6291.1 - Plan of "Austral Coal Mining Co" Lease in Korumburra detailing the mine tunnel plan, coal seam areas and some surface features such as railway sidings & Leura Creek.

One of a series of photographs, taken by Edgar James Dower in the second decade of the twentieth century. Born and raised in Olinda, his family 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 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, Dandenong Office.The image 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 tram network in the years preceding and during World War 1.Digital copy of an original mounted photograph depicting construction workers, horses and drays Hawthorn. The intense activity involved collecting materials for transport to the construction site in Cotham Road, Kew. Annotated recto: "Unloading trucks of metal for Kew Electric Tram Line in Cotham Road / At Hawthorn Railway Siding" Annotated verso: "Taken by E.J.D. / 1913"theme --- travelling by tram, theme -- connecting victorians by transport and communications, cotham road -- kew (vic.), trams -- kew (vic.), hawthorn railway station

From set of nine colour photographs of various locations on the Port Melbourne Railway Line from Port Melbourne to Montague Stations, 1987: Railway sidings on Evans Street, taken from Bridge Streettransport - railways, glen stuart

From set of nine colour photographs of various locations on the Port Melbourne Railway Line from Port Melbourne to Montague Stations, 1987: Railway sidings on Evans Street, taken from Bridge Streettransport - railways, glen stuart

The photograph was taken when railway land on either side of the tracks was used for recreational purposes and agricultural related activities. The local sports ground is on the RHS of the photograph and was used to stage a number of the town's events.A black and white photograph of a section of the two railway platforms and three sets of rail tracks with a stone bridge in the distance. Four rail carriages and eight goods trucks are on a railway siding near a wheat silo. There is open land on either side of the rail tracks.sunbury railway station, wheat silos, railways, macedon street rail bridge., george evans collection

On 17th April 1919 a stock train travelling north crashed head-on with a goods train coming in the opposite direction. The driver thought he had been given the all-clear to proceed into Sunbury and it was only when the train was approaching the Macedon Street bridge that he saw the red light and it was too late. The accident caused damage to rolling stack and disruption on the Bendigo and Maryborough lines. The train coming from Bendigo smashed onto the platform at Sunbury. The driver of the stock train was thrown under the van and suffered a broken arm and facial injuries. The fireman was thrown clear of the tracks. A local Sunbury doctor treated them before they were taken by a casualty train to hospital. A crew from Melbourne came to Sunbury to repair the damage. The track was cleared by that afternoon.This rail crash is one of a number that have happened in and near Sunbury over the years.A black and white photograph with a cream border, of a goods train smash at a railway siding. The carriages have 'jack-knifed'. Four men are on the tracks looking at the damage while a number of onlookers are surveying the damage from a footbridge. There are boxes of rabbit carcasses in crates stacked in the foreground.rail crashes, sunbury

Two black & white photos of Blackburn Railway Station & Siding showing steam train standing at the Station.blackburn railway station

This photograph is an enlarged section of another photo where all the workers were lined up on the railway siding to welcome home their managing director, Edgar Edwards Walker on his return from overseas. Unfortunately their good intentions backfired as there was deduction in their wages for the time spent away from their work.Black and white photograph of a group of men in front of the Australian Tesselated Tile building. Name of the company behind with name of manager/owner E. E. Walker.australian brick and tesselated tile co tile factories

Newspaper article, Bendigo Weekly, re firewood industry and use of wood in mines. Mentions Emu and Axe Creek, Kimbolton, Whipstick areas. Charcoal burners. Kurting, Inglewood and Argyle areas , Heathcote and railway sidings. Koefeds and Bendigo Preserving Company are companies mentioned . Image shows Koefeds motorised truck bringing in wood - also horse and cart loaded with wood. ( poor quality )person, individual, jack perry, heathcote, california gully, axe and emu creeks, kimbolton, whipstick, charcoal, kurtging, inglewood, argyle.

The A2 class was an express passenger locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways from 1907 to 1963. The 996 arrived at the Port of Echuca in 1968 from Newport and was donated to the City of Echuca by the Echuca Lions Club & the Rotary Club who had purchased it for 1250 pounds. the A2 996 is displayed at the Echuca Wharf Railway Siding.A2 996 is one of the later batch of sixty A2 class express passenger locomotives built with superheating and other design enhancements including Walschaerts valve gear. it was constructed at Newport Workshops in 1916 and was among the last few A2 class remaining in service when taken off register by the Victorian Railways in November 1963. Steam Locomotive made of steel & wrought iron with black livery. Front- A2 996 /. Rear - 996a2 locomotive, echuca lions club/rotary club, wharf, echuca loco shed, shire of campaspe, newport workshop, rollingstock collection, steam trains

Black and white postcard photograph of railway station, goods yard, siding and a steam train.Written on back of card: "The Railway Station Rutherglen | Dear Alice, Just a card to wish you all a Bright and Prosperous New Year. With Love From. Cousin Ellen. | Miss Barnard, 144 The Parade, Ascot Vale."railway stations, rutherglen railway station, rutherglen railway yards, steam trains

One of a small album of six photographs of the construction of the Cotham Road tramline in Kew, taken by Edgar James Dower in the second decade of the twentieth century. The reverse of each photo contains notes, written over time by the photographer, which are contained in the 'Inscriptions' field. Born and raised in Olinda, Dower's family 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 tram and train lines 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, Dandenong Office. The album as a whole can be viewed separately as the parent file.The image 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 in the album, as well as Dower's single photos mounted on card, individually and collectively richly detail the labour of workers and the tools and machinery used to create and extend Melbourne's tram and train networks in the years preceding and during World War 1.The first of six annotated photos in an album of photographs of the construction of the St Kilda to Kew electric tram line, taken in Cotham Road, Kew, by the amateur photographer, Edgar James Dower, in 1913. The album contains images detailing the preparation for the laying of the tracks plus work laying the line. The photographer notes on a number of the photos that te metal tracks were collected from the Hawthorn railway siding. The album, together with other phots by E.J. Dower has been made available by the owners for the Kew Historical Society to digitise and publish online and in print.Annotation verso: "1913 / Preparing for electric trams in Cotham Road Kew, looking west / Taken from corner of Burke Road by E.J. Dower / The metal was brought by horse and drays, from Hawthorn rail-way siding".keywords, theme -- connecting victorians by transport and communications, theme -- travelling by tram, photographers -- edgar james dower, cotham road -- kew (vic.)

One of a small album of six photographs of the construction of the Cotham Road tramline in Kew, taken by Edgar James Dower in the second decade of the twentieth century. The reverse of each photo contains notes, written over time by the photographer, which are contained in the 'Inscriptions' field. Born and raised in Olinda, Dower's family 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 tram and train lines 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, Dandenong Office. The album as a whole can be viewed separately as the parent file.The image 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 in the album, as well as Dower's single photos mounted on card, individually and collectively richly detail the labour of workers and the tools and machinery used to create and extend Melbourne's tram and train networks in the years preceding and during World War 1.The fifth of six annotated photos in an album of photographs of the construction of the St Kilda to Kew electric tram line, taken in Cotham Road, Kew, by the amateur photographer, Edgar James Dower, in 1913. The album contains images detailing the preparation for the laying of the tracks plus work laying the line. The photographer notes on a number of the photos that the metal tracks were collected from the Hawthorn railway siding. The album, together with other phots by E.J. Dower has been made available by the owners for the Kew Historical Society to digitise and publish online and in print.Annotation verso: "Preparing tram line Cotham Road Kew for electric trams, looking west / 1913"keywords, theme -- connecting victorians by transport and communications, theme -- travelling by tram, photographers -- edgar james dower, cotham road -- kew (vic.)

The East Melbourne Cricket Ground was a grass oval sports venue located at the corner of Wellington Parade and Jolimont Parade, in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. After the 1921 football season, the ground was closed and then demolished to make way for an extension of the Jolimont Yard railway sidings. In 1921, East Melbourne Cricket Club merged with the Hawthorn Cricket Club, following the loss of the former's ground, to become known as Hawthorn-East Melbourne (or the "Combine"). In 1989, after the club relocated to Glen Waverley, it dropped "East Melbourne" from its title until becoming Hawthorn-Waverley in 1994.Team photo of the Hawthorn East Melbourne Cricket Club, from the collection made by one of its players, Christopher Robinson, pictured middle row, 4th from right. The photo was probably taken at the Glenferrie Oval where the team played. The Club were First Grade Premiers in 1927-28hawthorn east melbourne cricket club, glenferrie oval, cricket, sport, christopher robinson

This is the twenty fourth catalogue of trees and it contains fruit trees, nut trees, berries and some ornamental trees. Carl Nobelius wrote in his General Remarks that he had one million trees to sell, clean, healthy and pest free. The nurseries were 250 acres in extent and contained two and a half million trees in various stages. His nurseries were at Emerald, Railway Siding and his office half a mile from Emerald Railway Station. He imported new varieties from overseas and the nursery was the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, employing 80 people between 1903 and 1930.Green Catalogue 1915 of Fruit Trees, also Elms, Oaks, Planes, Poplars and other Deciduous and Ornamental Trees. The catalogue contains 5 black and white prints of landscape views of the nursery, plus there are 5 bright colour inserts of individual pears and apples.nobelius

Tender document - MMTB - 7 sheets - some pre-printed and some typed with hand written notes titled "Supply and Delivery of Blue Stone Screenings and 1.5 inch metal", for Contract No. 107. Stapled along the left hand side. Only the first page and the schedule of Prices have been scanned. Has the Conditions of tendering, contract etc. \ Total material to be tendered for was 4050 tons, to be delivered to either Burley, Hawthorn, Camberwell, Tooronga or Malvern railway sidings at the rate of a total 345 tons per week. Authorised by S. Dix, 12/1/1921.trams, tramways, ballast, tenders, trackwork, track repairs

Copied from a copy of an original photo loaned to me by Mrs. Jean Grimson. The photo shows patrons arriving at a race meeting being held at the racecourse fronting the Loddon Valley Highway opposite where Mrs. Grimson was living in 1985. The photo was thought to be taken around 1920? The Swan Hill train used to slow down for race patrons to jump off and enter the course from the "rear". The course was later transferred to land fronting the Myers Flat - Marong Road & Williams Road and with a railway siding on the Bendigo side of the railway crossing Myers flat (behind the Allies Hotel). Fron Q. C. Binks 29/01/2001.historic referenceHistoric photo circa 1920.race goers entering marong racecourse circa 1920, races

Possibly Station pier Port Melbournesmall b&w landscape photograph featuring a steamship moored at a railway pier, rail siding in foreground and shedding between rails and vessel. The smoke stack is faintly steaming.Handwritten in black ink on album page beneath image: SS Huntingdonss huntingdon, fan album

The Corona Paint Company Pty. Ltd. Bendigo was formed in November 1920 with £10,000 capital, in £1 shares. By July 1921, the Company had completed its factory and plant at Bendigo East, ready to begin the manufacture of paints. The Corona Paint works were opened on Saturday 28 January by the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) during a visit to Bendigo. Many new manufacturing industries were opened during this time after calls to address the decline of mining in the region. The factory of the CORONA PAINT COMPANY, BENDIGO, was advertised for sale in The Argus on 5 October 1923. It consisted of a “building on a railway siding, plant and machinery, including dry grinding plant, kalsomine mixer, paint mill, furnace, electric motor, etc., large stores of raw and finished material, kalsomine with range of 21 colours, oil paints, &c.”A cast iron embossing press. It's painted black with gold coulered floral decorations. The base is 18 centimetres long, nine centimetres wide and one and a half centimetres thick. A curved protrusion rises from the base that is eight centimetres by four centimetres which narrows to four centimetres by two and a half centimetres with a three-quarter centimetre wide slot. Inside the slot is a lever action with a ten centimetre by two and a half centimetre wooden handle. There is a removeable die on the end of the lever and an opposite removeable die the base. A small oval metal disc with paten no 3965 on is attached. The seal is The Corona Paint Company proprietary Limited seal embossing press, corona paint company

Photo of SEC Ballarat Tram No. 11, west bound after leaving Victoria St. terminus crossing the Buninyong or Eureka Siding railway Bridge. Tram fitted with a "Twin Lakes" and SEC Briquettes roof advertisement and has destination of "Gardens via Sturt St. West". On the left side of the photograph is a roadside advertisement for the "Eureka Caravan Park". Note scanning error in the photograph. Kodak cardboard mount slide, taken by Peter Moses January 1966. Actual slide does not give the year, but slide fitted in with numbering sequence for 1966.On back of slide in blue ink in bottom right hand corner "P. Moses".tramways, trams, victoria st, railway bridge, tram 11

Pamphlet or small booklet, 12 pages on recycled paper, centre stapled titled "A walk along the Upfield railway line", outlining the history of the line, dates, hand operated gates, Royal Park to Brunswick, cable trams and the Sarah sands, sketches, The Jewell, map, Brunswick Station, grain stores, substation, Brunswick tram depot, sidings and railway signals. Published by the Brunswick Community History Group in 1993In ink page 3 "KS 8-7-94"trams, tramways, upfield, brunswick, railways, level crossings

Item in the collection of Gilbert John Mitchell (Jack) Pre WW2 Jack had service for a brief time in the 38th BN Bendigo No 447203. He enlisted in the RAAF on 31.1.1942 No 410686 age 20 years. Embarked for England on 6.1.1943 for further Training. Posted to 166 Sqd RAF Wellington Bombers then posted Operational to No 466 Sqd RAAF flying Halifax Heavy Bombers. On 18.7.1944 he and his crew in MZ313 were on a mission to attack Railway Sidings at Vaires. This was new Aircraft on 11.6.1944. They were hit by Anti Aircraft shells exploding in the fuselage. The Bomb Aimer Flt/Lt Finley advised the crew to leave by parachute as it was possible the craft could disintegrate. The Pilot Officer R.J. Evans decided to try and get the aircraft back to England, once there they abandoned the craft which was seen to disintegrate in mid air. Both were awarded the DFC. Jack was taken POW and sent to Stalag Luft 1 near Barth on the Baltic Sea for Allied Airmen. The Crew were; Roger John Evans No 410202, enlisted 5.12.1941 age 31 years. Peter Hamiliton Finley No 412294, enlisted 22.6.1941 age 22 years. L.C. Abbott, British/Allied. G.J. Mitchell, POW. Keith Mossman Tranent POW, No 426402, enlisted 20.6.1942 age 19 years 2 months. J.P.T. Finn RAF (Paddy) T.W. Wild British/Allied. On 30.4.1945 The Germans vacated the Camp Jack was in and 2 days later the Russians released them and he was placed in a British Hospital weighing 6 stone. He arrived home in Sept 1945. He stayed in the RAAF No 033130 and served in No 35 Sqd flying VIPs. He was in the Berlin Airlift 1948 - 1949, he also went on exchange with the RAF and flew in No's 24 & 511 Sqd's one a transport the other VIP transport. He was discharged from the RAAF with the rank of Flt/Lt on 6.7.1956 in No 11 Sqd. "Maunder and Sheean". In the article Jacks says that Lofty Maunder always had a joke etc when near the target to settle everyone down. The crew of Halifax LV875 were shot down by a Night Fighter near the target "Terngier" north of Paris 0n 11.4.1944. There was 157 Halifax's on the raid with 10 being lost. The Crew were; John Henry Maunder No 412562, Navigator, enlisted 19.7.1941 age 19 years 10 months. Brian Leo Sheean, No 409855, Wireless Operator, enlisted 1.10.1941 age 18 years. Research shows there were at least 3 more of the Crew KIA. Cecil John Bond No 420433, Pilot, enlisted 8.11.1941 age 19 years 11 months. John Neville Keys No 426112, Bomb Aimer, enlisted 23.5.1942 age 19 years 6 months. Clifford Young Warren No 427047, Rear Gunner, enlisted 26.4.1942 age 19 years 3 months. J.A. White, Flight Engineer, British/Allied. D.K. Messenger, Mid Upper Gunner, British/Allied. Newspaper article Herald Sun 19.4.2002, copy. Article re Jack Mitchell. The article has 6 photo insets 3 of Jack, 2 show Airmen beside an aircraft. The one with 2 Aircrew is "Lofty" Maunder and Jack. The article is mostly about "Maunder and Brian Sheean" mates of Jack. The inset photo of a women in uniform is believed to be "Maunders" English wife who he had married previously. Maunder and Sheean were KIA. "FLY THE FLAG FOR A MATE"newspaper, article, 466 sqd

After a nearby mill closed down the Cashin family, who lived south of the mill site, requested Victorian Railways to keep the siding open for passenger use, which it did, but changed the name to Birnam in 1926. In 1927 it was moved south a little distance, closer to the houses it served. From left to right, awaiting the train, are the people it served, Tom Cashin, Ted Cashin, Arthur Cashin, the child Eva Facey, Jim Cashin, Sarah Cashin, the second child, Doris Hansen, Beatrice Hansen (nee Cashin), Bert Hansen, Jim Facey and Percy Facey. It was regularly patronised until 1939 after which it saw little use.B/W. 195mm x 250mm. At Birnam Station in c.1926, seven men, one with covered axe, three women and two children, awaiting the train.birnam; railways; tom cashin; ted cashin; arthur cashin; eva facey; jim cashin; sarah cashin; doris hansen; beatrice hansen; bert hansen; jim facey; percy facey;

Double Headed Rail from Ravenswood Station Siding which was dismantled circa 1987 the two rails were stored for a time at Maldon before being donated to Puffing Billy Museum Bearing makers marks of Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield- Steel works Wilson & Cammell made Steel rails at their Dronfield Steel Works, in Dronfield, North East Derbyshire, England from 1872 - 1883 Double-headed rail In late 1830s Britain, railway lines had a vast range of different patterns. One of the earliest lines to use double-headed rail was the London and Birmingham Railway, which had offered a prize for the best design. This rail was supported by chairs and the head and foot of the rail had the same profile. The supposed advantage was that, when the head became worn, the rail could be turned over and re-used. In practice, this form of recycling was not very successful as the chair caused dents in the lower surface, and double-headed rail evolved into bullhead rail in which the head was more substantial than the foot. Info from Wikipedia - Rail Profile https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_profile The first records of double headed rail being used In Victoria by Victorian Railways was in 1859, the rails, chairs, oak and trenails were imported from UK. After the 1870’s the Victorian Railways went over to using flat bottom rails, but they still needed replacement double headed rail for lines already laid and this continued up to at least 1883 Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield- Steel works Wilson & Cammell made Steel rails at their Dronfield Steel Works, in Dronfield England from 1872 - 1883 Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway The Melbourne, Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway Company received parliamentary assent in February 1853 to build Victoria's first inland railway from Melbourne to Williamstown, and Melbourne to Bendigo and Echuca. Construction commenced in January 1854 with work on a pier at Williamstown but lack of funds slowed progress, eventually prompting the company to sell out to the government. The 100-mile (162 km) section to Bendigo opened in October 1862. Its cost of £35,000 per mile made it the most expensive railway ever built in Australia. In 1864, the line was extended to Echuca, tapping into the booming Murray-Darling paddlesteamer trade. info from Museums Victoria - Victorian Railways https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=450&gall=456 1863 Ravenswood Station open on the 1st Feb 1863 Victorian Railways - purchased and imported the Rail and Chairs from Raleigh, Dalgleish, White and Co. London Importation of railway plant : abstract of a return to an order of the Legislative Assembly dated 27th June 1860 for - Copies of the advertisements calling for tenders, the names of the tenderers and the accounts and correspondence with Mr Brunel relating thereto GP V 1859/60 no. C 15 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoC15.pdf Report from the Select Committee upon the Importation of Railway Plant : together with proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence and appendix GP V 1859/60 no. D 38 (2.9 MB) http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoD38.pdf Ravenswood Siding When the Victorian Railways were established in 1856 they adopted one of the popular British permanent way standards - heavy 80lb (36.3kg) double-headed rail held up right in cast iron chairs attached to transverse timber sleepers by wooden pegs called trenails. The Ravenswood Railway siding was constructed in 1862 with 12 feet wrought iron double-head rail held in cast iron chairs with Ransom and May patent compressed keys. Trenails held the chairs to the sleepers and the joints were secured in joint chairs. Joints were subsequently joined using fish plates. It formed part of the Melbourne to Echuca rail line, initially known as the Melbourne, Mt Alexander and Murray River Railway. George Christian Derbyshire, the first Engineer-in-Chair of the Victorian Railways was responsible for the design and construction of the works. No new lines were built in Victoria using double-headed rail after 1870. The siding was disconnected from the main line in 1988. The Ravenswood Railway Siding demonstrates the original 1856 philosophy of the Victorian Railways to adopt British permanent way technology. The siding demonstrates significant aspects in the development of permanent way technology in England and Victoria over the period from the 1830's to the 1880's. The chairs in the Ravenswood siding are physical evidence of early railway technology rendered obsolete 120 years ago, namely joint chairs at rail joints and trenails to secure the chairs to the sleepers. The double-headed rail demonstrates an important stage in the evolution of British rail technology in the 1830s. The old fish plates, square headed bolts and square nuts demonstrate the success of fishing the rail joins. The Ravenswood siding demonstrates the earliest form of rail joint technology developed in England, and existing in Australia, the joint chair. In part of the siding the sequence of joint and intermediate chairs is consistent with the 1856 specifications, that sequence is rare with the joints secured in joint chairs. The survival of chairs in this sequence is rare and almost certainly demonstrates that they remained in continuous use at the same location from 1862 to 1988. This remnant of the Ravenswood siding has survived 126 years. The siding has proved to be the most significant of extant remnant double-headed sidings in Victoria, containing a rare combination of early permanent way technologies. Construction dates 1862, Info from Ravenswood Railway Siding Victorian Heritage Database Report http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/4693/download-report The remaining section of this siding is significant at the State and National levels in that it demonstrates the use of chaired rail by the Victorian Railways Department for the Trunk Lines and, more particularly, the following stages in the evolution of this long obsolete method of permanent way construction: a) The use of joint chairs and intermediate chairs at regular intervals inferring that the original wrought iron rail lengths were 12 feet, as is known through documentary sources to have been the case. The survival of chairs in this sequence is unique and almost certainly demonstrates that they have remained in continuous use at the same location and in the same sequence from 1862 to 1988 . b) The use of joint chairs and intermediate chairs designed for use with trenails. c) The use of later intermediate chairs designed for use with steel pins and the use of fished joints with steel double head chaired rail, representing a second method of constructing the permanent way using chaired rail technology. info from Ravenswood Siding - Melbourne/Echuca Railway Line - Victorian Heritage Database Report http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/70103/download-report Addition to Citation for Melbourne to EchucaRailway Line 1/10/1990 Double Head Rail The surviving lengths of double head rail with chairs on this railway compare with one surviving similar remnant on the Geelong to Ballarat railway and are representative of permanent way construction techniques applied exclusively to the two trunk railways of the 1860's. In this respect they are rare survivors and may be unique at the national level and of technical importance at the international level to the extent that they enhance contemporary understanding of early railway building technology. Surviving lengths of chaired double head rail survive at Kyneton, Ravenswood and Bendigo on this railway and include a number of different types of cast iron intermediate and joint chairs with hardwood keys and metal pins. The Ravenswood siding is of special significance for the diversity of chair types and for the sequence of chairs recalling rail lengths known to be associated with construction of the line in 1862. Construction of the Railway Tenders closed on 24 March 1858 with no less than 133 tenders being received. A contract was let to Cornish and Bruce for £3,356,937 to commence work on 1 June 1858 and complete the line by 31 July 1861. Cornish and Bruce made quick early progress with the Melbourne to Sunbury section being officially opened on 13 January 1859. The line was officially opened to Bendigo (Sandhurst) on 20 October 1862 by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Barkly. A great banquet was held for 800 guests and this was followed by a grand ball. The extension of the line to Echuca was a relatively simple matter as that part of the line was across plain country without any significant engineering challenges. Tenders were called for the work in 1863 and the work was completed in 1864 by contractors Collier and Barry Apart from the line contractors, other firms directly involved were J Shire law and Co (sleepers), R Fulton, Langlands Brothers and Co, William Crossley (water supply), B Moreland, Langlands Brothers and Co (platelayers lorries), E Chambers (iron pins, traversers), Miller and McQuinstan (luggage vans and steam engines) and various contractors for building works. Info from Engineers Australia Engineering Heritage Victoria Nomination for Recognition under the Engineering Heritage Australia Heritage Recognition Program for the Goldfields Railways - Melbourne , Bendigo & Echuca Railway Page 25 - .2.9.2 Statement from National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Listing number B5323 for Mt Alexander/Murray Valley Rail Line: Page 69 - Theme 3 https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/system/files/engineering-heritage-australia/nomination-title/Melbourne_%20Bendigo_Echuca%20Railway%20Nomination.pdf The Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company was a railway company in Victoria, Australia. It was established on 8 February 1853 to build a railway from Melbourne to Echuca on the Victorian-NSW border and a branch railway to Williamstown. The company struggled to make any progress and on 23 May 1856, the colonial Government took over the Company and it became part of the newly established Department of Railways, part of the Board of Land and Works. The Department of Railways became Victorian Railways in 1859. Construction of the Bendigo line commenced in 1858, but this private consortium also met with financial difficulties when it was unable to raise sufficient funds, and was bought out by the Victorian colonial government. The design work was then taken over by Captain Andrew Clarke, R. E., Surveyor-General of Victoria, with bridge designs completed by Bryson and O'Hara The contract for the first stage of the line from Footscray to Sandhurst (now Bendigo), was let to Cornish and Bruce for £3,356,937.2s.2d ($6.714 million) with work commencing on 1 June 1858. Completion of the permanent way was to be by 31 July 1861 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne,_Mount_Alexander_and_Murray_River_Railway_Company Victorian Railways - purchased and imported the Rail and Chairs from Raleigh, Dalgleish, White and Co. London Importation of railway plant : abstract of a return to an order of the Legislative Assembly dated 27th June 1860 for - Copies of the advertisements calling for tenders, the names of the tenderers and the accounts and correspondence with Mr Brunel relating thereto GP V 1859/60 no. C 15 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoC15.pdf Report from the Select Committee upon the Importation of Railway Plant : together with proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence and appendix GP V 1859/60 no. D 38 (2.9 MB) http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoD38.pdf Victorian Railways : report of the Board of Land and Works November 1862 GP V 1862/63 no. 21 (2.8 MB) https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1862-63No21.pdfHistoric - Victorian Railways - Double Headed rail Ravenswood Railway Station and Siding Victorian Heritage Database Reports Victorian Heritage Register VHR H1100 Victorian Heritage Register VHR H1786 National Trust VHR H1100 Mount Alexander and Murray River Rail way Line National Trust2 rail lengths of Double Headed Rail made of Iron makers marks : Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield - Steel and 20 joint chairs with metal rail pins Makers mark Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield - Steel (possible date 187? very hard to read ) puffing billy, double headed rail, wilson & cammell - dronfield - steel works, ravenswood station siding, melbourne to echuca rail line, initially known as the melbourne, mt alexander and murray river railway.

Yields information about the vicinity of the Victoria St terminus and the bridge over the Buninyong Railway line.Black and White photograph mounted on heavy cardboard backing. Photo of Ballarat No. 31, just after leaving Victoria St. terminus, late 1960's or early 1970s crossing over the Eureka siding railway bridge. Taken by John Phillips. Tram has destination of Gardens via Sturt St. West, Twin Lakes advertisement on the front. In the background is Meagher's Hotel with Abbots Lager and Victoria Bitter sign. On the bridge is graffiti "Smash US Imperialism". On the Ballarat side of the bridge is a sign directing travellers to the "Eureka Caravan Park". Has 6 Velcro dots on rear and marks where mounting devices have been removed on the rear. Note image scanned in two runs through a scanner, resulting in the shading in the image file. .1 - Second copy with 4 black Velcro squares and 4 dots on rear - wider view on the right hand side with an additional pole - not scanned.trams, tramways, victoria st, eureka, twin lakes, tram 31

Photocopy of a drawing prepared by Dave Macartney in the mid 1980's of the track layout of the Electric Supply Co. of Victoria's Ballarat Tramway system, excluding the single track to Sebastopol. Plan shows the location of the loops, loop type, street names, position of replacement loops installed by the SEC during the reconstruction, depot layout, powerhouse siding and railway in Lydiard St. North. Prepared from inspecting the Plans of Ballarat services drawings in the Ballarat Water Board's Offices. Drawn on the back of old import forms of a light weight paper and has shown through the printing underneath. Titled "Ballarat Tramways Company Days 1905 - 1930" Number of small differences to the map drawn for Keith Kings, "The Ballarat Tramways" book, page 22.trams, tramways, ballarat, esco, track layout, map

Murray's Bridge over the Diamond Creek on the Diamond Creek Trail just prior to demolition and replacement with a new steel bridge. Heritage advice obtained by Nillumbik Shire Council, following a suggestion by the Eltham District Historical Society (EDHS), is that the original bridge appears to have been a simplified version of the Country Roads Board’s (CRB) standard timber bridge design of the early-to-mid 1920s. In c1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with three recycled steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. During these alterations many parts of the bridge were removed, and some were replaced. Heritage advice indicates the condition of Murray’s bridge is poor. The remaining original parts are all in poor condition, with severe weathering, splitting and rot, especially to the stringers retained on the bridge. Heritage advice is that Murray’s Bridge does not have sufficient significance in the cultural history of the Nillumbik area to warrant inclusion in the Nillumbik Shire Heritage Overlay and also does not have sufficient significance as a rare survivor to warrant inclusion in the Nillumbik Shire Heritage Overlay. There are no indications in the historical record that this site was individually important to the cultural history of this area. EDHS is comfortable with the heritage advice provided to Council and has worked closely on this project with Council. EDHS has suggested some of the removed timbers be used in the vicinity of the bridge for landscaping and possibly seating, so as to retain these remnants close to the site of the original bridge, which is the last old timber bridge along the lower reaches of the Diamond Creek. Mary (Sweeney) Murray and John Wright Murray selected 80 acres, Lot C Section 16 and Lot 5 Section 17 Parish of Nillumbik, under an occupation license in 1866. John died in 1867 and freehold was granted to his son John in 1873. The farm was known as ‘Laurel Hill’. John Junior was an Eltham Shire councillor and sometime president from 1887 up until 1897. He added Lot A Section 16 to the farm in ca1888. John and his younger brother James arranged to rent/purchase Lot B Section 17, across Diamond Creek to the west, in ca1900. It appears that John and James farmed separately for a few years, with a new homestead built for James ad family on the high point of Lot B Section 17 in ca1910. John sold off Lot 5 Section 17 in 1912. When John died in 1912 James took over the land on both sides of the Diamond Creek. The old homestead on the west side of the Creek disappeared. A farm bridge over Diamond Creek from this period may have been located close to the northern boundary of the farm. John Langlands, owner of the farm known as ‘Ihurst’ on the west side of Diamond Creek to the south of the Murray’s land, died in 1907. In 1909 his land was then subdivided into 100 lots to become the ‘Glen Park Estate’. Other similar subdivisions of nineteenth century farms around Eltham in this period included the ‘Franktonia (or Beard’s) Estate’ to the northeast and ‘Bonsack’s Estate’ between Eltham and Greensborough. Soon after the opening of the railway extension line from Eltham to Hurstbridge in 1912, Glen Park and nearby residents including James Murray agitated for a railway station or siding to be located half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge, so that the Glen Park residents who used the railway daily did not have to walk into the Eltham or Hurstbridge stations. Some believed Coleman’s Corner (opposite Edendale Farm) was an appropriate spot for the platform. James Murray was among those who thought the railway should be located on his land, closer to half-way between Eltham and Hurstbridge stations. The Railways Commissioners warned that the locals would have to fund these works themselves. The Glen Park Estate residents initially had difficulty accessing Eltham by road, with only an old low-level bridge over Diamond Creek at the south end of their estate. A new timber trestle bridge across the creek, now on Wattletree Road, was opened in 1915. Road access to the north was gained in 1927 when the new Murray’s Road, which crossed the Murray’s land, was built. Residents continued to agitate for a Glen Park station. By 1926 the Railways Commissioners’ preferred site was on the Murray’s land. They arranged an estimate of cost of a full-length platform. The estimate was too much for the locals, who in 1928 argued unsuccessfully for a shorter and hence cheaper platform. By 1929 Murray had agreed to donate the land, but the locals would still have to fund the works. Murray decided, unilaterally it would appear, to commence work on a timber trestle road bridge over Diamond Creek to link the new Murray Road to the proposed station. Late in 1929 he stopped work on the bridge, for reasons unknown, but started work again and completed the bridge in 1931. There is no further newspaper evidence of the campaign for the Glen Park station until 1939, when Murray and another local, Mr Maxwell, met the Railways Commissioner. The Glen Park locale now included 45 homes on the west side of the creek and 20 on the Eltham side. Most of the residents used the train every day. The Commissioner remained adamant that only a full-length platform could be built for safety reasons. It appears the campaign dissolved at this point. The increasing move to cars may have had an impact. There is no evidence of Murray’s bridge ever being connected to Murray’s Road, or of it having wide use for any purpose by locals. James Murray died in 1947 and the farm was taken over by his son James (Jim). Jim started to sell off parts of the farm in the 1980s, retaining a few acres around the ca1910 homestead and building a new house there. Recreation reserves were established along the creek. In ca1990 Murray’s bridge was renovated with steel girders as part of a bike/pedestrian path in the reserve. The old farmhouse was demolished in ca2014. * * * A theory posted on local community Facebook groups was that the bridge was built in the 1860s and was built to be more robust than was necessary for the movement of cows from one side of the creek to the other. It was suggested the robustness was necessary to support the weight of gold ore being transferred from a mine on Murray’s land to a railway siding near Murrays Bridge (presumably for transfer and processing at Diamond Creek). Perhaps this may have been one of the motivators for Murray, who really knows? Knowing when mining operations ceased on his land and how that fits the overall timeline would be useful but at the time the bridge was built, local gold production was minimal at best. The known facts are: • The railway line came to Eltham in 1902. • The extension of the railway from Eltham to Hurstbridge was constructed in 1912 so no railway line even existed through Murray's property until 1912 and the Victorian Railways maps at the time show no such siding on Murray’s property. • In 1923 a new company was formed in anticipation of the old Diamond Creek Gold Mine being re-opened. The mine had been previously closed and flooded. It was noted in the press at the time that the mine was within a mile of the railway. Nothing really came of this. • Construction of Murrays Bridge was commenced by James Murray in early 1929 in anticipation of a proposed flag station being nominated on his land, but work ceased shortly afterwards. The proposed flag station was commonly referred to as Glen Park as the residents of the Glen Park Estate wanted Option 1, located near them with the platform adjacent to Colemans corner. This was probably never going to fly as it was virtually in eyesight of Eltham station. Allandale Road was the third option, but the Commissioners' preferred option was No. 2 - on Murray's property. • The Railway Commissioners were not going to finance any such station and the works had to be funded by private landowners and residents, hence Murray investing in this himself. • Murray recommenced work two years later and finished his bridge in 1931 but unfortunately for him, the proposed flag station never eventuated. The bluestone siding you reference may well have been built by Murray as part of the proposed station platform. • Up until then, apart from the Main Road bridge, which was washed away in 1924, virtually all local crossings over the Diamond Creek were low lying bridges – Kaylocks Bridge at Brougham Street, Diamond Street bridge, Glen Park Road bridge. It is expected that Murray also had a low-lying bridge to connect his land either side of the creek. These were all washed away or severely damaged multiple times in the 1920s. Lessons were learnt, and Murrays Bridge appears to have been built in accordance with Country Road Board standards of the time. Flood damage was ongoing, and even more recently constructed raised bridges kept getting washed away, e.g., the new Wattle Tree Road bridge in 1958 just months after completion. Murray’s bridge was reinforced with steel some 30 years ago presumably to provide additional floodwater resistance, given the history of bridges disappearing in floodwaters. • In March 1932 it was reported in the Advertiser that there were still some prospectors operating around Eltham North who apart from further scarring the face of the earth over the previous two years had gained significant experience but little gold - hardly a driving factor for constructing a dedicated railway siding and bridge to transfer gold ore. It is far more probable that James Murray was hoping to have the railway station located on his property and invested his money by building the bridge to lead to it as well as a station platform. Had the station eventuated, it may well have driven up the value of his land for subdivision and new housing estates like the Glen Park Estate. That did not eventuate. Whilst the bridge was indeed old (90 years), the core structure being completed in 1931, it had been modified substantially from original and hence had no significant historic value – i.e., it was not a representative example of its type, construction, and age. Given that the bridge was not worthy of saving, the Eltham District Historical Society with Council’s support, and the Eltham Woodworkers group endeavoured to see what suitable sized timbers were salvageable to fabricate a commemorative seat. Unfortunately, the experts at the Woodworkers group were unable to salvage any suitable length/width timbers to fabricate the seat due to the presence of rot. Last remaining wooden trestle bridge on the Diamond Creek Trail just prior to demolition and replacementBorn digital image (27)diamond creek (creek), diamond creek trail, murrays bridge, ‘laurel hill’, john wright murray, mary (sweeney) murra, john murray jnr, james murray, john langlands, ‘ihurst’, ‘glen park estate’, beard's estate, franktonia, bonsack's estate, glen park estate, glen park railway station