Kew became a separate municipality in 1860.The plaque commemorates that event. It was once located on the rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens in Kew.Important commemorative plaque signifying an important event in Kew's history.Brass plaque, originally attached to the first rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens in Kew, commemorating the Jubilee of Kew in 1910.Erected by / Public Subscription to Mark / The Jubilee of the Municipality of Kew / Opened by Sir Thos. Gibson Carmichael / Bart. K.C.M.G / Governor of Victoria / 8th Decr. 1910. / H.H. Harrison, Town Clerk / J.F. McCrae, Mayorjubilee of kew, rotunda, alexandra gardens, kew

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.Historic postcard of local significance showing the layout of the Alexandra Gardens in Kew. The gardens were opened in 1908 and designed/planted by the Pockett Brothers, so the planting reflects their horticultural style as well as that of the period. The postcard also depicts the Kew Jubilee Rotunda (later demolished and replaced by a second structure in 1988).Monochrome postcard showing the original 'Jubilee Rotunda' in the Alexandra Gardens in Cotham Road.Alexandra Gardens, Kew Oastler Leading Stationer, Kew / Printed in Saxonypostcards -- kew (vic.), alexandra gardens -- kew (vic), rotunda -- alexandra gardens -- kew (vic.), oastler -- stationers -- kew (vic.)

The Alexandra Gardens in Kew face Cotham Road. The land on which the gardens were created was purchased from the owners of 'Madford' in Wellington Street by the Borough of Kew. The rotunda was built to commemorate the jubilee of Kew in 1910. Demolished in circa 1975, it was replaced as part of a Bicentennial project in 1988. The current single storey rotunda in a reinterpretation of the original.One of the earliest photographs of the rotundaA tiny gelatin silver photograph of the Rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens, Kew that was built in 1910 to commemorate the jubilee of the Town of Kew. The photo, one of the earliest of the rotunda/bandstand shows the elements of its construction. Ground floor of brick, first floor with wooden railing and gabled roof covered with tiles. The roof sports a flagpole. Pencil reverse: "Kew Gardens"alexandra gardens - kew, kew municipal band, bandstands, jubilee of kew

Rotunda, Alexandra Gardens (1910-c.1960). The Alexandra Gardens’ rotunda was located within three acres of ‘gem like’ gardens ‘bright with verdant lawns and choice blooms’ in the centre of Kew. Designed by architects Grainger and Little, the ornate two-storey wooden kiosk functioned as a children’s shelter on the ground level and a bandstand and oratory dais on the upper. Funded by council and community subscription, it was a ‘symbol of the public spirit of Victoria’ and a Kew Jubilee commemoration memorial. Opened in 1910, the Kew Brass Band christened it the ‘finest band rotunda in Melbourne’. Deterioration saw its demise 50 years later. This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.Lawn and original rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens, Cotham Road, Kew. The Alexandra Gardens were opened in 1908. The land on which the gardens were formed originally formed part of the Madford Estate. A feature of the gardens was a large brick, wood and tiled rotunda. "Alexandra Gardens. Formerly part of S. King. (Rest of Estate mainly belongs to St Anthonys home). Opened 1908. Alexandra Gardens. (Rotunda now demolished)"alexandra gardens, kew, dorothy rogers

George Pockett was first curator of the Alexandra Gardens in Kew. He and his brother were responsible for the design of a number of important municipal gardens.Brass memorial plaque to George Pockett. Originally located on Jubilee Rotunda in Alexandra Gardens.This Tablet was Erected / by the Kew City Council / in Token of its Appreciation of the Valued Services of George Pockett who as First Curator of the City Laid out these Gardens. Appointed 26th June 1906. Died Whilst on Duty, 18th October 1922.george pockett, alexandra gardens

This is a smaller version of the large framed photograph donated to the new City of Kew by Cr Wishart. The framed photograph was hung in the Walpole Street Town Hall. Presumably, each of the Councillors in the portrait was presented with a smaller version.This photograph was donated by a descendant of the Kellett family. This picture, like it framed counterpart, is historically significant as a record of a major civic event in Kew's history. It is also aesthetically significant as the last official photograph taken by the photographer Josiah Earl Barnes before his death in the same year.Kew Becomes a City, 1921. Small photograph mounted on card of the official portrait of the Mayor and Councillors of Kew in 1921. Josiah Earl Barnes, the photographer, posed the group in front of the Jubilee Rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens in Cotham Road, Kew. At the centre of the group in mayoral robes is the then mayor of Kew, Cr. F.G.A. Barnard. This was to be the last major commission by the Council for J.E. Barnes, who had been responsible for creating the series of 19th Century portraits of former mayors that was displayed in the Kew Town Hall in Walpole Street.J. E. Barnes / Photoj.e. barnes, kew (victoria), kew city council, alexandra gardens, f.g.a. barnard

Thomas Evan Rand was born at Hawthorn. He enlisted for service during World War One as an almost 20 year old engineering student, serving with the Australian Flying Corps.A commemorative certificate documenting the war service of Thomas Evan Rand of ‘Urangeline’, Barkers Road, Kew. Thomas Rand was an engineering student when he enrolled as a private in the Australian Army. He embarked on HMAT Orsova A67 on 16 March 1916. He was enlisted in the No 1 Squadron, Flying Corps. The formal certificate records that ‘ Thomas Evan Rand served Australia and the Empire in the Great War and in grateful recognition of his voluntary response to his Country’s Call his name is inscribed on the Roll of Honor of the Town of Kew’. The then Mayor and Town Clerk signed the certificate. [Kew did not become a ‘City’ until 1921]. The certificate highlights emblems and symbols of Australia and Great Britain, and includes the coats of arms of the allies in the war. The certificate is customised with two black and white photographs of Kew: the rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens at left, and boating on the Yarra River at right.Thomas Evan Rand served Australia and the Empire in the Great War and in grateful recognition of his voluntary response to his Country's Call his name is recorded on the Roll of Honor Town of Kew on behalf of the Mayor, Councillors and Burgesses. 1.8.18. E.P. Wynne [Mayor] H. Harrison [Town Clerk]roll of honor (kew), thomas evan rand, world war one, thomas rand, urangeline, kew, australian flying corps, alexandra gardens, wwi, yarra river

George Norman Pockett, who was awarded the certificate was the son of George Pockett , who with his brother designed a number of public parks in Melbourne. George Pockett Snr. was the first curator of the Alexandra Gardens in Kew. (see Comment below)Rolls of Honor were awarded to returned soldiers at the end of the First World War by many towns and cities. This framed certificate awarded to George Norman Pockett by the Town of Kew is one of two held in the Collection. The item is well-provenanced, and through the formal use of emblems and images in the design allows us to make judgements about social and cultural values in the period.Framed Illuminated Certificate: A commemorative certificate documenting the war service of George Norman Pockett of 18 Cobden Street, Kew. George Pockett enrolled at the age of 23 on 5 October 1915, as an engineer in the Australian Army. He embarked on HMAT Wiltshire A18 on 18 November 1915. His rank was that of Warrant Officer Armament Artificer in the 4 FAB [Field Artillery Brigade]. The website of the Australian War Memorial records that he was mentioned in dispatches. The formal certificate records that ‘George Norman Pockett served Australia and the Empire in the Great War and in grateful recognition of his voluntary response to his Country’s Call his name is inscribed on the Roll of Honor of the Town of Kew’. The then Mayor and Town Clerk signed the certificate. [Kew did not become a ‘City’ until 1921]. The certificate highlights emblems and symbols of Australia and Great Britain, and includes the coats of arms of the allies in the war. The certificate is customised with two black and white photographs of Kew: the rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens at left, and boating on the Yarra River at right.George Norman Pockett served Australia and the Empire in the Great War and in grateful recognition of his voluntary response to his Country's Call his name is recorded on the Roll of Honor Town of Kew on behalf of the Mayor, Councillors and Burgesses. 1.8.18. E.P. Wynne [Mayor] H. Harrison [Town Clerk]george norman pockett, first world war - memorabilia - certificates, town of kew (vic), kew war memorial - roll of honor, wwi

The ‘Alexandra Gardens’ in Cotham Road were designed and laid out by George and Thomas Pockett. The Governor of Victoria officially opened them in 1908. A report of the opening stated that “…the gardens have been laid out in large sloping lawns, divided by wide graveled paths, and dotted with tastefully arranged flower beds, which are now bright with autumn bloom”. The massed beds of shrubs and flowers included beds of chrysanthemums, a specialty of George Pockett, the Garden’s first curator. A large rotunda was constructed in 1910 to mark the Jubilee of Kew. A plaque memorialising the contribution of George Pockett, was attached to the original rotunda after his death in 1922. By 1911, electric lighting was installed to allow the public to access the Gardens, and the concerts that were held within them on summer nights. The Gardens were later to include the Jubilee Fountain, moved from the front of the Kew Post Office in 1925. The Kew Council commissioned the substantial bluestone entrance gates in 1933.The Kew Historical Society is fortunate that the City Engineer, Mr Poulter, donated a number of items held by the City of Kew to the Society for safekeeping, rather than identifying them for destruction. The most significant items donated included old maps, including those issued by the Board of Works. Other items included photographs of public works undertaken by the Department. The By-laws are part of that donation and tell us lots about the social values of the period.The Mayor, Councillors and Burgesses of the Borough of Kew published By-Law No.45 in 1908 to regulate the “Conduct of Persons whilst at or Within the Gardens known as the Alexandra Gardens”. The By-Law also set a charge for “Persons Using or Entering in or upon the said Gardens”. The 17 by-laws included predictable prohibitions on expectorating, using indecent language, interfering with the floral displays, or indeed with the caretaker gardeners. Other acts prohibited included a warning that “Children under the age of ten years not being under the control of some competent person may be removed from said gardens”. The Alexandra Gardens were at one stage surrounded by a picket fence. This might explain the prohibition on climbing upon or getting through over or under any fence at or within the gardens. The financial penalty for breaching the By-Law was determined as “…not exceeding Ten pounds and not less than Five shillings”. This original copy of the By-Law was donated to the Kew Historical Society by the City of Kew.alexandra gardens (cotham road, kew), city of kew

This large framed photograph once hung in the Kew Town Hall in Walpole Street. It marked the occasion when Kew became a city. It is an important record of a significant civic event by a nationally significant photographer. A very large, framed portrait of the elected councillors of the City of Kew in 1921. The photograph was taken by the nationally important photographer, Josiah Barnes who had until recently been a resident of Kew. He was to die in the same year that the photograph was taken. The photograph was taken in the Alexandra Gardens in front of the Jubilee Rotunda. [Inscription] "Kew Proclaimed a City, 10th March 1921, Kew City Council". [Photographer] "J.E. Barnes Photo / Kew". Plaque: “Presented by Cr Wm Wishart / Mayor 1906-7”.kew city council

The Alexandra Gardens in Cotham Road, Kew were opened by the Governor of Victoria in 1910. The first curator of the gardens was George Pockett, who with his brother is credited with the layout of the gardens. The gardens were constructed on land originally owned by the King family of 'Madford' in Wellington Street. The land on which the gardens were developed was originally the back paddock of 'Madford' which was purchased by the Borough of Kew in 1906.A rare and early photograph of the gardens showing clearly the changes to the layout and planting during the 1920s. Small, sepia coloured photographic positive of a woman standing on the grass in front of a garden bed in the Alexandra Gardens in Cotham Road, Kew. The Centennial Rotunda, built in 1910, can be seen in the background. Annotation verso: "Alexandra Gardens Kew 1927"parks and gardens -- kew (vic.), alexandra gardens -- kew (vic.), george pockett