The collections of the Kew Historical Society include bound and unbound archives, audiovisual materials, books, costumes & textiles, maps, and pictures, These are stored in the Kew Heritage Centre within the Kew Library, and at the Kew Court House. Items in our collection have been donated by members and friends of the Society over a sixty-year period. For information about donating items to the Society, please access our Donating Items page.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COLLECTION
A Significance Assessment is the process of studying and understanding the meanings and values of objects and collections. It identifies the historic, aesthetic, scientific and social values that an object or collection has for past, present and future generations.
In 2017, a Significance Assessment (PDF, 1MB) of our collection was funded through a Community Heritage Grant in 2017. The assessment described the entire collection while especially focussing on the framed photographs in the civic collection, costumes, and maps & plans.
In 2023, following the donation of the Henty Costume Collection, a second Significance Assessment of this sub-collection was again funded through a Community Heritage Grant. This second Significance Assessment (PDF, 799KB) was completed by Ms Laura Jocic.
In 2024, following the submission of the Significance Assessment of the Henty Costume Collection to the National Library of Australia, we applied for a third Community Heritage Grant, to conserve four of the costumes in this sub-collection. The nominated conservators were Grimwade Conservation Services, University of Melbourne.
PRESERVATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF THE COLLECTION
A Preservation Needs Assessment is used to define need and initiate a planning process to enable a cultural organisation to reduce risks to the collection, and better allocate resources for preservation over time. A Preservation Needs Assessment (PDF, 6.6MB) of our collection was funded through a Community Heritage Grant. The assessment was carried out by Vanessa Kowalski of Grimwade Conservation Services.
AWARDS
The Victorian Museums and Galleries Association (Victoria) Awards acknowledge the hard work undertaken by organisations in documenting and preserving their heritage materials. Award recipients are chosen based on the quality, quantity and public accessibility of collection entries produced over a 12-month period. Kew Historical Society won the award for excellence in cataloguing by volunteer-run organisations in 2021, and again in 2022.
ACCESS TO COLLECTION ITEMS
In 2019, the Kew Historical Society was declared by the Victorian Government a Class-B Place of Deposit for Government Records. Many of the items in our Civic Collection derive from donations made by the former City of Kew, many of which are classified as Government Records. Most of these, and indeed other items in the collection can be viewed by appointment.
Items which we have digitised can also be accessed at the Kew Historical Society’s section of Victorian Collections.