Kew Historical Society Inc.

31/10/2026

A wet and windy Saturday morning with Halloween festivities all around. Our "Notable Women of Kew" Exhibition is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10-3 and Saturdays 10-12 noon so pop in next week if you're passing by, or make it your destination!

22/10/2026

A21st birthday dress from a Melbourne designer. Alouette was just inside the Block Arcade, on the left, just off Collins Street. She always had a beautiful dress in a display case just near the old fashioned lift, I think her ‘salon’ was on the first floor. I remember that it was a beautiful room, with heavy curtains and a huge amount of fabric to choose from. I never saw the work room, she would just appear with the dress and the fitting began. She was very stylish, her husband was always there. My mother had many dresses made by Alouette, always very heavily beaded. I have no idea what happened to Mum’s dresses by Mary Harry (new McKenzie).

20/10/2026

What & when was this event? This street was residential until 1915, when the Defence Department built a Drill Hall on the eastern corner of Highbury Grove and High Street. The Kew Sub-Branch of the RSSILA built clubrooms in the grounds in 1932. The rooms were much admired and considered to be the finest in Melbourne. Prior to the Second World War, local military recruitment for the 39th Battalion was based at the hall. The drill hall was demolished in the early 1990s and a large block of tilt slab flats now occupies the site.

19/10/2026

Step into 1960s Melbourne couture. ✨
This breathtaking white organza gown was specially fashioned by Alouette, a premium boutique workroom based on the iconic Collins Street, Melbourne.
With its meticulous horizontal pintuck banding, high neck, and classic waist bow, it perfectly captures the structural elegance of mid-century Australian design. A true archival treasure! 🕊️
AlouetteMelbourne FashionHistory InstaVintage

15/10/2026

Fascinating KHS Dickinson Lecture at the Just Theatre, Kew Courthouse, last night. It was a pleasure to listen to Vanessa Kowalski present the case histories of a range of materials' conservation cases from fabric to wood, paper and paint on canvas and stone. For your diary: Our 11th of November meeting will host a talk on the history of 3MBS.

08/10/2026

Only 6 days remaining for our upcoming Dickinson Lecture event. Please secure your seat by booking your $20 ticket at EventBrite or at the door.

Gather interesting insights on the practical work being done to care for the wide range of cultural heritage items

02/10/2026

Will you find your own house featured in this well-recommended exhibition? The Margaret Picken exhibition of drawings in the collections of the member societies of the Boroondara Historical Societies Association (BHSA) is currently being held at the Camberwell library 28 Sept to 8 Nov. Margaret was employed by real estate agents to create pen drawings of houses for sale throughout Boroondara. These were usually used in newspaper advertisements .

29/09/2026

What do you know of Kew’s business history and architecture along High Street?
In conjunction with the Kew Junction Seniors Week, Kew Historical Society is offering a free guided, in-person walking tour on Thursday 8 October 11am/2pm. Meet at Kew Court House for a very interesting tour of the historic High Street precinct. Tours will be limited to 15 people; the event is by gold coin donation to the Kew Historical Society. It is essential that you register your interest at the Kew Junction Business Association website:
https://kewjunction.com.au/events/seniors-week/

23/09/2026

Join us for an inspiring evening with Ms Vanessa Kowalski, Head of Conservation, Grimwade Conservation Services Robert Cripps Institute for Cultural Conservation, as she shares her vision for a future where our cultural heritage is preserved and protected for generations to come! Learn about the groundbreaking work of Grimwade Conservation Services and how they're making a real difference in the care of cultural treasures. Enjoy pre-event light refreshments and supper following the lecture. Tickets $20 Book online (preferred) or pay at the door. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/dickinson-lecture-2026-tickets-2001030273414?aff=oddtdtcreator

20/09/2026

This late-Victorian fanchon bonnet is part of the Henty Collection of Kew Historical Society, tracing its ownership directly to Mary Ann Henty (née Lawrence), a prominent figure in Victoria’s early pastoral and civic history. Following over three decades at the Merino Downs homestead, Mary Ann and her husband, Francis Henty, relocated to the Melbourne suburb of Kew, establishing their estate, ‘Field Place’, on Studley Park Road.

Reflecting the high social standing and substantial wealth of the Henty family, this piece of mid-1870s millinery.featuring luxury imported electric-blue moiré silk ribbon and delicate black lace illustrates the refined tastes, consumer access, and sartorial expectations of Melbourne’s pioneering elite during the colony’s post-Gold Rush boom era