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The White Hat guide to Melbourne Trams
Melbourne's iconic 'W Class' Tram
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Melbourne without trams is unthinkable! It has come close at times over the last 100 years, but the forces of good, righteousness and the Melbourne Way have prevailed. Sydney had trams once. In fact the expression shot through like a Bondi tram has entered the language. But they sold out to modernism and the international movement. Those ideas and books took longer to get to Melbourne. We certainly had a good attempt at destroying our heritage in the name of modernism for the Olympic Games in 1956, but anachronisms like the trams and the Exhibition Buildings managed to survive because they were just too bloody useful. The Melbourne W-class tram is an engineering classic. It is simple, highly efficient and economical, and just keeps on going year after year. It is little surprise to know that it is classified by the National Trust. 
© Colonial Tramcar Restaurant
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Some suggested tram journeys: - Ride the free City Circle Tram
- Taking a number 10 in Collins Street through Brunswick Street to the Edinburgh Gardens
- Take a number 15 in Swanston Street through St. Kilda to Ackland Street
- Take a number 12 in Collins Street where you can often find a W class tram running along this typical old-style inner suburban route.
- Take a trip through Royal Park by catching a tram in William Street
- You can always dine on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant (see left)
Historic 'Toast Rack' Tram
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Unfortunately, although trams appear on the surface to be 'clean and green', the story is not quite as simple on closer investigation. You can find more reflections at Green Issues in Melbourne in our newsletter No.45 of 3rd April 200 Some related links Recommended books  | Melbourne Tram Museum | | This museum is a short tram ride from the city and contains a significant
collection of heritage trams in the historic Hawthorn Tram Depot. It is open on
the second Saturday of each month a month.
More information >> | | Second Saturday of the month | | Hawthorn Tram Depot, cnr Power Street & Riverdale Road - Hawthorn | | Enquiries: (03) 9619 8863 |
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- Until well into the 20th century, the road space between tram tracks and to a certain distance either side was filled red gum blocks, and you can still find some examples remaining around Melbourne. The red gum was used even though cement and asphalt were readily available and in common use. There is a very good reason for their use. What was the reason for using red gum blocks and where can you see remaining examples of these blocks?
You can find many more questions like this at
The White Hat Quiz.
White Hat works hard
to make information on these pages current and correct. However with
many thousands of entries, much of it changing daily, errors may occur.
Always verify the information by using the phone numbers supplied with
each event or venue before making a special trip or using this
information for any other purpose. If you believe some information is
incorrect, please contact us at
corrections@whitehat.com.au
and we will attempt to verify or change the information
DISCLAIMER: White Hat makes no claim as
to the accuracy of this information and takes no responsibility for
incorrect or incomplete information
or for actions based on the information in these pages, and accepts no
liability to any person or organisation for the information contained in
these pages.
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White Hat criticism of Grocery Choice vindicated?
In August 2008 the Australian Government launched its
Grocery Choice website as part of an election promise which it said
would combat grocery price rises by publicising individual item price comparisons
between major distributors. White Hat believed to model was flawed
from the start and gave our reasons in the strong criticism we in
our food newsletter published two days after the launch of the site.
In June, the Australian Government suddenly and unexpectedly
terminated the scheme. You can read White Hat's initial criticisms
which could also prove useful in the implementation of any future
scheme at
The
White Hat Food Newsletter of August 2008. |
TOURISM NEWS
Qantas In Flight Magazine chooses
White Hat
Cemetery Tour as its featured Australian tour for May
There are many fine historical tours
throughout Australia including cemetery tours. From these, the
prestigious Qantas In Flight Magazine has chosen the White Hat Tour
of Melbourne Cemetery as its featured Australian tour for the May
2007 edition. This tour was also featured by ABC radio on 24 May and
will feature in a documentary series on Burke and Wills to be shown
on European television in 2008. The tour has been operating for many years and has won
praise from a wide range of sources. This is not a dry and stuffy
tour but in keeping with all White Hat offerings it is Informed,
Intelligent, Independent (and occasionally) Irreverent. You can find
details of the tour at White
Hat Tour of Melbourne Cemetery and view the article at
Qantas In Flight Magazine. |
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