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Story: Local and regional government

Council facilities: Christchurch tram system, 1905

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Council facilities: Christchurch tram system, 1905

An elevated trolley is used to maintain the overhead power-lines for Christchurch's council-owned electric tram system. This 1905 photo also shows the power poles running down the centre of Colombo Street, with tram tracks on either side.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: AWNS-19050608-7-3

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Mark Derby, Local and regional government – Managing urbanisation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/35387/council-facilities-christchurch-tram-system-1905 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 28 March 2012, updated 1 February 2015.