Showing 1634 items
matching railway transport
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Ballarat Tramway Museum
Newspaper, The Courier Ballarat, "Buses take over North Route", 5/03/1956 12:00:00 AM
Newspaper clipping from the Geelong Advertiser? dated 5-3-1956, titled "Buses take over North Route" about the last tram running on the Sunday night and buses taking over Monday (item written it would appear for the Tuesday paper). Gives bus passenger numbers and bus numbers for the evening peak on Monday, quotes Mr. F. P. Mountjoy of the Transport Regulation Board who visited Geelong. Last paragraph notes that some Belmont trams will run to the railway station to connect with the "important" trains from Melbourne, until the closure of the Belmont service on March 25. Contained originally within Reg Item 5623 at the front of this note book. For items see btm5623 loose items list.pdf.geelong, north, belmont, closure, railway station -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Newspaper, The Courier Ballarat, "New Move to Retain Buninyong Line", 5/06/1953 12:00:00 AM
... of Transport that the Victorian Railways were not prepared to maintain... Parade Ballarat Ballarat goldfields Buninyong Railway Newspaper ...Newspaper clipping from The Courier, 5-6-1953 titled "New Move to Retain Buninyong Line", about a letter from Minister of Transport that the Victorian Railways were not prepared to maintain the bridges on the line that was closed in 1947, despite representations from the Shire of Buninyong. The Shire was asking for assistance from other Councils and Members of Parliament. Item was contained within the back cover of Reg Item 5485 - Service Exercise Book, black covers, with label, red binding titled "No. 2 - Ballarat Tramways & S.E.C. Systems" - see list. buninyong railway -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Document - Exercise Book, Wal Jack, "W. Jack Tramways No. 1", 1950s
Contains notes on the following tram systems. Brisbane - includes notes on photographs Rockhampton steam Sydney Tram Depots NSW Tramways tramcars - notes on each class and work vehicles Birmingham including two cuttings about the closure of Birmingham dated 31-3-1939 London Passenger Transport Board - one page Bristol - closure and damage. Sheffield History of the Tramcar Victorian Railways - St Kilda Brighton Electric Street Railway Sandringham to Black Rock MMTB Cable trams and opening dates Opening dates for the tramway routes in Melbourne to 1921 News Paper cuttings on Doncaster Newspaper cutting - cable trams "Cable Trams.....clang into history" by Hugh Murphy History and Development to 1943 - Brisbane Trams by G. R. Steel (half page only) Perth Tramways Adelaide Municipal Tramways Trust notes South Africa Trams Wellington Corporation Tramways (NZ) Tramways in Soviet Russia World's Largest Tram Systems - July 1938Demonstrates the work of Wal Jack in recording tramway information.Service Exercise Book, black covers, with label, red binding titled "W. Jack Tramways No. 1" lined pages, four sections each of 10 sheets, (80 pages), stitched bound. trams, tramways, tramways, sydney, brisbane, vr, melbourne, cable trams -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Digital image, Wal Jack, 2/03/1958 12:00:00 AM
Yields information about the arrangements made to transport trams from Melbourne to Ballarat by Yellow express vehicle.Digital image from the Wal Jack Ballarat Album of a photograph of Queens Mothers visit in 1958. Sunday 2/3/1958, outside the Railway Station in Lydiard St North. Sunday 11AM. Trams waiting special trains. No. 14, 13, 28, 40 34 up line, 26, 39, 27 down line. See image i2 for rear of photograph. See image i3 for hi res scan of print. See image i4 for hi res scan of negative Two negatives held.Royal visit day - SEC 2/3/58, Ballarat, Lydiard St North, Sunday 11AM. Trams waiting special trains. No. 14, 13, 28, 40 34 up line, 26, 39, 27 down line. In top right hand corner is Wal Jack stamp with number T245 written in.trams, tramways, royal visit, lydiard st north, railway station, tram 14 -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, R.L. Forster, G41, Beech Forest, 1950, 1950
... started agitating for road transport. beech forest; railways; loco ...From 1945 a sawmill, the Calco Mill, was formed to cart sawn timber initially from the Zappelli's property on Denherts Track. The plant was later shifted to Pul's property and, in 1951, finally moved to a new mill in the Beech Forest railway yard. Potato output also rose, around 280 hectares and was shipped exclusively by rail until 1955. The railway was very busy, in fact so busy that potato farmers and especially saw millers started agitating for road transport.G41 locomotive, four NQR loaded wagons, and a louvred van near the Goods Shed. Next line, three loaded and three empty NQR wagons. In the foreground near the station building, a louvred van. A water tank and timber mill in the background. B/Wbeech forest; railways; loco g41; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Beech Forest Railway Station: Laurie McCabe in charge, 1920s
Laurie McCabe was in charge of Beech Forest Station until October 1929. When the timber industry went into decline because of poor markets and the crippling effects of the 1929 strike, and when road haulage signalled the beginning of a new transport era it was the beginning of the end. As a result staffing levels were severely cut over the period 1927/29 with the two station masters at Beech Forest and Gellibrand replaced by caretakers in October 1929. The line was then supervised by travelling station masters of whom Laurie McCabe was one of two.B/W. Laurie McCabe in charge of Beech Forest Railway Station in the 1920s, pictured on track one just down from the station buildings. Note the slight snow covering on the tracks.beech forest; railways; laurie mccabe; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Beech Forest: NA locomotive taking coal, c.1955
To a dead end spur at Beech Forest station a locomotive depot was provided with a coal stage, ash pit and water tank as part of the original facilities of the station. Coal was transported from Colac by rail and hand-shovelled up onto the stage from an NQ truck positioned alongside. Twin water columns on the stage ends enabled two NA class or both ends of a Garratt locomotive to take water simultaneously. Beneath the trestle was the ash pit.B/W. 200mm x 271mm. An NA locomotive on trestles taking coal at Beech Forest. A child watches.beech forest; railways; coal stage; na locomotive; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Knox Collection, Pettit's Siding: A loader, teamster and their six-horse load, c.1920
Originally known as Smith's Siding, in November 1914 the siding was renamed "Pettits" following the sale of a nearby mill to the north. The sawn timber was initially carted out by bullock wagon but the mud and slush caused such difficulties that Pettits caused a thirty chain incline to be built from the mill to a tramway. The tramway connected the mill to the railway until 1924. An annual average of 2,450 tonnes of timber was despatched from the siding. No provision was made for passenger traffic. After ten years Pettit Brothers had cut out the area and moved on, abandoning the siding which was put out of commission on 23 September 1924. However, local residents, not wishing to suffer the loss of railway facilities, managed to have the siding reopened in February 1925 for goods and passengers. It was lightly patronised until all traffic ceased in 1936. B/W. Sam Knox, timber loader and tallyman, and George Pritchard, a teamster, resting at Pettit's Siding after delivering a six-horse-drawn load of timber to the Siding. Stacks of wood awaiting transport by rail are in the background.pettits siding; wyelangta; railways; smith's siding; sam knox; george pritchard; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, R. Preston, Beech Forest: Track gang in snow, c.1940, c.1940
The railway track was maintained initially by seven three-man gangs headed by a ganger. The gangers tended to be promoted into the Otways but many of their subordinate staff of repairers were local recruits. There were two track gangs at Beech Forest until 1954, so a large number of gangers and repairers was present over the years. World War 2 with petrol and rubber rationing provided a boost to the line. The 1939 bushfire killed a great deal of timber which had to transported out of the Otways, and the commencement of a vigorous wartime pulp wood traffic from Beech Forest meant that only the railway could efficiently handle the volume of traffic. By early 1940 not only the Garratt was running a daily train to Beech Forest but an NA goods train was scheduled to run at night. As a result the track gangs were also particularly busy at the same time.B/W. In snow at Beech Forest, a track gang on a trolley at the entrance to the Way and Works shed, comprising G. Newland, Ned Hewing, Bill Taylor, Jim Gowty, and Buck.beech forest; railways; g. newland; ned hewing; bill taylor; jim gowty; snow; track gang; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Book, Norman Houghton, Rail Centre Colac, 2014
Colac was the centre of a spidery rail network over which were carted anything and everything by Victorian Railways, the common carrier throughout the area. The main line through the region was the 35 km rail route from Birregurra (and thence to Geelong) though Colac to Pirron Yallock (and thence to Warrnambool and Port Fairy) from March, 1877, to July, 1883. The first branch line ran from Irrewarra to Beeac in 1889, which then extended in stages to Cressy and on the Ballarat. The second branch line was the 31 km long Birregurra to Forrest in 1891. The cost of building railways into mountainous terrain meant the third branch line was a narrow-gauge 2 foot 6 inch line, first of all to Beech Forest in 1902, and then to Crowes in 1911, for a total of 71 km. The final rail connection was the 16 km branch from Colac to Alvie to facilitate the transport of onions, opening in 1923. Each line had its own character and peculiarities derived from its foundation, geography and economic base. As a general rule, the loadings on the branch lines had greater output tonnage than inwards, the reverse of the main line. The lines traversed agricultural and timber areas where inputs like seed, grass, fertiliser and labour were minor, compared with the output, timber, wool, cream, butter, cheese fruit, potatoes, onion, grain and livestock.Rail Centre Colac. Rail stations in the Colac Otway Shire, 1877 to 2014. Norman Houghton. 1st ed. Norman Houghton; Geelong (Vic); 2014. vi, 262 p.; illus., maps, index. Soft cover.colac; cressy; forrest; beech forest; crowes -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - RAILWAYS RECORD BOOK, 1948
... TRANSPORT Railways personnel Small book containing hand written ...Small book containing hand written records pertaining to railway personnel, hard black cover.transport, railways, personnel -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Accessory - VICTORIAN RAILWAYS UNION BADGE
Brass & enamel badge for Victorian Railways Union, white enamelled centre with gold letters VRU surrounded by a dark blue ring with wording Victorian Railways Union, numbered on back 5408.Broo?an & Kingorganisation, union, transport -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Map - Public Transport Map - Bus, Ministry of Transport, Ballarat, Bendigo & Geelong, 1977
Set of three maps, c1977 show the bus routes for each of Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong along with railways. Provides information on each route, summary timetables, who operated the route and places of interest. Published by the Ministry of Transport in conjunction with the Transport Regulation Board, Bus Proprietors Association and VicRail. By comparison with the posters issued at the time of tram closure, can see the changes made to the routes in each city. See item 6813 for Ballarat, 6812 for Geelong, and 6814 for Bendigo.Demonstrates a public transport map published by the Ministry of Transport.Set of three 10 fold maps printed in colour to pocket size.On each map "7/77" in ink.buses, maps, ballarat, bendigo, geelong, timetables, railways -
Bayside Gallery - Bayside City Council Art & Heritage Collection
Photograph - gelatin silver photograph, Official Opening, St Kilda - Brighton Electric Street Railway, 1906
In 1904, at the initiative of Premier Thomas Bent, Victorian Railways was authorised to build an electric street railway from St Kilda to Brighton. The line opened in early 1906 and was one of Melbourne's first electric tram services. On Saturday 5 May, 1906, Premier Thomas Bent performed the opening ceremony of the St Kilda to Brighton electric tramway at the Brighton Terminus, presided over by Cr. Thomas Wilson, Mayor of Brighton, with refreshments following at the Brighton Yacht Club. About 60 representatives were in attendance including the Railway Commissioners and the mayor and councillors of St Kilda, Brighton and Caulfield. The newspapers of the day commented that the cars were the best yet seen in Australia, possessing a great advantage over the Sydney trams, in that they are easily entered, and the glass windbreak was another improvement in design. The tramway from St Kilda to Brighton terminus took 18 minutes, including stops. thomas bent, premier, cr. thomas wilson, mayor, electric railway, electric tram, st kilda, brighton, official opening, public transport -
Bayside Gallery - Bayside City Council Art & Heritage Collection
Photograph - sepia photograph, Sears Studios, Opening of Gardenvale Station, 1906
gardenvale, station, train, platform, public transport, opening, crowd, mayor, sears studios, railway, gardenvale station -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Audio - Making Tracks, c1980s
Bendigo Workshops is a railway workshop in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. It is located in the north of the city beside the junction of the Swan Hill and Deniliquin railway lines. The site covers 10.3 hectares of land and has 31 separate buildings, including a 10,000 sqm main workshop building and six kms of railway track. The workshops were opened in November 1917 by the Victorian Railways. It opened in response to political pressures from provincial groups for decentralization, with the Victorian Railways preferring the cheaper option of expanding the existing Newport Workshops in suburban Melbourne. The 1980s were a time of restructuring, and on the breakup of the Victorian Railways the workshops passed to the State Transport Authority and then the Public Transport Corporation.Three Audio Files - by David Bennet, Davis Moon and Kevin Whelan who worked at the Bendigo Railway Workshops. The three share their working life memories history, bendigo, bendigo railway workshops -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - BUSH COLLECTION: INDEX OF ALBERT BUSH'S LETTERS
... to types of transport (trucks, schooners & railway) and agents... of transport (trucks, schooners & railway) and agents and products ...Index of Albert Bush's letters, foolscap format 6A handwritten index of letters,seven pages 6B typed index, in two stapled sections, seven pages in total 6C single sheet refers to types of transport (trucks, schooners & railway) and agents and products -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Geelong tram body being delivered from the Railway Station c1924
Demonstrates the method of delivery of a tramcar body for Geelong from the railway station using a horse drawn jinker with the horse driver standing in the same location as a tram driver would have. Tramcar built by Pengelley of Adelaide. The tramcar bodies were delivered during 1924 and 1925.Yields information about the Pengelly built tramcars for Geelong c1924 and how tramcar bodies could be transported using a horse drawn jinker. At the time, the Geelong tram system operated by the Melbourne Electric Supply Co.Copy photograph on black plastic type backing with black edges of a Pengelley Adelaide built tramcar body for the Geelong tramway system being delivered 1924, from the Geelong Railway station.geelong, tramways, pengelley, tram bodies, horse drawn jinker -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Document, 'State Electricty Commission of Victoria Rail Transport: Yallourn Open Cut"
Provides details of the history of SECV rail operations in the Yallourn and other power station open cuts and the transport of coal and the locomotives used in the Latrobe Valley operations of the SEC. Possibly prepared in the early 1980s. Rail operations on the interconnecting railway ceased in 2000. Shows outline diagrams of the steam, electric and diesel locomotives and the coal wagons.Provides information about the SEC Coal railways and their rolling stock used for power generation in Victoria.Report or document - 16 A4 pages titled Report - 'State Electricty Commission of Victoria Rail Transport: Yallourn Open Cut"sec tramways, power supply, secv, open cut mining, locomotives, interconnecting railway -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Slide - R711 Ballarat Station - COTMA Conference 2000, David Verrier, 17-11-2000
Photo shows West Coast Railway locomotive R711 at Ballarat Station after hauling the special train for passengers for the 2000 COTMA Conference in Ballarat. The locomotive was provided by West Coast Railway who was running the Warnambool service at the time and was a suprise to the conference attendees.Demonstrates the use of a steam locomotive to transport passengers for a COTMA Conference in 2000.Kodak colour slide - plastic mount"Fri 17/11/00 R711 Ballarat"cotma, btm, r 711, steam locomotives, ballarat, west coast railway -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Document - Parliamentary 1902, "Electric Trams", 1902
... . Letters railways tramways Reports public transport Parliament ...Last page of a report by the Railways Standing Committee 1902. recommends that the State (Victoria) obtains possession of the tramways - looks at the situation in Sydney. At the time Sydney was expanding its electric tram system, Melbourne was reliant on cable trams.Yields information about a view of the Railways Standing Committee in 1902.Photocopy A4 sheet of the last page of a 10 page report dated 6-5-1902, possibly the "Electric Trams" - Parliamentary report - Railways Standing Committee 1902. letters, railways, tramways, reports, public transport, parliament -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Pamphlet - Real Estate, T M Burke Pty Ltd, "Tram Extensions Authorised", 1936
Wal Jack collected tramway and railway items for his collection. This pamphlet gives details of the Melbourne Public Transport system - rail, tram and bus in late 1936. Issued by T M Burke Pty Ltd of 840 Collins St Melbourne, Real Estate agents, shows the extensive sub-divisions where land was available for purchase and notes the MMTB authorisation of new tram routes. Gives details of the T M Burke services. Routes shown as authorised (16-7-1936) are: Keilor Road Essendon, High St North Balwyn and Hawthorn Road East Brighton. Demonstrates a Real Estate Sales pamphlet.Pamphlet - four colours printed on cream coloured bond paper, folded vertically originally.letter, wal jack, buninyong, railway lines -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Functional Object - Four Wheel Flat top Trolley, Commonwealth Railways - Port Augusta Workshops (Understood), 1940's?
Four wheel flat top track trolley- deck wood frame and sides on four fabricated/pressed wheels, with bearings, axles- Used to transport materials- hand pushed or towed. Metal tie rods in front over axles and metal has connecting tow/couplers. Relocated to Bungaree c2015 when 22 moved. Photographed at Bungaree 6-4-2020 by Neville Britton, see image btm18i1.jpg. Record updated 6-4-2020. See detailed information on back of sheet in folder for sketches, timber damaged, notes re a number plate and a note regarding work done 7/97 in replacing underside diagonal bracing supports.On underside in paint, "To Cargeeg, 50 Pasadena East Bentleigh, Melbourne"trams, tramways, commonwealth railways, maintenance equipment, railway trolley -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Book, Corporation of Glasgow Transport Department, "Glasgow Municipal Tramway", c1933
Book - 48 pages + 2 fold out maps + cover, card cover, bound, giving details of history of Glasgow tramways, power stations, substations, workshops, bus stations, training and underground railway. Commences at p41 - 92, could have been part of a larger document. Record reviewed and scanned images of cover added 5/9/13. trams, tramways, glasgow, uk, tramway, bus, underground -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Magazine, Shennan Publishing & Publicity, "Special 12th Anniversary Issue" - Truck & Bus Transportation - July 1948, 1948
Yields information about Australian transport history, transport at the time of publication and the development of buses and the Ansett organisation.Large format 208 page , July 1948 issue of Truck and Bus Transportation with colour cover, fold out and advertisements, colour printing, articles on buses, trucks, cable trams, Australian Transport, personnel in industry, Ansett, executives - special 12 the anniversary issue. See photocopy of title and contents pages with item notes. Notes on Truck & Bus Transportation - Special Anniversary Issue - July 1948, with particular relevance to BTM Archives Advertisements: White Bus Co - similarity to the US PCC Tram - inside front cover Ansett's and Ansair - p131 AC buses - p162 Articles: Has Australia's Railways Reach the Doldrums? - p38 Modem Street Transit Authorities Announce Development Policy - p42 (includes photos of Sydney, Adelaide Glenelg H class, Bourke St, trams etc, being replaced by buses) These were the Events that made our Headlines (war years - photos included - p61 Riding the Rattlers behind Horses, Ropes and Billies - cable trams, horse and steam trams p66. - demise of Melbourne cable cars. Tracing the development of the Motor Bus in Aust. - p73. Australian Transport Administrations - whose , photos, responsibilities, liquid fuel control (petrol rationing), Australian Road Transport Associations, executives etc. - pl16 onwards Ansett organisation - p 1 72 onwards trams, tramways, trucks, buses, cable trams, road transport -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Newspaper, The Courier Ballarat, City Honored by six Royal Visits, Mar. 1938
Yields information about Ballarat and its locations or environs late 1938.Pages 11,12, 19 and 20 of the centenary of settlement in the Ballarat district by the Ballarat Courier - March 1938. See also items 186, 198 and 199. Page 11 Royal visits, banking in Ballarat, photos - NW section of Ballarat, railway station in foreground. Ads for J.McKay and Son, Roy Reeds (Men's store) and Ballarat Gas Co. Also photo of "The Corner" in Sturt St. - old Mining Exchange. Page 12 - full page ad for Morseheads, women's store. Page 19 - articles - Ballarat Lighting and Power, ESCo, SEC, electric trams. photos of the Arch of Victory, first electric tram, Lake Wendouree. Advertisements for Austin Spears (cycles), McDougall and Chisholm (drapers), W.E. Longhurst (bread) and the ES&A bank. Also article on South St. Society - music and elocution. Page 20 - articles - Ballarat Gas Co., horse and electric trams, agriculture in district and Ballarat's war record (WWI). Photos of work at Gong Gong Reservoir and Committeemen of the Ballarat Horticultural Society - 1859 to 1885. Ads for Ballarat College, Clarendon, Queens (girls) and Ballarat Grammar schools, Ern Craig Motors (Vauxhall) and Snows men's wear. Record reviewed and images of pages added 7-9-2013 and 10-9-2013trams, tramways, ballarat electricity, centenary, banking, transport, trams, esco -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Newspaper, "Want Provincial Trams Retained", c1949
Newspaper clipping, titled "Want Provincial Trams Retained" re deputation of Provincial tramway employees waiting upon Government - notes trolley buses. Refers to Mr. H.H.Bell (M&MTB) and Mr. Kent Hughes as "Minister for Transport". VR to 62 gives K. Hughes as Minister for transport from 20/3/1935 to 1/4/1935. Was Minister for Railways 25/7/1934 to 20/3/1935 and 11/1947 to 10/1949. Reference to the Bell report dates cutting Sept./Oct. 1949. Record revised and image added 21/9/2013. See "VR to 62", p 274 and A.Bradley's draft book re Bell Reporttrams, tramways, provincial tramways, geelong, ballarat, bendigo, h.h.bell -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Ephemera - Ticket/s, William Ticket Printer & Brighton Corporation Transport, 2 tickets from the Volks Electric Railway - Wal Jack Collection, 1940's
2 tickets from the Volks Electric Railway - see attached notes for details, have been used. Image of list added 29/9/2013 - see related documents for details.On rear of ticket No. AC 06502 has in pencil "12" with the 12 within a circle.trams, tramways, volks electric railway, tickets, uk -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Book, State Transport Authority - SA, "The Adelaide Tramways", Nov. 1979
Facsimile reproduction of an early Adelaide Tramways publication and part of June 13 1918 issue of Tramway & Railway World (London), article on Adelaide's tramways. 20 pages, printed on glossy paper, brown ink, sepia with many photos. Produced for the 50th anniversary of the Glenelg tram - 1979. Image of cover added 2/11/13, item updated for damage. See Gives sources on rear page.trams, tramways, adelaide, mtt, sta -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Certificate, Melbourne Tramways Trust, Framed Testimonial to Alderman Thomas O'Grady J.P. from the Melbourne Tramways Trust, 5 February 1886
The recipient of the testimonial, Thomas O’Grady (1824-90) had migrated to Melbourne in 1854, practising the trades of building and contracting. The Australian Dictionary of Biography records that he became a Councillor of the City of Melbourne in 1868. It lists one of his major achievements as the construction ‘with Leggett & Noonan [of] the fifty-six-mile (90 km) railway from Essendon to Seymour’. He was chairman of the Tramways Trust from its formation in 1884. His obituary in the Melbourne Herald (29 Apr 1890) reported: "DEATH OF ALDERMAN THOMAS O'GRADY. Today we have the sad duty of recording the death of two old colonists, who for many years, havo occupied very, prominent positions in building, commercial and municipal circles. The first of these is Alderman Thomas O'Grady, who died last night at his residence in Carlton. Mr O'Grady has been ill for some time, and at one period his death was expected any moment. Then he rallied, and strong hopes of his recovery were entertained; but he had a relapse, and expired as stated. The deceased gentleman was one of the oldest members of the City Council, in which he has held the various positions of Councillor, Alderman and Mayor. At the time of his death he sat as alderman for Victoria Ward. Mr O'Grady also at one time represented the City Council on the Harbor Trust, and was chairman of that body. He has been the council's representative on the Tramway Trust and was chairman of that body for some considerable time." As late as 1951, the Advocate (11 Oct 1951) stated that: "To Alderman Thomas O'Grady, Lord Mayor of Melbourne in 1872-3, is due the credit of the successful inauguration of Hospital Sunday. Alderman O'Grady was the first Catholic Lord Mayor of the city. He was elected a councillor for Smith Ward in 1868, and an alderman in 1869. In private life he was an extensive contractor, being a member of the firm of O'Grady, Leggett and Noonan, the contractors for the first section of the Northeastern Railways (between Melbourne and Seymour)."This is a unique civic document, illustrating the life and contribution of Thomas O’Grady (1824-90), Melbourne City Councillor and first Chairman of the Melbourne Tramways Trust. It is historically significant in its recording of the development of Melbourne's public transport system. The design of the certificate and particularly the ebonised frame are artistically and aesthetically significant.An illustrated testimonial presented to the first Chairman of the Melbourne Tramways Trust in 1886. The Testimonial is encased in an ebonized frame of the period. It includes the coat-of-arms of 12 cities, corporations, boroughs and towns, including that of Kew. At the head of the testimonial the engines used to drive the cable systems are illustrated. At the foot of the testimonial there is a picture of two cable trams.The testimonial reads: ‘At the meeting of the Melbourne Tramways Trust held on the Fifth Day of February 1886, the following resolution was unanimously carried. That the thanks of the Melbourne Tramways Trust are due and are hereby accorded to Alderman Thomas O’Grady Hon. JP, the first Chairman of the Trust for the ability, courtesy and impartiality with which he has discharged his duties during the past two years, and the Trust heartily congratulates him on the successful opening during his term of office of the Richmond Tramway (the first Cable line constructed in Australia) and tenders him its earnest wishes for his future prosperity and welfare.’ melbourne tramways trust, thomas o’grady (1824-90), cable trams, lord mayors of melbourne