Adelaide's Public Transport - Lost Tram Lines

Adelaide's Public Transport - Lost Tram Lines

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Posted 2012-11-17 by Dave Walshfollow


Most Adelaide residents would be completely unaware that Adelaide had a huge and well developed public transport system over a hundred years ago. In fact one could argue that the transport system then was more widespread and reliable than what exists today.

As early as 1878 horse drawn trams operated to North Adelaide, and before long there were services to Mitcham, Hindmarsh, Walkerville, Burnside, Prospect, Nailsworth, Enfield, and Maylands. Later additions to the network included Henley Beach, Paradise, Magill, Glen Osmond, Clarence Park, Hyde Park and Walkerville.

While all this must have been incredibly convenient, it surely would have got up people's noses with around 1,000 horses urinating and making deposits of around ten pounds daily without visiting a bank.



By the late 1800's electric motor technology had advanced to the point where it could replace the slow moving horse carriages, and in 1906 the State government purchased all the tram networks and created the Municipal Tramways Trust (MTT) to operate them. In 1909 the government launched the first electric tram, although it was five years before all horse drawn trams were replaced.



The MTT had its headquarters in the Goodman Building on Hackney Rd near where the impressive Bicentennial Conservatory stands today in the Botanic Gardens. Enormous tram barns to house the trams and workshops to service them were located nearby, and part of the original structure remains. The buildings were constructed to a high standard of Edwardian utilitarian design, and are now used by the Botanic Gardens.



The benefits of a fast electric tram service to the suburbs must have been dramatic, and public transport would have been very incredibly popular. Indeed Wikipedia reports that by 1945 the MTT was collecting fares for 295 trips per head of population each year.



An old photograph shows a tram built in the 1920's turning the corner onto Princes Rd next to the Mitcham Cultural Village , where the Mitcham Markets are now held. The group of shops on the corner still look much the same today.



A street map from 1940 shows the route that trams took along Unley Rd, then turning onto Princes Rd, Welbourne St and finally terminating at Albert St. The bus route and possibly even the bus time table are based on this even today.



The same map also shows another tram route crossing Park Terrace (now Greenhill Rd) on George St, passing Carramar on its way to the terminus near the Waite Precinct .



A third line ran along Fullarton Rd to Galway , while a fourth climbed the hill to Glen Osmond.



Other suburbs in the north , east and west were similarly well serviced by a comprehensive network of tram lines.

The MTT was so well organised that they even created a poster illustrating what musical instruments required a fare when travelling with their owner. The owner of a bass drum, kettle drum, harp or tuba all had to pay 3d (two cents), although there was no mention of organs or pianos.



In the 1950's the lower cost and increasing availability of cars caused a loss of patronage for the public transport network. Some routes were converted for use to electric trolley buses, which increasingly were replaced by motor buses. Tram lines were progressively ripped up and scrapped.



After around 50 years trams have now enjoyed a resurgence of popularity, and the government has made noises about putting new lines in to a number of areas. Many operators find it difficult to adhere to the bus timetable whereas trams seem to be much more successful at that.

The rail network too has been run down, and will pretty much grind to a stop early in 2013 due to track works in several locations. By contrast the trams of Adelaide provided a great service for many years. It's a pity that the network no longer exists.



The author would like to thank the Mitcham Council, staff and the Mitcham Heritage Research Centre for access to their archives and permission to publish material in this article.

For more information about the early tram network, see the article on the St Kilda Tram Museum .

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110421 - 2023-06-12 15:03:01

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