City of Armadale - History House > Records

SIGN - TWELTH ROAD TO FREMANTLE

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Overview

Rectangle sheet of tin, left end tapers into a point. On the sheet are pressed letters [TWELFTH RD. / TO FREMANTLE]. Holes punched into sign, Three along the top, three along the bottom, one between the E and L in the top row and one between the M and A in the bottom row. Letters scratched onto surface between the last four letters of the bottom line [DEaD]

Historical information

The sign was originally nailed to a tree on the corner of Twelfth Road and the reserve for the Armadale to Fremantle Railway line which had been discontinued in 1964. In c1974 work was being done in the area and the sign was removed from the tree. Roly Richardson was passing and salvaged the sign. roly had recently started Down Under Signs on Owen road in the newly developed Kelmscott Light Industrial Area. The sign was possibly placed up on the tree not long after the railway closed down as many locals would use the railway reserve as a short cut to Fremantle. The reserve would go onto become Armadale Road but it was not until the late 1970s and early 1980s that the eastern end of the reserve was upgraded into a sealed road, ending at Abbey Road in Armadale.
The sign was kept in the factory but one day fell behind a large cupboard. It was rediscovered in 2021 when Roly sold the business to Reece Booth who was then doing some reorganising of the business.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-COA2021.65

Themes

People
Social History

Width

25 mm

Height or length

750 mm

Keywords

Armadale to Fremantle Railway Line

TWELFTH Road ARMADALE

RICHARDSON Roy Mr

Down Under Sign

ARMADALE Road

Statement of significance

This object is part of a collection of that is associated with the history of rail within the City of Armadale. The arrival of the railway to the City of Armadale in 1889 saw the district change from one that was isolated from Perth due to distance (approx 30km from Perth) and a poorly maintained road. to one that had quick access via the train line. The train line meant not only the rapid transport of people but also of mail, news, ice and goods into and out of the district.

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

City of Armadale - History House

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