Kew achieved independence from the Boroondara Roads Board in 1860. As a new municipality, its first three leaders were designated as chairmen. On becoming a borough in 1863, its leaders were identified as mayors. The earliest photographs date from ca.1906, when the Town of Kew commissioned the noted local photographer Josiah E Barnes to produce standardised portraits of former mayors to be displayed in the Mayoral Chamber of the Town Hall. The collection also includes photographs by other well-known photographic studios such as Burlington Studios, Melba – Melbourne, Stuart Tompkins, Spencer Shier and Talma & Co. The majority of mounts identify the photographer. Eighty photographs are housed in their original frames.This portrait is one of a series of mounted and framed photographic portraits of Mayors and Town Clerks of the former Borough, Town and City of Kew, for the period 1863 to 1969. The portraits were transferred by the City of Kew to the Kew Historical Society in March 1989. A Significance Assessment in 2018, funded by the National Library of Australia confirmed the historic, and often artistic significance of the series. Framed portrait of Cr. Marie Dalley O.B.E., J.P., Mayor of Kew in 1954-5. The mounting and framing of the photograph follows a typical layout or style in that each is framed in dark wood, glazed, and laid down on an inscribed board. The inscription identifies the name of the mayor and the year/s that he/she served.Cr. Marie Dalley O.B.E., J.P. / Mayor 1954-5 Stuart Tompkins Studiomayors of kew (vic), cr. marie (ma) dalley obe, local government - female mayors, kew (vic.) — municipal collection

Julie Cooper, was the first female councillor elected for the City of Moorabbin Council in 1979. Julie went on to challenge the norms of local government and fulfilled another milestone when she was elected the city’s first female mayor in 1982. Julie Cooper was the first female Councillor elected for Moorabbin City Council in 1979 and became the first female Mayor in 1982 Rectangle gold name badge with "Councillor Julie Cooper JP" written on it. On the left side is the coat of arms for the City of Moorabbin.City of Moorabbin - Councillor Julie Cooper JPcity of moorabbin, mayor of moorabbin, julie cooper

Photo was considered for inclusion in the "Women of Port Melbourne" exhibition (October 2005). Ms Robieson was the first female Mayor of Port Melbourne.Black and White photo of Anna Louise ROBIESON. Mayor 1978-79. Enlarged copy of the original image. 3/4 seated position, wearing the Port Melbourne Mayoral chain.Handwriten note "not in use"local government - city of port melbourne, women, anna louise robieson

This dress was worn by Brighton's first female mayor, Councillor Di Lopez, to a Mayoral Ball held at Brighton Technical School in 1977. Diane Margaret Lewis completed a law degree at the University of Melbourne, later marrying one of her classmates, criminal lawyer Ramon (Ray) Lopez. When she decided to run for the Brighton City Council in 1975, she was seen as an outside chance. Undeterred, she rallied a small group of friends and supporters and set out on an extensive door-knocking campaign that won voters to her side and successfully unseated former mayor Keith Devenport. She went on to serve two terms on council from 1975 to 1981. Di initiated many local projects, including the creation of a bike path along Nepean Highway and the first Brighton Festival, while balancing family life and a demanding ‘day job’ as personal assistant to Victorian Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation Brian Dixon. She was a member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby and a champion for women’s representation, encouraging both Sally Allmand and Kate Harman to run for council (both were successfully elected). She advocated forcefully for an open, transparent local government in which ratepayers had the chance to participate and be heard. In 1976 Di became the first woman to hold the title of Mayor of Brighton, and she made it clear from the outset that she was going to do it her way. For the annual mayoral ball in 1977, ordinarily a staid traditional function, she chose a discotheque theme based on the Rod Stewart album Night on the Town, with a broad dress code of ‘black tie or jeans’: ‘You’ve got to get with the times,’ she said. ‘We want people to wear whatever they feel comfortable in.’ Di herself chose to attend in this knee-length chamois dress embellished with strings, ribbons, beads and feathers. It was both a fashion statement, exemplifying her colourful, flamboyant and forthright style, and a political one: a declaration of her intention to lead a progressive council, embracing the new and refusing to be hemmed in by dated traditions. In 2020 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her service to local government and to the community of Brighton.This dress has local historical significance for its association with Brighton's first female mayor, Councillor Di Lopez, who wore it to a Mayoral Ball in 1976. The dress exemplifies her flamboyant reputation, modern outlook and willingness to break norms. At the time, the dress was a radical choice for a Mayoral Ball, where women typically wore formal evening gowns. With her choice of dress, Cr Lopez was making a public statement, breaking away from dated traditions and announcing her intention to bring the Mayor's office into the 1970s. In this way, the dress also points to the wider social and political changes taking place both in Brighton and across Australia during the mid-1970s.Three quarter length chamois dress circa 1974. Machine stitched with a v-neck and full length sleeves and an uneven raw hem, the dress is decorated with narrow thongs of chamois embellished with red beads and blue feathers. The open-fronted bodice is laced with red ribbon and the skirt is decorated with a large blue wool cross stitch and a combination of blue wool and purple ribbon cross stitch. Made in the style of an Indian 'Wild West Dress'.di lopez, chamois, brighton, brighton council, brighton technical school, mayoral ball, 1970s, feminism

Gannet in flight over seascape. The sky is a series of blue and white squares. Under the sky is the sea and an island.Front: 20/25 (lower left, pencil) Lawrence Rocks and Point Danger from Crumpets (lower centre, pencil) P. Tsernjavski 1985 (signature, lower right, pencil) Mayor of Portland (lower left, blue stamp) Portland proclaimed a City October 28th 1985 (lower centre, blue stamp) Minister for Local Government (lower right, blue stamp) Back: Gary Hayman/ Picture Framer (sticker)portland, portland bay, crumpets, lawrence rocks, female artists, female, women artists