KILMORE, VIC. — The theft of valuable cables and equipment from the Tramway Heritage Centre at its Bylands site, near Kilmore, may mean that trams no longer run.
The entire overhead wire system has been stolen, and the suspension mechanisms have been destroyed.
Tramway Museum Society of Victoria Secretary Graham Jordan describes the thefts as making the task of preserving Melbourne’s tramway heritage now “near impossible”.
“Some people seem to think the museum is a government-run or owned facility; this is not the case.
“As a voluntary not-for-profit organisation, we rely solely on the income from the museum operations and visitors, and donations by members.
“The value to repair or replace the damaged substation, replace and reinstate the stolen overhead wire and supporting infrastructure is now estimated in excess of $1.5 million, something we cannot just pull out of our pocket.
“It is therefore evident that we now face a massive task ahead of us, and with an aging and diminishing workforce, the prospects do not look positive.
“We do not receive government support nor do we receive government funding,” he said.
