EAST PRESTON TRAM DEPOT
211- 243 Plenty Road, PRESTON VIC 3072
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
The East Preston Tram Depot was officially opened on 26 June 1955 by the Minister for Transport. The new Depot replaced the old Preston Depot on the corner of St Georges Road and Miller Street and its role was to operate the new electric tramways from Bourke Street to Preston as well as the route from Collins Street to Northcote. The complex comprises covered tram storage roads, a wheel grinder and three uncovered storage roads as well as offices.
The tram sheds and offices and associated infrastructure constructed by 1955 are significant.
Later additions and/or alterations to the complex are not significant.
How is it significant?
The East Preston Tram Depot is of local historic significance to Darebin City.
Historically, the East Preston Tram Depot is significant as a representative example of a suburban tram depot, which is associated with the electrification and extension of the tram system in the 1950s. The construction of the Depot demonstrates the additional infrastructure that was required to serve a network that was expanded to serve the growing suburban areas of East Preston. The significance of the place is enhanced by its high degree of intactness. The East Preston Tram Depot is also significant as tramway infrastructure built during the chairmanship of the MMTB by Sir Robert Risson, who, against much opposition to trams from many sections of the community, ignored calls for the system's closure, and, instead, extended the system. (AHC criteria A.4, D.2, H.1)
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EAST PRESTON TRAM DEPOT - Physical Description 1
A Post-war tram depot complex of relatively industrial and utilitarian character, situated on the west side of Plenty Road to the north of Bell Street. Generally, the complex survives as constructed with facilities usually associated with a tram depot. An office area is constructed behind the wheel grinder with the traffic offices located adjacent to Plenty Road near the entrance. The traffic offices building facing Plenty Road is a single-storey cream brick Modernist building with a gable roof clad in terracotta tiles. The entrance is defined by a projecting porch with a square parapet. The building extends some distance back into the depot and contains other administrative and staff facilities.
There is a covered tram shed situated to the rear of the site, with several bays for the storage and servicing of trams. This shed has a steel frame truss roof and is closed on all sides except its south elevation where trams enter and exit the building. One bay of the sheds, at the east end, is most likely a later addition. The rear wall of the shed is brick with concrete base and is a dominant element in David Street. The brickwork is detailed to provide the effect of shallow bays separated by pilasters, which have decorative clay tiles at the top.
In front of the sheds are large tanks with the words 'green depot' painted on them. These are used to store water from the roof of the shed to wash trams etc.
Heritage Study and Grading
Darebin - Darebin Heritage Study
Author: Context P/L
Year: 2011
Grading: Local
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JUNCTION HOTELVictorian Heritage Inventory
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