About this place
What to expect
Travel back in time through the beautiful Ballarat Botanical Gardens alongside Lake Wendouree. By riding one of the 100 year old trams which provided Ballarat's public transport until 1971. The recently opened Display Hall, is where you can learn the story of the Ballarat trams and its people is told through photographs, historic films and tramway memorabilia. Representatives of the Ballarat tramcar fleet are on display alongside a wonderfully restored former Geelong tram. On loan is a restored tram which until 1959 the Victorian Railways ran from St Kilda Station to Brighton. Included in the display is Ballarat Horse Drawn Tram No. 1. This was the first tram to operate in Ballarat in 1887. Under restoration is one of the first electric trams to be operated in 1905 by the original Electric Supply Company of Victoria fleet. The running fleet includes nine tramcars which initially ran in Melbourne and arrived in Ballarat between 1930 and 1951, and four acquired directly from Melbourne by the Museum. Run by volunteers, the Museum is open every Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. We are open on most Victorian public holidays. During Victoria school holidays we open on Thursdays. Guided tours and group visits can be arranged. Souvenir items may be purchased from the shop.