Botany Trams
Did you know that Sydney once had one of the most extensive tram networks in the world? It was the largest in Australia and the second largest in the Commonwealth, after London.
At it’s peak in the 1930s it had 1,600 cars in service at any one time, compared with about 500 trams in Melbourne today.
The Botany Line was the first line in a southerly direction from the old Redfern Station. It opened on 17th May 1882, and its route was via Devonshire, Chalmers, Castlereagh, Redfern and Regent Streets into Botany Road to the terminus at Banksmeadow Park in Botany.
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| Crash between tram and truck, Botany Road Mascot. By Not known [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Botany_Rd_Mascot._Australia_early_1900s.jpg |
The terminus at Banksmeadow Park had a reversing loop and several sidings, which were used to become a depot, capable of housing eight motors and twenty-five cars.
Following duplication of tramlines in 1891 the Botany trams made alternate trips from Bridge Street to Leichardt. This allowed for better timetabling.
On 20th April 1903 electric trams began running from Circular Quay to Bay Street Botany. This saw the reduction of in steam trams from Bridge Street to Botany Terminus becoming half hourly. The last day of the following month, 31st May 1903 became the last day of steam trams in general traffic along this line due to completion of overhead works beyond Bay Street.
A visit by the American Fleet during August 1908 put tremendous strain on electric services elsewhere in the Sydney network. This saw steam trams return to the Botany line during this time, on some days fully operating the services, but from then it was electric trams only until replaced by buses in 1960.
There were a number of special lines branching off from the main Botany line.
The Botany Cemetery Line – in 1900 it was decided to move the cemetery at the site of Central Railway Station to Botany. This brought a special siding from Devonshire Street to the cemetery site, opened on 1st July 1901, to haul coffins and headstones in ballast wagons. Passenger cars were also hauled for the convenience of visitors.
The Rosebery Racecourse Line – Special services ran from Botany to cope with the fortnightly meetings at the racecourse. However this failed to be an adequate solution for the amount and transport needs of racecourse visitors and caused many delays. A short double track line into Gardener’s Road from Botany Road towards the racecourse proved a solution. This opened on 3rd November 1902 and ran until 1910 when the racecourse was shifted to larger grounds.
The Daceyville Line – This was an extension of the line to serve the new Rosebery Racecourse opened in 1910. It began regular passenger service, apart from race specials, on weekdays only between Waterloo and Daceyville gradually increasing to become full time from Circular Quay. The racecourse closed in 1940 and the last day of tram service was 22nd June 1957.
The Botany Line closed for service on 22nd October 1960. The final journey took place in the small hours of the following day, performed by tram R1 2035. It survived the journey unscathed, and lasted another four months to partake in the final procession of trams on the closing day of the system.
If you are interested in following the Botany Tramline route Sydney Buses route 309 generally follows the route of the Botany Tram service as it was in 1960. You may even be lucky enough to see some of the old track!
Click here for more information on Sydney trams. Or come and visit the Eastgardens Library and ask the staff.
MacGowan, I. (1990). The Tramways of New South Wales. Oakleigh, Vic. I.A. MacGowan Read more...
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