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Saturday, June 24, 2017

Cheney, 15-23 Langhorne Street, Dandenong, undated.


Cheney once stood where the Dandenong Hub arcade now stands in Langhorne Street, opposite the Post Office. Later the business would merge with Patterson Motors to form the present business. The local Cheney was opened in 1949 at temporary premises in Pultney Street, later (by 1950) moving to this location in Langhorne Street.
Cheney was originally founded by Sydney Albert Cheney), car salesman, born on 22 March 1883 at Smithfield, South Australia, fifth son of Samuel Cheney, labourer, and his wife Mary Ann, née Goodger.
In 1920 Cheney decided to take up a Chevrolet agency, left his Adelaide company and founded S. A. Cheney Pty Ltd in Melbourne; he soon climbed Mount Buffalo in thirty-seven minutes in top gear to demonstrate what a Chevrolet could do. In 1922 in South Melbourne he set up the first assembly line in the Australian motor industry. However, when General Motors themselves opened assembly works in 1926, Cheney switched to selling Austin and Morris cars, launched an advertising campaign to 'Buy British and be proud of it!', and persuaded William Morris (Lord Nuffield) to visit Australia to see why his cars were unsuited to local conditions.
Early in the Depression, after successful efforts to place his employees elsewhere, Cheney closed down his business in good order, and had a year's holiday. He then began selling used cars and in 1932 took an agency for Vauxhall cars and Bedford trucks, which he continued until the late 1950s when he finally took a Holden agency. He had also operated Sanderson & Cheney Pty Ltd as a large service station enterprise. During World War II he was active, with governmental support, in promoting gas-producers and charcoal production. In Adelaide in 1965 he published his autobiography From Horse to Horsepower.

Photo supplied by  Stuart Jordan
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Thursday, June 22, 2017

Turnpike/Turntable, Dandenong Station, undated.

The Dandenong steam loco turntable and sheds were located on the former site of the Southern Aurora Hotel, Which now forms part of the Bus interchange and the adjacent carpark. The old signal box can bee seen in the background, which has also been removed.

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Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, 1971.

The favoured West side of Lonsdale street in 1971, Back before the controversy of the Plaza, Retailers preferred the western side of Dandenong, the East side remained full of houses very close to the main road until progressive attempts were made to change this, resulting ultimately in the failure of the West side as retailers jostled for proximity to the Plaza, Recent attempts have tried to correct the long term affects of this.

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Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Dandenong Plaza, 1990s

We're not sure of the date, But check out the Palm Trees in the Dandenong Plaza, The lower food court was still in full action, before being moved closer to the exit doors.

Can you date this photo?

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Monday, June 19, 2017

Mayfair, 170 Thomas Street, Dandenong, undated.


This is the Mayfair Cinema (previously called The Boomerang) that used to be at 170 Thomas Street, Dandenong (where the old Target store later stood, and the new Council Buildings/Library now stand.
It first opened in 1924 as The Boomerang, and was renamed The Mayfair in 1951.

My Dad took the original photo (this is a photo of that). He started work there as an Assistant Projectionist when he was 16 (1950) and went on to show movies at various Cinemas & Drive-Ins until his mid-60s.

Photo by; R. Trewin
Supplied by; Terri Trewin



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Sunday, June 18, 2017

Hades Hot Bread, Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, 1960s.

Hades was a favourite of many locals and has remained as a fond memory. Facing onto Lonsdale street, Hades fared better than Hannahs, which was down the alley. Do you remember eating freshly made food from Hades?

Picture courtesy of D.D.H.S.


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