Gympie railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gympie railway station |
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Southbound view of Gympie rail yard, 1987
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| Location | Tozer Street, Gympie |
| Built | 1910s |
| Official name: Gympie Railway Station Platform Complex | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 14 October 2011 |
| Reference no. | 602036 |
| Significant period | 1889-1960s (historical) |
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Gympie railway station is a historic train station in Gympie, Queensland, Australia. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This station was the main railway hub for Gympie from 1881 until 1989. It played a big part in connecting Gympie to other towns and cities.
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First Train Station in Gympie
After gold was found in Gympie in October 1867 by James Nash, people needed a railway. It was important to connect the mining town to a port. In 1877, the Queensland Government decided to build three new railways. One of these lines would link Maryborough to Gympie.
The first station buildings in Gympie were placed at the very end of the railway track. This meant the line stopped there. The railway line officially opened on August 6, 1881.
Within a year, people in Gympie wanted a train link to Brisbane. On July 17, 1891, the railway line connecting Gympie to Brisbane finally opened. Because of this new line, the original station building had to be moved. It was shifted to the side of the track so trains could pass through Gympie.
The 1913 Station Building
In 1910, a new law was passed to connect all the separate railway lines in Queensland. This meant more money was spent on building and improving train services. Construction on the current Gympie station began in 1913. It started operating on December 1, 1913.
This new station was built on an "island platform." This means it was a long, narrow building with tracks on both sides. It had many rooms for passengers and staff. These included a bar, a refreshment room, a waiting room, and a ladies' room. There was also the station master's office and a place to buy tickets. The upper floor had a kitchen and pantry, with a special hand-operated lift.
Station Improvements Over Time
Over the years, the station had many important updates to make it better.
- A subway and a luggage lift were added. These helped people get from the platform to the station entrance.
- An underpass was built to replace a crossing for cars. This made it safer to cross between Station Road and Mellor Street.
- A large timber bridge was constructed. It had steps leading from the platform and also to Lady Mary Terrace and Station Road.
Why the Station Closed
After 1906, gold mining in Gympie started to slow down. By 1925, the biggest gold mines had closed. New industries like farming and dairy production became very important in the Gympie area. In 1915, the Mary Valley branch railway opened to support these new industries.
Farmers relied heavily on trains to transport their goods. For example, fruit trains started running from Gympie to Melbourne in 1923. In 1929, the Gympie Fruit Growers Co-operative Association built their offices near the station.
By the 1930s, the Gympie Railway Station was one of the busiest and most important in Queensland. In 1963, a new office for tickets and parcels was built. For over 100 years, the station was vital to Gympie's economy. However, by the late 1980s, it was no longer needed as much.
As part of a project to electrify the North Coast line between Brisbane and Rockhampton, a new path for the railway was built. This new path bypassed the old Gympie station. A new station, Gympie North, opened on February 4, 1989. The old Gympie station became a freight depot, but it closed completely in 1995. On November 9, 1998, the railway line leading to the old Gympie station was closed about 300 meters north of it.
The Mary Valley Rattler
The Mary Valley Heritage Railway took over much of the Gympie Railway Station Complex. They leased it from Queensland Railways for 50 years. On May 23, 1998, the "Valley Rattler" tourist train began operating. It ran on the old Mary Valley branch line to Imbil. This train quickly became a popular tourist attraction in the region.
However, after two serious train accidents in August and September 2012, the railway company faced financial problems. The train service was stopped because it was declared unsafe for passengers. After flood damage in 2013, the railway company closed down. In June 2016, the Gympie Regional Council provided money to help restart the Rattler. They gave $250,000 for starting costs and $3.8 million for repairs and improvements.
Heritage Listing
The Gympie railway station was officially listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on October 14, 2011. This means it is recognized as an important historical place in Queensland.
