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Tram Verandah Shelter

Other Name (East Malvern Darling Road tram route No.3) Location Corner Balaclava and Orrong Roads CAULFIELD, Glen Eira City Level Included in Heritage Overlay

[1/1] Tram Shelter Corner Balaclava

Statement of Significance

The Balaclava Road tramway shelter, known as a rest verandah at the time of its construction, is presumed to have been built with the opening of the East Malvern Darling Road route by the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust on 11th of April, 1913.
L.J. Flanagan, chief architect for the Trust, is presumed to have been responsible for its design. It is historically, aesthetically and socially significant.

It is historically significant, (Criterion A) as one of a group of three similar structures on the former Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust system recalling not only the existence of this authority as a tramway operator prior to the formation of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board in 1919 but also the earliest days in the provision of electric tramway services in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. It is aesthetically significant (Criterion E) as a rare structure of its type, comparing with the Arts and Crafts influenced timber shelters of later date and surviving today as the only cast iron posted street verandah in the Municipality, the cast iron frieze and ornamental columns and spandrels being representative of their period and complemented by the timber seat also characteristic of pre Second World War practice. It is socially significant (Criterion G) for its capacity to demonstrate an aspect of the early history of Melbourne's electric tramway system which has become a symbol of this City and valued by its citizens.