Archive for March, 2020

Track gangs and passing trains

It might surprise you, but plenty of work happens on Melbourne’s railway network while trains are still running. Work crews stepping off the tracks when trains approach. And then get back to work inspecting the tracks once they’ve passed. But trains have continued running through bigger projects – like the 2009 rebuilding of Laverton station. […]

Modern rooming houses in Melbourne

When I think of “rooming houses” in Melbourne I picture massive run down Victoria-era houses, with lean-tos tacked onto the sides and verandas filled in to create more bedrooms. But it turns out new rooming houses are actually being built around Melbourne, and look almost indistinguishable from the townhouses next door. Development in the south-eastern […]

So you’ve dropped something onto the tracks

So you’ve dropped something onto the railway tracks – your hat perhaps? Umbrella? Footy scarf? Bottle of Passion Pop? ‘Caution wet floor’ sign? ‘P’ trap? Collection of Formplex weatherboard samples? Well – don’t run across the tracks. Chase down station staff. They’ve got a long grabby arm. Ready to fish it back up. Footnote I […]

The ghost of Rosedale Estate in Melbourne’s west

This is the tale of Rosedale Estate in Chartwell, a failed subdivision on the western plains of Melbourne, midway between Werribee and Rockbank. Google Maps Early years The neat grid of streets stand out against the flat grasslands, 7 km south of Rockbank and 10 km north of Werribee. Land Victoria All with British names: […]

Photos from ten years ago: March 2010

Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is March 2010. Build it up Work on the $48.5 million Kororoit Creek Road duplication project in Altona North had just kicked off. Including the replacement of the Werribee line level crossing with a road overbridge. Work on the project was […]