Willsmere Park is bounded by the the Yarra River, Green Acres Golf Club, Willow Grove and the Eastern Freeway. The land on which the park is now situated was bought by Thomas Wills at the Crown Land Sales of 1846 (Section 56). From the 1840s to the 1940s it was intensively farmed. The park is dominated by very large playing fields, while planting to the southern boundary was undertaken when the Eastern Freeway was built. It is only along the banks of the Yarra that there is any remnant native vegetation. Willsmere Park is of significance as an area of open land that remains from the flood plain that once dominated northern Kew. (Source: Kew Conservation Study, 1988)Original colour small format polaroid photograph of flooding in the Willsmere Park, taken on 16 September 1993."Flooding of Willsmere Park from Yarra 16.9.93"willsmere park, yarra river -- floods -- kew (vic.)

Willsmere Park is bounded by the the Yarra River, Green Acres Golf Club, Willow Grove and the Eastern Freeway. The land on which the park is now situated was bought by Thomas Wills at the Crown Land Sales of 1846 (Section 56). From the 1840s to the 1940s it was intensively farmed. The park is dominated by very large playing fields, while planting to the southern boundary was undertaken when the Eastern Freeway was built. It is only along the banks of the Yarra that there is any remnant native vegetation. Willsmere Park is of significance as an area of open land that remains from the flood plain that once dominated northern Kew. (Source: Kew Conservation Study, 1988)Original colour small format polaroid photograph of the Yarra River in flood at the Willsmere Park, taken on 16 September 1993."Yarra River at Willsmere Park Flooding 16.9.93"willsmere park, yarra river -- floods -- kew (vic.)

Willsmere Park is bounded by the the Yarra River, Green Acres Golf Club, Willow Grove and the Eastern Freeway. The land on which the park is now situated was bought by Thomas Wills at the Crown Land Sales of 1846 (Section 56). From the 1840s to the 1940s it was intensively farmed. The park is dominated by very large playing fields, while planting to the southern boundary was undertaken when the Eastern Freeway was built. It is only along the banks of the Yarra that there is any remnant native vegetation. Willsmere Park is of significance as an area of open land that remains from the flood plain that once dominated northern Kew. (Source: Kew Conservation Study, 1988)Original colour small format polaroid photograph of flooding in Willsmere Park resulting from heavy rain on 15 September 1993."Flooding of Willsmere Park from Yarra 16.9.93"yarra river -- floods -- kew (vic.), willsmere park

Willsmere Park is bounded by the the Yarra River, Green Acres Golf Club, Willow Grove and the Eastern Freeway. The land on which the park is now situated was bought by Thomas Wills at the Crown Land Sales of 1846 (Section 56). From the 1840s to the 1940s it was intensively farmed. The park is dominated by very large playing fields, while planting to the southern boundary was undertaken when the Eastern Freeway was built. It is only along the banks of the Yarra that there is any remnant native vegetation. Willsmere Park is of significance as an area of open land that remains from the flood plain that once dominated northern Kew. (Source: Kew Conservation Study, 1988)Original colour small format polaroid photograph of flooding in the Willsmere Park, taken on 16 September 1993."Flooding of shared path from Willsmere Billabong 16.9.93"willsmere park, yarra river -- floods -- kew (vic.), kew billabong

Coloured photographs of Willsmere Park looking towards the pavilion named after John Hogan Gervasoni, former mayor of Kew. . willsmere, landscape, jack gervasoni pavilion, willsmere park

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. In 1910, the Willsmere Park Estate Dairy was lauded in the Box Hill Reporter as ‘an object lesson in dairying’. Ten years later, in 1923, it was to be sold. The first subdivision of the Estate included 77 grand allotments with frontages to Belford and Kilby Roads, Elm and Willow Groves, and Acacia Avenue. Every lot was claimed to be ‘high and dry’, and with panoramic views of Kew and East Kew. The balance of the Estate, and the largest proportion of allotments was to be subdivided and sold from 1940. This second sale included 109 lots fronting Kilby Road and Elm and Willow Groves. Annotations on the plan indicate that the more expensive lots faced Belford Road opposite the Kew Golf Links. Two of these sold for £310. Lots further to the west in Willow Grove were sold for £60 less. Many of the houses to be built on these 109 allotments after the War faced Government restrictions on building materials and the dimensions of each house due to postwar shortages.subdivision plans - east kew, willsmere park estate

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the Eastern Freeway through the Yarra Valley over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.Nilron setford, photographs -- kew (vic.) -- 1960s, willsmere park

Jack Gervasoni was a newsagent at 93 Willsmere Rd Kew for 17 years and a City of kew councillor for 9 years. The naming of the pavilion honoured his work within the community, particlularly with youth and recreation. Colour photographs of the Gervasoni Pavilion, North Kew. .1) John Hogan (Jack) Gervasoni and his father, Gus Gervasoni, in front of the Jack Gervasoni Pavilion .2) Cr Allan Hitchinson, Premier Rupert Hamer, Jack Gervasoni and Kew Town Clerk Les Fell beside as sign at the newly opened Jack Gervasoni Pavilion.kew, sport, facility, ground, dick hamer, jack gervasoni, gus gervasoni, pavilion, alan hutchinson, les fell, willsmere park, jack gervasoni pavilion

Jack Gervasoni was a newsagent at 93 Willsmere Rd Kew for 17 years and a City of Kew councillor for 9 years. The naming of the pavilion honoured his work within the community, particularly with youth and recreation. Colour photographs of the Jack Gervasoni Pavilion, Kew. This photograph was taken before the 2024/2025 renovations. kew, sport, facility, ground, dick hamer, jack gervasoni, gus gervasoni, pavilion, alan hutchinson, les fell, willsmere park, jack gervasoni pavilion

Willsmere Park is bounded by the the Yarra River, Green Acres Golf Club, Willow Grove and the Eastern Freeway. The land on which the park is now situated was bought by Thomas Wills at the Crown Land Sales of 1846 (Section 56). From the 1840s to the 1940s it was intensively farmed. The park is dominated by very large playing fields, while planting to the southern boundary was undertaken when the Eastern Freeway was built. It is only along the banks of the Yarra that there is any remnant native vegetation. Willsmere Park is of significance as an area of open land that remains from the flood plain that once dominated northern Kew. (Source: Kew Conservation Study, 1988)Original colour small format polaroid photograph of the 'Kew Billabong' in the Willsmere Park, taken on 16 September 1993."Willsmere Billabong 16.9.93"kew billabong, willsmere park, yarra river -- billabongs

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations. Kilby Rd, Willsmere Park on left Kilby Rd, Willsmere Park on left" E Freeway Nov 1972"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway, willsmere park, kilby road

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.Kilby Rd, Willsmere Park on left"Eastern Freeway / Kilby Road / Nov 72"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway, willsmere park, kilby road

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations."Eastern Freeway / Excavation & filling / Willsmere Park / May 73"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway, willsmere park

Willsmere Park is bounded by the the Yarra River, Green Acres Golf Club, Willow Grove and the Eastern Freeway. The land on which the park is now situated was bought by Thomas Wills at the Crown Land Sales of 1846 (Section 56). From the 1840s to the 1940s it was intensively farmed. The park is dominated by very large playing fields, while planting to the southern boundary was undertaken when the Eastern Freeway was built. It is only along the banks of the Yarra that there is any remnant native vegetation. Willsmere Park is of significance as an area of open land that remains from the flood plain that once dominated northern Kew. (Source: Kew Conservation Study, 1988)Original colour small format polaroid photograph of Willsmere [Kew] Billabong on September 1993."Willsmere Billabong 16.9.93"yarra river -- floods -- kew (vic.), willsmere park

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations."Regrading Willsmere Park"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations."New Willsmere Park / 7/76"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway

An advertisement for the sale of a subdivision by Auction: of 16 Ideal Home Sites, East Kew, 1940. This significant sale of land between the Kew Golf Course and Willsmere Park led to the streets having a high degree of architectural uniformity.The subdivision in the second year of the war indicates that land sales for homes and speculation continued from the 1930s into the period of the Second World War. There is no indication on the plan that a war is occurring.Single page subdivision plan advertising the sale by Auction of 16 Ideal Home Sites, in East Kew, on 17 February 1940. Streets named in the plan include: Kilby Road, Belford Road, Elm Grove, Willow Grove. Willsmere Park is indicated but not named. The auction was conducted by Beauchamp Brothers. A number of lots are coloured pink on the plan indicating those lots for sale and/or those already sold.subdivision plans - kew east (vic)

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations."Willsmere Park underpass / Macdougal of Ireland contractors"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway

Living with natural processes was frequently a challenge to early European settlers and later residents of what was in the 1850s administered by the Borondara Road Board. This was compounded by the area being bounded on three sides by rivers (Yarra River, Koonung Creek and Gardiner's Creek). In 1849, the historian James Bonwick recorded that "our district [Kew] suffered considerably. Mr Wade speaks of 80 acres, out of 100 acres of his cultivated paddock, covered by water." Newspapers continued to describe major flooding in Kew in 1863, 1869, 1878, 1880, 1889, 1891, 1916 and 1934. While the construction of the Upper Yarra dam in 1957 reduced the levels of flowing downstream, local and riverine floods continue.The Kew Historical Society's pictures and map collections testify to the impact of flooding in the district. They have historical importance in documenting the extent of flooding in the district and its affects on homes, services and recreation. Numerous photographs record flooding throughout the Twentieth Century.Floods in North Kew, 1934. Vicinity of Willsmere Park.floods (kew)

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations."Eastern Freeway 6/72 / Willsmere Park flood underpass"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway

Floods in North Kew in the vicinity of Willsmere Park, donated by Kerry Woollard.floods (kew), yarra river

An item from an outstanding and diverse photographic collection, assembled by members of the Christian and Washfold families of Kew.Rare programme for what was once an annual event in Kew with important, possibly unique photos of sites in Kew and on the Yarra.Programme for the 1910 Kew Canoe Carnival which was held on the River Yarra on February 11th. The location was at the Asylum Reserve at the old white bridge (the precursor of Kane's Bridge). Funds were raised in Aid of the Annual Treat to Kew and Yarra Bend Patients (and the Carnival fund). The booklet includes details of the programme, numerous advertisements and rare and important historic photographs of the district including: the Willsmere Park Dairy, the Glen Tea Gardens at Hawthorn, the Pipe Bridge, the Kew Boat Sheds (Macauley's), and Rudder Grange boat house.christian-washfold collection, kew canoe club, kew canoe carnivals

The Victorian Baseball League was established in 1889 with the following clubs - MCC, Metropolitan, Richmond, Richmond Cricketers, Kew, Geelong, Fitzroy, The Age, Carlton, Coburg. MCC defeated Metropolitan for the first Premiership. By 1897 Kew had built up to six teams, but went into recess about the turn of the century. They reformed c.1906 and did not resume until 1926 under Captain/Coach Frank Littlefield. I think he was ex Hawthorn Baseball and/or Cricket club(s). They won the D Grade Premiership of 1926 and/or 1927 playing out of Victoria Park at 12 noon, and as a curtain raiser to either Kew or Kew District or East Kew Football Club and after World War 2, North Kew which had now joined Kew as a tenant. Team members were H.L. Barclay (ex Richmond), A. Brierley (ex Collingwood), H. Ely (ex Essendon), Frank Littlefield, J. Marshall and C. Robinson (ex Hawthorn-East Melbourne Cricket Club). In 1926, the KBC played against Caulfield, Fairfield, Fitzroy, Ivanhoe, Northcote, Prahran, University, Williamstown, YMCA. In 1927, Preston replaced Fairfield. A third team was formed post WW2 which played at Willsmere Park. The Reserves followed to Willsmere Park in 1963 and the Seniors in c.1970. Kew Council moved the club to a sub-standard Stradbroke Park No 2 Oval for the 1976 season and this proved to be the last for the club. Melbourne Baseball Club moved in for two seasons, but also moved when improvements to No 2 Oval were not made. They then moved to Macleay Park in a share arrangement with North Balwyn BC. Research: Ian Job, 2015A premiership cap awarded to Christopher Robinson of the Kew Baseball Club in 1927.Navy blue peaked baseball cap, embroidered in gold thread with K B.C. Premiers 1927sports uniforms, caps, premiership caps, baseball,