August 2019, updated 2025
A wonderful bit of #streetfurniture on #BalaclavaRoad, North Caulfield. There’s three of this type of #TramShelter, all built in 1916/17 by the #PrahranAndMalvernTramwaysTrust, the municipal body that built much of the tram system in the east and southeast suburbs in the 1910s, so their increasingly suburban citizens could get around.
Built like a shop verandah without the shop, such a great idea, plenty of protection, you can see the tram coming, doesn’t interfere with pedestrians, lots of seating- let’s build more ! But pretty sure there’d be some safety thing against a post on a kerb, because cars crash collapse etc. though it’s never happened here in 110 years. The green looks positively flouro, maybe it’s just been repainted.
Ps why do we call them Tram Shelters ? Shouldn’t it be Passenger Shelter ? Guess its short for Tram Passenger Shelter. Saw an original drawing of one once, labelled ‘rest house’ 😁
New pics 2025
Don’t know why it’s here, maybe here because of Grimwade House school next door ? The one at Malvern Road, cnr Orrong, at Toorak Station, is for people going from train to tram I guess. The one way north on Cotham Road, cnr Burke, for people changing trams, from north to east. If you’re going the other way, too bad !
Storey of Melbourne 