Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board
Encyclopedia
The Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board or MMTB (officially M&MTB) was an authority that was responsible for the tram
network in Melbourne
, Australia
between 1919 and 1983. It was formed by the merger of a number of smaller tramway trusts and companies from throughout the city.
Its main headquarters were located at the Preston Workshops, with other depots located at Glen Huntly
, Camberwell
, Essendon
, South Melbourne
and Hawthorn
.
network in Melbourne, with no competing lines being permitted. The franchise ended in 1916, after which the operation of the entire cable network was handed over to the State government. The Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) was formed in 1918, and took over the cable tram network
and the tramway trusts by 1920.
The MMTB was established under the provisions of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Act 1918 (No.2995). By an order of the Governor-in-Council dated 22 July 1919, the seven members of the Board, including a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman were appointed.
The MMTB was given responsibility for the operation of all tramways within a sixteen kilometre radius of the Melbourne GPO, the only exceptions were the lines operated by the Victorian Railways
. The MMTB was an independent statutory body which reported to the Minister of Public Works until 1952 and subsequently to the Minister of Transport.
were taken over by the Board on 1 November 1919, with the exception of the Northcote Cable Tramway, which was taken over on 20 February 1920.
The majority of the suburban electric tramway trusts were transferred to the Board on 2 February 1920:
The Footscray and the Fitzroy, Northcote and Preston Tramways were only in the process of construction at the time the MMTB was established. The construction of the Fitzroy, Northcote and Preston Tramways was completed on 1 April 1920 and the Footscray Tramways on 6 September 1921.
In 1906, the North Melbourne Electric Tramway and Lighting Company operated an electric tram line from the terminus of the cable tram to Essendon
. The MMTB did not take over the Company until 21 December 1922, when the State Government eventually bought the Company's interest in both the lighting and tramways undertakings.
from the Hawthorn Tramways Trust, and developed the park as a place of recreation.
with the passing of the new Transport Act 1983 which came into operation on 1 July 1983.
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
network in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
between 1919 and 1983. It was formed by the merger of a number of smaller tramway trusts and companies from throughout the city.
Its main headquarters were located at the Preston Workshops, with other depots located at Glen Huntly
Glen Huntly, Victoria
Glen Huntly is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Glen Eira. At the 2006 Census, Glen Huntly had a population of 4085....
, Camberwell
Camberwell, Victoria
Camberwell is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara. At the 2006 Census, Camberwell had a population of 19,637....
, Essendon
Essendon, Victoria
Essendon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
, South Melbourne
South Melbourne, Victoria
South Melbourne is an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Port Phillip and Melbourne...
and Hawthorn
Hawthorn, Victoria
Hawthorn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara...
.
Establishment
In 1885 the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company was granted a 30-year monopoly franchise for the entire cable tramCable car (railway)
A cable car or cable railway is a mass transit system using rail cars that are hauled by a continuously moving cable running at a constant speed. Individual cars stop and start by releasing and gripping this cable as required...
network in Melbourne, with no competing lines being permitted. The franchise ended in 1916, after which the operation of the entire cable network was handed over to the State government. The Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) was formed in 1918, and took over the cable tram network
Melbourne cable tramway system
The Melbourne cable tramway system was a cable car public transportation system operated from 1885 to 1940 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
and the tramway trusts by 1920.
The MMTB was established under the provisions of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Act 1918 (No.2995). By an order of the Governor-in-Council dated 22 July 1919, the seven members of the Board, including a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman were appointed.
The MMTB was given responsibility for the operation of all tramways within a sixteen kilometre radius of the Melbourne GPO, the only exceptions were the lines operated by the Victorian Railways
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
. The MMTB was an independent statutory body which reported to the Minister of Public Works until 1952 and subsequently to the Minister of Transport.
Predecessors
The MMTB succeeded the Cable Tramway Board and the Royal Park Horse Tramway. The cable tramwaysMelbourne cable tramway system
The Melbourne cable tramway system was a cable car public transportation system operated from 1885 to 1940 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
were taken over by the Board on 1 November 1919, with the exception of the Northcote Cable Tramway, which was taken over on 20 February 1920.
The majority of the suburban electric tramway trusts were transferred to the Board on 2 February 1920:
- Prahran and Malvern Tramways TrustPrahran and Malvern Tramways TrustThe Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust was a former tram operator in Melbourne, Australia. The trust was formed in 1907, with its first line operating in 1910...
- Hawthorn Tramways TrustHawthorn Tramways TrustThe Hawthorn Tramways Trust was a tram operator in Melbourne, Australia. It was later acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board.-History:...
- Melbourne, Brunswick and Coburg Tramways Trust
- Fitzroy, Northcote and Preston Tramways Trust
- Footscray Tramway Trust
- Northcote Municipality Cable Tramways
The Footscray and the Fitzroy, Northcote and Preston Tramways were only in the process of construction at the time the MMTB was established. The construction of the Fitzroy, Northcote and Preston Tramways was completed on 1 April 1920 and the Footscray Tramways on 6 September 1921.
In 1906, the North Melbourne Electric Tramway and Lighting Company operated an electric tram line from the terminus of the cable tram to Essendon
Essendon, Victoria
Essendon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
. The MMTB did not take over the Company until 21 December 1922, when the State Government eventually bought the Company's interest in both the lighting and tramways undertakings.
Conversion of cable system
The cable tram lines were progressively converted by the MMTB to electric trams from the 1920s, with the last Melbourne cable tram operating on October 26, 1940.Bus services
Following the proclamation of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Act 1923, the Board was empowered to operate omnibuses. The Motor Omnibuses Acts of 1924 and 1925 removed competition on tramway routes. The power conferred on the Board to operate buses was intended only to be subsidiary to its main function of tramway operations.Parks and Gardens
The MMTB acquired Wattle ParkWattle Park, Melbourne
Wattle Park is a public park in Melbourne, Australia, located in the suburb of Burwood. It is known for its plantation of 12,000 wattle trees. It is currently maintained by Parks Victoria....
from the Hawthorn Tramways Trust, and developed the park as a place of recreation.
Demise
Responsibility for the functions of the MMTB passed to the Metropolitan Transit AuthorityMetropolitan Transit Authority (Victoria)
The Metropolitan Transit Authority was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body that operated suburban passenger trains,trams and buses in Victoria, Australia. It was set up under Section 15 of the Transport Act 1983 and commenced operation on 1 July 1983...
with the passing of the new Transport Act 1983 which came into operation on 1 July 1983.