Tunnel boring machine names revealed

The names of the four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will build the twin nine-kilometre rail tunnels under Melbourne have been revealed. The two TBMs being launched from the Anzac Station site have been named in honour of Alice Appleford, an Australian civilian and military nurse who took part in both World Wars, and Millie Peacock, the first woman elected to Victorian Parliament. The TBMs being launched from the site of the new North Melbourne Station have been named after Joan Kirner, the first female Premier of Victoria, and Meg Lanning, a record-breaking cricketer and current Australian women’s cricket captain. The first two TBMs – Joan and Meg – have arrived in Melbourne and will soon be assembled before being launched towards Kensington mid-year. TBMs Alice and Millie will arrive by mid-2019. They will be assembled in the Anzac Station box later this year and launched towards South Yarra as they begin constructing the two underground rail tunnels. As a symbol of good luck, it is tradition to give machines used in tunnel excavation a female name before they start work. Anzac Station works progress Metro Tunnel construction works are continuing on the new underground Anzac Station along St Kilda Rd site. Heavy machinery was moved from the northern section of the site, across St Kilda Rd, to the southern section in February to allow for upcoming construction works. The equipment move marks the start of vertical support structure works, known as piling, in the southern section ahead of the station box being excavated and constructed. Excavation of Anzac Station has reached over three metres in depth in the northern section of the site. These works are in preparation for the launch of the TBMs towards South Yarra later this year. For the latest updates on the construction of Anzac Station visit metrotunnel.vic.gov.au. Artists brighten up Anzac Station work site The Anzac Station work site has been given a splash of colour with the latest art installation as part of the Metro Tunnel Creative Program. Collingwood-based Spacecraft Studio has created the vibrant design for the site hoarding. It is inspired by the incidental art that occurred because of the splashes, colours and shapes that ended up on canvases covering the tables in the Spacecraft Studio over 12 weeks.