High Street, Kew

Here are some photos I took of the shopping strip along High Street, Kew. It is nice to see these local shops are still proudly standing and reminding us of a time before big shopping centres and malls dominated. Every local shopping strip is unique to its location, with each skyline having its own distinctive mosaic of different architectural styles, shapes and colours. Sometimes I think of it like a family patchwork or crochet quilt which has been mended and added to over the years, and reflects the different styles and influences over a significant period of time.

The medley of architectural styles seen along the High Street Kew shops are distinguishable if you look closely. The earliest architecture from the late 1800s features small intricate details including scroll work and columns. Buildings dating to the 1920s and 1930s feature cleaner lines and shapes without complicated details. Interestingly cartouches are utilised in both periods. Modern shopfronts tend to be very angular and box like with little to no details featured.

Kew has a long history of white settlement. The first sale of Crown land happened in 1845, and by 1853 the first retail shops were open in the area. There is over one hundred years of architecture represented in this area. This won't sound very significant to my international readers but I'm sure they can appreciate here in Australia that's a long time. 

If you are interested in doing your own research the Kew Historical Society has a useful website. Also here is a link to their blog which will take you to a historical timeline of Kew.

Love 

Mosey x

North side High Street, Kew

Clusters of the same design which were built together are very common

Many eras are represented in the architecture

To me this building evokes the image of a simplified castle

Dating to 1890 this is one of the oldest remaining buildings in the shopping strip

Although younger than the building next to it, this building still stands comfortably and proud

Interestingly it is mainly Inter-War period architecture that has been kept along this strip

Three building from different periods stand in harmony together

South side of High Street

My favourite building along this strip, its beauty lies in its clean lines and shapes