Museum Accessibility
The Ballarat Tramway Museum aims to be an accessible and welcoming place for all our visitors.
Due to the heritage nature, the age of our trams, there are some constraints around mobility, wheelchair access and prams.
The Museum recognises that sensitivity to sound can make noises uncomfortable or distressing for some of our visitors.
The information below may help you plan your visit and enjoy your experience.
Car Parking
Accessible car parking is available from Gillies Street. There is one accessible space at the south end of the car park accessed next to our building.
Enter the carpark before the roundabout, via the entrance to the Fish Hatchery.
This area can also be used as a pick up/drop off zone for visitors.
Accessibility for those who are mobility impaired.
The Museum building is fully accessible with flat floors, entries with automatic doors and no steps. All toilets have handrails, and one toilet is wheelchair accessible. Some displays in the Museum do have steps.
We have one accessible tram, No. 1029. This can be boarded at the Museum using the loading ramp. Please advise us beforehand so we can ensure the tram and crew are available. Call 03 5334 1580.
For those who are able to climb steps, we have a set of portable steps with handrails, providing access to all our operating trams.
Prams and Trams
Most of our trams can handle small folding prams, but we would prefer them to be left inside the Museum next to the Ticket Office. Loading and unloading prams is difficult, and with the possibility of damaging the tram.
Our trams are heritage vehicles over 100 years old, with very narrow doorways. They have always been a problem for pram access.
Service dogs welcome
Authorised assistance dogs are welcome in the Museum buildings and on the trams.
Other dogs are required to be tethered near the doors. Dogs maybe allowed on the tram at the discretion of the driver/conductor, depending on passenger numbers.
Sound Sensitivity
Trams are noisy by nature - wheels squeal on curves, bells ring and motors and compressors make noise. We recommend those with sound sensitivities wear ear muffs or noise-cancelling headphones, which are a great way of reducing the sounds that come from our trams.
The Museum building itself is generally a quiet place, though there is a soundscape of sounds when you enter the building itself. Tram 38 in the south west corner of the display hall has a quiet area with books and magazines to read.
Family
There are baby changing facilities in the accessible toilet.
Many of the activities in the Museum are suitable for children of all ages, even the very young.
