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Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Personal memoir, Arthur Tonkin, Up the Dusty Track: The Northern Territory Experience
This is a personal account of Arthur Ernest Tonkin's experiences during World War 2. Arthur was a member of the 147 Australian General Transport Company. He enlisted in Alice Springs and spent the war as a driver along the route between Alice Springs and Darwin. There was no railway between Alice Springs and Darwin, and the road was more like a dirt track, but was essential for transportation of troops and supplies. Arthur was born in 1921 and spent most of his life in Surrey Hills.This is a compelling memoir written by a gentleman with a profound interest in history and an outstanding memory for detail, so although compiled when he was an advanced age, it is a significant memoir.illus.; 22p.; photos, A4 photocopied booklet spiral boundworld war, 1939-1945, darwin overland maintenance force, (mr) (lt col) noel medway loutit, central australian motor transport group, arthur ernest tonkin, memoir -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Photograph, Preparing to leave for the St George's Church of England Sunday School picnic, Mont Albert Road, 1922
The drags would have been leaving St George's Church of England in Mont Albert Road. The foundation stone for St George's Church of England, Mont Albert was laid in 1886 on land donated by Edward Dyer and the first service was preached in January 1887. From 1904 until 1907 it was known as Holy Trinity, Surrey Hills. The original church was weatherboard and replaced by a brick one in the Gothic Revival style which was designed by local architect George J V Blackburne, who also designed the Wesleyan School at Surrey Hills. The building was partly funded by donations, profits from a bazaar and concert, and other people donated furnishings. The church had boundaries along Mont Albert Road and St Georges Road. In 1998 the Church was sold and converted into a complex of units. Its current address is 19 St Georges Avenue, Mont Albert. The annual Sunday School picnic was held at Hampton and drags were the usual mode of transport. 'Lugano' was built in 1893 for William Wilson, a prominent stonemason and importer of marble fireplaces. In 1903 it became the home of William Holmes who was Chief Electrical Engineer for the Victorian Railways. He designed the electrification of the Melbourne suburban network. 'Lugano' stayed in the Holmes family until the 1930s. The annual Sunday School picnic was held at at a variety of locations and drags were the usual mode of transport. Donor information is that this was taken as the congregation prepared to depart for at Hampton on the picnic held on 25/2/1922. There are 2 copies: the original donated print and an enlargement. The original was mounted on card with photo mounts along with 506, 871, 872, and 873. It measures 13 cm x 9 cm.Black and white photo of 4 'drags' (horse-drawn hooded carriages) lined up in Mont Albert Road near the corner of St George's Avenue, in readiness for departure for the Sunday School picnic. The carriages are loaded with people and decorated with flags. The front carriage has a material sign attached to the side; the top line of writing is not decipherable, but the bottom one reads "SURREY HILLS". Four men stand in the road, which has bluestone curb and channelling. In the background is 'Lugano'.On rear in ink: "S.S. picnic to Hampton / 25th. Feb. 1922" and in a different hand in biro: "At Mont Albert. St George's Church"churches, holy trinity church, anglican church, sunday schools, picnics, lugano, horse-drawn vehicles, william wilson, willaim holmes, st george's church of england, mont albert, mont albert road -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Photograph, Empire Day in Surrey Hills circa 1912
Empire Day celebrations were held from 1908-1912. Prior to the opening of the railway in 1893 the only public transport to Surrey Hills was the Melbourne-Lilydale horse coach which travelled to Surrey Hills down Victoria Street and Mont Albert Road. The fare to Union Road was 9 pence. Photo 16-4a was the number given to the original print provided by the State Savings Bank. Ken Hall made a negative from it, and the reprint of this was given the number 1459. This number was chosen as the catalogue number to avoid confusion with SHP4a. Photo provided by Surrey Hills branch of State Savings Bank of Victoria in 1978 for launch of Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre and was one of the first photos in the collection. The inscriptions on the reverse may indicate it was used in the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood News.Black and white photo of Union Road looking south towards Canterbury Road. The street is decorated with lanterns and the Union Jack and other flags for Empire Day celebrations. There is a young girl in the foreground looking towards the railway crossing where there is a horse drawn cab and a horse drawn cart. Business signage includes that for a butcher, Sneddon's Real Estate and Otto Preuss, Economic Undertaker.On rear: "113% "; "Enlarge to 172 mm" and 2 arrows, all in blue biro.union road, empire day celebrations, horse drawn vehicles, undertaker, sneddon real estate, businesses, union road shops, otto preuss -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Photograph, Fred Lyons' hansom cab, c1916, 1916
This is one of a series of photos donated by Arthur Lyons. From 1907 a cab service operated from near the railway gates in Union Road. It was established and maintained by Mr C Fraser until c1916. George Rea either took over then or set up in opposition; he retired in 1945. Fred Lyons initially worked for George until he set up his own business. In time he changed over to a motor vehicle and continued his service until 1960. Frederick Adolphus Lyons (1891-1980) was born in Surrey Hills, son of Thomas and Catherine Lyons. He married Elizabeth Ruby Hall in 1918. They lived just around the corner at 55 Sunbury Crescent. The Lyons’ home in Sunbury Crescent was called ‘Knopshambury’ - this was probably a misspelling of Knockshanbally in Co Kilkenny, the birth place of Fred’s father, Thomas Edmund Josias Lyons (1846-1915). Arthur Lyons was born in Surrey Hills on 12 Jun 1920. He became a motor mechanic / welder and lived at 55 Sunbury Crescent. W T Nisbe... is probably William Thomson Nisbet, traveller of 'Maroona', Brenbeal Street, Balwyn listed in 1903, 1914, 1919 electoral rolls. His wife was Mary Grace Nisbet, son was William Thomson Nisbet Jnr (clerk) and daughter was Olive Thomson Nisbet (dressmaker). The donation was made while he was in hospital. He died shortly afterwards (23 Sep 1990). Donation was finalised by a neighbour, Mrs Florence Ann Armitstead, wife of Glen Victor Armitstead. Glen was a local hairdresser. They moved to 11 Sunbury Crescent after their marriage in 1939. Arthur had no relatives to distribute the material to.Black and white photo of Fred Lyons in one of his hansom cabs with his horse 'Barney' taken near Surrey Hills railway station. Another hansom cab is to the right of the photo and there is another man standing on the footpath. In the background are shops and the partial hoarding of W T Nisbe... is visible. The photo was taken between 1916-1927. On rear of the duplicate print in pencil in Jocelyn Hall's handwriting : "NO 59 / and 89 / Spare ? / perhaps better than enlargement"transport, horse drawn vehicles, businesses, fred lyons, frederick adolphus lyons, william thomas nisbet -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Photograph, Surrey Hills railway station, 1973
... before the station was demolished. railways land transport surrey ...This would have been taken shortly before the station was demolished.Black and white photo of Surrey Hills railway station taken from the tracks near the gates in 1973. It shows the wooden pedestrian overpass and the original station buildings with extended shelters over the platforms.There is a newspaper kiosk on the southern platform. The train is coming into the platform and there is a small group of passengers waiting. Advertising hoarding for Spaceline Homes and the Frankston Caravan Park are mounted at the end of the southern platform. railways, land transport, surrey hills railway station -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Photograph, The 'Crack Express' 204
... was used on all the rail lines in 1883 - the date when the railway ...This photo originally appeared in the Canterbury Courier in an article by Dave Staig. This type of train was used on all the rail lines in 1883 - the date when the railway came through to Surrey Hills. it is thought that the photo was taken in the Spencer Street yards. There is a copy of the article in this collection. Black and white photo of a steam train with more than four carriages. It was taken in an unidentified railway yard. railways, canterbury courier, public transport, david staig, crack express, dave staig -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Photograph, Surrey Hills Station and car park
... public transport trains railway lines palm tree A black and white ...There are 3 tracks; the third track was built in 1971, which gives an approximate date for the photo. At this time the original station buildings were demolished and replaced by buildings constructed from concrete bricks and a second subway replaced the overhead footbridge. According to Roderick Smith, a local railway enthusiast, originally there had been 3 railway houses at the Mont Albert end of the northern car park. These were demolished to extend the car park. Certainly 8 Bedford Avenue, built as the station master's house was demolished at this time. The palm tree had been planted in the station master's front garden and was retained in a small garden bed within the car park. A black and white photograph of a station with cars parked on both sides of the 3 tracks. A Harris train is departing the station heading towards Mont Albert. A palm tree is prominent in the station car park to the north.1971, surrey hills station, railway stations, car parks, public transport, trains, railway lines, palm tree -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Photograph, Narrow Gauge Loco 6A on transporter wagon in goods yard at Surrey Hills, 12/05/1950
The engine was being transported because it had broken a coupling in transit. Windsor Crescent is in the background. We have an original copy donated by Ian Barkla and a larger one copied by Ken Hall. The Barkla original has a sticker with his reference details on the back.A black and white photocopy of a steam engine. There are some local kinder children and an adult inspecting the train and climbing on the picket fence. The house in the background is in Windsor Crescent.surrey hills railway station, goods yard, steam train, transporter wagon, 1950, children, clothing and dress -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Book, A history of Camberwell, 1980
In 1964 Camberwell City Council commissioned Professor Geoffrey Blainey to first write this history. Since that time, many changes have taken place and therefore the Council asked Professor Blainey to bring the book up to date. Bibliography, includes index. The author presents a century of pioneering development and endeavours. He has traced the coming of the wood-cutters and the farmers, the transition from rectangular paddocks to a grid of roads and streets, the growth from shire to borough, town and city, the filling up of thirteen squares miles into residential suburbia - in successive waves of invasion, along new transport routes - including the Outer Circle Railway. Substantial chapters cover the War Years and the progress of Camberwell since the 1960s have also been included in this edition. 134p; ill;camberwell, victoria, market gardens, tolls, railways, mayors, boroondara road board, borondara shire, councillors, (mr) (prof) geoffrey blainey -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Book, Surrey Hills: in celebration of the centennial 1883-1983, 1983
A pictorial history of Surrey Hills based on information collected and based at the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre. It includes early rural properties and diaries, the coming of the railway, land sub-division and early homes, schools, parks and recreation.A pictorial history of Surrey Hills based on information collected and based at the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre. It includes early rural properties and diaries, the coming of the railway, land sub-division and early homes, schools, parks and recreation.surrey hills, railways, land use, migrants, spanish communities, transport, houses, wattle park, festivals and celebrations, churches, education, water supply, fire stations, hospitals, (mr) george klepper, ainger family, (mr) john woodhead, (mr) h. breedon, medical services, real estate agents, businesses, musical events and activities, entertainment, parks and reserves, scouts, guides -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Book, Surrey Hills: in celebration of the centennial 1883-1983, Reprinted November 1992
A pictorial history of Surrey Hills and Mont Albert based on information collected by the history group at the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre. It includes information about early rural properties and dairies, the coming of the railway, land sub-division and early homes, doctors, schools, churches, parks and recreation facilities.A pictorial history of Surrey Hills based on information collected and based at the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre. It includes early rural properties and diaries, the coming of the railway, land sub-division and early homes, schools, parks and recreation.1992surrey hills, railways, land use, migrants, spanish communities, transport, houses, wattle park, festivals and celebrations, churches, education, water supply, fire stations, hospitals, (mr) george klepper, ainger family, (mr) john woodhead, (mr) h. breedon, medical services, real estate agents, businesses, musical events and activities, entertainment, parks and reserves, scouts, guides -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Book, Reminiscences of living in Mont Albert in the 1930s - 1940s
This publication is a collection of reminiscences in Mont Albert including the Hamilton Street Shopping Centre, the trains, how the author spent his time after school, and games played during the war.This publication is a collection of reminiscences in Mont Albert including the Hamilton Street Shopping centre, the trains, how the author spent his time after school, and games played during the war.high street, mont albert, trafalgar street, hamilton street, zetland road, st. georges avenue, brehaut's engineering works, transport, horse-drawn vehicles, mont albert station, railway stations, inglisby road, whitehorse road, boot and bicycle repairer, mont albert shopping centre, (mr) - tarry, (mr) - anderson, hairdresser, grocer, (mr) - harrison, (mr) - murphy, fuel merchant, (mr) - salmon -
Vision Australia
Map - Object, Victorian railways map
A black and white map of Victoria showing the railway lines where mail is transported and the individual towns listed next to the dot that provides location of such. Underneath is written "Map of Victoria showing the localities beyond the suburbs of Melbourne to which library books are sent to blind members. Books are carried over the railways FREE there is no charge to the readers." Through the work of Tilly Aston, braille postage was provided free by the Victorian Railways which greatly assisted the Braille Library in reaching members who resided outside of Melbourne. This map was produced to show the extent of the work by the Victorian Association of Braille Writers and the need for reading materials across the state.Paper of Victorian railway lines mounted in framevictorian association of braille writers, marketing -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph - composite scan
... Station 1918 named transport rail road train Railway station Staff ...Staff on Port Fairy Railway Station 1918 namedcomposite scan from information used in an exhibition on trains. This depicts staff and children transport, rail, road, train, railway station, staff -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph - Photograph/copy
Turning first sod for the raillway in Port Fairy 1887black and white photographic copy of 62.20.042 group of men and boys inn semi circle celebrating the turning of the first sod of soil in the building of the railway line to Port Fairytransport, rail, road, first sod, port fairy, train -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph - Photographic montage
... of the equipment and buildings transport rail road derelict Railway station ...6 photographs of railway station in ruins before removal from siteDocuments the neglect of the railway station in the late 1970’s before the removal of the equipment and buildings6 coloured photographs in collage of dilapidated station transport, rail, road, derelict, railway, station -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph
Location of where the Railway Line Crossed Gipps Street to enter the wharf areaColoured photograph of the corner of Gipps Street and Cox Street where the rail line crossed to the wharftransport, rail, road, gipps street -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, 1970's
... Fairy railway station c.1970 transport rail road carriage ...Train and red carriages Port Fairy railway station c.1970Coloured photograph of train with red ‘rattler’ carriages at Port Fairy Stationtransport, rail, road, carriage, railway station, 1970 -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph
... Street Port Fairy great-ocean-road Koroit Railway Station closed ...Koroit Railway Station closed in 1975 when the rail to Port Fairy was also closed. Unlike the Port Fairy Station the Koroit Station has been restored and is used by local groups and is of course part of the Rail trail from Port Fairy to WarrnamboolBlack and white photograph of Koroit railway station with 6males and a child on platformtransport, rail, road, koroit, railway station -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph
S.s.Casino 1910. The people on the decks are tourists coming from Terang and surrounding areas to spend the day at the seaside. The steamer S.S.CASINO was much loved by the whole Port Fairy community- with the possible exception of some of the fishermen whose boats she ran down! Transport of the large quantities of wool, potatoes, onions, grain, sheep, cattle and other produce grown on the rich lands of the Western District Belfast was served by a plethora of shipping, both sail and steam, but only one of the steamers then in the regular trade (S.S. DAWN) would ever be able to get up the river and reap the cost savings of loading against a wharf. It was not unusual for four steamers to be anchored in the bay at once and for seven or eight different steamers to call during a week. A number of inter-colonial steamers also called to pick up produce for delivery to Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. Production in the Western District was increasing and virtually all of that production had to go through one of the western ports in order to reach markets. By 1882 a meeting 15ft. March, 1882, in the office of auctioneer, J.B. HoIden in Cox Street took action and it was unanimously resolved - that the Belfast & Koroit Steamship Company be formed with a capital of £20,000 in 10,000 shares of £2 each". A number of steamers were offered by letter to the fledgling company, including the new and almost sister ships, CASINO and HELEN NICHOLL. The CASINO was on her delivery voyage from England was due to arrive in Warrnambool to load potatoes for Sydney and, initially, arrangements were made for her to call into Port Fairy for inspection by the BKNS Co directors. She eventually proceeded direct to Warrnambool and the Directors inspected her there. Without hesitation they purchased her even though they had to raise a large bank loan to do so. The CASINO arrived in Port Fairy on Saturday, 29th. July, 1882, steaming triumphantly up the Moyne River, and was greeted by crowds, many of whom had driven in from the surrounding countryside, which gave her “loud ringing English cheers". By 1884 the CASINO could not carry all the cargoes available to her and in December of that year the company purchased the new steamer BELLINGER to provide additional capacity. She helped to open up the intermediate ports of Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell, but the BELLINGER was not really suitable for the trade and she was sold in 1887, leaving the CASINO to operate alone -as she was to do for almost all of the next 45 years. The opening of the railway in 1890 decreased the cargo available to the steamers and the economic depression of the early 1890's worsened the situation. The weak soon began to fall by the wayside and when the Portland & Belfast SN Co. decided to go into liquidation in April 1895, the Belfast & Koroit Company bought the Portland Company's steamer DAWN on advantageous terms, a substantial part of the payment being in BKSN Co shares. The BKNS Co and the Howard Smith Line came into direct head to head competition and nearly forced the BKNS Co out of existence. Cargo dropped to such an extent that in 1899, they reached agreement that only one ship would run and that the ship which ran would pay a weekly amount to the competitor to stay out of the trade. This controlled service ceased in1909, and competition intensified when Howard Smith placed the newly built, larger steamer EUMERALLA on the run. The BKNS Co survived this competition and even prospered during it partly by extending on a more regular basis, the CASINO'S voyages to South Australian ports Port Macdonnell, Kingston, Beachport, Robe and, on occasions Adelaide. There were setbacks when, on 20 October 1924, CASINO went ashore at the Kennett River, near Apollo Bay, and again, in February l929, when she struck a submerged object at Warrnambool and had to be beached. The railways placed great competitive pressure on the small steamship company and this pressure was intensified when the Great Depression slashed the market for Western District produce, BKNS Co struggled on, paying dividends in most years, and the company planned a big celebration for the CASINO'S fiftieth anniversary in the trade on 29th July, 1932. Disaster struck soon after 9 o'clock on the morning of Sunday I0 July, 1932 when the CASINO was lost at Apollo Bay together with the lives of 10 crew members. Black and white photograph of tourists crowded on the decks of s.s.Casino during a sail around the bay for Terang dayship, boat, sea, river, s.s.casino 1910, transport, 1910, wool, onions, grain, sheep, cattle, steam, terang day -
Melton City Libraries
Newspaper, Crosses lay out pledge to remember, 2015
"The outbreak of World War I in August 1914 had an immediate impact on communities across Australia, and it was no different in Melton. Young men began enlisting immediately, and Australia’s initial offer of 20,000 troops was soon exceeded by Victorian enlistments alone. Over the four years of the war, approximately 114,000 Victorians enlisted and around 91,000 servicemen and women were sent overseas. They came not just from Melbourne, but from all over the state; from farms, small towns and suburban areas. They included locals, newly arrived migrants and Indigenous people. The Australian home front was a hive of activity throughout the war, and the Melton community played its part. Following the announcement that Australia was joining the war with Great Britain and its allies on 5 August 1914, the Melton community lost no time in launching into action. A meeting ‘to assist the Red Cross fund’ was held in the Melton Mechanics’ Institute hall on 18 August – just days after the outbreak of the war. Collectors were appointed for each corner of the shire and individual donations were made. A Melton branch of the Australian Red Cross Society was formed in June 1915 and focused its energies on raising funds to purchase material that was used to make clothes for sick and wounded soldiers. A depot was established in Melton to collect clothing and other ‘comfort’ items for the soldiers – including reading material, tobacco, linen, canned foods and soap – and to coordinate the branch’s work and activities. Local cab driver Percival Stubbs volunteered to transport all the packages to the Melton railway station, until he enlisted and departed for the front in 1916. Such were the numbers of people getting involved that branches were also established in Toolern Vale and Rockbank. Regular community events were held to farewell soldiers who were leaving on active service and to welcome those who returned home. Gunner Robert (Bob) Wynne, whose uncle’s family ran the general store in Toolern Vale, was presented with a pair of field glasses (binoculars), a gold watch, inscribed locket and autographed letter by the Toolern Vale community before he set sail for the front in 1916. His mother noted that he ‘sailed away in good spirits with a smile till out of sight’. From June 1915 to June 1919, the Melton Red Cross branch donated 2,156 pairs of socks, 1,357 shirts, 425 kit bags, 251 pillowslips, 224 towels and 121 pairs of pajamas. Countless fundraising events were held, including jumble fairs, concerts and gift evenings. Local schools also encouraged students to contribute through fund-raising and making and collecting comforts for the soldiers. People across the country engaged in similar activities, but Victoria’s rural communities found unique ways of contributing. In Melton, people were encouraged to send rabbits and hares ‘in good condition’ to an exporter in Spencer Street, for export to Belgium ‘for the relief of those suffering". Special Anzac Memorial article featured in the Star Weeklylocal identities, war -
Melton City Libraries
Newspaper, Steaming back into History, 1984
100 years celebration of Melton Railway The Bacchus Marsh and District Telegraph articletransport -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, Melton Railway Bridge, c.1884
... ". Transport Melton Railway Bridge being built across the Werribee ..."The Melton Viaduct, opened in 1886, is of State heritage significance as a very large and visually distinctive wrought iron, lattice girder trestle bridge over the Werribee River (now Melton Reservoir). It comprises 18.3 and 9.1 metre spans, in a generally alternate arrangement, of total length 375 metres, and standing 38 metres over the Werribee River. Wrought iron small section iron was used to build tension trussed trestle legs, which supported four lines of rivetted wrought-iron deck-type double lattice trusses. It has bluestone abutments and pier bases of coursed rock-faced bluestone with drafted margins. The larger half-piers, now usually submerged in the Melton Reservoir have sharp tapered cutwaters and curved coping at the tops. While designed to carry two rail tracks it has only ever been used as a single track line. Despite several alterations to its deck structure, it remains an outstanding example of a lighter structural design employing open metal trestle supports and metal truss girders. The direct Melbourne to Ballarat railway link of which the Melton viaduct was the major engineering work contributed significantly to the history and development of Victoria. This new link reflected Ballarat’s diversifying economy as well as the commercial and political influence of the metropolis. Construction of the bridge, and the associated large workers camp, were extensively photographed, documenting an important episode in local history. The railway enabled the development of new industries in the Melton area, notably the timber industry and a chaff industry of national importance, greatly facilitated the later transition of the Shire from a pastoral to a farming economy, and struck a major blow to Melton township’s era as a wayside town servicing Ballarat road (especially coach) traffic". Melton Railway Bridge being built across the Werribee Rivertransport -
Canterbury History Group
Document - Thematic Environmental History, Built Heritage, 1/05/2012 12:00:00 AM
Thematic Environmental Heritage. Final document produced, after community consultation, for the City of Boroondara by Built Heritage.city of boroondara, back yards, canterbury, churches, cottages, dairies, danks family, elgar survey, exploration, frognall, goldings boot factory, maling road, malone's hotel, maps, masonic lodges, national parks, native plants, outer circle railway line, parks and reserves, police stations, post offices, railways, rochester road, schools, shrublands, soldiers memorial hall, sport, telephone exchanges, theatres, transport, wildlife, canterbury road, land subdivisions -
Truganina Explosives Reserve Preservation Society Inc (TERPS)
Digitised Oral History – Truganina Explosives Reserve - Tape 7 Cliff Gibson, 2018
The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Cliff Gibson, a Williamstown resident, discusses the handling and shipping of explosives in the Port of Melbourne between 1863 to 1962 and the establishment, development and history of Truganina Explosives Reserve. In the interview he mentions the names of the Lighters and Ships used to transport the explosives to and from the Truganina Explosives Reserve. A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,Victoriaexplosives, lighter, sailing lighters, the brig martha, deer park, australian chemical company, nobel explosives company, ici, james scott and company, jacks magazine, william wardell, george thomas chirnside, 1897, 1901, pier, bill grant, james mullins, 2 foot gauge tramway, explosives trucks, explosive magazines, railway explosives vans, queen street, richard rendle holten, ports and harbours, the lighter truganina, the lighter george stone, rose, mary jane, tarniet, derrimut, boonah, deutgam, naval dockyards williamstown, charlie curry, powder barges, cargo net, alma doepel, huia, wongalla, joseph sims, argonaut, maryland, pirie, lady isobel, taranui, point wilson, failee, captain dyson, hector pirie -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, Bridge Road Bridge, Unknown
The Bridge Road Bridge built in 1913 by Sir John Monash for the Shire of Melton. It was built to provide railway station access to the new farming areas.Black and white photo of the bridgetransport, council -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, Melton Viaduct, 1976
... Australian metal truss bridge, after the 1862 Moorabool railway ...The Melton Viaduct, opened in 1886, is one of Australia’s largest early metal bridges. When opened it was the second longest Australian metal truss bridge, after the 1862 Moorabool railway viaduct (396 metres).The Melton Viaduct is a trestle bridge over the Werribee River (now Melton Reservoir)transport -
Melton City Libraries
Pamphlet, Thoroughbred Country, c.1985
"Melton has a long and celebrated history of horse breeding and racing. Draught horses were a crucial aspect of life in the early days of European settlement, and were heavily depended upon for both transport and agricultural labour. Peppercorn trees at the corner of Station and Brooklyn roads have been associated with a horse trough installed there to provide a drink to workhorses carting produce to the chaff mills and railway station south of Melton.20 Breeders, trainers and harness drivers in the area later became such an influential force in the equine industry that this came to be a defining aspect of the district’s identity and reputation.Pioneer of the Victorian horse racing industry and early Rockbank squatter William Cross Yuille was one of the earliest importers of stud racehorses in the district in the 1850s. A leading sports editor and writer, Yuille established bloodstock auctioning agency W. C. Yuille & Co. and was involved in the compilation of the first Australian Stud Book, which ensures the integrity of thoroughbred breeding in Australia. According to early Melton chronicler Alexander Cameron, horse races were first organised in the area by Rockbank farmer William Keating. Keating owned racehorses of his own, and many brought horses from Melbourne for the events, which ‘drew large gatherings’.22 Melton Racing Club meetings were held on the Exford Estate with the permission of H. W. Staughton, who built a small wooden grandstand in 1882. Other early races and sports meetings are said to have been held in the vicinity of the current-day Melton golf course.23 An 1884 article reported that Melton’s ‘race programme … equals any put forth by country towns of far greater size’. Ernest Clarke was another important figure in the early horse racing industry in Melton. He established the Melton Stud in 1902, which bred numerous successful racehorses. Perhaps most notably The Welkin, one of the most famous stallions in Australian horse racing in the early twentieth century. The Welkin sired Gloaming, bred by Clarke at the Melton stud in 1915 and one of Australia’s greatest champion racehorses. During a long and prestigious career in both Australia and New Zealand, Gloaming achieved a triumphant 57 wins out of 67 starts and won a record amount of prize money. Ken Cox purchased the Stockwell Stud in Diggers Rest in 1957 and developed it into one of the largest and most renowned thoroughbred breeders in Australia. With its top-class facilities, international design standards and scientific methods, Stockwell became ‘the flagship of the Victorian breeding industry’.26 As well as racing studs, numerous trotting tracks were established on the flat plains around Melton in the 1960s.27 Other studs to play a leading role in the development of Melton as thoroughbred country were Cornwall Park and Merrywood at Toolern Vale, St John’s Lane Stud at Diggers Rest and Birchwood, Teppo Park and Dreelburn in the far north-east of the shire, near Sunbury. By 1985, thoroughbred horse breeding was such big business in Melton that the shire council adopted the slogan ‘The Heart of Thoroughbred Country’, which was used throughout its promotional material.29 But the slogan contained deeper meaning and was not just about Melton’s great equine industry and thoroughbred champions, the council explained: ‘“Thoroughbred Country” should be seen as a new concept of Melton, as a place where people can achieve the “Thoroughbred” ideal, excellence in all aspects of life’. The aim of the council in promoting ‘The Heart of Thoroughbred Country’, was ‘to instil in present and future residents the feeling that this is a place that is better than others. A place to be proud of’. In 1988, Melton’s champion reinsman Gavin Lang won his 176th race of the season, claiming the national harness racing record for the most wins in a single season.The following year, the first Melton Plate was held at Moonee Valley Racecourse, cementing the district’s importance in the harness racing industry. The inaugural winner was Victorys Phil, owned by local Danny Mullan. By the 1990s, Melton had earned the title of the ‘Home of Harness Racing in Victoria’. State-of-the-art, world-class harness racing facility and entertainment complex Tabcorp Park opened in Melton in 2009. In 2011, the Shire of Melton was home to over 140 registered trainers and over 1,200 horses. The municipality’s continuing leadership and influence in the industry today is a testament to the skills, talents and leadership of the local community over its history".Shire of Melton pamphlet of a map and information of the equine industry in Meltoncouncil -
Melton City Libraries
Archive, Melton Railway Centenary, 1984
... ), and the Sir William Clarke MLC". Transport Items from Melton Railway ..."The Melton South Railway Station was the first stage of the direct Melbourne to Ballarat railway, whose opening in 1884 was attended by dignitaries including the Victorian Premier (Duncan Gillies), Minister for Railways (Alfred Deakin), Solicitor General (James Balfour), and the Sir William Clarke MLC".Items from Melton Railway Centenarytransport -
Melton City Libraries
Book, 'Railway Guide Book Melbourne and Adelaide, 1891
Memories of Train Travel compiled by Wendy Barrie 4/09/2013 Train travel had changed very little from the time my mothers generation to mine. The timetable meant the usual rush to Melton South by bike in her case and if she was running late the train pulled up on the crossing. I was driven to the Station from home past Keith and Mary Gillespie’s house near the Ferris Road rail crossing to Bridge road to Melton South for the 7.32 train. While attending Sunshine High School in 1961 I would meet up with three other students, two of whom I knew from Bacchus Marsh High School days. We usually got into the same compartment on the train, it was a typical country train with a corridor along the side and compartments with a door, roof racks and sometimes heated metal containers for the feet in the winter. Some of the trains came through from Horsham and Ballarat, and the Overland from Adelaide passed through in the evening, we could hear it in the distance from the Ferris Lane home. The carriages had 1st and economy class compartments showing photographs of county scenes and holiday destinations. The engine was the large A class diesel. They are still running to Bacchus Marsh 50 years later, due to the need for the greatly increased number of commuters travelling to work in the city. Sometimes the carriages were pull by a Steam engine, these were a problem in the summer time because the sparks caused fires along the train lines and then quickly spread into the dry grass, crops and stubble. The Motor Train left Spencer Street at 4.23 pm and was the best train for me to catch. Ferris Road was a designated stop and train pulled up on the road crossing. It had steps at the door and rungs to hold while alighting to the ground. The ballast along the tracks was rough and uneven and awkward to land on. The train was painted blue and yellow with the letters VR pained on the front. This saved may parents the afternoon trip to collect me from the Station. On the walk home on the gravel road I would pass Uncle Tom and Aunty May’s house before reaching home. Melva Gillespie was studying at Sunshine Technical School and we sometimes both got off the train at the same time. On other occasions the Motor Train was replaced with a diesel engine with carriages, it was also required to stop and the driver had to be notified in advance. This meant getting into the guards van a Rockbank. It was more difficult alighting from the carriage as the gap was greater and more precarious to swing out and land on the ground. A few times in my last year of study at Melbourne Teachers College in Grattan Street Carlton. I managed to catch the 2.30 pm train to Serviceton, it was express to Melton and was very quick trip. The last train, was the 5.25 pm diesel to Ballarat and I usually caught this train to Melton South Station. On one occasion after being held up on the tram in Bourke street I had to make a mad dash to the platform chasing the train as it was just moving off and yelling to the guard, fortunately I was noticed and the train ground to halt. I scrambled into the end door and took most of the journey home to recover. After the last year at High School I continued to travel on the train, 2 years to Prahran Technical School changing at North Melbourne. There were a lot school children travelling to private schools and some at the primary level and mainly from Bacchus Marsh. Rockbank children also travelled by train from the beginning of their high school years, quite a few went to Sunshine High School. Book provided a timetable and information about the stations the train travels to from Melbourne to Adelaide. transport