THE MIRBOO and District Historical Society Inc. invite the community to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the last passenger train to run on the old Branch Railway Line from Morwell to Mirboo North.
It once travelled through the stations of Hazelwood, Yinnar, Boolarra, Darlimurla and onto Mirboo North, with the last passenger train running on June 22, 1974.
Mirboo North, Boolarra and Yinnar Historical Societies will be hosting the event, which will commence at 10.30am to 2.30pm on Sunday, June 23, at the Boolarra Multipurpose Building and the old School Museum, Boolarra – Mirboo North Road, Boolarra.
There will be photos, videos and memorabilia on display at the celebration, along with guest speakers who will share their memories.
With a gold coin admission, light refreshments will be available. Everyone interested is invited to attend and celebrate this milestone.
‘From Train Tracks to Rail Trail’, is a book authored by local historian Robert T Newton, and it details the early history of the railway, following is an excerpt.
‘William J. Peacock the spokesperson for the selectors, visited the Minister of Railways Duncan S. Gillies advocating for a railway line from Morwell to Mirboo North.
‘This was required to cater for the number of selectors moving into South Gippsland forests that had increased dramatically. His agitation for a railway began to grow. Sir Charles Gavin Duffy who represented the area in Parliament fought for a railway.
‘This branch railway line from Morwell to Mirboo North was surveyed during 1881 – 1882 with the tender of John S. White for the sum of 74,901 pounds, 6 shillings and 11 pence was approved on the 18th of January 1882 for the construction of 20 miles 15 chains of railway line from Morwell to Mirboo North (The Terminus).
Twenty-eight bridges were required and he started construction immediately but fell behind schedule owing to the dense forest and wet weather. His workforce of 350 men were dissatisfied and claimed an increase in wages over the bare minimum of seven shillings and six pence per day.
‘By July 1883, John White decided to terminate his contract, he had received 7000 pounds in progress payments for clearing works. The workers went on a strike when John White refused to lift the wages from 7 shillings and six pence per day and as a consequence, White’s contract was cancelled and awarded to John Robb. This new contractor was appointed in January 1884, who was contracted to complete the job for 75,870 pounds two shillings and 11 pence with the requirement that the line be completed in 12 months.
‘Robb employed local farmers and contractors with horses and bullock teams for land clearing, bridge building and earthworks, although he too was delayed by wet weather causing flooding and landslips. There was a critical shortage of ballast which had to be sourced from a quarry.
As the line approached the settlement of Baromi, it was found that the only suitable site for a station was along the bridge about a mile and a half to the west. This became “The Terminus” and it was around this site of the railway station that the new town developed.
‘Surveyor John Lardner was employed by the government to survey the township in 1884. The line opened on the 10th of April 1885 and closed in 1974, (June 22).‘
