Historical information

This photograph depicts the steel tramway (or tram plate) along Centre Dandenong Road, Cheltenham near the Moorabbin Airport entrance in the 1970's. These tramways played an important role in transportation along Moorabbin's major roads. Heavily laden carts could travel smoothly and safely along the steel plates when the road surfaces were often rutted and hazardous. This surviving section was later moved for road improvements.

Significance

The area now known as the City of Kingston was a market garden region and the round trip to market could take as long as eight hours on poorly maintained roads. The installation of the steel tramway transformed the arduous journey faced by market gardeners in transporting their produce to market. As there was only a single tramway, the carts often travelled in convoy, enabling drivers to leave piloting to the first cart and having a rest. The rails did not speed the journey to the city, but it smoothed progress immeasurably.

Physical description

Black and white photograph of steel tram plates on Centre Dandenong Road, Cheltenham. The road is sealed. At the top of the image there are trees behind a parked car which is adjacent to a white shelter. There is a large sign stating MOORABBIN AIRPORT above an arrow pointing to the right in the top centre of the image.

Inscriptions & markings

Handwritten in pencil: A 28 / [indecipherable] 3 / [indecipherable]
Handwritten in red ink: A28 / 70%