Newtown Tram Depot facts for kids
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| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location | King Street, Newtown |
| Coordinates | 33°53′54″S 151°10′51″E / 33.8982829°S 151.1807431°E |
| Characteristics | |
| Operator(s) | New South Wales Tramways |
| Type | Electric |
| History | |
| Opened | 1 April 1900 |
| Closed | 28 September 1957 |
The Newtown Tram Depot is an old building in Newtown, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a place where trams were stored and fixed. This depot was a key part of Sydney's tram system. It is now considered a special historical site. The depot and the nearby Newtown railway station were both added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. This means they are important parts of history that need to be protected.
Contents
History of the Tram Depot
The Newtown Tram Depot first opened its doors on 1 April 1900. It was built right next to the Newtown railway station on King Street, Newtown. This depot helped trams run on several important lines. These included the Glebe Point, Canterbury, Earlwood, and Summer Hill lines.
The depot closed down on 28 September 1957. It is special because it is the oldest tram depot in Sydney that still looks much like it did when it was first built.
When it was active, the depot had several main parts:
- A large building called the Tram Storage Shed, built in 1899.
- Offices for tram staff, built in 1900, with an extra floor added around 1914.
- A main area with 16 tram tracks, which are now gone.
- A smaller tram yard, which was later taken down.
After the depot closed, it was used for different things. It held buses and was rented out for other uses. Today, the main depot building is empty. Part of the front area was updated in 2012. It now serves as an entrance to the Newtown railway station.
What's Left Today
Some parts of the old tram depot still stand. These parts show us what the depot was like long ago.
The Tram Storage Shed (1899)
This is a very big building with one main floor. It has smaller sections on its north and south sides. The walls are made of strong brick. The roof is made of corrugated steel and has a special sawtooth shape. This shape allowed for lots of natural light to come in through glass skylights.
Inside, the roof is held up by rows of strong metal columns. The floors are mostly made of concrete. Some parts of the roof are missing now, especially where old battery and converter rooms used to be.
- The Former Battery Room was added in 1914. It helped power the tram system.
- The Former Converter Room also helped with power. It still has a large crane that was used to move heavy equipment.
- The Former Meal Room was built around 1900. It was a place for staff to eat.
- Other areas included staff amenities and electrical stores.
The Tram Offices (1900)
The tram offices were built in 1900. They were first a single-story building. Around 1914, another floor was added for more office space. The building is made of brick and has a tiled roof. It has old-fashioned timber windows.
The ground floor offices are now used for storage. They have wooden floors and painted brick walls. The first floor also has timber floors and painted walls. Each room on the first floor used to have a fireplace.
Main Tram Track Area (1899)
This was a large open space where 16 tram tracks spread out from King Street. Most of the tracks are gone now. However, you can still see signs of them, especially near the railway line.
Secondary Tram Yard (1899)
This was a smaller yard. It is mostly empty now. It might have foundations from other old buildings, like stables or a blacksmith's shop.
Why It's Important
The Newtown Tram Depot is very important to the history of New South Wales. It shows how Sydney changed its tram system from steam power to electricity. It was the second tram depot built for the new electric trams. This shows how much the government wanted to provide a good public transport system for Sydney's growing suburbs in the early 1900s.
The depot also shows what a typical electric tram depot looked like. The main tram shed and offices are good examples of the building style from that time, often called the Federation style. It is rare because it is one of the few tram buildings left in Sydney. It is also the oldest one that still looks mostly like it did when it was new.
The Newtown Tram Depot was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 for several reasons:
- It shows how history happened: It was key to bringing electric trams to Sydney.
- It looks good: The main tram shed is a large and attractive building. It is easy to see from the railway station and nearby roads, making it a landmark.
- It connects with people: The depot helps local people feel connected to their community's past.
- It can teach us things: There might be old remains underground that could teach us about life and work in Newtown long ago. It could also show us more about how trams and electricity were used back then.
- It is rare: It is one of the few tram depots left in Sydney and the oldest in its original form.
- It is a good example: The depot shows the typical design and layout of electric tram depots from that time.
Gallery
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Tram Traffic Offices
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Track 16
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South Wall
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Windows
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South East Corner
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Railway Lane
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Window and Ventilator
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Relaying tram tracks in Newtown 1927
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Laying tracks in Newtown 1927
