The First Traffic Lights in Australia
When were the first traffic lights installed in Australia? It’s an interesting question, and one that once asked, makes you intrigued to find out … well it did me anyway.
So that’s what today’s history lesson is all about. When were the first traffic lights installed in each of the Australian states?
Of course I headed to the one and only magnificent Trove to find out, and you might just be as surprised as I was!
SYDNEY – 13 October 1933
Friday, 13 October 1933 was when Sydney’s (and Australia’s) first traffic lights began operating. The lights were installed at the intersection of Market and Kent Streets in city of Sydney, and were switched on at 11am, by the then Minister for Transport, Colonel Michael Bruxner. You can see a fabulous photo of the traffic lights here.
BRISBANE – 21 January 1936
At 3pm on Tuesday, 21 January 1936 a large crowd gathered in the CBD to watch the switching on of the first traffic lights in Brisbane. These were installed at the intersection of Ann, Upper Albert and Roma Streets.
HOBART – 27 January 1937
This one surprised me as I never realised that Hobart had traffic lights so early. But the newspapers reported the grand occasion which you can read on the link below. Just before 11am on Wednesday the 27th of January 1937 the lights were turned on at the intersection of Elizabeth and Liverpool streets.
ADELAIDE – 13 April 1937
Tuesday, 13 April 1937 was Adelaide’s big day, as that’s when Adelaide’s first traffic lights were turned on. These were installed at various intersections along King William Street in the city.
MELBOURNE – late December 1937
The Melbourne public had to adapt to traffic lights around Christmas time in 1937. The “new traffic-actuated single lights” were installed at the intersection of Collins and Queen Streets in Melbourne’s CDB, and “they will also provide a separate crossing signal for pedestrians”. As these were deemed a success others at St Kilda Road followed shortly afterwards.
PERTH – 19 December 1954
December was the time for yet another set of traffic lights to be turned on. This time it was Perth. Their first set of traffic lights was installed at the St Georges Terrace and William Street intersection.
CANBERRA – 23 October 1965
Canberra’s first two sets of traffic lights were brought into operation on Saturday, the 23rd of October 1965. The traffic lights were installed at the intersection of Northbourne Avenue and London Circuit, and Northbourne Avenue and Cooyong Street.
DARWIN – approx 1960s-1970s
I was unable to find an official date, but I did find a reference in someone’s memories of life in Darwin which says “there were no traffic lights anywhere at the time. The first set of traffic lights I remember were at the intersection of Bagot Road with the Stuart Highway!” You can read the full article here. If anyone can provide a date please let me know, and I’ll be happy to update my post.
9 Responses to “The First Traffic Lights in Australia”
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An interesting topic and fun facts, thanks Alona, Trove comes up trumps yet again.
I enjoyed your traffic light story – I was surprised that Melbourne took so long after Sydney to put them in place..
Melbourne 1928:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3965260
Wow, that’s cool. Thanks so much for that Matthew. But I’m wondering if it was a different sort of traffic light, since Sydney still claimed to be “first in Australia”, and in regards to lights installed in Melbourne in 1937 said those lights “the first of their kind to be used in Melbourne”. But your picture certainly looks like regular traffic lights – so that’s interesting.
I think the “first of their kind” appellation is in regard to the “traffic-actuated” feature. The contemporary SMH article has a correction at the bottom acknowledging in this case Melbourne was first.
This description of their operation seems to be what we would expect, although the aspects are somewhat simplified today:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204243481
By July 1929 there were three sets in operation:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244099715
And they were experimenting with coordinating them:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244109020
Which looks to have been successful:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244001986
In September 1929 they were going to purchase 13 more sets:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244007913
In 1920 there was a different system in place:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222418709
The traffic clock was in the courtyard at the RACV building, 501 Bourke St in the city, but I don’t think these were installed in the CBD:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshalite
Thank you for all of that research Matthew … how on earth did I miss all of those articles? So Melbourne really was the first city in Australia to get traffic lights!! Cool.
I have seen in Melbourne in front of their office (?RTA) in the city – the old clock face traffic signal with the red, green yellow segments. They were in place from the 40’s to the 70’s I think.
I can remember the traffic clocks in Frankston in the late 1960s/early 1970s. It is my belief that this was the last place they were used in Victoria
Have a look at Melbourne 28 June 1928 installed traffic signals befor Sydney
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/202295442?searchTerm=traffic%20signal%20installed%20box%20hill&searchLimits=