railways | John Oxley Library

Tag Archives: railways Back

Queensland Places – First Ipswich Railway Station

Posted on 22 Oct 2012| by Brian Randall |

The first Ipswich Railway Station was built in Lower Ellenborough Street as the terminus of the first railway line in Queensland.

Ipswich Railway Station ca.1865 - State Library of Queensland Negative No 6446-0001-0005

This first line linked Ipswich to Bigge’s Camp, later to be renamed Grandchester, and was officially opened on 31 July 1865. The building was constructed in iron and wood, by J. and R Fisher of Westminster, England and was a beautiful and ornate structure with its wide verandah supported on cast iron columns and additional columns supporting the roof.

First Ipswich Railway Station ca.1868 - State Library of Queensland Negative No 22794

This photograph, taken only a few years after its construction, shows the station building largely intact and still true to its original design, with lattice work features, wide balcony and attractive roofline. The man standing rather casually at the front of the station is possibly a station attendant and a couple of carriages stand waiting for the engine. Within a few years, additions and alterations to the building were changing its general appearance. These included a floor being added within the space over the actual railway line and a new stairway built to provide access.

The coming of the railway transformed life in Ipswich as it would other centres in Queensland, as the network expanded. The fact that this first line was constructed in Ipswich demonstrates the important position that Ipswich held in Queensland at the time, a position strengthened by the strong pastoral representation in the early Queensland Parliament.

Brian Randall – Queensland Places Coordinator, State Library of Queensland

Queensland Place Histories – South Brisbane Railway Station

Posted on 12 Apr 2012| by JOL Admin |

The first South Brisbane railway station was constructed in 1884 on the corner of Melbourne and Grey Streets and was originally known as the Melbourne Street Station. This station became the terminus for rail services on the south side of the Brisbane River, remaining so until 1978.

Melbourne Street Railway Station, South Brisbane. State Library of Queensland. Negative number 148791

The existing railway station was reconstructed on higher ground in 1891, with the new facility being opened on 21 December of that year. It was at the time of this re-opening that the station was given the name, the South Brisbane Railway Station. In 1930, South Brisbane also became the site of the South Brisbane Interstate Station, as it was the terminus of the standard gauge railway line from Sydney to Brisbane.

Entrance to the Melbourne Street Railway Station in South Brisbane. State Library of Queensland. Image number APE-062-0001-0004

The interstate station occupied the land that is now the site of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. On 18 November 1978, the interstate rail line was extended, via the Merivale Bridge, from South Brisbane into the Roma Street Station. The old interstate station was demolished in 1986 to make way for the World Expo 88 site.

Railway Station in Melbourne Street at South Brisbane, Queensland, 1902. State Library of Queensland. Negative number 37415

The South Brisbane Railway Station building was entered on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992, with the register noting that it is a substantially intact masonry railway station complete with early platform furniture. It has recently undergone a significant refurbishment.

Pedestrians crossing Grey Street from South Brisbane Railway Station, 1961. State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 33681

Brian Randall – Queensland Places Coordinator, State Library of Queensland