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South Australia

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Former West Australian steam locomotive W933 at the head of a Pichi Richi Railway train, Quorn, 16 July 2009.

Australian Locomotive and Railway Carriage Company (ALARC)

The Australian Locomotive and Railway Carriage Company (ALARC) owns several locomotives and carriages, and has a lease at the former railway roundhouse and yard at Tailem Bend. Locomotives include number 103, which was originally a New South Wales 45 Class locomotive, and TL Class locomotive TL155. Possible future operations include transporting passengers to the Motorsport Park at Tailem Bend and running trains on the Leigh Creek line. Tailem Bend is approximately 100 km south-east of Adelaide.

 

Australian Railway Historical Society, South Australia Division

Volunteers from the Australian Railway Historical Society, South Australian Division, are involved with the operation of the SteamRanger Heritage Railway, as well as maintenance of the railway line, the heritage locomotives and carriages. The Division also publishes a newsletter for members.

 

Moonta Mines Tourist Railway

www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/moonta-mines-tourist-railway

Moonta Mines Tourist Railway operates between the museum in the former Moonta Mines Model School and the former Moonta railway station. The 2 km trip includes commentary and passes historic relics of the former mining operations. Trains operate on Thursdays and Fridays, and daily during school holidays. Moonta is located approximately 160 km north-west of Adelaide.

 

Murray Bridge RiverBoat Rail and Steam Group

www.facebook.com/Murray-Bridge-RiverBoat-Rail-And-Steam-Group-INC-387797471431181/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

Murray Bridge RiverBoat Rail and Steam Group is based at the wharf area of Murray Bridge. The group has a former South Australian Railways Rx Class steam locomotive and several carriages. Murray Bridge is located approximately 75 km south-east of Adelaide.

 

National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide

www.nrm.org.au

The National Railway Museum is one of Australia’s largest railway museums. It has a collection of steam and diesel locomotives, historic rolling stock and other displays. Most exhibits are from the former South Australian Railways and Commonwealth Railways, but there are also items from private railway operators. The collection includes Commonwealth Railways steam locomotive G1, class leader of the G Class, the first locomotives to operate on the Trans-Australian Railway; 500 Class steam locomotive 504, one of the South Australian Railways big power locomotives; and diesel locomotive 900, the first mainline diesel locomotive to enter service on the Australian mainland. Additionally, the museum operates the 457 mm gauge Semaphore to Fort Glanville Tourist Railway over a distance of 2 km using a 2-4-0 steam locomotive. Trains run every Sunday and public holiday from October to April, and daily fduring most school holidays, while the museum is open daily. The National Railway Museum also publishes books and Catch Point, a bi-monthly magazine about railways in South Australia.

 

Pichi Richi Railway

www.pichirichirailway.org.au

Pichi Richi Railway is based at Quorn in the Flinders Ranges. It operates heritage steam and diesel locomotive-hauled trains and railcars between Quorn, Woolshed Flat and Port Augusta. Trains operate over the narrow gauge line that was part of the railway to Alice Springs until it was bypassed in 1957. The Pichi Richi Railway has a collection of former South Australian Railways, Western Australian Government Railways and Commonwealth Railways locomotives, historic rolling stock and railcars. An unusual item is steam motor coach Coffee Pot, built in 1905. Tours of the workshops at Quorn are available on train operating days. Trains operate on Saturdays, Sundays and other selected days between March and November. Quorn is approximately 330 km north of Adelaide, and Port Augusta is approximately 310 km north of Adelaide.

 

Port Lincoln Railway Museum

www.eprps.org.au

Port Lincoln Railway Museum is operated by the Eyre Peninsula Railway Preservation Society, and is housed in the former South Australian Railways administrative building and freight shed. Exhibits include goods rolling stock, fettlers’ trolleys, various railway artefacts and photographs. The museum is open on Wednesdays and most Sundays during school holidays. Port Lincoln is approximately 650 km west of Adelaide via Port Augusta.

 

Port Milang Historic Railway Museum

www.milangrailway.org.au

Port Milang Historic Railway Museum has a collection of items regarding railways in the Milang area. Displays include former South Australian Railways diesel locomotive 351, rolling stock, the former station building and other historical exhibits. Also on site is the South Australian Light Railway Centre, which outlines the history of many light industrial railways that operated in the state. The museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays. Milang is approximately 80 km south-east of Adelaide.

 

Port Pirie National Trust Museum

www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/port-pirie-railway-station

Port Pirie National Trust Museum is housed within the former railway station building in Ellen Street, Port Pirie. Railway exhibits include 0-6-0 tank locomotive Port Pirie and historical photographs. The museum is open daily, with train rides operating on Sundays. Port Pirie is approximately 220 km north of Adelaide.

 

SteamRanger Heritage Railway

www.steamrangerheritagerailway.org

SteamRanger Heritage Railway operates various heritage steam and diesel hauled trains, as well as railcars, between Mt Barker, Strathalbyn, Goolwa and Victor Harbor. SteamRanger’s most popular service is the Cockle Train, which runs between Goolwa and Victor Harbor every Sunday and Wednesday, and daily during most school holidays. Trains are generally formed by railcars or diesel locomotive-hauled trains. Steam locomotives operate during most school holidays and on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from June to November. Other SteamRanger services operate on scheduled dates throughout the year. SteamRanger has its main depot at Mt Barker and a smaller depot at Goolwa. It has five steam locomotives, two of which are currently operational, four diesel locomotives, railcars and other passenger and goods rolling stock. Goolwa is approximately 80 km south of Adelaide, and Mt Barker is approximately 30 km south-east of Adelaide.

 

Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre

www.steamtown.com.au

Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre is located in the former South Australian Railways roundhouse at Peterborough. It has a collection of steam and diesel locomotives, rolling stock and other items. Exhibits include former Western Australian Government Railways Pmr and W Class steam locomotives, former South Australian Railways Y and T Class steam locomotives, and former Commonwealth Railways diesel locomotives. A one-hour sound and light show featuring the railway history of Peterborough is available at night in a restored railway carriage. Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre is open daily. Peterborough is approximately 250 km north of Adelaide.

 

Tailem Bend Railway Museum

https://explore.history.sa.gov.au/organisation/tailem-bend-railway-museum

Tailem Bend Railway Museum is located in the original Tailem Bend railway station building. Displays include a signal box, artefacts and photographs. The museum is open from Mondays to Fridays. Tailem Bend is approximately 100 km south-east of Adelaide.

 

Tramway Museum, St Kilda

www.trammuseumadelaide.com

The Tramway Museum at St Kilda has a collection of over 20 trams, mostly from Adelaide, but also from Melbourne, Ballarat and Sydney. Exhibits include horse trams and electric trams. Also on display are electric trolley buses and diesel buses. Entrance to the museum also includes unlimited tram rides. The museum is open on Sundays and most public holidays. St Kilda is approximately 30 km north of Adelaide.

 

Transport Enthusiasts Society of South Australia (TESSA)

www.tessa.wisp.fastmail.com.au

The Transport Enthusiasts Society of South Australia (TESSA) is a group of people based in Adelaide who are interested in different forms of transport, including trains, trams and buses. The group has regular meetings and sometimes operates tours.

 

Victor Harbor Tramway

www.horsedrawntram.com.au

Victor Harbor Horse Tramway operates over 1.6 km of line between Victor Harbour and Granite Island, with much of the route along a wooden jetty. Clydesdale horses are used to pull double-deck tramcars. The horse tram has become a popular attraction since it was restored to service in 1986. Trams run daily except Christmas Day. Victor Harbor is approximately 80 km south of Adelaide.

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Maryborough is a regional town in Victoria with a population of around 8000 people. It is located 224 km by railway north-east of Southern Cross station in Melbourne. Maryborough railway station has a vast building of a size that would usually be found in a major capital city, rather than a medium-sized regional town. There are several myths and inaccuracies about the station.

 

Railways Reach Maryborough

A railway from the east reached Maryborough on 7 July 1874 with the opening of the section from Castlemaine on the Bendigo line. No official ceremony was held to commemorate the opening, reportedly because the first station building had not been finished. From Maryborough the line was extended north to Dunolly three months later on 6 October. The following year Maryborough was connected from the south with the opening of the railway from Ballarat via Clunes on 2 February 1875. Another year brought a new railway when the line was opened from Maryborough westward to Avoca on 21 October 1876. It was now a location with railways extending away in four directions.

 

Maryborough’s first station was opened on 7 July 1874 with the first railway to reach the town. Although it contained waiting rooms, a dining room, lamp room and residence, it came to be seen as inadequate to service the growing railway traffic in Maryborough. The new station, which is the current station, was built on the site of the first station, which continued to operate as work progressed. Work commenced in 1890 and it was completed in 1891.

 

Maryborough Station

David Swanson was awarded the contract of nearly £21,983 for construction of Maryborough station. Its base is made from bluestone slabs, and most of the construction is made of red bricks. Cement rendering was used for decorative purposes. The building contains 25 rooms. A total of 511 square yards (427 square metres) of tiles were used for the floors in the booking hall, refreshment room, kitchen and toilets. The tessellated floor was done by Cawkwells of Malvern, who also tiled the floor of Parliament House in Melbourne. Around 66,000 slates were imported for the roof, and 18,000 square feet (1672 square metres) of glass was brought from Melbourne to use in the skylight. The entrance portico is supported by four marble columns, each 12 foot 4 inches (3.8 metres) in height, and has bluestone steps leading to it. Marble mantelpieces were used in the rest rooms. The booking hall has decorative timber work in its ceiling. The verandah of the station building features a hipped roof with a continuous louvred lantern along the ridge. Cast-iron columns also function as downpipes for storm water, which is stored in underground tanks. Maryborough’s platform is 328 metres in length, and the verandah extends for 101 metres. Although the station building had a clock tower from its opening, a clock was not installed until 1914.

 

Construction was scheduled to be finished on 1 April 1891, but was not actually completed until 30 August. Plans were in place for an official opening ceremony and reception, with Premier Duncan Gillies to unveil a foundation stone, on 7 November 1890. However, Gillies was overthrown as Premier on 5 November and the ceremony was cancelled. There is a story that a foundation stone acknowledging Gillies was laid with the inscription facing inwards. However, a search during renovation work during the 1980s was unable to find any evidence of an inscription on an inward facing stone.

 

It has been claimed that a banquet to commemorate the completion of the station building was held in its dining room on 28 August 1891, although work was not actually complete until two days later. However, a search of newspapers at the time reveals no reports of a banquet or any official opening for the building.

 

Why such a large station?

A myth suggests that bureaucrats involved in the planning and design of the station building believed that it was to be constructed at Maryborough in Queensland, a much larger town at the time. However, Queensland and Victoria were separate colonies with their own railway systems. It is unlikely that such a mistake would have occurred. Additionally, station architecture in Queensland and Victoria at the time had distinctive differences.

 

The official reason given for construction of such a large station building is that the existing facilities at the time were inadequate. Part of the historical significance of the station is that it is an example of the lavish expenditure on railways at the time. The Railway Construction Act of 1884 led to the building of 59 new lines and other works. It is often referred to as the ‘Octopus Act’ because the new lines spread out like the tentacles of an octopus. Many lines were built for political reasons and were never profitable. Although the railways to Maryborough had been opened before this time, it was an era of massive railway expenditure. Maryborough was seen as an important hub of the state’s railway network and an elaborate station building was part of the facilities required.

 

Duncan Gillies, who was Premier of Victoria and Minister for Railways when the station design was approved, had previously represented Maryborough in the Legislative Assembly, and he retained business interests in the town. When Alfred Outtrim, the local Member of Parliament at the time, advocated the need for a new station at Maryborough, Gillies sent him to the planning office of Victorian Railways. Outtrim returned with a design that was approved by Gillies. The design had been an alternative for Spencer Street (now Southern Cross), one of the largest stations in Melbourne. Gillies’ connection with Maryborough may have had some influence in him approving the large station.

 

Mark Twain

It is often stated that American author Mark Twain described Maryborough as a station with a town attached. What he actually wrote was, “…you can put the whole population of Maryborough into it...”

 

Mark Twain visited Maryborough during his travels in October 1895. In his book Following the Equator he recalls a gentleman he met on the train on the way to Maryborough who described its station.

Don’t you overlook that Maryborough station, if you take an interest in governmental curiosities. Why, you can put the whole population of Maryborough into it, and give them a sofa apiece, and have room for more. You haven’t fifteen stations in America that are as big, and you probably haven’t five that are half as fine. Why, it’s perfectly elegant. And the clock! Everybody will show you the clock. There isn't a station in Europe that’s got such a clock. It doesn’t strike — and that’s one mercy. It hasn’t any bell; and as you’ll have cause to remember, if you keep your reason, all Australia is simply bedamned with bells. On every quarter-hour, night and day, they jingle a tiresome chime of half a dozen notes — all the clocks in town at once, all the clocks in Australasia at once, and all the very same notes.

 

Later History

Maryborough was one of the last areas in Victoria to see regular steam locomotive workings. Railway enthusiasts came to see and capture the sights and sounds before dieselisation took hold. By the end of 1967 steam operations in the area had ceased.

 

With the replacement of The Vinelander passenger train by road coaches in September 1993, Maryborough station was closed. Restoration work on the station commenced in 2006 and was completed in June 2008. Passenger services were re-introduced on 25 July 2010.

 

Today Maryborough station sees several services daily with VLocity trains operating between Ballarat and Maryborough. The building also features a café, bar and gallery.

 

References

‘A station with a town attached’, Victorian Collections, https://victoriancollections.net.au/stories/a-station-with-a-town-attached, accessed 6 October 2025.

Berry, M ‘A station with town attached’, Future Rail Newspost, August 2017, pp. 10–12.

‘Maryborough railway station, Victoria’, Heritage Council Victoria <https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/692>, accessed 6 October 2025.

‘Maryborough railway station, Victoria’, Wikipedia <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryborough_railway_station,_Victoria> accessed 6 October 2025.

Banger, C, ‘The Ballarat to Maryborough line and its branches – 1975–2010, Newsrail, vol. 39, no. 12, December 2011, pp. 359–71.

Turton, KW, ‘Maryborough as a railway centre’, Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, no. 299, September 1962, pp. 133–140.

Turton, KW, ‘The centenary of the opening of the railways from Castlemaine to Dunolly and Ballarat to Maryborough’, Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, no. 448, February 1975, pp. 25–52.

Twain, M, Following the equator: a journey around the world, American Publishing Company, Hartford, 1897.

Victorian Railways, Report of the Victorian Railways Commissioners for the year ending 30th June, 1891, Victorian Railways, Melbourne, 1891.

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Maryborough station building, 18 December 2017.

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Maryborough station with a VLocity train consisting of 1123, 1332, 1223 at the platform, 18 December 2017.

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