A century of electric trams - A Melbourne celebration

1906 – 2006 and beyond

Yarra Trams is celebrating an important milestone in the history of Melbourne’s tram network.

This year marks 100 years of continuous operation of electric trams. Yarra Trams is planning a number of events to celebrate the centenary year.

1906 Opening of St Kilda-Brighton electric tramway

The Victorian Railways operated an electric tram service from St Kilda to Brighton from May 1906 until February 1959. The route was officially opened on 5 May 1906 and full services started on 7 May 1906.

The opening ceremony was held at the Brighton Yacht Club. Invitations were issued by the Mayor of Brighton, Cr T Wilson and State Parliamentarians including Premier Thomas Bent were among the attendees.

1923 The VR 41 on the Esplanade, Brighton.	2006 The VR 41 fully restored.

This electric tramway route was instigated by Thomas Bent, who was the 22nd Premier of the State of Victoria. He was also the Treasurer and was previously the Minister of Railways. Bent was knighted in 1908 and remained Premier until January 1909. He was accused of using his position to enhance the value of his property interests in Brighton by influencing the Victorian Railways to build and operate a tram service.

2006 Sir Thomas Bent statue in Brighton.

Earlier, Bent had been a Councillor in Moorabbin and Brighton Councils. The suburb of Bentleigh is named after him. In recognition of his achievements, a bronze statue of Sir Thomas Bent stands at the intersection of Bay Street and Nepean Highway, Brighton.

Due to the link with the Victorian Railways, the tramway was often referred to as the ‘electric street railway’. The tram tracks were 1600mm (5’3”) apart, the same gauge used for train tracks.

The route was a feeder service, linking trams with the steam trains which took passengers between St Kilda Station and Flinders Street Station.

The St Kilda to Brighton electric tram route ran from the St Kilda Railway Station to Middle Brighton, travelling along Grey Street, Barkly Street, Mitford Street, Broadway, Ormond Road, St Kilda Street and Esplanade to Park Street.

During high patronage times such as peak hours and weekends, a trailer car could be attached to an electric tram. The trailers could seat an additional 40 people.

1906 VR toastrack, number 13 at the Elwood Depot.

1959 Closure of St Kilda to Brighton tramway

The route closed 53 years later on 1 March 1959, despite protests from the Elwood traders, unions, interest groups and the local council. The traders relied on the tram to bring customers to local shops.

1948 Tram numbers VR 34 and 53 pass in Broadway, Elwood where many passengers did their shopping.

A lack of interest by the Victorian Railways administrators led to the closure of the St Kilda to Brighton route. The Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) was planning to take over the route but it was not economically viable because tracks needed to be updated.

After the closure, Melbourne Brighton Bus Lines Pty Ltd serviced this route.

‘Rickety Kate’ was the last tram to travel this route and was given a send off by thousands of locals.

“It left at 12.16am and every few yards along the route detonators exploded on the lines and passengers threw streamers and crackers from the windows” stated a local Elwood resident.

1917 Tram number 28 ‘Rickety Kate’ was built at the Victorian Railways Newport Workshops in 1917. Note the Victorian Railways sign.

Today the City of Port Phillip has a plaque to mark the centenary of the ‘electric street railway.’ The plaque is next to one of the remaining original tram power poles. This is on the corner of Glen Huntly Road and Broadway, Elwood.