Trams

By the end of the 19th century Melbourne had a well developed cable tramway system. However this system only covered the area within a couple of kilometres of the centre of Melbourne and was unsuitable for wider coverage. One of the lines of the cable tramway terminated at Flemington Bridge.

At the start of this century a company incorporated in Britain, the North Melbourne Electric Tramway and Lighting Company proposed the building of an electric tramway from Flemington Bridge to Essendon. They also wanted to supply electricity to the residences and businesses along the route of the tramway.

The proposal was vigorously opposed by Victorian Railways, as the tramway would be in direct competition with their existing train service to Essendon. It was also opposed by the Metropolitan Gas Company on the basis that the tramway would cause stray electric currents in the Gas Company's gas mains, causing them to corrode. The Gas Company was undoubtedly also concerned that the proposal for supply of electricity to buildings adjacent to the track would have cut into their monopoly position as the sole supplier of energy.

The Tramways proposal was put to a referendum of residents and won overwhelming support. The North Melbourne Electric Tramway and Lighting Company was awarded a 30 year franchise to build and operate the tramway. After the 30 years the ownership of the tramway was to revert to the local Council.

The Tramway was opened in October, 1906, with a tram line running from Flemington Bridge to Essendon (as far as the start of Keilor Road). This was the first permanent electric tramway in Melbourne. (Note that an electric tramway between Box Hill and Doncaster had been built in 1889 however this was financially and technically unsuccessful and had closed in 1896).

By the second decade of the century Melbourne had a very extensive privately owned electric and cable tramway system. However many of the tramway companies were experiencing financial difficulties. In 1919 the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board was set up by the Government to run all tramways within a 16 Kilometre radius of the G.P.O. (except those operated by the Victorian Railways). Most of the tramway companies willingly sold their trams and tracks to the board. The North Melbourne Electric Tramway and Light Company held out longer than most other companies however they eventually sold to the Board in 1922

The Board set about integrating the different electric tramways and the cable trams. The cable tramways were a problem for the integrated system. The cable cars were very slow and also to travel from a suburb such as Essendon to the centre of Melbourne the passengers were obliged to change from the electric tram to the cable system to complete their trip. The cable trams were eventually removed, with the last section of track being replaced by the electric tramway in 1940.

Link: Tram History#

Sources:

• "The Stop- Over that Stayed,  A History of Essendon" Grant Aldous, City of Essendon; and
• "Tramways of Australia", Samuel Brimson, 1983.