7 days ago
Back on track: What it's like to ride Australia's forgotten trams
Relive the memories of tram travel at these top museums.
The G 303, H 365, H 352 and H1 381 are among the trams on display at The Tramway Museum St Kilda. Picture by Michael Pretty
By Anthony Caggiano
Updated August 4, 2025, first published August 3, 2025
There were times when trams roamed Australia's cities and towns, clicking along tracks while cars were still a luxury. Subscribe now for unlimited access.
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While many networks have since been ripped out, the memories and gorgeous cars live on in museums across Australia.
Colin Seymour is the archives officer at The Tramway Museum St Kilda, located north of Adelaide.
"For those that still remember the old system, it brings back the memories," he said.
"Then you've got the younger generations that say, 'oh, this is how they used to travel to work and school'."
Mr Seymour was six years old when Adelaide's extensive tram network was closed in 1958, leaving just the one line from the CBD to the beach at Glenelg.
He recalls watching trams go in and out of the last stop at Moseley Square from an uncle's balcony.
"I sort of grew up still being partly in contact with trams," he said.
A G-type Birney 303, formerly Bendigo 27, at the museum. Picture by Michael Pretty
The museum has about 24 trams, spread across six pavilions. Most of them are from South Australia, including the H-type trams that commonly ran on the Glenelg line, plus G-type that ran on a separate service from Port Adelaide.
But there are examples of trams from interstate, including a Melbourne W7 tram that has been converted to be accessible, and a R1 Sydney tram from 1971.
It's not all static display; each Sunday people can go for a ride on the majestic machines from the museum to a nearby park, about a 1.5km journey, making for a great family day out.
Colin Seymour with an F1 282 tram at The Tramway Museum St Kilda. Picture by Michael Pretty
Other transport modes from days gone by include horse-drawn tram bodies, trolley buses, and a diesel bus.
While he mostly works behind the scenes, Mr Seymour enjoys being among the crowd.
"I've always liked being the conductor and seeing the expressions on the kids' faces and talking to people," he said.
Colin Seymour as a conductor at The Tramway Museum St Kilda with his grandchildren in 2008. Picture by Katrina Lunn
His favourite model on display is the C-type tram 186, which has been restored after being salvaged from a school at Glenelg.
"When you see trams that have been shacks and to bring them back to life, that's pretty cool," he said.
Below is a selection of other tram museums across Australia.
The Z1 81 as Karachi W11 while running on the City Circle during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006. Picture by Ian Green
Trams have been part of Victoria's capital for passenger services since the 1880s, starting with a steam and rope-operated cable service from Spencer Street - Richmond line in 1885.
Based out of the heritage-listed Hawthorn Tram Depot, the museum houses 20 fully restored trams.
Among them are several examples of the W Class, including W7 Class No 1040 that started service in 1956 running at Preston, and later Collins Street, East Brighton and Carnegie, retiring in 1992. It was the last of its type to be built.
Others include the Victoria Railways Luxury Car No 53, which ran on the broad gauge line between St Kilda Railway Station and Brighton Beach, and the oldest surviving electric tramcar, the Yarra Trams Z1 Class No 81 Karachi W11.
The O 1111 tram, built in 1912 by Meadowbank Manufacturing Company. Picture by Sydney Tramway Museum
Starting with a horse-drawn tram in 1861, Sydney's tram network was once the largest in the British Empire outside of London, before its demise about 100 years later.
Trams returned to Sydney in 1997 with the Inner West Light Rail service from Central Station.
The museum, located in Loftus, is an ode to the city's trams from 1896 to 1997, including Sydney tram 29, restored as it would have appeared in George Street from 1899, plus the 2107, built in 1997 by AdTrans as part of the newer service.
There are also a number of trams from around the world, including Berlin, San Franciso and Nagasaki, plus other Australian cities.
It's not just to look at; you can go on a ride on a selected number of trams in the collection.
A former Western Australian Government Tramways E 66 tram with a Melbourne W7 1017 at Whiteman Park. Picture by Simon Barber Perth Electric Tramway Society
Trams ran through Perth from 1899 to 1958, but that doesn't mean the memories are gone.
This organisation runs a heritage tramway service across a four-kilometre loop covering picnic areas and farmland in Whiteman Park, Perth.
It has a number of trams including the W Class cars from Melbourne, an E class car from Perth, O Class from Sydney and more.
The Launceston Municipal Tramways tram 29, restored by the Launceston Tramway Museum. Facebook picture Launceston Tramway Museum
Get your tickets stubbed and travel like it's the 1930s at this fantastic museum.
Trams operated through the city by Launceston Municipal Tramways from 1911 to 1952, and it's that story that volunteers are trying to save.
The museum includes a workshop you can walk through, an interactive children's tram, and you can ride a 1.6km track aboard tram 29, built in 1930 and the last surviving double bogie of its type.
Back on track: What it's like to ride Australia's forgotten trams
Starting off with horse-drawn trams, electric ones arrived in Brisbane in 1897, going on to run 106km across the city until 1969 as cars grew in popularity.
The museum has a collection of trolley buses and tram cars, including the Four Motor Tram 554 from 1964 and 1901 California Combination four-wheel tram.
You can ride a selection of trams, plus inspect a collection of photographs, uniforms and more.
