Insurance Policy - eight fold - titled "Fire Policy No. 569750 for PMTT Rest House L50 St Kilda Rd No. 5 Prahran" from The Victoria Insurance Company Limited, expiring 3/2/1914, issued to the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust, Details location, sum insured, 50 pounds, premium, dates. Has the seal of the insurer in the bottom right hand corner."Rest House L50 St Kilda Rd No. 5 Prahran" along top folded edge.trams, tramways, pmtt, insurance, shelters, st kilda rd, high st, prahran

Digital Images show a field of knitted and crocheted poppies displayed for the ANZAC centenary.5000 poppies, poppies, wwi, commemoration, federation square, fed square, melbourne, st kilda road, world war one

Photograph of track on St Kilda Rd near Shrine of Remembrance with an enlarged photograph of a tram model resembling PCC 1041 (but not bearing its number) positioned and glued onto photograph to simulate its future operation. The model displays the inaccurate destination "route 15 City". (The correct destinations at that time were "15 Moreland" or "16 City".)Yields information about planning and publicity for introduction of PCC 1041 and Z class tramcars. Black and white photograph with no note on rearpcc, 1041, tram model, simulation, future opertion, route 15, city, moreland, shrine, st kilda rd

.1 - Pamphlet - four fold - DL side four colour printed on off-white paper, titled "Tram service changes St Kilda Rd & Toorak Rd", advising intending passengers of the work between 1/7/2017 and 11/7/2017 to connect route 8 at Toorak Road West into St Kilda road the closure of the route via Park and Domain Road. Has a map, list of service changes, bus replacement guides and contact information. Has the logos of Metro Tunnel, Yarra Trams and PTV. .2 Pamphlet, printed and cut for use in trams around passenger hanging rails, titled "St Kilda Rd Tram and Bus service changes - Saturday 1 to Tuesday 11 July" - details bus replacement services and tram stops. Related to the main pamphlet - see image Set of five digital images taken at stop 25, Park St advising of the route diversion, replacement services and stop closure and two protest posters on fences nearby the stop about the Metro Tunnel project trucks using the local streets and the closure of the Park St / Domain Road tram line. .2 Pamphlet, printed and cut for use in trams around passenger hanging rails, titled "St Kilda Rd Tram and Bus service changes - Saturday 1 to Tuesday 11 July" - details bus replacement services and tram stops. Related to the main pamphlet.trams, tramways, park st, domain junction, metro tunnel, toorak rd, st kilda rd, tramway construction

Pamphlet - four fold - DL side four colour printed on off-white paper, titled "Tram service changes St Kilda Rd" Sunday 1 April to Tuesday 17 April. (2018) For the reconstruction and re-layout of the tram tracks at Domain Junction to enable the removal of the tram stop and allow for the excavation of the future Anzac station. Advises of changes to routes, bus services, replacement services and the project basis. Two copies held.trams, tramways, park st, domain junction, metro tunnel, toorak rd, st kilda rd, tramway construction, anzac station

Sitting on a prime piece of real estate, over time there have been discussions on the best use of the site. Whilst there is no longer any suggestion of selling the site, it's ongoing development is still being discussed. Serious consideration was given to selling the St. Kilda Rd property to developers and changing sites. No indication is given for the rejection of this proposal, possibly in Board minutes of the time. This provides an insight into the pressures in the 1970s to sell the current site. A black foolscrap folder containing typed minutes of meetings of the Investigation Committee which was set up to investigate proposals which had been suggested regarding a future land policy. The meetings were held between 1970 and 1973. On front label: "MINITUES -/INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE/P.I.P." handwritten deaf children australia, dca, victorian school for deaf children, vsdc, st. kilda rd, the bluestone building

In 1949 an architect produced this plan to detail the addition of a bedroom for the nursing staff, who looked after children in the Blind Babies nursery. The plan shows a layout of the RVIB site, including the 'Myers Home' (the name of the nursery) where young children were cared for. The south and eastern elevations are detailed, as well as a plan of the nursery, which had 4 bedrooms, a living room, a dinning room , bathroom, 2 kitchen areas and the proposed additional nurses bedroom next to Bedroom 4.1 architectural plan of Myer House and proposed extensionPercy E Everett, Chief Architectroyal victorian institute for the blind, rvib nursery, plans, myer house

Department of Health – National Fitness Office (Sports & Recreation) – Historical Press Release Photo - Empire Youth Day & Royals on Tour CollectionDepartment of Health – National Fitness Office (Sports & Recreation) – Historical Press Release Photo - Empire Youth Day & Royals on Tour Collection

Colour slide in a mount. Manufacturers House (1965, former), 370 St Kilda Rd, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. (Architects: Bates Smart & McCutcheon.)Made in Australia / 8 / JAN 65M / MANUFACTURERS HOUSE / Bates Smart & McCutcheon (Handwritten) / 1965 (Handwritten) / St Kilda Rd (Handwritten)melbourne, slide

Colour print of SW2 in St Kilda Road on a Gardiner Road service at the junction for the South Melbourne lines, Nolan St. Dated 7-11-1983. Printed on Fujicolor paper. Tram has advertisements for RESI building society on the front of the tram, Peter Jack cigarettes and National Australia Bank on the side panels.On rear in ink "W2 388 cnr. St Kilda Rd and Nolan St. 7-11-83. To Perth 1985 (Windsor Hotel, South Perth)trams, tramways, st kilda rd, nolan st, w2 class, tram 388

35mm Kodak white cardboard colour slide by Keith Kings of 10/10/1968 of the concreting of the track to connect St Kilda Road into the junction further to the south and Wellington St replacement - Queensway. Note the temporary tram stop. Note the overhead trucks in the distance. The Junction Hotel in the far distance. See Keith's slide notes.Keith Kings stamp and number "41-30" and exposure details. In ink "St Kilda Jtn Bypass works - temporary junction in St Kilda Rd, south of new junction, replaced by new track, 1050am Sunday.trams, tramways, st kilda junction, fitzroy st, st kilda rd, trackwork, high st, tram stops

Newspaper cutting from The Age, 28/3/2006, titled "Shuttles may end tram bottleneck", with the sub-heading "Operator presses state for new terminals, better trams". Item written by Stephen Moynihan, with a map showing proposed shuttle route and terminals. Examines the use of shuttle trams along St Kilda Rd from the various intersections with trams along that road. Quotes Dennis Cliche, the CEO of Yarra Trams, upgrading of Domain Interchange, and the purchase of new trams.trams, tramways, st kilda rd, tram services, domain interchange, yarra trams

Book, brown cover patterned (Deer skin?), titled "The Garden City of Australia / Twenty-four views of Melbourne" with 24 pages (smaller than cover) printed pages stapled inside. Inside front cover is a map of Melbourne, with specific buildings marked, inside rear cover - Where to go in Melbourne, General Information and Sight seeing tours. On rear cover is printer details. Page Photo details by 1 Skyline of the City of Melbourne from Yarra Bank Victorian Railways 2 Collins St from Spring St (with trams) ditto 3 Princes Bridge, River Yarra ditto 4 St Kilda Rd from Flinders St Station ditto 5 St Pauls Cathedral ditto 6 Bourke St Shopping Centre - with double deck buses no details of photographer 7 Elizabeth St - with trams and buses Victorian Railways 8 Swanston St with modern skyscrapers (Collins) ditto 9 Aerial view, city of Melbourne ditto 10 Parliament House ditto 11 Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery ditto 12 St Kilda Rd, Looking towards the City trams 772 and W2 ditto 13 Kings Domain - Pioneer Monument ditto 14 Royal Melbourne Hospital - with back view inset ditto 15 Alexandra Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance ditto 16 Alexandra Gardens and Government House ditto 17 Captain Cook's House - Fitzroy Gardens ditto 18 Albert Park Lake no details of photographer 19 Melbourne Boys School, MacRobertson's Girls High School and Melbourne Uni - no details of photographer 20 Scene in the Botanical Gardens Victorian Railways 21 Aerial view of St Kilda with Brighton in background Victorian Railways 22 Melbourne Cricket ground, taken during the testimonial match to Sir Donald Bradman - no details 23 Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital and Exhibition Buildings and Aquarium - Victorian Railways 24 Dandenong - Showing Silvan Dam Victorian Railways The testimonial match took place in Melbourne during December 1948 (Reference Sir Donald Bradman Museum). Possibly arranged by the Victorian Government Information Bureau given the number of Victorian Railways photographs.trams, tramways, melbourne, st kilda rd, swanston st, bourke st, victorian railways, flinders st station, gardens

Gethla Forsyth, Alfred trainee, served with the Australian Army Nursing Serviceduring World War II. After enlisting in July 1941, she was sent to Singapore as part of reinforcements for the 2/13th Australian General Hospital in January 1992. On February 12 1942 she was one of the nurses evacuated by the cargo vessel Empire Star. This ship suffered bomb damage, but after emergency repairs in Batavia (Jakarta) arrived in Freemantle on February 23 1942. Prior to discharge in 1946 she also woked at Duntroon Hospital Gethla also helped establish the Nurses Memorial Centre in St Kilda Rd Melbourne. This article appeared in the Argus Weekednder after an ANZAC reunion at the Nurses Memorial CentreOf significance to the AHNL, as Gethla Forsyth was an Alfred Hospital Nursing graduate (1936)Black and white photocopy of newpaper clipping with photograph of three women M Muldoon, Gethla Forsyth and V Bullwinkel take at an Anzac Reunion in a room at the War Nurses Memorial Centre St Kilda Rd Melbourne Previous catalogue number written at top leftgethla forsyth, world war 1939-1945, world war 1939-1945 nursing, australian army nursing service, alfred hospital, nurses memorial centre-history

Collection of stories covering his life, travels, views on many subjects, and yarns about the Australian outback; includes stories on treatment of Aborigines.Hardback with dustcover; 190 p; illustratedISBN: 0582714311alan marshall

John Bruce Furniture and Electrics shopblack and white photographst kilda businesses

Illustrated book with dust jacket. Book has abbreviated title and authors surname printed on spine in white ink on pale blue background. This pale blue binding extends for 55mm on front and back covers. The remainder of the covers have repeated images of various Victorian Nurses board Badges on a white background. Dust jacket has similar images on pale blue background on spine and extending 55mm on front and back, remainder of back is pale blue. On the front is an image of one person (torso only) holding another's wrist and holding a watch in their other hand and part of a stethoscope is also visible. Title and author's name are printed on front and spine. There is a 9mm wide attached gold satin ribbon bookmark.non-fictionThis book documents an important part of the story of nursing and midwifery in Victoria. the role of registration, training accreditation and monitoring of nurses and midwives has been fulfilled by three bodies in Victoria: the Nurses Board (1923-1957), the Victorian Nursing Council (1957-1994) and the Nurses Board of Victoria (1994-2010).nursing-history, nursing-law and legislation-victoria-history

A group of police women taken in the 1950s at the St Kilda Road Police Depot. Third from the right, standing, is Gwenyth Elva Carr, born at Glenhuntly on 19 July 1917. Elva led the first women's Street Patrol in the uniform they designed themselves. The first patrol was on the night of 13 January 1948 when they arrested a woman for being drunk and disorderly.A group of police women in the 1950s taken in front of the Police Depot in St Kilda Rd.police women, women's police auxiliary force, bates, kathleen mabel 11125, carr, gwenyth elva 9835, lenthall, dorothy 11244, williamson, irene may 11657, police woman, policewomen, policewoman

B&W negative of the pupils in front of the VDDI building on St. Kilda Rd., in 1914 On label on packet "Pupils 1914, Black & White/Copied by Beverley Crosby & Peter King/1989" deaf children australia, the bluestone building, vddi, victorian deaf and dumb institution, st. kilda road, pupils

B&W negative of the Bluestone school building on St. Kilda rd. with the school grounds in front deaf children australia, the bluestone building, vddi, victorian deaf and dumb institution

597 St. Kilda Road was built in 1866 and still exists today along with future additions.An historic bluestone building of the 1860's that still houses the organisation for which it was built.B&W negative of the Bluestone school building on St. Kilda rd. with the school grounds in front

POSTCARD -BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF Melbourne - St Kilda Rd and Spring st - card dated 21.2.1911.postcard, photograph, melbourne

Series of 15 colour route maps for various tram lines or groups of tram lines for the MMTB. Some have the Transport Information Centre telephone printed on them, others have a label stuck on. Some are finished with a plastic laminate finish on either one or both sides. Show the major cross streets, parks, schools, other tram routes, major stop numbers and railway lines. Two copies of each held unless noted otherwise. .1 - Mont - Albert City - R11/77, shows routes 43. 47. 45. 44 .2 - Malvern, East Malvern, Carnegie and East Brighton Tram Routes (from St Kilda Junction) - R1/79 - shows routes 5, 3, 67, 66, 61, 62 and 64. .3 - Swanston St tram guide - R1/79 - lists all routes and route numbers that branch or cross Swanston St between Grattan St and St Kilda Junction. .4 - St Kilda Rd Tram Routes R12/77 - details South Melbourne Beach, route 1 and route 2 and St Kilda Beach routes 15, 16 and 55 otherwise shows were the various routes branch off St Kilda Road. Copy 1 has "P14909" in pencil in the bottom right hand corner. .5 - Kew - St Kilda Beach - R1/79 - Route 69. .6 - Footscray - Moonee Ponds - R3/81 - Route 82 .7 - Flinders St tram routes - R5/78 - North Balwyn, East Burwood, routes 48, 40, 41, Hartwell, 28, 74 and 75 .8 - William St tram routes - Route 55, 56 and 63 - South Melbourne Depot and Domain. copy 2 has "P14913" in bottom right hand corner. .9 - Toorak Camberwell and Glen Iris tram routes with Camberwell Junction and Malvern Town Hall, R1/79, routes 8, 7, 6, 72 and 73 shown. .10 - Swanston St tram routes - R12/77 - shows all the Swanston St routes, including East Coburg and Moreland. .11 - Bourke St tram routes - R4/77 - East Brunswick Blyth St and East Preston Tyler St and intermediate routes, routes 95, 96, 97, 90, 89 and 88. .12 - as for .11, dated 1/85, showing extension to La Trobe University - has Metropolitan Transit logo. Only 1 copy held. Also shows route 92 and 87. .13 - Batman Ave tram routes - R9/77 - Wattle Park, North Richmond and Prahran - routes 70, 71, 78 and 79. .14 - City route guide - R9/77 - showing all route numbers and destinations that passed through the CBD. .15 - Elizabeth St tram routes - R12/77 - Essendon Airport, West Maribyrnong, North Coburg lines, routes 50, 58, 60, 54, 57, 52. 49, 59, 18, 20 and 19. Copy 1 has "P14905" in pencil in bottom left hand corner.trams, tramways, maps, route guide, route numbers, routes, mont albert, route 43, route 47, route 45, route 44, route 42, malvern burke rd, east preston, carnegie, east brighton, south caulfield, route 5, route 3, route 67, route 62, route 64, route 66, glenhuntly tram depot, swanston st, st kilda rd, south melbourne beach, st kilda beach, route 1, route 2, route 15, route 16, route 55, kew- cotham road, route 69, route 79, route 82, footscray, moonee ponds, flinders st, north balwyn, kew, east burwood, burwood, hartwell, richmond, route 48, route 40, route 41, route 28, route 74, route 75, route 56, route 63, william st, west coburg, toorak, camberwell, glen iris, malvern town hall, route 72, route 73, route 7, route 8, bourke st, route 6, route 95, route 96, route 97, route 90, route 89, route 89, east preston, east brunswick, la trobe university, clifton hill, route 92, route 87, route 70, route 71, route 78, route 79, north richmond, prahran, wattle park, essendon airport, west maribyrnong, north coburg, route 50, route 58, route 60, route 54, route 57, route 52, route 49, route 59, route 18, route 20, route 19, batman ave

Photographs taken by Esther Winifred Hall (nee Smallpage) - great grand-daughter of Stephen George Henty. Taken in 1934 Centenary Celebrations in Portland.Black and white sepia photograph of four-storey building at street intersection. Street sign on left "St. Kilda Rd".Front: (no inscriptions) Back: Chevron corner St. Kilda and Commercial Roads Nov: 1934 V. Hursthouse (?)esther winifred hall, henty, 1934

Photo of St Kilda Road, from the junction looking north with tram 123 standing opposite the signal box. The tram is sign written for "St Kilda to Queensberry St. The signal box has signs advising that "All traffic keep to the left of this box". A uniformed employee is standing between the box and the tramcar. There are several motor cars in view, along with one horse-drawn cart. Second copy - actual postcard - "Rose Series P.3387 St Kilda Road, from The Junction, St Kilda Vic"Yields information about St Kilda Junction, and cable tram operations.Black and White Photograph postcard format, divided back with note on rear. Two copies held.In pencil on the rear "St Kilda Rd from the junction"tramways, trams, cable tram, st kilda, st kilda road, st kilda junction, signal box, tram 123, rose series

Front of Sydneham Villa, 43 Brighton Road, St Kildablack and white photograph, unmounted, original, fair conditionSydneham Villa, 43 Brighton Road, St Kilda. Built in 1863 - owner David Lyons died there in 1883. Sydenham Villa demolished in 1983. In pencil: Mrs Hall owned it about 1970.

hand written on back: Queen's Road underpass. Photo filed 11.12.1967 Shows a building with a large vertical neon sign 'Recruiting'black and white matt photograph good condition unmountedQueen's Road underpass. Photo filed 11.12.1967 L16514/5 H71. Copyright. This photograph may not be reproduced without permission in writing from the Editor of "The Age". 250 Spencer Street, Melbourne and 39/41 York st, Sydney.

Princes Bridge Centenary pylons under construction Possibly taken from Young and Jacksons Hotel (formerly Princes Bridge Hotel) on the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets, Flinders Street Station’s clocks and main entrance dominate, along with its distinctive copper dome and decorative façade. The time on the main clock is 1.40pm, and the sign underneath, reflecting Melbourne’s upcoming Centenary reads, “We must accommodate our Centenary visitors! Citizens! Do your share by taking paying guests.” At left is the original Princes Bridge Station, today the site of Federation Square. The riverside tram terminus advertises a Café/Tobacconist/Refreshment Room selling cigars & cigarettes, fountain drinks & confectionery, and in smaller text: “Leave your boot repairs here”. Nearly everyone is dressed in dark suits, coats and hats. The footpaths are wide and there are no traffic lights. The roadway stretches towards the Shrine of Remembrance, not yet dedicated but very dominant on the skyline. Government House is clearly visible across the wide parkland that would come to be known as Kings Domain and that is an area of deep importance to the people of the Eastern Kulin. Originally, Birrarung was part of a network of swamps and lagoons linked to the course of the river. From 1896, Public Works Department engineer Carlo Catani, oversaw a new channel to straighten the river and the swamps and lagoons were filled with spoil from the channel works. From the same vantage point today, only the top of the tower of Government House would be visible. The photo captures the pylons along Princes Bridge, mid-construction and being installed to mark Melbourne’s Centenary. The pylons were not without controversy. Both The Argus and The Age bemoaned them for being “made almost entirely of imported softwood timber”, denying work to native hardwood timber workers and sawmillers, and leading visitors to think Australia did not have its own exceptional native hardwoods. The pylons were also variously described in their incomplete state, as unimaginative and resembling an oilfield. Published: The Age 5 September 1934 Featured in "Newsworthy: Melbourne in photographs 1933-1936" exhibition at East Melbourne Library, October to December 2023. Exhibition caption by project volunteer, Louise McKenzie Photographer notations on slide: "Pylons + St Kilda Rd C57" Published: Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Wednesday 5 September 1934, page 11 Published title: DECORATIONS -- THEN AND NOW. Published caption: "Although not completed yet, some impression of the effect of the decorations on Princes-bridge may be obtained from the first picture which shows the majestic sweep of St Kilda road with the Shrine of Remembrance and Government House dominating the horizon. The area to the left of St. Kilda-road and in front of Government House is portion of the area which it is proposed to call the King's Domain, which extends to Domain-road and Anderson-street..." Description: East-facing, elevated view of Flinders Street Station and Princes Bridge, featuring partially completed pylons erected for Melbourne's Centenary celebrations. The Shrine of Remembrance and Government House can be seen in the distance. In the foreground are trams, cars and trucks, pedestrians, Batman Avenue tram terminus and refreshment rooms. Signage on Flinders Street Station encourages citizens to accommodate Centenary visitors. The Melbourne Centenary was held 1934-35 in celebration John Batman's proclamation that Melbourne "the place for a village". Centenary events included a visit by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester. A Centenary Cake measuring 50 feet in height and ten tons in weight was cut into 250,000 pieces and sold at 1 shilling per piece for charity. Spectacular floodlighting of city landmarks, the creation of the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden, and the MacRobertson Air Race from London, were other notable activities. Research by project volunteer, Louise McKenzie: The photo in The Age collage of 5 September 1934 has a slightly cropped foreground. The original photo has been taken from an elevated vantage point, most probably the roof of the Nicholas Building on the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets. The right foreground is dominated by the main “clocks” entrance to Flinders Street Station, showing its distinctive copper dome and decorative façade. The time on the main clock is 1.40 pm. The main sign on the front of the Station reads, "We Must Accommodate our Centenary Visitors! Citizens! Do your share by taking paying guests. Write to The Official Centenary Accommodation Bureau, 436 Collins St. City. Tel M 4671”. Another sign at eye level at the main entrance says: “Cheap Trips on Sundays”. The sign on the end of the roof along the eastern side of the station reads, “The Babies Need Your Help! Support Broadmeadows Foundling Hospital Appeal. July and August”. Run by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, St Joseph’s Foundling Hospital was a purpose built infants’ home for up to 300 babies, plus accommodation for expectant mothers, mainly single women. In the early 1930s, the department (Victorian Children’s Welfare Department) contracted St Joseph’s Foundling Hospital to care for an additional 60 infant state wards, and up to 175 non wards at any given time. In 1931 it also operated a mothercraft training school. The centre foreground shows the commencement of Princes Bridge. Beneath the left side of the bridge was the site of the original Princes Bridge Station, by this time incorporated into Flinders Street Station, and today the area is the site of Federation Square. It was linked to Flinders Street station by the railway tracks that ran underneath the northern approach to the bridge. This photo shows a tram terminus which has a Café/Tobacconist/Refreshment Room, selling cigars & cigarettes, fountain drinks & confectionary, and a sign: Leave your boot repairs here. In the foreground is a wide roadway running south/north, comprising two vehicle lanes each heading north/south, and a central section containing two sets of tram tracks. There are cars, buses and delivery vans on the roadway. The trams visible are Glen Iris (Route No. 6; tram no. 448), Toorak (Route No. 8, tram no. 333), ? (No. 7), ? (No. 1), and ? (No. 2A). The footpaths are extremely wide. There is a square newspaper/magazine stand on the eastern side footpath. And also a “Ferry” sign. There are no traffic lights, but a policeman is visible on the roadway. There are pedestrians – men, women, children, a porter with trolley, women with prams. Clothing comprises dark suits, coats and hats for nearly everyone. There are double headed “Collins Street” lights along the side of the roadway, and along the northern riverbank. The roadway in the foreground is an extension of Swanston Street, which becomes Princes Bridge, then St Kilda Road, stretching towards the Shrine of Remembrance, and diverting past it. The Shrine had not yet been officially dedicated, and looks very white and dominant on the skyline. On the LHS of St Kilda Road, Government House is clearly visible across the wide parkland to be known as Kings Domain. The Kings Domain area is important to the people of the Eastern Kulin nation, and also has historical importance for its association with the early settlement of Melbourne and the foundation of British colonial administration in Victoria. On the southern side of the Yarra River (Birrarung) an historic rowing boathouse is visible, located adjacent to the Alexandra Gardens. Originally Birrarung was part of a network of swamps and lagoons linked to the course of the river. From 1896, under the guidance of engineer Carlo Catani* a new channel to straighten the river was created and the swamps and lagoons were filled with spoil from the channel works. The gardens were then created and completed in time for a Royal visit by the Duke of York in May 1901. The gardens are named after Alexandra of Denmark, the wife of King Edward VII. Both these areas, plus the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Shrine of Remembrance Reserve, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Government House, and the Queen Victoria Gardens together form the Domain Parklands. The extent of the subsequent plantings is evident today, where from the same vantage point only the top of the tower of Government House would be visible. *Catani was born in Florence in 1852, but after arriving in Melbourne worked as a civil engineer for the Victorian Government. His last major project was the reclamation of the foreshore of St Kilda, envisaged in the style of a European resort, complete with a split level esplanade, bathing pavilions, dance halls, amusements and a French-Italian style of landscape complete with palms. The gardens at the end of Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, now bear his name. The historic boathouse visible across the Yarra is another glimpse into Melbourne’s past. “Boathouse Row” comprises 7 amateur rowing clubs, the first established in 1859 (Melbourne University Boat Club). Other Clubs were Richmond, Melbourne, Banks, Melbourne Grammar School, Yarra Yarra and Mercantile. South of the river and west of the bridge is an area today developed into the Melbourne arts precinct of Hamer Hall and the Arts Centre. But at this time it was the home of Wirths Olympia Circus, which comprised Wirths Pleasure Park (an amusement park), a 5,000 seat auditorium – Hippodrome, a roller skating rink, a glaciarium, a cinema, and the Green Mill Dance Hall. Dog shows were also held at Olympia. The Green Mill Dance Hall closed in 1950, and the remainder of the Wirth buildings on site were destroyed by fire in December 1953. The feature of the photo is the pylons erected along Princes Bridge to mark Melbourne’s Centenary in 1934. The sixteen plastered pylons were designed by Roy Prentice, the second person to qualify as an architect at The University of Melbourne’s Bachelor of Architecture degree, in 1933, aged 27. Simon Reeves in his article marking the 100th birthday of Roy Prentice on 20 June 2006 reports that the State Electricity Commission sponsored this work, and the Argus reported that “… the pylons were “illuminated from within to give the effect of soft radiance”. Australia Home Beautiful 1 Oct 1934 reports in a very detailed and comprehensive article: The 10 taller pylons, including flagpole, were 48 ft, with a base of 8 ft. Timber-framed and faced with fibrous plaster and galvanised sheet iron, each structure was securely bolted to a concrete foundation three feet in depth. Panels of glass let into the shaft of each pylon were indirectly lit by 40, 100 watt lamps, and the upper bank of internal lamps were dyed so as to flood the panels with a deep red light. The decorative painted shields and flagpoles/pennants were illuminated by three 200 watt projectors concealed in the roof of each pylon, and were part of an electric night light decoration scheme involving 28 miles of wire to supply more than 20,000 lights. An article in the Argus on 18 October 1934 provided minute detail of the lighting erected in Melbourne for the Centenary, converting it “… into a coloured fairyland by night.” The estimated cost of 10 pounds per hour the lights were on. The display included 800 standard light poles 30 feet high which were tiered with electric bulbs concealed in inverted cones, 138 specially designed “Venetian poles” draped in flags trophies and streamers. The streets included in the electric night light decoration scheme were Bourke Street from Spring to William, the entire length of Collins Street, Flinders Street from Elizabeth to Spring, Lonsdale Street from Elizabeth to Swanston, Swanston and Elizabeth Streets from Flinders to Lonsdale, and parts of Springs and Spencer Streets. Together with the Princes Bridge pylons, approximately 28 miles of wire was required to supply power to the more than 20,000 lights. And that is just in the city of Melbourne. It was estimated the same amount of lighting was duplicated among other local councils. The pylons were not without controversy. The Argus on 28 August 1934 in an article headed “Imported Timber in Pylons” reported that the Princes Bridge pylons are “made almost entirely of imported softwood timber”, and have therefore denied work to native hardwood timber workers and sawmillers. The same day the Melbourne Age ran a similar story, bemoaning the fact that foreign oregon had been used which may lead tourists to think Australia did not have its own exceptional native hardwoods. A Camberwell City Councillor described the pylons as unimaginative, and the Herald reported that skeletons of pylons for the Centenary decorations in their present form led the area to resemble an oilfield! The Yarra River and Princes Bridge have long been a focal point of Melbourne life. In the early days of European settlement in Melbourne a rope-hauled punt carried people across the Yarra River. A surge in population and increased shipping traffic created a need for a bridge. There was difficulty in agreeing on a suitable site for the bridge (options were crossing at Elizabeth, Swanston, Queen or Market Streets), but the NSW Government favoured Swanston Street and the Melbourne Town Council decided on a temporary bridge across the Yarra spanning from the foot of Swanston Street. This first bridge was a single span timber toll bridge designed by Scottish born bridge designer David Lennox, and completed in 1845. It was 120 feet long, had a roadway of 17 feet wide, and a footpath on one side of 4 feet. It was leased to the Melbourne Bridge Company in the name of Robert A Balbirnie. The tollhouse was on the north side of the river and the toll keeper, Patrick Doherty, was credited with saving nine lives during the four years he was in charge of the toll station. The second bridge was stone (completed 1850), and named Prince’s Bridge after the HRH Prince of Wales, later Edward VII. It was designed with an elliptical single arc and an exceedingly small rise in proportion to the span. However, this design created an obstacle for flood waters, and together with Melbourne’s increasing population it was quickly apparent that a new bridge was required. At its opening on 15 November 1850 coincided with the imminent declaration of Victoria as a separate colony, it provided a moment of great celebration for Melbournians and “The opening ceremony was described as the grandest processional display witnessed in the colony.” (ToMelbourne.com.au) Princes Bridge in its present form, as depicted in this photograph, was designed by Jenkins, D’Ebro and Grainger, and constructed in 1886-88 by David Munro. John Grainger (father of Australian composer Percy Grainger) did the majority of the design work for the bridge. The structure was to have three arches each 96 feet wide measured across the river, and the banks on both sides were raised to allow more space for floodwater to flow. St Kilda Road was originally many feet below the current level. The bridge is of architectural significance for its substantial size, giant half columns, extensive use of wrought and cast iron, decorative elements (cast-iron lamps) and the skilled stonemasonry in the construction of the abutments and piers. Its main design features are similar to those of Blackfriars Bridge in London (1870). The bluestones were quarried from Footscray, the Malmsbury stones were from quarries at Kyneton, and the granite from Harcourt. The cost was met by the State of Victoria, City of Melbourne, and six out of seven of its municipalities, and their coats of arms feature on the bridge. The building of the bridge reflected the boom period of Melbourne, including the Victorian gold rush 1851- late 1860s, and its contractor, David Munro, was also responsible for the construction of Queens Bridge and Sandridge Railway Bridge. The Centenary pylons are no longer in place, but today this intersection still plays a major part in Melbourne’s daily life: people still meet “under the clocks” at Flinders Street station, and the route in and out of the city along St Kilda Road is often a feature of parades such as Moomba, the Grand Final Parade, and of course the Anzac Day Parade which commences at the Princes Bridge intersection and finishes at the Shrine of Remembrance. There are many tram routes, which cross the Bridge, and it directs pedestrians towards the Arts Precinct, the various components of Domain Park, plus the Southbank restaurant and rowing precincts. Even though this is a street scene, it feels very intimate; the viewer is instantly immersed in the activity of a Melbourne afternoon, looking down St Kilda Road from a viewpoint near today’s Federation Square. References: DECORATIONS -- THEN AND NOW. (1934, September 5). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205880269 'Flinders Street railway station', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flinders_Street_railway_station 'St Joseph’s Foundling Hospital (1901-75)', Finding Records, Department of Health and Human Services, State of Victoria, https://www.findingrecords.dhhs.vic.gov.au/collectionresultspage/St-JosephsFoundling-Hospital-Babies-Home#departmental-administration 'Alexandra Gardens', City of Melbourne, https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/parks-open-spaces/major-parks-gardens/Pages/alexandra-gardens.aspx 'Wirths Circus', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirth's_Circus 'Roy Prentice: Centenary Architect', Built Heritage Pty Ltd, Simon Reeves, https://www.builtheritage.com.au/downloads/prentice.pdf 'Princes Bridge', Heritage Council Victoria, https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/817 PORT PHILLIP. (1846, April 1). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12886251 'Edward VII', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VII 'Princes Bridge', ToMelbourne.com, https://tomelbourne.com.au/princes-bridge/ 'Princes Bridge', eMelbourne, https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM01189b.htm 'Princes Bridge', Australia for everyone, http://australiaforeveryone.com.au/files/melbourne/princes-bridge.html 'Victorian gold rush', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_gold_rush IMPORTED TIMBER IN PYLONS (1934, August 28). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10952507 Princes-Bridge Pylons. (1934, August 28). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205532235 Pylons Appear Near Princes Bridge (1934, August 18). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243104375 PRINCES-BRIDGE PYLONS. (1934, September 20). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205873535 28 Miles of Wire (1934, October 18). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 1 (The Junior Argus). Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10977836 'Historical references for Boathouse Row, Melbourne', http://boathouserowmelbourne.com.au/history/ 'ITALIAN DELEGATION TO HONOUR CARLO CATANI, DESIGNER OF THE ST KILDA FORESHORE, St Kilda Historical Society, 2001, https://web.archive.org/web/20070928061938/http://www.skhs.org.au/~SKHSarticles/articles/Carlo_Catani.html# HISTORY IN LIGHTS (1934, July 12). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 16. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243172436 'Dressing Melbourne for the Duke', The Australian home beautiful: a journal for the home builder. Vol 12 No. 10 (1 October 1934), page 21, 58. Retrieved September 14, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2950922209Photographer notations on slide: "Pylons + St Kilda Rd C57".centenaries, bridges, lighting, flinders street railway station