Retro Melbourne

Published in 2014 Fred Williams has collected in this book photographs showing the city of Melbourne (and Victoria) in the 1950s and 1960s. Sections of the book include the city, suburbs, lifestyle and recreation, sport and entertainment, churches, railways plus a section on country towns. The book provides a snapshot of our recent past. Some photos of the buildings are familiar while others show views of Melbourne and suburbs that have disappeared.

Remember the State Savings Bank of Victoria, the newspaper sellers outside Flinders Street Station, the State Library, Art Gallery and Museum housed in one set of buildings, Coop's Shot Tower before the building of Melbourne Central and Ansett-ANA.

With the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday there are photos of fashionable ladies in 1952, 1963 and 1969 as well as photos of the actual race. The Olympic Games in 1956, Australian Rules Football including a photo of Richmond winning the 1980 VFL grand final, Davis Cup tennis at Kooyong and cricket at the MCG feature in the chapter on sport.

Moomba, early television (covers from TV Week), the making of the film, On the Beach, plus phots of the Seekers and Normie Rowe bring back memories. Many of the photographs show buildings built in the 1800s showcasing part of the history of Victoria. The section on the railways provides another glimpse of Victoria's past.

Growing up in Melbourne in the 1950s and 1960s, Metro Melbourne is a book of memories.