Trams prepare for second-course
One of Harold Park’s decaying trams may become Sydney’s first restaurant on wheels.
Metro Light Rail says it would consider operating a refurbished tram as a tourist restaurant if a suggested rail extension to Circular Quay goes ahead.
Council has invited the transport company and other interested parties to join a working committee to determine the trams’ restoration and future.
Sydney Tramways Museum Director Greg Sutherland is accepting his invitation with an open mind.
“If you were running Circular Quay to Norton Street Leichhardt, so you could say to people: ‘get off your cruise ship, hop on the tram and go out to Leichhardt,’” he said.
“Restaurant trams have been very successful in Melbourne and in Christchurch New Zealand, now whether or not this committee will determine it’s viable in Sydney, who knows,” he said.
Tramways Museum Chairman Howard Clark says the plan would be unworkable without the extension.
“There have been examples of restaurant trams that haven’t worked, such as in Adelaide years ago, simply because you’re just going up and down on the same track. Similarly, you wouldn’t get any attraction to go from Central to Lilyfield at the moment.”
The Museum has verbally accepted ownership of the unclaimed trams, but Council says it’s unclear who the legal owners are and will continue investigations.
John Williams, administrator of Facebook group ‘Save the Glebe Trams’, was personally invited into the committee by the Lord Mayor after he addressed the Council Committees last week.
He established the group in May last year after hearing rumours of abandoned trams in the former depot, being disappointed to find that they were badly neglected and damaged.
“I set up the Facebook page … [so] … those who might have restored the trams in the 1990s could have a place to discuss the future of the trams and offer advice on the matter.
“I have also tried to raise awareness of the issue with the general public, many of whom wish to volunteer,” he said.
His group has about 300 members, and a regular stream of posts.
Tram custodians the NSW Harness Racing Club, accused by Councillors and community groups of destroying the trams by neglect, say they also are willing to assist Council in “finding a solution”.
Museum Director Mr Sutherland says it is important to preserve the heritage of what was once the second largest tram network in the Commonwealth.
“People think of Melbourne’s trams, but actually the Sydney system carried twice as many people as the Melbourne system did, [it] was recognised worldwide as one of the largest in the world and most efficient in the world,” he said.
“Prague runs heritage trams, Brussels runs heritage trams, Vienna runs heritage trams, Melbourne runs the City Circle down there, and we think there’s a huge potential in Sydney.”
By Lawrence Bull
