Last Como Tram, 1950.

Charles “Uncle Charlie” Pantella drove the first tram service to connect with the Mends Street ferry in 1926, and 24 years later he drove the last before the route was replaced by a bus service. Charlie Pantella had been the driver conductor on this same route since it started in 1926 and is pictured in uniform on the right-hand side of the photograph.

Route 29 was a shuttle service between Mends Street Jetty and Como. In the image the tram has a wreath of flowers on the front with a sign "Last Como Tram Good-Bye" and its last journey was at midnight on 10 June 1950.

Tram services operated in South Perth from 1922 to 1950, until buses replaced this service. Residents used the trams as part of their commute to Perth, connecting to the Perth Ferry service. During the summer and weekends, visitors to the Zoo and Como foreshore increased the demand for trams, and more services and larger bogie cars were used to accommodate the visitors.

Trams were timetabled to meet the Perth Ferry at Mends Street. One man would drive and collect the fares, except during busy times when an extra man would work on two trams, crossing over as they passed and collect the fares.