Station entrance, 2013
|
|
Location | Capricorn Highway, Longreach |
Coordinates | 23°26′24″S 144°15′08″E / 23.4401°S 144.2523°ECoordinates: 23°26′24″S 144°15′08″E / 23.4401°S 144.2523°E |
Owned by | Queensland Rail |
Operated by | Traveltrain |
Line(s) | Central Western |
Platforms | 1 |
Tracks | 4 |
Construction | |
Structure type | Ground |
Disabled access | Yes |
History | |
Opened | February 1892 |
Rebuilt | 1916 |
Longreach railway station | |
---|---|
Front of station, 2013
|
|
Location | Capricorn Highway, Longreach, Longreach Region, Queensland, Australia |
Coordinates | 23°26′25″S 144°15′11″E / 23.4403°S 144.253°E |
Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
Built | 1887 - 1917 |
Official name: Longreach Railway Station | |
Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
Designated | 12 December 2005 |
Reference no. | 601970 |
Significant period | 1880s-1920s (hsitorical) 1880s-ongoing (social) |
Significant components | ticket box/office, shed - goods, views to, platform canopies/awnings (railway), platform, views from, railway siding, shed/s, tank - water, furniture/fittings, tank stand, railway station, railway refreshment room/s |
Longreach railway station is the terminus station of the Central Western line, serving the town of Longreach, Longreach Region, Queensland, Australia. It is on the Capricorn Highway. It was built from 1887 to 1917. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 12 December 2005.
Longreach railway station is served by Traveltrain's Spirit of the Outback.
Longreach Station opened in February 1892 as the interim terminus of the Central Western line when it was extended from Barcaldine. The line was later extended to Winton.
The present station building was completed in 1916.
The plan to build a railway in southern Queensland in 1863 prompted the residents of central Queensland to demand their own railway. The discovery of rich copper deposits at Peak Downs west of Rockhampton strengthened their case and in January 1864, Engineer for Roads, Northern Division, Henry Plews was ordered to survey a line to the copper field. Plews was made Chief Engineer of the northern railway in October 1864. The line opened as far as Westwood in September 1867.
This line was too short to be profitable and approval for an extension was granted in late 1872. Robert Ballard was appointed Chief Engineer and was given authority to let contracts for each section. The aim was to produce an affordable line.
As work progressed, towns developed at each temporary terminus. Some such as Pine Hill declined after the railway passed while others such as Alpha and Emerald continued to grow. Many buildings and businesses were shifted westwards from one terminus town to the next.