SALA Stop 8 – The Last Day of Trams
Hayley’s grandfather would start his career at the Aldgate railway station, around the age of fifteen. He would begin as a junior porter during the war years, a time when Station Masters lived on the station, a fact that would come in very handy when Clem forgot how to bring the train in! Watch the […]
SALA Stop 7 – Drawing The Pictures!
‘So, this is a jumbled collection of time-lapses for my illustrations. As you’ll soon see, I had an unusual art practice of duplicating canvases once my art program began to struggle with the amount of information on a single piece. This would, in turn, cause the video attached to that canvas to be duplicated as […]
SALA Stop 6 – The Dog from Mitcham
Did you know that once Adelaide’s trams ceased operation in 1958 (apart from the Glenelg line), many tram drivers transferred to buses? So did Clem! He would still drive the Bay Tram occasionally, but he also continued working as a conductor. Our lovely conductor would pick up a dog at the Mitcham terminus who waited […]
SALA Stop 5 – The Magical Tram Characters
Hayley was only a toddler when she took the last official H‑class tram that departed from Victoria Square for Glenelg. Who would have thought that many years later she’d be delving back into the history of trams? As a creative, Hayley is someone who loves visual storytelling, and it is a vital part of her […]
SALA Stop 4 – Super Cool Tram Stop
In The Magical Tram, we follow three main characters: Clem or 647, the Conductor of The Magical Tram, The Magical Tram itself, and Clem’s loyal dog! Together, this trio heads down Memory Lane, rediscovering the past in their travels. The Magical Tram smiles and waves as it comes over the hill. Clem is so happy […]
SALA Stop 3 – Welcome to Stop 3
We hope you’re enjoying The Magical Tram: A Journey Down Memory Lane! Soon, we’ll take you behind the scenes to show how Hayley develops her characters and builds the magical world of the tram. But first, enjoy this special preview of The Magical Tram — a little taste of the book brought to life. Did […]
SALA Stop 2 – Dyslexia & Creativity
Hayley, who grew up with dyslexia and dysgraphia, didn’t always find school easy. She would soon find that creative arts and drama became her strengths. They offered an environment where she could learn, express herself, and shine. These experiences helped inspire the world of The Magical Tram. It took around 18 months to complete The […]
SALA Stop 1 – A Brief History
Years ago, the Municipal Tramways Trust (MTT) were in charge of and ran Adelaide’s trams. The Trust looked after the tracks, the trams, and the workers. Clem, Hayley’s grandfather, worked for the MTT as both a tram conductor and a motorman (driver). His tram number was 647. Clem’s stories inspired Hayley’s book, The Magical Tram, […]