Cr. W.D. Vaughan in his civic history of Kew includes a chapter (XXXII, pages 132-3) to Town Clerks and Surveyors. He states that H.H. Harrison began his career with the Borough of Kew in 1888 as his predecessor's assistant, becoming Town Clerk on the latter's death in 1901. On his retirement, The Herald on 30 Jul 1938 reported that: "H.H. HARRISON, Town Clerk of Kew, was entertained last night by members of the Metropolitan Institute of Town Clerks and presented with a walking stick and case of pipes, on the occasion of his retirement after 50 years' service with Kew City Council. He began his municipal career as a youth with the Bendigo City Council, and in 1888, was appointed Assistant Town Clerk at Kew. Appointed Town Clerk in 1901, he has held the office for 37 years."This portrait is one of a series of mounted and framed photographic portraits of Mayors and Town Clerks of the former Borough, Town and City of Kew, for the period 1863 to 1969. The portraits were transferred by the City of Kew to the Kew Historical Society in March 1989. A Significance Assessment in 2018, funded by the National Library of Australia confirmed the historic, and often artistic significance of the series. Framed portrait of Henry Hirst Harrison, Town Clerk of the City of Kew from 1901 to 1938. The mounting and framing of the photograph follows a typical layout or style in that it each is framed in dark wood, glazed, and laid down on an inscribed board. The inscription identifies the name of the town clerk and the year/s that he served.H.H. Harrison, Town Clerk 1901-1938h.h. harrison, town clerks - kew (vic), kew (vic.) — municipal collection

In Kew’s Civic Century (1960), Cr. W.D. Vaughan described William Dickie Birrell M.B.E. (1899-1974) as follows: “Mr. W. D. Birrell, who had been on the staff of the Country Roads Board after his return from active service with the First A.I.F., was appointed assistant town clerk on February 15, 1921. On Mr. Harrison’s retirement he was appointed town clerk and city treasurer, and has given outstanding service. His knowledge of municipal administration has been acknowledged by the Government calling on his services to advise on amendments to the Local Government Act. He is a past president of the Town Clerks Institute, and on the nomination of that body was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen in 1958 with the award of the M.B.E. He still occupies the position and is held in the highest esteem not only by the Kew Council, but also by local government administrators throughout the metropolitan area.” (page 132) He died on 7 May 1974, and his ashes were interred at the Boroondara General Cemetery. This portrait is one of a series of mounted and framed photographic portraits of Mayors and Town Clerks of the former Borough, Town and City of Kew, for the period 1863 to 1969. The portraits were transferred by the City of Kew to the Kew Historical Society in March 1989. A Significance Assessment in 2018, funded by the National Library of Australia confirmed the historic, and often artistic significance of the series. Framed portrait of W. D. Birrell - Town Clerk of the City of Kew from 1936 -. The mounting and framing of the photograph follows a typical layout or style in that it each is framed in dark wood, glazed, and laid down on an inscribed board. The inscription identifies the name of the town clerk and the year/s that he served.W.D. BIRRELL / TOWN CLERK 1938-town clerks - kew (vic), w.d. birrell, photographers - stuart tompkins studios - camberwell (vic), kew (vic.) — municipal collection

According to Ringwood Place of Many Eagles, Appendix II, Arthur Frederick Busbridge Long was Town Clerk from 1925-1950Typed below photograph, "A.F.B. Long, Town Clerk"

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 PRESIDENT AND COMMITTEE / OF THE VICTORIAN CIVIL AMBULANCE SERVICE / REQUEST THE PLEASURE OF THE COMPANY OF / The Town Clerk / AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING / OF THE NEW HEADQUARTERS STATION / AT 64 LATROBE STREET, MELBOURNE / BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA / GENERAL SIR DALLAS BROOKS KCB KCMG KCVO DSO KStJ / ON WEDNESDAY, 2ND JULY 1958 AT 3 P.M. / REFRESHMENTS / RSVP 20TH JUNE TO / THE SECRETARY VCAS 64 LATROBE STREET MELBOURNE C1civic invitations -- kew (vic), victorian civil ambulance service, new headquarters station - 64 latrobe street (melb)

Formal portrait photograph of Edward C Crockford, Town Clerk wearing ceremonial robes and holding a bicorn hat. costume, local government - town of port melbourne, edward c crockford, town clerks

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 GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA / REQUESTS THE PLEASURE OF THE COMPANY OF / The Town Clerk and Lady / AT THE HISTORICAL PAGEANT IN / COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING / OF THE FIRST COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENT / IN THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION / WEDNESDAY 9TH MAY, 1951, AT 8 P.M. / RSVP TO SECRETARY, PREMIER'S DEPARTMENT, MELBOURNE C.2. BY 23RD APRIL. / ON RECEIPT OF ACCEPTANCE RESERVATION CARDS WILL BE FORWARDED.civic invitations -- kew (vic), civic ephemera - city of kew -- government of victoria, commemoration of the sitting of the first parliament, exhibition buildings -- melbourne (vic.)