September 2026
Under the clunky Pomo of that hotel on Bridge Road next to the river is a remnant of the cable tram network. It’s the front wall of the car barn of Melbournes first cable tram line, that ran along Flinders Street then Bridge Road to here, which opened in 1885. The line was converted to electric in 1927, and I think this was just used for industrial purposes until the 90s, when the hotel happened. The power house that ran the cables was on the corner Punt Road, and was demolished in 1991 for road widening (pic 13).
The wall is very nice though, all lovely two tone brick work, with vermiculated arched openings, one for the tram cars that went in and out. I think they were kind of pushed off the tracks rather than a cable pulling them in. Only the front wall was brick, the rest was more like a big shed, so no wonder only the wall kept. It was probably designed by Alexander Davidson, the architect for the private tram company – he’s best known for the similarly styled but more elaborate power house on the corner of Nicholson and Gertrude in Fitzroy.
There’s a vaguely matching brick wall down the side, and the hotel makes some effort to respond to the original wall, but you don’t notice that really. I quite like the way it faces the river with pair of turrets, and the zigzag balconies between, but it’s not great architecture.
