Adelaide Tram Museum at St. Kilda South Australia

The Tramways Band
The Tramways Band was formed by 25 tramway men in 1909. The first conductor was Mr. Reg. Stoneham. The MTT took it over in 1910 and appointed Mr. Burnett and soon afterwards, Mr. Christopher Smith as conductor. Mr. Smith continued until 1922, then moved to New Zealand, where he met an unfortunate demise in 1930, when he was run over by a tram in Auckland. Concerts given in the Tramways Bandstand at Henley attracted several thousand listeners. Up to 90 trips were needed to carry the concert-goers to Henley and back. The band travelled in its own ‘toastrack’ car, playing as it went. A bandstand was also built at Semaphore, but was little used when it was realised the concert goers travelled there by train. During the First World War, the band played at many patriotic and fund raising events. Mr. W. H. Foote, a Conservatorium of Music teacher and conductor of the South Australian Orchestra, was the Band’s final conductor. By this time it had developed into a symphonic band of 56 players, which reached very high standards of musical attainment. By 1925, radio had arrived and many remaining concert patrons travelled to performances by motorcar. Since the Band was no longer an economic method of encouraging passenger business for the MTT, it was disbanded amid general regret from March 1925.		Band posed at ‘A’ bay Hackney Depot, 1910. MTT The Band ready to travel to a concert venue. Printed in program, March 1924 The Band ready to lead MTT staff to a Church Parade, Hackney Depot, 1910. MTT
Adelaide Tramway employees church parade In their early years, the tramwaymen held an annual Church Parade. Led by the Band, they marched from Hackney Depot to the Adelaide Town Hall for a short service. Imposing 6’ 4” drum-major ‘Big Bill’ Symons was a well known personage at the front of the Band.

Sustaining itself internally
The MTT had an active internal life. The Adelaide Electric Tramways Club This club was a separate social organisation with the object of promoting comradeship amongst its staff of, then, about 1,050, catering for the general welfare of employees, including the provision of a library, billiard tables and a sick and accident benefit fund. Membership, by decision of the employees, was compulsory. Subscriptions were subsidised by the MTT on a pound for pound basis. In its formative years the MTT approved the establishment of the military brass band, rifle, cricket and football clubs. There was even a fishing club. The Tramways Club financed the building of a large hall for their use and for public hire. It remains today opposite the former MTT headquarters on Hackney Road as a function centre.		Sporting clubs formed in the early days of the MTT tended to have a long life. MTT
		Lunch-time concert at Hackney workshops, 1950s. MTT
The Cricket Club Lunchtime cricket was played at Hackney Depot with well-defined rules of the game. The traverser pit, when not being used by trams, served as the cricket field. The rules of the game catered for the cramped playing conditions. JC Radcliffe collection



Sustaining commercial competetiveness
The MTT was quick to respond to market opportunities and threats. • In the 1920s private unlicensed buses were reaching further and taking market share. - It responded with motorbuses of its own. • Private buses were promoted as faster than the trams. - It introduced new faster trams, which could outpace the buses. (And later saw off private bus competition by using its muscle first to license them and, later, to take them over.) • The two S.A.R. steam passenger services to Glenelg were making a loss. - The MTT took over the lines and converted the South Terrace one to electric traction (the H type Bay Trams). The North Terrace line was closed. • Electric transport technology was developing. - The MTT introduced Australia’s first electric trolley bus. • Management stayed in touch with developing technology. - Mr. Goodman attended the 1933 World Power Conference in Scandinavia, which laid the foundation for Adelaide’s eventual fleet of 91 trolley buses.		Approximately10, 000 people turned out at the opening of the Glenelg line, 14 December 1929. MTT
Special service to the Victoria Park races, 1950s. DA Colquhon
Flooding at White’s farm viaduct (now HMAS Australia Drive) on the Henley line at Fulham, 1912. MTT		It sought revenue opportunities in: • Transporting horses to the racecourse at Morphettville. • Carrying mail from Glenelg Post Office for the GPO. • Building a ‘tourist line’ to the Morialta Conservation Park. • The purchase and development of Kensington Gardens Reserve as a leisure destination and conducting sweet pea trials there to attract home gardeners. • Building band stands for MTT band concerts and providing special tram services to them to increase patronage. • Promoting special destinations such as the violet farm at Rostrevor. • Making opportunistic trips for special events. See the flooding!

Band performance at Henley bandstand, 1920s. Printed in program.
Two horse-boxes were in service 1930 to 1936. Each could carry eight horses and four attendants. They were towed behind a ‘drop centre’ tram. MTT



Tramways Band leading a parade along Morphett Street, corner of Grote Street.