1911: The Start of Service for a Tramway System in Tasmania

August 4, 1911                         

Operations began for a tram system in the city of Launceston in Australia’s state of Tasmania. “The three tram cars in commission commenced to earn something towards their upkeep today,” reported the Tasmania-based North West Post. “It is estimated that between 3000 and 4000 passengers were carried.”

A dozen days later, the system was officially opened. Isabel Bruseniahn Oldham (1869-1942), the wife of Launceston’s mayor William Claud Oldham (1866-1933), presided at this afternoon ceremony in the presence of a large crowd.

This public transit network was run by Launceston Municipal Tramways, a subsidiary of the Launceston City Council. Several of these tram cars were replaced by diesel buses in March 1947. Starting in December 1951, the remaining tram cars were gradually replaced by trolleybuses. After more than four decades of service, this tram system ceased operations altogether on December 13, 1952.

Photo Credit: Public Domain

For more information on the Launceston tramway network, please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Launceston