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Taree's First Taxi Service - yes it was a Model T!

Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2024 2:00 am
by ModelTMitch
Over 100 years have passed since Taree, New South Wales had its first Taxi services, one owned by John Mitchell, the first Ford car in Taree being owned by Bert Mitchell, and the other taxi owned by Horace Beeton, which provided regular passenger services between Taree and Kempsey, in a shiny new Ford Model T - a day trip in those days, about 90 minutes on the freeway today!
Horace Beeton also owned the first Royal Hotel in Taree, in the late 1800's. I have included a picture of the Beeton Royal Hotel as it was in the late 1800's, and also how it looks today, the original timber building has long since been (sadly) replaced. You can see how different Victoria Street looks after over 120 years!

first-ford-car-in-taree-bert.jpg
h-beetons-passenger-car.jpg
Victoria Street, Taree. Late 1800's and Today. The Royal Hotel is unrecognisable.
Victoria Street, Taree. Late 1800's and Today. The Royal Hotel is unrecognisable.

Re: Taree's First Taxi Service - yes it was a Model T!

Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:47 am
by Fire_chief
Top photo appears to be a '14. The second photo is a late '12.

Re: Taree's First Taxi Service - yes it was a Model T!

Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:56 am
by TWrenn
That '14 is interesting in that it has all brass sidelamps, and either some type of "Australian specific" upholstery or maybe covering to handle all the wear and tear of passenger business? Yet the top boot looks to be different too...definitely not black. That car looks pretty new also. Thanks for the pics Mitch.

Re: Taree's First Taxi Service - yes it was a Model T!

Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:02 am
by Erik Johnson
Both cars have Rushmore acetylene generators.