A much-loved Clydesdale who spent more than a decade helping pull Victor Harbor’s historic horse-drawn tram has died following a short illness.
Albert, an 18-year-old strawberry roan gelding, became unwell on Friday and died the following day, according to a statement from the Victor Harbor Horse-Drawn Tramway.
Veterinarians later confirmed that tumours were responsible for his sudden illness and death.
For 13 years, Albert was a familiar sight along the 650-metre causeway between Victor Harbor and Granite Island, where he helped pull the iconic tram and became a beloved member of the team.
Standing an impressive 17.3 hands high, Albert was one of the tallest horses in the tramway’s herd. But despite his size, staff remember him most for his calm, patient and dependable nature.
That temperament made him especially valuable when it came to training new horses and drivers.
Meg Whibley, general manager of the Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tram Authority, described Albert as her “go-to” horse for introducing new staff to the job.
“He was very forgiving,” she said.
“We just trusted him in so many ways.”
Albert also had a personality all his own.
Unlike many of the other tram horses, he disliked wearing blinkers and preferred to keep a close eye on everything happening around him during the journey to Granite Island.
Fishermen along the causeway, however, were another story.
Albert was often wary of their fishing rods and buckets, according to head trainer Britt Jablonski.
“He’d just look as if to say, ‘No, we need to get past here,’” she recalled.
Named after nearby Lake Albert, the gentle Clydesdale also shared a particularly close bond with fellow tram horse Murray.
The pair could often be found grazing side by side or sharing hay together in the tramway’s large paddocks outside Victor Harbor.
Since Albert’s death, staff have been giving Murray extra attention and have paired him with another horse to help prevent him from becoming lonely.
For the tramway’s staff and volunteers, Albert’s loss has been deeply felt. The community has been asked to be mindful of those who cared for and worked alongside him for so many years.
Albert’s death comes during an already challenging period for the historic tramway.
Earlier this year, services were temporarily suspended after several horses developed a mysterious flu-like illness during April and May. The operation has also faced reduced income in recent years amid the effects of South Australia’s algal bloom.
Through all of those challenges, Albert remained one of the tramway’s most trusted and recognizable horses.
From helping train new staff to carrying passengers across the causeway and quietly grazing alongside his best friend Murray, Albert spent 13 years as an important part of the Victor Harbor community.
His absence will be felt not only by the people who worked with him every day, but also by the countless visitors who watched the towering, gentle Clydesdale carry on one of South Australia’s most distinctive traditions.