Timeline of trams in Melbourne

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The Melbourne tram network began in 1884 with the construction of the Fairfield Horse Tramway. However, the purpose of the line was to increase land prices in the area, and it soon closed during the depression in 1890.[1] The first genuine attempt to construct a tramway network was the construction of the Richmond cable tram line by the Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Company in 1885. Over the next few years, 16 more cable tram lines were constructed, as well as numerous other horse tramways.[2] The depression of the early 1890s slowed further expansion of the cable network. The first electric tram line was the Box Hill and Doncaster tramway which opened in 1889. This was a pioneering line in what was then the countryside and thus didn't receive much patronage. It closed in 1896.[3] The next attempt at an electric tramway was Victorian Railways' St Kilda to Brighton line, which opened in 1906.[4] Later that year, the North Melbourne Electric Tramway & Lighting Company opened lines to Essendon and Maribyrnong.[5] Many local councils formed their own tramway trusts and built tramways within their own constituency. The most successful of these was the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust.[6]

Consolidation of all of the systems occurred with the forming of the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board in 1920, who eventually took control of all lines except for the two Victorian Railways lines.[7] The MMTB continued the expansion of the electric tramways and began the process of electrifying the cable network, which began in earnest by the mid-1920s. Though many more lines were planned, the Great Depression and World War II slowed the process of construction. The electrification of the cable network was effectively completed by 1956 with the opening of the Bourke Street lines. However, by this time, the increasing popularity of the motor vehicle and the anti-tram Bolte government prevented any expansion in the following years, and overall patronage began to decline.[8] The VR closed its two lines and the MMTB also closed many of its shorter, more marginal routes. The decades following the late 1970s saw the expansion of tram lines to outer suburbs such as Bundoora, Vermont South, Airport West, and Box Hill.[9] Establishment of a state-run corporation to operate Melbourne's tram network occurred in 1983. In 1997, the tram network was split into two and later privatized. Since 2004, Yarra Trams has been the sole operator of the Melbourne Tram Network.[7]

This timeline lists all of the openings, extensions and closures of all lines, as well as other significant events of the Melbourne Tram Network.

1880s[edit]

The opening of the Richmond cable line on 11 November 1885
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
  • 20 January: The extension of the Brighton Road and Prahran cable tram lines between Flinders Street Station and Queensberry Street opens.[10]
  • 9 February: North Carlton cable tram line opens between Rathdowne Street and Park Street, Carlton North. Services run from Swanston Street.[10]
  • 14 February: The Northern Tramway Company opens the Coburg horse tramway between Moreland Road and Gaffney Street along Sydney Road.[8]
  • 15 February: Toorak cable tram line opens as a branch of the Prahran cable tram line from Chapel Street to Irving Street along Toorak Road.[10]
  • April: The Caulfield Tramway Company opens two horse tramways: from Elsternwick station to Caulfield station, and from Elsternwick railway to Glen Huntly station.[8]
  • 14 October: The Box Hill & Doncaster Tramway Company opens an electric tramway between Box Hill and Doncaster. It was the first electric tramway in Australia.[3]
  • late 1889: Elsternwick railway station to Caulfield railway station horse tramway closes.[8]

1890s[edit]

1890
1891
1892
  • Tram on the Box Hill to Doncaster line
    Operation of the Box Hill and Doncaster electric tramway was taken over by the Doncaster & Box Hill Electric Road Company.[3]
1893
  • 7 July: Northcote cable tram line closes following a financial crisis within the Clifton Hill, Northcote and Preston Tramway Company.[7]
1894
1896
  • 6 January: Box Hill and Doncaster electric tramway closes.[3]
1897
  • 27 November: Northcote cable tram line closes again due to cost-cutting measures.[7]

1900s[edit]

1901
1902
  • Elsternwick railway station to Glenhuntly railway station horse tramway closes again.[9]
1904
  • North Melbourne Electric Tramway & Lighting Company (NMETL) was granted permission to construct tramways and supply lighting to the Essendon district.[5]
1905
1906
  • 5 May: VR opens the St Kilda to Brighton electric street railway between St Kilda station and Park Street, Middle Brighton. It was constructed as a single track line with passing loops, and the broad gauge line featured a connection to the suburban railway network at St Kilda station. Elwood depot opens.[4]
  • 11 October: NMETL opens the Essendon line from Flemington Bridge to Keilor Road. It also opens the Maribyrnong line between Flemington Bridge station and Saltwater River (Maribyrnong River). A branch line was also built along Puckle Street to Moonee Ponds station. Essendon depot opes.[5]
  • Opening of the NMETL lines on 11 October 1906
    22 December: VR extends the Brighton line from Middle Brighton to Brighton Beach station.[4]
1907
  • 7 March: A fire at Elwood Depot destroys all VR rollingstock and forces a temporary closure to the St Kilda and Brighton electric street railway. The service resumes on 17 March after VR hurriedly buys second-hand electric tram cars from Sydney.[4]
1908

1910s[edit]

The PMTT opened the Dandenong Road line on 16 December 1911
1910
1911
1912
  • 31 March: PMTT extends the Dandenong Road line from the Windsor railway bridge to Chapel Street to meet with the Windsor and Prahran cable tram lines.[9]
  • 14 September: PMTT extends the High Street line from Punt Road to St Kilda Road to meet the Brighton Road cable tram line.[6]
  • The Beaumaris Tramway Company closes part of the Beaumaris horse tramway between Cheltenham and Beaumaris.[8]
1913
1914
1915
1916
  • 18 January: The Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board is constituted as an interim body to take over the cable tramways from the Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Company, pending the future consolidation of all of the tramway systems.[9]
  • 31 January: The Hawthorn horse tramway is closed for impending electrification of the line by the HTT.[8]
  • 18 March: PMTT construct a balloon loop at the St Kilda Beach terminus.[9]
  • 6 April: HTT opens the Swan Street line from Batman Avenue to Hawthorn depot. Hawthorn depot opens.[14]
  • 27 April: MBCTT opens the Moreland line from Coburg Depot to Sydney Road along Moreland Road, and the Sydney Road line from Moreland Road to Bell Street. Coburg depot opens.[11]
  • 7 May: HTT extends the Swan Street line to Auburn Road via Riversdale Road along the former horse tramway.[14]
  • 14 May: MBCTT extends the Sydney Road line from Bell Street to Bakers Road, Coburg North.[11]
  • 31 May: HTT extends the Swan Street line to Camberwell Junction. The Burwood line opens from Camberwell Junction to Bowen Street, Camberwell.[14]
  • 10 June: HTT further extends the Burwood line to Boundary Road (now Warrigal Road), Burwood.[14]
  • 12 June: HTT opens the Hawthorn line between Hawthorn Bridge and Riversdale Junction, Hawthorn along the former Hawthorn Horse Tramway.
  • 14 August: MBCTT opens the Lygon Street line from Coburg Depot to Park Street, Carlton.[11]
  • 30 September: PMTT opens the Mont Albert line from Burke Road to Union Road, Mont Albert along Whitehorse Road.[6]
  • 2 October: FTT granted authorization to construct tramway system.[13]
  • 25 October: HTT opens the Riversdale Road line from Camberwell Junction to Wattle Valley Road.[14]
  • 31 October: MBCTT extends the Lygon Street line from Park Street to Queensberry Street to meet the cable tram terminus. The East Coburg line is also opened from Coburg depot to Bell Street via Nicholson Street.[11]
  • 9 November: HTT extends Riversdale Road line from Wattle Valley Road line to Highfield Road.[14]
  • 23 December: HTT extends Riversdale Road line from Highfield Road to Wattle Park.[14]
1917
1918
  • 7 March: PMTT opens line from Camberwell station to Cotham Road along Burke Road. Initially, it is operated as a shuttle service due to the incomplete railway bridge at Camberwell.[9]
  • March: Hawthorn Depot is expanded.[9]
  • June: MBCTT rebuilds Queensberry Street terminus to provide a more convenient interchange with the cable trams.[11]
  • 10 September: FNPTT commences construction on the St Georges Road line.[12]
  • September: The Camberwell railway bridge is completed and through running along Burke Road commences.[9]
1919
  • 10 March: VR opens a new line between Sandringham station and Black Rock. Unlike the St Kilda to Brighton line, this line was built at Standard Gauge.[4]
  • 1 November: Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) is formed with the intention to take over, operate and unify the various tramways excluding the two lines operated by VR. The cable tramways and the Zoo horse tramway is taken over by the MMTB at this date.[7]

1920s[edit]

The Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board took over all tramways between by 1922
1920
1921
  • 6 September: MMTB opens lines constructed by the FTT. The Ballarat Road line opens from Ballarat Road to Footscray station. The Williamstown Road line opens from Williamstown Road to Footscray station. The Russell Street line opens from Russell Street, West Footscray to Droop Street.[13]
  • Holden Street Workshops was established as an interim workshop pending establishment of a central tramway workshop.[9]
1922
1923
  • 7 July: The extension of the Essendon line from Keilor Road to Gilles Street opens.[9]
  • 7 July: MMTB opens the Church Street line from Barkers Road to Hawthorn Bridge, connecting the Kew line to the Richmond cable tram terminus at Hawthorn Bridge.[9]
  • 23 August: Glenhuntly depot opens.[15]
  • 27 August: MMTB constructs a single track siding in Napier Street, Essendon for football traffic at Windy Hill.[9]
  • 5 November: The Zoo horse tram depot and rollingstock was all destroyed in a fire during a police strike. The line, which was the last horse tram operating in Melbourne, was subsequently closed.[8]
  • A 1923 W Class tram at Hawthorn, 1942
    21 December: The first W class tram enters service.[16]
1924
1925
1926
  • 12 January: Prahran and Toorak trams are truncated back to Domain Road pending electrification of St Kilda Road tracks.[18]
  • 24 January: The extension of the Swanston Street line from Lonsdale Street to City Road opens along the former Queensberry Street cable tram line on Swanston Street.[18]
  • 28 March: The St Kilda Road line between City Road and Domain Road is electrified.[18]
  • 9 May: Permanent double tracks are laid in St Kilda Road between Domain Road and St Kilda Junction, replacing the temporary ones.[9]
  • 16 May: The Malvern Road line, High Street line and Dandenong Road line are extended to St Kilda Road, enabling running through to the city.[9]
  • 31 May: MMTB constructs siding in Victoria Street, enabling Swanston Street trams from the south terminating in the city to shunt clear of through-routed trams.[18]
  • 28 August: Prahran cable line closes for impending electrification.[18]
  • 29 August: MMTB opens line between Elsternwick and St Kilda Junction via Brighton Road, partially using the former cable tram line.[18]
  • 1 September: Victorian Railways extends the Sandringham line from Black Rock to Beaumaris.[4]
  • 1 October: Toorak cable tram line closes pending electrification.[18]
  • 31 October: The extension of the Chapel Street line from Toorak Road to Windsor station opens along the former cable tram line.[18]
  • 19 December: The extension of the Chapel Street line from Windsor railway station to Brighton Road opens along the former cable tram line.[18]
  • 19 December: The extension of the Glen Huntly Road line from Grange Road to Carnegie opens.[9]
1927
  • 2 February: MMTB constructs connecting line between Haymarket and Victoria Street terminus, connecting the isolated Essendon system to the rest of the network.[18]
  • 17 April: MMTB opens Toorak Road line between Domain Road and Orrong Road along the former cable tram line.[9]
  • 8 May: The extension of the Toorak Road line from Orrong Road to Glenferrie Road is opened.[9]
  • 15 May: The extension of the Royal Park line from Daly Street to Moreland Road opens.[17]
  • 15 May: Richmond cable line is truncated to Swanston Street pending electrification.[18]
  • 26 June: The extension of the Royal Park line from Moreland Road to Bell Street, West Coburg opens.[17]
  • 29 June: Richmond cable line closed for impending electrification.[18]
  • Intersection of Flinders Street and Swanston Street, 1927
    14 July: MMTB opens Flinders Street line between Lonsdale Street and Swanston Street along the former Richmond cable tram line.[18]
  • 17 September: The extension of the Flinders Street line from Swanston Street to Wellington Parade opens along the former Richmond cable tram line. MMTB also open the Hawthorn line between Wellington Parade and Simpson Street, East Melbourne opens.[18]
  • November: Green and Cream becomes standard MMTB livery.[9]
  • 4 December: The extension of the Hawthorn line from Simpson Street to Hawthorn Bridge along the former Richmond cable tram line.[18]
1928
1929
  • 13 July: Victoria Bridge to Brunswick Street cable tram line closed for impending electrification.[18]
  • 4 August: MMTB opens connecting line between Victoria Street and Flemington Road along Racecourse Road. Victoria Street (Flemington) line closes.[9]
  • 14 September: Collins Street cable tram line closes for impending electrification.[18]
  • 15 September: MMTB opens Victoria Street line between Brunswick Street and Victoria Bridge along the former cable tram line.[18]
  • 8 December: MMTB opens Collins Street line between Spencer Street and Brunswick Street along the former cable tram line.[18]
  • 8 December: Camberwell depot opens.[19]

1930s[edit]

1930
1931
1935
  • 20 July: The North Melbourne cable tram line is closed for impending electrification. The West Melbourne cable tram line is also closed, but is replaced by a bus service.[18]
  • 24 September: MMTB opens the North Melbourne line between Victoria Street and North Melbourne along the former cable tram line.[18]
  • 29 September: The Elizabeth Street cable tram line is closed for impending electrification. Thus, the Brunswick cable tram line is truncated to Victoria Street.[18]
  • 17 November: MMTB opens the Elizabeth Street line between Victoria Street and Flinders Street along the former cable tram line.[18]
  • 17 November: The Brunswick cable tram line is further truncated to Leonard Street/Royal Parade for impending electrification.[9]
  • 29 December: The extension of the Elizabeth Street line from Victoria Street to Haymarket opens.[9]
1936
  • 11 January: The remainder of the Brunswick cable tram line is closed for impending electrification.[18]
  • 12 January: MMTB opens the southern portion of the Sydney Road line from Haymarket to Leonard Street, Parkville along the former Brunswick cable tram line.[18]
  • 23 February: The extension of the Sydney Road line from Leonard Street to Park Street opens along the former Brunswick cable tram line.[18]
  • 26 April: The extension of the Sydney Road line from Park Street to Moreland Road opens along the former Brunswick cable tram, finishing electrification of the line. Brunswick Depot opens.[18]
  • 1 August: The North Carlton cable tram line is closed, being replaced by a bus service.[18]
    A cable tram of the North Carlton line, which closed in 1936
1937
1938
  • 11 December: The extension of the East Kew line from Bulleen Road to Balwyn North opens.[9]
1939
  • 15 April: The Collingwood cable tram line closed, being replaced by a bus service.[18]
  • 25 October: Services along the Holden Street line cease, being replaced by a bus service. The southern track is removed. The northern track is retained for depot transfers.[9]

1940s[edit]

1940
1941
  • 6 July: Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board opens the Ordnance Factory branch line between Raleigh Road and the Ordnance Factory.[9]
  • 20 July: The Holden Street tram services are reinstated due to wartime conditions.[9]
  • 9 November: MMTB opens the Ammunition Factory branch line between Ballarat Road and River Street.[9]
1942
1943
1944
1945

1950s[edit]

1950
  • 3 September: Services on the Holden Street line again ceased. The line was retained for depot workings.[9]
1951
1952
  • 11 October: Coburg depot closes due to cost-saving measures.[9]
1953
  • 3 July: The West Preston terminus is moved to the north side of the Regent Street intersection.[9]
1954
1955
1956
1957
  • 1 January: VR truncates the Brighton tramway to Middle Brighton as the first stage of the closure of the line.[9]
  • 1 July: VR further truncates the Brighton tramway to Elwood depot as the second stage of the closure of the line.[9]
1959
  • 28 February: VR closes the Brighton line altogether. Elwood depot closes.[4]
  • 13 November: MMTB relocates South Melbourne/St Kilda Beach terminus from Mary Street to Park Street.[9]
  • 22 November: Temporary track in use on the Flinders Street line due to the construction of the Kings Street overpass.[9]

1960s[edit]

1960
1962
1965
1967
1968
  • 21 October: New track is opened in Queensway, bypassing the Wellington Street line, which is abandoned.[9]
  • November: St Kida Junction tram track alterations are complete.[9]

1970s[edit]

1970
  • 16 March: Sturt Street line is realigned via Nolan Street due to the construction of the City Road underpass.[9]
1973
  • 19 June: A siding is opened at Brunswick Street terminus.[9]
1975
1976
1978

1980s[edit]

1982
1983
1984
1985
  • 10 January: The extension between La Trobe University and Boldrewood Parade along the East Preston line opens.[24]
  • November: Preston Workshops is expanded.[9]
1986
1987
A B2 class tram runs of the St Kilda light rail, converted in 1987.
1988
1989

1990s[edit]

1990
  • 1 January: No services operated for 33 days while hundreds of trams blockaded Melbourne's streets, as part of an industrial dispute pertaining to driver-only operation.[9]
1992
  • 22 December: The extension of the Essendon line between Matthews Avenue and Dromana Avenue opens.[27]
1993
City Circle tram, which commenced in 1994
1994
1995
1997
1998
1999

2000s[edit]

2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
  • 4 January: The extension of the Docklands line between Harbour Esplanade and Waterfront City, Docklands opens.[39]
  • 23 July: The extension of the Burwood line between Burwood East and Vermont South opens.[40]
  • 18 November: Demolition of the Kings Street Overpass completed.[41]
  • 21 November: Collins Street West extension reopened.[41]
2009
  • 21 September: The extension of the Collins Street line between Batman's Hill and Victoria Harbour opens.[41]

2010s[edit]

An E Class tram in North Balwyn, May 2014
2013
2014
2017
  • 1 July: New tram tracks along Toorak Road (west of Park Street) open with route 58 rerouted via the new tracks. The existing tracks along Domain Road and Park Street fell out of use as Domain Road was closed off while Anzac railway station was being built.[42][43]
2018

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Darebin Heritage - Fairfield Horse Tram". heritage.darebinlibraries.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b Victoria, Museum. "No. 1 cable tram, first day of operation on the Richmond route, Treasures, Museum Victoria celebrates 150 years, Australia, Victoria, Melbourne". museumsvictoria.com.au. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Melbourne Tram Museum: Australia's first electric tram - the Box Hill to Doncaster tramway". hawthorntramdepot.org.au. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Victorian Railways - Electric Street Railways". vicsig. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Melbourne Tram Museum: the North Melbourne Electric Tramways & Lighting Company". hawthorntramdepot.org.au. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Melbourne Tram Museum: the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust". hawthorntramdepot.org.au. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Tram History Final" (PDF). Heritage Victoria.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Melbourne Tram Museum: Melbourne's horse trams". hawthorntramdepot.org.au. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc Storey, Don. "Gunzel". classicaustraliantv.com. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "The Cable Car Home Page - Cable Tramways in Australia and New Zealand". cable-car-guy.com. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Fedor, William. "TMSV :: Reflections :: The Melbourne, Brunswick & Coburg Tramways Trust". tramway.org.au. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  12. ^ a b c d "Melbourne Tram Museum: the Fitzroy, Northcote & Preston Tramways Trust". hawthorntramdepot.org.au. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "Melbourne Tram Museum: Footscray - genesis of a local tramway". hawthorntramdepot.org.au. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Melbourne's Two Batman Avenue Tramways 1916 and 1999" Trolley Wire issue 278 August 1999 pages 3–15
  15. ^ "Glenhuntly Tram Depot". Vicsig. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  16. ^ "W Class Tram". VICSIG. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  17. ^ a b c d Brown, Geoff (2016). "The tram through the park: the origins of the West Coburg tramway". Friends of Hawthorn Tram Depot.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Twentyman, A.E. "The Conversion of Melbourne's Cable Tramways" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 174: 3–12 – via Sydney Tramway Museum.
  19. ^ "Camberwell Depot". VICSIG.
  20. ^ "East Preston Depot". VICSIG.
  21. ^ "Hawthorn Depot Closed" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 97: 11. February 1965.
  22. ^ a b "East Burwood opens" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 177: 25–27. August 1978.
  23. ^ News in Brief Trolley Wire issue 203 December 1982 page 2
  24. ^ a b c d "East Preston line extended" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 208: 18–21. October 1983.
  25. ^ "Melbourne Interlude" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 211: 25–26. April 1984.
  26. ^ a b c "Here and There: News from all over" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 231: 27–31. November 1987.
  27. ^ "Opening of the Airport West Extension" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 252: 33.
  28. ^ "East Burwood Extension" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 254: 26. August 1993.
  29. ^ "City Circle Line opens" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 258. August 1994.
  30. ^ a b "South Melbourne Depot Closes" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 269: 17–21. May 1997.
  31. ^ "Melbourne's tram network split up" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 271: 31. November 1997.
  32. ^ a b c "Melbourne's two Batman Avenue tramways" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 278: 3–16. August 1999.
  33. ^ "Here and There: News from all round" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 281: 30.
  34. ^ a b "Here and There: News from all over" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 283. November 2000.
  35. ^ a b c "Here and There: News from all over" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 292: 27–29. February 2002.
  36. ^ a b "Here and There: News from all over" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 293: 11–20. May 2003.
  37. ^ "Melbourne - new partnership agreements" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 297. May 2004.
  38. ^ "Southern Cross Station Redevelopment". Railway Technology. December 2002.
  39. ^ "NewQuay Extension" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 300. February 2005.
  40. ^ "Vermont South extension opens" (PDF). Trolley Wire. 302. August 2005.
  41. ^ a b c d e "Melbourne public transport – Significant service changes – Daniel Bowen dot com". danielbowen.com. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  42. ^ Toorak West Track Opens Newsrail August 2017 page 247
  43. ^ Metro Tunnel tram service changes – Toorak Road West and St Kilda Road – Saturday 1 July to Tuesday 11 July Yarra Trams
  44. ^ Sad day for society: shock over halting of tramcar restaurants The Age 21 October 2018
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