Historical information

The Silver Street Bridge, 1901
Butty Gang workers excavate a rock cutting near the Silver Street bridge prior to laying of track. The Butty Gang system versus the Contract System was subject to public debate regarding cost benefits at the time of the Eltham line construction.

Butty gang workers were a group of men who take a contract for a part of a work, as in the construction of railroads, etc., the proceeds being equally divided between them, with something extra to the foreman.

Some hold picks, a couple of horses and carts are lined up probably for carting the broken rock away, dirt, rocks and shale lay at the bottom. A pair of small wooden buckets are evident, most likley to provide drinking water. The timber Silver Street bridge crosses the cutting in the background.

The opening of the railway line from Heidelberg to Eltham took place on the 6th June 1902.

Similiar to 810.

Source: Mrs. Dandy, Montmorency and Miss McColl, 8 Anderson St., Heidelberg

Significance

This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.'
It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.

Physical description

Digital image
120 format B&W negative