Cast metal hitching post, South Melbourne

This cast metal horse hitching post, outside 295 Clarendon Street in South Melbourne, went 

missing in the 1980s. 

Since this was first posted an update has been provided by the Port Phillip Library Local History Librarian. In 1983, the restoration of the Emerald Hill Estate was undertaken  for the occasion of the 100th anniversary of South Melbourne becoming a City in September 1883. The verandas on the Emerald Hill Estate site were painted in brown and cream stripes, the fences were renewed and 

painted and they decided to put a whole lot of hitching posts around various places on the hill. 

By that time 1983, the only original post was the one in front of 295 Clarendon Street which was originally the Bank of Victoria.  This one was taken away and used as the cast for all the other 

ones that are now in the streets. Unfortunately the original was lost (probably mixed up with the copies). 

Hitching post in Clarendon Street, February 12, 1971.

Photographer: John T. Collins.

 J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria, Image  H98.251/835:

These hitching posts were once a common part of the streetscape, but as horse transport was replaced by motor cars, there was no longer any use for them, so they may have been gradually removed, or in some cases just disappeared. Even 70 years ago these posts were rare as Emerald Hill Record reported in July 1954 - 

The rare hitching post outside 295 Clarendon Street

Emerald Hill Record July 24, 1954 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164507426

The now vanished hitching post outside 295 Clarendon Street, 1970/1974.

Photographer: Committee for Urban Action.

State Library of Victoria Image CUASM199/3-4 Image 5