Hobart’s Tram Trilogy

Hobart’s Tram Trilogy

By David Kirby

Published 2008 by the Hobart City Council

560 pages, A4 size, soft cover, over 1000 photographs (some in colour), maps, fleet lists and bibliography.

This big book is the definitive history of Hobart’s 3 ft 6 in gauge tram system, which was established in 1893 with electric trams from the start. There were eight routes, and double-deck trams were a feature of the system until the late 1940s. In the evening peak hour there were 50 departures scheduled on the busy Elizabeth Street line. There were 8 routes, and 130 trams. The book focuces on the three main routes through the city (the Elizabeth Street, Macquarie Street and Liverpool Street trams) which gives the book its title.