Mount Morgan railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Morgan railway station |
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Mount Morgan railway station
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| Location | Railway Parade, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1898–1921 |
| Architect | Henrik Hansen |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Mount Morgan Railway Station Complex | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600752 |
| Significant period | 1898–1987 (historical) 1898–1920s (fabric) |
| Significant components | carriage shade (railway), crane / gantry, railway station, track, furniture/fittings, railway refreshment room/s, railway siding, yard, foyer – entrance, office/s, signal box/signal cabin/switch house/mechanical points (rail), parcels office, tank – water, shed/s, machinery/plant/equipment – transport – rail, toilet block/earth closet/water closet, views to |
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The Mount Morgan railway station is a special old building in Mount Morgan, Australia. It's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical place. This station was built in 1898 to serve the busy gold mining town of Mount Morgan.
A famous architect named Henrik Hansen designed the station. He also designed other well-known stations like Archer Park. The station was a working railway station from 1898 until 1987. After that, it was turned into a museum. Today, you can visit the museum to see old trains and learn about the area's mining history.
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A Look Back: The Station's Story
Mount Morgan became famous for its gold mine, which started in 1883. By 1889, many people lived there because of the gold rush. Later, around 1903, they also started mining copper.
The railway line connecting Mount Morgan to Rockhampton opened on 26 November 1898. This line was very important for moving goods and people. It was later extended to Wowan in 1912.
The Amazing Rack Railway
The railway line to Mount Morgan had a very steep section called a rack railway. This part was special because it helped trains climb very steep hills. It was built this way to save money at first.
Special steam locomotives (train engines) were needed for this section. They had to attach to the train to help it go up and down the steep slope. This part of the journey was slow, about 10 kilometers per hour. It also added about 40 minutes to the trip. The steepest part was like climbing a hill that rises 1 meter for every 16.5 meters forward!
The Mount Morgan rack railway used the Abt system, which came from Switzerland. It was one of only three such railways ever built in Australia. The other two are in Tasmania and New South Wales.
The rack railway was used until April 1952. A new, less steep railway line was built to bypass it. This new line allowed bigger trains to carry more coal from nearby mines.
Station Changes Over Time
The station building was designed by Henrik Hansen, who also designed other important stations. The first part of the station was finished in 1898.
Over the years, the station complex grew. In 1912, a parcels office and a station master's office were added. Refreshment rooms, where people could buy food and drinks, were added in 1921.
By 1940, the station area was quite large. It had the main station building, refreshment rooms, an engine shed, a goods shed, and a weighbridge (for weighing train cars).
In the 1960s, diesel-electric locomotives started replacing the old steam engines. This meant less work for the Mount Morgan locomotive depot, which used to repair steam engines. The railway line from Kabra through Mount Morgan to Wowan finally closed on 1 August 1987. The old tracks were removed in 1989, but the station building and a small section of track were kept for tourism.
What the Station Looks Like
The station building has a grand design, known as "Classical Revival Boom Style." It has a large covered area for carriages with 10 bays. The front of the building has a central archway supported by fancy cast iron columns. It also has a curved roof section with "AD 1898 Mount Morgan" written on it.
Inside, the main waiting area has decorative timber brackets. There were separate rooms for ladies, offices, and a parcels office. The carriage shade, which covers two tracks, has strong curved metal beams to support its roof.
Other important buildings at the complex include:
- Former Refreshment Rooms: This building was moved and used as living quarters.
- Goods Shed: A large timber building with a corrugated iron roof. It has an internal platform and a special crane for moving heavy items.
- Weighbridge Office: This office is still there, even though the weighbridge itself has been removed.
- Signal Cabin: This small building, which controls railway signals, was moved here from another location.
- Water Tank: A large, two-tier cast iron tank made by Walkers Limited, a famous engineering company. It sits on a timber stand.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Mount Morgan Railway Station Complex was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it's recognized as a very important part of Queensland's history and culture.
The station is important because:
- It shows how Queensland developed, especially during the gold mining boom. It's one of the best examples of a large station built for a thriving mining town.
- It has rare features. The water tank is special because it still has its builder's plate from Walkers Limited. The goods shed is also rare because it still has its original warehouse crane.
- It's a great example of an important late Victorian-era railway station.
- Many people today appreciate its beautiful design and historical value.
