In 1890 Bendigo's first tramway battery-electric carriages operated between Sanhurst and Eaglehawk. In 1892 Battery-electrics were replaced by steam tram cars on the Bendigo Railway Station track to Eaglehawk. In 1903 Electric traction overhead was inaugurated extending to Quarry Hill, Golden Square and Lake Weeroona. In 1913 Open cross-seat cars added for the service Quarry Hill to Eaglehawk. In 1945 Traction bogie cars replaced older cars. In 1947 Birney safety cars (dead man controllers) replaced older carsBrochure, a "Welcome to Bendigo, and "Evolution of Bendigo Tramways." 8668.1 Brochure is titled "Welcome to Bendigo," on the front a photo of Charing Cross and Trams, also the Bendigo City Coat of Arms. Inside two pages and descriptions of six tram showing the "Evolution of Bendigo tramways." On the rear is a map of the tramways and places of interest to visit. The brochure was "Printed for the preservation committee in co-operation with the Royal Historical Society of Victoria (Bendigo and District Branch) All donations for a preservation fund."history, bendigo tramways, evolution of bendigo tramways

Colour photograph - Tram No. 19, Bendigo Tramways.photograph, tram, no. 19, photograph. bendigo tram no. 19. bendigo tramways.

Digital image of a court report - 9 pages - Hourigan vs The Bendigo Tramways Company Limited regarding an accident where the top of the rails was above the road surface. Heard in the Supreme Court, August and Oct. 1896, refers to the Tramway Act of 1890. The case was found in the favour of the Tramway.Yields information about a legal case regarding the roadway and tram tracks in Bendigo in 1896.Digital image of a court report - 9 pagestramways, tram tracks, bendigo tramways, legal matters, supreme court

The Sandhurst and Electric Tramway Company was the first to blaze a trail when it introduced battery trams to Bendigo in June 1890. Unfortunately they had made a serious miscalculation, as the batteries quickly proved inadequate for the hilly terrain of Bendigo. After a couple of months battery trams ceased running and were later replaced by steam trams in February 1892. Steam trams were a reliable means of transport and successfully moved Bendigonians around for ten years, but the onset of the recession forced the Bendigo Tramways Company to sell up in 1899 to the Electric Supply Company of Victoria (ESCo) who continued to run steam trams until 1902. This turn-of-the-century sale led to the introduction of electric trams to Bendigo in April 1903. These were a success from the very beginning. During peak hour people would be standing in the aisles, in the doorways, even on the running boards on the outside of the tram. In addition, the trams were also the first option for deliveries. Parcels, newspapers, movie reels for the picture theatres and even mail bags found their way onto the trams; sent from outlying post offices to the GPO in the city centre. At the end of World War I the Victorian Government constituted the new semi-government instrumentality, the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SEC). The SEC was to take over all privately owned power generating companies in Victoria and operate as a state owned monopoly ... Bendigo's tramway system was an integral part of the deal.Bendigo Tramways 100th Anniversary National Trust 31 minute DVD. Content includes brief history of the Bendigo trams from 1890 to 1990; driver's view movies of each of the four Bendigo Lines; and the set up of the tourist trams after the closure of the lines by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria.history, bendigo, bendigo trams