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.)

Gift of the City of Kew 1988Archival recordsProvenance orderReproduced minutes on microfiche of the local government instrumentality - initially the Municipality, then Borough, Town and City of Kew.municipality of kew - council minutes, borough of kew - council minutes, town of kew - council minutes, city of kew - council minutes, local government - kew (vic)municipality of kew - council minutes, borough of kew - council minutes, town of kew - council minutes, city of kew - council minutes, local government - kew (vic)

Kew : W.D. Vaughan, 1960 208p. : ill. 22cmnon-fictionCivic History of Kew by Cr WD Vaughan. Published at the time of Kew's Centenary. Gift of the author's daughter in 1979kew -- history, local government -- kew (vic.)

The Municipality of Kew was granted independence in 1860. It was declared a borough in 1863, a town in 1910 and a city in 1921. In 1994, Kew was amalgamated into the new City of Boroondara.Black and white photographic positive of the front of the (former) Kew Town Hall in Walpole Street between High Street and Malmsbury Street, on the west side where Woolworth's supermarket now stands. The photograph, from August 1970 shows the detailing of the Italianate rendered-brick facade, added in the 1880s when the hall was renovated. The earliest building on the site was the Kew Athenaeum Hall (built 1860) which was purchased by Kew Council in 1865. The Town Hall was sold to Woolworth's and subsequently demolished in 1972 when the civic offices were transferred to a new building on the corner of Charles Street and Cotham Road."Old Kew Town Hall / Walpole St / Aug 1970/ Gift of Stewart West 1990"kew town hall -- walpole street, local government -- kew, civic buildings -- kew (vic.), town halls -- melbourne (vic.)

The Municipality of Kew was granted independence in 1860. It was declared a borough in 1863, a town in 1910 and a city in 1921. In 1994, Kew was amalgamated into the new City of Boroondara. In 1960, a new Town Hall in Cotham Road was opened. The Municipal Offices that had remained in the former Town Hall in Walpole Street until it was moved to the new Civic Centre on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street in 1972.This is a rare and important colour photograph of the Kew Municipal Offices (former Town Hall) taken on 11/2/1972 in the year that the building was demolished and replaced by a Safeway Supermarket.Colour photographic positive (polaroid) of the front of the (former) Kew Town Hall in Walpole Street between High Street and Malmsbury Street, on the west side where Woolworth's supermarket now stands. The photograph, taken in February 1972, shows the detailing of the Italianate rendered-brick facade, added in the 1880s when the hall was renovated. The earliest building on the site was the Kew Athenaeum Hall (built 1860) which was purchased by Kew Council in 1865. The Town Hall was sold to Woolworth's and subsequently demolished in 1972 when the civic offices were transferred to a new building on the corner of Charles Street and Cotham Road.kew town hall -- walpole street, local government -- kew, town halls -- melbourne (vic.)

Plan of the City of Kew produced for public distributionPlan of City of Kew - Scale 1 : 15000Revised June 1979plans - city of kew (vic.), maps - kew (vic.), local government area - kew - victoria, cartography

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

Digital images off anniversary badges for the Kew Festival. city of kew, kew city council, kew, local government, festival, badge, kew festival, anniversary

One of eight photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, mostly of hard rubbish clearance during the period 1969-1985.One of a dated series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew in the period 1969-1985. Original black and white photographic positive of an unidentified room, possibly within the Kew Council Depot.garbage, hard rubbish, garbage removal, city of kew, local government -- city of kew, household waste, hard waste

One of eight photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, mostly of hard rubbish clearance during the period 1969-1985.One of a dated series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew in the period 1969-1985. Original black and white photographic positive of a hard waste in a street within the City of KewStamp: K90K652 In envelope marked: "Kew City Council 12 photos / 1969 1979 18980 1985 / Unburnable rubbish units 18/1/80"garbage, hard rubbish, garbage removal, city of kew, local government -- city of kew, household waste, hard waste

One of eight photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, mostly of hard rubbish clearance during the period 1969-1985.One of a dated series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew in the period 1969-1985. Original black and white photographic positive of rubbish collection units (trailers) used within the City of Kew in and around 1980. Both trailers display the same sign reading: "City of Kew This collection unit available until tomorrow for unburnables only. Not household or garden refuse. By Order" Stamp - J86K431 Annotation in ink on reverse: "Rubbish Units 18/1/80'. In envelope marked: "Kew City Council 12 photos / 1969 1979 18980 1985 / Unburnable rubbish units 18/1/80"garbage, hard rubbish, garbage removal, city of kew, local government -- city of kew, household waste, hard waste

One of eight photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, mostly of hard rubbish clearance during the period 1969-1985.One of a dated series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew in the period 1969-1985. Original black and white photographic positive of hard rubbish awaiting collection in a street within the borders of the City of Kew.Stamp - K90K652 / In envelope marked: "Kew City Council / 12 photos / 1969 1979 18980 1985 / Unburnable rubbish units 18/1/80"garbage, hard rubbish, garbage removal, city of kew, local government -- city of kew, household waste, hard waste

One of eight photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, mostly of hard rubbish clearance during the period 1969-1985.One of a dated series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew in the period 1969-1985. Original black and white photographic positive of unburnable hard waste awaiting collection in Parkhill Road, Kew in 1969.Annotation in ink on reverse "17th Nov 1969 / 8.45a.m. / Parkhill Rd West of Adeney Ave". In envelope marked: "Kew City Council / 12 photos / 1969 1979 18980 1985 / Unburnable rubbish units 18/1/80"garbage, hard rubbish, garbage removal, city of kew, local government -- city of kew, household waste, hard waste

One of eight photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, mostly of hard rubbish clearance during the period 1969-1985.One of a dated series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew in the period 1969-1985. Original black and white photographic positive of unburnable hard waste awaiting collection in an unidentified street in the City of Kew.In envelope marked: "Kew City Council / 12 photos / 1969 1979 18980 1985 / Unburnable rubbish units 18/1/80"garbage, hard rubbish, garbage removal, city of kew, local government -- city of kew, household waste, hard waste

One of eight photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, mostly of hard rubbish clearance during the period 1969-1985.One of a dated series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew in the period 1969-1985. Original black and white photographic positive of unburnable hard waste awaiting collection in Parkhill Road in the City of Kew.Reverse: "17th Nov 1969 8.45am. / Parkhill Road West of Adeney Avenue" In envelope marked: "Kew City Council / 12 photos / 1969 1979 18980 1985 / Unburnable rubbish units 18/1/80"garbage, hard rubbish, garbage removal, city of kew, local government -- city of kew, household waste, hard waste