Adrienne

Typical Melburinan reaction.....I think the heat's getting to you as the
wet's getting to me......

Anyhow, trams ran in Sydney until 1963 when they were dicontinued for buses.
However, in June of this year, the light rail starts from Central to Pyrmont
(our casino  - now also owned by the big Kezza!) and will eventually be
extended to Leichhardt and the Quay.

But back to the original trams.....the Powerhouse Museum is actually built
in the old shell of the power station that provided the electricity for the
tram system in Sydney (and the light rail construction camp is just next
door).

 As for the "off like a Bondi tram", I think there's a couple of
interpretations for this. The first is that the tram drivers wanted to get
to the beach asap on hot summer days to cool off in the breeze. the second
is that there is avery steep hill that goes form Bondi Rd to Campbell Parade
(the beach) and the trams used to shoot down this.

As for raw prawns....not in this weather

Robert Swieca
Powerhouse Museum

 ----------
From: daemon
To: MUSEUM-L
Subject: Re: Museums Australia - job opening - quasi-Australian applicants
Date: Friday, 14 February 1997 9:34AM

>Harry, its a pity that you could not come to work in Melbourne, Australia
(the
>most liveable city in the world, apart from a casino-led recovery), we
would
>be most welcoming.  Perhaps a quick contract marriage would do it.  I have
>never heard the expression 'off like a Bondi tram'.  There are no trams in
>Sydney! ??????  There are lots of other expressions that start with 'off
>like...', and many of them have to do with sweaty armpits or prawns that
have
>been sitting in the sun. Love to know what you mean.....or think you mean.
Of
>course, knowing your cliches would be of great use for work in museums in
>Australia.  We have to do an Aussie-speak test before we can be employed.
>Perhaps this is why unemployment is nearing 10%????

Adrienne Leith
Museums Australia


  Wot! You mean it's not even open to us blokes who understand the
derivation
of
>expressions like "Off like a Bondi tram!" ???
>
>Bloody unfair.
>
>Harry Needham

Museums Australia (Victoria)
Unit 4 19-35 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy  Vic 3065
AUSTRALIA

Tel:    +61 3 9416 1945
Fax:    +61 3 9416 0523