Fares Please!
Fares Please! is the official newsletter of the Ballarat Tramway Museum, sharing the stories, projects and people behind our living heritage tramway. Published regularly, each edition provides updates on restoration work, Museum developments, special events and the activities of our dedicated volunteers.
Whether you are a member, supporter or simply interested in Ballarat’s tramway history, Fares Please! offers a fascinating insight into the ongoing work of preserving and operating our historic tramcars.
We invite you to browse the editions below, download a copy, and enjoy discovering more about the Museum’s past, present and future.
2025 editions
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February 2025
- The Day we Went Maroon
- Around the Museum
- A goal achieved - Richard Gilbert
- A Tramway Christmas - Gary Davey
- Volunteers - Pam Waugh - Paul Nicholson
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April 2025
- What's in a number? Actually a lot - Richard Gilbert
- Sprung by the Boss Gary Davey
- Keeping the trams running - Wayne Kell
- Ryan's Travel Notes - Pt 1 - Ryan Van der Zweep
- An extra penny fare
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June 2025
- Ryan's Travel Notes - Pt 2 - Ryan Van der Zweep
- Accumulator trams in Australia - Chris Phillips
- Where is No. 30?
- Comings and Goings at Bungree
- Museum News
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August 2025
- Anyone for hot chocolate?
- Vale Peter (Robbo) Robinson
- Dave's Proposal for the tram museum - 1971
- High Tea - Cuthberts
- Wellington Tram Museum
- Museum News
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October 2025
- Tramcar Maintance and Restoration
- Vale Christopher Donald
- Where's the Cheese - Warren Doubleday
- Fifty Four years since "The End" that wasn't the end - Ryan van der Zweep
- I also rode the last tram but a different one - Richard Gilbert
- Ballarat's shunting horse - Prince - Chris Phillips
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December 2025
- Around the Museum
- High Tea
- Melbourne's Restaurant cars - Mal Rowe
- Archive News - Photos from George Stevens
- COTMA Conference - Arthur Adams
- The old and not so old
2023 editions
-
February 2023
- A very busy summer
- An Overseas Odyssey - Paul Nicholson
- Launceston Tram 14 - Warren Doubleday
- Christmas Day Operation
- Volunteer - Chris Phillips - by Paul Nicholson.
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April 2023
- An artist returns - Sandy Anderson
- Ballarat Begonia Festival 2023
- 91 years ago: 1932 - Alan Bradley
- Tram 39 - Len Millar
- Volunteer Len Millar by Paul Nicholson.
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June 2023
- The Neon tram returns
- Horse tram day
- How the Ghan got its name - John Wilson
- Pre Ballarat Tram driving experiences - James Proctor
- Toy Tram ticket set
- Ballarat Tram driver Keeps Halberstadt trams on time - Jeff Gill.
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August 2023
- Peter Winspur - winner of 2023 ATHRA Excellence Award
- Tram 40 - Len Millar
- Centenary of the W class
- VR Tram Day.
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October 2023
- W7 1029 Joins the fleet
- Ballarat's First Conductress by Alan Bradley
- Tram 661 - Len Millar
- Now and Then
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December 2023
- Creating an engaging Museum
- COTMA 2023 Auckland
- Volunteer Excellence Award Winners - Virginia Fenelon and Pam Waugh
- Melbourne W class trams - Warren Doubleday
- Digitisation workshops.
- W3 class - Greg King
2021 editions
-
February 2021
- New display panel telling the story of Ballarat's power supply - "The Power behind the switch".
- Horse Tram No. 1's day in the sun - carrying passengers once again.
- Our Solar Panels - at work - our power generation and lower bills.
- Operations, workshop news and recent donations.
- Ballarat's new bus services.
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April 2021
- President's Report and start of work on the Museum Extension
- A visit to Geelong - Dave Macartney
- Tramcar Cleaning - 1950's Style - Alan Bradley
- Trams to Mossman Wharf - Chris Phillips
- Club 40 - a Most Unusual tram - Sydney's Prison Tram
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June 2021
- The Illuminated Night Tram for the 2021 Heritage Festival
- Tram 34 acquisition
- $1.2m grant for track replacment
- Tram 32's story
- A brief history of Tram 21
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August 2021
- President's Report
- Building, running and restoring
- Ballarat Tramway Museum - 50 Years on - Clyde Croft
- A great life of Carrying People - Greg King
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October 2021
- The New Museum
- A 1971 Timeline - Alan Bradley
- Tram 407 - Dave Macartney
- The Geelong tramways: the Ballarat Connection - Alan Bradley
- Club 40 - Steam Trams
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December 2021
- Moving the Trams
- Storm Damage
- Tram 32 story part 2
- The Geelong tramways: the Ballarat Connection - Part 2 - Alan Bradley
- Club 40 - Worlds Steepest Railway
2024 editions
-
February 2024
- A wet summer
- The Tramway Diorama - Chris Phillips
- Nine lives of a Tramway Cat - Peter Waugh
- No. 671 - the fat Big-Wheeler - Len Millar
- Wedding Bells - 53 years ago - Richard Gilbert
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April 2024
- The busy season
- Brake valves for 18 from Nagasaki
- The Ballarat war hero, the white feather and the tram - Christopher Donald
- Bob and Jack - two "returned" men
- Looking back to 1973 - Gary Davey
- The tram fleet signs - Peter Waugh
- Unfair Dismissal - Christopher Donald
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June 2024
- Cuthberts 939 is back
- New Conductors
- Rockhampton's Purrey Steam Trams - Christopher Donald
- Ballarat's "Leaping Lenas"
- No. 939 Cuthberts - Len Millar
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August 2024
- Behind the Scenes
- Man of Action - Motorman Peter Corby - Christopher Donald
- Kilmore Horse Tramway - Len Millar and Christopher Donald
- Lake Wendouree - Peter Waugh
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October 2024
- Winning the AMAGA Museum Volunteer Award
- Celebrating 50 years of tramcar operations in Wendouree Parade
- Hodgetts, Sugg and Sutton - Peter Waught and Christopher Donald
- The Sorrento Tram - Christopher Donald
- Vale Dave O'Neil - Ryan Van der Zweep
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December 2024
- New 21E type truck recieved for ESCo 12
- Lin Onus and the Transporting Art Tram No. 829
- Eighty Years Ago - Alan Bradley
- Steam Trams in Ballart
- A Museum Tramway in Ballarat
2022 editions
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February 2022
- Geelong 2 launched
- The Geelong Tramways - The Ballarat Connection part 3
- A busy day in Sturt Street
- Club 40 - Traversers.
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April 2022
- The New Museum opens for visitors
- Trackwork
- Begonia Festival Report
- Tram 33 by Len Millar
- Sturt St part 2 by Peter Waugh
- Club 40 - Tram No. 2.
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June 2022
- Track reconstruction and new tracks to the new Museum
- Tram 34 (the missing link) returns to Ballarat - Len Millar
- The Sebastopol omnibus 1871
- Club 40 - The Sovereign Hill Tram - Rohan McMaster.
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August 2022
- Grant for new displays
- Ballarat's Royal Tram - No. 38 by Len Millar
- Our Volunteers - Carolyn Cleak and Warren Doubleday
- James Donald: Motorman and footballer
- Celebrating 50+1.
-
October 2022
- The new track is opened
- Track and pole replacement continues
- Fares Please! - The Evolution
- A tram to "The Gap" - Chris Phillips
- The new G class trams - Rohan McMaster.
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December 2022
- Tramway Celebration Day
- By tram to Mount Gravatt
- Floods and wet weather
- New Life Members - Len Millar and Warrington Cameron
- Last car to Black Rock.
2020 editions
-
February 2020
- New Shed at Bungaree
- Spring Picnic 1962 - Chris Phillips
- The Secret Live of Volunteers - Peter Waugh
- Vale Ron Fluck OAM
- Club 40 - Junior Members.
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April 2020
- Covid 19 Shutdown
- The other virus - the Spanish Flu
- Trams 21, 22 and 23 - 107 Years old this Year!
- Club 40 - Junior Members - The Depot.
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June 2020
- Planning for the 50th Anniversary
- My Uncle Bill - a Melbourne trammie - Richard Gilbert
- Grey vis Gray
- club 40 - Junior Members - W class trams
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August 2020
- 100 Years old and still going strong - tram 26
- Tram 504 and 1028 - from the Ian Saxon Collection/li>
- Workshop news
- club 40 - Section Staffs
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October 2020
- Geelong No. 2 arrives in Ballarat
- The Ballarat tramway during the Great Depression 1932 - 1933
- Tram 27
- Tram moves, maintenance and track work
- Selling the tram fleet in 1971
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December 2020
- The next 50 years
- New Museum building
- Tram of Many Parts - No. 28
- Club 40 - Horse Trams in Moonta
2019 editions
-
February 2019
- An outing for Horse Tram No. 1
- 40 years ago - Official Commencement of Operations
- What Happened to Ballarat Tram No. 30.
- From our Collection, photos by Chas Bevan.
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April 2019
- Floral Tram and the Begonia Festival
- Geelong Tram No. 2 coming to Ballarat
- Building the Horse Tramway
- Vale Keith Kings
- Club 40 - A Blast from the past.
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June 2019
- Tram 27: The Great Survivor - by Alan Bradley
- The Australian Tramway Album of 1950 - by Chris Phillips
- Tram 12 Update
- Club 40 - Model Trams.
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August 2019
- Tram 18: Still going along quite well at age 103 - by Len Millar
- Tram 504, Clifton Pugh Transporting Art update
- Vale Neville Hesketh
- Last Tram to Sebastopol: Moving 18 to Victory Park
- New trams - Trams 836 and 1029 received from Newport.
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October 2019
- The New Track - Depot Junction to Carlton St.
- Tramcar Showcase photographs
- Iberian Tramway Adventure 2019 - Alan Bradley
- From Dave Macartney's Collection.
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December 2019
- New Shed at Bungaree
- Opening the new shed
- Springfest
- The Gate Keeper's Cottage
- Sprouting Controllers!
- Club 40 - Taking a tram photo
2017 editions
-
February 2017
- New display panel telling the story of Ballarat's power supply - "The Power behind the switch".
- Horse Tram No. 1's day in the sun - carrying passengers once again.
- Our Solar Panels - at work - our power generation and lower bills.
- Operations, workshop news and recent donations.
- Ballarat's new bus services.
-
April 2017
- Begonia Festival 2017
- Around the Museum - possums
- The Hotels of Ballarat
- Saving the Trams
-
June 2017
- Lakes and Gardens Masterplan
- Around the Museum - possums
- Heritage Awards
- Trams - From Red to Green
-
August 2017
- Museum Accreditation Update
- Tram Tuesdays and Around the Museum
- In the Beginning - Horse Tram Company floated 1886
- The Gate Keepers Cottage
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October 2017
- Local History Grant
- Historical Photographs of trams in Stuart St c1906
- We were first - solar power
- Lake Wendouree Masterplan and track in the Parade.
-
December 2017
- Around the Museum - track relay and Santa visits
- Fare change
- Vale Weston Bate
- 130 Years ago - opening of the horse tram lines.
2015 editions
-
February 2015
- An outing for Horse Tram No. 1
- 40 years ago - Official Commencement of Operations
- What Happened to Ballarat Tram No. 30.
- From our Collection, photos by Chas Bevan.
-
April 2015
- "All quiet on the home front" - a look at Ballarat's first Anzac day and life in Ballarat.
- Begonia Festival Report
- Anzac Centenary display at the depot.
- Our Solar Panels - first results in.
-
June 2015
- Tram Showcase
- The Clifton Pugh Tram - W2 - 504
- Progress of Refurbishment of 939
- Vale Ian Stanley and Barry McCandlish
- Twin Lakes - the story behind the sign.
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August 2015
- A Cold Winter's night
- Tram Tuesdays
- Depot Report - GP Room, trams 12 and 939
- Ross Trust visit
- Forty One years at Bungaree
- Social Media and the BTM
- 40 years ago.
-
October 2015
- Visit Ballarat this Spring
- Work on 939, 12 and 18
- Our First Chairman - Sir Henry Cuthbert
- European Holiday - Alan Bradley
-
December 2015
- In the Workshop, Office and on the Road.
- Vale David Frost
- Maintaining Rail Based Heritage
- Photos of the Rotary Young Ambition Tram Pull event
2013 editions
-
February 2013
- Access Track Renewed
- Around the Museum
- New Works Truck
-
April 2013
- 2013 Begonia Festival
- Around the Museum and overhead bucket truck
- Vale John Clowes
- The "Forest City" Signalling system in Ballaratt
- Shelburne Trolley Museum MA USA - An Update.
-
June 2013
- Heritage Weekend - No. 1 runs on Mothers' Day
- No. 40 turns 100
- Museum Strategic Planning
- The end of an Era
-
August 2013
- Vale Austin Brehaut
- No. 18 and 40 - this is your life
- Strategic Planning and Information Workshop
- Pole Replacement
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October 2013
- Tram No. 18 is turning 100!
- The life and times of Trams 18 & 40
- Around the Depot
-
December 2013
- Melbourne's E Class trams
- 2013 "Springfest"
- Visit to Christchurch - Ferrymead and the City tramway - Richard Gilbert
2011 editions
-
February 2011
- Celebrating 40 Years
- Around the Museum
- 1971 World Tramway News Part 1
-
April 2011
- Begonia Festival
- Around the Museum
- In the Beginning (Richard Gilbert)
- 1971World Tramway News Part 2
-
June 2011
- Heritage Weekend 2011
- Around the Museum
- Our New Storage Shed
- Celebrating our 40th Anniversary
- The Early Committee Meetings
- 1971World Tramway News Part 3
-
August 2011
- Tram 38 Returns to Service
- Around the Museum
- Formation of the BTPS - 40 Years ago:
- Visit of the Association of Railway Enthusiasts
- 1971World Tramway News Part 4
-
October 2011
- Family Day - Celebrating 40 Years
- The Last Day of the SEC Tramway
- Our First Life Member
- Around the Museum, AGM & the New Board
- 1971World Tramway News Part 5
-
December 2011
- Around the Museum - Repaint of 33, Bungaree
- Horse Tram Biscuit Tin
- Tram Pull & Springfest
- Realising the Objective - Late 1971
- Staff System on Horse Tramways
- 1971 World Tramway News Part 6
2018 editions
-
February 2018
- Pride of the Fleet - Horse Tram No. 1
- When bogie cars came to Ballarat
- Club 40
- What is a bogie?
-
April 2018
- 130 years of Public Transport in Ballarat
- The story of tram 8
- Meet Paul Mong
- Club 40 - Tram classes
- Local school visit
-
June 2018
- National Trust Award Win
- The story of tram 11
- Seville's MetroCentro (Tramway)
- 2019 Floral Tram Project
- Forty years on - Andrew Mitchell
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August 2018
- The Runaway Tram and the Bucks Head Hotel
- The story of tram 12
- The "Guards" last Gong
- Club 40 - Tram Numbers
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October 2018
- Pick my Project success - Wendouree Parade track relay
- Tram showcase Day
- The story of tram 13
- Vale Robert Paroissien
- Club 40 - Our new tracks.
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December 2018
- Santa Trams
- Meet the Board
- Springfest
- COTMA Award Winners
- Club 40 - Tram Types.
2016 editions
-
February 2016
- A Special Experience - operating Horse Tram No. 1
- Vale Tom Murray
- Overloading the Horse Tram
- In the Workshop, Office and Bungaree.
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April 2016
- A New Venture - launch of Cuthberts 939
- An Interpretative Centre - Joint Venture with the Ballarat RSL
- Around the Museum - Fire protection system and depot fan re-sleepering
- Two Way Traffic - Ballarat's relationship with the Hawthorn Tramways Trust
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June 2016
- Tram No. 1 returns to Sturt St
- Around the Museum - More depot fan re-sleepering, kerb and channel at St Aidans Drive
- New Ballarat DVD by Roger Greenwood
- 2016 Tram Cavalcade
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August 2016
- Around the Museum - Afternoon Tea on Cuthberts939
- New Security System
- The Ballarat Shell House
- Bernie Briquette burns out
- Photos of the North Gardens and its trams
-
October 2016
- 45 years since the end of the SEC Ballarat operated system
- In the workshop
- Visit of the Oakland Car Register
- Cuthbers939 - report on some functions held
- 75 years ago - some personal stories.
-
December 2016
- Wartime Christmas 75 Years Ago - Tram Blackout - Alan Bradley
- Santa Rides the Trams
- Operations, Workshop news, Cuthberts939, Tram Pull
- COTMA Achievement Awards and Volunteer Certificates
- AGM Meeting report and new Life Member - Warren Doubleday
- The Museum - 45 Years ago
2014 editions
-
February 2014
- Deserted
- Black Knight in Shining Armour
- The Birth of "Fares Please!" - 40 years ago.
- Around the Museum
-
April 2014
- A Busy Begonia Festival
- Federal Heritage Grant for No. 18
- A Very Welcome Bequest
- A Business Plan for the Museum
- Around the Museum
- The Gmunden Tramway - Austria
-
June 2014
- "Australia's Biggest Morning Tea"
- Ballarat Heritage Festival
- Tramway Man - No. 19, Ballarat 1963
- Finding personal links in our collection
- Tramways reminiscent of Ballarat - Bad Schandau Germany.
-
August 2014
- Business Plan adopted
- Reconstruction of ESCo No. 12
- Museum News
- Winter in Ballarat.
-
October 2014
- Ballarat's Trams and Tramwaymen during the Great War 1914-1918 - by Alan Bradley
- Museum News
- The Ballarat Gardens in Spring
-
December 2014
- 40 Years on
- Grant for tram 939
- Museum News - new solar panels, roadworks.
- Realising the Objective
- Dave Macartney - Life Member
2012 editions
-
February 2012
- Around the Museum - rebuilt shelter at loop
- The Begonia Festival - 60 years
- 2012 Heritage Weekend
- Rotary - Young Ambition - "Tram Pull"
- Recent Donations - 1906 Councilor travel pass
-
April 2012
- Begonia Festival 2012
- Around the Museum
- Geelong Tramway Centenary
- Bendigo Anniversary
-
June 2012
- 2012 Heritage Weekend
- Around the Museum
- Vale Bill Kingsley
- Forty Years Ago
- The House at Bungaree
-
August 2012
- COTMA Conference - Adelaide 2012 - report
- Around the Museum
- Transferring the trams in 1972
- Community Impact Grant
-
October 2012
- Tram 18 visits the Preston wheel lathe
- Around the Museum
- 40 Years ago
- AGM Day
-
December 2012
- Celebrating 125 Years - Launching the horse trams 125 years ago
- Around the Museum - rail recovery
- Tram Pull - Rotary Young Ambition
2010 editions
-
February 2010
- Australia Day 2010
- 35 years ago - the Official Opening
- A link with tram history - Sandringham Depot conductors outfit cabinet.
-
April 2010
- Begonia Festival
- 25 years of paid staff
- 25 years as a volunteer (Dave O'Neil)
- Around the Museum and Operations
-
June 2010
- Heritage Weekend 2010
- The Ballarat Tramway "Jelbart" Roller
- Display area upgrade
- W Class trams
-
August 2010
- Our new tram stop - Gardens
- Prahran and Malvern Tramways - Alan Bradley
- Trams come and go; 121 and 466 - Len Millar
-
October 2010
- Gardens Heritage Listed
- BTM received COTMA "EAR" Award
- Lake Wendouree refilling
- Volunteering - why are we involved?
- COTMA 2010 Conference report
- Fascinating Items
-
December 2010
- Tram No. 27 launched
- Around the Museum; 38, display area
- Springfest
2009 editions
2007 editions
2005 editions
2003 editions
2001 editions
2011 editions
-
February 2011
- Celebrating 40 Years
- Around the Museum
- 1971 World Tramway News Part 1
-
April 2011
- Begonia Festival
- Around the Museum
- In the Beginning (Richard Gilbert)
- 1971World Tramway News Part 2
-
June 2011
- Heritage Weekend 2011
- Around the Museum
- Our New Storage Shed
- Celebrating our 40th Anniversary
- The Early Committee Meetings
- 1971World Tramway News Part 3
-
August 2011
- Tram 38 Returns to Service
- Around the Museum
- Formation of the BTPS - 40 Years ago:
- Visit of the Association of Railway Enthusiasts
- 1971World Tramway News Part 4
-
October 2011
- Family Day - Celebrating 40 Years
- The Last Day of the SEC Tramway
- Our First Life Member
- Around the Museum, AGM & the New Board
- 1971World Tramway News Part 5
-
December 2011
- Around the Museum - Repaint of 33, Bungaree
- Horse Tram Biscuit Tin
- Tram Pull & Springfest
- Realising the Objective - Late 1971
- Staff System on Horse Tramways
- 1971 World Tramway News Part 6
2008 editions
2006 editions
2004 editions
2002 editions
2000 editions
2010 editions
-
February 2010
- Australia Day 2010
- 35 years ago - the Official Opening
- A link with tram history - Sandringham Depot conductors outfit cabinet.
-
April 2010
- Begonia Festival
- 25 years of paid staff
- 25 years as a volunteer (Dave O'Neil)
- Around the Museum and Operations
-
June 2010
- Heritage Weekend 2010
- The Ballarat Tramway "Jelbart" Roller
- Display area upgrade
- W Class trams
-
August 2010
- Our new tram stop - Gardens
- Prahran and Malvern Tramways - Alan Bradley
- Trams come and go; 121 and 466 - Len Millar
-
October 2010
- Gardens Heritage Listed
- BTM received COTMA "EAR" Award
- Lake Wendouree refilling
- Volunteering - why are we involved?
- COTMA 2010 Conference report
- Fascinating Items
-
December 2010
- Tram No. 27 launched
- Around the Museum; 38, display area
- Springfest
1999 editions
1997 editions
1995 editions
1993 editions
1991 editions
1998 editions
1996 editions
1994 editions
1992 editions
1990 editions
enews editions
- 03/04/2025 - March Ballarat Tramway Museum eNews
- 01/16/2025 - eNews January 2025
- 12/02/2024 - eNews December 2024
- 10/01/2024 - September eNews
- 12/12/2022 - The 2022 Santa Tram
- 10/01/2022 - Ballarat Tramway Celebration October 2
- 09/08/2022 - The trams are operating again
- 02/09/2022 - Volunteers needed for the Tramway Museum
- 01/21/2022 - New Museum update
- 12/09/2021 - Ride the Santa Tram
- 09/19/2021 - Fifty Year Anniversary
- 06/23/2021 - Illuminated Neon Tram Returns
- 05/13/2021 - Latest news from the Ballarat Tramway Museum
- 12/23/2020 - eNews 40 Updated Opening Hours
- 11/24/2020 - We are open again
- 07/15/2020 - eNews 38 Reopening Delay
- 04/29/2020 - eNews 37, April 2020
- 11/09/2019 - The latest news from the Ballarat Tramway Museum
- 09/07/2019 - New track in Wendouree Parade
- 03/10/2019 - Floral Tram Farewell