Recent announcements have been welcome news for those of our readers who use public transport.
Regional Victorians saw cheaper fares on V/Line train trips from late March 2023 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-09/train-v-line-fares-fares-reduced-march-31-regional-vic/101837828 and from 1 January 2026, more than 650,000 seniors who use public transport will be able to catch a train, tram or bus for free on weekends https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/free-transport-seniors-weekends-everywhere .
But fare reductions are not new for the community around Daylesford as the accompanying advertisement from the Daylesford Mercury and Express of March 25 1869 outlines.
Fares may have been reduced but coach transport was still relatively expensive. A common labourer earning 4 to 5 shillings per day in 1869 would have needed almost two days wages to travel from Daylesford to Creswick even after the fare reduction.
Nothing is known of the reason for the fare reduction, but no doubt our community members appreciated it.
From the Daylesford and District Historical Society. https://daylesfordmuseum.net/
