Historical information

The tram was built by Duncan and Fraser of Adelaide in 1912 for the Melbourne Electric Supply Co (MESCo) for its Geelong operation that opened in 1912 and closed in 1956. The body was subsequently sold to Phil Shoppee, a farmer at Murradoc on the Bellarine Peninsula, purchased by the donor in 1991, who rebuilt the tram back to its MESCo configuration. The tram is fitted with a four-wheel truck from Brussels. To make the tram operable, air and electrical work was carried out by Bendigo Tramways. The tram was donated to the Museum in 2021, and the tram entered service on 6/2/2022.

Significance

This tram is the only one known to exist of the seven (and four trailers) that opened the Geelong system in 1912. It is the only former MESCo Geelong tram that has been reconstructed to its as-built body configuration and made operational.

Physical description

A two motor four wheel tram car - Single Truck straight sill open combination with a wooden body.