Heidelberg Roads.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the state of Heidelberg Road was a matter of concern for residents and authorities. Does that sound familiar?
IN THE SUBURBS. HEIDELBERG MAIN ROADS. "Disgraceful" Entrance to Shire.
(The Age, Thursday 18 October 1928, page 7
"Speaking at the meeting of Heidelberg council on Tuesday, Cr. Hannah said he wished to refer to what he termed the "disgraceful" condition into which the entrance to the shire had been allowed to fall. It was the general opinion of residents throughout the district that the Merri Creek-bridge and its surroundings on the Heidelberg side were, to say the least of it, not a credit to the council or the municipality. It was a question that should be faced by the whole shire and not by the riding in which it happened to be.Seven years ago there had been a conference with the Minister of Works, but nothing definite was laid down. In the event of the Government not being prepared to do anything the council should take action. The time was not far distant when the quarry site there would probably be abolished, and the time was ripe far them to take into consideration an adequate scheme of beautification. Marked improvements had been effected on the Collingwood side, and he was bringing the question forward with a view to remedying something which was a set-back to the whole district. He moved that the council consider the advisability of putting the entrance to its territory in order.
The motion lapsed for want of a seconder, but at a later stage the shire engineer reported that there was an allocation of £2500 from the Country Main Roads Board to be devoted to main thoroughfares in the district. It was agreed on the motion of Cr. Coate to devote £2000 on the Heidelberg. road in the Fairfield district.
It was agreed on the motion of Cr. Coate to devote £2000 on the Heidelberg-road in the Fairfield district.
Age, Friday 27 December 1935, page 11
HEIDELBERG ROADS.
Proposed Expenditure of £27,000.
It has been decided by Heidelberg city council to embark upon an ambitious road-making programme early next year. A sum of £27,000 has been set aside for new roads, and in addition there will be the usual maintenance expenditure, as well as a sum of £4500, which will be paid out by the Country Roads Board.
In a report on the proposed scheme the engineer (Mr. R. H. Davies) mentions that because of the large area embraced by the municipality the road-making problem presented many difficulties. After carefully considering the matter the roads and footpaths committee determined that all thoroughfares would be of good quality. The main roads of the municipality will be coated with bitumen to a depth of one inch.
Some main roads near Darebin railway station a few decades later.
Argus, Friday 3 January 1936, page 8
ROADS IN HEIDELBERG
According to the city engineer Mr R. H. Davies, the Heidelberg Council will spend £27,000 on its roads in the coming year. The council's road-making schedule is the largest since the depression began and one of the largest in its history. Apart from the £27,000, £4,500 will be spent on the highways of the Country Roads Board, and the council will carry out its usual road maintenance programme.
Mr Davies said that it was the immediate aim of the council to get all its A class roads (roads connecting the municipality with other suburbs) in order. About £13,000 would be spent on these roads. The other £13,000 would be spent on B class roads, shopping centres and residential streets.
Heidelberg Ward will be the largest beneficiary of the schedule as it is intended to spend £14,000 in that part of the city. Before the municipality was declared a city and the revenue of all wards was pooled, the council would have been entitled to spend only £2,000 in that ward.
Argus, Wednesday 22 February 1939, page 3
HEIDELBERG ROADS
Heidelberg Council, at its meeting last night, approved the expenditure during the next 12 months of £5,453 for roads and footpaths.
Then there was World War 2, but the roads still needed work.
Heidelberg Historical Society (Inc. No. A0042118P)