The Kew Historical Society's postcard collection includes views of Kew, Melbourne and Greater Melbourne as well as those including overseas scenes sent or received from Europe or the Middle East. They date from the 1890s to the 2000s. These postcards may or may not include the name of the publisher or printer. A number of the cards were published as parts of popular series. A way of dating early postcards is to identify whether the reverse was divided by a central line which became the norm after 1902 in the United Kingdom. However, other postcards produced after this date do not always conform to this print layout.One of a series of pictorial postcards showing a woman on a bicycle near to the River Yarra in Kew.Polychrome postcard of the River Yarra at Kew, showing a woman with a bike (right) looking away from the River.My dear friend I suppose you will think I am a "beauty", but I have no excuse to offer for not writing, only the longer I put it off the longer I want to. I hope the change did you a lot of good & that you feel quite well & strong. Everything here is something about the same. Our two new ministers are nice but I like Mr Dowsing better so far. The weather lately is glorious, just the thing for long walks. Jane Rowe & I go for a walk after church on Sunday nights. That is the most walking I do lately. No room for more. Love from your friend C.G.[sic]postcards -- kew (vic.), postcards -- yarra river -- kew (vic.), colour postcards -- kew (vic.)

The River Yarra was a popular subject for photographic postcards. The postcards provide an interesting perspective of plantings on the banks of the Yarra at various periods. Small, sepia coloured real photo postcard of the River Yarra at Kew. The bird's eye view, presumably taken from Victoria Street Bridge shows the banks of the Yarra in the foreground densely planted with weeping willows. There is also canoe in the foreground. The expanse of lawn in the middle ground is that of 'Swinton', the tower of which can faintly be seen at the top centre of the view. "RIVER YARRA AT KEW / REAL PHOTO SERIES M. 2908 "real photo postcards, yarra river -- kew (vic.), postcards -- 1920s

The Kew Historical Society's Pictures Collection is comprised of photographs, postcards and original works of art. The postcards include original (mainly) images dating from the 1900s to the present. A number of postcards, some of which have numerous variants, were published as parts of series. Others are original images customised as postcards. Many of the postcards in the collection depict places within the suburbs of Kew and Kew East. Others depict locations in Victoria or internationally.View of two women and two children in a canoe at Macauleys' Boat Shed at the end of Molesworth Street, Kew. At the left of the image stands a man and his dog, presumably the manager of the boat shed. On the bak of the seat of one of the canoes is its name - sunbeam. Another item in the collection includes one of these name boards."Lower Molesworth Street, 1900. Home restored still standing 1980."postcards, recreation - yarra river - kew (vic), yarra river - kew (vic), macauley's boat house -- boat shed

Without bridges, Kew remained cut off from the City of Melbourne, only being accessible by Punt. Private and public bridges were constructed from the 1850s, beginning with the Hawthorn Bridge linking Bridge and Burwood Roads. A bridge across the Yarra at Burke Road was created as early as 1873. Since that first wooden bridge, a number of later bridges, typically on concrete pylons have been built, in 1926 and again during the 1970s.Angle view of the new Yarra bridge [ie. The Burke Road bridge] taken from the Kew side, showing the bridge’s structure. Trees line the river’s edge. In the distance can be seen a distant line of houses stretching to the horizon. The river appears to have an S-shaped bend beyond the bridge. The postcard, No. 227, was produced by the Valentine Publishing Co. Pty Ltd., of Queen Street, Melbourne.burke road bridge - kew (vic), bridges - kew (vic)

Dight’s Falls in Studley Park is an artificial weir built on a natural rock bar across the Yarra. The weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the ‘Ceres’ flour-mill, one of the first in Victoria. The falls were later to become known as Dight’s Falls after the owners of the mill. Later, a pumping station was built on the Kew side of the river, which pumped water uphill to a reservoir in Walmer Street that provided water to the Melbourne Botanical Gardens and to Albert Park Lake. The area around Dight’s Falls was and is frequently used for recreational activities.Dated postcard allowing one to analyse the form of the Falls in 1911Colour postcard, of Dight's Falls on the River Yarra between Kew and Fairfield. The photograph is taken looking upstream towards the Falls from the Kew side, from the embankment in the vicinity of the Pumping Station. Obverse: "Dight's falls, Kew" Reverse: "Printed in Great Britain Writing in ink on Reverse: "31/3/1911 / To dear Nell with best wishes for a happy birthday from your old friend Eve / [Addressed to] "Mrs N Dunn, Prahran" Franked Victorian 1d stamp on Reverse top rightdight's falls, dight's falls - kew (vic) - fairfield (vic)

Colourised pictorial postcard of the Zig-Zag Bridge at Kew. In the foreground is a rowboat in which a man is standing, behind whom are two women in hats and a young child. The man appears to be pushing the boat away from the Bank. In the distance is the wooden Zig-Zag Bridge, constructed in the 1870s to link the Yarra Bend and Kew Lunatic Asylums. [Destroyed by flood, 1929.]Text to Mrs Cooper from Grace ? inscription dated to 1907zig-zag bridge, yarra river -- kew (vic.), postcards

Colourised owl photo postcard entitled;led 'Scene at Kew'. In the background is the Zig-Zag Bridge.Obverse: "Scene at Kew". Reverse: "Zig Zag Bridge adj[acent] Kew Asylum / now demolished / in this era / now called / Donated by Mrs B Challen"bridges - yarra river -- kew (vic.), zig-zag bridge, postcards -- kew (vic.)

Sepia postcard of the Zig-Zag Bridge at Kew. The bridge was constructed in the 1870s to link the Yarra Bend Asylum and Kew Asylum. Initially it transported bluestone from the west side of the Yarra to the east during the construction of the Kew Asylum.Reverse: "Old Tramway Bridge / erected early 1850s / Zig Zag Bridge below mental grounds / washed away in flood / linked the mental asylums / donated by G.L. Beard"bridges - yarra river -- kew (vic.), zig-zag bridge

Black and white print photograph of the wooden 'Penny Bridge' at Studley Park. The name was colloquially arrived at as a penny wa the toll one paid to cross the bridge. The copy of the postcard identifies the photographers as McAlpin Bros, Richmond.Reverse: "Studley Pk Toll Bridge / joining Church Street Abbotsford / Penny Bridge"toll bridges -- river yarra, bridges - yarra river -- kew (vic.), penny bridge

The Pipe Bridge was constructed to bring fresh water from Fairfield to Kew. This bridge was destroyed in the 1934 Flood and later reconstructed.Early sepia real photo postcard of the first Pipe Bridge bringing water from the Yan Yean Reservoir to Kew. The site is upriver of the original Macauley's boathouse. Obverse: "River Yarra near Macauleys' Boat House Kew". Reverse: "(Pipe Water Line) / Kew to Fairfield above boat house / Pipe Bridge / Received from L. Bennett 1980".bridges - kew (vic.), bridges - yarra river -- kew (vic.), pipe bridge

The Zig-Zag Bridge which was constructed in the 1870s to link the Yarra Bend Asylum and Kew Asylum. Initially it transported bluestone from the west side of the Yarra to the east during the construction of the Kew Asylum.Real photo postcard of the Zig-Zag Bridge at Kew. In the middle ground there is a rowboat.Obverse: "River Yarra near Macauleys' Boathouse Kew". Reverse: "Gift from L Bennett"bridges -- river yarra, bridges - kew (vic.), zig-zag bridge

Sepia postcard of the Zig-zaf Bridge joining Yarra Bend and Studley Park. In the foreground is a rowboat in which a man is standing, behind whom are two women in hats and a young child. The man appears to be pushing the boat away from the Bank. In the distance is the wooden Zig-Zag Bridge, constructed in the 1870s to link the Yarra Bend and Kew Lunatic Asylums. [Destroyed by flood, 1929.]Obverse: "River Yarra near Macauleys' Boathouse Kew". Reverse: "Zig Zag Bridge / Gift from L Bennett 1980 / Bridge between Old Asylum & new Mental Hosp. / Kew side"zig-zag bridge -- kew (vic.), bridges -- river yarra, bridges -- kew (vic.)

Colour-tinted postcard, titled in red upper left: “RIVER YARRA AT STUDLEY PARK, KEW”. On the divided reverse, the card is addressed to “MISS JOLLEY / MELB. TRAM & O[MNIBUS]. CO / BOURKE STREET, MELB”. The sender has dated the card 21.12.08. In the upper right corner, there is a pink Victorian one penny postage stamp; sent from Melbourne on 22DE 08. (The division of the reverse of the postcard, allowing a message to be written on one half and the address on the other, was not permitted in Australia until 1905.) The manufacturer of the postcard is indicated by the initials “W.T.P”, printed in a green floral diamond, printed centre top. This was the trademark of WT Pater, printers & stationers. William Thompson Pater was born in Melbourne in 1861. His business at 271 Little Collins Street offered Christmas cards, booklets, calendars, and leather goods as well as postcards and albums.Hand-tinted postcard of the River Yarra in Studley Park, Kew. The birds-eye view is of a bridge on the Yarra (Johnston Street?) linking Kew and Abbotsford as it appeared in c.1908. On the Abbotsford side of the river, fields lead down to the river, with some remnant trees. The Kew side of the river, in contrast, due to its steep banks, retains its original vegetation. In the distance is industrial development, in what might be Fairfield and Alphington.“RIVER YARRA AT STUDLEY PARK, KEW”river yarra -- kew (vic.), william thompson pater, w.t.p., postcards -- kew, postcards -- studley park, bridges - yarra river -- kew (vic.)

Monochrome postcard titled lower right: “RIVER YARRA AT STUDLEY PARK, MELBOURNE”. The postcard was produced by ROBERT JOLLEY, MELB, (active 1900-1904). The photo is positioned to the left of the card and framed by an art nouveau design. A handwritten annotation on the front reads “BUT WITH THE MORNING / COOL REFLECTION CAME / BLANCHE STEPHENS”. On the reverse, there is a handwritten address in black ink to: MISS L STEPHENS / 26 WEST TERRACE / ADELAIDE. There is no division on the reverse of the postcard, dating it to before 1905. It lacks a postage stamp and postmark. Monochrome postcard of the River Yarra in Studley Park. The view is of the Yarra and its banks, with Kew on the left and Abbotsford on the right, as it appeared in the years 1900-1904. On the Abbotsford side of the river, there are a number of weeping willows lining the banks and houses on the hillside. The Studley Park side of the river includes some remnant vegetation and meandering walking tracks. Three very small figures are sitting on the Kew side. "RIVER YARRA AT STUDLEY PARK, MELBOURNE"river yarra -- kew (vic.), postcards -- kew, postcards -- studley park, robert jolley

This is a colour postcard of the River Yarra at Studley Park, circa 1905. The postcard, which has handwritten notes on the reverse. It was printed in Prussia as part of the Victoria Stamp Market (VSM) Series. Coloured postcard of the Yarra River looking north from Galatea Point, near the Johnson Street Bridge.Donated by Miss B. Challen. ?Taken from bend above Galatea Point, looking north. Identified by Darcy Dugan, Yarra Bend Parks.river yarra, victoria stamp market (vsm) series, postcards

Valentine's Series postcard, printed in Great Britain by Valentine’s Co. Ltd. (Valentine & Sons 1825-1963) for Australian distributionEarly postcard of the Hawthorn to Burnley Railway Bridge on the River Yarra. Station picnic on left. Tay Creggan on right. Buildings and location identified by Marshall Slattery in 1977. The postcard was printed in Great Britain and was published as one of Valentine's Series. "KH.87. Donated by Mrs B. Challen 2.2.76. Burnley to Hawthorn Railway Bridge. Station Picnic on left. "Tay Creggan" on right. Marshall Slattery 1977".river yarra, railway bridge - hawthorn, postcards -- hawthorn (vic.)

The Kew Historical Society's postcard collection includes views of Kew, Melbourne and Greater Melbourne as well as those including overseas scenes sent or received from Europe or the Middle East. They date from the 1890s to the 2000s. These postcards may or may not include the name of the publisher or printer. A number of the cards were published as parts of popular series. A way of dating early postcards is to identify whether the reverse was divided by a central line which became the norm after 1902 in the United Kingdom. However, other postcards produced after this date do not always conform to this print layout.The item forms part of the Laurie Bennett collection of thirty-six postcards and photographs of Kew and early Melbourne, donated to the Kew Historical Society in 1980. The postcards in the Bennett collection, like other images in the Society's holdings date from the 1890s to the present and comprehensively indicate points-of-view or scenes considered historically, aesthetically or socially significant in the period in which they were produced.Monochrome photo postcard of Macauleys' Boat Shed in Kew and its position on the Yarra at the end of Molesworth Street."KH-393. Macauley's Boat Shed, Kew. Lower Molesworth St, Donated by L. Bennett"boat sheds - kew (vic), river yarra - kew (vic), macaulay's boat shed - kew (vic), recreation - yarra river - kew (vic)

Victoria Bridge is a riveted and welded steel Warren truss bridge over the Yarra River completed in 1884 to a design by Fraser & Chase following a controversial design competition held in 1880. Funds for the bridge's construction were provided by the councils of Collingwood, Hawthorn, Kew and Richmond. The contract was awarded to Mr P. Platt. Charles Rowand was officially appointed Supervising Engineer in 1883. The winning design was based on the theoretical work of William Charles Kernot (1845-1909) who campaigned for economy in public works design and the application of scientific principles in engineering. ... The bridge was widened in 1890 by the addition of a third line of truss on new piers on the up stream side to carry horse trams. Work commenced in 1914 to convert the horse tramway to an electric tramway by the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust, part of the Trust's extension of its tramway into the eastern suburbs between 1913-18. In 1915 the bridge was further strengthened to accommodate the extra weight of electric trams and widened by the addition of two six feet cantilever footpaths. During this period the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust erected two ornamental gantries over the roadway to support overhead wires for the electric tramway. Further widening and reconditioning of the bridge took place in 1933, including the addition of four new welded trusses, two intermediate and two on the outside. The latter were supported on new cantilevered truss cross beams attached to the top of the piers. (Source: Heritage Victoria)Early and rare postcard of the Victoria Street Bridge linking Victoria Street and Barkers Road.Polychrome postcard of the Victoria Street Bridge which links Richmond and Abbotsford with Kew and Hawthorn.View from Harrison Cres embankment / former Xavier College boatshed on site of tree in foreground. / Chimney left corner - Wool Scoring Mils in Victoria St. / On horizon - Studley Villa, Studley House circa 1880s, Studley Hall / Chinese gardens to be seen behind three set of columns / M.J. Slatterypostcards -- yarra river, postcards -- bridges. -- greater melbourne (vic.), victoria street bridge

The Kew Historical Society's postcard collection includes views of Kew, Melbourne and Greater Melbourne as well as those including overseas scenes sent or received from Europe or the Middle East. They date from the 1890s to the 2000s. These postcards may or may not include the name of the publisher or printer. A number of the cards were published as parts of popular series. A way of dating early postcards is to identify whether the reverse was divided by a central line which became the norm after 1902 in the United Kingdom. However, other postcards produced after this date do not always conform to this print layout.Monochrome postcard showing two men in a rowboat on the River Yarra at Kew in the area of Macaulay's Boat Shed.Handwritten later annotations: "Reg No KH-384. Yarra towards Fairfield. Macaulay's Boat House, Kew"postcards - kew (vic), river yarra - kew (vic), sport and recreation - kew (vic), recreation - kew (vic), boat sheds - kew (vic)

The Yarra River was a major subject for the producers of postcards in Melbourne. This dual image postcard shows images of the Yarra in two locations. Studley Park in Kew was a major location for recreation activities by the people of Melbourne.Image of the Yarra at Sudley Park shows remnant vegetation preserved on the banks of the Yarra in this part of Kew.Monochrome postcard with two images of the Yarra River, the lower image showing the Yarra at Studley Park. The reverse has a handwritten birthday greeting from Eileen to her mother Mrs Clark. Original postage stamp has been removed and slight tearing in top right corner. Two ink stamps KEW HISTORICAL SOCIETY have been added."Mrs Clark, Harp Road, East Kew / Wishing Mother a very happy Birthday and many returns / from Eileen"yarra falls, dual image postcards, yarra river -- studley park -- melbourne (vic.), monochrome postcards

Collection of thirty-nine postcards donated by Jillian Rigby which had been owned by her grandparents, George and Edith Weir, who from c.1917 lived at 84 Princess Street, Kew. The mostly 'mint' postcards were purchased in Victoria and while travelling overseas. The sole dated postcard is dated from 1929. The postcards are numbered sequentially from 2017.0058.01-39. The remainder of the collection donated by Jill Rigby which was once owned by the Weirs of Broken Hill and Kew consist of costumes, costume accessories, photographs, and documents.The postcards in the Weir collection, especially those purchased on a trip or trips to the mother country, i.e. United Kingdom, represent a representative sample of sites that were considered significant to those Australians undertaking a reverse grand tour by member of the erstwhile colonies. Those postcards which are early views of Melbourne must have been produced commercially for some decades from the early part of the 20th century.Queen's Bridge, Melbourne. Coloured postcard. Weir collection."Queen's Bridge, Melbourne"postcards, george and edith weir, queens bridge - melbourne , yarra river - melbourne, weir collection, postcards -- melbourne (vic.)

An item from an outstanding and diverse photographic collection, assembled by members of the Christian and Washfold families of Kew.Rae series of postcards, otherwise unknown, showing important sites in KewSmall folding postcard including nine black and white postcard views of Kew. Cover depicts Kew War Memorial set within an embossed cardboard frame. Individual postcards include: Studley Park Road, River Yarra showing new Bridge [Chandler Hwy], High Street showing soldier's memorial, River Yarra at Victoria Bridge, The Yarra at Studley Park, Holy Trinity Church, the [Alexandra] Gardens, New Yarra Bridge [Burke Rd], Soldiers' Memorial and Post Office Kewwashfold family, christian-washfold collection, postcards -- kew (vic.)

Henry Christian (c.1809-91), the grandfather of the photographer, was one of the first settlers in Kew. He arrived in Victoria with his wife Agnes and son Orlando in 1855 on the Gypsy Queen. He established a rope-making business in Bulleen Road by 1858 but was declared insolvent two years later. In his final years, he was celebrated as one of the oldest living settlers of the district. His son, Orlando Henry Beater Christian (c.1853-1930) became a member of the Hawthorn Band and a foundation member of the Willsmere Swimming Club. Orlando and his wife Elizabeth had four children of which Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) was the eldest.A photograph by Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) of Pakington Street, Kew. Henry Beater Christian, was a keen explorer, not just of his immediate environment but also of the Victorian wilderness. His major opus is contained in two albums in which he records, sometimes in majestic detail and on other occasions the intimate features of the natural world. His photographic travels during the 1920s, often in solitary ramblings but on other occasions with companions, recall the heroic landscape photography of an earlier era, pioneered by Nicholas Caire. In addition to their aesthetic value, the albums are historically significant records within the State of Victoria, of what is now a distant point in time, and of places that have become radically altered through human intervention.Sepia 'real photo' postcard of Orlando Henry Beater Christian, fishing in the Yarra River. There appear to be cattle in paddocks on the other side of the river. Fairfield (sic) is on the horizon."Henry Beater's photograph of his father Orlando Henry Beater Christian whilst fishing in the River Yarra, Kew"yarra river -- kew (vic.), orlando beater christian, christian-washfold collection

One of a number of 'real photo' and commercial postcards created by or owned by members of the Christian and Washfold families of Kew. The postcards are part of a larger collection of photographs, postcards and publications donated to the collection in May 2021.View of Melbourne on the horizon, looking in an easterly direction along the River Yarra. A State Library of Victoria catalogue record says ‘Elevated view along Yarra River, trees in foreground, line of saplings along both banks of the river, bridge in background (possibly Johnson Street Bridge)’. This may be incorrect.The Rose Series P. 3480yarra river -- melbourne, postcards -- yarra river, the rose series postcards, christian-washfold collection

One of a number of 'real photo' and commercial postcards created by or owned by members of the Christian and Washfold families of Kew. The postcards are part of a larger collection of photographs, postcards and publications donated to the collection in May 2021.Monochrome postcard of view of the north bank of the Yarra River between Flinders and Russell Streets. Scene shows palm trees, boats and stores under embankmentThe Rose Series P. 2808yarra river, city of melbourne, postcards -- melbourne, christian-washfold collection

In 1980, Mr Laurie Bennett presented the Kew Historical Society with a number of photographs and postcards from the estate of his mother Eileen Mary Bennett (nee Clark). His mother was the daughter of Lawrence FH Clark(?-1946) and Mary Clark (?-1925) of 22 Harp Road, East Kew, in whose yard the photograph was taken. A year before the donation occurred a notice appeared in the Canberra Times stating that: "BENNETT, Eileen Mary. — May 8th at Tuross Heads, N.S.W. Late of 22 Harp Rd, East Kew, (Vic). Dearly loved wife of the late Harold Bennett, loved mother and mother in law of Laurie and Shirley (Melbourne), Kevin and Doreen (Canberra), grandmother of Linda, Stephen, Paul, Gabrielle, Peter, Mark and Jon."Part of a large collection of photographs and postcards in the collectionPanoramic photographic positive of North Kew where the Belford and Kilby Farms were located on the south side of the Yarra River. This photo, donated in 1980 by Laurie Bennett is the original of the two identical photos in the collection.laurie bennett, eileen mary bennett, eileen mary clark, floods -- yarra -- 1903

During the nineteenth century, the land abutting the south side of the Yarra in Kew was devoted to dairy farming. In the twentieth century, before and after the construction of the Eastern Freeway, much of this low-lying area was used as golf courses and public parks.Real-photo postcard of the farmland in the Yarra Valley in what is believed to be North Kew in 1912. Verso: "Willsmere / East Kew / 1912"yarra river, yarra valley, farming -- kew (vic.)