Brisbane Tramway Museum Archives

Tram Pulling Contest Returns to Ferny Grove

Photo Credit: Brisbane Tramway Museum/Facebook

The Brisbane Tramway Museum in Ferny Grove will host a family-friendly event featuring tram rides and a tram pulling contest.

Tram Rides and Contest Mark Anniversary

On Sunday, 28 September, the Brisbane Tramway Museum will commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the Paddington Tram Depot fire with a special event from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 50 Tramway Street, Ferny Grove.

Visitors will have access to unlimited rides on up to seven restored trams, with vehicles dating between 1901 and 1964. The program will also feature a tram pulling contest, where local gym teams will compete to move a horse tram along a 50-metre track against the clock.

Preserving Brisbane’s Tram History

The Brisbane Tramway Museum Society, established in 1968, opened the Ferny Grove site in 1980. The museum holds more than 20 trams that once operated on Brisbane’s tram network, along with two single-deck trolley-buses. Other exhibits include depot buildings from Ipswich Road, a substation with equipment from former Brisbane substations, a signal cabin, historic tickets, uniforms, and photographs.

The museum also operates demonstration tram rides each Sunday afternoon, weather permitting, with carriages still equipped with original bells and period advertising.

Food and Facilities for Families

Alongside the rides and contest, food and drinks will be available, including a sausage sizzle, coffee wagon, donuts, ice cream and cold beverages. Free venue parking will also be provided.

Ticket Information

Entry costs $20 per adult, $10 per child, $15 concession, and $50 for a family of four. Doors open at 2:30 p.m., with refunds available up to seven days before the event.

tram pulling contest — Photo Credit: Brisbane Tramway Museum/Facebook

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Looking Forward

The event at Ferny Grove offers visitors an opportunity to explore Brisbane’s tramway history, enjoy unlimited rides, and experience a unique tram pulling contest marking a significant anniversary.

Published 22-Sep-2025

Brisbane Tramway Museum in Ferny Grove Keeps Tram History Rolling for Families

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

Brisbane Tramway Museum Takes Visitors Back to the City’s Golden Era

The Brisbane Tramway Museum in Ferny Grove has always offered a nostalgic glimpse into the city’s past. Now, thanks to a series of thoughtful upgrades and the dedication of its passionate volunteers, the museum is taking visitors on an even richer journey through time—back to the golden age of Brisbane’s trams.

Read: Travel Back in Time at Ferny Grove’s Brisbane Tramway Museum

With a clear vision to enhance the visitor experience, the museum has rolled out a number of improvements. These include updated signage, refreshed brochures, and a new-look website, all designed to make exploring the museum more engaging and informative. The initiative is part of a broader campaign inspired by Planet Marketing, aimed at increasing community awareness and attracting new audiences.

But the most exciting transformation is happening right on-site: a lovingly recreated 1950s suburban street, aptly named Fifties Street. This project, developed over several years as time and funds allowed, brings to life the everyday charm of mid-20th century Brisbane. Visitors can now wander past period-appropriate parking meters, vintage street signs, a tram waiting shed, fire hydrants, and high-voltage power boxes.

One of the newest additions is a striking red telephone box, complete with a vintage handset—an iconic piece generously donated by the Queensland Communications Museum. It’s not just an eye-catching feature; it’s a tangible link to a slower-paced era when trams were the heart of city life.

Looking ahead, the museum plans to add more features to Fifties Street, including a Lych Gate at the entry and classic fencing to further complete the streetscape.

Open every Sunday from 12.30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m, the Brisbane Tramway Museum welcomes all ages to explore, reminisce, and learn. Private tours and group visits are also available by arrangement.

Read: Claire’s Cottage Champions Inclusivity and Strength in Brisbane’s Great Tram Pull Event

For more information, visit brisbanetramwaymuseum.org or call (07) 3351 1776.

Supported by the Brisbane City Council, the museum continues to be a cherished local treasure—keeping Brisbane’s tram history alive, one track at a time.

Published 4-June-2025

Travel Back in Time at Ferny Grove’s Brisbane Tramway Museum

Take a journey through history and experience old-school commute at the Brisbane Tramway Museum in Ferny Grove.

Brisbane Tramway Museum offers guests a chance to ride restored trams that once dominated the streets of Brisbane. Open on Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., visitors can fully enjoy riding the historic trams and learn about their history.

Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane Tramway Museum

Located near the Ferny Grove Station, the outdoor museum is set in a country-like surrounding where six working trams dating from 1901 to 1961 can be found running every Sunday. However, there will be times where not all six of them are guaranteed to run due to maintenance services or needs for further restoration.

The museum is run by knowledgeable and passionate volunteers who are happy to don caps and uniforms to play the role of driver and conductor taking you on a ride in the iconic trams.

History of Brisbane Tramway Museum

The tramways seized operation in June 1968 when the Brisbane City Council decided to switch from the tramways to an all bus transport system.

Photo credit: www.brisbanetramwaymuseum.org

A public meeting was soon arranged with the intention of preserving a representative collection of the city’s tramcars. The meeting resulted in the birth of the Brisbane Tramway Museum Society which is a voluntary organisation that is currently the custodian of some 24 tramcars and two trolleybuses.

The newly formed society then prioritised to secure a suitable site for the Museum and in 1972, they have chosen to establish the museum in Ferny Grove.

The Brisbane Tramway Museum officially opened to the public in June 1980 and had continued to expand and develop ever since.

Major improvements to the museum were made possible through the funding it received from the Queensland Government in 2001. Upgrades to the museum included the construction of a new engineering workshop; the renovation of an existing workshop; the construction of another new building for maintaining and restoring trams; and the repositioning of tram tracks.

The society currently operates six tramcars with two more under restoration. Planning is underway for the construction of an extension to the tramway which will allow visitors to experience a longer ride on the historic trams.

For those who are planning to visit the museum, it is recommended that you allow at least an hour and a half to two hours for you to fully enjoy all that the museum has to offer.

Take note that the museum remains closed in wet conditions for operational reasons. You may call the museum on 07 3351 1776 after 12 noon on Sundays to make sure that they are open prior to your visit. For more information, you may visit the Brisbane Tramway Museum’s official website or check out their Facebook page for updates.