On the 100th anniversary of one of the city's oldest tram depots, in Kew, D'Andrea is decked out in forest green from head to toe, leather satchel full of tickets and change slung low over his shoulder.

He's one of three former conductors leading a small troupe of performers known as the "connies", who are dedicated to keeping their former profession alive - even if it is just for show.

D'Andrea was a tram conductor for 10 years, right up until the last day in 1998 when Melbourne's trams were handed to the private sector and conductors abolished.

His colleague Kevin Tierney is also along for the ride, wearing a navy suit with red stripes down the side of his trousers. His uniform is from the previous decade, from his time as a conductor between 1972 and 1978.

The centenary celebrations at the Kew depot have attracted Melbourne's "gunzels" - tram enthusiasts - from near and far, some of them present and former industry workers.

But it's the  small children gazing in awe at the old W-class trams on display, or watching the connies as they punch holes into vintage 1980s paper tickets, that highlight Melbourne's tramway legacy.

"We used to walk through the trams and yell out 'fares please, tickets thanks'," D'Andrea explains to children who have probably never heard of a ticket conductor, let alone seen one in the flesh.

D'Andrea describes the antiquated ritual of giving money to  a tram conductor in exchange for a ticket.

During the latter half of last century, many tramways the world over were gradually shut down or diminished - including in Australia, where Sydney once boasted the largest tram network.

Sir Robert Risson, who chaired the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board from 1949 to 1970, fought to keep Melbourne's trams running.

Today Melbourne claims the largest operating tram network in the world, comprising 250 kilometres of track. "This is the mightiest gunzel of them all," D'Andrea says of Sir Risson.