Melbourne’s First Cable Tram – 140 Years On

Melbourne’s first cable tram began service on the 11 November 1885, running from Spencer Street in the CBD to Bridge Road in Richmond. What began as a marvel of 19-century engineering would become one of the most defining pieces of urban infrastructure in Australia.  

The birth of a network 

In the late 1800s, Melbourne was booming and required a reliable and efficient transport system to serve the rapidly growing population. 

Melbourne’s cable tram system was created by Francis Boardman Clapp, an American emigrant who established Melbourne’s horse omnibus services in the 1870s.  

By the early 1890s, the city had established one of the largest and most sophisticated cable tram systems in the world, covering more than 70 kilometres and operating from 17 depots.  

The cable tram system opened up travel within the city, with close to 600 trams running through Melbourne. In peak periods, Melburnians could see a tram every 30 seconds.  

With the introduction of cable trams, residents were able to travel further and faster than ever before, with trams travelling at 13km/hr at first and 21km/hr at their fastest.  

Engineering progress 

In 1911 a Royal Commission into Melbourne’s railways and tramways was completed and highlighted key disadvantages of cable trams compared to electric trams. It recommended the lines be converted in order of priority. From 1925 to 1937, most cable tracks had been converted to electric trams, with the remaining lines being abandoned.   

The last cable tram retired on the 26 October 1940, after completing its journey from the city to Northcote. 

An enduring network 

Today, Melbourne operates the largest tram network in the world, with 245 kilometres of double track and over 450 trams running daily. Trams are the second most utilised public transport in the city, carrying 154.8 million passengers over 2023 -2024.  

140 years on, Melbourne’s tram network is an ongoing example of long-term infrastructure vision in practice. It reminds us that great cities invest in systems that connect people, support growth, and adapt with time.