Archive File - Grip of Time

From the Collection of Kew Historical Society Inc Level 1, Kew Court House 188 High Street Kew Victoria

Description: Archive file containing both primary and secondary sources relating to the sculpture by Peter Schipperheyn (b.1955) - Grip of Time (1979) - installed on the north wall of the Kew Town Hall (now the Kew Library) in 1983. Mrs Laurel Abercrombie, a Kew resident, donated the sculpture to the City of Kew in 1982, and it formed part of the ‘municipal collection’ of the former City of Kew (now City of Boroondara). A note in the file records that prior to its installation on its current site; it was attached to a brick wall at the side of Abercrombie Galleries, Johnson Street, Collingwood. It was restored by the sculptor c.1996. The file contains two colour photographs of the sculpture and newspaper articles recording controversy at the time of its installation. The file also contains correspondence between the Society and the City of Boroondara relating to the plaque that was beside the sculpture.
Size: A4 Vertical File
Object Registration: 2017.0453
Keywords: kew historical society - archives, kew library, kew civic hall, kew town hall, grip of time, peter schipperheyn (1955-), artworks - kew (vic), city of kew - municipal collection
Historical information: Since its foundation in 1958, members of the Kew Historical Society have been compiling and storing information about subjects relating to the history of Kew and its environs, of which this file is an example. Typically files will contain primary and secondary sources.
When Made: 1982-2001
Last updated: 28 Nov 2018 at 8:51PM

Badge - Kew Carnival November 19 1921

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

A round metal badge covered with plastic, with a pin at the back that clips into a shaped aperture designed to hold the pin shut.

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Testimonial - Record of Appreciation of Service given to Cr B. C. O'Sullivan

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Photocopy of original Record of Appreciation given to Cr B. C. O'Sullivan on his resignation as Councillor.

Inscriptions & Markings

Original on City of Kew Letterhead. Has imprint of City of Kew Council Seal and the signatures of the Mayor, Cr Wiltshire and the Town Clerk Mr L Johnson

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Programme - Kew Arts Festival 1945

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

11 page souvenir program for the Kew Arts Festival, held in the Recreation Hall, Wellington Street, Kew from the 9th to the 19th August 1945. The content of the program can be viewed through the image carousel.

Historical information

The Herald on 10 August described the Festival offerings as: "Varied 10-Day Programme For Kew Arts Festival Opened last night, the Kew Arts Festival in the Recreation Hall, Wellington Street, provides an interesting and varied programme for the next 10 days. Today at 8.15 p.m. Mr George Bell and Mr Colin Badger will have a public discussion on "What Is Modern Art?" The Vice-chancellor of the Melbourne University of Melbourne (Mr JDG Medley) will preside. Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. Junior students of the Methodist Ladies College, directed by Dorothy Dwyer. will show how they learn to speak and move on the stage, and will present three short plays. Tomorrow night Elise Steele and Violet Ewart (violin and piano) Beryl Batten (songs) and Edith Parnell (accompanist) will give a concert. Paintings and other works of art will be on show from 2.30 to 5.30 p.m. on Sunday. On Monday night. Mr Colin Badger will speak on "Dead Wood and Green Shoot: Australian Literature Today" and on Tuesday night there will be "Ballet in Story and Action"— the story told by Norman Macgeorge, with Joan Burnett as ballerina and Fred Manners-Sutton at the piano. Wednesday night will have an illustrated lecture "Contemporary Art Education." by John Bechervaise. Remaining nights will be taken up with a performance of Somerset Maugham's "The Circle" presented by the Little Theatre, a youth concert, and another concert with songs and piano. On Saturday morning, August 18, there will be a special concert for young people. The festival will end on Sunday week with a chamber music programme in the afternoon."

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Photographs - Cr Phyllis Hore, Mayor of Kew 1985-1986

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Two colour 'proofs' of mayoral photos of Cr Phyllis Hore, donated by her daughter in 2019

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Photographs - Former Baptist Church, Woodlands Avenue, Kew East, 2018

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Three colour photographs of the former Baptist Church in Woodlands Avenue, Kew East. The photographs are of the front and side of the building. One of the photographs shows the foundation stone, laid by AH Lewis Esq, 8 August 1931.

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Photographs - Five Photographs of Kew in the 1960s

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Five black and white photographs of Kew in the 1960s donated by Kerstin Fraser. The photographs include 3 pictures of the Mayor of Kew, Leo Hawkins at the Kew Baths and two photographs of the Carmelite Monastery in Stevenson Street, Kew.

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Costume - Ball Gown, Cerise Silk & Velvet, circa 1905

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Two-piece dress comprised of a bodice and floor length skirt made of a soft, lightweight cerise coloured silk fabric. The top features a v-shaped rear neck. A wide velvet cummerbund is part of the outfit. Dated to 1905-07.

Historical information

The gown is believed to have been donated by the Smart family of Turinville

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Costume - Ball Gown, Purple Silk with Guipure Lace, c.1900

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Shot silk purple ball gown, featuring a fitted silk bodice with puff sleeves and a wide full-length skirt. The dress has coloured guipure lace at the neck and the cuffs, which has been identified as being of the period. The brush braid on the hem has probably been replaced at a later date. Dated to 1899-1900.

Historical information

Joseph Butterworth COOMBS (1842-1901), was an accountant who founded a successful mercantile trading company. At the time of his marriage to Caroline Mary MICHEL in 1969, Coombs had already purchased 10 acres of Studley Park. The acreage included land on the west of Fenwick Street that extended along lower Stawell Street to the corner of Yarra Street, all of it connected directly to the Yarra environs. A right of way to Studley Park Road was on the title, though Coombs went on to purchase more land, some of which faced Studley Park Road. In addition to owning the Studley Park acreage, Coombs later acquired 1,201 acres of land abutting the Acheron River. While retaining the Kew property he became a Taggerty Councillor and was Shire President for a time. J.B. Coombs died at Acheron Station in 1901 (aged 59 years). A few months after, tenders were called to repair the Kew dwelling, the Fenwick Street property now appearing in records with the name ‘Hope Mansell’. Caroline Coombs remained at Hope Mansell until she died in 1924, survived by three sons and five daughters. Not long after her death, advertisements appeared for the sale of the Studley Park land. The sale seems to have been a mechanism for distribution of the Estate, as the following year the original 10 acre holding was transferred to members of the family. The eldest daughter Mabel married William Younger who, with his brother Alexander, developed Younger and Mackie Courts, both south of Studley Park Road. [Research: Kerry Fairbank]

Significance

In 1961, the granddaughter of Joseph and Caroline Coombs, Mabel Isola (Younger) Grattan, donated ten 19th century dresses and parasols to the Kew Historical Society. The costumes, now known as the 'Coombs Collection', are the earliest recorded items of clothing to enter the Society's collection. Each of the items in the Coombs Collection, of which this item forms a part, is historically, aesthetically and socially significant. As a collection, the costumes includes outstanding examples of morning wear, day dresses, wedding dresses, and clothing accessories, providing evidence of outstanding dressmaker skills in Victoria during the mid to late Victorian period.

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Souvenir - Lapel Pin, Melbourne 150, 1985

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

A lapel pin in the shape of the coat of arms of the City of Melbourne with Melbourne 150 below

Historical information

Melbourne 150

Inscriptions & Markings

Melbourne 150 (front) Pinstop 869 9390 (reverse)

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Souvenir - Spoon, Kew City Bowmen

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

An enamelled badge with a flapping bird above a circular target of white black blue and red concentric circles with a brass bow superimposed on it and enclosed by Kew City Bowmen with two crossed arrows below, on a violet blue background mounted on the handle of a spoon

Inscriptions & Markings

Kew City Bowmen (front) Pitcher epns A1 (reverse)

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Collection - Helen Bushell Collection

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Australian Kite Society, Helen Bushell collection of kite-related material, including kites, photographs, documents, badges, etc.

Historical information

Kites created by Helen Bushell, Kew resident for many years, and a pioneer of kite-flying world-wide. Kites are hand-made, mainly by Helen, and many were flown in local parks of Kew. Documents provide some background to the collection, and a set of photographs, which was used in an exhibition at Hawthorn Arts Centre, help to identify the kites and where they were flown.

Significance

Kites and associated documents belonging to Helen Bushell have local significance for Kew, as many were flown in the area. They have artistic significance in their representation of Australian indigenous, Chinese, New Guinea and other cultural symbols. Among the documents are poems, books on kite-flying written by Helen Bushell, badges and cards from international conferences, and Australian, British and American patents for kite design. One kite shows an aerodynamically-designed keel which helped to improve safety for hang-gliders.

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Souvenir - Butter Knife, Kew City Bowmen

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

An enamelled badge with a flapping bird above a circular target of white black blue and red concentric circles with a brass bow superimposed on it and enclosed by Kew City Bowmen with 2 crossed arrows below, on a violet blue background mounted on the handle of a butter knife

Inscriptions & Markings

Kew City Bowmen (front) Pitcher epns A1 (reverse)

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Photograph - Ceiling fresco, Drawingroom, ‘Southesk’, Cotham Road, Kew (dem. 1970)

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

The most significant decorative aspects of Southesk (formerly ‘Ordsall’) were the murals in the front two rooms. An article in the Melbourne Argus in 1882 records that Mr Vandenbrandt and Signor Rizzi created these under the supervision of Cullis Hill. This fresco from the ceiling of the drawingroom was described by the reporter as ‘done in the quaint old 14th century style … The second panel represents a hawking party. The ladies hold aloft the natural perches for their falcons. The men, seated in picturesque variety of attitude, hold their cross-bows, and a boy is relieving a heron from an arrow which has pierced its bosom.’

Historical information

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).

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Photograph - Ceiling fresco, Drawingroom, ‘Southesk’, Cotham Road, Kew (dem. 1970)

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

The most significant decorative aspects of Southesk (formerly ‘Ordsall’) were the murals in the front two rooms. An article in the Melbourne Argus in 1882 records that Mr Vandenbrandt and Signor Rizzi created these under the supervision of Cullis Hill. This fresco from the ceiling of the drawingroom was described by the reporter as ‘done in the quaint old 14th century style’. This section depicts ‘out-door sports. The fishing-lines of the jester and the almoner have become entangled, and a large wolf-dog seems disposed to arbitrate in the difficulty, while a party of young men and maidens are angling, feeding swans, or training hawks for a future day’s sport.’

Historical information

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).

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Photograph - Ceiling fresco, Ballroom, ‘Southesk’, Cotham Road, Kew (dem. 1970)

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

The most significant decorative aspects of Southesk (formerly ‘Ordsall’) were the murals in the front two rooms. An article in the Melbourne Argus in 1882 records that Mr Vandenbrandt and Signor Rizzi created these under the supervision of Cullis Hill. This fresco from the ceiling of the ballroom is believed to depict one of the ‘boldly drawn four great geographical divisions of the Earth’. The crowned woman, believed to represent Europe, stands aloft in a chariot drawn by cherubs holding garlands of flowers.

Historical information

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).

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Photograph - Ceiling fresco, Ballroom, ‘Southesk’, Cotham Road, Kew (dem. 1970)

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

The most significant decorative aspects of Southesk (formerly ‘Ordsall’) were the murals in the front two rooms. An article in the Melbourne Argus in 1882 records that Mr Vandenbrandt and Signor Rizzi created these under the supervision of Cullis Hill. This fresco from the ceiling of the ballroom is believed to depict ‘Africa’. The article records that: ‘Notwithstanding the large size of the drawings they are often marked by delicate touches, and a minuteness of detail in evident sympathy with nature. The figures have grace, life and animation and the skillful shading of the colours used — chiefly amber, gold, light blue, green, light fawn and brown – is in harmony with the quiet tone of the general furnishing of the rooms.’

Historical information

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).

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Photograph - Ceiling fresco, Ballroom, ‘Southesk’, Cotham Road, Kew (dem. 1970)

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

The most significant decorative aspects of Southesk (formerly ‘Ordsall’) were the murals in the front two rooms. An article in the Melbourne Argus in 1882 records that Mr Vandenbrandt and Signor Rizzi created these under the supervision of Cullis Hill. This fresco from the ceiling of the ballroom is believed to depict two of the Seasons. Signor Rizzi was a renowned painter of flowers. He is credited with painting these parts of the murals. Examples of his floral paintings can still be seen at Villa Alba in Walmer Street.

Historical information

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).

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Photograph - Ceiling fresco, Ballroom, ‘Southesk’, Cotham Road, Kew (dem. 1970)

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Notwithstanding its grand Italianate façade, the most important aspect of Southesk (formerly ‘Ordsall’) were the murals in the front two rooms. An article in the Melbourne Argus in 1882 records that Mr Vandenbrandt and Signor Rizzi created these under the supervision of Cullis Hill. This fresco from the ceiling of the ballroom depicts ‘Night, represented by a female figure in a diaphanous garment, skirted with flowers, wafted before the approaching dawn into space illuminated by the moonlight, and peopled by the fairies, is a striking picture. Flying with her are an attendant Cupid bearing an artificial light, and a tired little votary of Bacchus with a reversed wine-pitcher and goblet’.

Historical information

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).

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Photograph - Entrance to ‘Southesk’, Cotham Road, Kew (dem. 1970)

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

A colour enlargement of the entrance to ‘Southesk’. Formerly known as ‘Ordsall’, the house was built for John Halfey in 1882 on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street. This Italianate mansion was built in the Renaissance villa style on a bluestone plinth. The picture provides photographic evidence of the tiling on the veranda and the typically arched doorway. The neon sign above the door was added during the period when it was owned by the City of Kew (1948-70).

Historical information

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).

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Photograph - Façade of ‘Southesk', Cotham Road, Kew (dem. 1970)

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

A colour photograph of the façade of ‘Southesk’ taken at an oblique angle. Formerly known as ‘Ordsall’, the house was built for John Halfey in 1882 on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street. The Italianate mansion was built in the Renaissance villa style on a bluestone plinth. Two balustrades surrounded the parapet of the roof and ran between the groups of pillars on either side of the entrance porch. The verandah was tiled and wide and Corinthian columns supported its roof. When the house passed into the hands of the City of Kew in 1948, the Council used it for a kindergarten, an elderly citizen centre and as a home for the Leo Baeck Centre. The house was demolished in 1970.

Historical information

Colour enlargement of a photograph (slide) of Southesk (formerly Ordsall) in Cotham Road, Kew (demolished 1970).

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