Railwaymen

This beautifully crafted display of portraits shows the railwaymen and traffic staff of the Victorian Railways, circa 1900. It provides a fascinating snapshot of what was popular in workingmen’s hairstyles and facial hair across diverse age groups, with wild bushy beards seemingly favoured by anyone old enough to grow one. In contrast to Melbourne’s middle and upper class men of this era who could be seen sporting morning suits and top hats, workingmen were more interested in practical, rather than fashionable styles. The bushranger frontiersman image of the nineteenth century may have been slowly evolving into a more urban look but the safety razor was not introduced until 1903, so a natural beard remained as an expression of rugged manliness, as the alternative would have required constant visits to the barber.