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Throwback Thursday!![]()
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This recently digitised photograph depicts railway worker, Albert Jongbloed, working on a Krauss locomotive at Tullah. ![]()
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On the back of the photograph is a description written in fading pencil:![]()
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"Albert Jongbloed gives a last minute check to the Krauss 2' gauge locomotive before it leaves Tullah for the last time on its trip to [unintelligible] to the Van Diemen Light Railway Society. When it arrived about 1.30 pm on Sunday morning 2nd July, Albert was there waiting to give it a preliminary check and [unintelligible] before supervising the unloading."![]()
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We believe the locomotive in the photograph is Mt Lyell No. 9 which was built in Munich, Germany in 1908 for the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company in Queenstown. It was one of many Krauss locomotives to work the slopes of Mt Lyell until 1947 when it briefly joined the Ida Bay Railway - Australia's southern-most railway. In 1949, Mt Lyell No. 9 returned to the West Coast to work on the Tullah Tramway where it stayed until the line closed in 1964. In 1972, Mt Lyell No. 9 went to Don where it was housed by the Van Diemen Light Railway Society, then transferred to Burnie in 1987 where works were done in the Emu Bay Railway workshops. The locomotive returned to Tullah in 1993, the boiler, which was irreparable, is displayed near the Wee Georgie Wood Railway station, and the remainder of the locomotive is kept safely inside the running shed. ![]()
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Not much information has been found about the worker, Albert Jongbloed, though they are likely the Albert Jongbloed who was granted a Certificate of Naturalization in 1959 while living at Tarraleah. While we are all familiar with the early pioneers whose names clad our street signs, let us also remember the unmentioned everyday workers who kept our machinery running - like Albert Jongbloed. ![]()
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Did you ever work on any of the West Coast's rugged railways? Perhaps you even knew Albert... we would love to hear your stories! 🚂
Mineral Monday!![]()
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This lovely specimen comes from all the way from the U.S.A to be put in our lovely collection, it's an uncommon mineral as it comes from chemical alterations of pre-existing minerals that start growing crystals, thus becoming what is known as Secondary Mineral, They come in various shapes and colours, this sample being tiny hexagonal shapes with a lovely red lustre catching and reflecting the light with its lovely shades.![]()
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So do you what today's Mystery Mineral is?
Throwback Thursday!![]()
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This plaque was made for the licensee of Zeehan's Central Hotel, Montrew Richard Menzie, around 1934-35, with the silver paper being obtained from chocolate and toffee wrappers!![]()
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The Central Hotel was constructed in 1900 on the site of the former Exchange Hotel, which had been dismantled after standing for only nine years. Today, the Central Hotel remains a rare landmark from Zeehan's booming days. ![]()
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While the exact number of hotels in Zeehan has been a topic of debate, Lindsay Whitham concluded the peak was c. 1900-1902 when 17 hotels were trading at once - 16 of which were on the main street alone!
