My Grandfather Harry Backman of Rivoli Ham and Beefshop Hutt Street (still there as coffee shop) had a bakehouse in the CBD and operated 3 pie carts. At 6pm a horse (Dolly) was used to pull each one into position. One at the T&G corner,one at Beehive & railway station. This was my Fathers job to ride the horse back to get the next cart. When the last tram left about 11pm they were taken back to the bakehouse. The stoves were wood fired on the carts as well as the bakehouse ovens. During the depression men out of work would take a day into the hills collecting wood for a little cash. My father was known to give the odd pie away to someone down and out but if my grandfather caught him a thump was in store. When the war broke out the men were called up and you couldn't get the good blue boiler peas which came from NZ so he closed it all down. I can only just remember the big old bakehouse all shut down. After the war we lived at Lewiston & was given Dolly I used to drive her in the sulky. She was 22 when she died.
Geoffrey Backman, Mandurah WA - 27th November 2011
I tried to contact Geoffrey Backman but his e-mail no longer was working in 2012. I wrote to his town but no response. If anyone knows him please let him know about this. I am wondering if he either retired elsewhere or no longer with us. What ashame, he seem like a great man who could have shed a lot of light on our Pie Carts and it's history. God Bless! Thank you!