The historic Victor Harbor horse drawn tramway has been declared an icon of South Australia by the National Trust. Originally run by South Australian Railways, the tramway is now owned by the City of Victor Harbor, located 80 kilometres south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
What began as an essential mode of transport for wool and grain has become a major tourist railway carrying more than 300,000 passengers a year.
The history of the horse drawn tram dates back to 1875, when a timber causeway was added to the Victor Harbor jetty to connect the mainland with nearby Granite Island. Shallow waters had prevented ships from docking close to shore, making the passage of goods very difficult. A broad gauge railway track was laid on the causeway to make the transportation of these goods possible. In 1894, the first double deck horse drawn passenger tram carried tourists from Victor Harbor to Granite Island.
Victor Harbor Councillor and chairperson of the Horse Drawn Tram Committee, Liz Cooper, was just seven years old when she had her first ride. She is now 70.
“I still remember the thrill of my first ride,” Councillor Cooper said. “My morning talks at school consisted of nothing else for a year but riding on the horse drawn tram!” Councillor Cooper has four children and nine grandchildren who share similar childhood memories of the horse drawn tram.
“I am so proud of this operation, my heart bursts,” Councillor Cooper said.
Horse tram manager, Karen McDougall, and administrator, Peter Bond, operate the service, along with ten majestic Clydesdales ranging in age from six to 24 years. The horses – named Thomas, Nessie, Helga, Mac, Jock, Lochie, Misty, Bill, Skye and Carmen – live on 100 acres of pasture on the Inman River flood plains and are ridden four kilometres to work each day.
“We need sponsors at present as the horses are becoming more expensive to feed and run each year,” Councillor Cooper said.
Victor Harbor is believed to have Australia’s only full time horse drawn tram and one of a few in the world to operate year round. It has won SA Tourism Awards in 2003 and 2005 and Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism Awards in 2004 and 2006.
For further information contact the Victor Harbour Visitors Information Centre on (08) 8552 5738, email vic@victor.sa.gov.au or visit www.victor.sa.gov.au
