1970s: still in the steam age.

Steaming: Essendon City Council road roller, 1970

The photograph was taken by my sometime-freelance photographer father and published in the Essendon Gazette, possibly around the time the roller was to be taken out of service. The location is The Boulevard, Essendon, on the north side of the Maribyrnong River.

I recall being frightened by a similar machine hissing and rumbling up our street in West Essendon, near the Niddrie border, when I was a pre-schooler and the roads were still being made. I used to hide in the old red brick front verandah, later demolished to add another bedroom for the growing family.

Thanks to Martin for rescuing the old print and uploading it here.