Historical information

One of a series of photographs, taken by Edgar James Dower in the second decade of the twentieth century. Born and raised in Olinda, his family later moved to Surrey Hills. He worked as an adult as a clerk in the city office of the Metropolitan Gas Company, and in his role as a 'collector', he was able to photograph scenes including the construction of tramlines and associated buildings in Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell and Surrey Hills. Later he established a real estate agency with his brother - the E.J. Dower Real Estate Agency, Dandenong Office.

Significance

The image is an historically significant record of the development of transport infrastructure which was used to connect Victorians in the first two decades of the twentieth century. This development resulted from increases in population and the consequent extension of Melbourne's suburbs. The photographs, both individually and collectively, richly detail the labour of workers and the tools and machinery used to create and extend Melbourne's tram network in the years preceding and during World War 1.

Physical description

Digital copy of an original mounted photograph depicting construction of a new electric tramline in Cotham Road, Kew. The photo shows both a horse drawn and steam roller. A works supervisor and two men on bikes stand on the road to the left of the horse drawn roller.

Inscriptions & markings

Annotated recto: "Preparing electric tram track / Cotham Road Kew / Near Normanby Road x.
Annotated verso: "Preparing for electric tram / Cotham Road Kew / Taken near Normanby Road.