Railway

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HISTORY OF THE RAILWAY

As early as 1906 the Gnowangerup Progress Association (GPA) began pushing for the construction of a railway line from the Great Southern Line at Broomehill.  In 1907, it was decided to bring the line in from Tambellup.  However, due to Western Australia’s rapidly expanding railway system at the time, the town still had to wait until 1909 before survey work on the line began.

 

GNOWANGERUP RAILWAY STATION                 #1
 

Initially the railway station was surveyed to be 4 km south of the township. Arthur Hugh Allardyce recalled that- 'the Progress Association requested it be re-surveyed, to the southern side of the town, (near the present-day Sporting Complex). A small delegation travelled to the surveyor's tent where he was camped, and strongly urged him to re-consider his decision. The surveyor, who appeared annoyed-said, in effect "So, you want the railway through your townsite, do you? Alright I'll put it through town for you!"  So he re-surveyed it through the middle of town, dividing town blocks and crossing the main street.

The first train arrived in Gnowangerup at 1.30pm on 1 July 1912 carrying 24 passengers.  From this time on a train arrived carrying both passengers and goods, every Monday and Thursday.

Gnowangerup local Pearl Marshall recalled ‘At the completion of the work, the townsfolk, as a token of appreciation to the workers, decided to hold a ball. Every effort was made to make this a night to remember. To save embarrassment to the workers who were unlikely to own any formal clothes, it was decided to dress informally. However, the workers, who came from all walks of life, thought that if these people were being so kind, they had better do their best. So those who did not have an evening suit with waist coat and white gloves, hired or borrowed them. You can imagine the surprise of everyone at the Ball. After a time, everyone saw the funny side and had a very enjoyable evening.’(Pearl Marshall, pg. 18)
 Although it would be a few more years before the passenger and goods train would stop running to Gnowangerup, in 1958 the service from Gnowangerup to Borden and Ongerup was discontinued.  This meant that the train stopped at the station site and no longer crossed the main street, much to the delight of local residents!  The rails were completely removed from the main street and the land was returned to town lots.

Railway  est. 1912


          GNOWANGERUP RAILWAY STATION        #6
 
Replacement trucks following closure in 1957: By Arthur Todd who was the Stationmaster at Gnowangerup.
The government replaced the train service with road truck deliveries.
A truck service left Katanning every morning Monday to Saturday delivering parcels, general goods, fresh bread and produce, groceries, mail, newspers and lots more.
Twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) a semi trailer, prime mover and pantach, would be sent from Perth (Kewdale) by train which got driven off a flat-top rail wagon in Katanning and get topped up at the Katanning goods sheds.
On Tuesday it would go via Jerramungup to Gairdner River and on Thursday it would continue to Bremer Bay.
The railway road service would also collect wool from farms as far away as Jacup, Bremer Bay, Gairdner River and all points between there and Gnowangerup for transhipment into rail wagons at either Gnowangerup or Katanning (mainly Katanning) to go to either Albany or Fremantle.

 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

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Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2023