Historical information

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.

Significance

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.

Physical description

An almost identical plan of the ‘Pointed Firs Estate’ is in the State Library of Victoria. The plan unusually uses a photograph to show the panoramic views from the Estate. A prospective purchaser could expect to look across the Yarra Valley to Eaglemont and Heidelberg. The 36 lots advertised for sale faced Doncaster Road, Houghton Street, Maud Street and Thackray Street in Balwyn North.