Launceston Tramway Museum

22/05/2026

Have you seen our gang car along the tracks? After some maintenance it is back in operation. Butch, our workshop manager, explains what the vehicle is and how it works.

Volunteers at the Launceston Tramway Museum have restored a gangcar...

19/05/2026

One of the most iconic pieces of built heritage in Launceston is the King’s Bridge. When the tram lines were being laid in 1910 work commenced outbound from the corporation quarry (now the penny royal) adjacent to the bridge with metalling from the quarry supporting the works. A major tram stop would be located outside the front of the quarry.

When the tramway commenced passenger services in 1911 the tram line ended outside the quarry. Attempts in 1913 to extend the line further would be met with construction challenges, with difficulties engineering the section so it would not exceed an average grade of 1:10. It would not be until 1915 that this section of the route would be complete and the trams would climb the steep gradient of Cataract Hill. The trams provided an accessible and pleasant way to climb what is a steep hill with excellent views of the city.

On 25 of December 1948 this line would be closed to the disadvantage of residents and visitors.

The bridge continues to be an important part of the city’s infrastructure and unmissable at the mouth of the Cataract Gorge.

07/05/2026

After the the trams dominated Launceston's streetscape trolley busses replaced them. These Trolley Busses were first operated by the Launceston Municipal Tramways (owned by the City of Launceston Official) and then its successor the Metropolitan Transport Trust (now known as Metro).

Graeme Davis was one of the people who drove trolley busses when he started work at the Metropolitan Transport Trust in 1966. In the attached video Graeme recalls his time driving them and shares stories from his time as a bus driver ꟷ although he is still driving busses around 60 years later!

Special thank you to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery who let us have access to their excellently restored and preserved Trolley Bus.

The electric trolleybuses replaced the trams in Launceston and ran from 1952 until 1968. Here Graeme from the Launceston Tramway Museum recalls his time as a...

16/04/2026

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes before the tram is ready to take passengers?
Join Motorman Terry and Conductor Rob as they prep Tram 29 ready for a day's operation.

Behind the scenes: Prepping Tram 29 ꟷ

Behind the scenes: Prepping Tram 29

02/04/2026

Easter Break at the Launceston Tramway Museum
We are closed from Good Friday 3rd till 7th April.
Reopen Wednesday 8th. April.

We will also be closed on Saturday Anzac Day 25th April

The photographs show tram 26 which was turned into a holiday house and a view of Coles Bay from the roof.

Tram 26 was purchased in 1953 by a Longford farmer. He spent 12 months fitting it out as a four-bedroom holiday house. It was really utopia, fishing for barracuda, flathead and cod, walking over to Wineglass Bay for crays, swimming, playing cards and enjoying lots of fun with kids from the other shacks.

Surrounded by bush, the tram boasted a gas stove, gas heater, gas lighting plus an outside loo and bush shower in the nearby garage.

That’s where the big Humber Super Snipe or Ford Prefect ute would be parked.

25/03/2026

Event Update – Twilight Tramride Cancelled

Due to unexpected issues with the tram generator the upcoming twilight tram ride (28/3/2026) has been cancelled. We're hopeful the issue will be resolved quickly, but unfortunately it won't be repaired in time for Saturday. As such we also be closing the museum for the 28/3/2026 as a maintenance day.

02/03/2026

Over the past few years, the Launceston Tramway Museum Society Inc has seen its collection expand considerably. One of these additions is the Tramway Cricket Club Score Book 1947-1949.

The club participated in the Midweek Cricket Association, which pitted the tramway staff against teams from the Railways Institute, Tattersalls, The Examiner, U.L.V.A and Commercial. In addition are small selection of games played with teams outside of Launceston including the Hobart Tramways and games played between the North vs South teams.

Two of the games explored in the book have been shared above.
The first game was played on 2 March 1948 between the Examiner and Tramway Cricket Club. The examiner team included 6 people on this occasion, less than the tramways 10, so a second round was played by the Press team to make up for the difference. This game was played at Invermay Park, an area our modern tram passes by. This game was a narrow win by the tramway by one point!

A second between the Launceston Tramway Cricket Club and Hobart Tramways on 27 March 1949 was played at Tunbridge. In this game the Launceston Tramway scored 135, beating the Hobart Tramway who scored 61.

On the tramway team across these games we see some iconic Launceston Municipal Tramway figures including Max Challis, Rex Rice, Reginald Shaw, Cyril Eddy, M Bullock, L Mussell, Ermest Jones, Colin Rosevears, Bevis West, Roy Rodman, Ernest Jones, Sydney Austen, Hilton Brooks an Arnold (possibly Harry Arnold), one of the Guys and one of the Adams.

Sports and recreation played an important role at the Launceston Municipal Tramways, cricket was one of many games which the tramway supported competitive teams - with other games played including (but not limited to) football and indoor games (such as ping-pong, billiards, and draughts). Pictured is Max Challis and an unknown person.

26/02/2026

As the Launceston Tramway Museum Society Inc moves towards the expansion of the museum we have been working on budgeting and designing new exhibitions that can utilise the new temperature/humidity-controlled space.

There are 30 planned 'semi-permanent' exhibitions – ranging from small to large –covering topics that align with our ‘collection themes’ which include:
🏏Working Lives; such as recreation, regulations/administration, daily work routine.
📺Evolution and Innovation; technology, energy, safety, design, aftermath
🎫Passenger Travels; Incidents, special visits, holidays, regular service, outreach/community
🎬Promos and Advertisement; Entertainment, local businesses, products, newspapers
🪖Military; Manufactory/storage, recognition of service, reintegration of diggers, the tramway during wartime
🔨Operations and Maintenance; Trackwork, plans and blueprints, logistics, vehicles, workshop

We are interested in what the public would like to see in an exhibition. With a planned temporary exhibition space, our growing database which documents tens of thousands of local tramway historic events, a heritage collection of around 30,000 objects and images, there is scope to explore more.

If you have any ideas for exhibits, please leave a comment, send us an [email protected] or drop in and have a chat with our collections team.

05/02/2026

Did you know the Launceston Municipal Tramways had a non-passenger vehicle in its fleet, a sprinkler car! The sprinkler car was used for wetting the dirt roads of Launceston, which prior to the tramway could, in dry weather, cause dust to be picked up by gusts of winds. These dust gusts would damage clothes, curtains and create breathing difficulties. It had an 1,800-gallon (around 8,182.962 liters) water tank and its spray spread around 5 meters. Unlike the passenger trams the operators were completely exposed to the weather which made it an at time unpopular job.

The sprinkler car entered into service in 1912. Its first major outing however was not to serve what it was designed for but responding to a ‘water famine’ caused by the collapsing of a tunnel at the St Patrick’s River. The council was quick to react to the issue and it created an intermediate ‘fix’ to serve the city while repairs were undertaken, which was establishing a water pump at the Ritchies Mill water-race and having the water be delivered along the tram lines via the sprinkler car. People came out with buckets, cups or anything that could be used to capture water. Carts were also used to transport water that could not be delivered along the line. In such a time of crisis the sprinkler car was requisitioned for use by fire crews. This was an unusual trial but it proved its usefulness even outside of maintaining the streets.

The sprinkler car is sometimes recorded as lacking track flushing capability, but this feature was actually added early on. The enigmatic Spencer Jewkes (Assistant Engineer In charge of Corporation Workshops and the Steam Auxiliary Plant) without being prompted upgraded the vehicle. Mr. Jewkes was an achiever who accomplished many things during his tenure at the Launceston Municipal Tramways, including being the first employee to propose (even drafting foundations for) the unrealized extension of the tramway depot/workshops into area in front of our museum, option 1 for our museum expansion. His efforts helped ensure the driving of pile foundations in the area. The importance of this pole driving was described by St John David (City Engineer) when he said that “This will, I think, fill requirements for all time”.

Sadly, despite its contributions the decision was made in June 1927 to decommission the vehicle, its use reducing with the paving of the roads. The Launceston Municipal Tramways would convert this it into Tram no.26, which is in the workshop of the Launceston Tramway Museum (and can be viewed on request).

The photograph of the Sprinkler Car is in the Launceston Tramway Museum Society Inc Collection.

03/02/2026

The Examiner did an excellent write up on our planned museum/workshop expansion that looks at the three options that we had identified in our business case. It also looks at other topics such as alternative tramway routes should the black bridge option be taken off the table (unlikely). It is well worth a read.

To outline our potential sites for our expansion:

Option 1 - Our current site (and preferred option) would see the museum and workshop extend outwards into the undeveloped area out the front. This would be potentially the cheapest option and also keep the museum with the workshop. It will also include a major renovation of the existing museum (the workshop will not be modified and retain its heritage features). A planned movable wall would also allow for the extended museum space to be opened up to the extended workshop floor so visitors can seamlessly view what is being actively worked on.

Option 2 - Part of the land in-between the North-Esk and tram tracks. It would infer a longer structure and room for an integrated passenger station. While more expensive then our current site, the larger space and ability to conform to a single structure would be the most cost-effective solution.

Option 3 - The roundhouse with a restored turntable. This was identified as an option before the announcement of a RV park in the space. There is still scope to undertake an expansion here but it would be around 1/3 the size instead of including the whole foundation. The turntable is something regardless of any expansion in the area something we will continue to advocate for due to its historical significance to rail in Tasmania.

Three sites have been identified for an expansion of a heritage rail experience in Northern Tasmania.
FULL STORY: www.examiner.com.au/story/9161880