The City is removing and replacing a 660-metre section of the ageing tram tracks in High Street and Pall Mall between Short Street and Mundy Street.
Tram track renewal works on High Street and Pall Mall
The City of Greater Bendigo is preparing to undertake a $5.68M project to remove and replace a 660-metre section of the ageing tram tracks in High Street and Pall Mall between Short Street and Mundy Street. This project is expected to commence in mid-to-late October 2025 for an expected completion of mid-to-late November 2025.
This section of the tram track is nearly 100 years old (last renewed in the 1930’s) and has reached the end of its useful service life.
Bendigo Tramways is a much valued and loved local attraction for both residents and visitors to Greater Bendigo and this work will help to preserve one of Greater Bendigo’s most important heritage attractions into the future.
During the works period this section of High Street and Pall Mall will be reduced to one lane on either side of the tram tracks with no right hand turns into Forest, View, Mitchell, Williamson, Bull, and Mundy Streets and Easter Fair Way. A work site compound will be set up in Sidney Myer Place and traffic barricades will be installed across the worksite. A reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will be applied through the work zone.
Works are anticipated to commence mid-to-late October 2025 and be finalised late November 2025. Please note the completion date is subject to weather conditions, and the availability of materials and supplies.
Providing the project runs according to plan, the Forest Street and Mitchell/View Street intersections will be reopened in early November once this phase of track replacement works have been completed.
The City strongly encourages motorists travelling between White Hills and Golden Square and beyond to avoid the area where possible and utilise Weeroona Avenue / Lucan Street / Barnard Street / Don Street as alternative routes to avoid potential delays.
While works are underway, please expect delays and observe the reduced speed limit and other traffic restrictions in place.
Traffic restrictions
A range of traffic restrictions will be in place during the tram track renewal works.
To view traffic restriction details and timelines, please click the icons on this map:
Alternative routes
Motorists are encouraged to avoid the works area where possible and utilise alternative routes to avoid potential delays.
To view suggested alternative routes, please click the coloured lines on this map:
Frequently asked questions
This project includes the removal of a 660-metre section of the ageing tram tracks in Pall Mall. Works will include:
- Establishment of site and works storage compound in Sidney Myer Place, installation of temporary fencing, traffic barriers and signage
- Protection of the existing infrastructure including heritage poles and utilities
- Removal of existing historic granite cobble stones
- Removal of existing track
- Earthworks to subgrade level and disposal of all excess material
- Installation of new dual track and associated infrastructure
- Reinstatement of cleaned granite cobble stones
- Reinstatement of asphalt road pavement to centre of adjacent traffic lane.
- New line-marking
This section of the tram track has not been renewed since the 1930’s. It is nearly 100 years old and is at the end of its useful service life.
Bendigo Tramways is a much valued and loved local attraction for both residents and visitors to Greater Bendigo and this work will help to preserve one of our most important heritage attractions into the future.
The City has a long-term relationship with Bendigo Heritage who manage the Bendigo Tramways. In 2021 the City and Bendigo Heritage developed a renewed funding agreement to ensure financial sustainability of this significant tourism attraction.
This redevelopment project is a key part of that funding agreement to maintain and contribute to the heritage of the City for the use and enjoyment of the wider community.
The following changes will be implemented while works are underway:
- A 40 km/h speed restriction will be in place
- Traffic lanes will be reduced to one lane on each side of the tram tracks in High Street and Pall Mall from Short Street to Mundy Street
- There will be no right turns allowed into Forest, Mitchell, View, Williamson, Bull , and Mundy Streets, and Easter Fair Way from High Street and Pall Mall. Sidney Myer Place will be used as a work site compound and will be closed to traffic
- Right hand turns will be available at Short Street, and Chapel Street
- Left hand turns will be available into High Street and Pall Mall from Forest, Mitchell, View, Williamson, Bull, and Mundy Streets and Easter Fair Way
- Sidney Myer Place will be used as a work site compound and will be closed to traffic
- The southernmost pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Pall Mall and Williamson Street will remain open while works are underway whilst the northernmost pedestrian crossing at Mitchell Street will remain open for the majority of the project however the remainder of the intersections will be closed to crossing and right turning vehicle traffic. This will split the work area into two sections
The City strongly encourages motorists travelling between White Hills and Golden Square to avoid the area where possible and utilise Weeroona Avenue / Lucan Street / Barnard Street / Don Street as alternative routes to avoid potential delays.
The southernmost pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Pall Mall and Williamson Street will remain open while works are underway whilst the northernmost pedestrian crossing at Mitchell Street will remain open for the majority of the project. The remainder of the intersections will be closed to crossing and right turning vehicle traffic. This will split the work area into two sections.
We do not anticipate any disruption to utilities during the works.
On street parking will still be available along High Street and Pall Mall however there may be delays entering and exiting these parks due to traffic being restricted to one lane in each direction.
Works are intended to commence on this project in mid-to-late October 2025. Works are anticipated to be finalised late November 2025. However, the completion date will depend on weather conditions and the availability of materials and supplies.
The hours of work will be approximately 7am to 7pm, 7 days per week, with the possibility of some night works in order to keep the project on track for required completion dates.
The tram tracks, similar to other infrastructure assets are subject to regular condition assessments to determine their overall structural condition. Future tram track replacements will be subject to future condition assessments and available funding.
This a $5.68M project fully funded by the City of Greater Bendigo.
No. This is due to the need to isolate overhead power which means the trams will not be operational for the duration of the works. This will also allow Bendigo Heritage to complete other minor network maintenance activities without interruption.
For more information on the operation of the trams, please visit:
Trams have been in operation in Bendigo since June 1890. Since that time the trams have been powered by battery, steam and electricity. Bendigo’s trams travelled in a north-south and east-west direction on the Bendigo Tramways with Charing Cross being the City terminus that all trams passed through. The tram tracks went from Eaglehawk (near the town hall) to Quarry Hill (near the cemetery), and from Golden Square to the Joss House in North Bendigo.
The Bendigo Trust, now trading as Bendigo Heritage Attractions (BHA), have been operating the Bendigo Tramways as a tourist tram since the Victorian Parliament granted the State Electricity Commission's application for abandonment of the tramways in 1972.
The present network consists of 4.2km of track running north to south from the Chinese Joss House Temple in North Bendigo, through the Bendigo CBD to the Central Deborah Gold Mine.
For a comprehensive history of Bendigo's trams, visit: