Historical information

Photograph shows 12 men standing and sitting in rows facing the camera with a stone wall behind. One man, presumably the depot master, is dressed in a suit, tie and hat. The other 11 are in full tramway (MTOC) uniform with caps, two wearing the large pins used by conductors. As the MTOC only provided full uniforms to its traffic staff from 1901, this photograph can be dated between 1901 and 1916 when MTOC ceased, not 1895. The location was probably the Victoria Bridge car house (depot) in Victoria Street, North Richmond just west of the Yarra River, not a workshop. The usual flat fare for adults was three pennies, pronounced thrippence, not tuppence which was two pennies. There are many similar staff photos from this era which suggests they were initiated by MTOC.

Significance

Yields information about Brunswick cable tram employees

Physical description

Black and white newsprint photograph with notes below. Appears to be a more recent compilation using the original photograph with added contemporary and sometimes inaccurate text.

Inscriptions & markings

Notes read: "These are nine gripmen, two conductors and the depot-master in this remarkable old shot"
"Melbourne cable trammies in 1895 [sic]. Those were the days when you could take a ride around town for tuppence [sic] - or a penny ha'penny if you were under age. Picture was taken at North Richmond workshops [sic]"