Road Photos & Information: Tasmania
Pre-1980s Traffic Signals
General Information:
Tasmanian traffic signal equipment installed prior to 1980 is of similar brands and products used in other states, however there are some variations. Target boards were initially only applied to overhead mast arm signals but eventually in the 1970s, installation of target boards was extended to include ground level signals as well. The original overhead signals featured a target board with rounded top and bottom, similar to a railway signal, before eventually being replaced with a more conventional style target board. That said, the target boards used on 1970s signals tend to be more squared off on the corners compared to the same brand of signals used on the mainland. The majority of pre-1980s signal heads tend to be manufactured by AWA or Eagle.
Tasmania's first set of traffic signals were installed the junction of Elizabeth Street and Liverpool Street in Hobart, on 26 January 1937. The system was fully automatic and was switched on by the then Premier (Mr A G Ogilvie), the then Hobart Lord Mayor (Mr J J Wignail), the then Minister of Agriculture (Mr R Cosgrove), and the then Commissioner of Police (Colonel J E C Lord). 1
This section focuses on traffic signal equipment installed prior to 1980, and features devices used within TAS. All the signals on this page have been replaced with modern equipment.
Controllers:
Early Signal Controller:
Wynyard Synchromatic Traffic signal controller made by Lawrence and Hansen of Melbourne in 1940. It is shown in the old black and yellow striping once used on all signals in Tasmania and New South Wales. May 2006.
Image provided by Darren Hodges, and supplied by the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER), Traffic Management Branch, Tasmania.
Unitac Controller:
AWA Unitac signal controller, which was installed at intersections between 1975 and 1981. May 2006.
Image provided by Darren Hodges, and supplied by the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER), Traffic Management Branch, Tasmania.
Pedestrian Signals:
Ornate Call Button Post:
Current style pedestrian call button on vintage ornate post, corner of Sandy Bay Rd (B68) and St Georges Tce at Battery Point, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s Signals:
1970s AWA traffic lanterns and Eagle text pedestrian lantern at the corner of Antill St and Davey St (A6) at Hobart, July 2018. Note the 70s AWA signal target boards have a tighter radii on the corners compared to signals from the 1980s onwards.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s Signals:
1970s AWA traffic lantern and Eagle text pedestrian lantern with old pedestrian instruction sign at the corner of Barrack St and Davey St (A6) at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s Signals:
1970s AWA traffic lantern and Eagle text pedestrian lantern with old pedestrian directional sign at the corner of Barrack St and Davey St (A6) at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
AWA Text Pedestrian Signals:
AWA polycarbonate text pedestrian signals from the 1970s at the corner of Barrack St and Macquarie St, Hobart, July 2018. These signals were also once common in the ACT.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic & Pedestrian Lanterns:
AWA traffic lantern and pedestrian lantern on the corner of Bathurst St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic & Pedestrian Lanterns:
AWA traffic lantern and pedestrian lantern on the corner of Bathurst St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic & Pedestrian Lanterns:
AWA traffic lantern and pedestrian lantern on the corner of Bathurst St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic & Pedestrian Lanterns:
AWA traffic lantern and pedestrian lantern on the corner of Bathurst St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic & Pedestrian Lanterns:
AWA traffic lantern and pedestrian lantern on the corner of Liverpool and Cambell St at Hobart, July 2018. Note the text walk signal but pictogram don't walk signal.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic & Pedestrian Lanterns:
AWA traffic lantern and pedestrian lantern on the corner of Liverpool and Cambell St at Hobart, July 2018. Note the text walk signal but pictogram don't walk signal.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic & Pedestrian Lanterns:
AWA traffic lantern and pedestrian lantern on the corner of Liverpool and Cambell St at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic & Pedestrian Lanterns:
AWA traffic lantern and pedestrian lantern on the corner of Liverpool and Cambell St at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Vintage Pedestrian Call Button:
Vintage pedestrian call button on the corner of Bathurst St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Vintage Pedestrian Call Button:
Vintage pedestrian call button on the corner of Bathurst St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Vintage Pedestrian Call Button:
Vintage pedestrian call button on the corner of Bathurst St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Traffic Lanterns:
3-aspect AWA Signal with Embossed Lens:
This type of AWA signal was once a common sight on Australian roads, between the 1940s and 1960s. Here the signal is shown in its original colours, complete with original glass lenses with 'STOP' embossed on the red lens, which was the way signals were setup at that time. Located in the Tasmanian Transport Museum at Glenorchy, 1993.
Image © Darren Hodges
1970s AWA Signals & Mast Arm Assembly:
1970s AWA signals and mast arm assembly at the corner of Sandy Bay Rd (B68) and St Georges Tce at Battery Point, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s Signals:
1970s AWA traffic lanterns with a 1970s Eagle pedestrian lantern at the corner of Sandy Bay Rd (B68) and St Georges Tce at Battery Point, July 2018. Note the 70s AWA signal target boards have a tighter radii on the corners compared to signals from the 1980s onwards.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Signals & Mast Arm Assembly:
1970s AWA traffic lanterns and mast arm assembly at the corner of Sandy Bay Rd (B68) and St Georges Tce at Battery Point, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Pre-70s AWA signal:
Pre-70s AWA signal at the corner of Sandy Bay Rd (B68) and St Georges Tce at Battery Point, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Vintage Signals:
Vintage signals at the corner of Sandy Bay Rd (B68) and St Georges Tce at Battery Point, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Vintage Signals:
Vintage signals at the corner of Sandy Bay Rd (B68) and St Georges Tce at Battery Point, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Custom 6-aspect Traffic Lantern:
Custom 6-aspect traffic lanterns using 200 mm and 300 mm signal heads, corner of Byron St and Davey St (A6) at Hobart, July 2018. This signal has since been replaced with conventional LED signals.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s Signals:
1970s AWA traffic lantern and Eagle text pedestrian lantern with old pedestrian directional sign at the corner of Barrack St and Davey St (A6) at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic Lantern:
1970s AWA traffic lantern with a 1980s signal in the distance, highlighting the different radii on the corners of the target boards, July 2018. Corner of Barrack and Macquarie Streets in Hobart.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Signals & Mast Arm Assemblies:
1970s AWA signals and mast arm assembly at the corner of Liverpool St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) (Railway Roundabout) in Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Signals:
1970s AWA signals at the corner of Liverpool St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) (Railway Roundabout) in Hobart, July 2018. Note the longer visors on the signal in the foreground.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic Lantern:
1970s AWA traffic lantern, July 2018. Corner of Liverpool St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) (Railway Roundabout) in Hobart.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic Lantern:
1970s AWA traffic lantern, July 2018. Corner of Liverpool St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) (Railway Roundabout) in Hobart.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic Lanterns:
1970s AWA traffic lanterns with 1980s signal in the foreground, highlighting the different radii on the corners of the target boards, July 2018. Corner of Liverpool St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) (Railway Roundabout) in Hobart.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic Lantern:
1970s AWA traffic lantern on the corner of Bathurst St and Brooker Hwy (NH1) at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic & Pedestrian Lanterns:
AWA traffic lantern and pedestrian lantern on the corner of Liverpool and Campbell St at Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic Lanterns:
1970s AWA traffic lanterns at the corner of Collins St and Campbell St, Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Rear of AWA Traffic Lantern:
Rear view of 1970s AWA traffic lanterns at the corner of Collins St and Campbell St, Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
1970s AWA Traffic Lanterns:
1970s AWA traffic lanterns at the corner of Davey St (A6) and Linden Av, Hobart, July 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Flashing Amber Phase:
Tasmanian only slip lane lower flashing amber signal phase signal at the corner of Sandy Bay Rd (B68) and Byron St in Sandy Bay, July 2018. Click or tap here for a video of this type of signal in operation.
Image © Paul Rands