Historical information

In 1904, at the initiative of Premier Thomas Bent, Victorian Railways was authorised to build an electric street railway from St Kilda to Brighton. The line opened in early 1906 and was one of Melbourne's first electric tram services. On Saturday 5 May, 1906, Premier Thomas Bent performed the opening ceremony of the St Kilda to Brighton electric tramway at the Brighton Terminus, presided over by Cr. Thomas Wilson, Mayor of Brighton, with refreshments following at the Brighton Yacht Club. About 60 representatives were in attendance including the Railway Commissioners and the mayor and councillors of St Kilda, Brighton and Caulfield. The newspapers of the day commented that the cars were the best yet seen in Australia, possessing a great advantage over the Sydney trams, in that they are easily entered, and the glass windbreak was another improvement in design. The tramway from St Kilda to Brighton terminus took 18 minutes, including stops.

Physical description

gelatin silver photograph