Historical information

Set of 2 photos showing traffic congestion in Spencer St during the late 1970s. See also items 9169, 4519 & 4520. The photo is dated by the construction of the MMBW building on the corner of Little Collins and Spencer St which took place between 1976 and 1979 - see reference.
1 - Looking north from Victorian Railways building on the corner of Collins and Spencer Sts - showing two trams (routes 41 and 74) with heavy northbound traffic, light southbound traffic. A policeman is on point duty. On the left is the Railways Parcels office and the main station building. In the far distance, the Sands McDougal building. On the right is The Age, the City of Melbourne power station chimney, Mail Exchange, a vacant building block which became the Savoy Tavern, the Savoy Plaza Hotel, the MMBW building under construction, and a row of single-storey shops, including one advertising Cadbury's Chocolates.
2 - View from the Victorian Railways Head Office building looking south at the intersection of Flinders Lane and Spencer St. The building on the left is the Great Southern Hotel. Since this photo, Flinders Lane has been widened and the car park built on. The northbound traffic has drifted over the solid white line and blocked four trams (routes 76, 47, & 74)

Significance

Demonstrates the work of the MMTB in understanding traffic that affected trams.

Physical description

Black and white print - with MMTB Stamp on the rear.

Inscriptions & markings

in ink "P2571/1037" on both photos.