Trolleybus Shelter (former)

The land along Cavendish Road was initially purchased and settled by the Brisbane elite. Land subdivisions and sales in the area accelerated in the mid 1920s, however, with the extension in 1925 of the tramline to the corner of Cavendish Road and Lade Street. 

Increased vehicular traffic in the 1950s led to the introduction of the trolley buses on many routes as these were considered to be more trafficable on the increasingly busy city streets. Cavendish Road tramline was closed in 1955 and the entire length of the road serviced by electric trolley bus.

After the formation of the Greater Brisbane Council in 1925, the Council took over the tramway system and instigated immediately a programme of route extensions and shelter construction. For example, provision was made in the budget for construction of shelters for the comfort and convenience of passengers. 

Brisbane’s association with trolley buses began in 1947-48 with an order by the Brisbane City Council for thirty electric trolley buses. In some cases the trolley buses provided an extension of the existing tramline, such as that on Cavendish Road. As the 1950s progressed, trolley buses began to be the preferred transport for servicing new routes. For example the bridging of Norman Creek and expansion of East Brisbane allowed the extension of the trolley bus route out to Carina and down the length of Cavendish Road. 

Trolley bus shelters were identical to tram shelters. There are several remaining types to be found in Brisbane. The most common is the four-posted ‘standard waiting shelter’. The ‘standard small-type’ two-posted shelters is also found, with the six-posted inner city shelter less common. 

All types were built of timber with either terracotta-tiled roofs (during the earlier period) or corrugated iron roofs. They were built to service not only tram routes, but also trolley buses and, later, buses. Referred to as ‘A’ type shelters, their construction was phased out by the Brisbane City Council during the 1960s with the introduction of aluminium and steel shelters, known as ‘J’ type shelters. 

This trolley bus shelter is still in a serviceable condition but is not currently part of the Brisbane bus system. It continues to be an integral part of the Cavendish Road streetscape and has been so since the early 1950s.

The short-ridge roof is sheeted with corrugated iron and is supported by square timber posts. The front two posts have elongated timber brackets. A row of timber seating is fixed to the footpath against the timber board back wall.

The shelter appears to be in fairly original condition with its original seating.

1. Brisbane City Council Archives

2. Brisbane City Council Minutes and Meetings, 1915-1945

3. Brisbane City Council Water Supply and Sewerage Detail Plans

4. Clark, Howard & Keenan, David. Brisbane Tramways: the last decade, Transit Press, Sydney, 1977

5. Greenwood, Gordon. Brisbane 1859-1959 A History of Local Government. Council of the City of Brisbane, Brisbane, 1959

6. Steer, G.R. “Brisbane Tramways: Their History and Development”. Historical Society of Queensland Journal, Vol 3, No.3, May 1944, pp.209-233

7. Tyrrell, S. The Trams of Brisbane, The Brisbane Tramway Museum Society, Brisbane, 1971