History suggests that the Hogan family fortune originally came from selling sly grog on the Victorian gold fields.

The Hogan family mausoleum at the St Kilda cemetery is fascinating and well worth a visit. The cemetery has trams passing by (routes 5 and 64) and is close to the Hotham Street stop.

Eldon was a colourful character in the Victorian rail and tram enthusiast scene from the 1960s to the 1990s. His trademark was a loud hailer, constantly used on enthusiast tours, that was nicknamed the "Hogaphone" (or was it "Hogophone"?).

He would often turn up at road accidents (one of the original ambulance chasers?) and would direct traffic until police arrived.

Eldon was reportedly a fabulously wealthy man but was quite eccentric in many ways and was often observed in the vicinity of Spencer Street station and VR head office. The family fortune was, apparently, left to the Catholic Church, after Eldon died in 1995.

MMTB817

--- InTramsDownUnder@..., "dexterddrake" <dexterddrake@...> wrote:
>

> What about Eldon Hogan.He banned drink on tours yet he lived on proceeds from his shareholdinds in brewery companies.

> Dex

>

> --- InTramsDownUnder@..., "mmtb817" <mmtb817@> wrote:

> >

> > Please let's not get too precious yet again!

> >

> > Many tram enthusiasts enjoy a social drink or two (or maybe more).

> >

> > Others are non drinkers.

> >

> > It's a matter of choice for everyone and each person deserves respect for his/her choice and of course is respectful to others.

> >

> > There have been too many instances of the "wowser" element in the tram enthusiast community. There were often situations when the leading light was teetotal and expected/required others to be the same.

> >

> > This still applies in a railway enthusiast association and in the lead up to Christmas the wowser element came to to the fore in a group of tram enthusiasts at an end of year gathering. The wowsers expected, and got, what they demanded no matter what anyone else thought! I suspect that particular gathering might not happen again.

> >

> > The Duke of Kent gatherings in Melbourne are an excellent opportunity for "tramway" people to get together and socialise in what, as Mal described elsewhere, an unmoderated atmosphere. The atmosphere is about as traditional Aussie pub as one could get at an inner city location and of course there are "trams passing by"! I am sure anyone from the TDU community would be made welcome especially if they had not been (bean?) previously.

> >

> > MMTB817

> >

>