The 2.9-kilometre (1.8 mi) route is operated out of Southbank depot with A and E class trams.

[1] Until 1972, trams running the La Trobe Street shuttle usually ran without numbers.

[6][7] On 4 January 2005, off-peak services of route 30 were altered to terminate at Waterfront City along Harbour Esplanade and Docklands Drive, with the opening of the Docklands Drive tram extension.

[11] Between May and November 2005, all route 30 peak hour services were temporarily extended and terminated at Waterfront City, to replace a truncated section of route 48 between Central Pier and Waterfront City.

[20][21] Route 30 runs from the St Vincent's Plaza, East Melbourne west on Victoria Parade then via La Trobe Street to Central Pier.

[22][23][24] In September 2003 operation of the route was transferred from Kew depot to Southbank.