MELBOURNE’S first cable tram ran along Flinders St to join Wellington Pde and Bridge Rd and terminated at the Yarra River. The route, which opened on November 11, 1885, covered 3.6 miles (5.7 kilometres) from its start at Spencer St. A horse tram connected with the cable tram at the Yarra and journeyed along Burwood Rd to Power St, Hawthorn, and then along Riversdale Rd as far as Auburn Rd. The gradual opening of electric tramways in Melbourne early in the 20th century sounded the death knell for the cable network. Part of the Richmond line, from Spencer St to Swanston St, was closed in May 1927. A month later the entire route to Richmond was closed and replaced with electric trams.