Historical information

One of a group of photographs, including three within a published photo collage , taken by Edgar James Dower in the second decade of the twentieth century. Born and raised in Olinda, Dower 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 photo collage is 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

Photo collage, published in The Leader newspaper in 1913, to commemorate the opening of the Malvern to Kew Tramway. The numbered photos are: 1. Kew Railway Gates at Glenferrie. 2. Burke Road Terminus. 3. Final Stages. 4. Ladies at the Official Opening. 5. The Acting Mayoress of Kew Cutting the Ribbon at the Kew Boundary. 6. Mayor and Councillors at the Kew Terminus. 7. The Cutting the First Ribbon. 8. Guests at the Hawthorn Town Hall.

Inscriptions & markings

Inscribed in ink by Edgar J Dower top left: "The 3 top photographs were taken by E J Dower. No.3 Cotham Road Kew near Glenferrie Road"