Longreach railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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Station entrance, 2013
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| Location | Capricorn Highway, Longreach |
| Coordinates | 23°26′24″S 144°15′08″E / 23.4401°S 144.2523°E |
| Owned by | Queensland Rail |
| Operated by | Traveltrain |
| Line(s) | Central Western |
| Platforms | 1 |
| Tracks | 4 |
| Construction | |
| Structure type | Ground |
| Disabled access | Yes |
| History | |
| Opened | February 1892 |
| Rebuilt | 1916 |
The Longreach railway station is a very important train station in Longreach, Australia. It is the very last stop, or "terminus," on the Central Western line. This station is located in the Longreach Region of Queensland. It sits right on the Capricorn Highway. The station was built between 1887 and 1917. Because of its history, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2005.
Contents
Train Services
Longreach railway station is a key stop for a special train. This train is called the Spirit of the Outback. It is run by Traveltrain. The Spirit of the Outback offers a unique journey. It takes passengers on an adventure through Queensland's outback.
Station History
The Longreach Station first opened in February 1892. At that time, it was the end of the Central Western railway line. Before this, the line only went as far as Barcaldine. Later, the railway line was extended even further. It eventually reached the town of Winton.
The main station building you see today was finished in 1916. People in central Queensland really wanted their own railway. This was because a railway was being built in southern Queensland. Also, lots of copper was found near Rockhampton. This made the need for a railway even stronger.
Building the railway was a big project. As the railway moved west, new towns often grew up. These towns were usually at the temporary end of the line. Some towns, like Pine Hill, became smaller after the railway moved on. But others, like Alpha and Emerald, continued to grow. Many buildings and shops even moved from one temporary end-of-line town to the next.
The railway reached Emerald in 1879. One of the hardest parts to build was crossing the Drummond Range. The railway finally arrived in Longreach in February 1892. Surveyors chose the Longreach site because of a large waterhole. This waterhole was on the Thomson River. It was a popular resting spot for teamsters. Longreach officially became a town in November 1887.
When the railway first opened, there were no big station buildings. There was only a small timber shelter shed. It also had an office. The railway brought a lot of growth to Longreach. By 1914, the town had many hotels.
People in Longreach wanted a better station. So, a new station building was started in 1915. It was completed in 1916 or 1917. This new timber station was designed by Henrik Hansen. You can see the date "AD 1916" on the front. It looks similar to other stations he designed. These include stations at Emerald and Mount Morgan.
A refreshment room was built shortly after the station. This room used to serve food and drinks. Today, it is closed and used as offices. The goods shed was likely built in 1892. It was updated in 1988. Longreach station is important for railway tourism. It is the end point for the "Spirit of the Outback" train. This train offers a look into early Australian history.
Station Features
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The Longreach station is easy to spot. It is on the Capricorn Highway. It is also across from a park with trees and a memorial.
Passenger Station Building
The main passenger station building is very grand. It was built in the early 1900s. It has an Edwardian style. This means it has fancy details and a central entrance. The building stands on concrete stumps. It has timber floors inside.
On the side facing the tracks, there is a large roof. This roof sticks out over the platform. It helps protect people from the sun and rain. The building has many windows. These windows are made of timber.
The front of the building has a wide, open porch. It has strong timber posts. These posts have decorative tops and supports. The main roof is sloped. It has a decorative top part with pointed decorations. The date "AD 1916" is clearly shown on the front. The roof is made of corrugated iron. It still has its original metal vents.
Inside, some walls still show the original timber boards. The ladies' waiting room now has toilet facilities. There is also a bench seat in the waiting room. The original ticket windows are still there. They have security bars now.
Refreshment Room Building
The Refreshment Room is a separate building. It is made of timber. Its roof is partly sloped and made of corrugated iron. The roof extends over the track side. This provides shelter. The building has an old-style window. It also has double timber doors.
Inside, the walls are lined with timber boards. There is a special area for a stove. A large door for loading goods is on one side. A water tank on a stand is near this building.
Goods Shed Building
The Goods Shed is a very large building. It is made of timber and steel. It has a sloped roof. The outside walls are now covered with modern metal. Inside, there are steel supports. The roof structure uses both timber and steel.
A single train track goes into the shed. It enters from both ends. The shed now has a new concrete floor. The old timber floor is gone. There are also new roller doors. These are used for loading and unloading goods.
There is a roof that sticks out over a former loading area. This is on the south side. A water tank on a steel stand is also near the shed.
Male Toilet Block
There is a separate building for male toilets. It is at the east end of the station. It has a pyramid-shaped roof. The walls are partly covered with timber. It has glass windows that open with levers.
Heritage Importance
Longreach Railway Station was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2005. This means it is a very important historical place.
- Shows Queensland's History: The station helps us understand how Queensland grew. Longreach became a big town because the railway was built there. It was the end of the Central Line for many years. It has always been important for railway operations.
- Unique Features: The refreshment room is special. It is a rare example of a separate timber refreshment room. Not many like it are left.
- Typical Railway Design: Longreach Railway Station shows what a railway complex looked like in the late 1800s. The passenger station, platform, refreshment room, and goods shed all work together. They help us understand how the station operated. The passenger station was designed by Henrik Hansen. It looks like other stations he designed.
- Beautiful Design: The passenger station, its platform roof, and the refreshment room are very well-designed. People value their beautiful look. They add a lot to the town of Longreach. They are part of an important area with a park and a memorial.
| Longreach railway station | |
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Front of station, 2013
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| Location | Capricorn Highway, Longreach, Longreach Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1887 - 1917 |
| Official name: Longreach Railway Station | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 12 December 2005 |
| Reference no. | 601970 |
| Significant period | 1880s–1920s (historical) 1880s-ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | ticket box/office, shed - goods, views to, platform canopies/awnings (railway), platform, views from, railway siding, shed/s, tank - water, furniture/fittings, tank stand, railway station, railway refreshment room/s |
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