Camberwell tram substation

This article is about the heritage-listed electrical substation. For the tram depot, see Camberwell tram depot.

Camberwell tram substation
The substation in 2018
Location of the substation in Melbourne
Interactive map of Camberwell tram substation
37°49′50″S 145°03′29″E
Type	Electrical substation
Location	Camberwell, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
History
Construction commenced	1924
Built	1925 (1925)
Built for	Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board
Site notes
Material	Brick
Architect	Alan Monsborough
Architectural style	Inter-war Stripped Classical
Owner	Yarra Trams
Victorian Heritage Register
Official name	Camberwell tram substation
Type	Registered place
Criteria	A, D
Designated	12 December 2013
Reference no.	HR2324
Heritage overlay no.	HO622
Category	Transport - Tramways

The Camberwell tram substation is an electrical substation located on Station Street in Camberwell, an inner eastern suburb of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia. The substation was completed in 1925 and designed by Alan Monsborough in the Inter-war Stripped Classical style on behalf of the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board.

Located on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri, the substation was added to the Victorian Heritage Register on 12 December 2013 in recognition of its historical and architectural significance. On the same date, the Victorian Government added substations at Carlton and Maribyrnong, and former substations at Ascot Vale, Brunswick, Elsternwick, and South Yarra to the same heritage register.

Description

In 1919, the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (M&MTB) was established to electrify and extend Melbourne's existing cable and electric tram routes. Electrical substations were built to take electricity from the State Electricity Commission energy grid system to power the newly-established electric tram lines.

Between 1925 and 1940 the M&MTB progressively electrified the old steam-powered cable tram routes, built new depots and substations, extended the existing tram lines and added new routes. Alan Monsborough, the M&MTB's architect, was responsible for the design of tramway buildings during the formative years of the electric tramway system, and the design of the Camberwell tram substation is attributed to him. The substation, one of four 1920s substations which survive relatively intact, was built to house the equipment to power the trams through Camberwell to Burwood.

Obscured view of the substation, behind trees at left

The Camberwell tram substation is a symmetrical Inter-war Stripped Classical style single-storey brick building with a gabled corrugated iron roof. It has a rendered parapet with 'MMTB' inscribed above the front entrance, and rendered dressings around the openings. Along the north side there is a lower brick skillion in a similar style but without openings. The substation has a large central front entrance for the movement of electrical plant, tall steel-framed windows and clerestory lighting on the north side. The original electrical equipment has been replaced. The building retains its original roller door on the front entrance and the overhead pulley once used to move heavy equipment within the building.

See also

• Architecture of Melbourne
• Timeline of trams in Melbourne
• List of places on the Victorian Heritage Register in the City of Boroondara

External links

• Substation 'Cw' located off track on Station Street, behind Burke Road at Camberwell Junction (image). Wongm's Rail Gallery. 11 February 2005. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
• "New heritage listing in Camberwell: Camberwell tram substation" (includes image). Camberwell History (Newsletter) (16). Camberwell Historical Society: 4. March 2014. ISSN 1838-0875. Retrieved 6 June 2026.