In 2025 the Signalling Record Society of Victoria celebrated 50 years since our first meeting on 28th July 1975.  This meeting was held at the house of well known railway signalling historian Jack McLean and was attended by 16 people interested in railway signalling in Victoria.

The object of the meeting was “to formally create and determine broad policies of the Melbourne Area of the Signalling Record Society.” Those attending included some of the 24 local members of the SRS UK. It was felt that a local group would better meet the interests of members in Melbourne, Australia, which were of less relevance to those in the UK.

Jack McLean was the initial chairman and our name was later changed to “Signalling Record Society Victoria”.  Our relationship with the SRSUK continues today, as SRSV members can opt to receive copies of the SRSUK Journal, “The Signalling Record” as well as our local journal, “Somersault”. Minutes of the inaugural meeting may be found in the July 2025 edition of Somersault (available to members only until January 2028).

The inaugural meeting organised the first of many signal box visits. A visit to Deer Park, the first crossing station on the western mainline, was held  just a week later, on the morning of  Saturday 25th July 1975. 

At the time of our visit this part of the line was being converted to double track. The photos below of the SRSV Deer Park visit were taken by Rob Weiss, one of five current members who were at the inaugural meeting.