Pru Sanderson, in her groundbreaking ‘City of Kew Urban Conservation Study : Volume 2 - Development History’ (1988), summarised the periods of urban development and subdivisions of land in Kew. The periods that she identified included 1845-1880, 1880-1893, 1893-1921, 1921-1933, 1933-1943, and Post-War Development. These periods were selected as they represented periods of rapid growth or decline in urban development. An obvious starting point for Sanderson’s groupings involved population growth and the associated economic cycles. These cycles also highlighted urban expansion onto land that was predominantly rural, although in other cases it represented the decline and breakup of large estates. A number of the plans in the Kew Historical Society’s collection can also be found in other collections, such as those of the State Library of Victoria and the Boroondara Library Service. A number are however unique to the collection.The Kew Historical Society collection includes almost 100 subdivision plans pertaining to suburbs of the City of Melbourne. Most of these are of Kew, Kew East or Studley Park, although a smaller number are plans of Camberwell, Deepdene, Balwyn and Hawthorn. It is believed that the majority of the plans were gifted to the Society by persons connected with the real estate firm - J. R. Mathers and McMillan, 136 Cotham Road, Kew. The Plans in the collection are rarely in pristine form, being working plans on which the agent would write notes and record lots sold and the prices of these. The subdivision plans are historically significant examples of the growth of urban Melbourne from the beginning of the 20th Century up until the 1980s. A number of the plans are double-sided and often include a photograph on the reverse. A number of the latter are by noted photographers such as J.E. Barnes.The Cotham Vale Estate was a subdivision of land between Alfred, Thomas, Rowland and John Streets. It was promoted in the same time as the nearby Normanby Heights Estate. Cotham Vale included 28 allotments. Contemporary newspaper advertisements noted that the Estate ‘is most conveniently situated in a well elevated position, only 2 minutes from Cotham rd. Electric Cars, penny section to Kew station’.subdivision plans - kew, cotham vale estate, rowland street -- kew (vic.), thomas street -- kew (vic.), john 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 31 Rowland Street, Kew by Margaret Picken.31 ROWLAND ST., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN '90 / WOODARDS ~ KEWartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 31 rowland street -- kew (vic.)

St Hilary's Anglican Church in Rowland Street, Kew was established in 1888 on land granted to the congregation by the Dumaresq family.The Parish Notes are historically interesting as they outline the various ways in which the Influenza Epidemic of 1919 had an impact on local communities. St Hilary's Church of England Parish Notes from 1919, which includes among other items of interest states that because of the risks of contagion during the influenza epidemic, parishioners are required to worship outside. Written note on front page signed by the Rev Charles H Barnes and dated 16/3/19.st hilary's church of england - kew (vic), churches - kew (vic), influenza epidemic 1919 - kew (vic)

The first St. Hilary’s Church of England (Kew) was a timber building on the corner of John and Rowland Streets, designed in 1888 by Albert Purchas. This timber building was demolished in the 1940s to make way for a new church and tennis courts. The drawing was made to accompany a newsletter article by Dione McIntyre.Pen and ink drawing of the rear view of ‘old’ St Hilary’s, drawn by Dione McIntyre, 2013. "Rear view of 'old' St Hilary's"st hilary's church (kew), dione mcintyre, churches -- kew (vic)