Charleville railway station, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charleville
Station front in July 2013
Location	King Street, Charleville
Coordinates	26°24′22″S 146°14′39″E / 26.4062°S 146.2441°E / -26.4062; 146.2441
Owned by	Queensland Rail
Operated by	Traveltrain
Line(s)	Western
Platforms	1
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	1 March 1888
Rebuilt	1957
Services
Preceding station Queensland Rail Following station Morven towards Brisbane The Westlander Terminus

Charleville railway station is a special train station in Charleville, Queensland. It is located on King Street and is part of the Western railway line. The station was built between 1888 and 1957. It is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 12 July 2005.

The station has one platform. It first opened on 1 March 1888. At that time, it was the end of the railway line coming from Morven. Later, in 1898, the line was made longer, reaching west to Cunnamulla.

What Trains and Buses Use the Station?

Charleville station is the final stop for the Westlander train. This train runs twice a week from Brisbane. It is operated by Queensland Rail Travel.

You can also catch coach (bus) services from Charleville. These coaches, run by Queensland Rail Travel, go to Cunnamulla and Quilpie. Another company, Bus Queensland, also uses the station. Their buses travel between Brisbane, Mount Isa, and Charleville.

History of Charleville Railway Station

Charleville railway station was built by the Queensland Government in 1888. It was a key part of a new railway system for Western Queensland. The station has some very old parts, like the goods shed from 1888. The main passenger station building opened later, in 1957. These buildings show how important Charleville was as a railway hub in the west.

Why Railways Were Built in Queensland

In Australia, the government really wanted to build railways. They believed trains would help the country grow and make life better for people. Trains would make it cheaper to move goods and faster to travel. Roads in Queensland were often very bad, especially when it rained. This made it hard to transport things.

Building railways was expensive, and there weren't many people living far apart in Queensland. So, the government had to build and run the train services themselves.

Building the Western Line

The government first focused on building a railway west of Brisbane. This line would help farmers and ranchers get their products to the coast more easily. It also encouraged more people to settle west of the Great Dividing Range.

The first part of the railway opened on 31 July 1865. It went from Ipswich to Grandchester. By February 1868, the railway reached Dalby. After this, building stopped for a while.

Work on the railway west from Dalby started again in 1876. The line reached Roma in 1880 and Mitchell in 1885. Finally, it arrived in Charleville on 1 March 1888.

Charleville's Importance as a Rail Hub

When the railway reached Charleville, it became a very important transport link. Charleville was already a big regional town. It was on the Warrego River, which was a natural path for livestock moving from New South Wales to Western Queensland.

Charleville stayed the main western railway end point for about ten years. It was too expensive to extend the line further west at that time. Also, there was a tough economic period in the 1890s.

In 1898, the line was extended south-west from Charleville to Cunnamulla. This was to help with trade across the border to New South Wales. Another railway line, to Quilpie, didn't start until 1911. Until that line opened in 1917, Charleville was the furthest west you could go by train. Charleville also became a place where train engines were kept and repaired, because it was so far from the next one in Roma.

Station Buildings and Changes Over Time

By August 1888, most of the station buildings were ready. These included the platform, offices for tickets and telegraphs, a goods shed, and houses for staff. Engine and carriage sheds were moved here from Mitchell. Yards for cattle and sheep were added by 1889.

The first wooden station building was destroyed by fire on 6 July 1954. The engine shed was also damaged in a big storm in 2003. Many other original buildings from 1888 have been removed or pulled down.

The Goods Shed has been through a lot. A fire destroyed everything inside it in 1900. It has also been updated several times. In the 1920s, the platform was made longer. In 1962, there was a lot of damage from termites and rotting wood. Major repairs and changes were made in 1974, including a new office and a new concrete platform.

The New Passenger Station (1957)

After the fire, a new passenger station building opened in 1957. It was much bigger and stronger than the old one. It was designed by the Queensland Railways Department's architectural team, led by Charles Da Costa. He was an expert in building with reinforced concrete.

The new building was built during a time when Queensland was doing well financially, especially with the wool industry booming. The government also invested in fixing up railway systems after World War II.

At the opening, a government official said the new building showed how important Charleville still was. He mentioned that Charleville was a very busy station for both goods and passengers. It was the third busiest goods station and the busiest passenger station on the Western Line at that time.

The 1957 station was a very large building, about 92 meters long. It had a long concrete platform with roofs to provide shade. The main entrance led into a big, open area called a vestibule. Inside, there were many rooms, including a ticket office, waiting rooms, offices, and restrooms.

The design of the building was made to suit the local climate. The strong concrete walls were meant to keep the inside cool in summer and warm in winter. The wide roofs provided shade, and large windows helped catch breezes.

Charleville's station is unique. It's the only one of its kind on the Queensland Rail network with reinforced concrete walls designed for the local weather.

Over time, fewer people have used trains for travel. This is because more people now use cars and planes. So, the number of passengers at Charleville station is much lower than it was in 1957.

What the Station Looks Like Today

Charleville railway station is on King Street, just outside the main town. The important parts of the station are the passenger station (built in 1957) and the goods shed (from 1888). The passenger station is a large concrete building facing King Street. The goods shed is a building made of corrugated iron across the railway lines. There's also a small weighbridge nearby.

The Passenger Station Building

The passenger station is a long, single-story building. It has a simple, strong design. The walls are cream-colored and made of reinforced concrete. The roof is a hipped roof covered with red terracotta tiles.

The main entrance is in the middle of the front. It opens onto a car park off King Street. This entrance has a special top part called a parapet and a roof that sticks out, called a cantilevered awning. Above the entrance, there's a bronze-colored structure that lets light in.

The front entrance is the most noticeable part. You go through three wide arches to get inside. Each arch has a pair of wooden double doors with small windows above them. The words "Charleville Railway Station" are written in metal letters on the parapet above the entrance.

Large steel-framed windows with frosted glass are along the front. These windows can pivot to let in a lot of air. There are also three other doors along the front of the building.

The side of the station facing the railway lines also looks long and low. A wide, cantilevered awning provides shade over the platform. Many doors and windows open onto the platform.

Inside, the main entrance leads into a large vestibule with a high ceiling and a shiny terrazzo floor. The ticket office is here. Wooden panels cover the lower part of the walls. There are also wooden benches for people to sit on. A ladies' waiting room is also connected to this area.

The other rooms in the building are simple and practical. They have plain concrete walls and high ceilings. Large windows are placed high up to help air flow through the building.

Outside, there are two garden beds near the car park, framing the main entrance. Trees also help make the entrance look nice.

The Goods Shed

The Goods Shed is a large building made of corrugated iron and steel. It has a pointed roof. This building is designed for both road and rail transport. It's a big open space used for storing goods and for loading docks. There's a newer office attached to one end of the shed.

Trucks can get into the shed through several large steel doors. Inside, there's a raised concrete platform. A railway line runs right through the shed. Large wooden doors open outwards to let trains in and out.

Why Charleville Railway Station is a Heritage Site

Charleville Railway Station was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 12 July 2005. This means it's a very important historical place. Here's why:

• It shows how Queensland's history developed.

Charleville station opened in 1888. It was the main railway end point for Western Queensland for ten years. It stayed one of the most important stations on the Western Railway until the 1960s. The goods shed (1888) and the large concrete passenger station (1957) show how important trains were for transport. They also show how busy Charleville was as a railway station. The big passenger station also shows how much money was invested in railways after World War II.

• It has rare or unique features.

The passenger station is special because it's the only one of its kind. It's the only station on the Queensland Rail network with reinforced concrete walls designed to handle Charleville's weather.

• It shows important features of its type.

The passenger station building from 1957 is still mostly original. It's a great example of its design. It shows how reinforced concrete walls were used to keep the inside cool or warm. It also shows how the building was designed with wide roofs for shade and big windows for breezes. The way the rooms are set up, with clear areas for the public, offices, and service rooms, is also typical of its design. It's also a good example of the work done by Queensland Rail's design team, especially under Charles Da Costa, in the 1950s.

• It has aesthetic value (it looks good).

The passenger station building and the gardens in front look very nice. The building has a pleasing, balanced look from the street. It adds a lot to the appearance of King Street.