The Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board opened Church Street line between Barkers Road and Hawthorn Bridge on 7 July 1923.

[11][12] The truncated section between La Trobe Street and Waterfront City was temporarily replaced by routes 30 and 86.

[19][20][21] The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) and Cities of Boroondara and Manningham have been lobbying for an extension of route 48 to Westfield Doncaster.

Proponents have argued that it could serve as a cheaper, quicker and more efficient alternative to the long-proposed Doncaster railway line.

In the lead up to the 2006 state election, the Ted Baillieu opposition promised the extension by July 2010, pricing it at $35 million.

[25][26] It was stated that there would have been about two accessible stops every kilometre, similar to the recent Box Hill tram extension.

The City of Manningham commissioned a $60,000 study in 2007[27] to investigate the potential for the new line, arguing it was a needed alternative to overcrowded buses.