The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.The up Sydney Express departing Wodonga on its journey to Melbourne. This photo was taken by famous Wodonga driver George Lynch. The elliptical roof CE van helps date this photo as the first one didn't appear until 1924. Electric headlights started appearing in 1926 and were first utilised on the Sydney and Adelaide expresses which means the photo was taken sometime between 1924 and 1926.railways wodonga, fred rochow, wodonga railwaymen, steam locomotives

ill, p.216.non-fictionA history of the Southern Aurora passenger train and the subsequent Melbourne & Sydney expresses between Melbourne and Sydney from the 1962 to 1993.railroad travel -- new south wales -- sydney -- history, railroad travel -- victoria -- melbourne -- history

Welcome Aboard Intercapital Daylight Express brochure for the rail trip (Sydney to Melbourne) timetable and three maps Sydney to Yass Junction Yass Junction to Albury Albury to Melbourne Bi-fold brochure, blue/red/yellow printing on white papervictorian railways, intercapital express

Typed history of the Newport Railway Workshops. Mentions the men who worked at the workshop, the locomotives that were built there, the different classes of locomotives, the equipment they used, and some of the work they did. Written by G. Donneau (who worked there) and dated 19-3-79.document, victorian railways, the newport story, g donneau, melbourne and geelong railway co, melbourne & hobson's bay united railway co, mr william meikle, solomon mirls, richard speight, sir james allport, midland railway, mr allison dalrymple, phoenix foundry, north melbourne loco depot, beyer peacock & co, mr a e smith, roger barnes, thomas tait, bhp, f j shea, commonwealth ordnance department, james rooks, london times, mr merz, mr mclellan, bendigo north railway workshops, ballarat shops, james taylor, donald mcgregor, julius aurelian sylvester barber, victor lethlean, melbourne institute of technology, prince of wales, queen victoria, w m shannon, sir thomas bent, puffing billy, harold winthrop clapp, francis boardman clapp, melbourne tramway & omnibus co, austral otis engineering co, melbourne university, franklin supply co, e h brownbill, heavy harry, locomotive mausoleum north melbourne, north british locomotive co, walter stinton, thomas smith, peter alexander, peter alexander, robert ferguson, king george v, english railway gazette, harry nunn may, merz & maclellan, arthur lowe, r h roach, w h chapman, l c rolls, g a swift, john mcrae, caledonian society, thistle club, bristol hotel, james taylor, george allibon, walter grimshaw, robert maybin, roy hodge, walter biddle, john ramsbottom, robert hewitt, james green, thomas waldhuter, giles dobney, mr richardson, mr arthur, sydney express, the age, mr speight, david syme, father gapon

Norman "Norm" De Pomeroy worked as an train engine driver. Norman "Norm" De Pomeroy had a Vline XF35 Locomotive named after him "N.W. De Pomeroy". He was once the driver of the Flying Scotsman, Puffing Billy and the Melbourne to Sydney Express.Norman "Norm" De Pomeroy lived in Kent Street, Braybrook.norman 'norm' william de pomeroy

The Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) visited Australia and New Zealand in 1927 primarily to open the provisional Parliament House in Canberra. Their tour also served as a show of gratitude for the sacrifices made by the Dominions during World War I and to strengthen ties between Australia and the British Empire. Part of their journey from Canberra to Melbourne was onboard the Royal Train which travelled through Wodonga and was reported in the Argus. Argus, Wednesday 11 May 1927, page 19 "The Royal train will leave Albury, according to the railway time table arrangements at 9.54 a.m. and Wodonga at 9.20. Principal towns on the route to Melbourne will be passed as follows:- Wangaratta 10.10; Benalla 11.16; Seymour 12.45; and Spencer street 2.50. From Albury the Sydney express which leaves at 20 minutes past 8 o'clock will be used as the pilot train for the Royal train."This image is significant because it captures Wodonga Railway Station during an important Royal Visit to Australia in 1927.Two black and white images of people at the Wodonga Railway Station waiting for the Royal Train carrying the Duke and Duchess of York in 1927. royal visit 1927, duke and duchess of york 1927

The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.Driver George Henry Lynch (standing) with Fireman Jack Anderson. This photo was taken the day after the first regular run of the "Spirit of Progress". The Spirit of Progress was the premier express passenger train on the Victorian Railways in Australia, running from Melbourne to the New South Wales border at Albury, and later through to Sydney. From its introduction in November 1937 until April 1962 the train service ran on 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge line from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Albury, on the New South Wales / Victorian border, where passengers changed to a New South Wales Government Railways train (the Melbourne Limited Express). Following the completion of the standard gauge line between Melbourne and Albury in April 1962 the Spirit of Progress was extended to Sydney. With declining passenger numbers it was decided to combine the Spirit of Progress and Southern Aurora into one train, the Sydney/Melbourne Express. The Spirit of Progress ran for the last time on 2 August 1986. V/Line rostered S301 Sir Thomas Mitchell to haul the last journeys in Victoria.railways wodonga, fred rochow, wodonga railwaymen, george henry lynch, jack anderson, spirit of progress

For residents of Northeast Victoria, railway services have provided a critical link between the area and state capital cities. CountryLink was established in January 1989 under the Transport Administration Act 1988. It was a passenger rail and road service brand that operated in regional areas of New South Wales, and to and from Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne. CountryLink operated rail services a fleet of XPT and locomotive-hauled passenger trains. The Southern region of the Country Link network covered New South Wales districts of Illawarra, South Coast, Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes, Southern Tablelands, Riverina and Sunraysia regions plus the Australian Capital Territory and parts of Victoria. The Government of Victoria contributed to the provision of these services. Services ran along the Main South line from Sydney Central station to Albury before continuing on the North East line to Southern Cross station in Melbourne. The Sydney/Melbourne Express ceased in November 1993 and was replaced by an XPT in November 1993 In December 1994, a daylight service to Melbourne resumed by extending the Riverina XPT from Albury. In July 2013, CountryLink was merged with the intercity services of CityRail to form NSW TrainLink.These items are connected to a major transportation system in eastern Australia.A collection of uniform items and memorabilia from the CountryLink rail service. They include a tie and tiepin, staff badge and lanyard, cups and a bag with CountryLink logo.Tag on tie: Stylecore Corporate Wear Australia/ Polyester/ Made in England On all items: CountryLinkcountrylink, australian railways, countrylink uniforms

The Spirt of Progress was designed under Victorian Railways Commissioner Harold Clapp, who oversaw every detail. The train was built entirely at the Newport Workshops using Australian materials and labour. The Spirt of Progress entered service on the 25th November 1937. It was launched as Australia’s first fully streamlined, air‑conditioned, all‑steel express train service. The key innovations of the train included the full blue-and-gold livery with winged VR monogram, air‑conditioning, sound‑insulated walls, double‑glazed windows, a luxurious parlour observation car, dining car, richly finished timber interiors and a hostess on board, a first in Australian rail travel. The service initially operated Melbourne to Albury as the premier Victorian Railways service. In 1962, the Melbourne–Sydney standard gauge opened and The Spirit of Progress service was extended to Sydney, becoming the prestige overnight intercapital train. The former steam locomotives were replaced by diesel locomotives. The Spirit of Progress made its final run on 2nd August 1986 and the service was replaced by the more modern but less ceremonially named Sydney – Melbourne Express and later the XPT.The Spirt of Progress was a popular slight for the local Albion, Keilor & Sunshine North residents as it travelled along the Melbourne to Sydney trainline, blowing its whistle at the various road and pedestrian crossings and spectators along the route.5852.01 - The Spirit of Progress Train 1985 42217 5852.02 - The Spirit of Progress Train 1985 42217the spirit of progress train, sunshine, harold clapp, newport workshops, weston langford

The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.At Spencer Street Station on the last “Southern Aurora". The locomotive was G516. Driver Tom Symonds was based in Wodonga from 1955 to 1987. He served as AFULE Branch Secretary from 1962 to 1963 and 1966 to 1971. G Class Locomotives - G Class locomotives were primarily intended for hauling freight services, they were also used on passenger trains such as the “Southern Aurora” and the “Intercapital Daylight”. Locomotive G516 came into service in December 1984. After a series of contractual changeovers between companies it was transferred to QR National and is still in operation, The "Southern Aurora", the overnight Sydney-Melbourne express, was one of the icons of Australian railways in the 1960s and 1970s. Uniquely in Australia, it conveyed only First Class passengers, all of whom were accommodated in air-conditioned sleeping cars, all equipped with showers. The Southern Aurora was introduced when part of Australia's rail gauge problem was solved with the construction of a new standard gauge line. The new line was a 317 km long line running from Albury, NSW, parallel to the existing broad gauge line to Melbourne, connecting Australia's two largest cities by standard gauge. The Southern Aurora consisted of 14 stainless steel cars: a luggage van, a power van, a dining car, a lounge car, and ten First Class Sleeping Cars. The total capacity was 198 passengers. For a number of years, there were no intermediate stops for passengers, and the train had the longest non-stop run in Australia, 430 km from Goulburn to Albury. Dining car crews changed at Goulburn and Albury, and locos were changed at Albury. The first train ran from Sydney on Thursday 14th April 1962, with full regular services starting from both Sydney and Melbourne on Monday 16th April 1962. The classic S Class locomotive was used to haul the early Southern Aurora trains. From 1984 it was also hauled by the new G Class locomotives, On the morning of 7th February 1969, the southbound Southern Aurora collided head-on with a northbound goods near Violet Town, Victoria. Nine passengers and crew were killed, and seven carriages were destroyed. A steady decline in patronage saw the withdrawal of the service in August 1986. At top of locomotive "G516". In centre of locomotive, "V" insignia of VLinerailways wodonga, fred rochow, wodonga railway men, g class locomotives, the southern aurora

Photographer notations on slide: "Vice Regal visit to Zoo B42" Not published. Description: A group of men and one woman all dressed in hats and overcoats stand by a wire fence while watching an emu. Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: On 25 June 1934, new Victorian Governor, His Excellency Lord Huntingfield and his wife Lady Huntingfield made an official visit to the Melbourne Zoological Gardens in order to grant his patronage to the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation Society. During the visit, zoo director Mr. Andrew Wilkie introduced them to some of the zoo’s inhabitants, including an emu. After the First World War, many returned soldiers took up the Government’s offer of land in the Soldier Settlement Scheme. Most of the veterans had little or no farming experience and much of the land offered was of poor quality, with blocks often too small to be viable. Many of the settlers had ongoing physical and mental injuries from the war. The Western Australian government allocated land to 5000 former soldiers but by 1929, one quarter of the men had already abandoned their land, unable to make a living. Not only was the world economy struggling with the Great Depression, but the settlers also had to contend with plummeting wheat and wool prices, crippling drought and rabbit infestation. The Scullin Government (Oct 1929-Jan 1932) had promised subsidies to the Western Australian farmers if they increased their wheat crops but were unable to pass the legislation in the Senate. The new Lyons Government (Jan 1932-April 1939) abandoned the legislation and the subsidies were never paid, bringing calls from Western Australia of secession from Australia. In October 1932, a deputation of soldier settlers from the Campion wheatbelt region in Western Australia, petitioned Commonwealth Minister for Defence, Western Australian Senator Sir George Pearce, for assistance. A mob of 20,000 emus were migrating to the coast after breeding and were gathering along the eastern side of the Number 1 Rabbit Proof Fence, attracted to the ripening crops and the dams the farmers had built. They were heading towards Campion, 303 kilometres east of Perth, eating and trampling the wheat, destroying the fences and letting the rabbits in. Having witnessed firsthand the effectiveness of machine guns in killing people in war, the former soldiers thought the guns would be ideal for killing emus. Sir George, wanting to demonstrate that his government was sympathetic to the settlers and hoping to quell Western Australian succession talk, agreed. However, he stipulated that no expense would be incurred by the Commonwealth Government and only active military personnel could use the machine guns. The farmers had to pay for the ammunition, food and accommodation for the military for the length of the operation. The cost for the ammunition was £50 for 10,000 rounds. Sir George also felt the operation would provide excellent target practice for the soldiers! The operation was headed by Major Gwynydd Purves Wynn-Aubrey Meredith, 1887-1975, of the Seventh Heavy Battery of the Royal Australian Artillery, and assisted by Sergeant S. McMurray and Gunner J. O'Halloran. They were equipped with two American-designed Lewis light machine guns and 10,000 rounds. Each magazine held 47 rounds of ammunition and the gun was capable of firing 500 to 600 rounds per minute with effective firing range of 800 metres. A cinematographer from British Movietone News accompanied the soldiers in order to record what was expected to be not only an easy victory but also useful propaganda for both the military and the Lyons Government. Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae, meaning New Holland Racer) is a species of long-necked flightless bird endemic to Australia. The Tasmanian and the dwarf King and Kangaroo Island subspecies were hunted to extinction after the European settlement of Australia. It is the second largest bird in the world after the ostrich, standing up to 1.9 metres tall and weighing up to 50 kilograms. The Emu has long, powerful legs with three forward facing toes and is the only bird with calf muscles. It is able to jump 2.1 metres into the air and run 50 kilometres per hour. It communicates by drumming and booming through an inflatable neck sac which can be heard up to two kilometres away. Along with its tough hide and a body more feathers than flesh, the emu can be a tricky target. Emus had been a protected native species until 1922, when the government changed their status to “vermin” in response to the emus breaking down fences and destroying crops. Major Meredith told the press that Colonel Oswald V. Hoad of the 1st Cavalry Division NSW had especially requested he send 100 emu skins to replenish the plumage on his Light Horsemen’s hat tops. On the first day of the Emu War, 2 November 1932, Major Meredith spotted a mob of emus out of range of the guns, so he asked the farmers to use their vehicles to drive the emus towards the fence and the guns. The panicked birds split into small groups, kicking up the dust and scattering every which way. Only six were killed, though some were wounded. After that, the emus became very wary of humans. On 4 November, Major Meredith staged a dawn ambush at a dam. As 1000 emus approached to drink, the soldiers opened fire, killing 12 emus. After reloading, the gun jammed and the emus dispersed in all directions, and were not sighted again that day. The West Australian newspaper reported on 4 November 1932 that, “The emus have proved that they are not so stupid as they are usually considered to be. Each mob has its leader, always an enormous black-plumed bird standing fully six-feet high, who keeps watch while his fellows busy themselves with the wheat. At the first suspicious sign, he gives the signal, and dozens of heads stretch up out of the crop. A few birds will take fright, starting a headlong stampede for the scrub, the leader always remaining until his followers have reached safety.” In a later attempt, they mounted a gun onto the bed of a truck in order to chase and mow down the birds. However the truck couldn’t drive fast enough over the rough terrain and it was too bumpy to fire the gun accurately. The birds easily outran the truck except for one hapless emu who faltered while being chased and fell under the truck, its body wedging in the steering gear, causing the driver to crash the truck, and bringing down half a chain of the rabbit proof fence. RSPCA inspector Mr. Arthur Austin arrived with a rifle and knife in order to finish the work of the Lewis guns and dispatch injured emus. He said that while his society was sympathetic to the stricken settlers, he was anxious that wounded birds should not be left to suffer. Major Meredith told the inspector, “What speed can you run? You have to be better than Peter Pan if you want to catch wounded emus that make for the scrub.” (Racehorse “Peter Pan” had won the 1932 Melbourne Cup a few weeks earlier.) The commentator of the British Movietime newsreel uses a jocular tone to optimistically proclaim, “The scouts [emus] of the advancing army have keen eyesight, and in order to get close to the main body, our lads have to do some real stalking, with the enemy watching events through their periscopes raised up over the heads of corn... Instead of the birds ruining the farmers, tables are turned, there will be no more damage down here for many a day to come once the enemy is eliminated.” Emus proved tougher adversaries than expected, barely breaking stride even when badly injured from machine gun bullets, and the suspicious emus soon learnt to stay out of range of the men and their guns. Meanwhile, in the eastern states concern was being expressed about the cruelty of machine-gunning the native birds. Senator James Guthrie UAP of Victoria suggested that there must be “more humane, if less spectacular methods” of coping with the pests. People wrote letters to the newspapers to express their dismay at the inhumane methods used. R.F. Bellchambers from Humbug Scrub, 25 November 1932, lamented that, “At the present rate of extinctions, it will shortly be necessary to go to the Museum to see the remains of our fauna.” The Murchison Times published a letter on 16 November 1932 from “Clay Pan Joe”: “War on Emus. Slaughter of innocent birds would be more appropriate... The birds may be a nuisance and it may be necessary to destroy them, but why cause so much suffering amongst these innocent birds.” E.S. Playford of Norton’s Summit wrote to The Advertiser, 22 November 1932, that “...habitation on the earth would be impossible without bird life. Therefore, it is unwise to say that any bird is useless. Is sentiment dying? Are we so keen on personal gain that our lovely and unique birds have to be ruthlessly slaughtered in thousands and their bodies left rotting in the sun?” In Sydney, picture palace patrons expressed “considerable concern” after viewing the Movietone News newsreel of emus fleeing from the barrage of machine-guns, and wounded emus in the fields in Campion. The press had a field day, dubbing it the “The Emu War” and joking that the “Chicago method” was being used against the feathered foe. The Daily News newspaper published a cartoon depicting the emus outrunning and outsmarting the soldiers. In Parliament NSW Senator James Dunn called Sir George the “Minister for the Emu War”. Labor member Mr. Rosevear, midst great laughter, asked if the minister would consider declaring an armistice and withdrawing his troops from the Western Front. Prime Minister Joe Lyons was asked if medals would be struck for those taking part in the war. Labor parliamentarian Mr. A.E. Green declared any medals should go to the emus who had “won every round so far”. With the embarrassing press coverage and poor results, Sir George ordered a stop to the project on 9 November, and Major Meredith and the soldiers departed for Perth. The WA Premier Sir James Mitchell and the Campion farmers demanded they return, citing the continued destruction of crops and fences by the emus. Major Meredith and his two gunners were allowed to return on 13 November and seemingly having learnt from their previous experiences, had slightly more success this time killing emus. The operation finally finished on 10 December with Major Meredith reporting “definite kills” of 986 emus for 9860 rounds of ammunition, coincidentally and conveniently exactly 10% of the number of rounds used. A further 2500 birds were said to have died from their injuries and although this is a disputed figure, even if accurate, the ratio of rounds expended to emu casualties was thought too high to justify continuing. The operation barely caused a dint in the marauding mob of 20,000 emus. “There’s only one way to kill an emu”, one of the party bitterly remarked: “Shoot him through the back of the head when his mouth is closed or through the front of his mouth when his mouth is open. That’s how hard it is.” Australian ornithologist Dominic L. Serventy noted that “The machine-gunners’ dreams of point blank fire into serried masses of Emus were soon dissipated. The Emu command had evidently ordered guerrilla tactics, and its unwieldy army soon split up into innumerable small units that made use of the military equipment uneconomic. A crestfallen field force therefore withdrew from the combat area after about a month.” Major Meredith expressed the greatest of respect for the enemy. He said, “If we had a military division with the bullet-carrying capacity of these birds, it would face any army in the world. They could face machine guns with the invulnerability of tanks. They are like Zulus, whom even dum dum bullets would not stop." The Major’s official report stated that there were no human casualties in “The Emu War.” Emus are considered the victors of “The Great Emu War.” Western Australian farmers requested military assistance in 1934, 1943 and 1948, including using bombs, but the government refused. The bounty system instigated in 1923 continued, with farmers using rifles against their fleet-footed foe, with 57,034 bounties for dead emus claimed in six months in 1934 in Western Australia alone. 284,704 emus were killed in Western Australia between 1945 and 1960. The other most effective defence against the emus was the construction of a robust, vermin proof fence spanning over a long distance. Emus were formally protected in 1999 by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. It’s estimated there are between 625,000 to 725,000 wild emus in Australia in 2024. An emu and a kangaroo feature on Australia’s coat of arms, holding up a shield illustrated with symbols of the six states. The animals symbolise the nation moving forward as neither animal can walk backwards. Campion is now a ghost town. A book about the operation, “Letters from the Emu War” by J.A. Bryden was published in 2023 by Playtime Books. In 2024, an Australian film called “The Emu War” was released, starring Damian Callinan and Luke McGregor. Andrew Arthur Wellesley Wilkie, 1853-1948, was Director of the Melbourne Zoo from 1923 to 1936 and was associated with the zoo for 70 years. He first worked as a horticultural assistant to Government botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller at the Botanical Gardens at the age of 13, along with his older brother David. One of Andrew’s jobs was to capture moths for the National Herbarium. In 1857, a group of prominent Melburnians assembled at St. Patrick’s Hall to form the Zoological Society of Victoria, with the aim of introducing animals and plants from overseas. It was conceived, “For the purposes of science and for that of affording the public the advantages of studying the habits of the animal creation in properly arranged zoological gardens.” The Victorian Government granted 32 acres (13 hectares) of land to the Zoological Society at the southern end of Richmond Paddock on the opposite bank to the Botanical Gardens. (This is where AAMI Stadium and Collingwood Football Club now stand.) In 1861, the Zoological Society of Victoria was renamed The Acclimatisation Society of Victoria. Unfortunately the Yarra River frontage was damp, swampy and subject to flooding, so the animals were briefly housed at the Botanical Gardens until in 1862, the City of Melbourne donated 55 acres (22 hectares) of land at Royal Park for the fledgling zoo. Baron von Mueller secured employment at Royal Park for Andrew and David and they helped to lay out the gardens, plant trees and take care of a collection of deer, pheasants, hares and partridges. Initially the zoo was used for the acclimatisation of animals recovering from the long voyage to Australia and for breeding them for sport. In 1872, the zoo bought two lions, a leopard and a cheetah that had been seized from circus showmen Keith and Phillips when they were unable to pay the bill of butcher Mr T K Bennet of Bourke Street. The first zoo director, Mr. Albert Le Souef, negotiated with captains of ships to buy animals at overseas ports they visited and soon a multitude of exotic species arrived, including a ten-year-old Indian elephant in 1878. In 1923, after being head keeper for some years, Andrew was appointed director of the zoo. By 1933, the zoo had 110 different species of animals, 200 species of birds and 72 species of reptiles under Andrew’s care. He had personally planted all but six trees and laid out the garden beds. As director he lobbied authorities for funds to build more humane enclosures for the animals. In June 1928, Table Talk magazine wrote of Andrew Wilkie: “Up at the Zoo there is a humble gentleman who is a lion among the lions, who knows the proper specific to employ when the boa constrictor has chilblains, and who is a friend and confidant of Queenie the elephant. His fount of zoological lore has never been plumbed. It is bottomless, like his good fellowship and geniality. Every day he may be seen somewhere in the grounds of that growing sanctuary for the strange and arresting fauna and creeping things of the world, and I assure you as one who is privy to his passion that that area and its inhabitants are rarely out of his thoughts.” Andrew retired from the zoo in 1936 at the age of 83 and in 1948 died at his home in Brunswick aged 94. He and his wife Josephine had six children. The Victorian Acclimatisation Society was founded in 1861 by Edward Wilson, 1813-1878, then owner and editor of The Argus newspaper. He said that Australian indigenous animals were practically useless, providing only “a little sport and an occasional meal”. The Society believed that Australia’s plants and animals were vastly inferior to those in Europe. They wanted to introduce and acclimatise to Victoria “all innoxious animals, birds, fishes, insects and vegetables, whether useful or ornamental” for sport and for the table, and to spread indigenous animals and plants from the colony around the world. Their motto was “if it lives, we want it”. The Society was primarily responsible for introducing sparrows, starlings, sambar and hog deer, ostriches, brown trout, blackberries, and carp to the Murray River. They released the European songbirds, thrush and blackbird to quell the homesickness of British settlers. The Society also sent Australian animals like platypus, echidnas, kangaroos and koalas to Europe for scientific and novelty purposes. Thomas Austin, a wealthy sheep farmer of Barwon Park, Winchelsea (property now owned by the National Trust) was a member and in 1859 he introduced hares, blackbirds, thrushes and partridges onto his property. He is probably best known for introducing 24 breeding rabbits onto his estate as game for shooting parties. Thomas quipped, “The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting." In 2022, genomic data confirmed that Australia’s feral rabbit population is entirely descended from these rabbits. Biological control has brought the rabbit population down from an estimated high of 10 billion rabbits in the 1920s to approximately 200 million today, inhabiting 70% of Australian landmass (5.3 million square kilometres). In 1872, the Acclimatisation Society was renamed The Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria and they focused on importing exotic animals for display purposes to the zoo. In 1937, the Royal Acclimatisation Society of Victoria was recreated as the Zoological Board of Victoria with a focus on research of native animals threatened with extinction. In an editorial for The Argus newspaper, 16 March 1856, Edward Wilson lamented: "...this country has been shamelessly stolen from the blacks. Had they been like the New Zealanders or the North American Indians, we should have bought their land, and supplied them with the means of living when we took it... In less than twenty years we have nearly swept them off the face of the earth. We have shot them down like dogs. In the guise of friendship we have issued corrosion sublimate in their damper, and consigned whole tribes to the agonies of an excruciating death. We have made them drunkards, and infected them with disease which has rotted the bones of their adults, and made such few children as are born amongst them a sorrow and a torture from the very instant of their birth. We have made them outcasts on their own land, and are rapidly consigning them to entire annihilation. There are but a few of them left, comparatively. This is what we would do for that few. We would feed and clothe every one of them.” [Note: this last sentence is italicized in the original newspaper article text]. Lord Huntingfield, (William Charles Arcedeckne Vanneck) 1883-1969, Governor of Victoria 1934-1939, was a British Conservative Party politician and the first ever Australian-born Governor of an Australian state (although he was always considered British). He was patron of the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria and was acting Governor-General for six months during the absence of Lord Gowie in 1938. Lady Huntingfield (née Margaret Eleanor Crosby) 1884-1943, his American-born wife showed great interest in social welfare and the advancement of women and children. She was president of the City Newsboys Society and Patroness of the Girls Friendly Society. In 1937, rose breeder Alister Clark named a yellow hybrid tea rose for her. In 1940, the City of Melbourne opened the Lady Huntingfield Free Kindergarten in North Melbourne, now the Lady Huntingfield Early Learning and Family Services Centre. Lady Huntingfield died in London in 1943 after her house was bombed during a German airstrike. The Lady Huntingfield Memorial Scholarship was established after the City of Melbourne raised £1000 in a public appeal conducted in her memory for students undertaking a Social Work degree at the University of Melbourne. It is awarded annually to this day. The Queen Victoria Hospital named a bed in her honour. References: VICE-ROYALTY GREETS THE KING OF BEASTS AT THE ZOO. (1934, June 26). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved August 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204818472 Prominent Personalities ANDREW WILKIE (1928, June 7). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939), p. 15. Retrieved August 29, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146562949 'Edward Wilson (journalist)', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Wilson_(journalist) 'Thomas Austin (pastoralist)', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Austin_(pastoralist) 'The Acclimatisation Society was driven by misguided ideals about 'fixing nature' in Australia', ABC News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-04/acclimatisation-society-introduced-species-history-listen/101588262?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web THE ABORIGINES. (1856, March 16). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 5. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4833244 WAR ON EMUS. (1932, November 4). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 12. Retrieved September 29, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32588972 'The Great Emu War: how it started and who won', ABC Australia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1wA0PKeJqc Advertising (1932, November 25). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved October 26, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32584578 Emu Chasers Must Outstrip Peter Pan (1932, November 9). The Labor Daily (Sydney, NSW : 1924 - 1938), p. 5. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237042749 WAR ON EMUS (1932, November 22). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), p. 18. Retrieved October 15, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73997254 WAR ON EMUS. (1932, October 28). The Labor Daily (Sydney, NSW : 1924 - 1938), p. 6. Retrieved October 24, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237046601 EMU WAR (1932, December 3). Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 - 1956), p. 7. Retrieved October 24, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75626301 Machine Gun Offensive Against Emus. (1932, November 10). Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), p. 3 (PICTORIAL SECTION). Retrieved October 24, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37766670 A THOUSAND BIRDS IN LUCK. (1932, November 10). Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), p. 28. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37766849 New Strategy In A War On The Emu (1953, July 5). The Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW : 1949 - 1953), p. 13. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18516559 This is a nice emu-that was! (1932, November 5). The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), p. 9 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved September 30, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82878309 LOCAL AND GENERAL (1932, November 16). The Murchison Times (Cue, WA : 1924 - 1937), p. 2. Retrieved October 14, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article257500260 Taking Him for a Ride! (1932, October 13). The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), p. 6 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved September 30, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article83717338 'The Emu War', History Nuggets, https://historynuggets.squarespace.com/nuggets/2018/4/21/the-emu-war New Strategy In A War On The Emu (1953, July 5). The Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW : 1949 - 1953), p. 13. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18516559 'This is the story of how Australia went to war with emus and lost', First Dog on the Moon, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/26/this-is-the-story-of-how-australia-went-to-war-with-emus-and-lost Photographer notations on slide: "Vice Regal visit to Zoo B42"emu wars, governors, melbourne zoo, city of melbourne, 1930-1939, hunting, lord huntingfield, lady huntingfield, royal park, animals, wildlife

The spotted quail thrust is a heavily patterned bird native to Australia. It expresses many calls, including a long, very high-pitched "seeeeeep” and a long sequence of doubled whistles, but the main call in inaudible to humans. Due to their heavy camoflague pattern, they are often very difficult to observe. They are often found on the forest floor. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century. The spotted quail thrush is characterised by yellow and brown tones with black spots on the flanks. The females (10056) have a yellow ochre-coloured throat patch. This particular quail has lost its tail feathers. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its leg.Label: 43a. / Spotted Ground Thrush / See Catalogue, page 15. /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, spotted quail thrust, quail

This photograph depicts a large group of men in their work clothing situated in front of a large bank of earth. They are identified as miners working in an unidentified location in Australia. This photograph was taken by photographer Walter Thwaites sometime during the period of 1865-1908, likely c.1870. It is unsure where this image was taken since Thwaites travelled a lot over his photography career and the photograph is not annotated with this information. In addition, the identities of the men in the photograph are also unknown. These men are photographed in front of a large bank of earth where they had presumably been mining for gold or other precious metals. The men, with the exception of four, are wearing wide brimmed hats to protect their faces from the sun. They are also wearing loose fitting white shirts which are often worn beneath a darker coloured vest. They wear pale coloured work pants and boots. The men are mostly clean shaven with the exception of the moustache and a couple of beards. Two of the men have pipes in their mouth. Their clothing is basic and much less dramatic than the outfits worn by the gold diggers of the 1852 gold rush. These men, by wearing similar outfits, are expressing a sense of comradery or equality between them. It is likely that they are from the same, or similar, social status. They have an air of independence and share social equality in their stance and clothing. Walter William McLean Thwaites (1840-1908) was a professional photographer born in Sydney, Australia. He learnt the craft in his father's Hobart studio, but later embarked on his own solo career and toured every existing Australian colony between 1860 to 1888. The Thwaites family were a long line of photographers and artists with Thwaites' father Walter WIlliam Thwaites Sr working as an artist and photographer in Australia after moving from England in 1834. Walter Thwaites Sr's father, also named Walter Thwaites, was a British miniature portrait artist.Images, like this one, of Australian gold rush history can reveal important information about the social and environmental impact of this period. This image depicts over 30 diggers standing in front of a bank of earth and therefore, this image has the capacity to reveal or support significant information for researchers studying the fashion and social status of diggers in Australia in approximately 1870. It can also provide information on the landscape of Australia in this period and the impact of mining for gold on both society and the Australian landscape. The Burke Museum is home to a substantial collection of Australian mining photographs which can be used to gain a deeper understanding into life on the gold fields, technology used in mining, the miners themselves and the impact of the gold digging on the environment.Sepia toned rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper and mounted on board.Reverse: 1997.208 / MINERS. / W. Thwaites / Photography /australia, australian photography, photography, miners, gold rush, australian landscape, diggers, walter thwaites, thwaites photography, w. thwaites photography, social history

1917 Australian Federal Election. The incumbent Nationalist Party, led by Prime Minister Billy Hughes, defeated the opposition Labor Party led by Frank Tudor in a landslide. At this election, Hughes had abandoned West Sydney, which he won with 75.3% of the vote as the Labor candidate at the previous election in 1914, and moved to Bendigo instead, winning it as the Nationalist candidate. Sourced from Wikipedia.Letter of appreciation from William (Billy) Hughes addressed to Mr. Rule. Cream coloured paper with Commonwealth of Australia letterhead with coat of Arms. Dated Melbourne 8th May 1917. The letter expresses appreciation for the support of Gilbert Rule for the National Party campaign supporting Mr Hughes. Brown paper envelope is addressed to Gilbert Rule Esq. Bendigo. Printed on thr letter - On His Majesty's Service. Commonwealth of Australia Prime Minister's Department. It has a red 1 Penny stamp. gilbert rule, billy hughes, national party

This apron is one of several linen and clothing items that were made and belonged to Mrs. Eliza Towns and donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. Eliza was born Eliza Gould in 1857 in South Melbourne (Emerald Hill) and in 1879 married Charles Towns. In the early 1880's they moved to Nhill in western Victoria and remained there for the rest of their married life. Charles was a jeweller and later became an accountant and for many years was involved with the Shire Council, the local show committee (A & P Society), the Hospital Committee and the Board of the local newspaper (the Nhill Free Press). They had three children and lived a life that would be regarded as comfortably "middle class". Eliza probably had a treadle sewing machine and would have made many of her own clothes - adding her own handmade embroidered or crocheted decorative trim. In March 1915 Eliza travelled to San Francisco to visit her son, James. She went by train to Melbourne ("a pleasant journey on the up express') and the next day caught the express train to Sydney. She noted in her letters home that a " number of young men were going to Sydney to enlist but they had to stop in the corridors most of the way as there was no room for them to sit down". She spent the night on the train and arrived in Sydney the next morning and on the following day she boarded the R.M.S. "Moana" (a steamer which took about twenty-four days to reach San Francisco). She returned from Vancouver about five months later on board the "Manuka". It is very likely Eliza took this "Travelling Apron" with her on her travels. Eliza was travelling by herself and had no one to help her with her dress or her hair. "Travelling Aprons" (also known as Toilet Aprons or Tourist Aprons) were designed with different sized pockets for holding a lady's toiletries - hairbrush, hair pins, comb and sometimes even soap and a powder puff. This allowed the owner, when travelling and getting dressed in small places such as an overnight train compartment or a ship's cabin, to have all her requirements at hand without needing to search for them or have them roll onto the floor. Some of the pockets are finished with buttoned flaps to keep the items in place and when not in use, the apron could be hung up or rolled up and put away. Articles about the "Traveller's Apron" appeared in numerous Women's columns in Australian newspapers in the early 20th century - often with instructions and sometimes a pattern. In the "Age" on Sat 5th October 1907 in a column titled "Feminine Facts and Fancies" the author wrote "No man can appreciate the difficulties of dressing in a "wobbly" train or trying to do one's hair while a ship is weathering a storm". A year earlier (Saturday 24th March 1906) in the same column, the author wrote "... you have to spend nights in a train... forever struggling to dress yourself in a wretched little lavatory. You know how your hairpins and combs jump all over the place ... a train is always at its liveliest when you're trying to do your hair. My travelling apron saved me many a rage."This item is an example of the needlework skills of women in the early 20th century - combining machine stitching with hand embroidery to personalise and embellish a practical domestic object. It is also an excellent (and rare) example of an early 20th century innovation that helped solve the difficulties of privacy and convenience that many women experienced at a time when travel was becoming more accessible to them. A half apron, made of ivory linen with two waist ties and seven pockets. Along the top are two smaller pockets with triangular, buttoned flaps labelled "Hairpins" and "Nailbrush" and one larger unlabelled pocket. Underneath are two larger pockets labelled "Brush & Comb" and "Work" and two unlabelled narrow pockets. The seams are machine stitched and the pockets are outlined with hand embroidered feather stitch. The labels on the pockets are embroidered in stem stitch."Hairpins" / "Nailbrush" / "Brush and Comb" / "Work"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, nhill, eliza towns, apron, travelling apron, tourist apron, textiles, toilet apron, sewing, embroidery, travel, warrnambool, great ocean road, trains, ships, moana, manuka, feather stitch, stem stitch, fashion, handmade, clothing, charles towns, needlework

This tin is Part of the collection for A.J. Roddy VX8007Small tin for carrying tobacco, belonging to A.J. Roddy. Inside Lid: Every tin of Genuine/State Express/ ready rubbed/ Emblem/ Ardith Fine Cut/has the name ARDITH/ printed on the paper lining./ Outside of tin has a list attached to it: Melbourne; Colombo /Elquatara,Palestine/ Egypt. North Africa / Greece. Yogoslavia / Austria. Italy / Emgland. Panama / Honolulu. New Zealand / Sydney. 1940-45.of, australia, ww11, war, middle, east, prisoner, roddy, vx8007, tobacco, europe, a j blue

Red tobacco tin 'State Express ready rubbed Virginia tobacco Ardath Fine Cut.' 1 oz. Net weight when packed. Tin manufactured by W.D. and H.O. Wills Australia Ltd. Sydney. This tin contains small paper clippings from 1940's and 1950's pertaining to Councilor G. A. Pethard. Articles from 'The Bendigo Advertiser.person, individual, mr. george pethard, lydia chancellor, collection, tin, metal, pethard family, mr. george pethard, male, individual, bendigo, smoking accessories, bendigo mayor, person, personal effects

ill, p.160.non-fictionA history of the express sleeper passenger train the Southern Aurora between Melbourne & Sydney from 1962 to 1986.railroads - passenger trains - australia, railroads - southern aurora - australia

ill, maps, p.75.non-fictionA tribute to steam locomotive operation on The Sydney - Newcastle Express on the New South Wales Railways.railroad steam locomotives - new south wales - history, railroads - passenger trains - australia

ill, maps, p.144.non-fictionFrom the vast emptiness of the Nullarbor Plain, on the longest straight rail line in the world, to the twisting tracks of outback Queensland and the rainforests of the north, Australia's railways offer a rich variety of contrasting experiences. Taking the train is an ideal way to explore the continent in comfort and style. Features include: fully revised fifth edition- updated and expanded: with seventy maps including the new Ghan extension to Darwin, rail travel for all budgets--from the five-star luxury of the Great South Pacific Express to economy sleeping berths for budget-conscious travellers, plus full details of the Austrailpass and other passes and ticket bargains, railway route guides with seventy rail maps--all main lines and branches, what to look out for when travelling, and where to stop, railway history--and the battle for the survival of rail in Australia, city guides and maps--the best sights, recommended hotels, and restaurants in many stops along the lines; with extensive sections on Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, and Canberra.railroad travel -- australia -- guidebooks, railroad travel -- australia

Hoda Afshar's 2018 body of work, "Remain," offers a forthright and unapologetic political commentary on Australia's border protection policy, shedding light on its impact on human rights. This collection comprises a film and a series of photographic portraits that chronicle the stories of stateless men who chose to stay on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, even after the closure of the immigration detention centre in October 2017. In the accompanying film, the experiences of these men are conveyed through episodic fragments, narrated with a mix of lyrical and brutal voiceovers. Some express themselves through poetry, others through song, while some recall the riots and suicides. Set against the backdrop of a picturesque landscape featuring lush foliage and crystal-clear water—a stark contrast to the harsh realities described—the emotional impact of the work is intensified. It creates a simultaneous sense of beauty and horror. The photographic portraits of the same individuals are equally compelling. Positioned prominently against a dark backdrop, these subjects assert their presence, emphasizing their right to be seen. The deliberate simplicity of these portraits serves as a powerful political statement, countering the invisibility imposed by the act of detention. Afshar metaphorically acknowledges the struggles faced by these men, depicting them contending with the elements—fire, water, and earth—yet never questioning their inherent humanity. Here we see Behrouz Boochani, the Kurdish Iranian writer whose memoir ‘No Friend but the Mountains: Writing from the Manus Prison’ won the Victorian Premier’s Prize for Literature and the Prize for Non-Fiction in 2019. Boochani was held in detention on Manus Island from 2013 until the centre’s closure in 2017 and was forced to remain on the island in a stateless condition.

A piece of poesy in Quinn's own lyrical style expressing his feeling from within Tyrell's bookshop Sydney c. 1940. His final published work on the same subject varies with this version.Another version of Roderic Quinn's poetry written to eulogise Tyrell's Bookshop in Sydney. While differing from the final published work this contributes to the ability of researchers to study the poet's development of this theme. Quinn is an important Australian poet. He also regularly wrote short stories for the Bulletin.Signed Roderic Quinn Lower right, beneath handwritten poem.poetry, roderic quinn, manuscript, sydney, tyrell's

How Churchill's Desertion Of Curtin Changed Australia Reluctant Nationwinston churchill, john curtin

The Battle of El Alamein refers to two major battles in 1942 fought in the Western Desert of Egypt during the Second World War. Together, they marked the turning point of the North African campaign and one of the most decisive Allied victories of the entire war. El Alamein is a small railway town on the Mediterranean coast of northern Egypt, about 100 km west of Alexandria.The Australian 50th Anniversary Special Edition The Battle of El Alameinsecond world war 1939 - 1945, egypt, el alamein

Decision Takers ANZACS Pay Price for poor leadershipfirst world war 1914 - 1918, anzac

The Ghost of Melbourne Past From village to metropolis, Melbourne is about to enter the 21st century full of optimism, but what of our past?melbourne

Newspaper SupplementSupplement contains a feature article on Norman "Norm" De Pomeroy, a Sunshine resident and train driver. Norman "Norm" De Pomeroy had a Vline XF35 Locomotive named after him "N.W. De Pomeroy". He was once the driver of the Flying Scotsman, Puffing Billy and the Melbourne to Sydney Express.norman 'norm' william de pomeroy

Australia became a single nation on the 1st January 1901 when the six British colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, united to form the Commonwealth of Australia. This moment is known as the Federation of Australia. This poster marked the 100th anniversary of this event.The Age 100 Years of Australian People A Special series to commemorate The Centenary of Federation Poster No 1

ill, maps, p.136.non-fictionFeatures: The Short North: Fassifern to Newcastle, by Peter Attenborough. The third and concluding essay in the series reviewing the main northern line between Gosford and Newcastle looks in detail at the section of railway between Fassifern and Newcastle. Passing through the southern suburbs of New South Wales’ second largest city, the line plays host to local goods and passenger services, a constant procession of coal trains, as well as the heavy traffic plying between Sydney and Newcastle. Driver in a Hurry, by Pat Turner. Pat Turner spent his entire railway career on the main southern line and in this essay recalls a couple of fast trips on the Southern Expresses during the late 1950s. Useful to Yardmaster, by Leon Oberg. Bob Payne commenced work for the NSWR in Goulburn in 1940 as a useful. Leon Oberg reports on Bob’s varied railway career in the Southern Tablelands town of Goulburn up until the time Bob finished work as a Yard Master. Traffic Officer: Station Master at Coonabarabran, by Russell Bright. In this, the final instalment of his career as an officer in the Traffic Branch of the NSW Railways, Russell describes his duties as Station Master, Coonabarabran during the period 1970 to 1990. This was a time when severe cutbacks were being made in the NSWR, particularly in country areas. Russell takes us through the effects this had on the railway at Coonabarabran during these years of change, as well as his additional responsibility as a union representative involved with the downsizing, closure and staff redundancies at many locations. The last duty he performed was his own redundancy and closure of Coonabarabran station in 1990.railroads - nsw - history, steam locomotives - nsw – pictorial