Historical information

A large group of men of varying ages stand on or beside the first steam train to Hurstbridge. Two hold children on their laps. A small group of seven boys also gather for the photo. The line opened on 2 January 1912 and was officially opened in June.

Significance

The photo commemorates the culmination of many years of community and political agitation for the extension of the railway line. 100 years later the Hurstbridge railway line remains a vital part of Melbourne's public transport network.

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 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
Also black and white copy of original mounted photo (broken) printed on glossy photographic paper 30.5 x 40.5 cm; image size approx. 18.5 x 28 cm (One of 36 photos (5 with duplicate prints) from Kevin Patterson of Nillumbik Historical Society, no captions, subjects largely unknown but mostly of Diamond Creek area and people.)