The Battle for Alexandra Parade

The Freeway Opens

The Melbourne Times cover: 'Here Come The Cars' (7 December 1977)

Image: The Melbourne Times cover: ‘Here Come The Cars (pdf)’ (7 December 1977)

1970s The F19 freeway from Hoddle Street. Shows the freeway shortly after it was opened with a train crossing the railway bridge and Victoria Park school visible on the right.

Image: 1970s The F19 freeway from Hoddle Street.  Shows the freeway shortly after it was opened with a train crossing the railway bridge and Victoria Park school visible on the right.  Source: The Melbourne Times.

9 thoughts on “The Battle for Alexandra Parade”

  1. Cory says:

    Such a *modern*, progressive-thinking solution this tunnel is eh?

  2. Susanna says:

    By golly I remember this campaign well.

    A couple of incidents stand out as amusing (if any part of this could possibly be called amusing)

    1. The police spokesmen on the news condemned the ‘rubbish’ ‘health hazard’ of the barricade we had erected. Meanwhile, outside of their caravan were piles and piles of used tea-bags and boxes of kentucky fried chicken

    2. The first car to come down the new freeway (with a police escort) was a Mercedes. Driven by Bob Jane.

    I can laugh now

  3. David Collins says:

    We should also remember the battle in the early 1990s to stop the widening of Alexandra Pde. The Coalition Against Freeway Extensions (CAFE) fought this “upgrade” knowing that the resulting increased traffic volumes would inevitably bring us to the current situation. Many 1977 protesters were involved in the 1994 campaign.

  4. admin says:

    These pages have been updated to now include Citizens Against the Freeway Action (CAF) and Coalition Against Freeway Extensions (CAFE) history, so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any additional photos or stories.

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