Orchard in floodOn reverse, "Orchard Yarra River in flood Dec 1934."orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934

Orchard in flood. Seedlings planted in rows.On reverse, "Orchard Yarra River in flood Dec 1934."orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934, seedlings

Orchard in floodOn reverse, "Orchard Yarra River in flood Dec 1934."orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934

Orchard in flood: shows fruit trees standing in water.On reverse, "Orchard Yarra River in flood Dec 1934."orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934, fruit trees

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.)

This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, other areas, yarra river, floods

Major floods recurred of the Yarra River on a regular basis. A flood in 1901 destroyed this house in Victoria Street, Abbotsford. Later print copy of an original photograph. Home of C/N Burgess on the south side of Yarra River. The buildings were washed away in a flood in 1901 The house was in the same location as that on which Handley & Tilly was later built. This would locate it on the north side of Victoria Street, Abbotsford between Burnley Street and the Victoria Street Bridge. Photo shows three men and one woman working in an established garden in front of a weatherboard cottage."Home of C/N Burgess on south side of river; washed away in 1901; Handley & Tilly on site"yarra river -- floods, yarra river flood -- 1901, burgess family -- victoria street -- abbotsford (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 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

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.)

The land currently occupied by Guide Dogs Victoria was once part of the grounds of the Kew Lunatic Asylum. This includes the land, designated as parkland which adjoins the Yarra River. It is now designated as the Chandler Park.Original colour small format polaroid photograph of flooding in parkland at the rear of Guide Dogs Victoria in the area now used as the Main Yarra Trail; taken on 16 September 1993."Flooding of land rear of Guide Dogs land 16.9.93"yarra river -- floods -- kew (vic.), guide dogs victoria, main yarra trail, chandler park

The land currently occupied by Guide Dogs Victoria was once part of the grounds of the Kew Lunatic Asylum. This includes the land, designated as parkland which adjoins the Yarra River. Original colour small format polaroid photograph of flooding in parkland at the rear of Guide Dogs Victoria in the area now used as the Main Yarra Trail; taken on 16 September 1993."Flooding of shared path on 16.9.93 / Rains 15.9.93 - rear Guide Dogs [Victoria] land"yarra river -- floods -- kew (vic.), guide dogs victoria, main yarra trail, chandler 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 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 Willsmere [Kew] Billabong on September 1993."Willsmere Billabong 16.9.93"yarra river -- floods -- kew (vic.), willsmere park

Orchard in flood, shows uprooted trees.orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934

Orchard after flood: shows soil washed away around fruit treeOn reverse, "Orchard after flood Dec 1934."orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934, fruit tree

Orchard after flood: shows soil washed away. On reverse, "Orchard after flood Dec 1934."orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934

Orchard in flood: small shed in the centre.orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934

Orchard in flood: an irrigation ? Pipe is showing. Yarra River broke its bank on the night of 30.11.1934.orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934

Orchard in flood: shows uprooted trees.orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934, fruit trees

Orchard after flood: shows damage to the soil. Enlarged photograph.orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934, soil

Orchard after flood: shows single fruit tree surrounded by water. Enlargement.orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934, fruit tree

Orchard after flood: shows uprooted trees.orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934, fruit trees

Orchard after flood: shows close up of uprooted trees.orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934, fruit trees

Orchard after flood: shows close up of uprooted trees.orchard, yarra river, floods, 1934, fruit trees

Flooding of the Yarra Valley, including that section of the Yarra bordering Kew and Kew East in the north and west of the municipality, was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916, 1923 and 1934. The Municipality of Kew's response to these floods was to enact planning decisions restricting residential development in flood prone areas following the floods of 1916, 1921 and 1934. While floods continued after the development of the Upper Yarra Reservoir (construction 1948-57), the regularity and extent of these inundations diminished.Black and white print positive. Yarra River at Fairfield in 1934. Major flood resulting in submerged buildings in middle ground and onlookers on far bankReverse: "Flood of Yarra at Fairfield Park 1934"fairfield park, yarra valley, river yarra, floods -- 1934

Flooding of the Yarra Valley, including that section of the Yarra bordering Kew and Kew East in the north and west of the municipality, was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916, 1923 and 1934. The Municipality of Kew's response to these floods was to enact planning decisions restricting residential development in flood prone areas following the floods of 1916, 1921 and 1934. While floods continued after the development of the Upper Yarra Reservoir (construction 1948-57), the regularity and extent of these inundations diminished. During the nineteenth century, the land abutting the south side of the Yarra in Kew was devoted to dairy farming. In the twentieth century, before and after the construction of the Eastern Freeway, much of this low-lying area was used as golf courses and public parks.One of a collection of photographs of flooding in the Kew section of the Yarra Valley which are in important research resource for the location and extent of flooding in the first half of the twentieth century. Flooding of the Yarra Valley at East Kew in 1916. The view is taken from the intersection of Kilby Road with what is believed to be Birdwood Street, looking across the flood waters to Ivanhoe. The extensive flooded area shown in the photograph would have included the Kew Golf Club. Verso: "Floods along Kilby Road / near Birdwood St? & Kilby Road / 1917? / 87yarra river, yarra valley, floods -- kew, kilby road -- kew (vic.), kew golf club

Flooding of the Yarra Valley, including that section of the Yarra bordering Kew and Kew East in the north and west of the municipality, was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916, 1923 and 1934. The Municipality of Kew's response to these floods was to enact planning decisions restricting residential development in flood prone areas following the floods of 1916, 1921 and 1934. While floods continued after the development of the Upper Yarra Reservoir (construction 1948-57), the regularity and extent of these inundations diminished. During the nineteenth century, the land abutting the south side of the Yarra in Kew was devoted to dairy farming. In the twentieth century, before and after the construction of the Eastern Freeway, much of this low-lying area was used as golf courses and public parks.One of a collection of photographs of flooding in the Kew section of the Yarra Valley which are in important research resource for the location and extent of flooding in the first half of the twentieth century. Flooding of the Yarra Valley at East Kew in 1916. The view is taken from a street (maybe Birdwood Avenue) intersecting with Kilby Road looking northeast across the flood waters to Ivanhoe and Heidelberg. The extensive flooded area shown in the photograph would have included remnant dairy farms and the Kew Golf Club. Verso: "Floods / Yarra River / East Kew / Kilby Road / 1917? / 87"yarra river, yarra valley, floods -- kew, kilby road -- kew (vic.), kew golf club

James Murgatroyd worked at Warrnambool Woollen Mills, Federal Mill, Tweedside, Collins Mills and set up looms for Alexander Spinning Mills Sydney, his son Fred Murgatroyd worked as a loom tuner at Yarra Falls, Tweedside and Collins mills in Victoria as well as in Sydney, and studied at Leeds University.Murgatroyd Photograph CollectionF Murgatroyd Yarra Falls: Yarra River in Flood KODAK PRINTtextile machinery textile mills textile mills, yarra falls mill, murgatroyd, mr fred murgatroyd, mr james, textile machinery, textile mills

The donation was accompanied by the following letter from the donor: "Hi. I found these in with family photos. Taken by family as Mamie McLeod was living in Fellows Street, Kew, so would be near there. Retain (or discard) as you see fit." [Donor's name and address withheld from public view]. To gain an insight into the flood levels at Kew, it is worth reading newspaper accounts of the event. The Age published an article - Valuable Gardens Destroyed at Kew - on 25 September 1916: "VALUABLE GARDENS DESTROYED AT KEW. From the heights of Studley Park, Kew, a splendid view of the flood waters can be obtained, and yesterday afternoon, despite continuous rain, crowds of citizens assembled there to witness the spectacle. There is a vast stretch of water some 300 or 400 yards broad, above the foot bridge connecting Gipps-street, Collingwood, and Studley Park. The river is only about 3 feet from the top of the embankment connecting with the ramp of the bridge on the Studiey Park side. When the upper llood waters come down it is almost a certainty that tne embankment will be submerged and the bridge rendered impassible. Below the bridge the waters again stretch out, and have submerged all the low-lying land on the Collingwood side and invaded the back premises ot the Kodak Co., Phoenix Biscuit Factory, a tannery adjoining thereto, the Shamrock Brewery, and Chinese gardens in the vicinity. At Walmer-street-bridge, at the end of Studley Park, the low-lying land on the Kew side is covered with water to the depth of many feet. Tlie land in question is owned in a great part by Mr Frank Lavers who haa gone in for intense culture on a pretty liberal scale on both the slopes of the hill and on the river flat. On the latter he is cultivating many acres of asparagus, and has at a considerable cost spent three years in preparing the ground and installing an irrigation system, reticulated from the Yan Yean water supply. This year the asparagus was put down, and the plants were in a promising condition. Tlie flood waters are now flowing fast over the land. The crop is ruined, and three years' work and expenditure destroyed. Mr. Laver's private residence fortunately is high above flood level, but two houses he owns off Young-street have been flooded out. Having been warned in time, the tenants removed their furniture hefore the water came down to Mr. Laver's residence, where they themselves have been given accommodation in the meantime. All the river flats in East Kew are under water. One or two low-lying houses have been flooded. Chipperfield's boat shed at Willsmere is nearly covered, and some Chinese gardens in the vicinity are several feet under water."This, and the other three photographs donated of floods in Kew are believed to be the earliest in the collection. Together with our original MMBW River Yarra map showing flood levels, these items, when compared allow researchers to gain a visual perspective of the extent of the flood in 1916. Black and white photograph of flooded trees in Kew with rising dry ground in distance.Inscription on reverse in pencil: "Flood River Yarra Kew Vic"river yarra, kew, floods 1916

The donation was accompanied by the following letter from the donor: "Hi. I found these in with family photos. Taken by family as Mamie McLeod was living in Fellows Street, Kew, so would be near there. Retain (or discard) as you see fit." [Donor's name and address withheld from public view]. To gain an insight into the flood levels at Kew, it is worth reading newspaper accounts of the event. The Age published an article - Valuable Gardens Destroyed at Kew - on 25 September 1916: "VALUABLE GARDENS DESTROYED AT KEW. From the heights of Studley Park, Kew, a splendid view of the flood waters can be obtained, and yesterday afternoon, despite continuous rain, crowds of citizens assembled there to witness the spectacle. There is a vast stretch of water some 300 or 400 yards broad, above the foot bridge connecting Gipps-street, Collingwood, and Studley Park. The river is only about 3 feet from the top of the embankment connecting with the ramp of the bridge on the Studiey Park side. When the upper llood waters come down it is almost a certainty that tne embankment will be submerged and the bridge rendered impassible. Below the bridge the waters again stretch out, and have submerged all the low-lying land on the Collingwood side and invaded the back premises ot the Kodak Co., Phoenix Biscuit Factory, a tannery adjoining thereto, the Shamrock Brewery, and Chinese gardens in the vicinity. At Walmer-street-bridge, at the end of Studley Park, the low-lying land on the Kew side is covered with water to the depth of many feet. Tlie land in question is owned in a great part by Mr Frank Lavers who haa gone in for intense culture on a pretty liberal scale on both the slopes of the hill and on the river flat. On the latter he is cultivating many acres of asparagus, and has at a considerable cost spent three years in preparing the ground and installing an irrigation system, reticulated from the Yan Yean water supply. This year the asparagus was put down, and the plants were in a promising condition. Tlie flood waters are now flowing fast over the land. The crop is ruined, and three years' work and expenditure destroyed. Mr. Laver's private residence fortunately is high above flood level, but two houses he owns off Young-street have been flooded out. Having been warned in time, the tenants removed their furniture hefore the water came down to Mr. Laver's residence, where they themselves have been given accommodation in the meantime. All the river flats in East Kew are under water. One or two low-lying houses have been flooded. Chipperfield's boat shed at Willsmere is nearly covered, and some Chinese gardens in the vicinity are several feet under water."This, and the other three photographs donated of floods in Kew are believed to be the earliest in the collection. Together with our original MMBW River Yarra map showing flood levels, these items, when compared allow researchers to gain a visual perspective of the extent of the flood in 1916. Panoramic view, believed to be looking north towards Fairfield from the Zig-Zag Bridge on the River Yarra. The inscription on the reverese identifies it as taken before 1920.Inscription on reverse in ink "(pre 1920) Flood from Zig-zag bridge Yarra River, Kew Vic."river yarra, kew, floods 1916, zig-zag bridge