What Melbourne looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

In the 1970s, Melbourne’s growth rate slowed as immigration declined and economic conditions worsened. Yet, several significant changes occurred during this slow period of population growth. Several old buildings were demolished and replaced by multistory office buildings and hotels, which transformed the look of the city’s inner core. A significant improvement was made to the arterial road system. Suburban areas became critical economic centers, reducing the importance of the city’s center for retail and industrial purposes. As a result of the completion of the Victorian Arts Centre, the city’s cultural life has been dramatically enhanced.

With the end of the White Australia Policy, Melbourne saw the first significant migration of Asians since the gold rush, with large numbers of people from Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. In Melbourne, the Muslim population grew rapidly, and multicultural policies encouraged many ethnic and religious minorities to maintain their identities. The practice of mainstream Christianity declined at the same time, leading to the secularization of public life.

Below are some stunning vintage photos that will take you back to the 1970s in Melbourne

#1 Chapel Street bridge crossing the Yarra River, Melbourne, 1973

3 Points

Upvote Downvote

#2 Hawthorn Road, Melbourne, 1971

2 Points

Upvote Downvote

#3 Melbourne tram, 1970

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#4 Bourke Street, Melbourne, 1970

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#5 Flinders Street station, Melbourne, 1970

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#6 Melbourne dock, 1970

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#7 Bourke Street, Melbourne, 1971

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#8 Melbourne street scenes, 1971

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#9 Vintage train at Spencer Street and viaduct, Melbourne, 1972

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#10 William Street, Melbourne, 1972

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#11 Bourke Street, Melbourne, 1973

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#12 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 1973

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#13 Bourke Street, Melbourne, 1974

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#14 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 1974

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#15 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, 1977

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#16 Intersection of Swanston and Bourke Streets, Melbourne, 1977

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#17 Spencer Street, Melbourne, 1977

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#18 Z1 50 in Bourke Street at Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, 1977

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#19 Flinders Street from the corner of Swanston Street, Melbourne, 1978

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#20 The soon-to-be demolished arcade running alongside the Regent Cinema between Collins Street and Flinders Lane in Melbourne on 26 January 1973.

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#21 Fletcher Jones Store. The world’s largest store specializing in men’s slacks is Fletcher Jones in Melbourne, 1975

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#22 Elizabeth Street in Melbourne between Lonsdale and Little Bourke Streets with Myer emporium in the background and the Post Office Hotel in the foreground, 1970

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#23 Collins street, Melbourne, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#24 Government house in Melbourne, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#25 City of Auckland Ship at Melbourne dock, 1970

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#26 Luna Park, Melbourne, 1970

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#27 Malvern East, line 3, Melbourne, 1973

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#28 Malvern East, line 3, Melbourne, 1973

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#29 Melbourne street scenes, 1974

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#30 Melbourne street scene, 1975

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#31 Swanston and Collins Streets, Melbourne, 1978

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#32 Z1 11 in Flinders Street, outside the station, Melbourne, 1978

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#33 Flinders Street railway station, Melbourne, 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#34 Melbourne, 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#35 Along the East Brunswick tram route, circa 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#36 Bourke Street, Melbourne, circa 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#37 Interior view of a tramcar, Melbourne, circa 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#38 Melbourne tram, circa 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#39 News reporters beside the no.50 tram, Melbourne, circa 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#40 Waiting for public transport to arrive, Melbourne, circa 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#41 Waiting for public transport to arrive, Melbourne, circa 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#42 Old Mint Macquarie Street, 1971

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#43 The rag trade area of Melbourne, 1972

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#44 Aerial view of Collins Street in Melbourne looking west from the City Square on, 1972

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#45 The corner of Collins and King Streets in Melbourne with the Co-operative Insura, 1973

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#46 Locomotive at Flinders Street Station, Melbourne, Australia, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#47 An avenue of the city of Melbourne, 1970

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#48 The Partially deserted scene on Broadway (Looking north) as the Melbourne Cup was running. November 02, 1976.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#49 The Partially deserted scene on Broadway (Looking north) as the Melbourne Cup was running, 1976

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#50 The Partially deserted scene on Broadway (Looking north) as the Melbourne Cup was running. November 02, 1976.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#51 P.M.U. Factory in Alice St., Newtown. The factory will close when the company moves its operations to Melbourne, 1976.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#52 P.M.U. Factory in Alice St., Newtown, 1976

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#53 Australian Demonstrators March Against Vietnam War in Melbourne, 1971

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#54 Collapsed span of the West Gate Bridge during construction of the cable-stayed bridge over the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia in October 1970.

The collapse of the span on 15th October killed 35 construction workers to become Australia's worst industrial accident.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#55 Queen Elizabeth II on a walkabout in Melbourne with Ted Best (1917 – 1992), Lord Mayor of Melbourne, during her tour of Australia, 6th April 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote