The railway station with the first name

metfink · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 4:09 pm

Not to everyone's sense of humour, but may provide a chortle to a few.

This was taken from The Age, Curious Melbourne, 26/12/04.

The railway station with the first name - Guy Rundle, Tim Harris

Many people have wondered about the origin of the name of "Dennis" railway station in Northcote. Why does it have what appears to be a boy's first name? Some have presumed that the name may have come from the area, or a notable local figure. They could not be more wrong. The station was named in an era when all railway stations had first names.

When Melbourne's railway system was expanding in the 1880s and 1890s, there was considerable debate about how the stations - many of which where built in vacant areas - were to be called. It was railway pioneer Croxton Park who suggested that Australia lead the world in making railways familiar by giving all the stations first names. "To give all the outlets of our proud locomotive system Christian nomenclatures would be to celebrate the antipodean spirit of mate-itude," he wrote in the Melbourne Arquebus. Thus it was. Clifton Hill station was called "Theodore", North Melbourne was "Constance", South Yarra "Jemima", Bell "Secheverelle" and Middle Footscray was "Bob". As the number of stations expanded full names were used ("Victoria Park" - Croxton's daughter - survives from this day). Eventually the system was abandoned as an embarrassment of Marvellous Melbourne.

"Dennis" was to be renamed "South Northcote" but the obviously anomalous nature of the new title meant that the original was retained - the sole survivor, apart from "Ashburton", which was a popular late Victorian name for girls, and pet fish.

mjja · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 4:25 pm

Is that for real or is it April the First?

I'm surprised the story hasn't been more widely publicised.

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)

duttonbay · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 4:35 pm

Bugger - and here all along I thought it was named after me! Or, perhaps, my family. Or the other way round... Wink

John Dennis
Home of the Dutton Bay Tramway
http://members.optusnet.com.au/duttonbay

Hypernovean · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 4:44 pm

Those Curious Melbourne columns are all made up nonsense. At least I hope they are!

PalmerEldritch · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 6:02 pm

Even if it is a made up name Secheverelle sounds much better than Bell. As for Bob, I think I prefer Middle Footscray......... Smile

Watch out for the mighty Blues in 2008, with Judd, Stevens, Kreuzer, Cloke and Aisake
Ó hAilpín to join Fevola, Gibbs, Murphy, Carrazzo, Scotland, Fischer, Waite, Setanta
Ó hAilpín, Houlihan, Walker, Simpson, Betts and co!

tayser · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 6:29 pm

"Bob"

snort.

MELBOURNE - VIRES ACQUIRIT EUNDO

John of Melbourne · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 9:07 pm

1whoknows · Beginner Joined: Jul 04, 2004 Last Visited: Dec 30, 2004

The train on platform seven goes to Michelle, running express from Bob to Carol then stopping Ted and Alice and all stations to Michelle........nah

d1-3508 · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 3:21 pm

Gwiwer · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 3:26 pm

Melbourne DOES have perhaps more than it's fair share of "Named" stations ..... just a few include

Rosanna
Dennis
Edith Vale
Frank Ston
Lea Warra
Cam Berwell
Al Phington
Ash Burton
Will Ison
Glen Roy (two names in one!)
and the well-known brothes
Al Tona and Wes Tona

There are more around the metro system as well.

All of which is infinitely more interesting than calling somewhere "Stopping Place number 15" (now Morradoo, but there was a large number of them at one time all over the system)

Proudly a Myki-free zone

Please visit Penhayle Bay HERE and leave a message.

Riccardo · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 3:48 pm

And how many people know how to pronounce the name of Melbourne's Jewish railway station?

Nexas · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:20 pm

Let's not forget Batman. Razz

Views expressed by me are strictly my own, not of my friends, employer, or anyone else, unless otherwise stated.
*Back at RP for a limited time only*

michaelgreenhill · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 6:05 pm

Ahahaha, pure gold!

Busy splitting infinitives...

crittcrud · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 9:35 pm

What Jewish Railway Station?

Torykins · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:21 pm