Hawthorn tram depot was built in April 1916 by the Hawthorn Tramways Trust (HTT). It was built on the corner of Power Street and Wallen Road, Hawthorn, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It is also known as the Melbourne Tram Museum. The depot was close to the junction of the HTT's two main lines. It was taken over by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) in 1920. In 1925, the depot was used as a school to teach tram drivers and tram conductors. In 1940, the building was also used to make uniforms for MMTB staff.
The depot closed as a running depot on 13 February 1965,Hawthorn Depot Closed Trolley Wire issue 97 April 1965 page 11 but was kept in use for training and uniform manufacture until the 1990s.
In 1996, the depot was added to the Victorian Heritage Register.
In August 1998, Transport Minister Robin Cooper announced the site would be redeveloped as a residential complex by the Urban Land Corporation, with part of the depot to be retained as a museum."Melbourne News" Trolley Wire issue 275 November 1998 page 11 The museum was opened by Transport Minister Peter Batchelor on 19 January 2003."Museum opened at Hawthorn Depot" Trolley Wire issue 292 February 2003 pages 25/26"Friends of Hawthorn Depot" Trolley Wire issue 294 August 2003 page 22
Friends of Hawthorn Tram Depot The tram museum is owned by VicTrack, but the museum is staffed and run by the Friends of Hawthorn Tram Depot. This group is a volunteer, non-profit group set up to preserve the history of Melbourne's trams. The museum has 17 fully restored trams. The collection also includes one of Melbourne's original cable trams.
The Bellcord is the in house publication of the Friends of Hawthorn Tram Depot. It is published quarterly.The Bellcord catalogue entry National Library of AustraliaBellcord distribution The Bellcord issue 46 June 2020 page 8
Preserved trams The Melbourne tram museum currently has 19 trams preserved at its Hawthorn site. +ClassImageEntered serviceNotesZ1.8118 October 1977In a special 'Pakistan W-11' livery. Dates from the 2006 Commonwealth Games.PCC.104116 August 1973Prototype for the Z, A & B Class trams.W7.10401 August 1956Last W class tram to be built.W5.7744 June 1936Last W Class with square front windows.W2.5108 June 1928Involved in a major collision in April 1989, resulting in the temporary end of heritage tram tours.W1.43113 June 1927Was upgraded to W2 status in 1936, converted back to a W1 in 1986.W.38025 December 1925Was upgraded to W2 status in 1929, Converted back to a W in 1988.VR.53November 1942Formerly used on the VR Sandringham - Black Rock tramway. Sold to the MMTB in 1959.X2.6762 July 1930Last heritage tram to operate a tour outside of a special event.X.2171924Owned by TMSV Bylands.Y1.61327 September 1930All class members are in preservation.Y.46918 June 1927Used as a driver training tram after withdrawal in 1965.T.1801917Owned by TMSV Bylands.S.1641916Owned by TMSV Bylands.L.106L.104Ran a charter for employees in 1990, celebrating the 80th anniversary of Malvern depot. MOTC.28-256Only cable car tram preserved at the site.HTT.8Sold from the Hawthorn Tramways Trust to the MMTB in 1920.V.21413 October 1906Displayed at Docklands in 2005 as part of the Royal Children's Hospitals Good Friday Appeal.
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