Studley Park Road, like most streets in Kew, was originally a dirt road. Street works during the Great Depression included bituminising major roads in the district. This photograph of Council works originated in the City of Kew Engineers Department as a record of works undertaken. It was given to the collection by a Mrs Fisher in 1998.Well provenanced photograph of Council-funded public works in Kew during the Great Depression. Original sepia monochrome positive of Council workers spreading bitumen in Studley Park Road, Kew.Typed reverse: "B4 / Kew C.C. / Spreading premixed material on Studley Park Road with drag spreader, March 1934"roadworks -- kew (vic.), street works -- kew (vic.), public works kew (vic.), studley park road -- kew (vic.), city of kew -- engineers department, city of kew -- public works -- great depression -- 1930s

Studley Park Road, like most streets in Kew, was originally a dirt road. Street works during the Great Depression included bituminising major roads in the district. This photograph of Council works originated in the City of Kew Engineers Department as a record of works undertaken. It was given to the collection by a Mrs Fisher in 1998.Well provenanced photograph of Council-funded public works in Kew during the Great Depression. Original sepia monochrome positive of Studley Park Road, Kew.Typed reverse: "B4 / Kew C.C. / Studley Park Road after surfacing with one coat of premixed material spread with drag, March 1934"roadworks -- kew (vic.), street works -- kew (vic.), public works kew (vic.), studley park road -- kew (vic.), city of kew -- engineers department, city of kew -- public works -- great depression -- 1930s

Studley Park Road, like most streets in Kew, was originally a dirt road. Street works during the Great Depression included bituminising major roads in the district. This photograph of Council works originated in the City of Kew Engineers Department as a record of works undertaken. It was given to the collection by a Mrs Fisher in 1998.Well provenanced photograph of Council-funded public works in Kew during the Great Depression. Original sepia monochrome positive of Council workers standing on and beside a dray in Studley Park Road, Kew while resurfacing of the street was taking place. The Kew Junction is just visible behind the men.Typed reverse: "B4 / Kew C.C. / Spreading premixed material on Studley Park Road with drag spreader, view from rear of machine, March 1934"roadworks -- kew (vic.), street works -- kew (vic.), public works kew (vic.), studley park road -- kew (vic.), city of kew -- engineers department, city of kew -- public works -- great depression -- 1930s

Studley Park Road, like most streets in Kew, was originally a dirt road. Street works during the Great Depression included bituminising major roads in the district. This photograph of Council works originated in the City of Kew Engineers Department as a record of works undertaken. It was given to the collection by a Mrs Fisher in 1998.Well provenanced photograph of Council-funded public works in Kew during the Great Depression. Original sepia photographic positive of a drag used to spread bitumen in Studley Park Road, Kew.Typed reverse: "B4 / Kew C.C. / Drag spreader used for premixed material on Studley Park Road, showing end of strip just with spread, with unsurfaced work on left and completed section on right, March 1934"roadworks -- kew (vic.), street works -- kew (vic.), public works kew (vic.), studley park road -- kew (vic.), city of kew -- engineers department, city of kew -- public works -- great depression -- 1930s

Studley Park Road, like most streets in Kew, was originally a dirt road. Street works during the Great Depression included bituminising major roads in the district. This photograph of Council works originated in the City of Kew Engineers Department as a record of works undertaken. It was given to the collection by a Mrs Fisher in 1998.Well provenanced photograph of Council-funded public works in Kew during the Great Depression. Original sepia photographic positive of Studley Park Road, Kew while resurfacing of the street was taking place. The Kew Junction is just visible in the distance. Boys sitting on a drum at right. Behind them is the brick fence and front entrance to Tara Hall.Typed reverse: "B4 / Kew C.C. / Studley Park Road showing drag spread surfacing with premixed material, unrolled material on the right, March 1934"roadworks -- kew (vic.), street works -- kew (vic.), public works kew (vic.), studley park road -- kew (vic.), city of kew -- engineers department, city of kew -- public works -- great depression -- 1930s

Studley Park Road, like most streets in Kew, was originally a dirt road. Street works during the Great Depression included bituminising major roads in the district. This photograph of Council works originated in the City of Kew Engineers Department as a record of works undertaken. It was given to the collection by a Mrs Fisher in 1998.Well provenanced photograph of Council-funded public works in Kew during the Great Depression. Original sepia photographic positive of Studley Park Road, Kew while resurfacing of the street was taking place. Typed reverse: "B4 / Kew C.C. / Spreading premixed material on Studley Park Road with drag spreader, March 1934"roadworks -- kew (vic.), street works -- kew (vic.), public works kew (vic.), studley park road -- kew (vic.), city of kew -- engineers department, city of kew -- public works -- great depression -- 1930s

One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, relating to road works. The photos variably include council workers, signage and equipment.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of street works of the period.Original black and white photographic positive of a portable workmen's hut and toilet in Stevenson Street, Kew in September 1972. The hut is made of wooden boards with a corrugate iron roof. The four-sided portable toilet has a metal frame. Th exact location has not been identified. "WORKMEN'S HUT & TOILET / STEVENSON ST 8/9/72 / (THESE ARE THE UNITS WHICH WERE IN SWINTON AV. 30/8/72)"city of kew, local government -- city of kew, road works, street works, stevenson street -- kew (vic.)

One of three traffic warning lanterns donated by the City of Kew in 1984. The lanterns were used by the City Engineers Department for emergency street lighting to indicate dangerous conditions. The red glass in the lanterns symbolically represented danger.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. These traffic warning lanterns, while less historically significant, are indicative of a period of rapid urban development in the district during the post war period.City of Kew warning lantern (left) previously located in various streets and plant nurserytraffic lanterns -- city of kew, emergency lighting, public works -- kew (vic.)

On 19 July 1907, The Box Hill Reporter published an article on the Miniature Rifle Range. It stated: "Miniature Rifle Range for Kew. The Kew rifle club has made arrangements for the establishment of a miniature rifle range. The Kew borough council has provided a site in the yard at the rear of the town hall, fronting Brougham street. The site has been inspected by the military authorities, who have approved of the locality selected and the arrangements to be made to render the range absolutely safe. The plans are at present being prepared, and it is expected that the range will be completed within the next two months. The range will be under the direct control of the rifle club, subject to the supervision of a joint committee from the council and the club. The first committee will consist of Crs Wishart (mayor), Kellett, and Hiscock as representing the council, and Captain Argyle and Mr S. Abbott representing the rifle club. The range when completed will be available for the use of cadets, friendly societies, and other miniature rifle clubs in the district. Miniature rifle ranges are now occupying a great deal of attention in Great Britain, on the Continent, and in America. Lord Roberts, writing recently on the subject, remarks- "While I do not for a moment pretend that miniature rifle shooting is, in all respects, as useful as knowing how to shoot on a long range, I am satisfied that men can learn to shoot on miniature ranges, and that unless miniature ranges are very generally made use of, the greatest majority in this country will never learn to shoot at all." It is possible by this means also to divert the at present dangerous enthusiasm of uninstructed youths for the pea rifle into safer and more useful channels."Important early document identifying the specifications for a miniature rifle range in central Kew. Rifle clubs and rifle ranges were an important element in defending Victorians and Australians to outside threats. Single page plan (folded), created and approved in 1910, listing the approved specifications for a miniature rifle range in Brougham Street, Kew.Handwritten signature: J.M. / Staff officer for Works Victoria / 26-2-10rifle clubs - rifle ranges, miniature rifle ranges, rifle clubs -- kew (vic)

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.A roughly drawn and faded actual or projected subdivision of a parcel of land bordering on High and Mary Streets. The plan shows five allotments facing High Street and at their rear, another allotment facing Mary Street. In 1906, when the Board of Works surveyors completed Detail Plan 1589, the allotment in Mary Street is shown to include a building. The section of land attached to this building is shown to be undeveloped, thus making a further subdivision possible.subdivision plans - kew, high street -- kew (vic.), mary street -- kew (vic.)

Streets and drains were the basic infrastructure problems for Kew in the 1880s. Decent streets and drains were fundamental to the quality of life of the residents. Without drainage, streets became muddy, boggy and sometimes impassable. Pools and puddles of stagnant water became smelly. The run off water, mixed with human and animal wastes, because there was no sewerage, became a health hazard. Streets and drains then became what were known as 'a nuisance'. Kew suffered from bouts of typhoid fever during the 1880s. Derrick Street was a private street on the margin of the business district of Kew and a well-used thoroughfare. We hear first about Derrick Street when the ratepayers applied to Council to have the street 'taken over' in January 1881. The Council agreed, after much debate, but ratepayers had to pay half the costs. The argument of the majority of the Council was that there was an established policy that ratepayers of private streets either had to hand over the street fully-formed or pay half the costs if Council did the work. It was felt that to make an exception for Derrick Street would create a precedent for ratepayers of other private streets. On the other hand the ratepayers, and a minority of Council, believed that there were extenuating circumstances in the case of Derrick Street. They believed that the costing by the Borough Surveyor was excessive. They felt the Council was partly responsible for the state of the street due to a channel on Bulleen Road, which deposited sand in the street. The Council had also put in some kerbing at the entrance to the street. Finally, the ratepayers believed that the street had become an important and convenient thoroughfare in Kew, and thus should be an exception to the policy on private streets. In the end a decision was delayed to allow the ratepayers to drain and form the street themselves. And there the matter stood till September 1882, when Miss Reilly complained about rubbish on a block of land in Derrick Street. So, in October 1882 the Council agreed to take over and form the street with the ratepayers paying half the costs. The ratepayers did not want to pay, so the argument continued in Council into 1883. There was a standoff for a further 18 months, until the problem could no longer be ignored. In October 1884 the Inspector of Nuisances and the Health Officer reported that Derrick Street was a health hazard as there was no drainage outlet for waste water. These reports changed the status of the problem of Derrick Street. It became an issue of public health, and thus the Council, acting as the Local Board of Health, had power to prepare plans and order the ratepayers to drain the street and pay all the costs, or let the Council do the work and charge ratepayers half the costs of the works. By April 1885, the time for ratepayers to complete the works themselves had expired, so the Council proceeded with the work and required ratepayers to pay for their share of the costs. All ratepayers had paid by the end of April except Mr Whiddycombe, who refused to pay. Mr Whiddycombe was warned to pay in October 1885. Legal action was taken against him in November. The Council lost the case on technical grounds. The Council, acting as the Local Board of Health, relaunched the legal action and won. The last we hear of Derrick Street is that seven day’s notice was given to Derrick Street ratepayers to pay for the drainage works in May 1887. We presume that Mr Whiddycombe paid. (Research: Andrew Frost)Rare and historic publication issued by the Board of Health in the Borough of Kew in 1885 to residents of Derrick street regarding the need for proper drainage for the purpose of improving public health.Printed formal notice sent by the Board of Health of the Borough of Kew to landowners in Derrick Street, Kew. The notice advised the owners that they were required to form and drain the street according to the levels and specifications approved by the Board. The letter was sent on January 23rd 1885, and signed by the Inspector of Nuisances.borough of kew -- greater melbourne (vic.), council notices -- public health, derrick street -- kew (vic.)

The Kew Historical Society's Pictures Collection is comprised of photographs, postcards and original works of art. The postcards include original (mainly) images dating from the 1900s to the present. A number of postcards, some of which have numerous variants, were published as parts of series. Others are original images customised as postcards. Many of the postcards in the collection depict places within the suburbs of Kew and Kew East. Others depict locations in Victoria or internationally.View of two women and two children in a canoe at Macauleys' Boat Shed at the end of Molesworth Street, Kew. At the left of the image stands a man and his dog, presumably the manager of the boat shed. On the bak of the seat of one of the canoes is its name - sunbeam. Another item in the collection includes one of these name boards."Lower Molesworth Street, 1900. Home restored still standing 1980."postcards, recreation - yarra river - kew (vic), yarra river - kew (vic), macauley's boat house -- boat shed

William Nichols Anderson (1873-1927) was an Australian painter, one of whose works from the 1906 series River + Rail is in the Kew Historical Society’s art collection (donated 1984). A separate archive file contains correspondence, biographical information (written by his niece), and locations in Kew where he lived. Much of the correspondence between the Society and the City of Kew relates to the painting and its location in the Mayor’s Room at the Kew Civic Offices, Charles Street, where it was on loan from the Society. Lucy M (Jean) Hornby, the artist’s niece and the donor of the painting was a resident of 5 and 20 Queens Street, Kew (Vic). Australian ImpressionismGift of Lucy Hornby, 1984Framed oil on canvas by W. Nicholls Anderson of Park Street, Kew (now Adeney Avenue) looking uphill in a southerly direction towards Cotham Road. The painting is dated to 1906. The two storey house at left was known as 'Eborensis'. The house is still extant on the corner of Adeney Avenue and Parkhill Road. On sticker on back of frame - Adeney Ave./1913/ £3.3.0/ 13th Annual/ Exhib. V.A.S [Victorian Artists Society]/1911 Aust Art Exhib/the Guidlhall/Swanston st Melb./ Adeney's Paddock/ Kew. £3.0.0.artists - kew - victoria - australia, victorian artists society, william nicholls anderson (1873-1927), adeney avenue kew, australian art exhibition 1911, victorian artists' society, w. nicholls anderson

The first Kew Municipal baths were built on a site in High Street (Kew) in 1925. Since then, various rebuilding have occurred, most involving extending or relocating the pool. Photograph of construction activities at the Kew Recreation Centre.kew recreation centre, public works -- kew (vic)

The first Kew Municipal baths were built on a site in High Street (Kew) in 1925. Since then, various rebuilding have occurred, most involving extending or relocating the pool. Photograph of construction activities at the Kew Recreation Centre.kew recreation centre, public works -- kew (vic.)

The first Kew Municipal Baths were built on a site in High Street (Kew) in 1925. Since then, various rebuilding have occurred, most involving extending or relocating the pool. Photograph of construction activities at the Kew Recreation Centre.kew recreation centre, public works -- kew (vic.)

The first Kew Municipal Baths were built on a site in High Street (Kew) in 1925. Since then, various rebuilding have occurred, most involving extending or relocating the pool. Photograph of construction activities at the Kew Recreation Centre.kew recreation centre, public works -- kew (vic.)

The first Kew Municipal Baths were built on a site in High Street (Kew) in 1925. Since then, various rebuilding have occurred, most involving extending or relocating the pool. Photograph of construction activities at the Kew Recreation Centre.kew recreation centre, public works -- kew (vic.)

The first Kew Municipal Baths were built on a site in High Street (Kew) in 1925. Since then, various rebuilding have occurred, most involving extending or relocating the pool. Photograph of construction activities at the Kew Recreation Centre.kew recreation centre, public works -- kew (vic.)

The first Kew Municipal Baths were built on a site in High Street (Kew) in 1925. Since then, various rebuilding have occurred, most involving extending or relocating the pool. Photograph of construction activities at the Kew Recreation Centre.kew recreation centre, public works -- kew (vic.)

The first Kew Municipal Baths were built on a site in High Street (Kew) in 1925. Since then, various rebuilding have occurred, most involving extending or relocating the pool. Photograph of construction activities at the Kew Recreation Centre.kew recreation centre, public works -- kew (vic.)

127 p. : ill. (some col.), ports. ; 26 x 26 cm. fletcher & parker (firm) - history., real estate agents - victoria - balwyn north - history, melbourne (vic.) - history - pictorial works

Malvern, Vic. : Malvern Historical Society Inc., 1994 [40] p. : chiefly ill. ; 22 x 30 cm. non-fictionmalvern (vic.) -- pictorial works, malvern (vic.) -- history.

The Kew Historical Society's Pictures Collection is comprised of photographs and original works of art. The photographs include original (mainly) images dating from the 1870s to the present. A number of these photographs derive from the former City of Kew's Civic Collection while others are the work of amateur and professional photographers. Most of the images in the collection depict people, places and objects within the suburbs of Kew and Kew East. Other photographs depict other locations in Melbourne and Victoria. A number of the photographs are of statewide and/or national significance.View from junction of High and Strathalbyn Sts., Kew East, looking approximately west toward Cemetery, October 1977. Inscription reverse: "KH-72. View from junction of High St. & Strathalbyn Sts, Kew E. Looking approx. west, towards Cemetery. October 1977."high street -- kew (vic.), streetscapes -- kew (vic.)

Research provided by Stuart Tompkins Studio, Box Hill, into alternatives for median strip street lighting to be used in Burke Road, Kew. The photographers identified variants in different suburbs appropriate to Kew's needs.The series from which the photograph is drawn provides a snapshot by a commercial photographic studio of each named vicinity in 1965 as well as providing examples of public works infrastructure being commissioned by local government in the 1960s. The photos originally formed part of the Engineering Department's files in the City of Kew before being donated to the kew Historical Society.Electricity Supply Poles, South Road, Moorabbin, 1965. Stuart Tompkins Studio provided this photograph for the Kew City Council. The photograph of South Road, Moorabbin, west of Jasper Road, looking east depicts steel poles with two lamps in a median strip and supply wires from pole to pole. The poles were described as 100′ apart. The notation on the rear of the photograph was that there were lamps along the median strip except at intersections. A wooden pole is recognised as supporting heavy supply lines across the road. The steel poles in the photograph were said to be between 3′ to 3.5′ whereas the wooden poles were three to 12.25″ in diameter. [There are three copies of this photograph in the Collection.] Typed inscription on reverse: "Electricity Supply Poles. Photographed for Kew City Council 8/2/65. No.2 South Road - Moorabbin, west of Jasper Road, looking east. Steel poles with two lamps in median strip and supply wires from pole to pole along median strip (poles only 100' apart). Lamps along median only except at intersections. Wooden pole supports heavy supply lines across the road. Wooden poles 3' up and 8 1/2" dia. Wooden poles 3' up and 12 1/2 dia." Studio stamp: "Stuart Tompkins Studio. 547 Station Street, Box Hill. WX1439."public infrastructure -- kew (vic.), city of kew - engineers department

Research provided by Stuart Tompkins Studio, Box Hill, into alternatives for median strip street lighting to be used in Burke Road, Kew. The photographers identified variants in different suburbs appropriate to Kew's needs.The series from which the photograph is drawn provides a snapshot by a commercial photographic studio of each named vicinity in 1965 as well as providing examples of public works infrastructure being commissioned by local government in the 1960s. The photos originally formed part of the Engineering Department's files in the City of Kew before being donated to the kew Historical Society.Electricity Supply Poles, South Road, Moorabbin, 1965. Stuart Tompkins Studio provided this photograph for the Kew City Council. The photograph of South Road, Moorabbin, west of Jasper Road, looking east depicts steel poles with two lamps in a median strip and supply wires from pole to pole. The poles were described as 100′ apart. The notation on the rear of the photograph was that there were lamps along the median strip except at intersections. A wooden pole is recognised as supporting heavy supply lines across the road. The steel poles in the photograph were said to be between 3′ to 3.5′ whereas the wooden poles were three to 12.25″ in diameter. [There are three copies of this photograph in the Collection.] Typed inscription on reverse: "Electricity Supply Poles. Photographed for Kew City Council 8/2/65. No.2 South Road - Moorabbin, west of Jasper Road, looking east. Steel poles with two lamps in median strip and supply wires from pole to pole along median strip (poles only 100' apart). Lamps along median only except at intersections. Wooden pole supports heavy supply lines across the road. Wooden poles 3' up and 8 1/2" dia. Wooden poles 3' up and 12 1/2 dia." Studio stamp: "Stuart Tompkins Studio. 547 Station Street, Box Hill. WX1439."city of kew -- engineers department, public infrastructure -- kew (vic.)

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.This card 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.THE CHAIRMEN AND COMMISSIONERS / OF THE MELBOURNE AND METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS / REQUEST THE / PLEASURE OF THE COMPANY OF / Mr W D Birrell / AT THE / OPENING OF THE UPPER YARRA RESERVOIR / BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA / GENERAL SIR DALLAS BROOKS KCB KCMG KCVO DSO KStJ / ON TUESDAY, 26TH NOVEMBER, 1957, AT 2 O'CLOCK P.M. / RSVP TO THE SECRETARY, 110 SPENCER STREET, MELBOURNE, C1, BEFORE 8TH NOVEMBER, 1957civic invitations -- kew (vic), melbourne & metropolitan board of works, upper yarra reservoir