At the beginning of the 1890s, the Kew businessman and Town Councillor, Henry Kellett, commissioned J.F.C. Farquhar to photograph scenes of Kew. These scenes included panoramas as well as pastoral scenes. The resulting set of twelve photographs was assembled in an album, Kew Where We Live, from which customers could select images for purchase.The preamble to the album describes that the photographs used the ‘argentic bromide’ process, now more commonly known as the gelatine silver process. This form of dry plate photography allowed for the negatives to be kept for weeks before processing, hence its value in landscape photography. The resulting images were considered to be finely grained and everlasting. Evidence of the success of Henry Kellett’s venture can be seen today, in that some of the photographs are held in national collections.It is believed that the Kew Historical Society’s copy of the Kellett album is unique and that the photographs in the book were the first copies taken from the original plates. It is the first and most important series of images produced about Kew. The individual images have proved essential in identifying buildings and places of heritage value in the district.Completed in November 1890, the railway viaduct (now the Chandler Highway Bridge) linked Kew and Fairfield. The viaduct is significant as the most substantial extant engineering remnant of the Outer Circle Railway Line. Opened in March 1891, the viaduct crossed the Yarra River in a single span, atop three supporting brick pillars. Following the closure of the railway line in 1927, and the construction of the Chandler Highway in 1930, the bridge was used for vehicular traffic. In 1891 when this panoramic photograph was taken, the grounds of what was then the Kew Lunatic Asylum extended down to the River and eastward beyond the viaduct. The landscape surrounding the Asylum was planted with traditional exotic trees such as Oaks, Pines and Cedars, and landmark trees from northern Australia such as the Hoop Pine. Remnant indigenous trees such as the River Red Gum, Yellow Box and Lightwood were scattered around the site, including beside the Yarra River.Railway Bridge Over the Yarrakew illustrated, kew where we live, photographic books, henry kellett, railway viaduct - - kew (vic)

The heritage listed Fairfield Bridge was originally constructed for the Outer Circle Railway to bridge the Yarra River between East Kew and Fairfield stations. In the 1930s it was converted for vehicular traffic. In the 2010s a new concrete bridge was erected beside it to increase vehicular capacity.Print copy, enlarged from original snapshot, of the former railway viaduct crossing the Yarra and linking Kew and Fairfield. The original photo predates the conversion of the viaduct into the Chandler Highway Bridge in the 1930s, when the Bridge was adapted to carry vehicular traffic. The date on the reverse indicates the date of donation rather than the date on which the photograph was taken. CHANDLER HIGHWAY BRIDGE OVER RIVER / (ORIGINALLY PART OF OUTER CURCLE RAILWAY) / OCTOBER 1977railway viaduct -- kew (vic.), fairfield bridge, fairfield railway viaduct, outer circle railway, sir john monash

The heritage listed Fairfield Bridge was originally constructed for the Outer Circle Railway to bridge the Yarra River between East Kew and Fairfield stations. In the 1930s it was converted for vehicular traffic. In the 2010s a new concrete bridge was erected beside it to increase vehicular capacity.Print copy of the Chandler Highway Bridge, [formerly the Fairfield Viaduct of the Outer Circle Railway] showing the original position of the walkway beside the bridge. The POV is from the Fairfield side looking towards Kew. CHANDLER HWY BRIDGE OVER YARRA / OCTOBER 1977 / ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR OUTER CIRCLE RWYchandler highway bridge, outer circle railway viaduct, bridges -- kew (vic.)

This photograph forms part of the Eric Sibly collection of images and information relating to the Outer Circle Railway which he donated to the Kew Historical Society in 1974. Heritage Victoria Citation (Abridged) "The Chandler Highway Bridge, a 137 metre wrought iron lattice-truss girder bridge with four spans supported on red brick piers with moulded bluestone cappings. The bridge has a cantilevered walkway along the west side. ...The Chandler Highway Bridge crosses the Yarra River and connects Alphington and Kew. It was completed in November 1890 as part of the Outer Circle Railway Line.Black & white photograph of the railway viaduct over Yarra River looking south towards Kew.Reverse: "Pre 1930. Outer Circle Railway Bridge over River Yarra (now Chandler Highway) - note bridge over line on Kew side for Asylum Farm". KH - 56. Kew Historical Society.chandler highway, railway bridges - kew (vic), sir john monash, outer circle railway, river yarra - kew (vic)

The heritage listed Fairfield Bridge was originally constructed for the Outer Circle Railway to bridge the Yarra River between East Kew and Fairfield stations. In the 1930s it was converted for vehicular traffic. In the 2010s a new concrete bridge was erected beside it to increase vehicular capacity. Original colour print positive of the (former) Chandler Highway bridge in 2001. The point of view is from the Fairfield side of the river looking towards Kew. The heritage listed bridge was originally constructed for the Outer Circle Railway to bridge the Yarra River between East Kew and Fairfield stations. In the 1930s it was converted for vehicular traffic. In the 2010s a new concrete bridge was erected beside it to increase vehicular capacity. Ink inscription on reverse: "Chandler Highway bridge / (Originally Outer Circle Railway Bridge) / From Fairfield side towards Kew / July 2001"bridges -- kew (vic), fairfield bridge, chandler highway bridge, outer circle railway viaduct