Editing Trams in Melbourne (section)

==In popular culture==
[[Image:Comm Games 2006 flying tram.JPG|thumb|left|The "flying tram" featured in the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] Opening Ceremony, sitting on a [[Melway|Melbourne street map]]]]

=== Media and sporting events ===
Melbourne's trams—especially the W-class—are an icon of Melbourne and an important part of its history and character. Trams have been featured across several media, and in tourism advertising since World War II.<ref name="W-class trams: the art and soul of Melbourne town">{{cite news |title=W-class trams: the art and soul of Melbourne town |author=Ruth Williams |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/wclass-trams-the-art-and-soul-of-melbourne-town-20101023-16yne.html |newspaper=[[The Age]] |date=24 October 2010 |access-date=14 November 2011 |archive-date=1 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501231853/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/wclass-trams-the-art-and-soul-of-melbourne-town-20101023-16yne.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=decaaQl5t_I | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626041028/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=decaaQl5t_I| archive-date=2014-06-26 | url-status=dead|title=After Dark, Melbourne |author=Visit Victoria |publisher=YouTube |access-date=14 November 2011}}</ref>

The character of Nora in the novel ''[[Monkey Grip (novel)|Monkey Grip]]'' (1977) by [[Helen Garner]] occasionally uses trams to run errands and make daily trips around the city. Trams are heavily featured in the movie ''[[Malcolm (film)|Malcolm]]'', one scene of the controversial film ''[[Alvin Purple]]'', and feature in the music video clips for the [[Beastie Boys]]' ''The Rat Cage'' and [[AC/DC]]'s ''[[It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)|It's a Long Way to the Top]]''.<ref name="W-class trams: the art and soul of Melbourne town"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKQTEXWWtdQ&ob=av2n |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/GKQTEXWWtdQ| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Beastie Boys – The Rat Cage |author=[[Beastie Boys]] |date=12 March 2009 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=8 November 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Among songs written about Melbourne's trams are ''Toorak Tram'' by Bernard Bolan,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tdu.to/42011.msg |title=Toorak Trams and Bernard Bolan |publisher=Trams Down Under |access-date=8 November 2011 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928193947/http://tdu.to/42011.msg |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''Taking the tram to Carnegie'' by the band Oscar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://oscartheband.bandcamp.com/track/taking-the-tram-to-carnegie |title=Taking the Tram (to Carnegie) |author=Oscar the Band |publisher=[[Bandcamp]] |access-date=8 November 2011 |archive-date=23 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823204548/http://oscartheband.bandcamp.com/track/taking-the-tram-to-carnegie |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Eastern Suburbs Professional Community Theatre Company, known as [[Theatreworks (Melbourne)|Theatre Works]] staged a performance on a route 42 (now route 109) tram entitled ''Storming Mont Albert by Tram'', between 26 February and 14 March 1982 as part of the Melbourne [[Moomba Festival]]. It was written by [[Paul Davies (artist)|Paul Davies]] and directed by Mark Shirrefs and was revived in 1992 and 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theatreworks.org.au/archive/event/?id=169 |title=STORMING MONT ALBERT BY TRAM ~ Melbourne Moomba Festival theatreworks.org.au |access-date=7 January 2015 |archive-date=8 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108015402/http://www.theatreworks.org.au/archive/event/?id=169 |url-status=live }}</ref>

For the Melbourne [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] a Z1-class tram was decorated as a [[Karachi]] bus by a team of [[Pakistani people|Pakistani]] decorators. Dubbed the [[Karachi to Melbourne Tram|Karachi tram]], it operated on the City Circle tourist route during the Commonwealth Games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/M2006/Homepage+News/20060325+Karachi+tram.htm |title=Last rides on the Karachi tram |author=Melissa Mackereth |date=25 March 2006 |work=Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Corporation |access-date=14 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213115638/http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/M2006/Homepage+News/20060325+Karachi+tram.htm |archive-date=13 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The tram was withdrawn from service in 2007 and is now preserved in the Melbourne Tram Museum at [[Hawthorn tram depot]], being delivered on 19 June 2015. The centrepiece of the [[2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony|Opening Ceremony]] was a flying W-class tram, specially built for the event, from original W-class plans and photos.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/infosheets/10458/ |work=[[Museum Victoria]] |title=The Flying Tram |access-date=8 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310144737/http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/infosheets/10458/ |archive-date=10 March 2011 }}</ref>

=== Royal occasions ===
In 2006 a W-class tram 965 was gifted from the City of Melbourne to Australian [[Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark|Mary Donaldson]] and her fiancé, [[Danish royal family|Danish]] Crown Prince [[Frederik X|Frederik]], on the occasion of their [[Wedding of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, and Mary Donaldson|marriage]]. The tram now runs at the Danish tram museum of Sporvejsmuseet.

On 26 October 2011, a Z3-class tram, specially liveried as a ''Royal Tram'' was used to convey [[Elizabeth II]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]], from [[Federation Square]] to [[Government House, Melbourne|Government House]], along [[St Kilda Road]] during their visit to Melbourne. The ''Royal Tram'' was in regular service for a little over one year following the event.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Royal Tram now in public service |url=http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2011/royal-tram-now-in-public-service/ |publisher=[[Yarra Trams]] |date=26 October 2011 |access-date=8 November 2011 |archive-date=18 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318232046/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2011/royal-tram-now-in-public-service/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Not the Rolls or Bentley, but a commoner's conveyance gives Her Majesty a royal ride |author=[[Michael Shmith]] |url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/not-the-rolls-or-bentley-but-a-commoners-conveyance-gives-her-majesty-a-royal-ride-20111026-1mk4i.html |newspaper=[[The Age]] |date=27 October 2011 |access-date=8 November 2011 |archive-date=28 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028191807/http://www.theage.com.au/national/not-the-rolls-or-bentley-but-a-commoners-conveyance-gives-her-majesty-a-royal-ride-20111026-1mk4i.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Z3.158|url=http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=trams&number=158&class=Z3|work=Vicsig|access-date=9 September 2013|archive-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829053300/http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=trams&number=158&class=Z3|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Melbourne Art Trams ===
{{See also|Melbourne Art Trams}}
[[File:Matthew Clarke's Melbourne Art Tram .jpg|thumb|Matthew Clarke's 2017 Melbourne Art Tram]]
From 1978 to 1993 36 W-class trams were painted with artwork as part of the ''Transporting Art'' project.<ref name="Melbourne Festival art trams">{{cite web|title=Melbourne Art Trams|url=http://www.melbournefestival.com.au/program/genre/free-outdoor/melbourne-art-trams.html|work=Melbourne Festival|access-date=30 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002191900/http://www.melbournefestival.com.au/program/genre/free-outdoor/melbourne-art-trams.html|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The idea was conceived in early 1978 by [[List of mayors and lord mayors of Melbourne|Melbourne Lord Mayor]] [[Irvin Rockman]] and artist [[Clifton Pugh]], with the idea backed by then Premier [[Rupert Hamer]]. Over the lifetime of the project many notable local artists participated, including [[Mirka Mora]], [[Michael Leunig]], [[Howard Arkley]] and [[Reg Mombassa]].<ref name="Melbourne Festival art trams" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Arts Flashback 1970s: Transporting Art|url=http://40yearsof.arts.vic.gov.au/pages/seventies/milestone22/|work=Art Victoria|access-date=30 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007090658/http://40yearsof.arts.vic.gov.au/pages/seventies/milestone22/|archive-date=7 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The idea was reprised as part of a collaboration between [[Arts Victoria]], Yarra Trams and the [[Melbourne International Arts Festival]] in 2013. A competition launched in May 2013 to select eight designs, with one art tram to operate out of each Melbourne tram depot.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cuthbertson|first=Debbie|title=Melbourne's art trams back on track|url=http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/melbournes-art-trams-back-on-track-20130528-2n9os.html|access-date=30 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Age]]|date=29 May 2013|archive-date=13 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913080202/http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/melbournes-art-trams-back-on-track-20130528-2n9os.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Yarra Trams transporting art">{{cite web|title=First Melbourne Art Tram revealed|url=http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2013/first-melbourne-art-tram-revealed/|work=[[Yarra Trams]]|access-date=30 September 2013|date=30 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011065948/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2013/first-melbourne-art-tram-revealed/|archive-date=11 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first of the new ''Melbourne Art Trams'', W-class 925, was launched on 30 September 2013 by then Premier [[Denis Napthine]] and Yarra Trams CEO Clément Michel, with the remaining seven trams to be introduced in the following two weeks. The last was introduced into service on 11 October 2013.<ref name="Yarra Trams transporting art" /><ref>{{cite web|title=All aboard – Premier reveals first Melbourne Art Tram|url=http://www.arts.vic.gov.au/About_Us/News/2013/All_aboard_-_Premier_reveals_first_Melbourne_Art_Tram|work=Arts Victoria|access-date=30 September 2013|date=30 September 2013|archive-date=15 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015062945/http://www.arts.vic.gov.au/About_Us/News/2013/All_aboard_-_Premier_reveals_first_Melbourne_Art_Tram|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Ross|first=Annabel|title=Art trams back on the tracks|url=http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/art-trams-back-on-the-tracks-20130930-2uolb.html|access-date=1 October 2013|newspaper=[[The Age]]|date=1 October 2013|archive-date=1 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001060252/http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/art-trams-back-on-the-tracks-20130930-2uolb.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Exploring Melbourne's Art Trams|url=http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2013/exploring-melbourne%27s-art-trams/|work=[[Yarra Trams]]|access-date=12 October 2013|date=11 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014044426/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2013/exploring-melbourne%27s-art-trams/|archive-date=14 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Melbourne Art Trams have continued to be refreshed and introduced annually since 2013, with over 48 artists featured. In 2018 the program was extended for a further 3 years through to 2021, and featured the first interactive art tram (using [[augmented reality]]) designed by Dr Troy Innocent for [[Melbourne International Games Week]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/news/the-new-melbourne-art-trams-designs-have-been-revealed-081618|title=The new Melbourne Art Trams designs have been revealed|work=Time Out Melbourne|access-date=28 October 2018|language=en|archive-date=28 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028073714/https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/news/the-new-melbourne-art-trams-designs-have-been-revealed-081618|url-status=live}}</ref> The trams can be found on the network throughout the year by entering the corresponding tram number in the ''myTRAM'' feature of the tramTRACKER app.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.festival.melbourne/2018/events/melbourne-art-trams/#.W9T2MXozZN0|title=Melbourne Art Trams – 2018 Melbourne International Arts Festival|work=Melbourne Festival|access-date=27 October 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028073742/https://www.festival.melbourne/2018/events/melbourne-art-trams/#.W9T2MXozZN0|archive-date=28 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>