In 1877, there were 48 licensed Hackney Carriages operating in Geelong. This is based on entries in the Geelong Market Committee minute books in the archives at the Geelong Heritage Centre: GRS 853 Items 1-5 covering the years 1850-1956. Initially this committee was responsible for the Markets and then the abattoirs, however over the years the responsibilities of the Geelong Market Committee branched out into a number of diverse areas and the Hackney Carriages was one such area.
It appears that Hackney Carriages were inspected on an annual basis and licensed for the following year. The Market Committee was made up of councillors of the Town of Geelong and as well as the annual inspection and licensing of the carriages, the committee dealt with complaints associated with the carriages and their drivers - bad language, drunkenness, fare disputes, carriage stands etc.
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Left: page from the Market Committee Minutes, 27th December 1877 [GRS853/1]
Above: outside Market Square late 1870s |
Below are the details of the Hackney Carriages that were inspected in December 1877.
| The Market & Hackney Carriage Committees | ||
| Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 27th Decr 1877 | ||
| Present | Cr Reeves, Chairman Cr Crook Cr Meakin Cr McNab Cr Martin Cr Welsh |
|
| The Inspector of Hackney Carriages present. The Committee met this day to make the Annual inspection of Hackney Carriages, prior to licenses being issued for same for the ensuing year, 1878. The following cabs were inspected by the Committee and licenses for same were directed to be issued viz:- |
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| License issued [in Cab number order] |
Cab number | Additional information from 1882 Directory |
| LAWTON, John | 1 | cabman of Anderson street, Geelong West |
| FARRELL, Abram | 4 | cabman of Hope street, Geelong West |
| GALBALLY, James | 5 | cabman of Preston street, Geelong West |
| BEARD, Wm | 9 | cabman of Fyans street, Newtown and Chilwell |
| FRENCH, Wm | 10 | cabman of Malop street, Geelong |
| CLARKE, Geo | 11 | cabman of Russell street, Newtown and Chilwell |
| BREEN, Patk | 13 | cabman of Latrobe terrace, Geelong West |
| CANNY, Michl | 18 | |
| CANNY, Daniel | 19 | cabman of Little Malop street, Geelong |
| MURPHY, Patk | 21 | cabman of Swanston street, Geelong |
| O'SHEA, Martin | 23 | cabman of McNicol place, Geelong West |
| McMULLEN, Alexr | 26 | |
| BIRCH, James | 31 | |
| McMULLEN, Alexr | 32 | |
| UPJOHN, F J | 44 | |
| HUTCHINS, Henry | 45 | cab proprietor of Park street, Newtown and Chillwell |
| HAYWARD, Henry | 48 | |
| The Committee expressed their approbation and approval of the improved style of the Cabs presented for inspection, and the general good state and condition of the Horses & harnesses attached thereto being an improvement as compared with those presented for inspection last year. | ||
| The following persons failed to be present with their cabs for inspection viz:- | ||
| MARSHALL, John | 2 | cabdriver of Herne Hill, Corio Shire |
| HAYWARD, John | 3 | |
| HARMER, Wm | 6 | |
| GRANT, Logie | 7 | cabman of Ryrie street, Geelong |
| MARTIN, Hy | 8 | |
| LANE, Wm | 12 | cabman of Sydney place, Geelong |
| HUTCHINS, H P | 14 | cab proprietor of Park street, Newtown and Chilwell |
| KINANE, J | 15 | John, cabman of Weller street, Geelong West |
| WESTAWAY, J W | 16 | |
| BRADLEY, Saml (Bus) | 17 | |
| FISHER, Joseph | 20 | cabman of Collins lane off Little Ryrie street, Geelong |
| MARTIN, Joseph | 22 | cabman of Noble street, Newtown and Chilwell |
| DOBSON, James | 24 | [James Jun, cabman of Pakington street, Newtown and Chilwell] |
| FARRELL, John | 25 | |
| SHERIDAN, Michl | 27 | cabdriver of Herne Hill, Corio Shire |
| WINTER, John | 28 | cabman of Clarence street, Geelong West |
| BONSEY, Wm [in pencil at side] | 29 | |
| McSHANE, Philip | 30 | |
| SMITH, Josh | 33 | cabman of Austin street, Newtown and Chilwell |
| BIRCH, James | 34 | |
| MENCHAM [?], S | 35 | |
| GRANT, Wm | 36 | |
| TONKIN, F | 37 | |
| MANNING, Michl | 38 | of Winchester place off Little Myers street, Geelong |
| BARFOOT, W J | 39 | |
| STONEHAM, S | 40 | Samuel, Swanston street, Geelong |
| MOYLAN, Patk | 41 | |
| TAYLOR, Thos Jun | 42 | |
| POTTER, Wm | 43 | |
| UPJOHN, G H | 46 | George H, cabman of Hope street, Geelong West |
| WESTAWAY, J W | 47 | |
| It was therefore ordered by the Committee that the Chairman Cr Reeves [crossed out and replaced with Cr Davey - new chairman?] be authorised with the assistance of the Inspector of Hackney Carriages to inspect all the remaining cabs, the owners of which desire to have licensed, and if approved to give a Certificate authorizing the Treasurer to issue a license accordingly. | ||
