Summary

This commemorative medal was designed by the collector Alfred Chitty to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of Australia's first railway, the Melbourne to Sandridge (Port Melbourne) line in 1854. Chitty had 50 medals struck. The medal includes the initials of William Alfred Hall, the son of a pioneer of Williamstown and an amateur historian.
Opening of Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway, 1854 c. 1914 (AD)
Mint: Stokes & Sons.

Obverse Description

View of Flinders Street Station in 1854, around, MELBOURNE & HOBSONS BAY RAILWAY STATION FLINDERS STREET. In small letters the designsers and mint initials, A.C. S & S W.A.H.

Reverse Description

TO / COMMEMORATE THE / OPENING OF THE FIRST STEAM / RAILWAY IN AUSTRALIA / MELBOUR NE TO SANDRIDGE 12TH SEP 1854 / AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST / LOCOMOTIVE USED IN / AUSTRALIA / ALSO / EARLY VICTORIAN RAILWAYS / MELBOURNE TO GEELONG, 1857 / MELBOURNE TO ST. KILDA, 1857 / MELBOURNE TO WILLIAMSTOWN, / 1859 / MELBOURNE TO ESSENDON / 1860

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

One of several privately owned railways in Victoria. Established in September 1854, the railway ran between Sandridge (Port Melbourne) and the City. -University of Melbourne website http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/asaw/biogs/A001224b.htm, -D. Tout-Smith 19/9/2003.

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