Maryborough railway station, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maryborough
Station front in July 2012
Location	Lennox Street, Maryborough
Coordinates	25°32′19″S 152°42′00″E / 25.5385°S 152.6999°E / -25.5385; 152.6999
Owned by	Queensland Rail
Operated by	Traveltrain
Line(s)	North Coast
Distance	263.47 kilometres from Roma Street
Platforms	2 (1 island)
Construction
Structure type	Ground
History
Opened	1878

The Maryborough railway station is a very old and important train station in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia. It is listed as a heritage site, meaning it's protected because of its history. The station first opened in 1878. It was designed by the Chief Engineer of the Queensland Railways Department and built by John Roddam and John Walker.

This station was once a very busy place. It was the main train station for Maryborough for many years. Today, it's no longer used for regular passenger trains. However, parts of the old railway line are still used for train workshops. The station building has been fixed up and is now a cool place to visit.

What is the Maryborough Railway Station?

The Maryborough railway station complex includes many timber buildings. These were built between 1878 and the 1930s. There's also a brick and concrete platform. A concrete air raid shelter was added in 1942.

This station was the end point for a network of railways. These lines transported timber, coal, and sugar. They also carried other farm products to the wharves on the Mary River. Maryborough was a very busy place for passenger trains too. Even though the station isn't used for trains anymore, its buildings remind us of its important past.

A Look Back in Time: History of the Station

Maryborough started as a settlement in 1847. It grew quickly as a port for shipping goods. When gold was found in Gympie in 1867, Maryborough became even more important. It was a key stop for people traveling to the goldfields.

How Maryborough Became a Railway Hub

In 1877, the Queensland Government decided to build railways. They wanted to connect mining towns to their main ports. One of these lines was from Maryborough to Gympie. This train line opened in August 1881.

A branch line was later built north to the coalfields. This meant the main North Coast line eventually bypassed Maryborough station. The station became a "dead-end" spur. But it was still the center of many branch lines. These lines connected Maryborough to other towns like Kilkivan and Gayndah.

Building the Station: Early Days

The Maryborough railway station was built on a public park reserve. In 1878, they started building. They built a station master's house and other offices. In 1879 and 1880, more buildings were added. These included a goods shed and the main passenger station.

The timber station building was very nice, but not too big. Over the years, more buildings and features were added. These included a locomotive shed and a gatehouse.

The Station Master's Home

The station master's residence was built in 1878. It was designed by Henry Charles Stanley. Over time, more rooms and a verandah were added. This house was later used by other railway managers. It was also used as a place for railway staff to stay.

The Main Station Building

The main station building was started in 1879. It was finished in 1880. It's the oldest timber station building at a major Queensland railway station that is still standing. The building was later changed and made bigger in 1892.

Goods Shed and Platforms

A large goods shed was built in 1879. It was used to store and move goods. It had a raised timber floor and a train track running through it. The main platform was also built in stages. It was extended many times between 1893 and 1925.

Maryborough Station During World War II

During World War II, the North Coast railway line was very busy. Maryborough was an important industrial target. Because of this, two air raid shelters were built at the station. These shelters were for staff and passengers. They were built in case of air raids.

Queensland was the only Australian state to build air raid shelters at its train stations. The shelter at Maryborough is one of only a few that still exist today. It reminds us of how Queensland prepared for the war.

Changes and Closure

Maryborough station was very busy until the 1980s. In 1962, there were 240 regular trains each week. This included 147 passenger services.

However, in 1986, all passenger services to Maryborough station stopped. A new station, Maryborough West, was built. This new station replaced the old Maryborough station for main line services. Today, the old Maryborough station is no longer used for passenger trains.

What You Can See Today: Station Features

The Maryborough railway station complex has many timber buildings. They stretch along Lennox Street. The main station building is a key landmark.

Station Master's Residence

This is a single-story timber house. It has verandahs on three sides. The house is covered in painted timber boards. It has French doors and different types of windows. The roof has several gables and skillion awnings.

Inside, the house has been changed a bit. But it still has its original four-room layout. It also has a fireplace with decorative tiles. The house is surrounded by an old garden with big trees.

Administration Buildings

The old traffic manager and engineer's office is a timber building. It has a corrugated iron roof. Most of the front verandah has been enclosed. Other buildings, like the wagon and traffic offices, are also timber-framed. They are connected by covered walkways.

The loco office is another timber building. It has a corrugated iron roof. Some of its verandahs are now enclosed. The pay office is also a timber building. It has pay windows and barriers. These show how workers used to line up to get their wages.

Weighbridge

There is a small timber shelter with a weighbridge. This was used to weigh goods. It has a steel plate and timber posts.

Main Station Building

The station building is a single-story timber building. It has a gabled corrugated iron roof. The back roof extends over the platform. It is supported by unique timber posts. The main entrance has a projecting gabled porch. There are also verandahs on either side. A special honor board for World War I railway workers is inside.

Goods Shed

The goods shed is a timber-framed building. It is covered in corrugated iron. It has a large roof and an elevated loading dock. Inside, a platform and rail line run along one wall.

Main Platform

The platform was built in different stages. The first part of the platform roof is wide. It has exposed trusses and side extensions. The roof is covered in corrugated iron. The platform is an island, with tracks on both sides. The tracks next to the platform are still there. They help show how the station used to work.

Former Refreshment Rooms

The old refreshment rooms building is timber-framed. It has a gabled corrugated iron roof. It is connected to the main station building by the platform. Inside, it has a kitchen and dining area.

Air Raid Shelter

The air raid shelter is made of concrete. It is about 14.5 meters long and 3.6 meters wide. The flat concrete roof is 1.8 meters thick. The walls are 3.6 meters thick. There are doorways at each end. A sign on the shelter says "Air Raid Shelter for Passengers Only". It is now used for storage.

Why is Maryborough Station Important?

Maryborough railway station is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's important for several reasons:

• It shows how Queensland's history developed. The station shows how important Maryborough was as a port. It exported goods from inland areas. It also shows Maryborough's role as a railway headquarters until 1891.
• It's a rare example of its kind. The station is a very complete example of an old timber railway station complex. It was built in the 1870s and 1880s. The air raid shelter is also rare. Only a few railway station shelters from World War II still exist in Queensland.
• It shows the main features of railway places. The station complex is a great example of a 19th-century railway station. It has a residence, the main station building, a goods shed, and other buildings. The pay office shows how workers used to get their wages. The main station building is the oldest timber station building at a major Queensland station.
• It has aesthetic value. The timber buildings and a large fig tree look very nice. They add to the beauty of Lennox Street. The station building, its platform, and the station master's house are all beautifully designed.

Images for kids

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  Maryborough railway station, around 1882

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  Maryborough railway station yard, 1882

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  Loco office from the north-west, 2007

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  Maryborough railway station building, 1994

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  Platform and track, 2010

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  1990s refreshment kiosk

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  Traffic manager and engineer's office, from the south-west, 2007

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  Maryborough railway station, platform from the north-west, 2007