Mount Gambier railway station

Mount Gambier
Location Railway Terrace, Mount Gambier
Coordinates 37°49′50″S 140°46′33″E / 37.83064°S 140.77594°E / -37.83064; 140.77594Coordinates: 37°49′50″S 140°46′33″E / 37.83064°S 140.77594°E / -37.83064; 140.77594
Operated by Australian National
Line(s) Naracoorte–Millicent
Heywood–Mount Gambier
Distance 221 kilometres from Adelaide
Platforms 2 (1 island)
Construction
Structure type Ground
Other information
Status Closed
History
Closed 1995

Mount Gambier railway station was the junction station for the Naracoorte–Millicent and Heywood–Mount Gambier lines in the South Australian city of Mount Gambier.

History

In 1879, a narrow 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge line opened from Beachport (Rivoli Bay North) through Millicent to Mount Gambier.[1] In 1887, the Mount Gambier railway line was constructed to Naracoorte (connecting to the Kingston SE-Naracoorte line) and Wolseley, where it joined the Adelaide-Wolseley line.

On 28 November 1917, a broad gauge line opened from Mount Gambier to Heywood near Portland. In the 1950s, the narrow gauge lines were converted to broad gauge.[2]

Mount Gambier had an extensive goods yard and a locomotive depot with a roundhouse.

Following the gauge conversion of the Adelaide-Wolseley and Portland lines to standard gauge in 1995, the lines closed. There are regular calls for the line to be reopened.[3][4][5]

In the early 2000s, the Limestone Coast Railway, operated tourist services on the abandoned lines from Mount Gambier to Penola and Coonawarra with Redhen railcars. However, due to increased insurance costs, the service ceased in 2006.

In 2013, the old yard was lifted and covered with grass.[6][7][8] The station building was then operated by radio station Lime FM.

In 2015, after over a year of work, the Railway Lands was completely transformed into a public community space. 20,000 square metres of turn covered the entire former-industrial site. The grand opening in November saw thousands of residents come together to utilise the area. A "back to nature" playground, wheelchair-accessible barbecues, a pond with a creek, native plants, a labyrinth, plus many more features for the community to use. Mount Gambier City Council plan to use the area for a number of annual events, but encourage local community groups to also activate the area.

Services

Mount Gambier station was served by an overnight mixed train until October 1985 and until 1990, a service from Adelaide operated by Bluebird railcars. Today Mount Gambier is served by a V/Line coach service to Warrnambool.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "MOUNT GAMBIER AND RIVOLI BAY RAILWAY.". South_Australian_Register. Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 20 May 1879. p. 6. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  2. ↑ Newland, Andrew; Quinlan, Howard (2000). Australian Railway Routes 1854 - 2000. Redfern: Australian Railway Historical Society. pp. 53, 56. ISBN 0-909650-49-7.
  3. ↑ New push for Mount Gambier railway The Border Watch 17 July 2008
  4. ↑ Penola rail pledge confirmed The Border Watch 18 July 2008
  5. ↑ Portland railyards given the shunt Portland Observer 13 February 2008
  6. ↑ Breathing Life into the Rail Lands City of Mount Gambier
  7. ↑ Old Mount Gambier rail corridor demolition begins The Border Watch 14 October 2013
  8. ↑ Mount Gambier rail lands project takes shape ABC South East SA 4 June 2014
  9. ↑ Mount Gambier–Mebourne Public Transport Victoria
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