The Municipality of Kew (1860-1863), the Borough of Kew (1863-1910), the Town of Kew (1910-1921) and the City of Kew (1921-1994) were local government instrumentalities in the State of Victoria. In 1994, the City of Kew was amalgamated, together with the former Cities of Camberwell and Hawthorn, into the new City of Boroondara (1994- ). Like other local government entities of the period, Kew was administered by town clerks. The two notable town clerks in Kew's history were H. H. (Henry Hirst) Harrison (1868-1955) and W. D. (William Dickie) Birrell (1899-1974). Harrison was appointed to the position in 1901 and retired in 1938 after 37 years. Birrell, appointed Acting Town Clerk in 1921, became Town Clerk in 1938, following Harrison's retirement. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1966. A large part of this collection of civic ephemera was assembled by W. D. Birrell. This is part of an historically significant civic collection, containing hundreds of separate invitations, documents, greeting cards, programmes and tickets issued and/or collected by successive town clerks. Items in the collection illuminate the political, social and cultural history of the district. As a continuous record, ranging across most decades of the Twentieth Century, they reveal changing tastes in design, values and relationships in the history of local government in Victoria.ephemera, civic ephemera, civic invitations, city of south melbourne, south melbourne town hall, mrs h a layfield, mayoress of south melbourne

"As with most items in the AP-SMRC collection, the ‘chain of ownership’ is not formally recorded for this item. The image is not unique, but is one of a set that was produced for each of the men represented in the photographs, with perhaps additional copies for the SMRC. Lance Gallagher, speaking with Ms (Grace) Blake and the consultant (Mrs Margaret Birtley) on 8 June 2014, recalled the photograph well and confirmed on 17 July 2014 that he has a personal copy." 2014 Significance Assessment, p28."This item comprises two photographs mounted together with a caption that identifies the men depicted as being a South Melbourne Rowing Club (SMRC) crew and coach. Representing Victoria, this crew won the first Championship for Lightweight Fours at an Interstate Regatta. The race was contested on the Nepean River, NSW, on 3 May 1958. The photograph of the crew was taken on the Yarra River, Victoria, prior to the Regatta and was used for publicity in the Regatta program.16 The victory was significant to SMRC because the oarsmen and coaches (although not the coxswain) were members of that club. The item is a memento of the club’s success, through its crew, at an elite and national level. The Lightweight Four Championship event’s first hosting at Penrith on the Nepean River resulted in a perpetual trophy being donated by that local municipal council. The race for the Lightweight Championship Four continues to this day as a featured event at the annual Interstate Regatta. The Penrith Cup lends its name to this prestigious event. It is unusual for Interstate race crews to be drawn entirely from a single club; more typically, the state representative crews are selected as composites. The selection of an all-SMRC crew for this inaugural race between representative Lightweight Four crews testifies to the exceptional standards at SMRC during this period. The item is of historic significance because it provides pictorial evidence of the crew and the club’s success in a national competition and in a category of event that was being contested at the Interstate Regatta for the very first time. It also carries social significance through the captioning that credits the victory as being the club’s rather than the state’s, and thus reflects the pride of the SMRC in the achievements of its oarsmen and coaches." 2014 Statement of Significance, p30Unframed photograph of the crew which won the inaugural interstate men’s lightweight coxed four in Penrith, 1958. Lightweight Championship of Australia / Won by / South Melbourne Rowing Club / May 6th, 1958 Coach W. Graham / Lance Gallagher Stroke / George Taylor No. 3 / Harry Stevens No. 2 / Bob Tanner Bow / Eddie Jones Cox / South Melbourne state crew ??? This event became the Penrith Cup.rowing, albert park lake, apsm rowing club, penrith cup, lightweight, four, championship, south melbourne rowing club, gallagher, lance, taylor, george, stevens, harry, tanner, bob, jones, eddie, webster, jack, graham, wal

A3 size poster, photocopied with cartoon drawings of a MTA (Metropolitan Transport Authority) crew member and a passenger who waited 30 mins. for a tram and complaining. MTA crew member explains shortage of crews and blames MTA and Minister Tom Roper (Transport Minister at the time) - mid 1980's. On base of poster is "AUTHORISED BY THE WORKERS AT THE SOUTH MELBOURNE DEPOT". Acquired by Chris Jacobson, BTPS Secretary, who was working at the time at South Melbourne Depot and displayed on the fridge at Bungaree for many years - where torn etc. Cartoonist name unknown.trams, tramways, mta, crew shortages, south melbourne depot

Photo of the interior of the South Melbourne car house or depot. Has trailers 514 and 504 in the view. Shows the wooden structure of the depot. Could have been taken at the same time as 5061, 6/5/1937, or after the closure of the Port and South Melbourne cable lines.Yields information about the interior of the South Melbourne car house or depot.Negative of the interior of South Melbourne depot and Black and white print with notes on the rear.On rear in ink "Old South Melbourne cable tram depot. Photo taken about May 1937. 514 on left, 504 on right. Photo by Wal Larsen." and number "155" in top right hand corner in pencil.trams, tramways, cable trams, south melbourne depot, interiors, tram 514

Photograph shows Z1 No. 4 at the South Melbourne Loop. The tram is in a livery advertising Melbourne's bid for the 1996 Olympic Games, with the slogan "OLYMPICS FOR MELBOURNE 1996" printed across the length of the tram above the windows. The tram also had trolley poles installed. Photo by Michael McLeod.Shows a now-scrapped tram with obsolete equipment (i.e., trolley poles) and livery that advertised Melbourne's past history with the Olympics.Colour Photograph - Z1.4 at South Melbourne Looptrams, tramways, z1 class, public transport, south melbourne loop, michael mcleod, olympics, tram 4, south melbourne

Tramlines to South Melbourne Gas Works gate 1961Photo of tramline entry to the South Melbourne Gas Works in 1961.Remnant 2'6" guage tramway tracks the South Melbourne gas works gate as seen on 15 June 1961transport - tramways, built environment - civic

Photograph of W6 class tram 940 at the South Melbourne Beach terminus, showing the return destination of East Coburg - Moreland, route 1. The Conductor is waiting to reboard the tram. The tram has adverts for Klad aluminium cladding and Sprint soft drinks. In the background is the Bleak House Hotel, advertising Carlton draught. The Bundy Clock and tram stop furniture are in the background as well. Photo by Ron Hood Sept.1971.Yields information about the South Melbourne Beach terminus and tram 940 in Sept. 1971Colour slide in a hanimount cardboard mount.in ink "34 South Melbourne"tramways, swanston st, w6 class, tram 940, south melbourne beach

Photos shows the exterior of the former cable tram engine house at 357 City Road South Melbourne. It operated from 1890 to 1937. At the time the building was occupied by A P Sutherland, tyre retreaders. Has an advert for Michelin tyres. Photo early 1960s based on the motor vehicles, photographer unknown. Following a fire in the building it was redeveloped as offices with the facade remaining in position.Yields information about the appearance the former South Melbourne cable tram engine house.Black and white print with a plain back. Second copy has notes on rear and a letraset label on base."South Melbourne Cable tram engine house C Cibson Photo" in ink on rear.tramways, cable trams, engine houses, south melbourne, city road

Newspaper cutting about flooding in South Melbourne disabling a tram and a "trammie" conductor or driver, directing traffic. Tram W7 1019, route 10.Yields information about the type of delays that can occur on a big tram system.Newspaper cutting from the Herald Sun 13-1-1980 about flooding in South Melbourne and delaying tram W7 1019"Sun Herald 13.1.80"trams, tramways, tramcars, flooding, floods, south melbourne, w7 1019, route 10, crews

Sepia toned photograph - X1 462 , titled "One Man electric Tram" with an inset photo of the controls. Photo caption says the photo was taken at Hanna St depot, and describes the tram. Made for the 70th anniversary of South Melbourne Depot on the rear.Yields information about the launch of the X1 class carSepia toned black and white photograph - three copies held.One copy has the stamp of South Melbourne Tram Depot 75 years stamp on the rear.trams, tramways, x1 class, new trams, south melbourne, hanna st depot, tram 462

Contract from the South Melbourne Gas Company for lighting street lamps in Sandridge 1873.utilities - gas, south melbourne gas & coke company