Sorrento Steam Tram

The resort town of Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula was the favoured beachside resort of the well-to-do of Melbourne during the late Victorian period from 1870 until the First World War, mostly due to the promotion of the town by the remarkable entrepreneur George Selth Coppin. In 1874 Coppin entered the Bay steamer business, founding the Sorrento-Queenscliff Steam Navigation Company, which operated the Golden Crown between Sandridge (Port Melbourne) Railway Pier, Sorrento and Queenscliff, cutting the return fare from one pound to seven shillings and sixpence. This had an immediate impact on the popularity of the excursion trade to Sorrento The success of his tourism enterprises in Sorrento led him to form the Sorrento Tramway Company on 18 May 1889, building and operating a one mile 12 chain long tramway from the Front Beach (Port Phillip Bay) to the Back Beach (Bass Strait), together with a road from Old Melbourne Road to the Back Beach. The line was built to 3'6" (1067mm) narrow gauge and was double track throughout, opening during 1890. The Front Beach terminus was situated on a hillside above Sorrento pier, which became known as Tramway Hill. The tramway offices and depot buildings, including both a locomotive depot and carriage shed, were also located here. The line was constructed along a private right-of-way to the corner of Portsea Road (now Point Nepean Road) and Ocean Amphitheatre Road (now Ocean Beach Road) and proceeded along the latter through the township to the Back Beach terminus, which was on a curve high above the ocean beach. Shelters were constructed for intending passengers at both termini Right from opening there was significant competition for the tramway with road vehicles. Additionally, the depression of the 1890s affected holiday traffic, so tramway revenues were always precarious, and several attempts were made to sell the company as a going concern. In October 1903 Coppin sold his interest in the tramway company to a local syndicate headed by Isaac Bensilum, and greater operating economies were implemented. However, the tramway continued to struggle to make a profit, and the coming of the motor car also made inroads into tramway traffic. The final day of operations was 20 March 1921, the normal end of the 1920-21 tourist season, and the last tram was driven by Harry and George Watts with Clive Watts as the conductor. The liquidator, Isaac Bensilum, succeeded in reaping approximately £3500 for the shareholders through the sale of assets, winding up the company on 21 September 1921 Little is left of the Sorrento tram today; the only remnant being a portion of the platform formation at the Front Beach terminus, its significance marked by a commemorative plaque