TO MARK the 50th anniversary of the last train to Mirboo North and the closure of the branch line in June 1974, a celebration was held in Boolarra on Sunday.
The event provided an opportunity to relive the occasion for those who were there, share stories and also to learn about the reasons for the closure of the branch line.
Many who attended reminisced about travelling on the train to the dentist in Morwell or travelling to Mirboo North to visit family during the school holidays.
Others remembered the train travelling through their property, but now little is left to mark that time, except photographs.
Many were enthralled by the historic films, shown via a projector, taken on the day of the last train.
Historic displays of photographs, maps and old newspaper clippings, as well as talks on the branch line and why it was closed allowed attendees to imagine how it was at that time, if they weren’t there themselves.
A model steam train was set up and run to the delight of many by Boolarra Historical Society Member Trevor Barrett.
A specially commissioned cake was also enjoyed with a cuppa.
The last train was originally organised by the Australian Railway Historical Society and saw more passengers travel on that ‘last train’ than travelled on it in all of 1966.
The branch line was completed in January 1886 resulting in the creation of the townships of Boolarra and Mirboo North.
The line was instrumental in connecting the towns to the outside world and provided a way of transporting goods produced in the district to markets prior to the improvement of the roads.
It also made possible visits by the better farming train and in the case of Mirboo North, the visit of a contingent of the American fleet on September 1, 1908.
The occasion saw the pooling of resources relating to this historic event held by the Boolarra, Yinnar and Mirboo North and District Historic Societies.
