Ballarat's Horse Tramways

Following the discovery of gold in 1851, so great was the influx of gold seekers and supporting business people, that Ballarat was declared a city in 1870. In the mid 1880s the Ballaarat City Council was considering tramway construction as the horse-drawn buses and cabs were inadequate for the growing city. Various proposals were put forward including a cable tramway. Cable line construction was in full swing at Melbourne at the time, but deemed too expensive for Ballarat.

The Council was impressed with the horse tramways of Adelaide, in South Australia, and decided on a similar system for Ballarat. The Council had large

loan commitments and so private enterprise undertook the project. The Ballaarat Tramway Company Limited opened the first line in 1887 from the Botanic Gardens to the City. The Museum’s line runs over part of this original route. The horse tramways provided the first comprehensive passenger services in Ballarat.

There were 17 double and one single-decker horse-drawn trams with around 50 horses, owned by the Company. This large number of horses was required as individual horses were out on the tracks only part of the day to ensure that they were not overworked.   The horse trams were replaced by electric trams in 1905, though most of the Sebastopol line remained horse worked until 1913.

Horse Tram No. 1

The Ballarat Tramway Museum discovered horse tram number 1 which had served as an outbuilding at a local residence for about half a century.  It was acquired in 1985 and reconstructed to its original colourful form.

The tram is the only horse tram that has survived and is one of the few remnants of the Ballarat horse tram era left.

Following reconstruction, the tram was launched by Professor Weston Bate on 7 November 1992.

Horse Tram No. 1 at Work

Prior to 1998, the horse tram worked five times: the official launch on 7 November 1992 and then October 1995, November 2001 prior to being run in Melbourne for the 2002 Moomba Festival and the 25 September 2005 centenary celebrations of electric trams in Ballarat. For these celebrations, Bendigo

crossbench tram No. 17 visited Ballarat and ran in conjunction with the horse and other Ballarat trams painted in the colours of the Electric Supply Co. of Victoria. Tramcar No. 17 is currently the only operational company tram.

In May 2008 and May 2010, the tram was run for the Ballarat Heritage Weekend. The 2010 tram carried over 1000 passengers over two days. A great Event.

2010 Heritage Weekend - 8 and 9 May.

The City of Ballarat sponsored the horse tram in partnership with the Museum. Rides on both the electric tram and horse tram were free.

2011 Heritage Weekend - Sunday 8 May

The City of Ballarat again sponsored the horse tram in partnership with the Museum. Rides on both the electric tram and horse tram were free.

2012 Heritage Weekend - Sunday 13 May

The Ballarat Tramway Museum operated the horse on Sunday 13 May. Sadly it was not the best weather.

The horses, Katie and Hank were provided by Bruce Hill of Clunes.