Summary

Part of a collection of 30 black & white photographs relating to the MMBW Spotswood Sewerage Pumping Station, created by former superintendent engineer Mr John Halliday.

John Arthur Halliday (1879-1960) joined the Spotswood Pumping Station workforce as an Engine Fitter in 1905, subsequently becoming a Junior Engineer in 1906 (later known as Shift Engineer). Following the retirement of D.B. Harkess in June 1928, John Halliday was promoted to the role of Senior Engineer (later known as Superintendent Engineer), at an annual salary of £598/15/-. He held the latter position until retirement at the age of 65 in January 1945.

After being appointed to the role of Senior Engineer, he moved into the residence onsite at the Pumping Station, with his wife, Lizzie, and daughter, Rita. After his reitrement, John and Lizzie moved to 27 Austin Street, Footscray. Their daughter had previously left home after she married in 1935.

Description of Content

Back garden at rear of Superintendent Engineer's residence 'Blair Athol', at Spotswood Pumping Station, with a lawn, footpath, a fernery built with wooden diagonally slatted walls and garden beds planted with flowers and other plants. To the right is an enclosed porch at the back of the house with a low wooden stool beside it, and a high slatted wooden side fence with an opening leading to the side garden where the rear of a fibro-cement garage is visible. It the background is a vent standpipe connected with the sewers. John Halliday, the Superintendent Engineer, is lying on the lawn propped on one elbow, and a woman (probably his wife or daughter) is standing beside the fence in front of the fernery.

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