Clang. The echoing metallic sound of a tram door closing. That’s the first sound you hear near East Preston Tram Depot. It’s a ghost of a sound. A memory. Because East Preston Tram Depot is silent now.
This isn’t just any tram depot. East Preston Tram Depot is a piece of Melbourne’s history. Opened in 1955 it played a vital role in the city’s transport system. Its opening was timed perfectly. It coincided with trams returning to Bourke Street. The old cable lines were gone. Replaced by buses. East Preston Tram Depot stepped in. Filling the gap.
For decades trams came and went from East Preston Tram Depot. It was busy. A hive of activity. Mechanics toiled. Trams were repaired. They were repainted. Even given all-over advertisements. Imagine the vibrant colours. The depot buzzed. A symphony of clanking metal and roaring engines.
But the depot wasn’t just about work. In 2006 it became Yarra Trams’ first Green Depot. Rainwater tanks collected water. Solar panels generated power. Energy use plummeted by 40%. They even saved 424800 litres of water. A quiet revolution in the heart of a bustling depot.
Thirteen roads housed the trams. Ten of them were under cover. Routes 11 and 86 departed from here. Their journeys across Melbourne began right here. But the times changed. In April 2016 the depot closed.
Now the silence is almost deafening. The trams are gone. Transferred to Preston Workshops. East Preston Tram Depot is now a storage area. A place for resting trams. A quiet monument to a bygone era. Yet it remains a silent testament to Melbourne’s rich transport legacy. The ghosts of trams still echo in its halls. A poignant reminder of a vibrant past. A silent sentinel on Plenty Road.