Trams in Fremantle, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Fremantle
, the port
city
for Perth
, capital city of Western Australia
, once had a small but comprehensive tramway network
, linking its central business district with nearby suburbs.
The Fremantle Municipal Tramways began operations in 1905. The network expanded into North Fremantle in 1908, and into Melville in 1915. The North Fremantle line closed in 1938 and was replaced by diesel buses. The rest of the network reached its peak usage during World War II
. After WWII, the system operated quite profitably for the Council, however the decision of the WA State Government to nationalise the southwest electricity systems from private and council ownership to the newly formed State Electricity Commission in the early 1950s, meant that the supply of power to the trams increased markedly, and to the extent that supply was extremely costly to the Council. As a result, and without any fanfare at all, the whole system was closed after the last tram ran into the Carbarn in Queen Victoria Street on a Sunday night in November 1952.
Some of Fremantle's former trams are now preserved by the Perth Electric Tramway Society, at its heritage tramway in Whiteman Park
, in the outer Perth suburb of Caversham
.
.
A combination of business and pleasure, this line connected central Fremantle with the South Beach foreshore. From 1907, the line included a short "city loop", running past the relocated Fremantle railway station in Phillimore Street. During the week, the South line served commuters heading towards Fremantle, and on summer weekends, people would travel from Perth and further afield to take the South line to South Beach.
In 1923, the facilities at South Beach were significantly expanded, with the opening of a Hydrodome. The South line remained open until the whole network was closed in 1952.
) to Allen Street, East Fremantle
.
In 1909, this line was extended to Petra Street, on the border between East Fremantle and Palmyra
. On 15 December 1915, the Melville Roads Board opened a further extension along Canning Road, this time to the corner of Stock Road, Bicton
.
).
In 1908, this line was extended along Marmion Street in an easterly direction, and then south to High Street, where it continued east to a new terminus at the Fremantle Cemetery
, Carrington Street, East Fremantle. The line along Marmion Street was also later extended to McKimmie Street, Palmyra.
.
This line was later extended along Hampton Street, Wray Avenue and South Street to Central Avenue, and subsequently to Carrington Street, Beaconsfield. It was closed in 1948.
The extension across the Swan River
On 30 September 1908, a new route was added to the network:
) to Leighton Street (now Leslie Road), North Fremantle
.
This line was owned and operated by the North Fremantle Municipality
. It did not enjoy the same success as the original network, and was closed on 30 November 1938.
The opening of this line helped to develop Point Walter into a popular resort and place of entertainment. Along with the trams came electric lighting, and, soon afterwards, well patronised shops and restaurants. Entertainment at Point Walter included McNamara's Band. There were also panoramic views of the Swan River, frequently dotted with the sails of racing yachts.
Over time, increasing numbers of motor car owners chose to seek entertainment further away from Fremantle than Point Walter. As a result, the Point Walter resort fell into disrepair, and patronage on the Point Walter line declined. In 1939, the line was closed.
Most Fremantle trams fell into two main classes, with a small transitional group in between.
The first main Fremantle tram class, made up of tramcars 1 to 19, 24 and 25, was of single truck, drop end, open California combination tram cars. They entered service between 1905 and 1914. Tramcars 20 to 23 were the transitional group. Each of them entered service between 1912 and 1915, and will be described in detail below. The second main class of Fremantle tram was made up of tramcars 26 to 36. They were bogie saloon cars, and entered service between 1921 and 1939.
The dominant colour in the livery of every Fremantle tram was a shade of maroon. The single truck tramcars were also lined with pinstripes, and the bogie trams also painted a cream colour at window level. By Australian standards, Fremantle trams were generally well maintained, right up until the closure of the Fremantle tram network.
The final new Fremantle tramcar, number 36, was also the last new tramcar to be built for a Western Australian tram network. Together with Fremantle tramcars 14, 28 and 29, it is now preserved by the Perth Electric Tramway Society, at its heritage tramway in Whiteman Park
.
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
, the port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
for Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, capital city of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, once had a small but comprehensive tramway network
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
, linking its central business district with nearby suburbs.
The Fremantle Municipal Tramways began operations in 1905. The network expanded into North Fremantle in 1908, and into Melville in 1915. The North Fremantle line closed in 1938 and was replaced by diesel buses. The rest of the network reached its peak usage during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After WWII, the system operated quite profitably for the Council, however the decision of the WA State Government to nationalise the southwest electricity systems from private and council ownership to the newly formed State Electricity Commission in the early 1950s, meant that the supply of power to the trams increased markedly, and to the extent that supply was extremely costly to the Council. As a result, and without any fanfare at all, the whole system was closed after the last tram ran into the Carbarn in Queen Victoria Street on a Sunday night in November 1952.
Some of Fremantle's former trams are now preserved by the Perth Electric Tramway Society, at its heritage tramway in Whiteman Park
Whiteman Park
Whiteman Park is a 4000-hectare/40-square-kilometre bushland area located 22 km north of Perth, Western Australia...
, in the outer Perth suburb of Caversham
Caversham, Western Australia
Caversham is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located in the City of Swan....
.
The original network
By the time Fremantle's tram network was fully operational in April 1906, it had four lines:South (Route S)
High Street, Fremantle, via city loop (Phillimore Street), South Terrace and Mandurah Road (now part of South Terrace) to Douro Road, South FremantleSouth Fremantle, Western Australia
South Fremantle is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Fremantle.-History:The first development in the area may have been when Richard Goldsmith Meares who established a lime burning kiln in 1831...
.
A combination of business and pleasure, this line connected central Fremantle with the South Beach foreshore. From 1907, the line included a short "city loop", running past the relocated Fremantle railway station in Phillimore Street. During the week, the South line served commuters heading towards Fremantle, and on summer weekends, people would travel from Perth and further afield to take the South line to South Beach.
In 1923, the facilities at South Beach were significantly expanded, with the opening of a Hydrodome. The South line remained open until the whole network was closed in 1952.
East (Route E)
High Street, Fremantle, via Adelaide Street and Canning Road (now Canning HighwayCanning Highway
Canning Highway is a mostly 4 lane single carriageway major arterial road in Perth, Western Australia. The speed limit is 60 km/h. It is located south of the Swan River and links Perth with Fremantle, running between The Causeway in Victoria Park and Queen Victoria Street in...
) to Allen Street, East Fremantle
East Fremantle, Western Australia
The Town of East Fremantle is a Local Government Area in the southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located immediately northeast of the port city of Fremantle and about southwest of Perth's central business district...
.
In 1909, this line was extended to Petra Street, on the border between East Fremantle and Palmyra
Palmyra, Western Australia
Palmyra is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Melville.It was the home of Catherine Helen Spence, the first Australian woman to become a political candidate after standing for the Federal Convention in Adelaide....
. On 15 December 1915, the Melville Roads Board opened a further extension along Canning Road, this time to the corner of Stock Road, Bicton
Bicton, Western Australia
Bicton is an affluent riverside suburb located in Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melville, and it is located 15 km from the Perth central business district on the south bank of the Swan River...
.
Marmion (Route M)
High Street, Fremantle, via Marmion Street to Duke Street, Marmion (now East FremantleEast Fremantle, Western Australia
The Town of East Fremantle is a Local Government Area in the southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located immediately northeast of the port city of Fremantle and about southwest of Perth's central business district...
).
In 1908, this line was extended along Marmion Street in an easterly direction, and then south to High Street, where it continued east to a new terminus at the Fremantle Cemetery
Fremantle Cemetery
Fremantle Cemetery is a 46 hectare cemetery located in the eastern part of Fremantle, Western Australia. Established in 1898, it is known as the final resting place of Bon Scott and several other notable Australians....
, Carrington Street, East Fremantle. The line along Marmion Street was also later extended to McKimmie Street, Palmyra.
Beaconsfield (Route B)
High Street, Fremantle, via Hampton Street (now Hampton Road) to Beaconsfield public school, cnr Lefroy Road, BeaconsfieldBeaconsfield, Western Australia
Beaconsfield is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Fremantle. Named after a property known as ‘Beaconsfield’ located in the area in the1880s, the name was officially adopted from the post office on 1 August 1894....
.
This line was later extended along Hampton Street, Wray Avenue and South Street to Central Avenue, and subsequently to Carrington Street, Beaconsfield. It was closed in 1948.
The extension across the Swan RiverSwan RiverSwan River may refer to:Australia* Swan River Canada* Swan River * Swan River, Manitoba * Swan River Airport * Swan River United States...
On 30 September 1908, a new route was added to the network:North (Route N)
High Street, Fremantle, via Adelaide Street, the Swan River Bridge and the Perth-Fremantle Road (now Stirling HighwayStirling Highway
Stirling Highway is, for most of its length, a four-lane single carriageway and major arterial road between Perth, Western Australia and the port city of Fremantle in Western Australia on the northern side of the Swan River. The speed limit is 60 km/h...
) to Leighton Street (now Leslie Road), North Fremantle
North Fremantle, Western Australia
North Fremantle is a small suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Fremantle. Its postcode is 6159.The suburb is situated on the Swan River, north of the Port of Fremantle...
.
This line was owned and operated by the North Fremantle Municipality
Town of North Fremantle
The Town of North Fremantle was a Local Government Area in metropolitan Perth, located across the Swan River from Fremantle.-History:On 13 September 1895, the North Fremantle Municipality was declared. On 1 July 1961, it became a Town following enactment of the Local Government Act 1960...
. It did not enjoy the same success as the original network, and was closed on 30 November 1938.
A branch line to the north east
On 15 December 1915, simultaneously with its opening of the extension of the East line to Stock Road, Bicton, the Melville Roads Board opened a new branch line:Point Walter
Canning Road, Bicton, via Point Walter Road, to Point Walter reserve, Bicton.The opening of this line helped to develop Point Walter into a popular resort and place of entertainment. Along with the trams came electric lighting, and, soon afterwards, well patronised shops and restaurants. Entertainment at Point Walter included McNamara's Band. There were also panoramic views of the Swan River, frequently dotted with the sails of racing yachts.
Over time, increasing numbers of motor car owners chose to seek entertainment further away from Fremantle than Point Walter. As a result, the Point Walter resort fell into disrepair, and patronage on the Point Walter line declined. In 1939, the line was closed.
Overview
A total of 36 trams entered service on the Fremantle tram network between 1905 and 1939. Most of them remained in service until 1949 or later. Unlike their Perth counterparts, the various classes of Fremantle tram were not officially allocated any class designator code. Each individual Fremantle tram was officially identified only by its unique number.Most Fremantle trams fell into two main classes, with a small transitional group in between.
The first main Fremantle tram class, made up of tramcars 1 to 19, 24 and 25, was of single truck, drop end, open California combination tram cars. They entered service between 1905 and 1914. Tramcars 20 to 23 were the transitional group. Each of them entered service between 1912 and 1915, and will be described in detail below. The second main class of Fremantle tram was made up of tramcars 26 to 36. They were bogie saloon cars, and entered service between 1921 and 1939.
The dominant colour in the livery of every Fremantle tram was a shade of maroon. The single truck tramcars were also lined with pinstripes, and the bogie trams also painted a cream colour at window level. By Australian standards, Fremantle trams were generally well maintained, right up until the closure of the Fremantle tram network.
The final new Fremantle tramcar, number 36, was also the last new tramcar to be built for a Western Australian tram network. Together with Fremantle tramcars 14, 28 and 29, it is now preserved by the Perth Electric Tramway Society, at its heritage tramway in Whiteman Park
Whiteman Park
Whiteman Park is a 4000-hectare/40-square-kilometre bushland area located 22 km north of Perth, Western Australia...
.
See also
- Tram controlsTram controlsThe following article describes the controls on electric, rather than steam trams.-Overview:The operation of trams is relatively simple. As trams run on rails, they do not require steering controls. However they do require controls for the smooth application of power and for braking and to control...
- Trams in Perth, Western AustraliaTrams in Perth, Western AustraliaThe Perth tramway network once served Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, linking its central business district with many of its inner suburbs, especially on the north side of the Swan River....
- Tramways in Australia
- Whiteman ParkWhiteman ParkWhiteman Park is a 4000-hectare/40-square-kilometre bushland area located 22 km north of Perth, Western Australia...