South Brisbane Railway Easement facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Brisbane Railway Easement |
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South Brisbane Railway Easement, 2008
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| Location | 412 Stanley Street, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1882 - 1897 |
| Official name: South Brisbane Railway Easement, Dry Dock Siding, South Brisbane Wharves Extension, Stanley Street Terminus | |
| Type | state heritage (built, archaeological) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600293 |
| Significant period | 1880s, 1890s (fabric) 1884-1891 (historical use of Stanley Street Station). 1897-1969, (historical |
| Significant components | wall/s - retaining, abutments - railway bridge, formation - railway |
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The South Brisbane Railway Easement is a special place in South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It holds the old parts of a railway line and a side track that used to be here. It was built between 1882 and 1897. People also know it as the Dry Dock Siding, South Brisbane Wharves Extension, or Stanley Street Terminus. This historical site was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Contents
History of the Railway
The very first railway line in South Brisbane was built from South Brisbane Junction (which is now Corinda railway station) to Stanley Street. This happened between 1882 and 1884.
Why the Railway Was Built
In the late 1870s, businesses, especially coal mine owners from West Moreton, wanted a railway. They needed a way to connect the Ipswich railway line to the deep water port at South Brisbane. This would help them move coal more easily. In 1881, the Queensland Parliament agreed to build the railway. The main train yards were planned for Woolloongabba. A passenger line was also planned to run along Stanley Street, ending near the South Brisbane Dry Dock.
Changes to the Plan
However, local people didn't want the railway to run along Stanley Street. So, the plans changed. A different branch line was built from the Woolloongabba train yards. This line went through a tunnel under Vulture Street and then continued west to the riverbank. It ended just below Stanley Street. At the river, a large coal wharf (a place for ships to load coal) and side tracks were built. These tracks even reached the dry dock.
Building the Line
The main line to Stanley Street was started in January 1882. But the first company couldn't finish the work. So, the Railways Department took over the building. A company called Acheson Overend & Co. won the bid to build the coal wharf and side tracks. They finished this part of the project by early May 1884.
Opening and Closing of Stations
The South Brisbane line, coal wharf, and side tracks opened on 2 June 1884. Passenger trains left the Stanley Street station three times a day, except on Sundays. This number soon doubled. The Stanley Street station was only for passengers. But every train had to be pushed back to Woolloongabba before another train could use the line. This made it hard for the station to handle more trains. So, when a new passenger station opened at Melbourne Street on 21 December 1891, the Stanley Street station closed down.
Extending the Railway
In 1894, the parliament allowed the dry dock side track to be extended. It went all the way to the Victoria Bridge. This extension was built to serve the wharves and businesses along the river at South Brisbane. Construction started in May 1896 and the line opened on 30 March 1897. This extended railway served many big businesses until late 1969. By then, South Brisbane was no longer a major port, so the line was closed.
What Remains Today
This heritage listing includes several old parts of the railway:
- Former Stanley Street Station Platform (1883-84): The Stanley Street station used to have a single raised timber platform. It was about 305 feet (93 m) long and overlooked the dry dock. A timber station building was built in April 1884, but it was removed later. Some of the old timber edges of the platform are still buried underground.
- Stanley Street Retaining Wall (1880s): This wall is made of rough cut stone. It marked the end of the South Brisbane railway line. It runs along the northern side of Stanley Street, above where the old station was and part of the dry dock area. Some parts of its old cast-iron fence are still there, but the gates to the station are gone.
- Other Retaining Walls (1883-85): These walls are also made of rough cut stone. They form the current boundaries of the dry dock on its southeast and west sides. They were built between 1883 and 1885. The southeastern wall seems to have been built with the railway line to Stanley Street. Parts of this wall are covered in plaster. Above this wall was the path of the old South Brisbane line, and below it was the dry dock side track.
- Paths of the Old Railway Lines: Even though the train tracks are gone, you can still see the paths and slopes of the old lines. This includes the Stanley Street branch line (1882-83), the dry dock siding (1882-84), and the South Brisbane wharves extension (1896-97). The path of the 1896-97 extension has been paved with asphalt.
- Former Railway Overbridge at Sidon Street (1896-97): This bridge was built as part of the extension of the dry dock siding. It required cutting through the western wall of the dry dock area and crossing Sidon Street. It was made of timber, iron, metal sheets, and concrete. The concrete supports on the eastern side of what used to be Sidon Street are still there. However, the bridge itself is no longer visible, and the cut-through area has been filled in.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The South Brisbane Railway Easement was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's important because it helps us understand the history of Queensland.
Showing Queensland's History
The South Brisbane Railway Easement, built in 1882-84, is historically important. It shows us the early railway network in South Brisbane. It's also important because it's strongly connected to how businesses grew in South Brisbane in the 1880s and 1890s. This railway easement is a key part of the historical area around South Brisbane Memorial Park. This area also includes the dry dock (Queensland Maritime Museum), the old South Brisbane Library, Cumbooquepa (Somerville House), the old South Brisbane Town Hall, and the Ship Inn.
Learning from the Past
There's also a chance that digging here could uncover more archaeological evidence. This could teach us even more about Queensland's history.
