Kew

Ever wonder how Kew in Melbourne got its regal name? It wasn’t by royal decree. Our story begins in 1851, during the Crown land sales. A shrewd purchaser named Nicholas Fenwick saw an opportunity. He subdivided his land, a bit further out from Melbourne than Richmond, and christened it Kew. Why Kew? Well, Fenwick noticed that the English town of Kew was near Richmond, and he decided to replicate that geographical relationship here in Australia. He even named the streets after prominent British statesmen, setting the tone for Kew’s future as a desirable address. Kew quickly became a haven for Melbourne’s affluent residents. Initially, reaching Kew required a journey through Richmond, across the Hawthorn Bridge, and onto Burwood Road. This changed in 1857 with the opening of the privately owned Studley Park Bridge, affectionately nicknamed the “Penny Bridge.” This bridge linked Church Street in Richmond directly to Studley Park in Kew, simplifying access and further increasing the suburb’s appeal. The 1850s also witnessed the birth of Kew Junction, the suburb’s commercial heart. Mr. J. J. French pioneered this development by opening the first store in 1853. The first post office followed in 1856, and by the end of the decade, High Street was bustling with shops. Several hotels sprang up, including the Kew Hotel in 1855, the Prospect Hill Hotel (now a Dan Murphy’s) in 1857, the Council Hotel around 1860, the Clifton (now Hotel Kew) in 1869, and the Greyhound (now the Skinny Dog Hotel) in 1874. Kew’s development wasn’t without its controversies. In 1856, land was earmarked for a mental asylum by the river, a decision met with resistance from residents and the Kew Borough Council. Despite these objections, the Kew Lunatic Asylum, now the Willsmere Estate, was completed by 1871, a historical example of “not in my backyard” sentiment. Kew Cottages for children, now listed on the Victorian Heritage Register along with Willsmere Hospital, were added in 1887. Kew continued to evolve, with various churches opening in the 1850s and the Anglican Church establishing the first school in 1856. The railway line from Hawthorn to Kew arrived in 1887 but eventually closed in 1957. Kew officially became a town in 1910 and a city in 1921. By World War II, its population had tripled since 1910, solidifying its place as a significant Melbourne suburb. From a settler’s vision based on a distant English town, Kew has blossomed into a vibrant and affluent suburb, a testament to its strategic location, its blend of commercial and residential appeal, and a dash of historical controversy.