W.D. Vaughan in 'Kew's Civic Century' (1960) has a chapter (XXII, pp.103-105) on the Kew Swimming Pool (aka Kew Baths). In the chapter he recounts debate in Council from 1912 about the need for a swimming pool. The first concrete step toward achieving this occurred in 1914 when Council purchased the Tramways Sheds on the corner of High and Disraeli Streets in 1914. Further adjoining land in High Street was compulsorily acquired in 1923. The final plans were accepted in 1925 and following public tender, Messrs. Weavill and Keast were appointed to construct the pool at a cost of 5,418/9/-. The baths were formally opened on 18 November 1925 by George Ramsay, Mayor of Kew. (The Kew Swimming Club was founded in the same year.) Vaughan notes that "mixed bathing was not permitted at the Kew Baths until January, 1928, when it was allowed every evening (except Sundays) and Friday afternoons. A few years later these restrictions were removed altogether".Small B&W photograph of the old Kew Swimming Pool showing seating at right. The photograph can be dated to the years 1929-33, as the wooden grandstand was not erected until 1929 and it was before a new high swimming platform was erected in 1933."D3. 92"kew swimming pool - kew (vic), sport and recreation - kew (vic), kew baths - kew (vic), mayors of kew - cr. george ramsay - kew (vic), kew swimming club

W.D. Vaughan in 'Kew's Civic Century' (1960) has a chapter (XXII, pp.103-105) on the Kew Swimming Pool (aka Kew Baths). In the chapter he recounts debate in Council from 1912 about the need for a swimming pool. The first concrete step toward achieving this occurred in 1914 when Council purchased the Tramways Sheds on the corner of High and Disraeli Streets in 1914. Further adjoining land in High Street was compulsorily acquired in 1923. The final plans were accepted in 1925 and following public tender, Messrs. Weavill and Keast were appointed to construct the pool at a cost of 5,418/9/-. The baths were formally opened on 18 November 1925 by George Ramsay, Mayor of Kew. (The Kew Swimming Club was founded in the same year.) Vaughan notes that "mixed bathing was not permitted at the Kew Baths until January, 1928, when it was allowed every evening (except Sundays) and Friday afternoons. A few years later these restrictions were removed altogether".Small B&W photograph of the old Kew Swimming Pool. Girl on diving board at left. The photograph can be dated to the years 1929-33, as the wooden grandstand was not erected until 1929 and it was before a new high swimming platform was erected in 1933."Old Swimming Pool Kew. D2. 92"kew swimming pool - kew (vic), sport and recreation - kew (vic), kew baths - kew (vic), mayors of kew - cr. george ramsay - kew (vic), kew swimming club

W.D. Vaughan in 'Kew's Civic Century' (1960) has a chapter (XXII, pp.103-105) on the Kew Swimming Pool (aka Kew Baths). In the chapter he recounts debate in Council from 1912 about the need for a swimming pool. The first concrete step toward achieving this occurred in 1914 when Council purchased the Tramways Sheds on the corner of High and Disraeli Streets in 1914. Further adjoining land in High Street was compulsorily acquired in 1923. The final plans were accepted in 1925 and following public tender, Messrs. Weavill and Keast were appointed to construct the pool at a cost of 5,418/9/-. The baths were formally opened on 18 November 1925 by George Ramsay, Mayor of Kew. (The Kew Swimming Club was founded in the same year.) Vaughan notes that "mixed bathing was not permitted at the Kew Baths until January, 1928, when it was allowed every evening (except Sundays) and Friday afternoons. A few years later these restrictions were removed altogether".Small B&W photograph of a crowd of onlookers watching swimming events in the old Kew Swimming Pool in High Street. The photograph can be dated to the years 1929-33, as the wooden grandstand was not erected until 1929 and it was before a new high swimming platform was erected in 1933."Old Swimming Pool. D1. 92"kew swimming pool - kew (vic), sport and recreation - kew (vic), kew baths - kew (vic), mayors of kew - cr. george ramsay - kew (vic), kew swimming club

W.D. Vaughan in 'Kew's Civic Century' (1960) has a chapter (XXII, pp.103-105) on the Kew Swimming Pool (aka Kew Baths). In the chapter he recounts debate in Council from 1912 about the need for a swimming pool. The first concrete step toward achieving this occurred in 1914 when Council purchased the Tramways Sheds on the corner of High and Disraeli Streets in 1914. Further adjoining land in High Street was compulsorily acquired in 1923. The final plans were accepted in 1925 and following public tender, Messrs. Weavill and Keast were appointed to construct the pool at a cost of 5,418/9/-. The baths were formally opened on 18 November 1925 by George Ramsay, Mayor of Kew. (The Kew Swimming Club was founded in the same year.) Vaughan notes that "mixed bathing was not permitted at the Kew Baths until January, 1928, when it was allowed every evening (except Sundays) and Friday afternoons. A few years later these restrictions were removed altogether".Small B&W photograph of two boys standing beside a diving board at the old Kew Swimming Pool while in the distance a woman dives into the pool. The photograph can be dated to the years 1929-33, as the wooden grandstand was not erected until 1929 and it was before a new high swimming platform was erected in 1933."Old Swimming Pool Kew. D4. 92"kew swimming pool - kew (vic), sport and recreation - kew (vic), kew baths - kew (vic), mayors of kew - cr. george ramsay - kew (vic), kew swimming club

The Martin Family records held within our archives includes photographs and documents pertaining to three families - the Bissetts, Perrys, and Martins - connected across five generations by marriage. The collection records life events such as marriage, images of members of the families, as well as snapshots of daily life A Herald:'Learn-to-Swim Campaign' certificate awarded to Heather Martin who was taught to swim 25 Yards at the Kew Swimming Pool on 15 January 1953heather martin, kew swimming pool, kew baths, martin family collection

Small sepia photograph, originally belonging to John Maughan, City of Kew Engineer from c.1934-1965, and in this role the designer of the Kew Baths (later Kew Swimming Pool). The photograph, one of five (three of which were taken at the opening ceremony) was donated to the collection by John Maughan's daughter in 2026.The Kew Baths was a major infrastructure project during the 1920s by a suburban council. The photographs of the opening are the earliest documentary evidence of the original format of the Baths in the Collection.Bird's eye view of the opening of the Kew Baths in 1925. The small sepia photograph shows the original buildings on the east, north and west of the Baths. The Baths were entered from High Street. The original diving board is in the foreground of the photograph. Children can be seen swimming in the pool for the first time. Previously public bathing took place in locations on the Yarra.Nilkew baths, kew swimming pool, city engineer -- kew (vic), official openings - kew (vic), john maughan

Small sepia photograph, originally belonging to John Maughan, City of Kew Engineer from c.1934-1965, and in this role the designer of the Kew Baths (later Kew Swimming Pool). The Baths were officially opened on November 26, 1925, by the Mayor of Kew, Cr George Ramsay. The photograph, one of five (three of which were taken at the opening ceremony) was donated to the collection by John Maughan's daughter in 2026.The Kew Baths was a major infrastructure project during the 1920s by a suburban council. This photographs is one of the earliest pieces of visual documentary evidence of the original format of the Baths in the collection and the renovations of 1928.The small black and white photograph shows the original buildings and viewing stands at the Kew Baths, which were opened in 1925. The Baths were entered from High Street. The photo shows elevated seating on the west side of the Baths and bench seating on the right. Before 1925, public bathing took place in locations on the Yarra River.Nilkew baths, kew swimming pool, city engineer -- kew (vic), john maughan

Small sepia photograph, originally belonging to John Maughan, City of Kew Engineer from c.1934-1965, and in this role the designer of the Kew Baths (later Kew Swimming Pool). The Baths were officially opened on November 26, 1925, by the Mayor of Kew, Cr George Ramsay. The photograph, one of five (three of which were taken at the opening ceremony) was donated to the collection by John Maughan's daughter in 2026.The Kew Baths was a major infrastructure project during the 1920s by a suburban council. The photographs of the opening are the earliest documentary evidence of the original format of the Baths in the Collection.Bird's eye view of the opening of the Kew Baths. In the foreground are invited dignitaries. Children are lined up on the east side of the pool. The small sepia photograph shows the original buildings, changing rooms, on the east side of the Baths. Nilkew baths, kew swimming pool, city engineer -- kew (vic), official openings - kew (vic), john maughan

Small black and white photograph, originally belonging to John Maughan, City of Kew Engineer from c.1934-1965, and in this role the designer of the Kew Baths (later Kew Swimming Pool). The Baths were officially opened on November 26, 1925, by the Mayor of Kew, Cr George Ramsay. The photograph, one of five (three of which were taken at the opening ceremony) was donated to the collection by John Maughan's daughter in 2026.The Kew Baths was a major infrastructure project during the 1920s by a suburban council. This photographs is one of the earliest pieces of visual documentary evidence of the original format of the Baths in the collection and the renovations of 1928.The small sepia photograph shows the original buildings at the Kew Baths, which were opened in 1925. The Baths were entered from High Street. The original diving board is in the foreground of the photograph. Children can be seen swimming in the pool. This photograph is believed to date from after the 1928 renovations to the Baths. Before 1925, public bathing took place in locations on the Yarra River at Kew.Nilkew baths, kew swimming pool, city engineer -- kew (vic), john maughan

Small sepia photograph, originally belonging to John Maughan, City of Kew Engineer from c.1934-1965, and in this role the designer of the Kew Baths (later Kew Swimming Pool). The Kew Baths were officially opened on November 26, 1925, by the Mayor of Kew, Cr George Ramsay. The photograph, one of five (three of which were taken at the opening ceremony) was donated to the collection by John Maughan's daughter in 2026.The Kew Baths was a major infrastructure project during the 1920s by a suburban council. The photographs of the opening are the earliest documentary evidence of the original format of the Baths in the Collection.Bird's eye view of the opening of the Kew Baths in 1925. In the foreground are invited dignitaries. Children are lined up on the edge of the pool with their feet in the water. The small sepia photograph shows the original buildings on the west side of the Baths. Nilkew baths, kew swimming pool, city engineer -- kew (vic), official openings - kew (vic), john maughan

Founded in 1925, the Kew Amateur Swimming Club launched alongside the opening of the Kew Municipal Baths on High Street. Starting with just twelve members, the club grew rapidly to over two hundred swimmers by 1932. As the seventh oldest swimming club in metropolitan Melbourne, it immediately affiliated with the Victorian Amateur Swimming Association and the Royal Life Saving Society. Before World War II, the club established itself as a local pillar, training generations of residents in competitive racing and life-saving. It successfully transitioned community swimming from the nearby Yarra River into a structured, safe, and modern aquatic sport environment.Small, undated black and white snapshot of a swimmer at the Kew Swimming Pool in High Street, Kew. Other swimmers, officials and audience can be seen in the background. Verso: "Kew Swimming Club"kew swimming club, aquatic sports, swimming, public swimming pools

Founded in 1925, the Kew Amateur Swimming Club launched alongside the opening of the Kew Municipal Baths on High Street. Starting with just twelve members, the club grew rapidly to over two hundred swimmers by 1932. As the seventh oldest swimming club in metropolitan Melbourne, it immediately affiliated with the Victorian Amateur Swimming Association and the Royal Life Saving Society. Before World War II, the club established itself as a local pillar, training generations of residents in competitive racing and life-saving. It successfully transitioned community swimming from the nearby Yarra River into a structured, safe, and modern aquatic sport environment.Small, undated black and white snapshot of a swimmer at the Kew Swimming Pool in High Street, Kew. Other swimmers, officials and audience can be seen in the background. Verso: "Kew Swimming Club"kew swimming club, aquatic sports, swimming, public swimming pools

W.D. Vaughan in 'Kew's Civic Century' (1960) has a chapter (XXII, pp.103-105) on the Kew Swimming Pool (aka Kew Baths). In the chapter he recounts debate in Council from 1912 about the need for a swimming pool. The first concrete step toward achieving this occurred in 1914 when Council purchased the Tramways Sheds on the corner of High and Disraeli Streets in 1914. Further adjoining land in High Street was compulsorily acquired in 1923. The final plans were accepted in 1925 and following public tender, Messrs. Weavill and Keast were appointed to construct the pool at a cost of 5,418/9/-. The baths were formally opened on 18 November 1925 by George Ramsay, Mayor of Kew. (The Kew Swimming Club was founded in the same year.) Vaughan notes that "mixed bathing was not permitted at the Kew Baths until January, 1928, when it was allowed every evening (except Sundays) and Friday afternoons. A few years later these restrictions were removed altogether".Five black and white photographs of Kew in the 1960s donated by Kerstin Fraser. The photographs include 3 pictures of the Mayor of Kew, Gordon Greer at the Kew Baths and two photographs of the Carmelite Monastery in Stevenson Street, Kew.kew baths - kew (vic), carmelite monastery - stevenson street - kew (vic), cr leo hawkins, swimming

John and Phyllis Murphy designed this house and garden in Kew for Sir Frank and Lady Macfarlane Burnet in 1959, the year before Burnet and Peter Medaware received the Nobel Prize for discovering acquired immunological tolerance. For the most highly honoured scientist to have worked in Australia, Burnet's house is modest - single storey with two bedrooms. Typical of post-war suburban housing thought, the garden is a generous, and the planting a mix of existing shrubs and trees, old favourites such as camelias, hydrangeas, lilacs, and a unusually 'a thick copse of native trees'. John Murphy (1920-2004) and Phyllis Murphy (nee Slater) (1924-) are alumni of RMIT. John commenced his architectural studies at Swinburne Technical College prior to WW2, and subsequently studied at Melbourne Technical College (now RMIT University) from 1944 to 1946. Phyllis studied architecture at Melbourne Technical College from 1942, before transferring to Melbourne University's Architectural Atelier in 1944 They both completed their Bachelor of Architecture in 1949, with Phyllis topping the fourth year, and John coming in second. They established their architectural practice in 1950. One early project was their design with Kevin Borland and Peter McIntyre for the Olympic Swimming Pool (1956). Ann Carew 2018dye, paper, garden design, kew

The former City of Kew in Victoria issued badges to council employees performing public roles. The Society has other badges issued by the City for roles such as Parking Attendant, Swimming Pool Attendant etc. 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 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. A nickel and enamel identification badge issued to the hall keeper of the Kew Recreation Hall by the City of Kew. The badge is shaped like a shield and is stamped with the users' title.arthur dear collection, performing arts -- kew -- victoria, kew recreation hall -- wellington street, kew civic hall -- cotham road, city of kew

The site on the north side of High Street, Kew, on the corner of Disraeli Street is now the location of the Kew Recreation Centre. The current (as of 2020) swimming pool was formerly situated further west on the site but was relocated closer to Disraeli Street during the 1980s. Previously, this was the site of a Kew Council depot, and before that a horse tram shed. The horse tram (1887-1914) ran from the Victoria Street Bridge to the entrance of the Boroondara General Cemetery. Rusted horse shoe, excavated from the site of the Kew Recreation Centre on the corner of High and Disraeli Streets in Kew. The shoe was donated by Mr Poulter, City Engineer, City of Kew. The shoe may have been made for one of the horses that pulled the Kew Horse Tram or one of the Council depot horses.horse tram - kew (vic), archaeological items - kew (vic), horse shoes, kew recreation centre, council depots - kew (vic), tram sheds - kew (vic)

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 has detailed annotations written in red or blue ink, showing prices, which may be the annual valuations of the properties, and some owners’ names, a most unusual feature on contractor's maps. Some areas, such as the buildings of Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC), include the school’s tennis court and swimming pool, but are not coloured to show building materials – did the draftsman just run out of time, or ink, or enthusiasm, before his plan had to be submitted? MLC had been founded in 1882 as a ‘modern school of the first order’ with buildings that formed ‘a collegiate institution for girls unsurpassed in the colonies’. The goal of its founders was to provide a high-class Christian education for girls, comparable with that provided elsewhere for boys. Some shops are shown along Edgevale Road, though they are not designated as commercial premises. Larger houses are depicted, including ‘Fairlawn’ in Barkers Road, and ‘Clevedon’ and ‘Rosehill’ (now demolished) in Fitzwilliam Street.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, mmbw 1573, maps - borough of kew, cartography

Glendonald School for Deaf Children was run by the Victorian Education Department. It provided education and some residential services for deaf children. The school was situated in Marshall Avenue, Kew and operated from 1951–91. Deaf children whose families lived too far to travel daily were housed in a grand Victorian mansion in Belmont Avenue, Kew, the John Cannon Hostel. The school and hostel also accommodated a small number of wards of the state. (Source: Glendonald School for Deaf Children 1951–91)Glendonald was a significant mansion in Kew (now demolished) built for the industrialist and manufacturer Donald Leslie in 1886. The school was purchased by the Victorian Department of Education on 29 November 1950 for the sum of 16,500 pounds.Swimming Pool, Glendonald, Marshall Avenue (Kew).The old school for the deaf at 17 Marshall Ave for children from the age of six years to ten years old, then they would go to 25 Marshall Ave to finish their schooling leaving age 16 years old. glendonald - marshall avenue - kew (vic), education - deaf children - victoria

The former Deep Rock Swimming Pool was about 500 yards [457 metres] above Dight’s Falls. It was there that the Deep Rock Swimming Club was established in 1906. This initial club was expanded in 1916 to incorporate a life-saving club. In 1918, John Wren, the president of the club offered the club £1000, and undertook to sponsor a patriotic carnival in March 1918, at which swimming champions would take part. The ‘pool’ was to achieve fame as the venue for a world record-breaking ‘swallow dive’ of 205 feet 9 inches [63 metres] by ‘Prince Wickyama’, [aka Alec Wickham], a Solomon Islander. The dive from a special platform on the west side of the Yarra was reputedly viewed by between 50,000-100,000 spectators, with funds going to the State War Council. The Herald, 25 March 1918, claimed that the wide area occupied by spectators made more precise estimates impossible. In the 1980s, the construction of the Eastern Freeway, and the consequent re-routing of the Yarra River led to the site of the Deep Rock Pool being obliterated. A small cairn and plaque on the Fairfield side of the river now marks its former site.Very rare early photograph off the Deep Rock swimming pool. The pool and its built structures are historically and socially important to the people of Collingwood, Fairfield and Kew. Small, faded, Gelatin Silver print positive photograph of the Deep Rock Swimming Pool situated on the Yarra at Collingwood and Fairfield. The famous diving tower is at the right of the photo. The built structures were constructed for the Deep Rock Swimming and Life Saving Club. People are sitting on the terraces above the river. "Bathing Club. Deep Rock on the Yarra. Studley Park Melbourne. Please credit E.J. Thomasson Collection"deep rock swimming pool, deep rock swimming club, deep rock lifesaving club, swimming -- river yarra, river yarra

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the Eastern Freeway through the Yarra Valley over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.Opened in 1960, the California Motel at 138 Barkers Road, Hawthorn, was located opposite the entrance to Xavier College and built on the site of the former Barker railway station of the closed Kew branch line. The motel was advertised as “away from the hustle and bustle of the city and offering affordable accommodation for the business or leisure traveller”. Special amenities included air-conditioning, a business centre, and swimming pool. The motel had 82 suites. A possibly forgotten, but perhaps essential feature of the motel, was the Caltex Service Station at its entrance. The building was closed in April 2008, extensively vandalised and finally demolished in 2013."California Motel"ron setford, photographs -- kew (vic.) -- 1960s, california motel -- barkers road -- hawthorn (vic.)

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the Eastern Freeway through the Yarra Valley over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.Opened in 1960, the California Motel at 138 Barkers Road, Hawthorn, was located opposite the entrance to Xavier College and built on the site of the former Barker railway station of the closed Kew branch line. The motel was advertised as “away from the hustle and bustle of the city and offering affordable accommodation for the business or leisure traveller”. Special amenities included air-conditioning, a business centre, and swimming pool. The motel had 82 suites. A possibly forgotten, but perhaps essential feature of the motel, was the Caltex Service Station at its entrance. The building was closed in April 2008, extensively vandalised and finally demolished in 2013.Nilron setford, photographs -- kew (vic.) -- 1960s, california hotel -- barkers road -- hawthorn (vic.), california motel -- barkers road

An item of ephemera relating to tourism and recreation on the Yarra River in Melbourne in the first half of the twentieth century.An item from a large collection assembled by the Christian and Washfold families of Kew, including photographs, postcards, and ephemera. Many of the items in the Christian-Washfold Collection relate to the Yarra River and its use as as a recreational resource. Numerous items in the collection are historically important in that they are rare and often unique records of vanished locations or past recreational activities.Advertisement or ticket to a Monster Swimming Carnival to be held by the Deep Rock Swimming and Lifesaving Club in Fairfield at the bottom of Roseneath Street on Saturday 23rd March 1918 at 2 p.m.christian-washfold collection, river yarra -- recreation, yarra - swimming carnivals, deep rock pool

A colour slides of boys near a swimming pool at a camp in 1958. The pool could be at the house of a legatee. The boys may have been camping at Blamey House Kew and taken there by bus (see 02992). Blamey House was used for camps over summer holidays for many years. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image the best available.A record of camps being organised for children.Colour slide photo of a group of boys near a swimming pool in a cardboard Kodachrome mount.Handwritten on front 'Holiday Camp Boys' and '1958' in blue pen. Imprinted '14' in black ink. Printed on reverse 'Kodachrome Transparency / Processed by Kodak' with a red outline on edge of slide.camps, pool

Built in 1953, the Rice House was leading Melbourne architect Kevin Borland's first commssion and was one of two houses of its kind. The design of the shell-like structure was inspired by the Arch of Ctesiphon, built in the second century south of Baghdad. Cement with a waterproofing agent was applied in layers to a form of regularly spaced timber arches covered in hessian. This ctesiphon system was developed in the United Kingdom by engineer J.H. de Waller in 1947. Commissioned in 1951 by Harrie and Lorna Rice, after Harrie, then an art student, met Borland at The Age Small Homes Service. Borland suggested they buy land in Eltham because at that time it was the only council in Melbourne that would grant a permit for such an innovative house. Covered under Victorian Heritage. Inspired by an ancient arch in Iraq, a house stands on top of a hill in a private position, off Ryans Road, Eltham. One of only two houses of its kind, it was leading Melbourne architect Kevin Borland’s first commissioned house, which he built in 1953. The shell-like structure, partially screened by giant trees and cacti, was inspired by the Arch of Ctesiphon south of Baghdad, built in the second century.1 Cement with a waterproofing agent was applied in layers to a form of regularly spaced timber arches tightly covered by hessian. This ctesiphon system was developed in the United Kingdom by engineer J H de Waller in 1947. This house was the first of three such structures built in Victoria, of which only one other remains, although substantially altered.2 It is the Wood House and supermarket, at the corner of Cleveland Road and High Street Road, Ashwood, designed by Robin Boyd in 1952. The Rice House demonstrates Kevin Borland’s innovative and experimental work. It is an outstanding example of the post-war period of experimentation in domestic architecture in Melbourne – by Robin Boyd, Kevin Borland and others – for The Age Small Homes Service from 1947 to 1953. This was partly an expression of late-Modernism and also necessitated by the post-war shortage of building materials. In Eltham, the post-war shortage of building materials largely resulted in mud-brick houses. Examples of Borland’s public work include contributions to the Olympic Swimming Pool in Melbourne and the Preshil Junior School in Kew. After more than 50 years of living in the house, Harrie and Lorna Rice still love it. Facing north-east with large windows overlooking the garden and two courtyards, it is well lit and benefits from a through breeze. The couple commissioned the extraordinary house after Harrie, then an art student, met Borland in 1951 at The Age Small Homes Service. Harrie was so impressed by the recently graduated Borland’s enthusiasm, that he asked him to design them an interesting house for a low budget. The unusual design presented several hurdles for the young couple before they could construct it. Borland suggested that they buy land in Eltham, because at that time it had the only council in Melbourne that would allow such an innovative house. Another hurdle was to gain finance for this remarkable house. The State Savings Bank Manager refused finance on the grounds that it was ‘unliveable’ and a ‘disgrace’. Fortunately, through a family connection, the couple borrowed money from the National Bank. But they discovered years later, that the bank’s evaluation stated the two ‘concrete sheds’ were of no value! The house built in off-white concrete, consists of two sections. The main house has four arches supported by brick and concrete walls that create a series of inter-connected rooms. Inside, the ceiling follows the roofline. Originally this section was only ten square metres, because of building restrictions at the time. But in 1973 Borland added two rooms and a carport. The second structure of two arches was originally a garage and a studio for art teacher Harrie Rice. To accommodate the growing family, in the mid 1950s, Borland converted the second structure into two children’s bedrooms, a kitchenette, a bathroom and a living room. The two structures were originally linked by a covered way of suspended draped-concrete, but this collapsed in the 1980s. The design has several maintenance problems. Cracks developed where two halves of the shells were joined. Then the material sprayed over the cracks became brittle, causing leaks. Fortunately Harrie found another material he could use. The valleys between the arches collect water, requiring annual painting with a waterproof material to prevent leaking. Lorna framed the house with native and exotic plants, which provide privacy and as a bonus, the garden attracted the rare Eltham Copper Butterfly. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p157 Comments about the Rice House on Lost Eltham page on Facebook June 2018 https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Eltham-1535993463348408/ Kate Borland:  My dad designed this house. It is the Rice house and it is being renovated to its original glory as we speak.... Katherine Fox: I remember Harry and Lorna's, there was a secret room...! And the best loo with a view as I recall. Katherine Fox: Love this house! Wish I'd known it was up for sale. Looking forward to seeing progress if possible...If I recall correctly, the concrete swag over the walk-way collapsed at some stage. Marcus Skipper: In our little green Landrover, my dad and Alister Knox drove up dirt roads, a dirt track through the bush and finally to the ridge to check out this joint in about 1960. After the war at some time, they were all together at RMIT studying building design. Alister was the only one to graduate. A situation that resulted, my father would joke, in Alister having a career wherein his qualifications exceeded his talent. World Peace had broken out and all were hip to the ‘People’s’ century. Kevin went with the Modernist’s concrete, Alister went with the peasant’s mudbrick. “If this is the future,” my dad said,”I don’t like it.” And we drove back to medieval Montsalvat.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham, rice house, ryans road, kevin borland