For decades the ‘Cavalcade of Transport’ mural was a landmark of the otherwise unremarkable main concourse at Spencer Street Station. So how did it come to be?
Rennie Ellis 1983, SLV image H2011.150/2517
The dreary Spencer Street Station building that we all remember dated back to the 1960s.
But the Cavalcade of Transport mural wasn’t added until a decade later – the Victorian Heritage Database listing gives some background.
The 36.6 metre long and 7.32 metre high History of Transport mural featured across the main concourse of the Spencer Street railway station, depicting the first century of transport in Victoria (1835-1935), was commissioned by the State Government in 1973.
Painted by State Artist, Harold Freedman (1915-99), and two assistants, the work was completed in January 1978. The mural, a realist oil painting on canvas mounted on plywood, was painted in five main sections at the East Camberwell railway substation, and erected in stages above the Spencer Street station concourse
Putting the mural into place at Spencer Street Station was quite the task.
PROV image VPRS 12800/P1, item H 4218, dated 18-6-1974
An entire wall of scaffolding was required to give access to the wall where the mural was hung.
PROV image VPRS 12800/P1, item H 4219, dated 18-6-1974
Once in place, the mural could be viewed from the maun station concourse.
Rennie Ellis 1983, SLV image H2011.150/2537
Or from the mezzanine level cafe.
Rennie Ellis 1983, SLV image H2011.150/2517
Rennie Ellis 1983, SLV image H2011.150/2518
The mural stayed untouched until 2000, when the right hand end of the mural to be repositioned perpendicular to its original location, to allow the construction of the Bourke Street Bridge at the north end of the station building.
Further changes came in 2004, when the redevelopment of Spencer Street Station saw the mural put into storage while the new Southern Cross Station was built.
There it stayed until being re-erected in April 2007. Finding the mural was quite the ordeal – the new location was the north wall of the new Direct Factory Outlet shopping centre that formed part of the new station.
But unfortunately this wasn’t the end of this undignified story – in 2014 the shopping centre was redeveloped and the former viewing platform being demolished, leaving the mural hidden from view at the back of a discount shop, behind a forest of light fittings and air conditioning ducts.
A sad end to something at used to take pride of place at Spencer Street Station.
Wow! I’ve never seen it nor was I aware of its existence. I must look for it next time I’m in Melbourne. What store is it in?
It is in the back of Trade Secret at the Spencer Outlet Centre.
I’ve always thought the fate of this was pretty sad. I’ve wondered if reproducing it at a larger scale that was weatherproof and hanging it on the back of the Shopping Centre so that it was visible from the Bourke St End of platforms would be possible.
Also, I can’t say that I can remember the old Spencer St Station building, though I do remember going there and seeing the mural.
What an inglorious end to such a lovely bit of art work, and importance to Victorian transport history.
I was working just up Bourke St, and went to see it just after the “opening”. Someone needs a rocket up their ass!
Try Cavalcade Of Transport Rescue Group on Facebook and you can see where its destiny lies.
Here’s a link:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cavalcadeoftransportrescuegroup/
The group got a mention by the RACV recently:
https://www.racv.com.au/membership/member-benefits/royalauto/home/in-the-community/campaign-to-move-cavalcade-of-transport-mural.html
Marcus,
Look, my memory is a bit rusty but my old regular mate from the locomotive knows a fair bit about this painting. I will find out and reply to you again in due course.
The “faces” of some of the people in the mural were “particular people” known to Freedman and not just random images.
Let me ask Trevor and I’ll get back to you with a more detailed response.
Sincerely,
Sean.
Thanks for that Sean!
Marcus,
The mural was painted in the East Camberwell VR sub station in panels.
In the centre panel with the steam locomotive cab, the Driver is the late VR steam and diesel Driver, Ron Chandler (he died about 1988?). Ron often drove “Polly” when she was number 3 steam crane (up until she was cosmetically converted back to Z 256 in the mid 1980’s) so the cab controls and interior are that of steam crane “Polly”.
The Fireman in the cab is actually the late VR Rolling Stock Branch Engineer, Norm Cave. Norm was also a brilliant modeller and built the huge “TT” scale VR layout that was at the VR stand at the Royal Agricultural Society Showgrounds for many years when I was a kid.
In the far upper left hand side is supposedly a picture of Hobson’s Bay Engine No.1, built here in Melbourne. This illustration (imagined – of the locomotive’s design) was created by late VR draftsman Charlie Hansford. We now know this illustration is very likely quite inaccurate (See green covered A.R.H.S. book on locomotives of the VR by Cave, Buckland et al…).
On the pier next to this train at Sandridge is a little girl holding a rag doll. This is the late modeller Frank Kelly’s daughter. Frank was famous for his brass VR and SAR locomotives and he consulted with Harold as to details whilst he was painting and asked if one of his children could be in the painting. Frank’s son Colin is a Fitter Foreman to this day and the Secretary of DERMPAV.
There is a recurring woman’s face in the mural which we believe to be Harold Freedman’s wife. In the lower right hand corner there is a man hand pumping the tyre on a 1930’s “ute”. We believe this is a self-portrait of Harold Freedman!
Hope this helps?
Sean. 🙂
Hi all,
In 1973 [grade 3 or thereabouts] my Elwood Primary School teacher – Miss Marks – took our class to the studio where the mural was being painted. I was introduced to one of the artists working on the project [it may have been Harold Freedman?]. I still have a memory of unfinished panels leaning against a wall. It was a great day out and a credit to a wonderful teacher for taking us all. When ever I saw the mural at Spencer Street, in subsequent years, it always brought back memories of that day. I had no idea where it ended up after the Spencer Street redevelopment. Very sad to read it’s languishing at the back of a discount shop.
Thanks for the blog post. From Chilwell primary school in Newtown we went to the artist studio of the painter Harold Freedman. I was in grade 6 in 1977 so I think we must have seen some last sections at the studio and some sections already in place at Spencer Street Station as you said in the blog that it was finished in January 1978.
I have yet to see the mural as I live interstate and have not yet been to Victoria but the cartage company depicted, Thomas Warr & Co. (name painted on the unhitched wagon) belonged to my great-great grandfather. I am so pleased this history is preserved and I hope it will continue to be displayed.
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