Building it up, tear it down

We start off in the Melbourne CBD, where the Emporium Melbourne shopping centre was emerging inside the gutted facade of Myer’s Lonsdale Street store.

The complex opened a few years later in April 2014.

Over at Royal Park the old Royal Children’s Hospital was being demolished.

Opening up a view towards the CBD.

The expansion of Royal Park onto the site was completed by December 2014.

And out in Truganina I photographed the trashed gatehouse at the abandoned Truganina Munitions Reserve on Palmers Road.

Abandoned for years, it eventually bulldozed in 2020 so the road could be widened.

Building Regional Rail Link

In October 2012 work on the Regional Rail Link was well underway, with the west side of Sunshine station cleared to make room for two new V/Line platforms.

The car park off Irving Street at Footscray station was also closed for good, to make way for two new suburban platforms.

Work to widen the rail corridor towards Middle Footscray about to begin.

And out in the back blocks of Truganina a number of minor roads were about to be permanently closed, so that work on the new Regional Rail Link route between Deer Park and Werribee could start.

The new platforms at Footscray were first to open in January 2014, followed by the new platforms at Sunshine in April 2014, the new tracks between South Kensington and Sunshine in July 2014, and finally the new route via Tarneit in June 2015.

Myki replaces Metcard

The Metcard magstripe ticketing system was scheduled to be switched off at the end of December 2012, so the switch to Myki message was everywhere, including the soon to be removed ticket machines onboard trams.

At Flagstaff station the Metcard barriers were being replaced by new Myki gates.

Allowing the decommissioning of the 1990s-era ‘Barrier Lane Control’ computer that controlled them.

The Metcard gates were then disassembled.

With the ‘frankenbarrier’ conversion kits removed.

I assume the old ticket gates were sent back to Metcard operator OneLink, while the Myki readers were sent go back to their owner – Kamco.

Scenes that are gone

One morning I was out at Sunshine, where I found two V/Line trains running parallel towards me.

It was a little unusual back then, but it’s impossible now – Regional Rail Link converted the tracks to two single directional tracks, removing flexibility if a broken down train blocks one line.

On a quiet weekend I found dozens of Melbourne Bus Link buses stabled for the weekend at their Footscray depot.

Melbourne Bus Link was replaced by Transdev in 2013, who were then replaced by Kinetic in 2022; and the depot in Footscray closed in 2016, replaced by a new depot at Sunshine West.

At Moonee Ponds Junction I found tram passengers playing frogger while trying to change between route 59 and route 82 trams.

The mess of an interchange was rebuilt in 2016, providing a slightly nicer experience for passengers.

And finally, I spotted one of the seven surviving Hitachi trains in Melbourne running a Belgrave train at Southern Cross.

It took until December 2013 until the last one was finally withdrawn from revenue service.

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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Trains

A decade ago the Melbourne CBD skyline as viewed from Ascot Vale was much shorter.

As was that of Docklands viewed from North Melbourne station.

A handful of Hitachi trains were still kicking about.

But a new inspection train had just entered service.

Commissioned following a spate of overhead wire failures., from a glass cupola atop the carriage, staff and video cameras onboard the carriage monitor how the pantograph tracks along the overhead wire.

Going bush

I made up trip north to the Murray River at Echuca, and ran into four museum pieces hauling a freight train.

And an equally antiquated signalling system at the junction station of Barnes.

The four diesel locomotives were on hire from railway preservation groups.

I followed the train north, passing local wildlife.

Until we reached the Sunrice mill at Deniliquin, where the wagons were shunted into the plant for loading.

Rebuilding Footscray station

In 2012 work on the ‘Colander Bridge‘ at Footscray station had finally finished.

But it was still surrounded by a sea of car parking.

Stretching all the way to Barkly Street.

But work on Regional Rail Link was about to start.

The shops along Irving Street had been demolished to make way for two new platforms.

As had the service station at Hopkins Street.

The shops along the Nicholson Street bridge.

And even the trees along the rail cutting.

A spot of luck on the trams

In March 2012 the Tramway Museum Society Of Victoria chartered ‘Royal Tram‘ Z3.185 to run a special tour around Melbourne. Along the way we paid a visit to Royal Park.

And posed our tram for a cliché train over tram photo.

And parked at the end of the Footscray Road siding, a location passengers never visit.

In my travels I also paid a visit to Clifton Hill, and happened to catch a route 86 tram passing under a train bound for South Morang.

Back in 2012 this shot at Domain Interchange was nothing special.

But this piece of tram track no longer exists – route 8 is now route 58, and the tram tracks disused – diverted via Toorak Road in 2017 to make way for the construction of Anzac station.

The tram restaurant was another unremarkable sight.

But no longer exists – the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant last ran in 2018 after Yarra Trams grounded their fleet, and there is no sign of a possible solution.

A decade ago City Circle trams were still in the maroon livery, and were running out of North Fitzroy depot on Nicholson Street.

closed in 1993, but reopened in 2008-2012 to stable W class trams used on the City Circle while Southbank depot was undergoing refurbishment.

After months of inaction, work finally starting to happen on platform stops along Swanston Street.

Excavators having moved in to work on the platforms themselves.

On route 86 some new platform stops along High Street, Northcote had been built.

But route 96 services along Nicholson Street would have to wait – fancy yellow low floor ‘Bumblebee’ trams plying their way along the tracks, but with no platform stops to board them.

The trams got a repaint in 2014, but building accessible tram stops had to wait until 2018.

And under “something things never change” we have the route 57 terminus at West Maribyrnong terminus – the same high floor Z3 class trams still run there today, stopping outside the abandoned explosives factory.

Buses

Ventura blue and National Bus yellow were the colours of the buses at North Fitzroy depot.

The operation became Transdev Melbourne in 2013, then refranchised to Kinetic Melbourne in 2022.

In 2012 SkyBus was still boasting “20 minutes to the airport“, with a fleet of articulated buses plying the Tullamarine Freeway.

They acquired their first Bustech “CDi” double deck bus in 2015, which now form the core of their airport fleet.

Out at Highpoint Shopping Centre I found a high floor bus operated by Westrans.

Followed by a Melbourne Bus Link bus.

Melbourne Bus Link was merged into Transdev Melbourne in 2013, with Westrans rebranding as CDC Melbourne in 2014.

Finally, route 509 in Brunswick – a single minibus making the 2 kilometre long journey back and forth along Hope Street all day long.

I paid a visit because it was about to be discontinued, but despite how useless the service looked, locals appealed the decision, with the route eventually reinstated in 2016.

Emporium Melbourne

The big hole at Myer’s former Lonsdale Street store has featured in previous months.

And now it was complete.

The Lonsdale Street facade overlooking an empty hole.

Exposing tunnels to neighbouring buildings.

And the other stuff

March 2012 was the F1 Australian Grand Prix, and the usual merchandise stalls were stinking up access to Southern Cross Station.

Remember Melbourne Bike Share?

Since people can return their bike anywhere, leading to some stations becoming full and others empty, so management needed to drive around Melbourne rebalance bikes between the stations.

After years of lacklustre usage, the system was finally shut down in November 2019.

Out at Airport West I strolled past the Tullamarine Freeway.

Back then six lanes squeezed under the bridge at English Street, but in 2017 the bridge was rebuilt to allow eight to pass under, as part of CityLink Tulla Widening stage 2.

And finally – the Racecourse Hotel all boarded up in Flemington.

Next door to the roundabout with trams passing through the middle.

Abandoned since at least 2009, an arson attack in June 2012 destroyed the hotel, with the 22-storey apartment tower ‘ONLY Flemington’ now occupying the site.

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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Myki

The transition from Metcard to Myki as the ticket to travel on Melbourne public transport was well underway.

But plenty of passengers were resisting the new system.

But Metcard ticket machines were starting to be withdrawn.

Bold red ‘Myki is coming’ stickers placed on the soon to be removed machines.

But the new Myki system wasn’t fast enough to handle the number of passengers using it – resulting in long lines at stations during busy periods, a problem that became even worse as the decommissioned of Metcard continued.

Hitachi trains

The old non-air conditioned Hitachi trains were still running around Melbourne.

I was at Flinders Street Station one evening with some spare time when a Hitachi train turned up.

So I jumped onboard.

And went for a ride out to Williamstown.

And around the stations

Back in 2012 was was well underway to cram more shops into Southern Cross Station.

Management calling it a ‘new retail experience’.

But it was just more shops jammed whether they could, even if they blocked the path towards trains.

Meanwhile over at Flinders Street Station was a different kind of commercial promotion.

A mist cooling system being installed on platforms 2/3 and 4/5 as part of a Lipton Iced Tea promotion.

The system was removed soon after.

New tram stops

Outside Parliament station on Macarthur Street was a new ‘drive over’ platform tram stop.

While on Swanston Street work on the long awaited platform stops was about to start – lengths of brand new rail laid out at Flinders Lane.

Over one weekend the tracks were lowered for the new tram stop.

But the work was nowhere near completed – it took months for the tram stops themselves to be ready for use.

Meanwhile on Plenty Road in Preston, new part time tram lanes had been installed.

LED signs being installed before 12 part time tram lanes between Dundas Street in Preston to Albert Road in Reservoir, directing motorists off the tram tracks during peak times, in an attempt to speed up route 86 services to Bundoora.

But their effectiveness seems doubtful – each of the tram lanes ended before intersections, allowing right turning cars to still block trams.

And forgotten trams

Who remembers tram route 24?

It was a peak-only service from North Balwyn to La Trobe Street via Kew, which was discontinued in July 2014 as part of a simplification of tram routes.

And a decade ago Z1 class trams were still in service.

First delivered in 1975, the bulk of the Z1 class fleet was withdrawn following the introduction of the low floor C and D class trams in 2001/02, but 15 remained in service until 24 April 2016, when the delivery of more E class trams allowed them to be withdrawn. The similar looking high floor Z3 class trams remain in service today.

Demolishing Myer Melbourne

Demolition of the former Myer Melbourne store on Lonsdale Street was kicking along.

The building hollowed out.

With just a façade left.

Haled up with a web of scaffolding.

Cantilevered over the street below.

And 447 Collins Street falling apart

In January 2012 a chunk of 447 Collins Street fell to earth.

The area beneath the building was sealed off, and engineers were sent abseiling down to inspect the remaining facade panels.

Tap tap tap on each, to see if they were loose.

Scaffolding was soon erected to prevent any more panels from falling.

Permanent repairs were later completed, but it was for nothing – demolition of the building was given the go-ahead in 2014, with the 42 storey tall ‘Pantscraper’ (officially Collins Arch) now occupying the site.

And hard rubbish

The early 2010s was a peak time for CRT screen TVs in hard rubbish, but this month I found a different obsolete technology out on the nature strip – photo processing chemicals.

I only started taking photography seriously after I switched to digital, but for many photographers they still enjoy the process of film.

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year came early in 2012 thanks to the wonders of the lunar calendar, and Melbourne’s Chinatown was the place to be.

Pedestrians taking over Little Bourke Street.

And the odd little gravel car park off Corrs Lane.

Real estate agents hunting for Asian investors were well represented at the market stalls.

As was Metro Trains Melbourne and Hong Kong parent MTR – at their stall you could spin the wheel and win a trinket.

There were also the traditional lion dances.

And the main event – the Dai Loong Dragon procession.

Followed by firecrackers being set off everywhere.

Including at Chinese restaurants along Swanston Street.

Leaving a trail of exploded crackers.

And phone calls to the fire brigade.

Parking their trucks as close as they could, then walking to site.

To confirm that it was really just a false alarm.

Myer Melbourne

Since I was also in the CBD, I swung past the Myer Melbourne redevelopment.

The former Lonsdale Street store on the way down.

Leaving a big hole behind.

And a web of scaffolding holding the up the facade.

The Emporium Melbourne shopping complex was then constructed inside the shell, opening in 2014.

New trains

Brand new X’Trapolis trains were rolling out of the Alstom workshops at Ballarat.

Where I found this train completed except for the front fairing.

New stations

A new railway station on the Cranbourne line at Lynbrook was well underway.

It opened to passengers a few months later in April 2012.

But out on the Ballarat line things were moving much more slowly at the site of Caroline Springs station – work being abandoned once the access road was completed.

Work was eventually restarted in 2015, with Caroline Springs station finally opening in 2017.

And the new Regional Rail Link

Footscray station was about to be transformed for the Regional Rail Link project.

A new plaza on Irving Street had just been completed, but needed to be demolished for the new pair of platforms.

While over at North Melbourne work was much more advanced.

Little used tracks in the former freight yard being ripped up to make for the new Regional Rail Link tracks.

But no platforms were provided.

And west of Werribee the standard gauge freight track had been slewed away from the V/Line tracks, to make room for a massive overpass at the future Manor Junction.

Scenes that have changed

I found this X’Trapolis train out at Lilydale, an otherwise unremarkable sight.

But today the scene has been completely transformed – a new elevated station occupying the site, constructed as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project.

A handful of ageing Hitachi trains were also still in service.

Providing a convenient view into the City Loop tunnels.

Until they were finally withdrawn from service in December 2013.

And another everyday scene – parked cars at Laverton station almost stretching as far as neighbouring Aircraft station.

Back then it was a money saving trick – Aircraft was the first station in zone 2, so by using Laverton station passengers could half their ticket costs – a situation which remained until fares were capped at zone 1 prices in 2015.

Trams go ding

Out at Footscray station a new platform stop was built at the route 82 terminus.

But a decade later it is yet to see a low floor tram.

However route 57 got lucky for a few days – air-conditioned B2 class trams were assigned to the route while track work was underway on Mt Alexander Road.

But some passengers missed out – these extra services terminated at the Maribyrnong River crossover.

And finally – ‘safety’ zones. This time around it wasn’t the one in Ascot Vale that’s been hit 14 times, but a much busier tram stop on William Street at Bourke Street.

Southern Cross Station

I’ve written about passenger congestion at Southern Cross Station before, and in 2012 the problem was the exit towards Collins Street and Docklands.

The ticket gates were overcrowded in morning peak.

And of an evening passengers spilled off the tram stop, trying to find a gap in traffic.

Only to find no kerb cut on the other side.

A situation that wasn’t fixed until 2014, when a proper pedestrian crossing was installed between station and tram stop.

Also at the south end of Southern Cross Station was these abandoned concrete deck above platforms 13 through 16.

Originally intended to be the base of an office tower, the space sat empty for a decade.

Until the 699 Bourke Street and 664 Collins Street office towers were built on the deck between 2013 and 2018.

On the road

A decade ago electric cars were a new fangled mode of transport, when I found a car belonging to the Victorian Government’s ‘Electric Vehicle Trial’.

The $5 million initiative was launched in October 2010 and ran until mid-2014.

More money for roads was the $759 million Peninsula Link freeway being built between Frankston and Moorooduc.

It opened to motorists in 2013.

While the poor cousin for transport on the Mornington Peninsula is the route 788 bus from Frankston to Portsea.

After being neglected for years, in 2021 route 788 received an increase in frequency, and in 2022 connecting bus routes were revamped.

And by the water

Down at Webb Dock I found the ‘Tasman Achiever’ ro-ro cargo ship being loaded for another trip across Bass Strait.

It was replaced in 2019 by the creatively named ‘Tasman Achiever II’.

Over the 2011-12 Christmas and New Year period Searoad Ferries was running a three vessel service between Queenscliff and Sorrento, so I headed down the peninsula for a ride on their original ferry – MV Peninsula Princess.

Today moored at Queenscliff, MV Peninsula Princess is still available for revenue service when the later ferries are in dry dock.

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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Trains

Work on Regional Rail Link was kicking off at Middle Footscray.

Excavators having rolled in.

To demolish the compulsorily acquired houses along Buckley Street.

Work on the extension of suburban trains to South Morang was almost complete, with track laid up to the future terminus.

As was duplication of the single track section between Keon Park and Epping.

The Metcard ticketing system was still hanging on, but new LCD next train displays were being rolled out.

Southern Cross Station was in the middle of a revamp – adding more shops.

While South Yarra station still had it’s little kiosk sticking out into the concourse opposite the ticket gates.

Things that go bump

On 26 November 2011 a V/Line train bound for Albury derailed at West Footscray.

The train split between two tracks.

The incident investigation report finding:

Shortly after its exit from the Bunbury Street tunnel the locomotive encountered a track defect at a location beneath the Nicholson Street road overbridge in Footscray that caused the derailment of one wheelset.

The train continued for about 1200 metres with the locomotive in this partially-derailed state until it encountered a turnout, resulting in the complete derailment of the locomotive and the first passenger car, and the derailment of the leading bogie of the second passenger car.

There were no injuries to passengers or V/Line personnel; however the track sustained significant damage.

Trams

Back in May 2011 work started on platform stops along Swanston Street – months later, the stop outside Melbourne Central was still incomplete.

Yarra Trams marking November with fuzzy Movember moustaches on the front of their trams.

They’ve missed a few Movembers in the years that have followed, and switched to a simpler stick on decal.

And some other bits

A $300 million expansion of Highpoint Shopping Centre was underway, with tower cranes at work on the 30,000 sqm extension, taking the centre to a total of 156,000 sqm.

Mobil petrol stations on the way out, having been taken over by 7-Eleven.

Down at the west end of the Melbourne CBD things were much emptier.

Emporium Melbourne was just a big hole between Little Bourke and Lonsdale Streets.

A day of planespotting

I made a trip out to Melbourne Airport to photograph the procession of planes.

Finding Virgin Blue’s only ‘blue’ plane.

Air New Zealand 747 – since retired.

United Airlines 747 – also retired.

V Australia 777 – subsumed into Virgin Australia.

Skytraders A319 – famous for another reason.

Tiger Airways A320 – merged into Virgin Australia and since retired as a brand.

Singapore Airlines A380 – on hiatus thanks to Covid.

And a Strategic Airlines A330 – liquidated in 2012.

And a trip to Adelaide

I ended November 2011 with a trip to Adelaide.

Where I rode some trams.

Their ‘Jumbo’ railcars.

And the diesel version of Melbourne’s Comeng railcars.

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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A land before COVID

Remember peak hour crowds at CBD railway stations? I wrote about it a decade ago, and ended up in The Age.

In the years since much faster ticket readers by Vix have been deployed at busy stations, but for the past 18 months they’ve been barely used – COVID has cratered patronage.

How about the days when the AFL Grand Final was held in Melbourne? Back in 2011 Collingwood and Geelong were playing, with V/Line running extra trains from Geelong to transports Cats fans to the big game.

V/Line retired their fleet of P class locomotives in 2017, selling them to freight operator Southern Shorthaul Railroad in 2019, and thanks to COVID both the 2020 and 2021 AFL Grand Finals were held interstate.

October also used to be when the Royal Melbourne Show was held, with trains to Showgrounds station to transporting the crowds.

The show has been cancelled for two consecutive years thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the site turned over to a COVID-19 testing site and vaccination hub.

Changes on the railways

Ginifer used to be a station located at ground level.

Flowers placed beside the pedestrian crossing, following yet another person being struck and killed by a train.

And I found more flowers beside a second pedestrian crossing closer to St Albans.

After years of lobbying by local residents, in 2015 level crossings grade separated and new stations were built at Ginifer and St Albans, but there was one omission – the pedestrian crossing between them was left behind.

And finally down in the shadows of Docklands, I found freight wagons being shunted ready for another trip down the Frankston line.

The entire freight yard was relocated in 2015 to make way for the E-Gate urban renewal project, but the land has since been co-opted by the West Gate ‘Tunnel’ Project, to be covered by a tangle of freeway ramps.

Build it up

At 199 William Street the long abandoned skyscraper was seeing some activity.

Redeveloped as ‘The William‘ the lower floors are the Wyndham Hotel Melbourne, with apartments above.

Out at Melbourne Airport, work was well underway on a new air traffic control tower.

The 75 metre tall tower was built at a cost of $19 million, and took over from the 1970s facility next door in 2014.

Outside of Geelong, work on the $78 million final stage of the Geelong Ring Road was almost complete, with a 4.6 kilometre extension from Anglesea Road at Waurn Ponds to Pettavel Road.

It opened to motorists in 2013, and was followed in 2016 by the $164 million Princes Highway West duplication 25 kilometres from Waurn Ponds to Winchelsea.

A nice change from endless road projects was a brand new rail freight terminal at Spotswood.

Operated by Sadleirs Logistics, the terminal sees freight trains daily.

Changes were afoot on the railway towards Sunbury – electrification works were underway

The $270 million project extended suburban train services from Watergardens to Diggers Rest and Sunbury stations, allowing the retirement of the dedicated V/Line services to Sunbury from November 2012.

And the first extension of the suburban rail network in decades – 3.5 kilometres from Epping to South Morang.

When I visited the civil works were mostly complete, with ballast being dropped along the freshly laid track.

The extended line opened to passengers in April 2012, and cleared the way for a further extension of the railway – 8 kilometres north to Mernda, completed in August 2018.

And tear it down

Between Lonsdale and Little Bourke Street in the CBD there was a massive hole.

That was once occupied by Myer Melbourne.

The site was being cleared for the Emporium Melbourne shopping centre, completed in 2014, and which sits behind the facades of the former Myer store.

Over at the former RAAF Williams airfield in Laverton, I found a runway that wasn’t in very good shape.

Last used in 1998, the site is now the suburb of Williams Landing.

On Buckley Street in Footscray I found a row of abandoned houses, with windows boarded up.

Compulsorily acquired for the Regional Rail Link project, the remaining sliver of land is now occupied by townhouses.

While beside the West Gate Freeway another abandoned building was being demolished – the former West Gate Bridge toll plaza.

Made redundant in 1985 following removal of tolls on the bridge, VicRoads retained the site as a conference centre before selling it to a developer in 2010. The site is now the Expressway Business Park.

Things that are gone

Remember yellow ‘Bumblebee’ trams?

By 2014 the bee themed decals were looking rather tatty, so the trams were repainted into the standard Public Transport Victoria livery.

How about the mX newspaper?

Handed out free to homeward bound commuters at CBD railway stations, readership declined thanks to the rise of smartphones, with the final edition published on 12 June 2015.

And the food court at Southern Cross?

It was located on the mezzanine floor at the Collins Street end, and overlooked the country platforms.

The food court closed in November 2011 to make way for a redevelopment of the food and retail outlets at the station, with a Woolworths Metro supermarket now occupying the site.

And things that are the same

Marketing stalls blocking the main entrance to Melbourne Central Station? Still there!

Waiting 20 minutes for a train on the Craigieburn line after 6pm? Still there!

‘Smartbuses’ stuck in traffic in the Melbourne CBD? Still there!

And something foreboding?

Outside Melbourne Central Station I found a line of people dressed in Tyvek coveralls.

But they weren’t testing patients at a COVID exposure site – but handing out marketing junk for the 2011 film ‘Contagion’.

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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The changing railway scene

This month I headed out east to the site of the new Lynbrook station.

Located on the Cranbourne line between Dandenong and Merinda Park, it opened to passengers in April 2012.

I also visited the future site of Williams Landing station.

Back then part of the runway for the former RAAF base was still in place, but housing development was slowly encroaching on it.

Williams Landing station opened in April 2013, while the only sign of the former airfield is the heritage listed aircraft hangars next door.

I also took a look at Middle Footscray before the Regional Rail Link project bulldozed it’s way through the suburb.

The entire north side of Buckley Street was once full of houses.

But it was acquired to make room for the extra tracks.

Once the railway was was complete, the remaining land was sold off, including a section of land that was once a park. Townhouses are currently being built on the site.

Changes were also afoot at Southern Cross Station.

The food court on the mezzanine floor had been boarded up.

And the hoardings advised of ‘Exciting New Retailers’.

As the previously open spaces were replaced by more shops.

My visit to Melbourne Central station wasn’t prompted by pending works, but the scene a decade ago was a little different.

The CRT next train displays were still in place – coloured by line.

As was the ramp between La Trobe Street and the upper level of the underground station concourse.

The CRT screens were eventually replaced by LCD screens in November 2011, while the ramp to La Trobe Street was demolished in 2016 to make way for the Aurora Melbourne Central development.

Ding ding on the trams

September 2011 saw the abolition of ‘secret’ tram route numbers – replaced by the ‘A’ and ‘D’ suffixes for altered routes and depot bound trams.

I also found a broken down D2 class tram at Ascot Vale

The pantograph was damaged, disabling the tram, so mechanics had to cut it off.

Shunt the tram with their heavy recover truck.

Couple up the tram to a working classmate.

Then tow it back to the depot, the combined tram stretching 60 metres.

Something different at Docklands

On 25 September 2011 Searoad Ferries an open day at Waterfront City in Melbourne’s Docklands to show off the newly refurbished Queenscliff-Sorrento car ferry ‘MV Queenscliff’.

They also brought Thomas the Tank Engine along for the ride, on loan from the Bellarine Railway.

While I was in the area, I wandered around heritage listed Shed 20-21 at Victoria Dock.

Constructed in 1926 as a single 396.2 metre long (1300 foot) and 24.5 metre wide (80 foot) cargo shed, it was once a busy wharf, but now lies in the shadows of the Bolte Bridge.

But was now abandoned and neglected, covered in graffiti.

In December 2012 part of the shed roof collapsed, leading to it’s demolition. Ron Barassi Senior Park now occupies the site.

A hole in the Melbourne CBD

A big hole was being created in the middle of Melbourne.

Next door to the Myer store on Bourke Street.

Excavators demolishing the former Lonsdale Street store to make room for the ‘Emporium’ shopping centre.

The complex opened in 2014.

Rubbish in the streets

A decade ago the changeover to digital TV in Australia was well underway, so during hard rubbish season old-fashioned CRT screen TVs lined the streets.

Analog TV in Melbourne held on a little longer, the last transmitter being switched off in December 2013.

Something else that should’ve gone out in hard rubbish was the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel.

Opened in December 2008, two years behind schedule, it closed again 40 days later due to cracks in the wheel. It was decided to tear down the wheel and start over.

The rebuilt wheel reopened in December 2013, providing the finest views of Melbourne’s rail freight terminals, until it’s closure was announced in September 2021, effective immediately.

And everyday things the pandemic took away

Who remembers going to work in an office, and sitting out in the sun for lunch?

Going to live music gigs?

And big theatre crowds?

Thanks to the pandemic we haven’t seen any of that for 18 months, but hopefully things will start getting back to normal soon – so go get vaccinated!

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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Open House Melbourne

The last weekend of July is usually Open House Melbourne, so I did the rounds of places normally closed to the public.

First off, the underground Russell Place electrical substation.

Complete with mercury arc rectifiers.

Hamer Hall, which was mid renovation.

The former Land Titles Office on Queen Street.

Toured the back of house areas of the State Library of Victoria.

A rooftop garden at 278 Flinders Lane.

The Myer Mural Hall.

Melbourne’s first skyscraper – ICI House.

Up to the top of 50 Lonsdale Street.

And down into the Royal Melbourne Hospital steam tunnels.

Trains and trams

One morning I was on my way to work, and found something odd – a V/Line train being pushed by a suburban electric train!

The V/Line train had run out of fuel at Footscray, so to keep things moving in the lead up to morning peak, it was pushed out of the way by the first train behind.

I found another public transport oddity down at Appleton Dock – a tram sitting on the back of a truck.

The Bombardier-built Flexity tram had just arrived from Germany by sea, and was ready to head for Adelaide to run on the Glenelg line.

But an everyday sight back in 2011 was ticket machines onboard Melbourne trams.

Removed following the decommissioning of the Metcard ticketing system in December 2012, it was originally planned to replace them with Myki machines, but the idea was abandoned in 2011.

Another then-unremarkable view was this one from Wurundjeri Way looking back towards Southern Cross Station.

A pair of office towers now occupy the western roof of Southern Cross Station, the Regional Rail Link tracks now occupy the roadside, and the skyline behind is full of new apartment towers.

Abandonment

A forgettable building in the Melbourne CBD is 405 Bourke Street. Launched back in 2007 as ‘The Foundry’, by 2011 the shopping centre had been boarded up, the original developer having gone into liquidation.

But a decade later things have changed – a new 43 storey tall office development has been built on the site, cantilevered 10 metres over the heritage listed building.

Another unremarkable building was the last remaining part of the West Gate Bridge toll plaza – the abandoned VicRoads control room in Port Melbourne.

Located next door to the tensile membrane roofed service station.

The site had just been sold to a developer, with demolition commencing a few months later.

Warehouses now occupy the site.

Finally, another abandoned site I visited this month was the former Gilbertson’s Meatworks in Altona North.

Empty for years, the site was finally cleared in 2012, and rezoned for residential development – with ‘Haven’ by Stockland and ‘The Fabric’ by Mirvac both under construction today.

And new construction

In 2011 demolition was well underway at the former Myer store on Lonsdale Street.

The facade was still there.

But a wall of scaffolding was on the way up.

Ready to support the building.

While the guts were ripped out of the middle.

Emporium Melbourne was then built on the site, opening to shoppers in 2014.

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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In with the new

Every month seems to involve new rail infrastructure, and this is no different.

At Laverton station on the Werribee line, a crane was hard at work lifting the new footbridge spans into place.

Cranes were also working at Coolaroo.

Where a new two platform station was being built on the Craigieburn line, between Broadmeadows and Roxburgh Park stations.

While the long awaited new footbridge at Footscray station was slowly being extended across the tracks.

Just in time to be partially demolished in 2013 to make way for Regional Rail Link.

The first of the new X’Trapolis trains had arrived into Melbourne, and were running around minus any branding.

The result of a 2007 contest between existing suppliers of Melbourne trains, Siemens and Alstom, the trains were a much needed response to cater for an explosion in rail patronage. The past decade has seen X’Trapolis trains now forming the core of the Melbourne train fleet, but have been ordered in numbers just big enough to keep the Alstom factory at Ballarat in business, putting it’s future in doubt.

In 2009 the rollout of Myki equipment on the V/Line platforms at Southern Cross Station kicked off.

With temporary fencing funnelling passengers through the future ticket gates.

But it took June 2013 (four more years!) until Myki was first accepted on V/Line commuter services, with paper tickets not killed off until February 2014.

Scenes that no longer exist

Non-air conditioned Hitachi trains were still in service.

The last one running in December 2013.

Furlong Road at Ginifer station still had a level crossing.

It wasn’t grade separated until 2017.

V/Line was still running two car VLocity trains, like this one passing through Middle Footscray.

The houses in the background were demolished in 2011 to make way for the Regional Rail Link project, and in June 2016 the last VLocity train was extended to three cars.

Here a V/Line train pulling into Melbourne Yard, with the Docklands skyline in the background.

In 2014 the area was rebuilt as part of the Regional Rail Link project, but without any platforms at North Melbourne, while the V/Line train itself was retired in August 2017.

I went past the freight yard at North Dynon freight yard.

Aurizon withdrew from the operation of interstate intermodal services in 2017, V/Line trains now pass by on their own Regional Rail Link tracks, and Sunbury trains will soon move into the Metro Tunnel portal now being constructed.

Plus further afield, I photographed a V/Line train from Warrnambool passes the new housing developments of Grovedale and Waurn Ponds.

The surrounding paddocks were rezoned as the Armstrong Creek Growth Area in 2010, with Waurn Ponds station opened on the site in 2014, but it took until this year for the first bus route through Armstrong Creek to commence operation.

I also followed a freight train bound for Mildura, passing through the abandoned station at Creswick.

And Clunes.

Both stations closed to passengers in 1993, but now see passenger trains again – Creswick from a new platform opened in 2010 following the restoration of passenger services to Maryborough, and Clunes from a platform restored in 2011.

And away from the railway tracks

Remember when the Western Ring Road had a grass median strip?

Opened back in the 1990s, it was widened in stages from 2009, with the final section completed in 2018. How long until the next ‘upgrade’?

Birrarung Marr used to be the home of a ferris wheel.

Billed as the “largest travelling ferris wheel in the southern hemisphere“, patronage plummeted following the opening of the Melbourne Star observation wheel in the back blocks of Docklands, with it being relocated to Geelong.

And goodbye to the art deco Lonsdale House.

Reconstructed in 1934 from two different sized Victorian-era buildings, it was demolished in 2009 as part of the Emporium shopping centre development – to make room for a loading dock.

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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First stop – the MIRRAT terminal at Webb Dock.

Where every car in Victoria is now unloaded.

Up to the top of the Melbourne GPO, at the DesignInc architecture studio.

Emporium Melbourne, riding a 25 tonne truck hoist 12 metres down into the basement.

And then up to the fifth floor, to see the empty void behind the Myer Lonsdale Street store facade.

Watching passing trains from the ‘Signal’ youth arts centre.

And finally – Australia 108, where a room full of diesel powered fire water pumps occupy level 42.

More photos still to some – though I wonder how long it will take me to upload them!

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