Category: Transport

Sep 15

Paddle Steamer Gem, Pioneer Settlement, Swan Hill

From the information panel just before going aboard,  the Gem was built in 1876 as a barge, but a year later "was fitted with’4 40 horsepower steam engine, wood fired boilers and upper works enabling her to be employed carrying freight and passengers on the River Murray as a steamer. In 1882, she was "cut...

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Aug 31

Horse-drawn Omnibus

Larger photo Part of the horse-drawn vehicle collection at Swan Hill's Pioneer Settlement. The horse-drawn Omnibus was a French invention which came to Australia via England in the mid nineteenth century, it was the equivalent of the modern suburban bus. Similar to the Family Wagonette in that it has parallel side seats, panelled sides and...

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Aug 31

Horse-drawn Hearse

Larger photo Part of the horse-drawn vehicle collection at Swan Hill's Pioneer Settlement. This Hearse was manufactured in Scotland, probably towards the end of the nineteenth century, and was imported for use in the suburbs of Melbourne. Once horse-drawn hearses started to fall out of favour with the more modern citizens of the City, it...

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Jul 16

Tram

Larger version. Restored tram, belonging to Hobart City Council. First paragraph: TRAM NO. 39 Built in 1917 as a two-man tram. No. 39 was originally operated by both a driver and a conductor. In 1926 it was converted to a one-man tram on which the driver was also required to collect the fares. After about...

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Mar 15

Lower deck, P.S. Gem

Larger image Lower deck on P.S. Gem, at the Swan River Pioneer Settlement. From information panel on post: ENGINE ROOM Following her conversion from barge to paddle steamer in 1877, this space would have been filled with the large, wood fired boiler which provided the steam for the engine. That was linked directly to the...

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Feb 15

Upper Deck, P.S. Gem

Upper deck on P.S. Gem, at the Swan River Pioneer Settlement. THE WHEELHOUSE The nature of river travel on the ever changing Murray River required that the Captain have good visibility in order to guide his vessel through the pitfalls of snags, changing river levels and sand bars. From his perch high up in the...

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Feb 15

Middle Deck, P.S. Gem

iddle deck on P.S. Gem, at the Swan River Pioneer Settlement. From panel: ART GALLERY As part of the process of converting the PS Gem to an Art Gallery, all of the dividing bulkheads between the cabins along this row were removed. This gave a single large space which could be used for exhibitions. However,...

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Feb 8

Portable Steam Engine

At Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre From eHive entry: Steam engine (portable), c.1900 "A single cylinder, wood fired portable steam engine. It would have been moved to the job by bullocks or horses."

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Dec 29

Water Cart, Horse-drawn

This water cart has two points of interest on the back. On the left is an information panel and on the right is an opening that lets you look inside. The panel says: This water cart was used at the Tasmania Mine to spray the mine year to rest the dust. The driver could operate...

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Dec 23

Concord model thorough-brace coach

Larger image. At the National Museum of Australia (database record, has more photos). The accompanying panel says: Concord model thorough-brace coach 1860-80 This coach may have been manufactured by Cobb and Co. at its Charleville coachworks in Queensland or by a smaller company in the Gunnedah area of New South wales. It was used on...

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Jul 23

Gig

(Larger version Panel at the front say, in part: Gig with Road Cart Body This vehicle is a gig not a jinker, sulky or trap. The differences are that a gig has the shaft running right past the body to the rear of the vehicle. Gigs are also enclosed at the back, but have ample...

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Jul 23

Jinker

(Larger image) This is a light, two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle. But how does it differ from other light, two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicles like gigs and sulkies? Short answer, it doesn't. From "Sulkies, Whiskeys and Gigs" by Jeff Powell, Curator, Cobb & Co Museum in the Australian Carriage Driving Society Show Driving Handbook (PDF): From Cooktown to Kalgoorlie...

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May 19

Bridge of HMAS Brisbane

Larger version This area was dark, so there are two sets of photos, the first withut the flash and the second with. (Or you could head over to the Australian War Memorial website and check out the Google Street Maps version. From the information panel: After decades of service with the RAN and having seen...

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