The first sleepers are being laid as part of the extensive works Fulton Hogan is undertaking on behalf of the City of Ballarat to restore the city’s historic tramway.

Fulton Hogan has been engaged to re-lay around 300 metres of the oldest section of the historic tram tracks around Lake Wendouree, from the depot end to Carlton Street.  Trams have been a regular feature around Lake Wendouree since tracks were first installed in the late 19th century.  Our Ballarat team are currently working on a section that dates back as far as 1905 and which once featured horse-drawn trams along the route.  The track carries more than 30,000 passengers each year but this particular stretch had become so rough that the popular restaurant car could not operate on the affected section.

Fulton Hogan has worked with the City of Ballarat and the Ballarat Tramway Museum to choose the most suitable materials for the delicate heritage project, opting for concrete over timber to best suit the challenging preservation conditions around the lake.

The works are expected to take around a month to complete and are on schedule.