Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, undated.

Before the Railway connected us to Melbourne, the centre of Dandenong was Lonsdale Street. But before the Main route to Gippsland was selected, early planners had other ideas on where it should be placed.

With early plans suggesting for the Highway to go up McCrae Street, leading towards the Highway in a more direct route. Influential land holders lobbied for it to travel along Lonsdale Street, leading to the present route.

When the Highway was duplicated, land taken from the Dandenong Park side of the Highway, as it continues from Foster Street, past the creek towards Webster Street, was used for the extra lanes.

At this time when duplicating the Dandenong Creek Bridge, the park facing wall of the Peace Memorial Bridge (still standing as in-bound carriageway. Railway side of bridge) was removed, as the extra bridge/carriageway was added on the Park side creating the present bridge.

For more images like this visit us at https://www.facebook.com/olddandenong/