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

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.civic ephemera, mayoral balls, civic invitations, w d birrell, city of box hill, cr h d campbell - mayor of box hill

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, mayoral balls, civic invitations, city of fitzroy -- mayoral balls, mayors of fitzroy, cr h l peel, w d birrell

Robert (later Sir Robert) Menzies was the member for Kooyong from 1934 to 66, and Australian Prime Minister from 1939 to 41, and again from 1949 to 66. The City of Kew was within the boundaries of his electorate. Civic events, before the opening of the new Kew City Hall in 1960 were frequently held at the Kew Recreation Hall (demolished 1960) in Wellington Street.The Arthur Dear Collection is a comprehensive collection of theatrical ephemera relating to performances by theatrical and musical organisations from within and outside the former City of Kew who typically performed at venues in Kew during the 1950s and 1960s.Card formally acknowledging the acceptance of an invitation to an event in the Kew Recreation Hall. The printed response was issued by the Town Clerk - W.D. Birrell - on behalf of the Mayor - Cr. Marie Dalley. The event was held to meet Mr Menzies and Dame Pattie Menzies.arthur dear collection, robert menzies, dame pattie menzies, kew recreation hall, city of kew - invitations

Stradbroke Park. Extent: Kilby Road to Harp Road at Burke Road. Historical Documentation: 1851 - Portion 91 purchased by Edward Glynn; 1888 - The Harp of Erin Estate (which included Section 91) offered for sale; 1896 - The area now known as Stradbroke Park was bisected by a creek that flowed from the Yarra via Hay's Paddock (q.v.) and extended through to Burke Road; 1943 - W.D. Birrell, Town Clerk of Kew, proposed that the creek be filled and a reserve created; 1954 - Entire area designated as 'open space' and named 'Stradbroke Park'. The line of the creek that ran through the Park created a further reserve on the north side of High Street, now known as 'Harrison Reserve'. Existing Condition: The park is largely of mown grass that has mature trees set into it It is possible that a number of these are remnant of the original vegetation, while there are also a number of exotic trees introduced, particularly at the northern end of the park. The southern end is dominated by playing fields. (Source: Sanderson, P 1988. Kew Conservation Study)Colour photographic positive (with colour degradation) of sporting teams at a civic event in Stradbroke Park in Kew East in May 1976. The event was officiated by the Mayor of Kew, Cr Alan Hutchinson. Sporting teams in uniform included: footballers, athletes, cricketers, hockey players. Stradbroke Park is situated on the western boundary of Kew at Burke and Harp Roads.stradbroke park, cr alan hutchinson, team sports -- kew (vic.)

Stradbroke Park. Extent: Kilby Road to Harp Road at Burke Road. Historical Documentation: 1851 - Portion 91 purchased by Edward Glynn; 1888 - The Harp of Erin Estate (which included Section 91) offered for sale; 1896 - The area now known as Stradbroke Park was bisected by a creek that flowed from the Yarra via Hay's Paddock (q.v.) and extended through to Burke Road; 1943 - W.D. Birrell, Town Clerk of Kew, proposed that the creek be filled and a reserve created; 1954 - Entire area designated as 'open space' and named 'Stradbroke Park'. The line of the creek that ran through the Park created a further reserve on the north side of High Street, now known as 'Harrison Reserve'. Existing Condition: The park is largely of mown grass that has mature trees set into it It is possible that a number of these are remnant of the original vegetation, while there are also a number of exotic trees introduced, particularly at the northern end of the park. The southern end is dominated by playing fields. (Source: Sanderson, P 1988. Kew Conservation Study)Colour photographic positive (with colour degradation) of sporting teams at a civic event in Stradbroke Park in Kew East in May 1976. The event was officiated by the Mayor of Kew, Cr Alan Hutchinson. Stradbroke Park is situated on the western boundary of Kew and bordered by Burke and Harp Roads.stradbroke park, cr alan hutchinson, team sports -- kew (vic.)

Stradbroke Park. Extent: Kilby Road to Harp Road at Burke Road. Historical Documentation: 1851 - Portion 91 purchased by Edward Glynn; 1888 - The Harp of Erin Estate (which included Section 91) offered for sale; 1896 - The area now known as Stradbroke Park was bisected by a creek that flowed from the Yarra via Hay's Paddock (q.v.) and extended through to Burke Road; 1943 - W.D. Birrell, Town Clerk of Kew, proposed that the creek be filled and a reserve created; 1954 - Entire area designated as 'open space' and named 'Stradbroke Park'. The line of the creek that ran through the Park created a further reserve on the north side of High Street, now known as 'Harrison Reserve'. Existing Condition: The park is largely of mown grass that has mature trees set into it It is possible that a number of these are remnant of the original vegetation, while there are also a number of exotic trees introduced, particularly at the northern end of the park. The southern end is dominated by playing fields. (Source: Sanderson, P 1988. Kew Conservation Study)Colour photographic positive (with colour degradation) of sporting teams at a civic event in Stradbroke Park in Kew East in May 1976. The event was officiated by the Mayor of Kew, Cr Alan Hutchinson. Stradbroke Park is situated on the western boundary of Kew and bordered by Burke and Harp Roads.stradbroke park, cr alan hutchinson, team sports -- kew (vic.)