Historical information
This is one of a series of photos donated by Arthur Lyons.
From 1907 a cab service operated from near the railway gates in Union Road. It was established and maintained by Mr C Fraser until c1916. George Rea either took over then or set up in opposition; he retired in 1945. Fred Lyons initially worked for George until he set up his own business. In time he changed over to a motor vehicle and continued his service until 1960.
Frederick Adolphus Lyons (1891-1980) was born in Surrey Hills, son of Thomas and Catherine Lyons. He married Elizabeth Ruby Hall in 1918. They lived just around the corner at 55 Sunbury Crescent.
The Lyons’ home in Sunbury Crescent was called ‘Knopshambury’ - this was probably a misspelling of Knockshanbally in Co Kilkenny, the birth place of Fred’s father, Thomas Edmund Josias Lyons (1846-1915).
Arthur Lyons was born in Surrey Hills on 12 Jun 1920. He became a motor mechanic / welder and lived at 55 Sunbury Crescent.
W T Nisbe... is probably William Thomson Nisbet, traveller of 'Maroona', Brenbeal Street, Balwyn listed in 1903, 1914, 1919 electoral rolls. His wife was Mary Grace Nisbet, son was William Thomson Nisbet Jnr (clerk) and daughter was Olive Thomson Nisbet (dressmaker).
The donation was made while he was in hospital. He died shortly afterwards (23 Sep 1990). Donation was finalised by a neighbour, Mrs Florence Ann Armitstead, wife of Glen Victor Armitstead. Glen was a local hairdresser. They moved to 11 Sunbury Crescent after their marriage in 1939. Arthur had no relatives to distribute the material to.
Physical description
Black and white photo of Fred Lyons in one of his hansom cabs with his horse 'Barney' taken near Surrey Hills railway station. Another hansom cab is to the right of the photo and there is another man standing on the footpath. In the background are shops and the partial hoarding of W T Nisbe... is visible. The photo was taken between 1916-1927.
Inscriptions & markings
On rear of the duplicate print in pencil in Jocelyn Hall's handwriting : "NO 59 / and 89 / Spare ? / perhaps better than enlargement"
