The End of an Era: Hesse Street Car Pilot Finally Terminated After 100 Years
Imagined by Stephen Coulter, Local Resident and co-founder of Zipidi
It was a sad day for car enthusiasts in Queenscliff, Victoria, as the long-running Hesse Street car pilot ended after more than 100 years of testing. The pilot, which began in the early 20th century, was an ambitious experiment to see if cars could coexist with the historic and charming town of Queenscliff, which was built as a transport hub for fishing, shipping, and rail.
Queenscliff’s pilot was inspired by the November 1922 editorial by USA roadbuilder Edward J Mehran, who wrote, in a still-published U.S. engineering journal, that streets, previously the preserve of mixed traffic, including foot traffic, should be redesigned for the utility of motorists alone.
The pilot was initially met with enthusiasm and curiosity by the locals, who marvelled at the new-fangled machines that could travel faster than horses and carts. However, as time passed, the pilot became a source of frustration and annoyance for many residents and visitors, who felt that the cars were taking over the town and ruining its character.
The cars, which were granted priority on Hesse Street, the main street of Queenscliff, often sped through the town, endangering pedestrians and cyclists, creating noise and air pollution, and taking up valuable space that could be used for outdoor dining, bike paths, and community activities. The cars also contributed to the decline of Queenscliff as a tourist destination, as people with their own cars had more options to explore other places and bypassed the town altogether.
The pilot was supposed to end in 1923, but due to bureaucratic delays and lobbying from car manufacturers and dealers, it was extended indefinitely. Many attempts were made to terminate the pilot over the years, but they were met with fierce resistance from a vocal minority of car lovers, who claimed that cars were essential for their mobility and convenience.
However, in 2024, after a series of public consultations and surveys, the Council finally decided to end the pilot and implement a new vision for Hesse Street. The new plan involved a narrower one-way road with a speed limit of 30 kph, limiting on-street parking to people with disabilities, and reallocating excess road space and parking for outdoor dining, bike paths, trees and community use. The Council said the new plan would revitalise the town, boost local businesses, improve safety and health, and restore Queenscliff’s heritage and charm.
The announcement of the end of the pilot was met with mixed reactions from the public. Some people celebrated the decision as a victory for common sense and progress. They said that they were looking forward to enjoying Hesse Street as a shared space for people of all ages and abilities rather than a car-dominated road. They also said that they hoped that the new plan would attract more tourists and visitors to Queenscliff, who would appreciate its unique history and culture.
Others lamented the decision as a loss of freedom and tradition. They said that they were attached to their cars and did not want to give up their convenience and comfort. They also said that they feared that the new plan would make Queenscliff less accessible and less attractive to potential customers and clients. They accused the Council of being anti-car and anti-progress.
The end of the pilot was marked by a symbolic ceremony on Hesse Street on Friday, August 18th 2024. The Mayor of Queenscliff gave a speech thanking everyone who participated in the pilot and acknowledging its achievements and challenges. They then invited everyone to join them in cutting a giant ribbon across Hesse Street, signifying its official reopening as a people-friendly street.
Hundreds of people attended the ceremony, some cheering and clapping, some booing and hissing. A few car enthusiasts staged a protest by revving their engines loudly and honking their horns incessantly. They were quickly drowned out by the sound of music, laughter, and applause from most of the crowd.
As the ribbon was cut, a group of children on kick scooters led a parade along Hesse Street, followed by cyclists, walkers, rollerbladers, skateboarders, strollers, wheelchairs, dogs on leashes, and even a few horses and carts. They waved flags and banners with slogans such as “Hesse Street for People”, “Cars Out Now”, “Queenscliff Reborn”, “Older, Wiser, Slower”, “Slow Down and Enjoy”, “History Matters”, “Active Transport Rocks”, “Save Our Planet”, “Support Local Businesses”, “Community First”, “Welcome Back Tourists”, “Hooray for Hesse Street”, etc.
The parade ended at the Queenscliff Railway Station, where a giant cake shaped like Hesse Street was cut and shared among everyone. The cake had two layers: one representing Hesse Street before cars (with buildings made of gingerbread), and one representing Hesse Street after cars (with buildings made of chocolate). The cake also had candles shaped like cars on top (made of marzipan), which were blown out by everyone together.
A street party with live music, food stalls, games, art workshops, face painting, storytelling, and other activities followed the ceremony. The party lasted until late at night, with people dancing, singing, and having fun on Hesse Street. Fairy lights, lanterns, and fire pits lit up the street. The atmosphere was festive, joyful, and peaceful.
The end of the Hesse Street car pilot was a historic moment for Queenscliff, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. It was also a funny and satirical story, highlighting the absurdity and irony of the pilot and its consequences. It was a story that brought some real issues to light, such as the impact of cars on towns and cities, the need for sustainable and equitable transport solutions, the importance of preserving and celebrating heritage and culture, and the power of community and democracy. 😊
A Bit of History: Hesse Street and the Scooter Race
Hesse Street was not always a road for cars. In fact, it was designed in the 1850s, long before cars were invented. It was originally a wide street for horse and cart traffic, as well as pedestrians. The footpaths were more like meeting places and shopfronts, rather than narrow sidewalks. Hesse Street was the heart of Queenscliff, a bustling town that thrived on fishing, shipping, and rail.
Queenscliff was first settled in 1836 as a township for fishing and shipping. It became an important transport hub connecting ships with the Ballarat goldfields, a local tramway built around 1860, and a railway from 1879 connecting Queenscliff to Geelong. The Government Surveyor laid out the township in the 1850s.
Queenscliff prospered with many grand buildings still standing as testimony to the wealth generated. Queenscliff was also a very successful holiday destination connected to Melbourne by a 2-hour bay cruise on the steamer Ozone. As it was the pre-automobile era, Queenscliff had little competition as a holiday destination as horses and carts were not fast or practical enough for tourists to visit other destinations.
Ironically, the demise of Queenscliff coincided with the invention and mass production of cars. People could now go to many destinations on their own — steamer travel diminished, and Queenscliff’s golden era was over. It continued to be a fishing village, a pilot service for ships and a tourist destination in much smaller numbers.
Hesse Street became a road for cars in the early 20th century when the pilot began. However, it was never designed for cars. It was inherited by cars rather than planned for cars and other township users. Hesse Street never became a major road for trade as trade had moved to Melbourne and Geelong, and in the car era, Queenscliff became a quaint small town for locals and holiday visitors. Its population today is around 4,000, rising to over 10,000 in the summer.
The busiest time on Hesse Street was when the Geelong to Queenscliff kick scooter race was run from 1936 intermittently until the 1980s. The race was a popular event that attracted thousands of spectators and participants.
The kick scooters were homemade contraptions that consisted of wooden planks with wheels attached to them. The riders would kick their way along the road from Geelong to Queenscliff, covering about 30 kilometers in about an hour.
The race would finish on Hesse Street, where crowds of 5,000 or more would line the street to cheer on the racers. It was the highlight of the year for many people in Queenscliff. Ironically, it was a sign of active transport being the future for Queenscliff.
The scooter race was discontinued in the 1980s due to safety concerns and a lack of interest. However, some people still remember it fondly as a part of Queenscliff’s history and culture.
