THE TRAMWAY MUSEUM, ST. KILDA

For half a century, Adelaide was a tram town. From tram-jams in the city, they trundled in every direction to the edge of the suburbs. And those golden days are celebrated at Adelaide's own living, clunking vintage tram museum. It is about forty minutes north of the GPO at St. Kilda, with big signs to direct you off the Port Wakefield Road. There are plenty of trams to catch once you arrive at the depot on the edge of the salt flats. Four or five lovingly restored relics roll up and back on the two-kilometre track to St. Kilda Beach every Sunday.

The Glenelg tram is the sole survivor of the original metro-wide system that served Adelaide until the 1950's. It began back in 1878 with Australia's first comprehensive horse-tram system - using carriages that came all the way from New York. Then came the modern marvel, the electrified tram. "Number 1" was constructed in Adelaide, and it's often linked with another of the first batch, as they were in their heyday. Old-timers instantly recognise them and remember their nickname "Bib and Bub".

"Number 1" headed the procession to Kensington on opening day in 1909. Leaving the grand new headquarters of the Municipal Tramways Trust in Hackney (recently restored to become Botanic Gardens administration building), it was watched by thousands.

The "Type A's" were soon joined by the "toastracks" and seeing the museum's mobile exhibit is enough to know why. The collection is a precious handful left from a time when they ruled the roads, running to all points of the compass - from Kensington to Colonel Light Gardens. There was a line to Prospect…and even Paradise! Tourists loved that idea.

But what's a Melbourne tram doing here? Ah, it has a proper place in your two or three-hour pleasure trip to the Tramway Museum because it's a HOLDEN. Built in 1924 at Woodville for the still-running Melbourne system, it was a forerunner of Australia's own car.

St. Kilda is a tram buff's Mecca. Sure, they can take a tourist tram in our sister-city of Christchurch, but here tram-lovers can also help restore trams like "No. 118", as it reaches its 90th birthday. The thirty-five or so volunteers are planning to make it a good one after its long years as a fisherman's shack. By the way, a full restoration can take more than 12,000 volunteer-hours to put it back on the tracks.

We took a ride on the "Birney" - and it's a tram that's been around! Built in Philadelphia with a beautiful timber interior, it first ran in Geelong in Victoria and was then sold to Bendigo Tramway. It finally served on the Port Adelaide tram system that ran between Rosewater and Semaphore - but it didn't connect to a city line.

The Tramway Museum is certainly not a static affair - rather, it's all about reliving the heyday of trams as public transport all round Adelaide. We saw "Desert Gold" for instance, scooting past the salt pans with Mt Lofty in the distance. It was named after a nifty Kiwi racehorse. In the exotic-names department, however, surely the "Green Goddess" wins the prize. It earned its moniker from its green-and-gold livery, and was one of a fleet of trolley-buses that ran on two overhead wires. They pioneered the idea of "trackless trams" in Australia, eventually running down Rundle Street.

The Museum has to feature, of course, the workhorse - the "drop centre" - that served millions of commuters from the 1920's until the last tram (but for the Bay route) ran to Cheltenham in November, 1958. You can revive your passenger memories, and the grandkids can still take a ride on the drop-centre any Sunday. And there's an adventure playground and a fascinating boardwalk mangrove trail as well at the terminus. You'll need two or three hours for patting and riding too, at the fascinating Tramway Museum at St Kilda. For more information email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Details:
The Tramway Museum
St. Kilda. South Australia (St Kilda Road off Pt Wakefield Road)

Admission includes:
· Unlimited Tram Rides
· Trams run every Sunday and Public Holiday (except Good Friday and Christmas Day) Also Wednesdays during April, July and October school holidays, and every day from 26th December to 1st January, inclusive. 1.00pm to 5.00pm

Charters and Group Bookings
Charter visits can be accommodated on week days. The best size for groups is 25 to 30 visitors. At least two weeks notice of intention to visit is needed for staffing arrangements. Special work programs have been prepared for school visits.

Group bookings for visits during normal operating hours can be arranged at the concession admission rate (pre book groups of 10 or more by phone).

For further details on charter and concession rates and general enquiries:
Phone: 8280-8188, 8297-4447 or 8337-5885
Fax: 8280-8528 or
Write to:
The Charter Officer
Australian Electric Transport Museum SA
GPO Box 2012
Adelaide. SA 5001