The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Fashion (or clothing/costumes) in the collection was largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories. This short, beaded 'flapper' dress was worn by Mrs Udora Freame to a ball at the Hawthorn Town Hall in the 1920s. Donated by her daughter, the dress is the earliest item of fashion in the collection where provenance can be linked to a local civic event.Sleeveless black chiffon 'flapper' evening dress with v-neck. The dress is embroidered with silver thread using chain stitch and glass beads simulating Parisian jet.women's clothing, australian fashion - 1920s, evening dresses, udora freame, evening wear, flapper dresses, mayoral balls -- hawthorn (vic.)

Photograph of the first Kew Mayoral Ball to be held after the Second World War. The photograph formed part of the collection of WHS Dickinson and was presented to the Kew Historical Society by his daughter in 2018. Original black and white photograph of the Mayor of Kew, Cr WHS Dickinson and the Mayoress, Mrs Doris Dickinson at the 1947 Kew Mayoral Ball, held at the Hawthorn Town Hall. This was the first [Kew] mayoral ball to be held after the Second World War. The photo shows a derbutante and her partner being presented to the Mayor and Mayoress while the Acting Town Clerk, Mr W. Graham and two flower girls, Janet and Judith Dickinson stand near the Mayor and Mayoress.1947cr whs dickinson - mayor of kew 1946-1947, civic events - kew (vic), mayoral balls -- kew (vic)

Photograph of the first Kew Mayoral Ball to be held after the Second World War. The photograph formed part of the collection of WHS Dickinson and was presented to the Kew Historical Society by his daughter in 2018. A group portrait of attendees at the 1947 Kew Mayoral Ball, held in 1947 at the Hawthorn Town Hall. In the second row, centre are the Mayor and Mayoress of Kew, Cr WHS Dickinson and Mrs Doris Dickinson. Also in the photo are the acting Town Clerk of Kew, Bill Graham (3rd row at left), two flower girls, Judith and Janet Dickinson, and debutantes with their partners. Mr Ron Dickinson, the son of the Mayor and Mayoress is standing in the back row at left. The photograph is in a beige card folder embossed with the words "Portrait by C. Stuart Tompkins, Camberwell". The internal framing mount is signed in pencil with: "C Stuart Tompkins, Camberwell". 1947cr whs dickinson - mayor of kew 1946-1947, civic events - kew (vic), mayoral balls - kew (vic)

The Municipality of Kew (1860-1863), the Borough of Kew (1863-1910), the Town of Kew (1910-1921) and the City of Kew (1921-1994) were local government instrumentalities in the State of Victoria. In 1994, the City of Kew was amalgamated, together with the former Cities of Camberwell and Hawthorn, into the new City of Boroondara (1994- ). Like other local government entities of the period, Kew was administered by town clerks. The two notable town clerks in Kew's history were H. H. (Henry Hirst) Harrison (1868-1955) and W. D. (William Dickie) Birrell (1899-1974). Harrison was appointed to the position in 1901 and retired in 1938 after 37 years. Birrell, appointed Acting Town Clerk in 1921, became Town Clerk in 1938, following Harrison's retirement. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1966.This card is part of an historically significant civic collection, containing hundreds of separate invitations, documents, greeting cards, programmes and tickets issued and/or collected by successive town clerks. Items in the collection illuminate the political, social and cultural history of the district. As a continuous record, ranging across most decades of the Twentieth Century, they reveal changing tastes in design, values and relationships in the history of local government in Victoria.THE MAYOR AND MAYORESS OF KEW / (CT & MRS J T GAZZARD) / REQUEST THE PLEASURE OF THE COMPANY OF / The President Kew Sub-Branch RSSAILA and Lady / AT A BALL AT THE HAWTHORN TOWN HALL / ON THURSDAY 29TH JUNE 1939 / AT 8.30 P.M. / THE FAVOUR OF A REPLY ADDRESSED TO THE TOWN CLERK, KEW IS REQUESTED BEFORE 17TH JUNE / ON RECEIPT OF ACCEPTANCE / AN ENTREE CARD WILL BE FORWARDED. civic invitations -- kew (vic), cr j t gazzard, mayoral balls -- kew (vic.)