We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Untitled image
Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes
Public domain
This media item is listed as being within the public domain. As such, this item may be used by anyone for any purpose.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Ballarat Tramway Museum
Colour photograph of Sydney tram P1617, mounted onto heavy card, with edges trimmed in green tape used as a Christmas card 1950, with caption on rear & greetings message.
ON rear
Along top edge "P1617 in Dacey Ave. outside / Dowling St. ?? Depot 1950"
In middle of item "Compliments of the Season and Best Wishes / for Xmas 1950 / From Roy"
The SECV had chalets, cafes, mess halls and tea rooms all over Victoria including their construction sites. The SECV had a stores system which purchased thousands of sets of crockery & cutlery for use by personnel. there was a system of chefs, cooks, tea persons etc. to supply food and beverages to the workers. 1921 signified the year the SECV was formed. Heavy white ceramic oval plate with State Electricity Commission of Victoria 1921 logo/insignia on the inside of one edge - middle of the long side of the plate. On the base, also inscribed in red are details of the makers.
Oval shaped ceramic serving plate
SECV original logo including the wording "STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA", 1921. On underside, "Vitrified. Sold by Cafe & Hotel Supplies Pty. Ltd.". "Dunn Bennett & Co Ltd.". Burslem. Made in England.
secv, crockery, serving plate
Item used to contain the compressor fuse on tram 14, salvavaged during the project to renew the wiring of the tram. The box was located alongside the circuit breaker at No. 2 end of the tram.
Demonstrates an item fitted to a tramcar to contain a renewable fuse.
Wooden box containing a fuse, fuse holder and short sections of associated wire. The fuse holder is secured to the base of the box with brass screws. The box has a cover secured with a brass screw. There are two pieces of wire secured on the ceramic fuse holder, one of which the insulation has deteriorated and fallen off. The other wire has its cloth covered rubber insulation remaining in position. The outside of the box has been painted with the SEC tram green paint.
fuse, tram 14, tramcars, tramcar maintenance
Tramcar Destination Sign used by the Electric Supply Company of Victoria on the Ballarat Electric Trams. The ESCo operated the Ballarat electric trams from 1905 to 1934. Tramcar destination symbols originated in a time when a large part of the population was illiterate. The symbols were displayed on the front of the tram enabling the public to easily identify a tram's destination. The destination signs had a painted circle in the middle, the colour indicated the tram's destination. This particular sign has a yellow circle indicating the destination was Lydiard Street North. See Reg No. 5488.
Yields information about how the public related to the trams and their destinations.
Square sheet of steel, painted dark green and with a painted yellow circle 125mm in diameter in the middle. Has two circular holes near one side with an extended slot for fastening over hooks or screw heads. Has at least two layers paint with slightly different shades; all layers of paint are flaking. One edge is partially rusted away.
ballarat, tramways, tram, destination symbol, esco
Newspaper item about the installation of new bus stops and signs following the closure of the Victoria St tram line that Sunday. Quotes Mr Sharp City Engineer and Mr A Stott of the TRB about the new services and notes that the Skyline Wendouree Bus city stop would be unchanged.
Yields information about the closure of the SEC operated tram system and changed car parking.
Newspaper cutting from The Courier 21/8/1971
tramways, closure, ballarat, bridge st, car parking, bus stops, victoria st.
Newspaper item with photograph of Council workers changing car parking signs in Bridge St following the closure of the two tram routes using the streets. Notes the confusion over parking in bus stop zones.
Yields information about the closure of the SEC operated tram system and changed car parking.
Newspaper cutting from The Courier 8/9/1971.
tramways, closure, ballarat, bridge st, car parking, bus stops
Newspaper item written by Joe Rollo of The Age, about the closure of the Ballarat system interviewing Mr James Leggo 82 and recording that Herb Knight drove the last tram.
Yields information about the closure of the SEC operated tram system.
Newspaper cutting from The Age 20/9/1971
tramways, closure, ballarat, last tram, tram 40
Set of four newspaper cuttings about the Victorian Government's proposal to close Ballarat and Bendigo Tramways 1 - The Age 8/8/1968 - 455 x 84 - providing details of the proposal, SEC employees, bus replacement, and keeping some trams in Ballarat for use at Sovereign Hill. Notes the politics in the Government over this matter. 2 - The Age 27/10/1967 - 47 x 43 - noting that the State Government had ordered the TRB to hold an enquiry 3 - undated and unsourced - "Battle for Trams by Petition" - Cr Roff of Save the Trams Committee - slow start on the petition. Notes the TRB recommendation to scrap the trams. 4 - The Sun - "Save tram committee will meet" - 28/10/1967 - 122 x 40 - quotes Cr Rolf of the Committee and the negative view of Cr A Nicholson.
Yields information about the 1967/1968 proposal to closure both Ballarat and Bendigo Tramways. This proposal did not have the numbers in the upper house of the State Government.
Set of four newspaper cuttings.
Some have the newspaper source in ink along the top edge.
tramways, closure, ballarat, bendigo, trb, cr roff, cr nicholson, petitions
Newspaper clipping and photograph shows the removal of track in Albert St Sebastopol. It notes the work is being done by a contractor for the Borough of Sebastopol.
Yields information about the track removal in Sebastopol.
Newspaper clipping from The Courier 19/10/1971
Has the newspaper source in ink along the top edge.
tramways, tramcars, secv, tram track removal, borough of sebastopol
Newspaper clipping and photograph provides two stories about Ballarat Tramways following the last tram on 19/9/1971: 1 - "Start on the removal of the tram lines" - with a photo of welder K Drever of the CRB cutting rails in Sturt St. 2 - A piece, headed "Ballarat to blame for loss of trams?" quoting Mr N R White, SEC Chairman about the lack of willingness for Ballarat residents to use the trams, at the civic reception the previous day. Also quotes Cr. Chisholm, Mayor of Ballarat and Cr. Donald, President of the Borough of Sebastopol.
Yields information about the commencement of track removal in Ballarat and the SECV Commissioners view of the tramway closure.
Newspaper clipping from The Courier 21/9/1971
Has the newspaper source in ink along the top edge.
tramways, tramcars, secv, closure, tram track removal
Newspaper clipping and photograph provides the story of Ballarat tram No. 36 visiting Hawthorn and Camberwell areas following its return to Melbourne. Lists those who travelled on the tram
Yields information about the visit of SEC tram 36 to Hawthorn and Camberwell during Sept. 1971.
Newspaper clipping from the Eastern Suburbs Standard, 28/9/1971.
Has the newspaper source in ink along the top edge.
tramways, tramcars, tram 36, mmtb, hawthorn, tourism
Newspaper clipping and photograph about the departure of the first tram from Ballarat before closure on 2/9/1971. Details the loading, the separation of the 21E truck and transport to Hamilton. Notes that the remaining 18 will be transported to other locations while 6 will remain in Ballarat. See item 3768 for a print of the photograph. The tram returned to the BTPS in 1977. See reference.
Yields information about the tramcars following the cessation of tram services in Ballarat - trams being sent to new homes and how this was done.
Newspaper clipping from The Courier, 3/9/1971
tramways, secv, tramcars, tram 33, transport, closure, hamilton, depot
Discarded remnant of new trolley wire as used in renewal in Wendouree Parade in 2023
Remnant length of new trolley wire
trolley wire, btm
Used to suspend a tramway contact wire from catenary wires, or directly from a span pole. The contact wire is placed between the two halves and clamped in place by fastening the screws.
Shows how tramway contact wire is suspended.
6 screw Ear with contact wire
tramways, trollwywire, equipment, ear
The photograph shows Geelong 7 as built, understood to be a test tram prior to the opening of the system. Photo taken in the then Corio Terrace, now Brougham Street Geelong 1912. Has a number of men on board the tram - depot workers for the photograph? See Item 4314 for another photo looking the other way and item 8612 for a framed version.
Shows Geelong tram No. 7 as built.
Black and White photograph with details on rear
Has SEC Publicity photo stamp on the rear and number 9/274 and a pencil note "Corio Terrace before opening In March 1912"
geelong, mesco, tram 7, corio terrace, opening, tramways
Photograph shows the MESCo Geelong bus that ran to East Geelong (see item 9004). Registration number 6765 outside the Melbourne Electric Supply Co. power station in Corio Terrace Geelong. The bus has been fitted with body bracing indicating a loose body when the photo was taken along with other body panel damage. This bracing is not apparent in the item 9004, possibly indicating shortly before it was withdrawn in 1923. There is a Pay as you enter sign alongside the driver.
Yields information about the MESCo Geelong bus.
Black and White photograph with details on rear
Has SEC Publicity photo stamp on the rear and number P31525.
geelong, buses, mesco
Published for the staff of the SEC in Jan 1971 features general SEC staff news, Eastern Metro, staff news including the retirement of Mr G H J Satchell, with photo, Temporary Traffic Inspector Ballarat tramways.
Demonstrates a SECV Staff magazine.
Magazine, 12 pages, black and white production, centre stapled.
Has RHSV stamp on the cover.
tramways, secv, retirements, ballarat, inspectors
Published for the staff of the SEC, features the Kiewa Valley transmission line, North East towns and workers, industry, Bendigo Tram's Golden Jubilee, (AETA Visit, Mr George Laurens, Doug Dean, Tom Lynch and Basil Miller), electrical safety, meter reading in the country, sports, electric cooking, and sports section. In the retirements were Mr P Pithie, Senior Traffic Inspector Geelong, Mr V Pipps Depot Foreman Geelong and Mr S Watson, Geelong Senior depot clerk. On the inside cover are photos of the package power stations being installed at Geelong, Ballarat (Ballarat B) and Mildura.
Demonstrates a SECV Staff magazine.
Magazine, 36 pages, black and white production, centre stapled.
Has RHSV stamp on the cover and "Case ViiiA" in ink
tramways, geelong, secv, retirements, ballarat b power station, power stations, bendigo
Ballarat Tramways timetable changes sign. This was painted at the Ballarat Depot then screwed to the large timetable boards in the Sturt Street and Lydiard Street shelters. Sign is shaped to replace only those times which needed altering.
This item demonstrates how changes to service times were communicated to the public.
Black metal tramway sign with departure times hand painted in red and white. Irregular shape.
ballarat tramways, timetable boards
Ballarat Tramways timetable changes sign. This was painted at the Ballarat Depot then screwed to the large timetable boards in the Sturt Street and Lydiard Street shelters. Sign is shaped to replace only those times which needed altering.
This item demonstrates how changes to service times were communicated to the public.
Black metal tramway sign with departure times hand painted in red and white. Irregular shape.
ballarat tramways, timetable boards
Photograph shows Pengelly built tram No. 18 at the intersection of Pakington and Aphrasia Streets Geelong. The tram has the destination of Chilwell. On the left is the Chilwell Newtown fire station and the Municipal Hall. Photo taken in 1955.
Yields information about Geelong tram 18 and the intersection of Pakington and Aphrasia St.
Black and White photograph with details on rear
Typed lable on rear "One of the Pengelley built cars of 1924-25. The sister tram of the one illustrated here has been preserved by the Tramway Museum Society of Victoria." and a stamp in the bottom left hand corner "WELT Collection, A G Culpeffer Cooke Victoria Australia, Ref 8B, Date 1955"
trams, tramways, geelong, tram 18, chillwell, pakington st, aphrasia st
Photograph shows Pengelly built tram No. 22 at the Geelong depot, c1956. Protruding from two of the doors are two pieces of equipment - body jacks? Behind the drivers cabin in the first doorway can be seen a small wheel. Has written on rear "K Kings photo"
Yields information about Geelong tram 22.
Black and White photograph with photographers name on rear
trams, tramways, geelong, tram 22, depot
Photograph shows the intersection of Aberdeen St (looking east) at Pakington St Geelong with No. 38 running "bang road" to turn to West route; and No. 16 to Chilwell. Note the trolley wire arrangement. Photo by Keith Kings, 17/12/1955, Photo No. Q(m)(6)
Yields information about the intersection of Aberdeen and Pakington Streets Geelong and tram operations.
Black and White photograph with photographers notes on the rear.
See Context
trams, tramways, geelong, aberdeen st, chilwell, west, tram 38, tram 16
Reproduction of Rose Series postcard No. 547 of Ryrie St Geelong with tram No. 7 east bound and another tram in the distance. Photo shows the tramway centre poles. Has the old Geelong Post Office (see reference) on the left side of the image.
Yields information about Ryrie St Geelong.
Reproduction of Rose series postcard No. P547
trams, tramways, geelong, ryrie st, geelong post office, tram 7
Reproduction of Rose Series postcard No. 547 of Ryrie St Geelong with tram No. 7 east bound and another tram in the distance. Photo shows the tramway centre poles. Has the old Geelong Post Office (see reference) on the left side of the image.
Yields information about Ryrie St Geelong.
Reproduction of Rose series postcard No. P547
trams, tramways, geelong, ryrie st, geelong post office, tram 7
The book is a record of work carried out in accident repairs on Ballarat trams from 20/12/1960 to 23/3/1971. Gives the tramcar number, accident report number, dates, labour, materials, date completed, and whether the work is claimable.
Yields information about the Ballarat Workshops accident repairs.
Memo reporting book, with sheets headed "Departmental State Electricity Commission of Victoria Electricity Supply Department" - ruled, carbon copy with heavy card covers stapled. A sheet of carbon paper remains in the book as if for the next entry.
ballarat, tramcars, workshop records, workshops, maintenance, accidents, insurance
Victorian Government Gazette No. 32 of 20/3/1929 on pages 1081 to 1085 detailing the By-Laws and Regulations No. 58 pursuant to the Sections 9 and 46 of the Motor Omnibus Act (Urban and Country) No. 3570, of 1927 detailing the operational requirements for buses in Bendigo. Provides definitions, fares, timetables, and passengers. The regulations detail the routes, timetables, and advertising matter. A similar set of regulations are provided for the Mildura bus service.
Yields information about the Bendigo bus regulations of 1929 for Bendigo.
Document - 56 foolscap pages, off white paper stapled on the left hand edge.
ESCo dated stamp of 16 Apr 1929
buses, bendigo, museums omnibuses, regulations, bus services
Photo shows Malop St Geelong after the closure of the tram system but before the removal of the tram tracks. The centre poles and overhead shown in item 9410 have been removed. In the background are the Carlton Hotel, Robbialac paints, Solomons stores, the National Bank buildings and the Grand Central Hotel,
Yields information about Malop St Geelong.
Rose series postcard No. P13827 - Real Photograph print.
trams, tramways, geelong, malop st, tram tracks
Photo shows Malop St Geelong with tram tracks and centre poles late 1940s. Note the paving on the tram tracks. In the background are the Carlton Hotel, SMP paints, Solomons stores and the National Bank buildings. See item 9411 for another Rose Series image at the same location after the Geelong system had closed.
Yields information about Malop St Geelong.
Rose series postcard No. P2499 - Real Photograph print.
trams, tramways, geelong, malop st, tram tracks
The photo shows Geelong tram 23 (EAST) in Ryrie St at the corner with Moorabool St. The photographer notes that the tram is in its unconverted format. In the background is the T&G building and Belcher's Corner building. A Safety Zone sign is in the view by the pedestrian. Photo by Keith Kings 8/1/1955, photo number L(l)(3)
Yields information about Geelong 23 and Ryrie St.
Black and white photograph with notes on rear.
See rear image and context.
trams, tramways, geelong, ryrie st, tram 23, moorabool st
The photo shows trams 40 & 17 passing on the loop in Pakington St at Clarence Sts in West Geelong. Has a "Fishorium" (fish shop), A E Bent Radio, a Grocery shop, Commercial bank, a butcher, and the State Savings Bank of Vic in the photo. Photo undated, Keith Kings late 1955 or early 1956, photo number Q(R)(8)
Yields information about the West Geelong shoping centre and tramway operations.
Black and white photograph with notes on rear.
See rear image and context.
trams, tramways, pakington st, geelong, west geelong, tram 40, tram 17
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
