The Padbury family were the dominant funeral directors in Kew in the 19th and 20th centuries. Sepia photographic positive of Mrs Emmeline Lovell Ratten (nee Padbury) (1860-1941). It would appear that the later inscription on the reverse is incorrect as Frederick Ratten married Emmeline Padbury in 1885.Postcard format: "Auntie Ratten (nee Florence Padbury) wife of Fred Ratten - Kew councillor. Florence Avenue named in her honour". Stamp upper left: "The Allen Studio, 318 Smith Street, Collingwood." Postcard stamp upper right: "Kodak Australia".padbury family, ratten family, florence padbury, florence ratten, florence avenue -- kew (vic.)

The Padbury family were early pioneers of Kew, running for over a century a funeral parlour in Cotham Road. The photograph of Mr Whitman can be reliably dated to 1914 or later due to an article on the establishment of Godfrey Roberts' atelier at the rear of Mr Chenoweth's in Glenferrie Road (Source: 'Godfrey E Roberts Photographic Studio', Hawthorn Kew Camberwell Citizen, 5 June 1914, p. 2)This, and other photographs of members of the Whitman-Padbury families was donated by Mrs Clarrie Thomson, a descendant of the families, and a member of the Society. Mrs Thompson lived at 58 Charles Street, Kew. The donation was made in 1982.Cabinet card, produced by Godfrey E Roberts of Glenferrie Road (Glenferrie), of Mr Whitman, a relative by marriage of the Padbury family. "Whitman" "G E Roberts / Glenferrie Rd / Glenferrie" (photographer)whitman - padbury, pioneer families -- kew

The Padbury family were early pioneers of Kew, running for over a century a funeral parlour in Cotham Road. The photograph of the mother and child can be dated to 1889-1900 when the Vita Studios were located at 125 Swanston Street.Rare photograph of members of a notable pioneering family of Kew (vic.). The photograph was donated to the Society in 1982, by Mrs Clarrie Thompson, a descendant of the family.Cabinet card, produced by Grant & Co., Vita Sudios, 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne of an infant, Horace Whitman, sitting on the lap of his mother. His mother was member of the pioneering Padbury family of Kew. "Horace Whitman with mother (nee Padbury)""grant & co -- vita studios - 125 swanston st -- melbourne (vic.), whitman-- cadbury families -- kew (vic.)

Padbury’s Funeral Parlour in Kew was the earliest business of its kind in what is now the City of Boroondara. It was established by John Padbury in 1859. Following his death, the company was renamed A W Padbury & Co. The two-storey building is still [in 2023] extant. Members of the Padbury family married into a number of pioneer Kew families including the Whitmans and Morgans. Rare portrait of a significant Kew businessmanOriginal print positive 'cabinet card'. Portrait of Alfred Padbury, owner of A W Padbury & Co. Son of founder - John Padbury.Reverse: “Alfred Padbury / Son of John Padbury / Whitman”funeral parlours. -- kew (vic.), a w padbury, businesses -- cotham road -- kew (vic.)

Padbury’s Funeral Parlour in Kew was the earliest business of its kind in what is now the City of Boroondara. It was established by John Padbury in 1859. Following his death, the company was renamed A W Padbury & Co. John Padbury was involved in meetings in 1861, calling for Kew to become an independent municipality. In 1863, he argued that a lunatic asylum would bring business to shopkeepers. His company was located at 13 Cotham Road, next to the rear entrance of the Kew Police Station. The two-storey building is still [in 2023] extant. Members of the Padbury family married into a number of pioneer Kew families including the Whitmans and Morgans. Rare portrait of a significant Kew pioneerOriginal print positive 'cabinet card'. Portrait of John Padbury, first undertaker in Boroondara. Obverse: “Frisby & Mason / Photographers / 134 Bridge Road Richmond”. Reverse: “John Padbury / founder of Padbury Undertakers Cotham Rd Kew / died 90 yrs / Whitman”funeral parlours. -- kew (vic.), a w padbury, john padbury, businesses -- cotham road -- 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). The area represented in this detail plan has undergone significant change during the 20th century. The widening of High Street in the 1930s and 1950s involved the shops on the south side of High Street being demolished and later rebuilt to fit the widened street. Another significant loss was the mansion ‘Drayton’ fronting Wellington Street, owned at this stage by Susannah Fenton. Her family name would later to be given to Fenton Way, which was to be built over the grounds of the house following its demolition. The plan of the garden is particularly interesting, containing a batten dome fronting Wellington Street, an ornamental pond, a fountain and a brick and glass conservatory. The notes by the plumbing contractor on this plan are particularly detailed. Pink borders delineate the ownership of the varying parcels of land. Some of the better known owners listed include the real estate agent Cr. Henry de Castres Kellett (bt) and John Padbury, the funeral director. This particular plan provides a clear view of the configuration of the Kew Junction in 1903 and the commercial buildings that surrounded it.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, maps - borough of kew, mmbw 1580, cartography