Tramway Heritage Centre

06/10/2026

Collections team member Pamela installing our new display - "The Tram Models of Norm Cross". Norm was a well known tram enthusiast and model maker and collector. He was an adviser and inspiration for the Australian movie "Malcolm". The Tram Museum Society of Victoria has loaned the Ballarat Tramway Museum models from Norm's collection which are now on temporary display. Come and see them up close.

03/10/2026

Dont forget.

11/09/2026

After many months of inactivity and procrastination by our Insurance company, we have finally been able to progress towards a settlement which will allow repair works to start on our damaged buildings at Bylands. A contractor has now been engaged to access what needs to be done and to start the repairs as soon as the site conditions allow. Once the repairs and other works to make the site safe for public access again, we will then be in a position whereby the museum should be able to be open for inspection once again. This long and drawn out process has been a draining one on our all our volunteers, especially those tasked with the job of seeing it thru.

24/08/2026

We wish to advise that one of the TMSV's early members David Macartney passed away in Ballarat today after a short illness. DMcC as he was more commonly known, joined the Society in the mid 1960's and was involved in tram restorations on the cars then stored at Malvern tram depot. Dave was also an active member of the Australian Railway Enthusiasts (ARE) where he was a tour organiser and in later years the Editor of the Associations magazine. In the mid 1970's Dave moved to Ballarat and became a long time member of the Ballarat Tramway Museum, where he continued to actively participate until several years ago. Dave was in his early 80's at the time of his passing. RIP Dave, roll up DEPOT and car in!

13/08/2026

Thank you to all the people who have contacted us and offerred assistance and advice following the turmoil of the past few weeks. However there are still those out there that "still dont get it"

The Tramway Museum Society of Victoria Incorporated is a Voluntary Not-for-Profit organisation, not a Government entity. The museum at Bylands is maintained and operated entirely by volunteers, it is funded by museum admissions, and donations from the public and members of the Society.

The Society and its museum does not receive Government funding, nor does it receive financial sponsorship from the corporate sector. The Society has an annual turnover on average of less than $15,000 per annum, out of which it still has to pay all its expenses of electricity, insurances, rates and charges and Government levies. It has no permanent or paid employees.

The current damages bill for the thefts in recent years has now amassed approx $1.5 million to repair, replace and install. We also currently have there need to replace our ageing No 1 tram shed, built over 50 years ago with secondhand materials that is now life expired., the estimated cost is $450,000 on current day costs.

Some people have said we need to upgrade our security to a better standard, well to provide a security system what they have suggested will cost another $200,000, and to install a razor wire fence around the perimeter another $750,000. but they fail to recommend or promise who will donate the funds to do so.

Unfortunately Governments of all levels are not currently providing funding for groups like us, nor will they be prepared to contribute large cash injections for a small group that does not have the capacity for a financial advantage or return.

So therefore we are limited in what we can and cannot do. The Society Msnagement are aware of the difficulties we face, and are currently in negotiations to address the immediate issues at hand.

In the meantime, if you feel so inclined to assist by donating to the Society all cash donations over $2 are tax deductable. Or become a member, see our website at www.tramway.org.au for more info.

PLEASE NOTE:- The tramway Heritage Centre is presently closed to the public as a result of building damages caused by a extreme weather event in July 2025. Damage has been assessed to be around $100,000 by our Insurers., We are awaiting the finalisation of this claim before these repairs can be undertaken, until then the facility remains unavailable for public access or inspection, therefore effecting our income streams.

Graham Jordan
Secretary
Tramway Museum Society of Victoria Inc
T/a Tramway Heritage Centre - Bylands

The Tramway Heritage Centre and the TMSV acknowledges the Taungurung as the Traditional Owners of this land and pays our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

11/08/2026

For the second time in less than a week, our site has been accessed illegally by persons unknown for whatever purposes. However there is no indication of items missing at this stage. There is evidence to suggest that these offenders were disturbed or experienced the chance of being bogged on site so made a hastie retreat. Fortunately they left sufficient evidence to track.

06/08/2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE: As previously reported the Tramway Heritage Centre has again been the target of unauthorised persons who have accessed our site illegally and gained entry to our electrical substation building stealing valuable cables and equipment which now renders the possibility that we may never be able to run trams again at Bylands. Coupled with the theft of our entire overhead wire and destruction to the suspension mechanisms in the process, over several previous attempts, this has made our task of preserving Merlbourne's tramway heritage for ther benefit of the public and future generations of visitors near impossible.

Some people seem to think the museum is a Government run or owned facility, this is not the case.

As a voluntary not-for-profit organisation, we rely soley on income from the museum operations and visitors and donations by members, we DO NOT receive Government support nor do we receive Government funding.

The value to repair or replace the damaged substation, replace and reinstate the stolen overhead wire and supporting infrastructure is now estimated in excess of $1.5 million, something we cannot just pull out of our pocket.

Coupled with this the museum has been temporarily closed for over the last 12 months as a result of damage to several buildings by an extreme weather event during 2025. We are awaiting finalisation of an Insurance claim to repair this damage.

It is therefore evident that we now face a massive task ahead of us, and with an aging and diminishing workforce, the prospects do not look positive.

Therefore the museum may need to look at its future viability and future, and the possibility that Victorias transport heritage at Bylands may disappear due to the actions of those who only think their illegal deeds and profiting from them for their own selfish purposes.

Not only are they robbing a volunteer organisation but the history of Melbourne and Victoria.

Graham Jordan
Secretary
Tramway Museum Society of Victoria Inc,
T/a Tramway Heritage Centre, Bylands
6th August 2026

06/08/2026

The Tramway Heritage Centre at Bylands has once again been the target of thieves. sometime between last Friday 31st July 2026 and Wednesday 5th August 2026 unknown persons have entered our property and broken into our electrical substation. The purpose of which was to remove copper cables connected to our electrical traction equipment. As a result they cut away the wires from the terminal connections therefore effectively making the equipment now useless. This is specialized equipment that is supplied by a 22,000 volts transformer down to 600 volts DC. What is annoying is that the scrap value for the stolen cables is currently around about $100 or less, but replacement cost and installation will be closer to $50,000.

They also attempted to remove a previously disconnected transformer plinthed outside the building. It seems the offenders used a tractor to do this and were unsuccessful.

This is the fifth time in as many years we have been targeted by copper theives, the pattern is always around August/September each time. This may indicate some local intervention?

The usual Police reports and involvements are in place.

Being a Not-for-Profit organisation it is demoralizing to have to endure this type of behaviour as to repair or replace this equipment will not be a cheap or easy exercise.

25/04/2026

06/04/2026

Unearthed this very old photograph of the Bylands railway station and residence taken in the early 1900's. Of note is the station office to the left, which got reused and relocated as an addition to the rear of the residence many years later. The store shed to the right remained until after the line closed in 1968. The fate of the station sign is unknown. The fate of the goods platform in the foreground on the loop siding is unknown, no trace of it was seen in the later years of the line.