On 23/05/2020 18:01, Andrew C wrote:
> This is not a photo I remember seeing before. On the Shrine side of

> the Metro Tunnel construction site is a series of interesting copies

> of historical photo, this being one of them.

>

> I suppose it's a shelter for an inspector on duty in St Kilda Road

> north of St Kilda Junction. Interesting that traffic must stay left of

> the box, but not trams. I think the building in the background with

> the tower is still there and is now the Australian and New Zealand

> Royal College of Anaesthetists.

>

Hi Andrew,

I think it was a pointsman shelter.

The pointsman would have directed southbound cable trams to either
Esplanade or Brighton Rd and eastbound cable trams to either Windsor of
the city.

I think (=guess!) that the pointsmen ceased their duties during the 1890
crash and the gripmen were required to set their own points from then on.

There were several of these around the system - the last being at Domain
interchange.

See: https://tdu.to/m/251777

Mal Rowe - steeped in the Melbourne history