Australian Electric Transport Museum (SA) Inc, Adelaide

Australian Electric Transport Museum (SA) Inc, Adelaide

• Community

The museum had its beginnings in 1954 when some Adelaide tram enthusiasts formed a local branch of the Australian Electric Traction Association, an advocacy group with an interest in the retention and expansion of electric transport systems. By 1957, the Adelaide group had become the South Australian branch of the Australian Electric Transport Museum.
Later, the Adelaide group incorporated in its own right under South Australian legislation as the Australian Electric Transport Museum (SA) Inc.- now better known as the Tramway Museum at St Kilda.
The Museum opened as a static display 22 July 1967. In 1972 a grant was secured and the 2km line to St Kilda beach was built. The Museum tramway was formally opened in March 1974.
Over the years workshops, sheds, an entrance gallery/bookshop, and modern administration and archives rooms have been built and a number of interpretative displays have been set up.
For further information, see https://www.trammuseumadelaide.com/about-us

Appointed Officer: Archives Officer

Material associated with urban public transport in Adelaide, South Australia, particularly street transport (horse trams and buses, private and state operated motor-buses) - primary emphasis is on the electric tramway system.

Holdings in the purpose built archives room include:

• Municipal Tramways Trust: Annual reports, special reports, 1908-1974
• Newspaper cutting books, 1908-1931 (discontinuous)
• Tram and bus timetables, 1925-1974
• Plans and drawings, 1908-1955
• State Transport Authority, 1974-
• Australian Electric Transport Museum: Assembled library of tramway, technical and electrical texts, 1900-1950
• Extensive photographic collection from the Municipal Tramways Trust and private individuals (mostly digitised).

Archives room: Not open to the public.
Museum: Open public holidays and Sundays, 12 noon-5pm.

Advance notice preferred, with details of specific interest.
Technical manuals are available to Council of Tramway Museums of Australasia (COTMA) museums.

Assistance on a limited basis via 'Contact Us' tab on web page, by email, post or telephone (may go to message bank) as detailed in Contact Area.
The Museum has limited volunteer resources and much of the collection has not been sorted and catalogued which may result in a request not being fulfilled.

Revised 1 September 2022

• local history (Thematic area)
• Transportation (Thematic area)