The topic has arisen before, and the dates and links to photos were supplied.
I am sure that the removal date was given in the George et al 'Timeline'; all it takes is either an archive message text search, or a year by year timeline search from the mid 1920s (or even start at 1944) until found.
I don't have the time, but a hitherto lurker could establish a reputation by finding it.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

....a photo of trams captioned "Intersection of
Flinders and Swanston Streets c1944"...shows a curve from
Swanston Street up track into Flinders Street up track...