Domain Interchange

History

The junction now known as Domain Interchange was open during the cable era in 1889. It was the connection between the Brighton Road – Queensberry Street line and the newly opened Toorak line which left St Kilda Road to travel along Domain Road; both lines traversed Swanston Street and St Kilda Road. From 1925 to 1927 these two cable lines were converted to electric traction.

In preparation for the electrification of St Kilda Road, a new depot and tracks were constructed, this brought a new line to Domain Junction, along Park Street and Hanna Street, which opened in 1925. It served as a means of diverting trams around the works on St Kilda Road without necessitating the construction of temporary track, and connected with the existing Sturt Street line. It would also serve as the first, and primary connection between Hanna Street tram depot (later South Melbourne depot) and St Kilda Road; the other being Sturt Street, which followed early in 1926. The Toorak cable tram line was converted to electric traction following the completion of St Kilda Road's conversion.

Prior to the April 2013 redevelopment of Domain Interchange, it had last been redeveloped in the 1986, with shelters and a third track added to allow route 55 trams to terminate without inhibiting through services.

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games temporary changes were made to the tram network. Among these changes, routes 3 and 5 were through-routed to West Coburg through Domain Interchange, becoming routes 53 and 55 respectively for the duration of the games.

Redevelopment

The desire to redevelop Domain Interchange was raised by Yarra Trams CEO Dennis Cliche in a 2007 interview, with Cliche stating the redevelopment, along with other stops on St Kilda Road, was a priority; reiterating earlier comments in which he described it as "in need of an upgrade and a facelift." Yarra Trams announced plans for the redevelopment of Domain Interchange in early 2013, with work commencing over the Easter 2013 long weekend.

The new interchange has two island platforms that provide accessible entry to low-floor trams, four tracks, and created new bicycle lanes in the part of St Kilda Road surrounding the interchange. The redevelopment cost $10.2 million and was delivered by Coleman Rail, with design by GHD. The track arrangement gives dedicated tracks to route 55 trams from Park Street to terminate, and southbound 8 trams to turn left in Toorak Road, without impacting other routes, who continue through the middle tracks.

Preparatory works began in February, with major construction spanning from the Easter break of 2013. The commencement of major works necessitated the full closure of St Kilda Road, with trams terminating either side of the interchange, and passengers walking around the works site to continue their journey. Major works commenced on 29 March with a full closure of the intersection, St Kilda Road opening two lanes on 3 April, and partial road closures continuing for the duration of the works. The completed interchange opened on the morning of 12 April 2013, with Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder lauding the projects improvements to the tram and bike system, and Yarra Trams stating the project to be the largest redevelopment they had undertaken.

Future

As part of the proposed Melbourne Metro Rail Project is planned to build Domain railway station 80 metres away from Domain Interchange.

Routes

Domain Interchange is one of the busiest tram interchanges on the system, with 14,000 passengers using it every day, and 150,000 passing through it. It is utilised by nine tram routes, one terminating there, and eight running through it.

The following routes operate to or through Domain Interchange: