Brisbane families can swap screens for tram bells this week, with the Brisbane Tramway Museum in Ferny Grove inviting locals to hop aboard its historic fleet. Visitors get the rare chance to ride historic trams and taste a bit of nostalgia all in one day.
A Community Ride Through Time
On Thursday, 10 July, the museum is hosting a special school holiday Open Day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., giving visitors unlimited rides on trams that once travelled Brisbane’s streets decades ago. Tickets cost $10 for children and $20 for adults, with family deals available. Cold drinks and ice cream will be on hand for families wanting to cool off between rides.
The Brisbane Tramway Museum Society, formed in 1968, stepped in to save these trams after the city’s network closed in 1969. By 1980, the Ferny Grove site was ready for the public to enjoy, thanks to local volunteers who built tracks, restored trams and collected everything from old tickets to uniforms.
Today, the museum cares for 25 heritage trams, including Brisbane’s oldest, from 1901, and the last built in 1964. Some visitors might spot vintage ads above the seats, while others will hear the original bells ring as they hop on board. The site also has depot buildings recovered from the old Ipswich Road tram depot, an elevated signal cabin and thousands of photos and technical drawings showing Brisbane’s tram network in its heyday.
A Local Day Out with History and Ice Cream
The museum’s volunteers say the event is all about letting the community share a slice of history in an outdoor setting where kids can learn and play. It’s a chance for families to picnic under the trees, chat with tram enthusiasts and see how public transport shaped the city.
For only $10 per child and $20 per adult (or $50 per family of four), visitors can enjoy unlimited rides on any of the trams in service, built between 1901 and 1964. Whether you grew up riding Brisbane’s trams or want to give your kids a ride into the past, the museum’s school holiday event promises an affordable local adventure for everyone.
Practical Info
The Brisbane Tramway Museum is at 20 Tramway Street, Ferny Grove. The Open Day runs Thursday, 10 July, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per child, $20 per adult, $15 concession or $50 for a family of four.
Published 10-July-2025
