This commemorative medal was designed by the collector Alfred Chitty to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of Australia's first railway, the Melbourne to Sandridge line in 1854. Chitty had 50 medals struck. He presented this one to the Melbourne Mint.

Click to enlarge. (58kb)

Click to enlarge. (59kb)


Obverse – View of an early steam train at the Flinders Street Station in 1854. Around this is the legend MELBOURNE & HOBSONS BAY RAILWAY STATION FLINDERS STREET.		Reverse – The legend TO COMMEMORATE THE OPENING OF THE FIRST STEAM RAILWAY IN AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE TO SANDRIDGE 12TH SEPTR. 1854 AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVE USED IN AUSTRALIA ALSO EARLY VICTORIAN RAILWAYS MELBOURNE TO GEELONG 1857 MELBOURNE TO ST. KILDA 1857 MELBOURNE TO WILLIAMSTOWN 1859 MELBOURNE TO ESSENDON 1860.

Transferred from Melbourne Mint, 1978