Since then, the southern side of the street has been widened. Businesses identified in the photograph include the Ryan's Council Family Hotel, the Greyhound Hotel, the Clifton Hotel, the ES&A Bank and Jellis' Bakery. Black & white photograph of a postcard showing Main [High] Street, Kew looking south west showing horse drawn tram centre.Reverse - "High St Kew looking down from Post Office to Kew Junction"horse tram kew, clifton hotel - kew junction, ryan's council family hotel kew, horse tram - kew (vic), kew junction

The Harp Junction, East KewAnnotations on reverse "KH-73. View from Junction of High St (then Bulleen Rd.) & Strathalbyn St. Kew. Looking toward Boroondara Cemetery. Wall in picture is side of bridge over Outer Circle Railway. Trams later cut across this curve."high street (kew), strathalbyn street (kew east), harp of erin hotel (kew)

Kew Junction at this stage was a tram terminusThe Harp Junction, East Kew.Annotation on reverse: "East Kew - looking towards city from harp of Erin Hotel - note wooden fence."harp of erin hotel (kew), high street (kew)

Photograph, from a postcard titled "Junction High St Kew." shows a horse tram at Kew Junction in Church St about to turn into High St. Buildings in the view are F O Stowe Fruiter Confectioner, Alice cycle works, a tobacconist advertising Havelock tobacco sign, and Collins Kew Hotel. There are three horse-drawn carts, one with a horse eating from a chaff bag.Yields information about Kew Junction c1900.Black and white photograph with notes on the rear.Has on the rear in pencil "Horse tram in Barker Road Kew" and number "185"tramways, horse trams, kew junction, high st kew, church st

The Engineer's Department of the former City of Kew had an extensive collection of photograph of sites in Kew requiring documentation to inform public works. It also kept images of engineering practice in other parts of Melbourne, and overseas, that could be used as models for local activity. Many of these photographs (and plans) were donated to our collection in the 1980s. A number of the photographs are annotated, either on the image itself or on the reverse.This photograph, and others sourced from the City Engineer's Department of the former City of Kew, qualifies as an important record of local streets, public works, street beautification, and engineering techniques of the period. Original black and white photographic positive of automobiles and buildings in Denmark Street, Kew, immediately before the road enters Kew Junction. On the left is McKeon Motors and a retailer of Insulwool, while in the distance is the pharmacy on the corner of High Street and Princess Street (later demolished during the widening of Kew Junction). Notable are the bluestone guttering and what appears to be vacant land on the apex of the triangle of land bounded by High Street South, Denmark Street and Barkers Road. This site was the original location of O'Shaughnessy's 'Kew Hotel', and after the destruction by fire of the latter, the location of a service station. [It is now the site of the Cresco Reserve].Annotation verso: "Indicating the existence of a vehicular entrance at Denmark St abuttal of No.188 High St prior to reconstruction of channeling &c 1972."denmark street -- kew (vic.), kew junction, luestone gutters, mckeon motors, insulwool

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).The streets and built structures in MMBW Detail Plan 1294 & 1295 were surveyed in 1903 and released to contractors in 1904. This plan is one of two in the collection where the lithographers amalgamated two separate plans. Both plans include sections of Studley Park. Dominating the south and west corners of Kew Junction are the Clifton and Kew Hotels. The Kew Hotel, owned by Patrick O’Shaughnessy was one of the oldest in Kew. MMBW plans were amended over time to take account of new subdivisions such as that which created Merrion Place. Of the four mansions shown in Studley Park Road, three remain – ‘Field Place’, the home of Frances Henty, ‘Leaghur’ and ‘Darley’. ‘Byram’ (later ‘Goathland’, then ‘Tara Hall’) was an architectural marvel. Designed in 1888 by E.G. Kilburn for the paper magnate George Ramsden, it was demolished in 1960. While an earlier sale of the southern section of Byram had created Tara Avenue in 1927, the demolition of the house in 1960 enabled the extension of Tara Avenue northward.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, mmbw 1294, mmbw 1295, cartography

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). This area was once known as O’Shaughnessy’s Paddock. O’Shaughnessy was the licensee of the Kew Hotel. The ‘Paddock’ or farm was for many years the closest farm to Melbourne. By 1903, when this plan was surveyed and lithographed, little of the farm remained. The area is dominated by a ‘clay hole’, on the site of the current Foley Reserve. It was used by Smart’s Brickyard from the 1880s until 1911, when the Council purchased it for a rubbish dump. It is notable as the site is one of the few industrial operations to have existed in Kew. By 1903, urban development was characterised by larger houses fronting Barkers Road and brick and weatherboard villas in Foley Street. Nearer the pit, weatherboard houses predominated. Foley Street bisected the triangular block and continued right to Denmark Street. At this stage, a house impeded the through road, only allowing access via a right of way to High Street.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, mmbw 1296, cartography

Book - manila card covers, centre stapled, titled "Handbook of Award, Long Service Leave and & Workers Compensation". Has lists of Union Officers, delegates, Do's and Don't's. Has many advertisements for organisations throughout the book, such as Southern Motors, Beehive Hotel Kew, Denis Duncan Meat supplier in Preston. S. Edwards Secretary. Book 56 pages + light weight card covers.trams, tramways, atmoea, awards, workplace conditions, workers compensation, annual leave, mmtb

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). This plan, which covers parts of High Street, Pakington Street and Derby Street is dominated by two historic Kew mansions: ‘Konetta’ and ‘Ramornie’. Ramornie was constructed in 1890 for James Maitland Campbell, three times Mayor of Kew. Sold in 1940, it became a boarding house known as ‘The Towers’. Now a private residence again, it has only one of its three balconies remaining. The location of the missing two balconies can be seen on the plan. In 1903, the grounds of Ramornie included a large tennis court fronting Pakington Street. The rear of the property is shown as extending to Cobden Street. One of Kew’s oldest hotels, the Prospect Hill Hotel on the corner of High and Cobden Street was established in 1858. The outline of the hotel shown on the plan represents the second building on the site. During the 19th century it was often used for electoral meetings. The Prospect Hill Hotel was to be redeveloped again in 1928, by the local architect Robert McIntyre. Since the 1980s, the hotel has been a live music venue, the home of the Melbourne Jazz Club, a restaurant and a liquor outlet.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, maps - borough of kew, mmbw 1585, cartography

Set of 7 Kodachrome transparencies taken on 23/10/1965 in Melbourne. 1179.1 - W2 488 (route 42, Mont Albert) at the corner of High St. and Cotham Road Kew. Taken from Kew Post Office, has Bank of New South Wales in the background, CBC bank and the Greyhound Hotel. Tram has ads for Kolotex stockings and Ryco oil filters. 1179.2 - SW2 436, in bound (route 45, City) leaving Cotham Road, about to join High St, Kew. Buildings on the south side of Cotham Road in photo. Tram has an ad along with others for Vincent's powders. 1179.3 - W2 545 (route 48, North Balwyn) in High St. Kew. Has Commercial bank in background along with other shops. 1179.4 - W2 648 (route 42, Mont Albert) turning from High St. South into High St at Kew Junction, with Clifton Hotel in background. Tram has an ad for Kenric clothes. Note an MFBB street fire alarm by the tram stop. 1179.5 - W2 566 (inbound route 42, City) at same location as 1179.5. Tram has a Jex and a Remy Martin Brandy ads. on front dash panel. 1179.6 - W2 572 entering Victoria Parade from Brunswick St. Fitzroy. Tram has a Jex and a Remy Martin Brandy ads. on front dash panel. Eastern Hill Fire Station and ICI building in background. 1179.7 - W2 378 (inbound, route 45, City) and W2 572, inbound, in Victoria Parade between Brunswick St and Gismo St. East Melbourne. Otherwise as for 1179.6.All have date stamp of "23 Oct 1965" in purple ink. All black ink unless otherwise noted. 1179.1 - "W2 488 Entering Cotham Rd. from High St. Kew" 1179.2 - "SW2 436 in Cotham Rd., Kew, about to enter High St." 1179.3 - "W2 545 in High Street Kew, nearly opposite Cotham Road" 1179.4 - "W2 648 entering High Street from High Street South, Kew". 1179.5 - "W2 566 entering High St. South from High St. Kew" 1179.6 - "W2 572 entering Victoria Pde from Brunswick St. East Melbourne" 1179.7 - "W2 378 and 572 in Victoria Pde between Brunswick and Gisborne Sts. East Melbourne."tramways, trams, kew, high st kew, cotham road, victoria parade, melbourne, tram 545, tram 488, tram 436, tram 648, tram 566, tram 572, tram 378

A copy of an early pencil sketch of Fernshaw in Victoria.A copy of an early pencil sketch of Fernshaw in Victoria by Louis Buvelot. Louis Buvelot ( 1814–1888), born Abram-Louis Buvelot, was a Swiss landscape painter who lived 17 years in Brazil and following 5 years back in Switzerland stayed 23 years in Australia, where he influenced the Heidelberg School of painters. Arriving in Melbourne in February 1865, after leaving the cold of Switzerland, which was impacting on his health, for the warmth of Australia, Buvelot was in business as a photographer in Bourke Street for a year but soon resumed his painting. He lived in Melbourne for a number of years before moving to Fitzroy. The National Gallery of Victoria purchased two of his paintings and he continued painting until his death in 1888. He was buried at the Boroondara Cemetery, where a large monument was erected in his memory. Fernshaw was a rural township 63 km northeast of Melbourne and 10 km northeast of Healesville. Situated on the Watts River, near where a log had fallen making a convenient crossing, Fernshaw was settled in the 1860s. It provided good country for orchards and berry growing. The location was at the foot of Blacks Spur, with Mounts Juliet and Mondah rising on either side, providing spectacular scenery. There were nearby fern gullies giving rise to the name – ‘shaw’ is old English for thicket or wood. By 1875 Fernshaw had a post office (1865), two hotels, a school (1871), and stores. It was famed for its beauty, attracting tourists. In 1886 the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works began work on the Watts River water catchment scheme – later to become Maroondah – and the Board obtained approval for the catchment country to be reserved and kept free of settlement. This required the removal of the Fernshaw township, which was completed by about 1890.Fernshaw 17.2.83louis buvelot, fernshaw, victoria, national gallery of victoria, switzerland, boroondara cemetery, kew cemetery, artist

Pietro Lucini owned the building on the right in the attached photograph. He operated a general store here prior to building a new building opposite this site. He was involved in gold mining activities in the early settlement of Spring Creek, now known as Hepburn Springs. Dr Francesco operated a store in building on left. A document and photograph glued on cardboard. 01451.1 Miner's Right, No. 7351. Glued on cardboard. 01451.2 A separate photograph of two early stores at early Jim Crow diggings, now Hepburn Springs. Text at bottom of photograph, " First hotel and store built at Jim Crow Diggins Daylesford. Now known as Hepburn Springs. These buildings are still standing at rear of "Golf Club Hotel. Photo Miner's Right donated by Mr J Bramwell Officer in charge of Kew Fire Station. Sept 1936". Back of cardboard has the following writing; "Donated by Mr J Bramwell Officer in Charge of Fire Station, Walton St. Kew. Sept 1936", "Donated by Beryl Jean Frame (per Mrs.R.Bland Ferntree Gully) 1987", "Box 4", WINGRAM 47 Victoria Road Auburn Melb 1- JAN 1940, Daylesford & District Historical Society.gold mining, lucini, buildings, hotel, spring creek, golf club hotel

Black and white photograph of Bendigo No. 9 Pall Mall 6/6/1928 at the intersection with Mitchell St, Charing Cross with the City Club Hotel in the background. Behind No. 9 is No. 12 or 18? No. 9 has a roof advertisement for Lyric Lightning. On the left hand side is a horse drawn cart and shows a verandah on the building on the North East corner of the intersection. On the rear of copy 1 has the photo stamp of Lee A Ratten of 51 Cotham Road Kew. On the second print is a hand written note which matches the writing of Lee Ratten. trams, tramways, bendigo, pall mall, charing cross, tram 9

In 1903, an article in the Box Hill 'Reporter' noted that the Kew Flyer Cycle business had been started in 1893 by Harry F. Cooper, who was "the oldest cycle maker in the district". By 1903, the Kew Flyer business was located at 8 (later 14) Cotham Road where it was to remain an institution until its closure. Seven years later, W.D. Vaughan, in his 'Jubilee History of Kew, Victoria' (1910) wrote that: "Several cycling clubs have been born and died, suffering chiefly from the migration of the leading spirits in the organisations, but since 1900 the ‘Kew Flyer’ road race, instituted by Mr. H. F. Cooper, has been the cycling event of the year among local riders. It is run on the White Horse Road at Blackburn." Early newspaper reports record that distance of the Race was initially 10 miles but by 1906, the event was 15 miles, starting from the Travellers' Rest Hotel in Blackburn. Cooper's Kew Flyer business in Cotham Road introduced new technologies and models throughout its 56-years of operation. By 1908, it was claimed that the shop had been enlarged with new "workshops and [the] latest lathes and cycle building tools. [It] Is now one of the most up-to-date Cycle Works in Victoria". By the First World War, Cooper had expanded his business to include motorbikes with "Precision Engines". The Kew Flyer business and the annual road races continued through the War, even though a number of its staff left for the front. One of these was [Pte] Robert Charles Field Richardson, who joined the 6th Battalion, fought and was wounded at Gallipoli, and died of his wounds in a hospital in Alexandria, Egypt in 1915. In 1917, the death of Private H.S. Herbert was announced. He had been the winner of the Kew Flyer Cycle Road Race in 1913. He died in action in France, having fought at Gallipoli and in France at the Battle of Pozieres. The majority of bicycles advertised by Cooper were designed for men, although bikes for women and 'juveniles' were advertised as early as 1918, so they were probably manufactured throughout the period. Harry Cooper was to sell his Kew Flyer business in 1936, after 39 years of trading. The business he began continued until 1949.This is a very rare image [the location of the original is now unknown] of a Kew Flyer team. The photo was sourced and remained in the possession of the historian Dorothy Rogers, whose brother was an early member of staff in the firm. The photo is historically significant as it is the only known photograph of a Kew Flyer Team, and possibly the only known photo of Harry F. Cooper, the founder of the firm and a key figure in Victorian cycling history. Photograph, the first of two, of an earlier album photograph of the Kew Flyer Team in uniform with trainers and workers of the company. One of the men in the photograph is probably Harry Cooper, the proprietor of the Kew Flyer business in Cotham Road, Kew. Harry Cooper was the sponsor of one of the best known trader cycle races in Melbourne. The photograph remained in the possession of the Rogers family until its donation to the Society by John Rogers in 2015.Handwritten annotation by the historian Dorothy Rogers on reverse: "Kew Flyer Team about 1912-13. Coopers Cycle Shop Cotham Rd opp. Kew Post Office".kew flyer, harry f cooper, trader bike races - victoria - kew, kew flyer team

In 1903, an article in the Box Hill 'Reporter' noted that the Kew Flyer Cycle business had been started in 1893 by Harry F. Cooper, who was "the oldest cycle maker in the district". By 1903, the Kew Flyer business was located at 8 (later 14) Cotham Road where it was to remain an institution until its closure. Seven years later, W.D. Vaughan, in his 'Jubilee History of Kew, Victoria' (1910) wrote that: "Several cycling clubs have been born and died, suffering chiefly from the migration of the leading spirits in the organisations, but since 1900 the ‘Kew Flyer’ road race, instituted by Mr. H. F. Cooper, has been the cycling event of the year among local riders. It is run on the White Horse Road at Blackburn." Early newspaper reports record that distance of the Race was initially 10 miles but by 1906, the event was 15 miles, starting from the Travellers' Rest Hotel in Blackburn. Cooper's Kew Flyer business in Cotham Road introduced new technologies and models throughout its 56-years of operation. By 1908, it was claimed that the shop had been enlarged with new "workshops and [the] latest lathes and cycle building tools. [It] Is now one of the most up-to-date Cycle Works in Victoria". By the First World War, Cooper had expanded his business to include motorbikes with "Precision Engines". The Kew Flyer business and the annual road races continued through the War, even though a number of its staff left for the front. One of these was [Pte] Robert Charles Field Richardson, who joined the 6th Battalion, fought and was wounded at Gallipoli, and died of his wounds in a hospital in Alexandria, Egypt in 1915. In 1917, the death of Private H.S. Herbert was announced. He had been the winner of the Kew Flyer Cycle Road Race in 1913. He died in action in France, having fought at Gallipoli and in France at the Battle of Pozieres. The majority of bicycles advertised by Cooper were designed for men, although bikes for women and 'juveniles' were advertised as early as 1918, so they were probably manufactured throughout the period. Harry Cooper was to sell his Kew Flyer business in 1936, after 39 years of trading. The business he began continued until 1949.This is a very rare image [the location of the original is now unknown] of a Kew Flyer team. The photo was sourced and remained in the possession of the historian Dorothy Rogers, whose brother was an early member of staff in the firm. The photo is historically significant as it is the only known photograph of a Kew Flyer Team, and possibly the only known photo of Harry F. Cooper, the founder of the firm and a key figure in Victorian cycling history. Photograph, the second of two, from an earlier album photograph of the Kew Flyer Team in uniform with trainers and workers of the company. One of the men in the photograph is probably Harry F. Cooper, the proprietor of the Kew Flyer business in Cotham Road, Kew. Harry Cooper was the sponsor of one of the best known and oldest trader cycle races in Melbourne. The photograph remained in the possession of the Rogers family until its donation to the Society by John Rogers in 2015.Handwritten annotation by the historian Dorothy Rogers on reverse: "Kew Flyer Team from very old photo".kew flyer, harry f cooper, trader bike races - victoria - kew, kew flyer team

In 1903, an article in the Box Hill 'Reporter' noted that the Kew Flyer Cycle business had been started in 1893 by Harry F. Cooper, and that he was "the oldest cycle maker in the district". By 1903, the Kew Flyer business was located at 8 (later 14) Cotham Road where it was to remain an institution until its closure. In 1910, W.D. Vaughan, in his 'Jubilee History of Kew, Victoria' wrote that: "Several cycling clubs have been born and died, suffering chiefly from the migration of the leading spirits in the organisations, but since 1900 the ‘Kew Flyer’ road race, instituted by Mr. H. F. Cooper, has been the cycling event of the year among local riders. It is run on the White Horse Road at Blackburn." Early newspaper reports recorded the distance of the race as initially 10 miles but by 1906, the event extended to 15 miles, starting from the Travellers' Rest Hotel in Blackburn. Cooper's Kew Flyer business in Cotham Road introduced new technologies and models throughout its 56-years of operation. By 1908, it was claimed that the shop had been enlarged with new "workshops and [the] latest lathes and cycle building tools. [it] Is now one of the most up-to-date Cycle Works in Victoria". By the First World War, Cooper had expanded his business to include motorbikes with "Precision Engines". The Kew Flyer business and the annual road races continued through the War, even though a number of its staff left for the front. One of these was [Pte] Robert Charles Field Richardson, who joined the 6th Battalion, fought and was wounded at Gallipoli, and died of wounds in Alexandria, Egypt in 1915. In 1917, the death of Private H.S. Herbert was announced. He had been the winner of the Kew Flyer Cycle Road Race in 1913. He died in action in France, having fought at Gallipoli and at the Battle of Pozieres. The majority of bicycles advertised by Cooper were designed for men, although bikes for women and 'juveniles' were advertised as early as 1918, so they were probably manufactured throughout the period. Harry Cooper was to sell his Kew Flyer business in 1936, after 39 years of trading. The business he began continued until 1949.This is an historically significant and rare 1920s Kew Flyer Cycle in intact condition, with most of the original paintwork preserved on the frame. Harry F Cooper, who was the manufacturer of the cycle had a retail business and a factory in Kew. He promoted the Kew Flyer Road Race which was the most important trader-run cycle event in Victoria from 1900 to his retirement in 1936.An unrestored Kew Flyer Women's Roadster ca 1920, donated to the Kew Historical Society by John Wyatt in 2017. Original paint work and logo on the loop frame in navy blue, blue and gold, featuring Egyptian influences in the painted design . The rubber sprung saddle was made by Dunlop and has a serial number on a plate at the rear. The loop frame is original. Most of the cycle, on an initial evaluation following the donation were judged to be original, but with the addition of a later mudguard, reflector and chain guard. These have now been removed.Kew Flyerwomen's roadster, kew flyer, harry f cooper, businesses - kew, cycling

Robin Kelly was born Robin Vandersluys in Mary Street, Kew. As a child, she sang in backyard concerts run with her brother, Leslie. The family moved to Deepdene in 1949 and Robin joined church and school choirs. Later she was to study classical singing with Stella Power, modern singing with Jack White, TV Presentation with Natalie Raine of Crawford Productions and acting/singing with Jessie Matthews. Following her victory in a talent quest at the Orama Ballroom, she was invited to join the Orama Big Band with singers Harry Cox and Arlene Forrest. She also sang with the Kerm Jones Jazz Band at Power House and with Frank Johnson's Jazz Band at Jazz Junction. Robin became resident band vocalist at the historic Federal Hotel in Collins Street with the Rudi Laquer Trio. She also sang at The Savoy Plaza with the George Cadman Trio. A year later she became resident vocalist at the Ress Oriental Hotel with the Lennie Holmes Trio. Later, Robin married pianist Peter Jones, singing under the name 'Robin Vanser' in clubs in Sydney and regional New South Wales. She was booked for a Vietnam War tour and also sang in Tahiti. Returning to Melbourne, her agent booked her to appear in shows in Tasmania including West Point Casino and Melbourne country venues. Another agent, John Bishop, booked her to do floor shows in Melbourne, including Xmas Seasons at the Hampton Hotel where she entertained audiences with her comedy and audience participation routines. In 1971, Robin Kelly retired to run her Robin Hood Antiques business in Canterbury, during which time she was married to tenor Glenn Kelly. Later she joined Sing Australia Camberwell Choir, performing as a soloist at their Melbourne Town Hall Concert.The Vandersluys-Kelly Collection of photographs, costumes and musical performance memorabilia was donated to the Kew Historical Society by Robin Denise Kelly in 2018. The collection is an important record of stage and recorded performances in Australia in the second half of the 20th century. This new nationally-focused and artistically significant collection augments and contextualises the local performing arts materials in our collection.Black and white publicity photograph of Robin Vanser (aka Robin Kelly nee Vandersluys) taken while performing in Sydney in 1965 by the photographer Greg Desmond, Ray Leighton Associates."1965, SYDNEY"robin vanser, perfoming arts - australia - 1960s, greg desmond (photographer), ray leighton associates - sydney - new south wales - australia (photographers)

Robin Kelly was born Robin Vandersluys in Mary Street, Kew. As a child, she sang in backyard concerts run with her brother, Leslie. The family moved to Deepdene in 1949 and Robin joined church and school choirs. Later she was to study classical singing with Stella Power, modern singing with Jack White, TV Presentation with Natalie Raine of Crawford Productions and acting/singing with Jessie Matthews. Following her victory in a talent quest at the Orama Ballroom, she was invited to join the Orama Big Band with singers Harry Cox and Arlene Forrest. She also sang with the Kerm Jones Jazz Band at Power House and with Frank Johnson's Jazz Band at Jazz Junction. Robin became resident band vocalist at the historic Federal Hotel in Collins Street with the Rudi Laquer Trio. She also sang at The Savoy Plaza with the George Cadman Trio. A year later she became resident vocalist at the Ress Oriental Hotel with the Lennie Holmes Trio. Later, Robin married pianist Peter Jones, singing under the name 'Robin Vanser' in clubs in Sydney and regional New South Wales. She was booked for a Vietnam War tour and also sang in Tahiti. Returning to Melbourne, her agent booked her to appear in shows in Tasmania including West Point Casino and Melbourne country venues. Another agent, John Bishop, booked her to do floor shows in Melbourne, including Xmas Seasons at the Hampton Hotel where she entertained audiences with her comedy and audience participation routines. In 1971, Robin Kelly retired to run her Robin Hood Antiques business in Canterbury, during which time she was married to tenor Glenn Kelly. Later she joined Sing Australia Camberwell Choir, performing as a soloist at their Melbourne Town Hall Concert.The Vandersluys-Kelly Collection of photographs, costumes and musical performance memorabilia was donated to the Kew Historical Society by Robin Denise Kelly in 2018. The collection is an important record of stage and recorded performances in Australia in the second half of the 20th century. This new nationally-focused and artistically significant collection augments and contextualises the local performing arts materials in our collection.Black and white publicity photograph of Robin Vanser (aka Robin Kelly nee Vandersluys) taken while performing in Sydney in 1965 by the photographer Greg Desmond, Ray Leighton Associates.PHOTOGRAPHED BY GREG DESMOND RAY LEIGHTON ASSOCIATES 278294-272231robin vanser, perfoming arts - australia - 1960s, greg desmond (photographer), ray leighton associates - sydney - new south wales - australia (photographers)

Robin Kelly was born Robin Vandersluys in Mary Street, Kew. As a child, she sang in backyard concerts run with her brother, Leslie. The family moved to Deepdene in 1949 and Robin joined church and school choirs. Later she was to study classical singing with Stella Power, modern singing with Jack White, TV Presentation with Natalie Raine of Crawford Productions and acting/singing with Jessie Matthews. Following her victory in a talent quest at the Orama Ballroom, she was invited to join the Orama Big Band with singers Harry Cox and Arlene Forrest. She also sang with the Kerm Jones Jazz Band at Power House and with Frank Johnson's Jazz Band at Jazz Junction. Robin became resident band vocalist at the historic Federal Hotel in Collins Street with the Rudi Laquer Trio. She also sang at The Savoy Plaza with the George Cadman Trio. A year later she became resident vocalist at the Ress Oriental Hotel with the Lennie Holmes Trio. Later, Robin married pianist Peter Jones, singing under the name 'Robin Vanser' in clubs in Sydney and regional New South Wales. She was booked for a Vietnam War tour and also sang in Tahiti. Returning to Melbourne, her agent booked her to appear in shows in Tasmania including West Point Casino and Melbourne country venues. Another agent, John Bishop, booked her to do floor shows in Melbourne, including Xmas Seasons at the Hampton Hotel where she entertained audiences with her comedy and audience participation routines. In 1971, Robin Kelly retired to run her Robin Hood Antiques business in Canterbury, during which time she was married to tenor Glenn Kelly. Later she joined Sing Australia Camberwell Choir, performing as a soloist at their Melbourne Town Hall Concert.The Vandersluys-Kelly Collection of photographs, costumes and musical performance memorabilia was donated to the Kew Historical Society by Robin Denise Kelly in 2018. The collection is an important record of stage and recorded performances in Australia in the second half of the 20th century. This new nationally-focused and artistically significant collection augments and contextualises the local performing arts materials in our collection.Colour publicity photograph of Robin Vanser (aka Robin Kelly nee Vandersluys) taken while performing in Sydney in 1965 by the photographer Greg Desmond, Ray Leighton Associates.robin vanser, perfoming arts - australia - 1960s, greg desmond (photographer), ray leighton associates - sydney - new south wales - australia (photographers)

Robin Kelly was born Robin Vandersluys in Mary Street, Kew. As a child, she sang in backyard concerts run with her brother, Leslie. The family moved to Deepdene in 1949 and Robin joined church and school choirs. Later she was to study classical singing with Stella Power, modern singing with Jack White, TV Presentation with Natalie Raine of Crawford Productions and acting/singing with Jessie Matthews. Following her victory in a talent quest at the Orama Ballroom, she was invited to join the Orama Big Band with singers Harry Cox and Arlene Forrest. She also sang with the Kerm Jones Jazz Band at Power House and with Frank Johnson's Jazz Band at Jazz Junction. Robin became resident band vocalist at the historic Federal Hotel in Collins Street with the Rudi Laquer Trio. She also sang at The Savoy Plaza with the George Cadman Trio. A year later she became resident vocalist at the Ress Oriental Hotel with the Lennie Holmes Trio. Later, Robin married pianist Peter Jones, singing under the name 'Robin Vanser' in clubs in Sydney and regional New South Wales. She was booked for a Vietnam War tour and also sang in Tahiti. Returning to Melbourne, her agent booked her to appear in shows in Tasmania including West Point Casino and Melbourne country venues. Another agent, John Bishop, booked her to do floor shows in Melbourne, including Xmas Seasons at the Hampton Hotel where she entertained audiences with her comedy and audience participation routines. In 1971, Robin Kelly retired to run her Robin Hood Antiques business in Canterbury, during which time she was married to tenor Glenn Kelly. Later she joined Sing Australia Camberwell Choir, performing as a soloist at their Melbourne Town Hall Concert.The Vandersluys-Kelly Collection of photographs, costumes and musical performance memorabilia was donated to the Kew Historical Society by Robin Denise Kelly in 2018. The collection is an important record of stage and recorded performances in Australia in the second half of the 20th century. This new nationally-focused and artistically significant collection augments and contextualises the local performing arts materials in our collection.Colour photograph of Robin Vanser (aka Robin Kelly nee Vandersluys) taken while performing at Hawthorn Town Hall in 1995."6 PCE. 1995. HTC HAW. T. HALL / 1995"robin vanser, performing arts - australia - 1990s, hawthorn town hall

Robin Kelly was born Robin Vandersluys in Mary Street, Kew. As a child, she sang in backyard concerts run with her brother, Leslie. The family moved to Deepdene in 1949 and Robin joined church and school choirs. Later she was to study classical singing with Stella Power, modern singing with Jack White, TV Presentation with Natalie Raine of Crawford Productions and acting/singing with Jessie Matthews. Following her victory in a talent quest at the Orama Ballroom, she was invited to join the Orama Big Band with singers Harry Cox and Arlene Forrest. She also sang with the Kerm Jones Jazz Band at Power House and with Frank Johnson's Jazz Band at Jazz Junction. Robin became resident band vocalist at the historic Federal Hotel in Collins Street with the Rudi Laquer Trio. She also sang at The Savoy Plaza with the George Cadman Trio. A year later she became resident vocalist at the Ress Oriental Hotel with the Lennie Holmes Trio. Later, Robin married pianist Peter Jones, singing under the name 'Robin Vanser' in clubs in Sydney and regional New South Wales. She was booked for a Vietnam War tour and also sang in Tahiti. Returning to Melbourne, her agent booked her to appear in shows in Tasmania including West Point Casino and Melbourne country venues. Another agent, John Bishop, booked her to do floor shows in Melbourne, including Xmas Seasons at the Hampton Hotel where she entertained audiences with her comedy and audience participation routines. In 1971, Robin Kelly retired to run her Robin Hood Antiques business in Canterbury, during which time she was married to tenor Glenn Kelly. Later she joined Sing Australia Camberwell Choir, performing as a soloist at their Melbourne Town Hall Concert.The Vandersluys-Kelly Collection of photographs, costumes and musical performance memorabilia was donated to the Kew Historical Society by Robin Denise Kelly in 2018. The collection is an important record of stage and recorded performances in Australia in the second half of the 20th century. This new nationally-focused and artistically significant collection augments and contextualises the local performing arts materials in our collection.Colour photograph of Robin Vanser performing with the Lee Gallagher Show Band in "The Cockpit", Essendon Airport, September 1964"Lee Gallagher Show Band / Essendon Airport / "Cockpit" Sept '64"robin vanser, lee gallagher show band, "the cockpit" - essendon airport, performing arts - australia - 1960s