The Kew Historical Society's map collection includes a substantial number of real estate subdivision plans, mainly of Kew but also of surrounding suburbs in Melbourne. Most of the subdivision plans date from the 1920s and 1930s when the districts old homes and local farmland were being split up to accommodate residential growth in the postwar period. These early plans were assembled by a local firm, Jas R Mather & McMillan, which had an office in Cotham Road. Many of the plans, and sometimes photos, were annotated by the agents. The ‘new’ Balwyn Picture Theatre was built and owned by Balwyn Theatres Pty Ltd in ca. 1928. By 1930, this first Balwyn Theatre was destroyed by fire after a break-in. Following the fire, a new cinema was constructed. This plan for a Cinema and eleven shops presumably dates from 1927/28 when the Company announced that this location in Whitehorse Road ‘was the most central and best suited [area] for their Theatre and shops’.Subdivision plans are historically important documents used as evidence for the growth of suburbs in Australia. They frequently provide information about when the land was sold as well as evidence relating to surveyors and real estate and financial agents. The numerous subdivision plans in the Kew Historical Society's collection represent working documents, ranging from the initial sketches made in planning a subdivision to printed plans on which auctioneers or agents listed the prices for which individual lots were sold. In a number of cases, the reverse of a subdivision plan in the collection includes a photograph of a house that was also for sale by the agent. These photographs provide significant heritage information relating house design and decoration, fencing and household gardens.The photograph may also be aesthetically significant depending on the importance of the photographic atelier.Subdivision plan showing the Balwyn Theatre and its adjoining shop sites in Whitehorse Road Balwyn. The 11 shop sites were noted for their depth (133 ft - 145 ft. [Map.0041]balwyn theatre -- balwyn (vic.), subdivisions -- balwyn (vic), subdivision plans

"Following the 1919 amalgamation of suburban tramway trusts, an electrified tram service extended along Doncaster Road. Housing estates such as the 1919 Balwyn Park Estate, 1922 Hillcrest Estate and the Camberwell City Heights Estate, also 1922, quickly followed. These estates were built over by expansive suburban villas, set in fine gardens and along tree-lined streets. North Balwyn, largely constructed since 1933, was typified by even grander houses, many of them in the 'ocean liner' style and seen at their most distinctive in the Riverview Estate." (Source; 'Balwyn' in eMelbourne)Portions of subdivision plan mounted on both sides of cardboard sheet. Coloured pink, probably to show allotments sold. Area covered: Doncaster Road, Mountainview Road, Panoramic Road, Cityview Road, Longview Road, Riverview Road, Hillview Road, Bulleen Road. Includes location diagram showing railway lines and existing and proposed tram routes.Cardboard backing has advertisement for "Tillock's soluble coffee"subdivision plans -- camberwell (vic.), camberwell city heights subdivision

Subdivision plan advertised as the Panoramic Estate, Balwyn, showing lots for sale in the following streets: Bulleen Road, Macedon Avenue, The Moor, Sunburst Avenue, Doncaster Road, Fortuna Avenue, Longview Road, The Nook, and Touring Avenue.Single page subdivision plan of the Panoramic Estate in Camberwell North (Balwyn); offered for sale in 1939Nilsubdivision plans - balwyn (vic), panoramic estate - camberwell north - balwyn (vic)

Historic subdivision in Balwyn, VictoriaSubdivision Plan of Balwyn Road Estate (Balwyn). Held in April 1937, the auction included 102 lots for sale in Yongala Avenue, Young Street, and Balwyn RoadInscriptions on individual lots by agentsubdivision plans - balwyn (vic), balwyn road estate - balwyn

This subdivision known as the Riverside Estate wa sone of the largest and most significant in Balwyn's history.Subdivision Plan for 41 lots within the wider Riverside Estate in Camberwell North, now Balwyn, in February 1938. The auction featured lots in Burke Road, The Boulevard, Mt View Road, Wattle Avenue, Kyora Parade, Cascade Street, Riverside Avenue, Walbundry Avenue, Inverness Way, Bulleen Road and Doncaster Road.Allotments for sale are shaded grey on the map. Certain lots have an H in a circle. These are presumably where houses had already been constructed.subdivision plans - balwyn (vic), riverside estate - balwyn (vic)

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. Reconciling this hand-drawn subdivision plan with a modern map of the area is initially a challenge due to a change of street names. Argyle Road in the centre of the subdivision was to be renamed Deepdene Road, and the street named Deepdene Road on the plan was to become Deepdene Place. Of interest is the nursery on the corner of Argyle and Whitehorse Roads. During this period there were a number of nurseries servicing the Kew and Balwyn areas. The subdivision was essentially of the land formerly occupied by the house 'Deepdene'.subdivision plans - balwyn, deepdene, whitehorse road -- deepdene (vic.), deepdene road -- deepdene (vic.), burke road -- deepdene (vic.)