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? No (with exceptions, see below)
All rights reserved
This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Melbourne Tram Museum
Illustration from a photograph reproduced in a magazine of the river Yarra, Flinders St railway yard, the viaduct, the swing basin, the wharves and Queens Bridge. Has a number of cable cars and trains in the view. Taken prior to the construction of the second or duplicate viaduct which was completed during 1915. Construction of the second viaduct on the south side of the original can be seen.
in ink in bottom right hand comer "By 1916"
Set of 17 colour slides of tramway shelters, poles, and substations by Robert Green c1990. Shelters by the PMTT, HTT and MMTB 1 Tramway Shelter - Cnr Balaclava and Orrong Road, Caulfield 2 - ditto 3 - Cotham Road, Deepdene 4 - Cotham Road, Deepdene with telephone box alongside. 5 - Cnr Malvern Rd and Orrong Road, Toorak 6 - Cnr Malvern Rd and Orrong Road, Toorak 7 - Cnr Dandenong Road and Hawthorn Road, Caufield 8 - ditto 9 - PMTT Substation - Rusden St Elsternwick 10 - PMTT poles cnr Dandenong Road and Wattletree Road 11 - Tram shelter Riversdale Road and Highfield Road - Camberwell - Highfield Park 12 - Riversdale Road and Wattlevalley Road, Camberwell 13 - ditto 14 - Camberwell Road, cnr Bowen St. 15 - Camberwell Depot, Riversdale Road, Hawthorn 16 - Merri Creek Bridge, North Fitzroy 17 - Merri Creek Bridge, North Fitzroy - foundation stone
Yields information about Melbourne's tramway stop shelters and other infrastructure.
Set of 17 colour slides in plastic mounts.
tramways, shelters, caufield, deepdene, toorak, orrong road, cotham road, balaclava road, pmtt, htt, mmtb, riversdale road, camberwell depot, merri creek bridge, foundation stone, dandenong road, poles, rusden st, substations, hawthorn road
Black and white photograph of a cable tram set (bogie trailer 472) with gripman and conductor near the Brunswick terminus in Sydney Road. For full details of the image and the story behind it, see page 10 of Bellcord No. 53, March 2022 - see reference for the link.
Yields information about a bogie cable tram set and its location.
Black and white print block mounted onto thick card.
tramways, tramcars, cable trams, crews, gripmen, conductors, sydney road, brunswick
Black and white photograph of a cable tram set (trailer 203) with gripman and conductor at the Johnston St terminus. The photo has written on it in white ink "Goodfellows "Ferry" over any difficulty including the "Badger" " and date of 18.3.12. which is a reference to the General Strike in Brisbane of Jan 1912 by Brisbane Tramway Company workers over the wearing of Union badges which was strongly opposed by the Company Manager Joesph 'Boss' Badger. See also item 6170 for a similar-themed photograph about the Badger. At the time there was a major industrial or arbitration case before Mr Justice Higgins regarding Australian tramways employees and their working conditions.
Demonstrate cable tram uniforms and cable tram trip slips that were used to account for fare collection and has a close association with an event in Brisbane that led to a General Strike.
Black and white print block mounted onto thick card.
tramways, tramcars, tram 203, johnston st, cable trams, crews, unions, joesph badger, gripmen, conductors, brisbane
Set of 16 floor plans of electric trams of the MMTB and the trusts from the A class of 1910 to W class of 1923. Shows floor plan, seats and a table with car numbers, loading, truck type, type of equipment, horse power, remarks and total weight. 1 - Malvern Combination - A, B, H, J classes 2 - Drop centre cars - Malvern - C, E and D classes 3 - Summer car - Malvern - F class 4 - Short saloon combination - Malvern G class 5 - Short saloon combination - Malvern K class 6 - Four motor bogie car - Malvern - L class 7 - Combination car - Hawthorn - M class 8 - Drop centre bogie car - Hawthorn - N and P class 9 - Closed bogie car - Hawthorn - O class 10 - Combination car, Preston - R and Q class 11 - Combination car, Coburg - S class 12 - Double saloon combination car - Coburg - T class 13 - Box Car Essendon U class 14 - Cross seat (toastrack) car, Essendon, V class 15 - Four motor bogie car - W class 16 - "Birney" Safety car - X class
Yields information about various classes of electric trams up to about 1923 that the MMTB absorbed from the Trusts and/or built themselves.
Folder of 16 blue prints secured with three brass clips,
tramways, tramcars, floor plans, drawings, a class, b class, c class, d class, e class, f class, g class, h class, k class, l class, m class, n class, o class, p class, q class, r class, s class, t class, u class, v class, x class, pmtt, htt, mbctt, fnptt
Notices to cable tram employees and signalmen about the operation of the intersection of Collins and Swanston Street c1921. Details how Police would signal for the number of trams to cross in either direction and how the signalman would operate the signals and the cable depression lever for Collins St cable cars. The Rules for signalmen dated 1/7/1921 and signed by J G Roberts, Manager Cable system for the MMTB. This intersection was one of the busiest in Melbourne running four separate routes in Collins St and the busy St Kilda Road route.
Yields information about the cable tram operation of Swanston and Collins St and signalmen.
Two foolscap photocopied sheets, stapled in top left hand corner.
tramways, cable trams, swanston st, collins st, signalmen, police
A cartoon of the 1930s titled "The Clancy Kids" of a boy dropping his pennies down the cable tram slot. Calls on Mr Timmie to help who responds with a comment regarding a vending machine. If you dropped a coin or a small item down the slot, there was no way of retrieving it.
Demonstrates the peril of cable tram slots and lost items.
Reproduction of a cartoon onto a display paper.
tramways, cable trams, cartoon, cable slot, pennies
Black and white photograph of CW5 684, route 70 outbound in Batman Ave. Ray Pearson's photo listing dates the photo as 1937. The CW5 tramcar was effectively a W5 tram using Brill 22E bogies or trucks as an economy measure during the mid-1930s. The trams were underpowered, with MMTB No. 15 bogies being fitted in 1956. Most of the louver sashes have been lifted, indicating a hot day.
Yields information about a CW5 class tram and its fitment at the time with Brill 22E trucks.
Black and white print with adhesive marks and photographers stamp on the rear.
Has "R W O Pearson" stamp on the rear.
tramways, tramcars, cw5 class, tram 684, route 70
Set of 3 The Met timetables, with an image of the relevant depot manager, details of hiring a tram, The Met fare system, and a diagrammatic map. All are revised issues of earlier timetables and dated Feb. 1997 unless noted otherwise. 1 - Route 8 - Toorak - Melbourne University 2 - Route 16 - St Kilda Beach - Melbourne University 3 - Route 12 - Sth Melbourne & St Kilda Beach - City
Yields information about some of The Met tram services Feb. 1997
Set of 3 The Met timetables, DL size, printed in two colours.
timetables, the met, route 8, route 16, route 12
Set of 13 The Met timetables, with an image of the relevant depot manager, details of hiring a tram, The Met fare system, and a diagrammatic map. All are revised issues of earlier timetables and dated Feb. 1996 unless noted otherwise. 1 - Route 3 - East Malvern - City 2 - Route 5 - Malvern Burke Road - City 3 - Route 6 - Glen Iris - City 4 - Route 55 - West Coburg - Domain Interchange 5 - Route 57 - West Maribyrnong - City 6 - Route 59 - Airport West - City 7 - Route 69 - Kew Cotham Road - St Kilda Beach 8 - Route 70 - Wattle Park - Princes Bridge 9 - Route 72 - Camberwell - Melbourne Uni - Dec. 1996 10 - Route 78, 79, North Richmond - St Kilda Beach or Prahran 11 - Route 82 - Moonee Ponds - Footscray 12 - Route 96 - St Kilda Beach - East Brunswick 13 - Route 34 - La Trobe St Services - includes routes that served La Trobe St.
Yields information about some of The Met tram services Feb. 1996
Set of 13 The Met timetables, DL size, printed in two colours.
timetables, the met, route 3, route 5, route 6, route 55, rout 57, route 59, route 69, route 70, route 72, route 78, route 79, route 82, route 96, route 34, la trobe st
Ticket issued by the Tramway Board for the use by soldiers in uniforms with colours for one journey on a cable tram. Could not be used for a transfer or part payment of a higher fare.
Demonstrates a free travel tickets for returned soldiers in uniform - c1919 - possibly for use to or from an event.
Set of two Ticket from a strip of tickets - perforated card printed in red ink on pink coloured card.
tramways, trams, soldiers, tramway board, cable trams, tickets
Ticket issued by the Victorian Railways that allowed the passenger to do a round trip from Brighton Beach to St Kilda via the Electric Street railway or tramway and then return using a train via Flinders St station. Child first class. Appears to have been in album or adhered to a board - shows paper damage on the rear. See reference page 120 and for a related image, figure 6-14. The reference notes that for the rail travel, tickets were issued for first-class travel only.
Demonstrates a VR Round trip ticket to Brighton Beach.
Edmondson ticket - pasteboard, fawn, black printing with red overprinting - No. 1828
tramways, trams, vr trams, round trip, st kilda brighton tramway, railways, brighton beach
Pamphlet details the features of the X1 class trams that were introduced onto the Footscray system during late 1926. Details the construction of the tram, seating, safety features, fares, fare boxes, pay as you enter (PAYE), and provide hints for passenger behaviour.
Yields information about the attributes of the X1 class tram at the time of their introduction in 1926.
Pamphlet - one sheet folded printed on light brown paper.
tramways, trams, mmtb, x1 class, fare box, footscray
Map booklet consists of three pages of bus and tram round trips, 3 center pages for a map of electric and cable trams, route numbers, and points of interest. Has 4 pages giving an index to routes and first and last trams to and from the City. Shows points where suburban routes are intersected by City routes. One page of places of interest. Dated 1934/35.
Demonstrates methods of giving information to visitors to Melbourne and yields information about tram services at the time in Melbourne.
Map - 2 octavo cards stapled and folded into 12 pages. All printing is in black with red headings and highlights except for the map which is in four colours.
tramways, trams, mmtb, map, timetables, tourist trips
The City of Melbourne issued a License or Licence for Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Co (MTOCo) drivers (gripmen) or conductors under their Hackney Carriage by-law No. 110. The cost was 5/- or five schillings. This practice ceased during 1917. 1 - License No. 179, was issued to George A Barrett of Port Melbourne who was a tram conductor on the 16/1/1914. The document is signed by John Clayton as Town Clerk. 2 - License No. 58, issued to Herb S Browne of Glenferrie, tram conductor on 14/1/1917 and signed by T Geo Ellery Town Clerk.
Demonstrates a license issued by the City of Melbourne under their Hackney Carriage By-Law
Document - set of two - pink paper License No. 179 for 1914 and No. 58 for 1917
Hand written name and date
tramways, mtoco, license, licence, conductors, city of melbourne
The envelope has the MMTB return address of PO Box 4528 Melbourne and the full name on the rear with the words within an oval. Red paper seals used to formally seal a document with a sealing press and MMTB name are 50 or 60mm in diameter. They were used to seal legal documents. The envelope and one of the seals have two holes punched in them - the size of cable tram bell punch hole.
Demonstates a legal red paper seal and a MMTB Envelope.
Set of three red paper seals with an adhesive back within a small white envelope.
Has "Seals" written on the front of the envelope.
tramways, legal agreements, mmtb, envelopes, seals
Set of 3 MTOCo cable tram equipment specifications: 1 - Contract No. 8 - sheave pulleys, crown pulleys, curve pulleys, depression frames, manhole covers, and manhole frames 2 - Contract No. 9 - for 13500 casks of cement - imported from Europe, including storage, tensile strength, and timing of deliveries. 3 - Contract No. 11 - similar to 1 - (11 has been typed over the 8) - details the items, referenced drawings, signed by Geo S Duncan as Engineer. Includes Schedule and Tender forms. Undated, though does have a dated of "188_".
Yields information about the style of the specifications issued by the MTOCo during the 1880s for the supply of materials.
Set of 3 documents printed on foolscap sheets.
tramways, cable trams, specification, track work, tenders, tender documents
Drawing - showing the extent of the "Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust" tramways prior to the take over by the MMTB in 1920. Shows their lines, as well as cable trams, Hawthorn Tramways Trust lines and the Victorian Railways tramways and railways. Includes depots and substations. Used in publications such as Feeding and Filling by Graeme Breydon item 1350, though slightly modified to show the curves at junctions.
Yields information about the PMTT operated lines and how they served the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
Drawing - black ink on linen.
Has "1/" in top left hand corner.
tramways, pmtt, track plans, tram lines, htt
"Memorandum of Agreement" - between the PMTT and the employee for the supply of a uniform and for the payment of a four pounds fidelity and security for the uniform and performance over a specified period and to keep the uniform in good order. Two copies - made out to Edward Bernard O'Day and Richard Charles Wayman. Witnessed by H Heath for the PMTT. Both are dated 20/6/1911.
Yields information about the agreement PMTT employees signed for their uniforms and fidelity.
Agreement - foolscap preprinted, signed and sealed with a red small seal.
tramways, pmtt, employees, agreements, uniforms, fidelity
Report prepared by A V McLean Corporate Planning Manager The Met and P A Don Group Manager V/Line about a 1982 study about the replacing the two heavy rail services to St Kilda and Port Melbourne with Light Rail. The paper looks at the financial, economic, accessibility and patronage implications of the conversion. Has maps, tables and recommendations, including routing via Collins and Bourke Streets.
Yields information about the conversion of the St Kilda and Port Melbourne rail lines to light rail which opened to St Kilda in Nov. 1987.
Paper or report, photocopied 16 A4 pages stapled in the top left hand corner.
tramways, light rail, conversion, st kilda, port melbourne, railways, light rail conversion
Letter dated 24/2/1916 from F A McCarty HTT Engineer and Manager to Jas R Henderson, Construction Engineer PMTT about the supply and possibly welding the bonds between track joints to ensure electrical continuity.
Has a close association with the two engineers named and their correspondence re working.
Letter typed on HTT letterhead watermarked - "Sovereign Ultra Strong" and "British Made"
tramways, htt, pmtt, electrical engineering, track work.
Booklet - "Drivers Instructions - nonrevenue road vehicles" The Met, issued by Road Vehicles & Mechanical Plan section, 198 Beavers Road, Northcote 3070. Provides instructions to drivers of The Met vehicles about the checks required to be undertaken, maintenance, records, accidents or breakdowns. Has a table of contents. Undated, based on phone numbers the late 1980s.
Demonstrates a Met Publication regarding non-revenue vehicles.
Booklet - A5 centre stapled 20 pages + card covers.
the met, vehicles, instructions
Set of 5 Met Bus timetables - all with a route map on the rear. 1 - Routes 216 and 219, Deer Park West - City - Brighton Beach/Gardenvale - dated 27/10/1996 2 - route 220 - Sunshine - Gardenvale - dated 14/4/1996 3 - Routes 223 and 215 - Yarraville Station to Highpoint and Deer Park West to Highpoint - dated Dec. 1996 4 - Route 232 - Altona North - Victoria Market via West Gate Freeway and Crown Casino - dated 14/4/1996 - this service effectively combined the two railway tram routes. 5 - Route 600 - St Kilda to Southland via Elwood, Brighton, Sandringham, Black Rock and Cheltenham - dated March 1997
Yields information about some of the Met Bus services in 1996 and 1997.
Set of five Met Bus timetables, DL size, printed in two colours.
maps, bus services, route 216, route 219, route 220, route 223, route 215, route 232, route 600, met bus
Provides a list of the lettering to be painted on the cable trams operated by the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Co. (MTOCo) including horse trams and horse omnibus routes. Dated 14/0/1898.
Yields information about the signage applied to the Melbourne cable trams by the MTOCo. in 1898.
Drawing or list black ink on linen.
tramways, cable trams, mtoco, signs, grip car, dummy, trailes, horse buses, horse tram
Drawing shows the power supply arrangement to the overhead for the VR St Kilda Brighton tramway, including Elwood depot and substation. Has been marked up for removal of the line south of Elwood Depot to Brighton and Dickens St crossover. Shows the isolating and paralleling switches and their pole numbers. Not known when the original drawing was prepared. The tramway or electric street raikway operated from 1906 to 1959, the section south of Elwood depot closing in two stages during 1956. See reference for history of the line.
Yields information about the power supply arrangements for the St Kilda Brighton tramway.
Drawing dyeline print and hand coloured with a cloth back sheet with two punch holes on the left hand side to enable filing.
Has numerous pencil inscriptions that updated the drawing to c1957 and a "Cancelled" stamp in the bottom right hand corner.
tramways, vr, victorian railways, power supply, electrical switching, electrical engineering, st kilda brighton tramway, elwood depot
Document - "Prepaid Tickets" with 7 samples stapled along the bottom edge. Circular No. 3058, issued 28/7/1980 giving details of the tickets, costs, colours, where they could be purchased from and use.
Yields information about the issuing of prepaid tickets by the MMTB.
Document - single quarto sheet with two punched holes on left side and two tickets stapled to the sheet.
tramways, mmtb, tickets, prepaid tickets
Document - "Concession tickets for use by unemployed persons", No. 3007, dated 17/3/1980 advising that these tickets could be purchased from Head Office, their availability and use. Has samples for both tram and rail.
Yields information about the issuing of tickets for unemployed persons.
Document - single quarto sheet with two punched holes on left side and two tickets stapled to the sheet.
tramways, mmtb, tickets, concession fares, unemployed persons, rail tickets
Provides information on the use of concession cards for travelling on Victorian public transport, including senior and other concession cards. Shows images of the various cards allowed including students, seniors, and other concessions and free travel passes. Issued 2024.
Yields information about the concession cards in use 2023/2024
Pamphlet - 3 fold DL on recycled paper.
public transport, tramways, myki, fares, tickets, concession fares
Provides information on the use of myki on Melbourne public transport, actual costs (2024), types of myki, free travel zone for trains in the Melbourne CBD, myki explorer for visitors and touching on and off, including registrying your myki.
Yields information about the myki card for 2024.
Pamphlet - 5 fold DL on recycled paper.
public transport, tramways, myki, fares, tickets
Provides information on tramway construction or reconstruction work undertaken by the MMTB from about 1927 to c1947. Organised with an overall index and then index for each letter. Place names may be different to what we used today. Details the location, work carried out, costs, other departments such as electrical overhead, stores, date. Some have a small diagram of the track work at the work site.
Demonstrates the method that the MMTB recorded its track reconstruction work and costs.
Digital image of a set of record cards scanned from ruled cards that had been stamped onto the card with a large rubber stamp, in red ink to give a generic layout. The rear of some cards have been used for notes.
tramways, trackwork, costs, mmtb, new tramways, work orders, road works
Document - "Ferodo brake shoes" - dated 26/1/1968 advising that as of 29/1/1968 a start will be made to fitting non-metallic (Ferodo) brake shoes to wide-body trams at Malvern Depot. Notes that Preston and North Fitzroy Trams have had them fitted since 4/1967. Provides information about their characteristics and changeover as cast iron shoes wear out.
Yields information about the timing of the fitting of a different type of brake shoe on trams that were a lot more effective than cast iron and their background history.
Document - single foolscap sheet with two punched holes on left side.
tramways, trams, ferodo brakes shoes, brakes, malvern depot
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.
