Camberwell tram depot
{{Short description|Tram depot in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox tram depot
|title =
|image = Tram depots in Melbourne (51892546804).jpg
|image_width = 300
|image_alt = Camberwell tram depot shed, 2022
|caption = Camberwell tram depot shed,
February 2022
|location = Council Street, Hawthorn East
|opened = {{Start date|1929|12||df=y}}
|owner = VicTrack
|operator = Yarra Trams
|roads = 9 (all in sheds)
|rollingstock = 4 A1-class
18 A2-class
38 B2-class
Camberwell tram depot is located on Council Street, Hawthorn East, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Opened in December 1929, it is operated by Yarra Trams. It is one of eight tram depots on the Melbourne tram network.
History
The electric tram line from Batman Avenue in the city to Warrigal Road (then Boundary Road) along Riversdale Road opened in 1917, built by the Hawthorn Tramways Trust. The Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board took over the line in 1920, and in 1928, extended the line a further two kilometres to Wattle Park. With the increase in suburban development and tram use, in July 1928, the Board approved the acquisition of a number of properties on Camberwell Road, west of Camberwell Junction, in preparation for the construction of a new tram depot.{{cite news|title=Land for New Tram Depot|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3933243|accessdate=31 October 2013|newspaper=The Argus|date=20 July 1928|publisher=National Library of Australia}} A tender for £31,990 to construct the depot was accepted on 1 November 1928 by the MMTB,{{cite news|title=New Tram Depot.|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3966791|accessdate=31 October 2013|newspaper=The Argus|date=2 November 1928|publisher=National Library of Australia}} with the depot opening in December 1929.{{cite news|title=Changes in Running.|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4054103|accessdate=31 October 2013|newspaper=The Argus|date=3 December 1929|publisher=National Library of Australia}}[https://www.sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au/tramway/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/147-Trolley-Wire-Aug-1973.pdf Camberwell Tramways] Trolley Wire issue 147 August 1973 pages 11/12"Melbourne's Electric Trams" Trolley Wire issue 307 November 2006 page 11{{cite web|title=Between the Wars|url=http://www.yarratrams.com.au/about-us/our-history/tramway-milestones/between-the-wars/|work=Yarra Trams|accessdate=31 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102235108/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/about-us/our-history/tramway-milestones/between-the-wars/|archive-date=2 November 2013|url-status=dead}} It was designed by the Board's chief architect, Alan G Monsborough in a restrained Georgian style.{{Cite web |title=Melbourne Tram Museum: Tramway architect - Alan G. Monsborough |url=https://www.trammuseum.org.au/papers/monsborough.htm |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=www.trammuseum.org.au}} The opening of Camberwell depot ushered in a multitude of operational changes in the eastern part of the tram network, including extended hours of tramway operation.{{cite news|title=In the Suburbs - Earlier Trams From Burwood|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4058348|accessdate=3 November 2013|newspaper=The Argus|date=21 December 1929|publisher=National Library of Australia}} The routes using the depot eventually became primarily the Route 70 and 75.
Traffic lights were installed on Riversdale Road, at the entrance to Camberwell depot in 1948, to increase safety. The traffic lights were in response to a large number of near misses, and were activated by trams.{{cite news|title=Safety Lights at Tram Depot|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22549298|accessdate=3 November 2013|newspaper=The Argus|date=30 April 1948|publisher=National Library of Australia}}
When the Public Transport Corporation was privatised in August 1999, Camberwell depot passed to Yarra Trams."Yarra Trams" Trolley Wire issue 279 November 1999 page 25
Layout
File:Camberwell Depot offices.jpg
Camberwell tram depot has nine roads, all of which are covered by a single 115 foot single span roof. This is said to increase safety within the depot shed as there are no columns, while also providing better lighting. The depot shed is connected to Riversdale Road by a double track entrance. The staff facilities and offices are in an adjacent building.{{cite web|title=Camberwell Depot|url=https://vicsig.net/trams/depot/camberwell|work=Vicsig|accessdate=5 April 2023}}{{cite web|title=COTMA Conference 1982 Melbourne - Camberwell Depot|url=http://www.cotma.org.au/documents/melbourne_1982/Melbourne%201982%20-%20South%20Melbourne%20&%20Camberwell%20Depots.pdf|work=Council of Tramway Museums of Australasia|accessdate=3 November 2013}}
Rolling stock
Routes
The following routes are operated from Camberwell depot:
- {{ric|Yarra Trams|70}}: Waterfront City Docklands to Wattle Park{{cite web|title=Route 70|url=http://www.yarratrams.com.au/using-trams/route-guides/route-70/|work=Yarra Trams|accessdate=31 October 2013}}
- {{ric|Yarra Trams|75}}: Central Pier Docklands to Vermont South{{cite web|title=Route 75|url=http://www.yarratrams.com.au/using-trams/route-guides/route-75/|work=Yarra Trams|accessdate=31 October 2013}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}{{MelbourneTramNavbox|state=collapsed}}
{{coord|-37.8302|145.0548|region:AU-VIC|display=title}}
Category:Tram depots in Melbourne
Category:Transport infrastructure completed in 1929
Category:1929 establishments in Australia