Floral Tram 2019

Official launch 24 February 2019

After one year of planning, and eight months of hard work by over 80 volunteers and 30 community groups, 12 public workshops and 25 community workshops, the 2019 Floral Tram will be unveiled to the public on Sunday 24 February. The official ceremony will take place at the "Loop", near Piper's restaurant, and opposite the fernery. Trams will be available to move people from the ice cream van in Wendouree Parade from 2.00. At 2.30 pm the Floral Tram will make its way down Wendouree Parade to the Loop. Several trips will be needed to make sure all the volunteers get a ride, and then the tram will available to the public after 3.30.

This will be the first Floral Tram in 80 years, so this will be an event not to miss. The tram will be used throughout the three days of the Ballarat Begonia Festival, and once again the City of Ballarat will be sponsoring a free tram service.

For more information on the Floral Tram, you can see the latest newsletter here.

Ken, Barry, Les and Peter have been busy making up the framework to support the flower panels on the sides of the trams.

The photo below shows the first Floral Tram in 1938.

Mess Room renovations

The facilities for volunteers at the museum have undergone a significant renovation over the last couple of months. A revamped kitchen, with an oven and heating and cooling. There is also a new office, and the toilet facilities have been renovated. Work is currently underway on a new storeroom which will then allow an upgrade of the change room. Our volunteers generously give hours of their time to keep Ballarat's tram fleet running, and the improvements have been greatly appreciated by the tram crews working throughout January.

This photo shows the new tram depot in the 1970s, which was designed to hold the six trams given to the Museum. No. 1 road was in use, with its tight curve. This is now the entrance to Museum where Tram 39 is kept as a static display. To the left of No. 27 is a track leading to an earth ramp which helped with underneath access before our service pits were built. Photo: Chris Phillips

Hot weather

January and February have had some very hot days, and several times tram services were cut short. We don't want our volunteers suffering from heat stress while out in Wendouree Parade. On hot days there are very few visitors, even the playground is deserted when the equipment gets too hot to touch.

Tram 13 climbs the hill in Barkly Street on its way to Mount Pleasant in 1971.
Photo: Chris Phillips

Cuthberts 939

December was a busy month for our unique function tram, Cuthberts 939. With the withdrawal of the Colonial Tramcar Restaurants from service in Melbourne, Cuthberts 939 is the only tram restaurant operating in Australia. Bookings for 2019 are currently being taken, so contact us as soon as possible to reserve a date for your next function.

The tram is fully equipped, and our crews will make sure your event will be a success. Our rates include a barista coffee service, and the tram carries a range of at least eight loose leaf teas. From a simple morning tea, to a High Tea, to a four course dinner, the tram is able to seat up to 24 people.

A busy time at the passing loop during the 2018 Tram Showcase.

Alexandria

The Egyptian city of Alexandria began its first tram service back in 1863 with a horse drawn tram fleet. It is the oldest tram network in Africa, and one of the oldest in the world. It now has over 34 kms of tracks with 140 tram stops serviced by a fleet of 85 trams. It is one of the few systems in the world to operate double decker trams.

Coming Events

* February 24 - Launch of the 2019 Floral Tram
* March 9, 10, 11 - Ballarat Begonia Festival
* April 14 - Horse Tram Day
* May - Special event for the National Trust Heritage Festival

The Ballarat Tramway Museum is a volunteer organization.
It relies on volunteers to operate the trams, open the Museum, and keep the trams running.
Please contact us if you can help.

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