VPRS 13542 Melbourne Tramways System Construction Cost

Full description

The series comprises a statement, showing in detail the cost of constructing the Melbourne Tramway system.

For each of the tram lines that operated in Melbourne at this time; Fitzroy, Collingwood, Brunswick, Carlton, North Carlton, North West Melbourne, St Kilda, South Yarra, Port and South Melbourne and St Kilda Esplanade; horse lines, Hawthorn and Kew; and bridge alterations, Victoria St and Hawthorn; the following information is tabled:

- Length of track
- Cost of track
- Cost per mile of track
- Cost of drainage, water and gas pipe per mile
- Cost of engine house building
- Engineering costs
- Total costs

- Attached to the summary is, broken into Northern and Southern lines, a register of all the accounts held with various contractors and the related line they refer to and reference to all of the materials purchased for the carrying-out of works on the lines and wages.

The series provided a summary of what materials were used in the construction of Melbourne's tramway system and the contractors who supplied them.

This record appears to have been created by the Melbourne Tramways and Omnibus Company and presented to the Melbourne Tramway Trust as a means of financial reporting. From 1884 to 1890 the Tramway lines were apparently constructed by the Company pending the floating of the first loan. The Company acted as the agent of the Trust during this period and charged the Trust the cost to be repaid when the loan was floated.