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Electric trams were a prominent presence in Adelaide from 1909 to 1958.
The city centre was the focal point where the population congregated for work and leisure. |
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Queen Victoria dominated Victoria Square throughout the electric tram era. A tram turns from Wakefield Street to run north along King William Street to St. Peters. Photo: Noel F Reed
1950s shot of a ‘drop-centre’ tram leaving Victoria Square to go north along the city’s main artery-King William Street. Treasury building (now a hotel) and Town Hall in background. Note the safety zone where patrons boarded the trams. Photo: H D Ellerton
A ‘D’ type tramcar heading east crosses King William Street into Grenfell Street, near the T & G building, Adelaide’s first ‘skyscraper’. The ‘F’ type ‘drop-centre’ tram is travelling west along Currie Street to Henley Beach. Photo: Noel F Reed |
When electric trams were installed in Adelaide, seven major streets in the city area between the terraces had trams running through them.
These were:
North Terrace (east and west).
Grenfell/Currie Streets (east and west).
Wakefield/Grote Streets (east and west).
West Terrace (north and south).
King William Street (north and south) - which was the main tramway artery.
Pulteney/Hanson Streets (north and south).
Hutt Street (to the south).
These city streets served 21 suburban tram routes throughout the metropolitan area.
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The Da Costa Building in Grenfell Street, is nearing completion in the 1950s as the tram heads west towards King William Street. Photo: JC Radcliffe Collection
Tramcars exited King William Street in three directions at the North Terrace intersection, which kept motorists (and tram motormen) on their toes. The silver drop-centre is on its way to Payneham. Photo: Noel F Reed |
North Terrace near Parliament House. Photo: JC Radcliffe Collection |
In 1910, a tram from has stopped on North Terrace, near Parliament House. |
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Grenfell Street
Photo: JC Radcliffe Collection |
Soon after the tramways opened, a ‘toast-rack’ car No 32 ambles along Grenfell Street. Notice the Adelaide Arcade dome, and the centre poles. The centre poles lasted until the early 1950s. |
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King William Street
Photo: JC Radcliffe Collection |
This pre-1917 picture shows a busy King William Street still with telegraph poles and wires. The trams were the fastest vehicles in the street, capable of speeds double or triple that of horse-drawn vehicles. |
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View from Town Hall looking north. Tram wires were not as obvious as telephone wires.
Photo: JC Radcliffe Collection |
During the first couple of years of operation, all the trams in King William Street were four wheelers. |
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