Keep Moving On The 86 Tram No1: Preston Junction

by U3A Darebin
4 years ago
Near Preston, AU

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Keep Moving by 86 Tram- Preston Junction Tour
Bell St to Collins St
P Michell, 2020
• Meet at Bell St – Tram Stop 45
• South along High St to Yann St - Head west to High St
• High St – head south to Oakover Rd – Head West
• Retrace back to High St / Plenty Rd
• Junction
• Head east along Dundas St to Tower House and back to Junction
• [Possible detour – Blythe / Plow / Hutton / Mansfield Sts]
• Head south to Collins St down High St
• End - Collins St – Stop 41 / Miller St – Stop 42

START THE TOUR on Bell St South West side
Bell St is one of the major East / West arterial roads of Melbourne. Just as High St is one of the few northerly exit roads from Melbourne. It connects the Nepean Hwy in the east to Coburg in the west.
• Gowerville Hotel (1878) 197 Plenty Rd. Opposite start of tour.
Head East along Bell St
• Former PANCH hospital (1941-1980s) Bell Centre Crnr Hotham & Bell St is.
Retrace Steps
• Former Marshall Bros – Builders & Timber Yard (1885) crnr Bell & Plenty Rds –
• Melody Picture Theatre (1926-61) 175-77 Plenty Rd - Former Gowerville /
• Former Simpson’s Blacksmith & Wheelwright (1886-1891). 173 Plenty Rd
• Funeral Home Double storey Vic solid brick. 155-7 Plenty Rd -
Stop 44 Osborne Grove
• Former W J Inglis Timber & Hardware, on the corner of Osborne Gve
• Two Storey Shop and Residences. 131 – 149 Plenty Rd.
Turn into Yann St – Head West
Frederick Yann, a German, ran a blacksmith and wheelwright business here. He had extensive land holdings between High St and Plenty Rd. Land at the rear was developed in late 1800s.
• South Preston Methodist Church (1888). 2 Yann St. This replaced the church on High St. C H James’ name on foundation stone. He was a significant property developer in Fairfield, Northcote and Prahran. Built Illawarra in Toorak.
• Houses (1890) from 8 and 17 Yann St –
Turn into High St – Head South
• Yann House is on the corner of Junction St and High St. This area includes the old Dalcon Slipper Co a Former Church and a Woodyard on the corner of Raglan St.
Cross High
• Former Prince Alfred Hotel (1865-1922) Two storey brick at 87 High St
• Excelsior Apartments (1922) – Former Howe Tannery at 93-103 High St .
• Hutton’s Factory Site (1880-1980s) on the corner of Oakover Rd, South
Turn into Oakover Rd – Head West
Notice the industrial development on north side and the residential development on the south side. (Related to water for commercial use. Huttons occupied all the land to St Georges Rd, south of Oakover Rd.) Miller St, Merri Creek, Bell St and High St. in this area were the centre of soap, tanning, brick and pottery works in the area.
Cross Railway Carefully!
North side is now housing commission dwellings it was an industrial site. In this area were the Dever bacon curing plant, the Ziegel slaughterhouse and the Stirling/Preston soap company.
Cross St Georges Rd – (Optional depends on enthusiasm and time)
Here we can see Bullen’s Drain which was a pipe line at one time, providing water to the industries in the area.

Cross Newman St
This area contained an ice works, the Premier Pottery and Flock Manufacturing.
Retrace steps back to High St
• Hardenack’s South Preston Tannery
• Junction Hotel (1861) This still serves good cheap food.
• Former Planet Theatre (1939-60) on the corner of Miller St, now of course apartments.
• Former Bacon Works (1862-1980s) Dundas St & Plenty Rd corner now more apartments
The Junction
South Preston or Gowerville was, until well into the twentieth century, where most of the retail and industrial business for Preston happened. A number of buildings still stand reflect this late nineteenth century past. Tanneries, leather goods, small goods were all active. Former brickworks pits later became rubbish tips and now parks.
• Ex MMTB Tramway Workshops (1920s) Miller St West. (This is not on the tour but well worth a wander by one day)
Turn into Dundas St – Head East - Cross Hotham St
(The Keep Moving Tour South Preston Tour covers this area)
• Barunah: A large tower house is• Short Detour to Penders Grove Toilet block & V J Bradley.
Return to High St. (If time is short skip Plow St/Mansfield St, go 802 High St and finish at 774
Cross High St and head west along Blythe St. Turn left into Plow St – Head South
• In this area, on the west side are some nineteenth century houses and on the east side some early twentieth century ones
Turn left into Hutton St – head east back to High St. Cross High St to Mansfield St
• St Mary’s Church (1916). 718 -30 High St. At the rear of the church is St Mary’s Presbytery (1929) A High Bungalow design.
Head north up High St
• Cream brick dwelling with rounded corner (1954). 774 High St/Collins Corner.
• Former Petrol station and service centre (1920s?). 802 High St.
• Penders Grove (1840s – 1880s)
• Smith’s “Thornbury” farm (1840s-1880s)
• Stop 42 Collins St
END OF TOUR