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Marshalite Traffic Signals.
These clock style signals were used in parts of Melbourne from the 1940's.
The hand swept around the face of the signal pointing to the red, green and
yellow band to indicate stop, go and prepare to stop.
The last of them were along the Nepean Hwy until the late 1970's operating
with synchronised traffic lights (I can remember seeing them). Their chief
advantage was that you could clearly see the amount of time until a change
of colour was coming. But the disadvantage was that they did not respond to
variable traffic demands. Meaning you had to wait for them to cycle even if
there was no traffic on the side road. Which was common along the Nepean Hwy
when the parallel railway held up traffic.
Top picture:
The example here is one of a pair preserved at Chelsea, Vic. The pedestrian
WALK / DO NOT
WALK indications are possibly not original however, although I
understand such signals did exist.
Lower picture: Here is a Marshalite signal preserved inside and in
operation at the Melbourne Museum in Carlton. |
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Older yellow traffic lights.
Some examples of traffic signals in the earlier all yellow paint. These are
some relatively rare survivors which South Melbourne seems to have an
abundance of. As can be seen here, a few replacement parts in the current
black colour have been used to keep them serviceable. |
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More yellow signals. More
earlier traffic lights in South Melbourne. These are probably from the
1960's. Most seem to be products of The Eagle Signal Co. which was quite
common in Victoria at that time. |
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Yellow signals with green left
arrow. A rare example of a green only left arrow (no amber arrow). When
arrows were still a bit of a novelty, the single green left arrow came on
when the right arrow for the side street came on (no conflicting movements).
The problem came when the arrow went off. With no warning, people would run
the red light as if to say they hadn't noticed the arrow had gone off.
Obviously drivers in Sth Melbourne are better behaved and there has been no
need to update this one yet. |
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Another view of the same
intersection. Note early pedestrian button and 12" left green
arrow beside 8" RYG (Red, Yellow, Green) signal in the background. |
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Neon pedestrian signal.
Obviously there is some kind of timewarp in the South Melbourne area because
here's some more old signals. The traffic light has been painted black in an
attempt to modernise it, but the black has faded to the point where the
faded yellow underneath is visible. Not a good look. But I digress. The
neon pedestrian signal was once common in Victoria. As you can see, the word
WALK changed from red to green rather than have a separate lens for
each colour.
Note also the backplate / target board which is mounted behind the
signalhead. Newer signals have this mounted flush with the face of the
signal. |
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School crossing with neon
pedestrian signals. Another rare survivor. I am informed that traffic
signals in some areas are the responsibility of the local shire rather than
VicRoads. This also seems to apply to school crossings. Which explains why
older equipment survives at certain locations. Glen Waverley, Vic. |
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Neon pedestrian signal.
Example of a different style neon signal. Apart from the rounded housing,
this sign is unusual in showing the apostrophe that is usually missing on
the word DON'T on these signals and road
signs. This signal has since been replaced by the standard red man / green
man signal. Preston, Vic. |
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Text pedestrian signal.
This kind of signal was never common in Victoria, but was used in NSW and
other states (corrections please). The example in the photo on the left is
(again) in South Melbourne. Before they started fitting a lot of these in
Victoria to replace the neons, the now standard red standing man and green
walking man signals came into use.
The 2 smaller photos are close-ups of one of these signals in my own
collection. |
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Pedestrian push buttons. Three examples
of push buttons for pedestrian signals. Left; Earlier kind
that read CALL RECORDED lit in red when
you pressed the button. Sth Melb. Middle; Intermediate style had an
illuminated red or white
WAIT when pressed. Darren Hodges
collection.
Right; Current style which has a red LED when pressed. Hallam,
Vic. |
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Early instruction sign.
Something from a simpler era. South Melbourne, Vic. |
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Instruction label explaining
the meanings of the symbols on pedestrian signals. Unfortunately, this one
was facing an old text (DONT WALK /
WALK) signal, as is the one in the
previous photo. Preston, Vic. |
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Modern polycarbonate traffic
signal. This is representative of the modern Australian traffic signal.
The site will show some of the variations within each state and between
states later. The sign indicates the pedestrian crossing signals flash
amber for a few seconds before turning green. Traffic may proceed if the
crossing is already clear.
Stratford, Vic. |
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Standard traffic signal with
amber and green right turn arrows. This traffic signal looks out of
place in a rural setting. And today, it probably is. It is near Loy Yang
power station in Victoria's Latrobe Valley. No doubt in days gone by, shift
change at the power station generated large volumes of traffic. The size of
the car parks around it certainly suggest this. But things change and it was
somewhat quieter when the photo was taken. Recently however, this road
became the newly deviated Hyland Hwy when the old alignment was closed on
account of expanding brown coal mining encroaching on the old road. |
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Seven lamp signal. Standard
RYG circles with amber and green left and right turn arrows either side.
Burwood, Vic. |
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Twelve lamp signals. All
stop. The addition of tram signals in Melbourne make for many interesting
combinations of complex looking traffic lights. |
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World record? You are not
seeing things. There is an incredible 14 'lanterns' (the official term) on
this top-heavy signal in Melbourne's CBD. |
