Domain Interchange was a major interchange on the Melbourne tram system. At closure, it featured two island platforms with four tracks, and has dedicated turning tracks and through tracks. It was located on St Kilda Road between Domain Road and Park Street, adjacent to Kings Domain, and was one of the busiest interchanges on the system, being used by eight tram routes. The most recent structure was opened in April 2013, replacing an earlier structure built in 1986. The stop is temporarily closed, from the evening of 5April 2018, to facilitate the construction of Anzac railway station and a new train-tram interchange, as part of the Melbourne Metro Rail Project. A temporary tram stop has since opened on 18 April 2018, to the north of Park Street. The new Domain Interchange is scheduled to open on completion of the station.
History
The junction now known as Domain Interchange was opened 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 KildaRoad 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 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 had 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 costed $10.2 million and was delivered by Coleman Rail, with design by GHD Group. The track arrangement gave 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 of12 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 construction of Anzac railway station, Domain Interchange was closed in April 2018 and will be rebuilt south of Domain Road on St Kilda Road.
Routes
Domain Interchange was one of the busiest tram interchanges on the system, with 14,000 passengers using it every day, and 150,000 passing through it. It was utilised by eight tram routes, all of which pass through the interchange. The following routes operated through Domain Interchange, before its temporary closure in April 2018:
