The Subiaco 'Rattler' (1948).
In 1948, Mr F. Robins, a tram driver retired. He drove trams to Subiaco for 12 years and was the longest period served by any driver on any one route. The tram was known as the 'Subiaco Rattler'.
The tram route to Subiaco was instrumental in it's development by providing public transport (other than the train) to the area and attracting residents and businesses. Passengers on the tram were charged a penny for the ride from Hay Street to Rokeby Road. The penny fare remained in place for 20 years (Daily News, 25 September 1950).
Today there is a free motorised tram that provides a hop on and off service that travels around Subiaco, Shenton Park and King's Park. The service is run by volunteers with financing supplied by local businesses. "Ruby is a replica of the original 1899 Trams, she was commissioned to be built around 25 years ago to operate a tour service from Subiaco along Hay St to Perth" (subiaco.com.au).
The articles and photographs are from Trove, the national database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 27 September 1948.
Veteran tram driver F. Robins (64), well known to Subiaco residents as driver of their 'rattler,' has retired after 40 years' service with the WA Government railways and tram ways.
Other tramway men claimed today that Mr. Robins' 12 years' service on the Subiaco 'rattler' was the longest period served by any driver on any one run. Today at the carbarn the tramways night staff, of which Mr. Robins was foreman, presented him with a box of cigars and a money filled wallet.
Mr. Robins joined, the Railway Department in 1906. In 1918 he was transferred to the Tramway Department, and from then until last Thursday was on night shift.
For many years he was a boxing instructor at Guildford Grammar School, and Wesley and Christian Brothers' colleges. He was also gymnasium instructor at the Railway Institutes at Perth and Midland Junction.
Daily News, 25 September 1950.
The dead helped it spring to life
SUBIACO was only a child — though a lusty one — in 1906 when the top picture was taken, for the district had been proclaimed a municipality only nine years before, and as far as most Perth people were concerned was well out in the bush.
Though Subiaco, like most other districts, had its early growing pains, it had also many public-spirited citizens who toiled to advance the area and get for it some of the amenities enjoyed by the more populous city. Its residents had formed their progress association in October, 1895, and energetic people were elected to push the claims of the district. The association held its first meetings in the open air, then moved to a Government school then in course of erection at the corner of Bagot-rd. and Rokeby-rd.
The chairman had to sit on, a cement barrel and members had to stand between the joists of the unlaid floor. Still, most of the early residents went along. In August, 1896, Subiaco had 260 houses and 59 tents. Its population totalled 1300.
SUBIACO got its Italian name from the Spanish Benedictine priests who came out in the early days to establish a mission for natives. They established a monastery, called it Subiaco after a small Italian town. When the railway line from Perth to Fremantle was built, the local siding was called Subiaco because of the link with the monastery. Later the siding was shifted westward.
And though nearby land was still being sold by the Government as Perth suburban lots, the name Subiaco was soon given to the surrounding territory. Actually, what helped Subiaco to spring to life in 1895 was provision of a last resting place for the dead. The Government estimates for that year made provision for a new road to Subiaco to serve the new cemetery. This became the main road to Subiaco and later part of a main road to Claremont and Fremantle. Then the active progress association, secured the establishment of a road board and local board of health, which held its first meeting 911 May 27, 1896.
Through lack of an official meeting place, board members met at the residence of chairman Henry Doyle. On March 26, 1897 the district was proclaimed a municipality with three wards and three representatives for each ward. The first election for the council took place on May 29, 1897. Henry Doyle was elected first mayor. As its first move the council pounced on the then Acting Premier Mr. (later Sir) Edward Wittenoom and secured an advance of about £2000 from the Treasury.
Then, in 1898, the first official post office was opened at the corner of Bagot-rd. and Rokeby rd it served there until 1934 and in April, 1899, they laid the foundation stone of the municipal chambers and library.
AWAKE to the advantages of a tram service to the district, the council approached those in charge of Perth's tramways and in 1900 tramlines were laid along Hay-st. and Rokeby-rd. to King's Park gates. But Subiaco went one better than its rival municipalities. Largely because of the initiative of Cr. C. G. Fisher, supported by Crs. W. J. . Kensitt and J. Wannell, a penny section was gained between the junction of Hay-st. and Rokeby-rd. and King's Park gates. That was the first penny fare in the Perth tramway system; for more, than 20 years it remained the only one.
Until 1903 Subiaco residents had to rely on kerosene lamps and candles for lighting. In that year the municipality established an electricity supply plant for the streets and private users. The Subiaco plant was established on land leased from the Railway Department and near the boundary of the adjoining municipality of Leederville. It was hoped at the time that Leederville would support the project by taking a supply. For various reasons that did not happen, but it was just as well; in three years the plant was insufficient to supply Subiaco itself and had to be duplicated in 1905. By 1920 there was need for an even greater supply, and an arrangement was made with Perth City Council to buy from it in bulk. Today Subiaco municipality is the third largest in the State.
