Sand Train Derailment at Koo Wee Rup, August 1979

On Tuesday, August 28, 1979 a sand train was derailed at Koo Wee Rup - this is the report from the Cranbourne Sun, Tuesday September 4, 1979, p. 6

Train Derailed at Koo-Wee-Rup

The reason why five railway bogie wagons loaded with sand came off their tracks when being diverted from the railways main line outside the Koo-wee-rup Station last Tuesday evening is not yet known.

The derailment, which occurred at 5.45.pm on Tuesday evening, has caused considerable damage to the railways permanent way and Station Master, Mr Ray Brown, feels it will be about a week until everything is ship-shape again.

Commuters using the Yarram line were quickly transported wither by bus or taxi. Taxis were more practicable for transporting the passengers whose destination was Dandenong, as only a handful of people were involved and the Yarram line was completely operational again within one and a half hours.

The Koo-wee-rup Police assisted railways employees in diverting traffic across a temporary cross over at the east end of the railway platform, until the road was cleared. “Each bogie wagon, with its load weighed 75 tons, so the task of getting them back on the tracks was not an easy one,” said Station Master Brown. 

 An emergency derailment crew from Melbourne, assisted by two mobile cranes, finally were successful in re-positioning the wagons. An exact estimate of the damage is not yet available, but it was extensive. Members of the Railways Traffic and Ways and Works Branches are still trying to determine the cause of the derailment.

Train derailed at Koo Wee Rup

Cranbourne Sun, Tuesday September 4, 1979, p. 6

Train derailed at Koo Wee Rup - Because of the bogie wagons weight, they sank quickly into the ground when derailed and workmen had a tough job getting them back on the tracks.

Cranbourne Sun, Tuesday September 4, 1979, p. 6

Train derailed at Koo Wee Rup - Two mobile cranes assisted the emergency crew in re-positioning the bogie wagons.

Cranbourne Sun, Tuesday September 4, 1979, p. 6

Better Farming Train

The Better Farming Train was established in 1924 by the Victorian Railways and the Department of Agriculture. The train travelled around Victoria, stopping for a day or so at various country railway stations, and provided lectures and demonstrations to farmers to improve farming techniques and therefore raise agricultural production. If agricultural production was raised then the Railways would also benefit as nearly all produce was moved by rail. The train made 39 tours of country Victoria between 1924 and 1935 and stopped at over 390 towns. Over 250,000 people attended these lectures. Most of the trips were made before 1930, and due to the Depression, only one trip per annum was made after that. During World War Two the carriages were converted to recruiting trains.  (1).

Better Farming Train poster from the Victorian Railways

State Library of Victoria Image H28737/1

The train initially consisted of fifteen carriages and three extra carriages were later added; it was very distinctive as it was painted a bright orange-yellow colour (2). Once the train arrived at the Station the various displays were set up. Each carriage contained information and exhibits about different areas of agriculture such as potatoes, dairy, bee keeping, poultry. The train actually carried livestock, cattle and pigs, enabling a hands-on approach to the subject. There was also a pasture carriage, which had various plant varieties growing. The train had expert lecturers from the Department of Agriculture and the Education Department  to provide information on various topics and demonstrate new techniques (3).

Carriages were also provided for lectures and demonstration to women on cookery, needlework, child welfare and home nursing (4). Between April 1925 and November 1929 the women's section of the Better Farming Train operated separately. To maximise the audience these carriages were attached to regular trains, either passenger or goods, and taken to  a town where they might stay for a day or two and then be moved on by another train to the next location.  An additional carriage, the Public Health Car, was later added and this was staffed by members of the Public Health Department. The Mothercraft and Child Welfare carriage could seat 80 people and the 'Domestic economy' car, could accommodate 60 people. (5).

The Better Farming Train at Bunyip

Dr. A. E. V. Richardson, Sup't. of Agriculture (Delivering Inaugural Address on 

"Better Farming" Train at Bunyip). Victorian Railways photographer.

State Library of Victoria Image H31183/4

The inaugural stop was at Bunyip, where the train arrived at 9.20am on Monday, October 13, 1924. It was met by the Berwick Shire President, Cr J. Dore and other members of the Council. Also present was the Prime Minister, Mr Stanley Melbourne Bruce, and the Railways Commissioner, Mr Harold Clapp, who was reported as saying that it was better than anything of the kind done in America. The Prime Minister said -
This train has supplied what has been  wanting in Australia -  a practical demonstration of how to bring science to bear in farming and to enable the  farmer to set the fullest possible use of his land. The importance of the work that this train will do cannot be too strongly stressed. I hope the Press will give the fullest publicity to this effort for better farming. 

"It gives farmers, particularly small farmers, a wonderful chance of education in the application of the most modern scientific methods to their industry. Similar efforts of the sort have been made in America and Africa, but none of them nearly so complete as this one, made by the Railways Department and the Department of Agriculture. 

I have taken the opportunity of inspecting the train at its first stopping place. I cannot speak too highly of the manner in which the train has been made up nor of the immense value of the work it will do."(6).

Combined Staff from the Agricultural, Education and Railway Departments, more than likely taken at Bunyip on October 13, 1924, as two of the ladies are wearing the same clothes in this photo and the one above.   

Dr Richardson, is third from right at front and Sister Peck, on the right. 

The photograph also appeared in the Weekly Times of October 25, 1924, here.

Photo: private collection.

Better Farming Train at Bunyip.

Caption: All on Strike - Farmers at Bunyip suspended work when the Better Farming Train arrived. They are seen listening to a lecture on modern farm implements.

The Sun News-Pictorial, October 15, 1924 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article274431590

It was reported that 1000 people at Bunyip inspected the train and listened to various lectures including  - Horse Breeding Act, Examination of stallions; Jersey and Red poll cattle; Friesian and Ayrshire cattle; Grading cows; Pigs; Herd testing; Milk grading; Grasses and top dressing; Feeding cattle; Bees and honey; Feeding pigs and Potatoes. For the women, there were demonstrations in needlework and lectures on mothercraft and child welfare. In the evening, Amalgamated Wireless Limited had a set attached to the train and district residents had the opportunity of hearing Dame Nellie Melba in Grand Opera (7). 

The Better Farming Train at Bunyip, October 1924.

Crowd of farmers viewing exhibits at Bunyip Railway Station

Weekly Times, October 25, 1924 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223555515

After Bunyip, the train continued east to other Gippsland locations - Neerim South, Warragul, Yarragon, Mirboo North, Morwell, Maffra, Bairnsdale, Kilmany, Traralgon, Moe and Drouin returning to Flinders Street on October 23. (8) There were photographs of the train at Bunyip and Neerim South in the Weekly Times of October 25, 1924, here.

The inaugural Better Farming Train timetable

The Argus, October 8, 1924 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2046990

The Better Farming Train on first trip. K.109 touring Gippsland. 13th to 23rd October, 1924.

Victorian Railways photographer. State Library of Victoria image H1077.

This is an interesting account from The Argus of November 21, 1924 (9) of the first stop at Bunyip and the value of the Better Farming Train to the women who attended -

The "Better Farming Train" - What it Means to Women.
If there be any one with doubts as to the necessity for or the success of the "better farming" train which recently returned from its second tour into the fastnesses of Gippsland, let him talk with Sister Peck (10),  superintendent of the training school of the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association (11), who, with Miss Pell and Mrs Storer, of the Education department, conducted the women's section on the train. "It was most thrilling the whole way through," she said on her return this week. "Every department in the train was a great success and none more so than ours."

"It is amusing now to remember," Sister Peck continued, "our feelings when we started off on the first tour. We were all very excited and at the same time wondering how things would go. As the train pulled in to Bunyip, our first port of call, there was not a soul in sight. Then I saw an old shandrydan (12) carrying a father, mother and baby. Three people anyway, someone said. Then she saw two women standing near a goods shed. That was five between the whole train. Then she came round the edge of some big sheds, and saw a great crowd waiting on the station to receive us. We were greeted with cheers, and simply overwhelmed by the warmth of our reception. And that sort of thing went on all the time, particularly at the small centres, where often the people had travelled 30 and 40 miles over shocking roads, having had first perhaps to rise at dawn to get necessary work finished before leaving home."

"Of course, you know that ours is the most completely equipped train of its kind in the world. The average attendance was 800, while in the women's section alone we reached 200 on the last tour, the first one having averaged about 150. On the first trip we shared the one carriage for cookery, serving and infant welfare, but the crowds were so great that on the second time I was given the use of the agricultural department's electric car during the daytime which has seating accommodation for 80 and standing room for 120. As all the women wanted to attend the welfare lectures and demonstrations as well as the sewing and cookery, classes, we altered the arrangement on the second train to sewing and baby welfare in the morning, and cooking and baby welfare in the afternoon. I stayed in the carriage all day, just taking a hurried lunch, because the women were so keen to take the utmost advantage of the wonderful opportunity the Railway Commissioners and the Department of Agriculture had given them. They were there when the train arrived, and did not leave until they must."

In her audience were young mothers and old mothers, mothers with large families and mothers with their first babies, and perhaps most appreciative of all of the opportunity for obtaining sympathetic advice were the young expectant mothers. A great many of the women were the English wives of soldiers, who were worried by climatic conditions with which they did not know how to cope. And what Sister Peck could tell them of the care of milk, of the many uses of the kerosene tin, including the admirable little cooler, of how to prevent and how to treat summer diarrhoea, and what to do to combat the deadly fly, interested them intensely. She carried practically all the equipment of a baby health centre, and the Railways department had  printed for her posters carrying the slogans of the association. These were set up around the lecture hall and it gave Sister Peck such pleasure to know that while the men sat at their lectures at night these slogans were all the time before them. (13)

Beautiful Gippsland Babies.
Sister Peck speaks most enthusiastically of the splendidly healthy babies that were brought to her from all parts of Gippsland. It was easy to see the result of fresh air and sunshine and good food. As a matter of fact in nearly every case where the baby, was a little out of sorts it was due to over feeding to too rich milk, from which both bottles and breast fed babies suffered. And the mothers easily learnt how to remedy this trouble. It was interesting to find that everywhere we went there were mothers who had written to me, perhaps years before for advice about their babies. One woman had driven 30 miles to show me her three-year-old baby, about whom she had first written to me when he was three months. Many of the bush nurses also visited the train, and from that they and other people told me there seems no question as to the value of the infant welfare training for the bush nurse.

While Sister Peck had most to say, naturally, about the work of her department she emphasised the fact that the domestic economy centre was equally successful and appreciated. Both she and her colleagues realised what the coming of this train meant to the women, in the isolated places. Although frequently they experienced very bad weather, as, for instance, at Mirboo North, it did not keep people away. The train was always crowded. As it came in to some of the wayside stations the scene resembled, Sister Peck says, a great picnic or country fair in each place there was a local committee to make arrangements, and there were always large boilers to supply hot water. The people came in all manner of vehicles, motor-cars, milk waggons, drays, and buggies. It was not uncommon to see a milk waggon fitted up with kerosene boxes and carrying mother, father, and five or six children.

One morning, while Sister Peck was preparing for her lectures, 10 little boys came into the carriage exploring. They were particularly interested in the milk cooler, and she had to explain how it was made while they all determined to "make one for mother." The little felt slipper made from an old hat also interested them, and they asked for patterns, which they carefully hid away. Since her return this week Sister Peck his had several letters from women who visited the train expressing their gratitude for the help they had received and asking for patterns of the little garments which she had recommended. Altogether the experience has left her and her colleagues in the train with very happy memories. "Although at the end of each day we were nearly always too tired to accept the hospitality that was offered us everywhere, it was a most satisfactory tiredness." (14)

Here are a few other local accounts - 

The train was at Pakenham on Friday, October 21 1927. The Pakenham Gazette of October 28 reported on the visit -

'Time well spent' was the opinion of district residents in regard to their inspection of the Better Farming Train at Pakenham railway station last Friday. Practically every town within a radius of a dozen miles was well represented in the crowd.....There was on board something of special interest to every section of the farming community....The dairyman and grazier found much to interest them in the prize sheep and cattle, the fodder, samples of wool, models of helpful devices, specimens of disease affected organs and tissues and suggested remedies, and the stock demonstrations. There were also lectures on calf rearing, pig breeding, potato culture, and for the orchardists a lecture on fruit culture. Once again the women were entertained by cookery demonstrations, needlework, home nursing lectures amongst other activities. The Gazette ended the report by saying the visit of the train was decidedly a success and much benefit should be derived from it (15).

The Potato Section of the Better Farming Train

Victorian Railways Photographer. State Library of Victoria Image H28737/5

The Better Farming Train was at Koo Wee Rup on November 14, 1927. This was reported in The Argus newspaper. The main topics of agriculture discussed were potato growing and dairying. As the article pointed out, the Koo Wee Rup region produced one fifth of Victoria’s total potato production with Carmen being the principal variety grown with yields of five tons to the acre (16).  The potato lectures covered seed selection, storage, cultivation, manure application and disease control. The other focus of the visit was dairying and The Argus reported that 600 cans of milk were sent daily from Koo Wee Rup (17).

At Koo Wee Rup, over 100 women attended the Better Farming Train demonstration on cookery and needlework, clothing design and an infant welfare nurse was also available to examine babies (18). The Women's Section of the train had also visited Koo Wee Rup on February 8, 1926 (19).

The Better Farming Train coming to Koo Wee Rup

Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 10, 1927, p. 1

The Weekly Times had a full page of photographs of the visit of the Better Farming Train to Koo Wee Rup in November 1927. Three are shown below, see them all here.

General View in Station yard, Koo Wee Rup.

Weekly Times, November 19, 1927 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224378200

Women residents of Koo Wee Rup outside Cookery and Needlework cars waiting for lectures to begin.

Weekly Times, November 19, 1927 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224378200

The Koo Wee Rup Sun also reported on the visit of the Better Farming Train -

Better Farming Train Visits Kooweerup

Thousands of farmers have not had the privilege of attending agricultural colleges or experimental farms, with the object of securing the latest scientific results of research work, therefore, the ideals of the Agricultural department in collaboration with the Railways department in sending expert lecturers and demonstrators to the country is a highly commended action. This is performed per medium as what is known as the Better Farming Train. Every centre visited by this train attracts large attendances, which amply demonstrates that the rural population appreciates the short course of training.

On Monday the train, composed of 17 cars and trucks, equipped with wonderful exhibits and accompanied by trained demonstrators, visited Kooweerup, and a large number of farmers and their families displayed keen interest and delight in the lectures and exhibits. The lectures were delivered in a tent pitched on the reserve. The first lecture was delivered on “Stock Feeding” by Mr J.M. Kerr, senior dairy supervisor. He pointed out the merits of the composition of various produce and their action in production of flesh and milk. Mr W.J. Yuill, senior dairy supervisor, next dealt with “Herd Improvement,” and emphasized the value of breeding from the purest stock, also the benefits derived by having herd testing associations in dairying districts. 

At 1.30p.m., a stock demonstration was held, and the splendid animals exhibited were greatly admired. Mr  J.T. Ramsay, potato expert, gave an address on “Potato Culture,” and showed the wonderful improvements effected by following up-to-date scientific methods. He stressed the value of proper seed selection, correct storage, treatment for the prevention of disease, grading for market, etc. The value of top dressing was next demonstrated by Mr Ryan, followed by an edifying lecture in “Pig Breeding” by Mr R.T. Archer, senior dairy supervisor. 

For the womenfolk very educational addresses were delivered as follows – Sister Peck, “Mothercraft” and “Home Nursing,” Miss N. Cader, “Cooking.”

In the evening Mr Pederick had a large audience for a discourse on “Poultry,” and he showed many defects which are committed by poultry keepers. He also by means of lantern slides copiously illustrated his points and strongly urged careful selection and packing in sending birds to the market. Afterward the exhibits in the cars were examined and admired by many persons who were unable to attend during the day. (20)

 A group of residents at the train at Koo Wee Rup

Weekly Times, November 19, 1927 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224378200

Other visits to the Koo Wee Rup Swamp area - Lang Lang on November 10 1924 on way to South Gippsland and Cranbourne on Saturday November 15, 1924 on the return journey (21). 

The Better Farming Train visit to South Gippsland, including Lang Lang and Cranbourne.

The Age November 10, 1924 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155530518

The Better Farming Train visits Cranbourne on November 15, 1924.

Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 13, 1924, p. 2

It went to Berwick on Friday July 3 1930, where 1,000 people inspected the train including students from the local State Schools and Dandenong High School (22). The train stopped at Clyde on Tuesday July 21, 1930 and the next day at Yannathan and then continued on to South Gippsland (23). The Argus reported that over 700 people attended the visit of the Better Farming Train at Clyde. They came from Cardinia, Dalmore, Tooradin, Devon Meadows, Lyndhurst and Cranbourne (24).

The Better Farming Train at Clyde

The Argus, July 22 1930 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4101028

The Koo Wee Rup Sun had a short report on the Yannathan visit -
The Better Farming Train was on view at Yannathan on Tuesday, the 22nd inst., and attracted a very large crowd. The officials on the train were welcomed by Mr Thwaites, owing to the unavoidable absence of Mr Bennett, M.L.A. Later in the day Mr Bennett arrived and apologized for not being able to attend earlier, but thanked Mr Thwaites for acting in his stead. He congratulated the Yannathan people in being fortunate enough to have a visit of the train. With the able lecturers and interesting addresses he felt sure that the visit would prove of great value. Mr J. de C. Talbot responded on behalf of the staff, and Mr Mullany on behalf of the railways.

Lectures and demonstrations on top-dressing and dairying were largely attended. Mr Yuille emphasized the need of herd testing. Valuable information on pig breeding was given by an expert, who urged farmers to keep pigs as a profitable investment. The women’s lectures on dressmaking and needlework by Miss McAlister were interesting and of valuable assistance. A cookery lecture by Miss Killeen was also good and intently listened to. Sister Peck gave lectures on home-nursing and mothercraft. The school children were keenly interested in the exhibits and demonstrations. Visitors were present from all the surrounding districts. (25)

There may well have been other visits to the region, I was going through reports on the train in The Argus trying to pick up any mentions of the tours, and that reminded me just how extensive the Rail network was in the 1920s and 1930s and thus how many small towns could have been visited by the train. There is a great website with maps that show the rise and fall of the Victorian Railways http://www.vrhistory.com/VRMaps/

This is an interesting aspect of our history and reflects the importance of the railway in people’s life at a time when most people didn’t have a car and, until the 1960s, nearly all the farming produce - milk, potatoes other vegetables and cattle - from the area was dispatched by train to market.

Better Farming Train, a lecture on Child Welfare. 

Victorian Railways Photographer. State Library of Victoria Image H28737/18

Footnotes
(1) Harrigan, Leo J Victorian Railways to '62 (Victorian Railways, 1962), pp. 265-268.
(2) Ibid.
(3) Ibid.
(4) Ibid.
(5) Ibid.

(6) Harold Clapp quote - The Weekly Times, October 25, 1924, see here. The Prime Minister's speech - The Herald, October 14, 1924, see here.

(7) Reports of the inaugural trip of the Better Farming Train are in The Herald, October 14, 1924, see here; The Argus, October 14, 1924, see here and The Age, October 14, 1924, see here.

(8) The Argus, October 8, 1924, see here.  

(9) The Argus, November 21, 1924, see here.

(10) Sister Peck - Muriel Anna Peck (1882-1947) Read her obituary in The Herald, May 21, 1947, here;  Gippsland Times of June 5, 1947, here. Sister Peck was also  instrumental in the establishment of Baby Health Centres, I have written about this here. I have also written about her in connection to the Lady Talbot Milk Institute, here.

(11) Victorian Baby Health Centres Association was established May 31, 1918 and their aim was to safeguard the health of mothers and babies. The first baby health centre had actually opened in June 1917 in North Richmond, operated by Sister Peck (see previous footnote). Read about the history of the movement in All the Children: the story of Victoria's Baby Health Centres 1917-2017 by Heather Sheard (MCHN Inc 2017)

(12) A shandrydan - an old fashioned chaise or light, open carriage; a rickety vehicle

(13) The Argus, November 21, 1924, see here.

(14) The Argus, November 21 1924, see here.

(15) Pakenham Gazette, October 28, 1927, p. 3

(16) The Argus, November 15, 1927, see here.

(17) Ibid.

(18) Ibid

(19) The Argus, February 9, 1926, see here.

(20) Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 17, 1927, p. 1

(21) The Age, November 10, 1924, see here   

(22) The Argus, July 4, 1930, see here.

(23) The Age, July 5 1930, see here.

(24) The Argus, July 22 1930, see here. 

(25) Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 31, 1930, p. 1

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, has appeared on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past, and the Koo Wee Rup Blackfish and the Garfield Spectator.

Koo Wee Rup to Strzelecki Railway line

The railway line which used to run from Koo Wee Rup to Strzelecki opened officially on June 29, 1922. At the time it was known as the Koo Wee Rup to McDonald’s Track Railway. McDonald’s Track had been surveyed between 1860 and 1862 by George McDonald. It ran between what is now called Lang Lang to Poowong, over Mt Worth to Morwell, with the aim of providing a stock route through to Sale. The Gippsland Railway line through to Sale was completed in 1879 and early McDonald’s Track settlers, especially those around Poowong, soon began to agitate for a railway line to help ease their transport problems through the densely forested, damp hills as the 32 kilometres (20 miles) of track between Poowong and Drouin took over a days travel and all goods and produce were carted on pack horses or drays (1).

Various routes for a railway line were suggested including one from Drouin to Welshpool via McDonalds Track (2) or Drouin to Poowong (3) or Monomeith to Warragul (4). The Great Southern Railway line to Port Albert via Koo Wee Rup, Leongatha and Foster was opened in 1892, by-passing Poowong. The opening of this line coupled with the draining of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp saw fresh demands from the McDonald Track settlers and the Swamp settlers for a new line. The Swamp was a large producer of dairy products and vegetables and there was also a growing sand mining industry. In 1912 a new Railway line was proposed from Koo Wee Rup to McDonalds Track via areas of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp.

Much of the following information comes from Steam to Strzelecki : the Koo-Wee-Rup to McDonald’s Track Railway by Merilyn Ramsay. Published by the Australian Railway Historical Society in 1991. It is out of print, but well worth tracking down if you are interested in Railway history or Gippsland history.

The Koo Wee Rup to McDonald's Track Railway Construction Bill 

receives assent from the Governor.

The Herald October 12, 1914 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242295595

The Koo Wee Rup to McDonalds Track Railway Construction Act was proclaimed on October 12, 1914 (5)  and construction began on August 4, 1915 (6).

A description of the route of the railway line

Weekly Times, October 17 1914 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121115533

Construction of the line was slowed by the re-allocation of resources during the First World War and didn’t resume with any pace until 1919. Construction was carried out in three stages. The Swamp area from Koo Wee Rup to Heath Hill, the foothills area of Heath Hill to Triholm and the mountain area from Triholm to Strzelecki. The finished line was 30¾ miles in length, as the article above, tells us.  Unfortunately for the people of Poowong they were bypassed once again.

Timetable July 1922

Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 20, 1922.

The first timetable had three trains per week carrying both passengers and goods, Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, see timetable, above.  The official opening of the line was as we said June 29, 1922 but the line was in use earlier. The Bayles Station commenced limited operation over a year earlier on February 10, 1921 and Catani had opened for limited operations from May 1921 (7).  The opening of the Bayles Railway Station was the catalyst for the opening of a General Store in the town, which was opened by George Murdoch in January 1921. George also owned the Cora Lynn Store and he initially employed Thomas Keys as his manager at Bayles (8). The Argus of March 9, 1922 also reported that the construction of the Koo-wee-rup to McDonald Track line is sufficiently advanced to enable the railway construction branch to haul goods in truckloads (minimum weight three tons) to or from the following stations:  Bayles, Catani, Yannathan, Heath Hill, Athlone, Warneet, and Topiram. Goods will be earned at owner's risk, and as construction work permits (9).  Merilyn Ramsay writes that Topiram was known as Warneet during construction, but named Topiram when opened for traffic.  Triholm was known as Topiram during construction, but changed to Triholm when the line opened for traffic (10).

Limited operations commenced on the line before the official opening.

The Argus, March 9, 1922 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4689414

The Koo Wee Rup Sun of April 20, 1922 reported on the revenue already gathered from the soon to be officially opened railway line - Interesting figures. The revenue derived from the M'Donald Track to Kooweerup railway line, which is not yet completed, amounted to £844 last month. The inward and outward tonnage reached 1615 tons. At the Kooweerup station the revenue for the month of March last year totalled £1261, but for the corresponding month this year it almost doubled the figures, being £2400. Goods amounted to £954, passengers £277, parcels £125 and live stock £44. Although the department reaps such a revenue, the present station is totally unsuitable for the conducting of business and an eyesore to the township, and it is about time the commissioners gave practical consideration to the erecting of a new building.

Revenue from the railway line, before it was officially opened.

Koo Wee Rup Sun April 20, 1922 p.4

This brings us to the names selected for the Stations. The Age reported on the origins of the names. Bayles was names after Frederick Bayles, I have written about him here; Catani was named for Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department.  I have an entire blog devoted to Carlo, here. 

The origin of the names of the Stations

The Age June 30, 1922 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205046493

The use of the name Catani, was suggested by the Koo Wee Rup Pioneers' Association and George Clowser, of the Public Works Department, as the article below, attests. I have written about George Clowser, here.

 The suggestion that a railway station be named after Carlo Catani.

Weekly Times, March 6, 1920 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222562046

The opening ceremony took place  on June 29, 1922, at Strzelecki. The official opening was performed by the Minister for Railways, Samuel Barnes. Lady Mackey, the wife of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Sir John Mackey, cut the ribbon. The first train to leave Koo Wee Rup for the ceremony carried over 300 passengers from stations along the line (11).

Some of the crowd at the opening ceremony.

Weekly Times July 8, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222803430 

Lady Mackey cuts the ribbon at the opening ceremony.

Weekly Times July 8, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222803430 

Samuel Barnes, Minister for Railways at the opening ceremony.

Weekly Times July 8, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222803430 

The steam engine on the turntable at Strzelecki on opening day, June 29, 1922.

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society courtesy Mary Holmes.

These are the stations and sidings on the line, starting from Koo Wee Rup, with the dates of official operation from Steam to Strzelecki (12) -
Plowrights Siding - June 1, 1926 to May 12, 1931 (I have written about and have photographs of the Plowright Brother's sand mine operation, here)
Water Washed Sand Siding - March 9, 1926 to May 5,1931
Bayles Station - June 29, 1922 to February 4, 1959
Catani Station - June 29, 1922 to April 25, 1950
Yannathan Station - June 29, 1922 to April 25, 1950
Heath Hill Station - June 29, 1922 to August 7, 1941.
Athlone Quarry Siding - October 1922 to 1925
Athlone Station - June 29, 1922 to August 7, 1941.
Topiram Station - June 29, 1922 to August 7, 1941.
Triholm Station - June 29, 1922 to August 7, 1941.
Strzelecki Station - June 29, 1922 to November 24, 1930.

A short report of Plowright Brothers' sand washing operation, which was serviced 

by a  siding which opened June 1, 1926. Mr Clapp referred to in the report was Harold Clapp (1875-1952) Chairman of the Victorian Railways.

Koo Wee Rup Sun, April 12 1926

The train at Bayles.

Image: Bayles Fauna Park Collection.

Almost as soon as the line opened there were complaints about the lack of services on the line. In August 1923 it was reported that at the meeting of Yannathan branch V.F.U., -

a report was received from Mr. Barnes, Minister for Railways, re deputation's request for a daily service to be run from Strezlecki to Koo-wee-rup. — Request refused on advice of Railways Commissioners. This report led to a long discussion regarding the unsatisfactory way the present service met the requirements of the district. Mr. Warren considered the present service did not suit more than 10 per cent, of the population along the line. To help dairymen to get their milk to town it was absolutely useless. Mr. Wildes considered that the requirements of the district would be met if a daily motor rail service was run from Koo-wee-rup as far as Yannathan.

Mr. Bennett said he thought they should go further than just taking steps to get their milk daily to town. Statistics had been gathered quite recently showing there were about 2000 dairy cows between Bayles station and Yannathan station, which proved conclusively that this small area was a compact block lending itself admirably to the dairying industry (13).

As you can see from the dates of operation, above, the service to Strzelecki lasted less than 8 years; and to Athlone, Topiram, Triholm and Heath Hill less than 20 years. The line between Triholm and Yannathan was dismantled in 1942 (14)

Dismantling of part of the  railway line

Koo Wee Rup Sun September 3, 1942

The passenger service closed in August 1941 (15), but the line continued to carry goods such as livestock and milk, until it was closed completely in 1959. It was a short-lived railway line.  You can still see some remnants of the line. Steam to Strzelecki describes what was still visible in 1991 when the book was published. The Bayles Fauna Reserve  has a small Museum with some photos of the line, including the one above and the first two, below.

Bayles Railway Station, taken 6/10/1956 on an  

81 RM (280 HP rail motor) on Australian Railway Historical Society tour

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society, courtesy of A.R.H.S Archives. 

The train leaving Yannathan Station, Easter 1940, on the way to Bayles.

Image: Bayles Fauna Park Collection.

Catani Railway Station

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

Topiram Platform viewed from North Side. Photographer: Weston Langford

Image 114891 taken January 17, 1984  https://www.westonlangford.com/

Triholm Looking towards Koo Wee Rup. Photographer: Weston Langford

Image 114890 taken January 17, 1984  https://www.westonlangford.com/

A view of station ground at Strzelecki, 1920s. Photographer: Ted Staff.

Annotations on verso identifying sites: No. 1 Station Yard -- 2. Office -- 3. Daws (?) Portable -- 4. Scales Portable - 5. You can just see a little of my camp -- 6. Macf's Place near Store. Dotted line is the railway line.

State Library of Victoria Image  H2017.79/141 http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/4157908

Footnotes
(1) Hartnell, Ross Pack Tracks to Pastures: a history of Poowong District (Poowong Centenary Committee, 1974
(2) Drouin to Welshpool - The Age, April 15, 1880, see here.
(3) Drouin to Poowong - The Age, August 23, 1890, see here.
(4) Monomeith to Warragul - the Leader, August 30, 1890, see here. Article also has a general discussion of Gippsland railways and a map of potential lines.
(5) Ramsay, Merilyn Steam to Strzelecki : the Koo-Wee-Rup to McDonald’s Track Railway (Australian Railway Historical Society, 1991) p. 22
(6) Ramsay, op. cit., p. 29.
(7) Date of Bayles Station comes from Mickle Memories of Koo Wee Rup: for young and old, v.1 by Dave Mickle (The Author, 1983) p. 75. He quotes the Koo Wee Rup Sun, but I have checked the originals from February 1921 and can't find a reference. Marilyn Ramsay quotes the same date and her source is the Koo Wee Rup Sun. Marilyn Ramsay also writes (p. 47) that Railways Weekly Notices refer to Bayles and Catani being open during construction on 21 May 1921, and Heath Hill and Topriam on 7 March 1922. The Argus of June 23, 1921 reported the fact that Bayles and Catani were open for limited use - see below.

Notification that Bayles and Catani Stations were partially open for business

The Argus June 23, 1921 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1768863

(8) The Bayles store opened in January 1921. - I have written more about it here,  but this is the short version - I checked back through the Koo Wee Rup Suns and the earliest ad I found for the "Yallock General Store" owned by George Murdoch, was January 1921. George Murdoch also had the Cora Lynn Store, which he opened in 1907. Bayles was managed initially by Thomas Keys. In January 1922 it was advertised as the Bayles General Store and Thomas was no longer the manager, but George Murdoch himself, had taken over. I was confused initially because I didn't know whether the Yallock Store was actually in the old town of Yallock or the 'new' Yallock, centred around the Bayles Railway Station. I did however, check the Shire of Cranbourne Rate books and they confirm that Murdoch's store was actually in Bayles not Yallock. He is first mentioned as owning the land in the 1920/21 Rate books.

First advertisement for the Yallock General Store from the 

Koo Wee Rup Sun of January 20, 1921. The store was later renamed the Bayles General Store.

Yallock Store is now called the Bayles Store.

Koo Wee Rup Sun January 26, 1922

(9) The Argus, March 9, 1922, see here.

(10) Ramsay, op. cit., p. 133.

(11) Reports of the opening - Weekly Times July 8, 1922, see here;  The Age, June 30, 1922, see here.

(12) Ramsay, op. cit., p. 133.

(13) Farmers' Advocate, August 3 1923, see here.

(14) Koo Wee Rup Sun September 3, 1942

(15) Ramsay, op. cit., p. 106

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, has appeared in the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society newsletter, The Koo Wee Rup Blackfish newsletter and on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our past.

The South Gippsland Railway line

The Koo Wee Rup Swamp is straddled by two railway lines - the Gippsland line to the north, which went to Sale, (and which I have written about here)  and the Great Southern line to South Gippsland. This is a short history of the South Gippsland line, concentrating on the Swamp area. The completion of the Gippsland line in 1879 encouraged settlement in the area as new settlers used the stations as jumping off points and would walk to new selections in the hills. 

Railway Leagues were established to push for more lines (1). The steep hills of South Gippsland and the Koo Wee Rup Swamp meant overland travel for South Gippsland was difficult. Residents from Foster had to travel to Sale and then by rail. People living around Port Albert travelled and received supplies by sea. 

Much of the following information comes from The Great Southern Railway: the illustrated history of the building of the line in South Gippsland by Keith Macrae Bowden (Australian Railway Historical Association, 1970). 

Cranbourne Railway Station
Image: The Great Southern Railway: the illustrated history of the building of the line in South Gippsland 

by Keith Macrae Bowden

The Great Southern line commenced construction  on January 2, 1887 (2) and was opened to Korumburra on June 2, 1891, and by January 13, 1892 went all the way to Port Albert (3). The initial contract was to construct the railway from Dandenong to Whitelaw's Track. Whitelaw's Track, surveyed by Government Surveyor, Oliver Whitelaw,  was cut in 1874 and went from Foster, passing Coal Creek, near  what was to become Korumburra and then met up with McDonald's Track near what is now Nyora and continued onto to Morwell (4).  The Contractor for this first section of railway, which was 50 miles in length, was Falkingham & Sons - the firm owned by Jonathan Falkingham (5). 

The section from Dandenong to Tooradin was relatively easy and was officially opened to the public on October 1, 1888, even though apparently the contractor had been carrying passengers from February 28, 1888 (6). The stations in this section were at Lyndhurst, Cranbourne, Clyde and Tooradin.

 

Lyndhurst Station
Image: The Great Southern Railway: the illustrated history of the building of the line in South Gippsland 

by Keith Macrae Bowden

The Koo Wee Rup Swamp proved to be impediment to the building of the line. The excavation of the Main Drain to drain the Swamp did not start until 1889 and was not completed until 1893, so the rail contractors were essentially working in an undrained swamp (7). Mr Bowden writes that on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp four separate bridges were necessary in every mile of embankment to allow for the escape of swamp and flood waters. Each of these bridges was one hundred yards long and contained seventy-two piles. To get timber to this site Falkingham tried bullocks but they sank almost out of sight in the mud....he was then forced to proceed very slowly, carrying his bridge timbers on his locomotive along approach embankments, and so build each bridge as he came to the site. It was impossible to build bridges in advance. The bridge crossing the main drain in the swamp had 137 eleven-foot openings, to allow for the escape of heavy flood waters (8). 

A trestle bridge over the Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp
Image: The Great Southern Railway: the illustrated history of the building of the line in South Gippsland 

by Keith Macrae Bowden

Mr Bowden also writes that - A journalist on the staff of the Mornington County herald was invited by Falkingham to accompany him to Yallock [Koo Wee Rup] in the ballast train to see for himself what conditions were really like in the Swamp. They left Tooradin and 'careering over the Koo Wee Rup, which had the appearance of an inland sea', says the writer, 'water lay deep on either hand and spread far over the land, with here and there bilious tea-tree clumps imparting to the seascape an uninviting aspect.'  The Dalmore station was likened to Venice, standing as it did, surrounded by water. (9)

The Stations (10) from Tooradin on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp were -

Dalmore - originally called Peer’s Lane, then Koo Wee Rup West. Named Dalmore, after Duncan MacGregor's estate, in 1909. Peer’s Lane (now Dalmore Road) was named after a local land owner Frederick Peers (1843-1896).  

Koo Wee Rup - originally called Yallock.

Monomeith - originally called Glassock’s, after the Glasscock family, local land owners. 

Caldermeade.

Lang Lang - originally called Carrington. 

Falkingham began carrying passengers between Tooradin and Koo Wee Rup on August 19, 1889. In February 1890, the service to Lang Lang was established. Then on November 11, 1890 the line opened to Nyora and Loch. And then, as we said, it went through to Korumburra on June 2, 1891.(11).

The South Gippsland Railway line now stops at Cranbourne.  Passenger services beyond Dandenong ceased on June 9, 1981 but goods services continued to operate. (12).  For a few months, after the closure,  a daily shuttle service of eight return trips between Cranbourne and Dandenong operated, but this service ceased on October 3, 1981. (13).  In 1992, the goods trains ceased and this is when the line beyond Leongatha was taken up. The passenger service was reinstated on December 9, 1984 and continued to run until July 24, 1993. (14). Trains returned between Dandenong and Cranbourne when the line was electrified in 1995; the official opening of this electric train service to Cranbourne was on March 25, 1995.  Lyndhurst Station is no more, although it was apparently used until 2009 for cement. However, Merinda Park Station opened on March 25, 1995 in conjunction with the new electrified line and Lynbrook Station opened April 2012 (15). 

Interestingly, the line to Pakenham was electrified from Dandenong to Warragul in July 1954 and this was extended to Traralgon in 1956, due to the traffic generated by the Yallourn open cut coal mines and power stations. This was a full 40 years before Cranbourne, even though the line beyond Pakenham has now been de-electrified. (16).

Lang Lang Railway Station 1907

Image: Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 12800/P1, item H 4285

Footnotes
(1) Bowden, Keith Macrae The Great Southern Railway: the illustrated history of the building of the line in South Gippsland  (Australian Railway Historical Association, 1970), p. 7.
(2) Bowden, op. cit., p. 62.
(3) Bowden, op. cit., p. 73 and p. 105.
(4) White, Joseph The history of the Shire of Korumburra (Shire of Korumburra, 1988) p. 287. Oliver Peter Whitelaw was appointed as a Mining Surveyor in 1874. He was the son of John Whitelaw, a journalist, who published a newspaper in the mining town of Woods Point; you can read his obituary in the Gippsland Farmers' Journal of September 29, 1899, here. Oliver sadly drowned at the age of 48 in a flood at Stringer's Creek, Walhalla in August 1891. You can read an obituary in the Gippsland Farmers' Journal, August 18, 1891, here and a shorter on in The Argus, August 4, 1891, here.

Oliver Whitelaw's appointment as a Mining Surveyor

Victoria Government Gazette  http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1874/V/general/43.pdf

(5) Bowden, op. cit., p. 26.

(6) Bowden, op. cit., 65.
(7) https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/10/a-short-overview-of-drainage-of-koo-wee.html
(8) Bowden, op. cit., p. 66
(9) Bowden, op. cit, p. 69.
(10) Bowden, op. cit, p. 72.
(11) Bowden, op. cit, p. 73.
(12) Some of these dates I got about 15 years ago from a chap at the Korumburra Historical Society, I can't remember who. The June 9, 1981 date is confirmed by the Vicsig website - https://vicsig.net/  and a report in the Koo Wee Rup Sun June 1, 1981, p.1. 

(13) The Shuttle service reports in the Koo Wee Rup Sun of June 8, 1981, p. 1; September 21, 1981. p.1; October 5, 1981, p. 1. 

(14) The July 24, 1993 is confirmed by an article in The Age, July 25, 1993, p. 8.

(15) Vicsig website - https://vicsig.net/
(16) Vicsig website - https://vicsig.net/ ;  Harrigan, Leo. J Victorian Railways to '62 (Victorian Railways, 1962)