Graceville railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Graceville
Northbound view from Platform 2 in August 2012
Location	Honour Avenue, Graceville
Coordinates	27°31′14″S 152°58′33″E / 27.5206°S 152.9759°E / -27.5206; 152.9759
Owned by	Queensland Rail
Operated by	City network
Line(s)	Main
Distance	9.47 kilometres from Central
Platforms	4 (2 island)
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	600303 (platform 1) 600304 (platform 2) 600305 (platform 3) 600306 (platform 4)
Fare zone	go card 1/2
History
Opened	1876
Rebuilt	1959
Electrified	Yes
Services
Preceding station Queensland Rail Following station Chelmer towards Bowen Hills Ipswich & Rosewood Line Sherwood towards Ipswich or Rosewood Springfield Line Sherwood towards Springfield Central

Graceville railway station is a special train station in Graceville, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is located on the Main line. This station is important because it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, meaning it has historical value.

The station was designed by John Sidney Egan and Jan Kral. It was built between 1958 and 1959 by the Queensland Railways Department.

Train Services at Graceville

Graceville station is part of the Queensland Rail City network. This network connects many places in Queensland. Trains from Graceville go to different areas.

Where Trains Go

Trains from Graceville travel to places like Springfield Central, Ipswich, and Rosewood. Other trains go towards Nambour, Caboolture, Kippa-Ring, and Bowen Hills.

Platform Information

Graceville station has four platforms. Each platform serves different train lines and destinations.

• Note: Some trains go all the way to Rosewood. At other times, you might need to change trains at Ipswich.

History of Graceville Station

Graceville Railway Station is about 9.5 kilometres from Brisbane Central. The railway line it sits on was finished in 1875. The station itself opened in 1884. It was built to serve new homes in the area.

Early Days of the Railway

Queensland's first government-owned railway opened in 1865. It connected Ipswich and Grandchester. Later, the line was extended towards Brisbane. In 1875, the line reached Oxley Point, which is now Chelmer. Passengers had to cross the Brisbane River by ferry until the Albert Bridge opened in 1876.

The area around Graceville was once large farms. After 1859, it was divided into smaller farms. When the railway opened in 1875, only one station existed between the river and Oxley. This was Oxley West, now known as Sherwood.

Naming Graceville

In the 1880s, more houses were built in the area. By November 1884, the Graceville railway station was open. The Railways Department asked Samuel Grimes, a local politician, to name the station. He suggested "Graceville" after his baby daughter, Grace.

Station Upgrades Over Time

The railway line was made wider in the 1880s. A shelter was added at Graceville station around 1892. In 1916, a new station was built with an overhead bridge. Graceville grew into a small community. A picture theatre opened near the station in 1921. Schools were built in 1928 and 1937.

Modernisation Plans

After World War Two, there were plans to make Brisbane's railway system electric. This would make trains faster and cleaner. The project also included upgrading stations and adding subways. Subways were built to avoid overhead bridges near new power lines. The railway line was also made wider, from two tracks to four. This was important for both passenger and freight trains.

In the 1950s, the Queensland Railways architect's office started using modern designs. These designs were influenced by new ideas from other countries. John Sidney Egan was the main architect. Jan Kral designed Graceville and Chelmer stations. He came to Australia from Poland in 1950.

The new station buildings were long and thin. They had a special "butterfly roof" that stuck out to shelter passengers. They used materials like concrete, steel, and brick. Graceville Station was the first of these new stations to be finished.

Building the New Station

The main building at Graceville had a butterfly roof made of concrete. It was supported by brick pillars. The building used orange bricks, screens, and aluminium windows. The word "GRACEVILLE" is written in maroon timber letters above the windows.

The station also had steel-framed shelters with built-in seating. These shelters also had butterfly roofs. A subway system was built to connect Honour Avenue and Appel Street. It has ramps and stairs to both platforms.

In 1958, new station buildings were being built at several locations, including Graceville. The Graceville station, with its new building, shelters, and subway, opened in mid-1959. It cost about £16,686. At the time, it was called one of the most modern stations in Australia.

Later Changes

Since 1959, Graceville station has had only small changes. The office floor was carpeted. Safety screens were added. Some metal panels in the shelters were removed. In 1998, the station was repainted in Queensland Rail colours. New ticket machines and signs have also been added.

Graceville station is special because it still looks much like it did when it was built in 1959. It shows the "Modernist" style of design from that time. It is one of the best examples of the butterfly-roofed stations.

Station Description

Graceville Railway Station is located between Chelmer and Sherwood stations. It has two island platforms. These platforms have a special bumpy concrete edge. There are six main structures at the station. These include the main station building, four steel shelters, and a subway.

Station Building Features

The main station building was finished in 1959. It is a long, thin building on the eastern platform. It has a butterfly roof made of reinforced concrete. This roof sticks out about two metres to protect people from the weather. The roof edges are covered with fibrous cement.

The building has ten brick pillars. Between these pillars are orange bricks, screened openings, and aluminium-framed windows. On one side, "GRACEVILLE" is written in maroon timber letters.

Inside the Station Building

When you come from the subway, you enter a ticket hall and waiting area. The floor has a black and white checkered pattern of terrazzo tiles. The ticket windows are here. One is still used, while another is hidden by a ticket machine. There are old timetable boxes on the walls.

Next to the ticket hall is an office for the station manager. The waiting area has more terrazzo tiles on the floor. It has wooden seating built into the walls. At the end of the building are the toilets. Outside, there is a cast iron drinking fountain. There are also wooden and concrete seats along the building.

Platform Shelters

Away from the main building, there are two wide shelters with butterfly roofs. These are made of steel. They have built-in seating that faces both sets of tracks. The seats are made of painted timber slats.

On the other platform, there are two narrower shelters. They are built similarly to the larger ones. They also have butterfly roofs and seating areas.

The Subway System

The subway connects Honour Avenue and Appel Street. It is about three metres wide. It is made of reinforced concrete. The walls are covered with ceramic tiles, with dark green bands at the top and bottom. There are ramps on both sides to help people get to the streets. The corners where the subway walls meet the ramps are rounded.

The railway tracks, power lines, and signalling system are not part of the heritage listing.

Why Graceville Station is Special

Graceville Railway Station was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 12 June 2009. This means it is important to Queensland's history and culture.

Showing History and Change

The station shows how Queensland's railways changed after World War Two. It was part of a big project to make the railway lines wider and electric. The design of Graceville station was new and modern for its time. It was different from older station designs. Graceville is seen as a great example of the "Modernist" style used in railway buildings in the 1950s and 1960s. It was the first of these new stations to be built.

Unique Design Features

Graceville station shows the main features of a modern suburban railway station from after World War Two. It was called one of the most modern in Australia when it opened. The butterfly roofs on the station building and shelters are a special design. They used new materials and building methods. The station is still very much like its original design.

Important parts of the station include the platforms, the station building, the shelters, and the subway. Special details are the terrazzo tiles on the floors, the painted steel railings on the stairs, the old aluminium windows, the tiles in the subway, the wooden and concrete seats, the drinking fountain, and the "GRACEVILLE" lettering on the building.