In the 1930s, the Studley Park Trust decided to cater for young children by constructing wading pools in the Studley Park Reserve where the Collins Bridge crosses into Kew. The earliest references to the pools in newspaper articles and letters to the editor appear in the late 1930s. The eventual closing date of the Studley Park Pools has not been discovered, but it was clearly still in existence in 1940 when a representative of the Trust described the facility as one of many public fixtures requiring regular maintenance. Black and white print positive of the former wading pools in the Studley Park Reserve (now Andrews Reserve) on the Kew side of the Collins Bridge. In the foreground adults are sitting on seats while small children play in the pools. The Abbotsford Convent is in the background.Reverse: "Collins Bridge / Wading pools Collins Bridge"andrews reserve -- kew, studley park trust, wading pools -- kew, studley park reserve

One of three scrapbooks of photographs and newspaper cuttings taken and or collected by Eva Grant, a past member of the Kew Historical Society, which were donated by her niece, Julie Thomson. The albums include many photographs of Kew from the 1950s to the 1970s. Buildings included in the scrapbook include: Billy Hughes' house - 167 Cotham Road Congregational Church - Walpole Street (c.1978) Country Roads Board - Denmark Street (1960) Dorothy Rogers Reserve - Studley Park Road Ellsmere (also Ellesmere/Ellsmore) - Princess Street Field Place - 3 Henty Court Fernhurst - 13 Fernhurst Grove Kew Civic Centre (1959) Kew Junction (1958) Kew Railway Station (1902, 1959) Kew Recreation Hall - Wellington Street (1960) Neama (Hall) - Studley Park Road Southesk (formerly Ordsall) - Cotham Road (c.1960) St Anthony's Home for Babies (formerly Madford) - 43 Wellington Street (c.1976) Studley House - Nolan AvenueThe scrapbook contains historically significant, rare and sometimes unique images of significant heritage buildings in Kew, including their erection and demolition. 11-page scrapbook of photographs and newspaper clippings with annotations by Eva Grant, a past member of the Kew Historical Society. The pages of the album can be viewed in the image carousel above. Based on the text and known dates of demolition of a number of the buildings, the scrapbook was assembled over a twenty year period between c.1958-c.1978.Includes letter from donoreva grant, billy hughes' house - 167 cotham road, congregational church - walpole street - kew, country roads board - denmark street - kew, dorothy rogers reserve - studley park road - kew, field place - 3 henty court - kew (vic), ellsmere (also ellesmere/ellsmore) - princess street - kew, fernhurst - 13 fernhurst grove - kew (vic), kew civic centre - civic drive - kew (vic), kew junction - kew (vic), kew railway station - denmark street - kew (vic), recreation hall - wellington street - kew, neama - hall - studley park road - kew (vic), southesk - ordsall - cotham road- kew (vic), st anthony's home for babies - madford - 43 wellington street (vic), studley house - nolan avenue - kew (vic)

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. 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.Digital copy of an original MMBW plan. This contour plan shows the area identified by the MMBW for purposes of drainage and sewerage in 1894. The suburbs represented extend from Williamstown in the west to Bulleen in the east, and from Preston in the north, south to Sandringham. Suburbs are outlined in coloured ink. Red lines indicate main and branch sewers in existence at the beginning of 1894 in central and inner Melbourne. These extended as far as Williamstown and Brighton, but not yet as far as Kew, where sewering did not commence until 1901. Contour lines show the topography, which was important for indicating the fall of the land for the laying of sewers and drainage channels. Kew appears to be fairly undeveloped at this date except for railway lines and stations (the Kew and Outer Circle lines), main roads, the Kew Lunatic Asylum Reserve and Studley Park. However, the contour plan does not accurately represent the density of settlement, nor the large number of houses, which were being built in Kew and other suburbs from the 1850s to the land boom of the late 1880’s and early 1890’s. This plan is part of a large and historically significant 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.mmbw contour plan of melbourne and suburbs, melbourne and metropolitan board of works, melbourne sewage, cartography

The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People were the original owners of the land on which the City of Boroondara is now located. They made active use of the Yarra for food and transport [an original canoe is held in the collection of the Melbourne Museum]. From 1863, members of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung were resettled at the Corranderrk Aboriginal reserve at Healesville. The [now] best known member of the Wurundjeri People was William Barak, who may be pictured here.If the attribution in the annotation is correct, then this may be the earliest photograph of members of the Wurundjeri People at Kew. The photo may be unique.Hand tinted photograph on mounting card of members of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung on the banks of the River Yarra, allegedly at Studley Park before 1855 [according to the annotation on the reverse] The photograph of the river and its near and far banks includes two boats on the river, a row boat and a canoe, and people standing on the near bank or seated on the branch of a tree. In addition to men and women of the Wurundjeri People, there appears to be two Europeans pictured, one wearing a hat and the other standing at right. Annotations on the reverse identify a [possible] location and date. [Size: Mount 140 x 215mm | Photograph 125 x 190mm]Various hands and dates: "Original lead pencil lettering Studley Yarra Yarra / Yarra Yarra Studley / Studley (Park?) / Note aboriginals in a bark canoe / Prior 1855 / Very early photo Yarra River originally known as the Yarra Yarra / [illegible part word in ink]".wurundjeri woi wurrung, yarra river, aboriginal and torres straight islander

This is an aerial oblique image looking north. It shows Kew Junction before construction of VicRoads (Country Roads Board), Murphy's (Leo's) supermarket, and office towers. It also shows a building on the land now known as the Raoul Wallenberg Reserve, the Kew Municipal Offices in Walpole Street, and St Paul's School for the Blind in Fernhurst Grove, and Kew Bowling Club in Wellington Street.An aerial photograph of Kew Junction, showing the intersection of High Street South, Studley Park Road, Princess Street, High Street and Denmark Street. A number of buildings, now demolished can be identified in the photo, including Jellis’ Bakeries on the corner of Princess Street and Studley Park Road." Annotation on reverse: "Kew Historical Society from Mr L. H. Chinner".kew junction, aerial photograph (kew), oblique aerial, st paul's school for the blind, kew municipal offices, high street kew, studley park road, kew war memorial, kew post office, kew police station, kew court house, high street south, kew, wellington street kew, denmark street kew

Dorothy Rogers wrote two major books on Kew's history: Lovely Old Homes of Kew (1961) and A History of Kew (1973). In addition to her published works, she was a regular contributor on issues of local history to suburban newspapers. Her archives are held in the collections of the State Library of Victoria and Kew Historical Society. Three years after her death in 1973, the Reserve was opened in her honour.Faded colour positive photograph of the opening of the Dorothy Rogers Reserve in 1976. The naming of the reserve honoured the contribution of the historian Dorothy Rogers, foundation member of the Society. The reserve is located on the north side of Studley Park Road just west of Kew Junction. Inscribed verso: "Members and relatives of the late Dorothy Rogers. Memorial reserve named and unveiled in her honour by (Cr Whiting Mayor) and City Manager Mr Fell 1978. In respect for her great research and service to the history of early Kew, and other places."dorothy rogers reserve, public parks -- kew (vic.)

Dorothy Rogers wrote two major books on Kew's history: Lovely Old Homes of Kew (1961) and A History of Kew (1973). In addition to her published works, she was a regular contributor on issues of local history to suburban newspapers. Her archives are held in the collections of the State Library of Victoria and Kew Historical Society. Three years after her death in 1973, the Reserve was opened in her honour.Faded colour positive photograph of the opening of the Dorothy Rogers Reserve in 1976. The naming of the reserve honoured the contribution of the historian Dorothy Rogers, foundation member of the Society. The reserve is located on the north side of Studley Park Road just west of Kew Junction. Inscribed verso: "Left to right: Mrs Rogers Jnr, Joy Stewart, Miss Jenkins sitting / Mrs Richardson and Mr Richardson, Brother of D. Rogers), Mayor Cr Whiting, City Manager Mr Fell, Background / KHS President Miss Hall, Mr B O'Neill KHS member, / taken during the memorial unveiling of the Dorothy Rogers Reserve"dorothy rogers reserve, public parks -- kew (vic.)