Built by John Bournane, Rockingham had a number of occupants before the newspaper magnate David Syme purchased it in 1902. The house in the 1860s and ‘70s was comprised of nine rooms, and was surrounded by a veranda on the front and sides. It was approached from the Kew road by the curve in front of the Hon. S.G. Henty’s mansion of ‘Findon’.In 1955, the Syme family sold Rockingham to the Red Cross Society to be used as a convalescent home for returned servicemen. The house was sold, demolished, and the land subdivided in 1966.An early panoramic photograph of an early Kew mansion (now demolished), dating from the 1870s.A rare, panoramic photograph (c.1870) of the garden of ‘Rockingham’, during the occupation of the house by W. Gardiner Esq. Rockingham was located beside and above the Barkers Road cutting. The view of the garden in the photograph is of the terraces leading down to the Yarra River. At the time the photograph was taken, the property covered an area of “…nine acres of beautifully laid-out grounds, interspersed with numerous terraces leading down the sloping bank of the river”.rockingham, david syme, kew

After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 22 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 19 Rockingham Close, Kew by Margaret Picken.19 ROCKINGHAM CLOSE, KEW / PICKEN 2002 / REALTORartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 19 rockingham close -- kew (vic.)

After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 22 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 5 Rockingham Street, Kew by Margaret Picken.5 ROCKINGHAM ST., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN '90 / WOODARDS ~artist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 5 rockingham street -- kew (vic.)

After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 22 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 2A Rockingham Street, Kew by Margaret Picken.2A ROCKINGHAM ST., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN '97 / WOODARDS ~ HAWTHORNartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 2a rockingham street -- kew (vic.)

After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 22 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 9 Rockingham Close, Kew by Margaret Picken.9 ROCKINGHAM CLOSE, KEW / MARGARET PICKEN '91 / WOODARDS ~ C'WELLartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 9 rockingham close -- kew (vic.)

After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 22 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 9 Rockingham Close, Kew by Margaret Picken.9 ROCKINGHAM CLOSE, KEW / MARGARET PICKEN '91 / WOODARDS ~ C'WELLartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 9 rockingham close -- kew (vic.)

After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 22 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 23 Rockingham Street, Kew by Margaret Picken.23 ROCKINGHAM ST., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN '94 / WOODARDS ~ KEWartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 23 rockingham street -- kew (vic.)

After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 22 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film of 29 Rockingham Street, Kew by Margaret Picken.29 ROCKINGHAM ST., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN '98 / WOODARDS ~ HAWTHORNartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 29 rockingham street -- kew (vic.)

The extensive formal landscaped gardens of Rockingham had been created in the 1860s, and by the 1950s remained bordered to the south by the Barkers Road cutting, and to the north by Blytheswood, the neighbouring Syme family property, By 1940, the Syme family were no longer the occupiers of Rockingham. John Herbert Syme had died in October 1939, and by August the following year, his wife had made the house and garden available, rent free to the Red Cross as a convalescent home for Australian soldiers injured in the Second World War. At the time, the house was described as containing twenty rooms, including a ballroom and a billiards room, with a garden of eight acres overlooking the Yarra. The task of renovating the house to conform to its new function as a convalescent home took a year, finally opening in August 1941. Community support for Rockingham was widespread and included the decision by the National Gallery of Victoria to loan pictures from its collection to decorate the walls. Calls were made for women around Victoria to donate fruit and vegetables from their gardens, which the railways agreed to freight for free. Other local support included the work by a team of boys to establish a three-acre vegetable garden within the formal terraced gardens. From the beginning, occupational therapy formed a key component of the rehabilitation of psychologically injured soldiers. This is confirmed by contemporary newspaper accounts of weaving, ironwork, leatherwork, basketry and gardening by patients. Numerous photographs, held by the Australian War Memorial (AWM) and the State Library of Victoria (SLV), record the importance of these rehabilitation activities. The painting of the view across the river to Abbotsford may have been painted in one of these occupational therapy sessions. For many decades it hung in the occupational therapy room. It must have been on view following the sale of Rockingham by the Syme family to the Red Cross in 1955, and subsequently, until the house was demolished and its grounds finally subdivided in 1977.View of Abbotsford from the garden of Rockingham (1952) was created by V Maloney. The vantage point of the artist was the garden of Rockingham, one of two mansions overlooking the Yarra owned by the Syme family. The artwork depicts a number of sites - especially factories - that have since been demolished.Signed by the artist, lower right "V Maloney"rockingham red cross convalescent home, hospitals - kew (vic), rosemary lade, art therapy

The razor was made between 1883 and 1933 by Joseph Allen & Sons of Sheffield, England. It is a form of shaving equipment used for many years, and still by some today. The shaver would prepare for shaving by lathering the skin and hair with soap and a purpose-made bristle brush before carefully stretching the skin and running the razor over it. The razor's blade would be sharpened with a 'strop' strap. JOSEPH ALLEN (C. 1829-1893) Joseph Allen was born in Dromfield, in the Sheffield district of England in around 1829. He was trained as a razor smith and razor back forger. His business grew and he moved to several addresses. By 1883 his firm was named Joseph Allen & Sons and was exporting his products overseas. In 1883 he paid to use the 'NON-XLL' mark to stamp on his metal products. Joseph's tow sons, Joseph and James, were managing his business by 1900, operating at Ecclesall Works, 245 Rockingham Street in Sheffield. They expanded the range of products to include cutlery as well as razors and bought the use of other trademarks. In 1919 it became a Limited company, trading until 1933. This vintage razor represents men's grooming equipment in use over many decades, and even today. The maker is well-known for its quality workmanship and materials.Razor, metal blade with synthetic handle. Blade has steel handle. Razor is contained in black cardboard box. Made by Joseph Allen & Sons of Sheffield, England. On blade "NON - XXL" "Joseph Allen & Sons, Sheffield, England"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwreck-coast, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, maritime museum, joseph allen & sons, sheffield, raxor, shaving equipment, personal grooming, men's toiletries, shaving aid, ecclesall works, non-xll, vintage razor

Adzes are used for smoothing or carving wood in hand woodworking. It is similar to an axe but with the cutting edge perpendicular to the handle. It is used chiefly for shaping wood.A square ended adze that has a thin arched blade set at right angles to the wooden handle. The handle is not original.wood-working-tool adze carpentry

The Rockingham Red Cross Centre in Kew provided convalescence and rehabilitation for war veterans suffering nervous conditions resulting from the Second World War. The building had been given to the Australian Red Cross by the owner of the house, Mrs Syme in 1940. In the early days of the centre, patients performed plays for fellow patients and staff members. This small box of theatrical makeup, or greasepaint, would have been used at the Centre on one or more of these occasions. The donor, Rosemary Lade, worked at the Centre as an occupational therapist, 1971-2 and 1974-7. During these years, play readings were held, but performances were not staged. The Rockingham Red Cross Centre closed in 1977, and following its closure, the donor retrieved the box of greasepaints from the Occupational Therapy Department. A box of greasepaint from the Rockingham Red Cross Centre, Kew. Square wooden box, containing sticks of greasepaint used for theatrical makeup. The used sticks of greasepaint are wrapped in foiled paper, printed with information about the colour and the maker/retailer: L. Leichner (London) Ltd. Leichner House, 30/32 Acre Lane, / London, S.W.2. theatrical makeup, greasepaint, rockingham, rockingham red cross centre, syme family, rosemary lade, occupational therapy - theatre

Brown Rockingham Beer/Wine jug, pressed earthenware barrel shaped with vine and leaf pattern reliefs, in the Rockingham glaze with lid which has a berry shaped knob.domestic equipment, food consumption, kitchen

E M Dickinson was a cutlery company in Sheffield that made all types of cutlery knives of all types and patterns, razors domestic electroplated cutlery etc. Edwin Murray Dickinson started recruiting workers for his new cutlery firm at 11 Cambridge Street Sheffield England in 1870. The original premises consisting of warehouse, offices, cutlers shops fitted with the latest steam-powered equipment however this premises was offered for let in November 1887, and new premises were secured at 51 Division Street and were occupied by Dickinson's in early 1888. By October 1890 Dickinson was advertising the Division Street premises to let and moved the company into other new works (still called Murray Works) at 122 Rockingham Street. On 12th October 1901, Dickinson gave notice that the firm was to be converted to a limited company and by March 1908 the Rockingham Street works had been advertised for sale. In 1909 the deeds for other new premises at 203 Arundel Street Sheffield were deposited to secure a £3,000 loan from the Sheffield Banking Company. Then on Christmas Eve 1926 several hundred pounds worth of damage was caused by a fire at the Arundel Street works. The founder, Edwin Dickinson died on 21st October 1930 aged 81 at his home at 449 Crookesmoor Road and on the 23rd May 1939 the firm went into voluntary liquidation.An item made by a company that made many different types and patterns of cutlery for domestic use and export.Straight razor with black celluloid handle and it’s boxBlade has marking, INVICTA" with decorative engraved design, on the other side engraved "E M DICKINSON SHEFFIELD ENGLAND"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, razor, e m dickinson ltd, e m dickinson ltd sheffield england., cut throat razor, cutlery

117 pp : illustrated : Appendices Chapters: Preface / Robert Baker p4. The collection / Robert Baker p5. Cartwheel penny / Robert Baker p6. Creek and old watering stage / David White p10. John Carson: Mayor 1863–4 1 / Julie King p4. Wedding dress / Suzanne McWha p18. Back to Kew 1875 / Judith Scurfield p22. Barnard’s clock / Margaret Robinson p26. Denbigh quilt / Suzanne McWha p28. Fragments of art decoration / Robert Baker p32. Mr Richardson’s sock / Felicity Renowden p36. Kew Volunteer Fire Brigade / David White p38. Kew Where We Live / Judith Scurfield p42. [MMBW} Detail Plan No. 1580 / Judith Scurfield p46. Adeney Avenue / Suzanne McWha p50. Young Workers’ Patriotic Guild / Margaret Robinson p54. Roll of Honor [Thomas Rand] / Robert Baker p56. Alice Anderson in her tourer / Felicity Renowden p60. Kew War Memorial / David White p62. Beaded dance dress / Suzanne McWha p 66. The great flood of 1934 / Desley Reid p68. Depression-era toolbox / Robert Baker p72. War Savings Street / Julie King p74. Kew Public L.ibrary / Suzanne McWha p78. Signature supper cloth / Desley Reid p82. View from the garden of Rockingham / Desley Reid p86. Cr Marie Dalley / Felicity Renowden p90. Centenary of Kew / Robert Baker p94. Doris Dickinson’s gown / Julie King p98. [Model Dairy] Milk bottles / Robert Baker p100. Kew Civic Centre / David White p102. Bicentennial tapestries / Margaret Robinson p106. Crest of the City of Kew / Desley Reid p110. Town Crier [outfit] / Desley Reid p112. Acknowledgements p114. List of works p115.non-fiction'Stories They Tell : A history of Kew through objects' explores diverse narratives from European settlement to the first decades of the twenty-first century. These stories use as their starting point artworks, texts and artefacts from the nationally significant collection of the Kew Historical Society. Limited to 100 copies.collection -- kew historical society, museum catalogues, henty family, cartwheel pennies, kew lunatic asylum, patchwork quilts, john carson, george bouchier richardson, gb richardson, coombs family, james dannock, back to kew 1875, francis barnard, denbigh family, cullis hill & co, ordsall, southesk, kew volunteer fire brigade, jfc farquhar, henry kellett, mmbw detail plan 1580, william nicholls anderson, young workers patriotic guild, roll of honor -- town of kew, alice anderson, kew war memorial, flapper dresses, fairfield bridge, chandler highway bridge, warren trestrail, furniture -- 1930s, war savings streets, kew library, children's libraries, voluntary aid detachments - kew (vic.), rockingham, james govett, centenary of kew, mayoresses -- kew (vic.), model dairy -- kew (vic.), doris dickinson, crests -- city of kew (vic.), town criers -- kew (vic.), joy stewart, australian bicentennial -- kew (vic.), kew civic centre, ak lines mcfarlane marshall, adeney avenue -- kew, wwi

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). Throughout its history, the land in what is known today as Studley Ward of the City of Boroondara has been subject to continuing subdivision. This is evident in Plan 1301, where later hands have modified the original map to include streets created subsequent to the printing of the plan in 1904. Other annotations such as the ‘Reserved for Road Purposes’ beside the Yarra never eventuated. The plan continued to be modified to at least 1953, when a later hand noted that a particular site was ‘Property site P. McIntyre house’ in Swinton Avenue. Two significant houses in the area are outlined on the plan: ‘Swinton’ on the corner of the streets then named Effey and Maud Streets (now Swinton Avenue) and ‘Fairhaven’ [unnamed] in Stevenson Street. The gardens of the two David Syme owned mansions of ‘Blythswood’ and ‘Rockingham’, stretching down to the River Yarra, are also represented.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, mmbw 1301, cartography