Historical information

A collage of photographs, three taken by Edgar James Dower in the second decade of the twentieth century. Born and raised in Olinda, his family later moved to Surrey Hills. He worked as an adult as a clerk in the city office of the Metropolitan Gas Company, and in his role as a 'collector', he was able to photograph scenes including the construction of tramlines, railways and associated buildings in Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell and Surrey Hills. Later he established a real estate agency with his brother - the E.J. Dower Real Estate Agency, Mount Dandenong Office.

Significance

The images are an historically significant record of the development of transport infrastructure which was used to connect Victorians in the first two decades of the twentieth century. This development resulted from increases in population and the consequent extension of Melbourne's suburbs. The photographs, both individually and collectively, richly detail the labour of workers and the tools and machinery used to create and extend Melbourne's public transport network in the years preceding and during World War 1.

Physical description

Full page, numbered photographic collage of The New Electric Tramway, Malvern to Kew. Published in The Leader newspaper, 7 June 1913. Numbered photographs include: 1. New Railway Gates at Glenferrie. 2. Burke-road Terminus. 3. Final Stages. 4. Ladies at the Offical Opening. 5. The Acting Mayoress at Kew Cutting the Ribbon at the Kew Boundary [Barkers Road]. 6. Mayors and Councillors at the Kew Terminus. 7. The Mayoress Cutting the First Ribbon. 8. Guests at Hawthorn Town Hall.

Inscriptions & markings

Later handwritten annotation by photographer at top left: "The top 3 photographs were taken by E.J. Dower. / No 3 Cotham Road Kew (near Glenferrie Road)" / At right: "The Leader 7 June 1913"