Historical information

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.

Physical description

Black and white print positive. Yarra River at Fairfield in 1934. Major flood resulting in submerged buildings in middle ground and onlookers on far bank

Inscriptions & markings

Reverse: "Flood of Yarra at Fairfield Park 1934"