STRZELECKI RAILWAY STATION AND TURNTABLE

2 WILD DOG ROAD STRZELECKI, SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.

Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    STRZELECKI RAILWAY STATION AND TURNTABLE - History

    The former Great Southern Railway (South Gippsland line), which opened in 1892, branched from the Gippsland line at Dandenong and ran to Port Albert. The Strzelecki railway line, which branched off this line at Koo-Wee-Rup, was opened in June 1922. The line served the farms of the western Strzelecki Ranges, and the stations provided facilities for the storage of goods andthe loading of sheep and cattle. Historic photographs from the 1920s show stockyards next to Strzelecki Station.

    Strzelecki was the eighth and last station on the Koo-Wee-Rup to Strzelecki line (after Bayles, Catani, Yannathan, Heathhill, Athlone, Topiram and Triholm).

    Construction of the line came at a time when railway expansion was being curtailed as a result of increasing government expenditure on roads and the development of motor vehicles. But the continued development of this line can be largely attributed to the significant increase in vegetable crops and diary produce arising from the draining of the Koo-Wee-Rup swamp, which in turn supplied Victoria's profitable overseas trade in perishable food stuffs.

    Strzelecki Station was only 8 km to the east of Triholm but its elevation was almost 200m greater, and 23 cuttings were required between the two. The station closed on 22nd November 1930, in response to the severe financial difficulties experienced by the Victorian Railways, falling traffic and disrepair of infrastructure, including the bridge at Strzelecki. The closure came only eight years after the line opened.

    The Triholm and Strzelecki (Dismantling) Act, No 4518 of December 1937 authorised the dismantling of the rails and the sale of land. The track in this section of the line was taken up in 1938, whilst the turntable and station buildings at Strzelecki had all gone by 1940.

    Interpretation of Site

    STRZELECKI RAILWAY STATION AND TURNTABLE - Interpretation of Site

    The site represents the turntable which allowed locomotives to turn at the end of the line. The turntable pit is quite well preserved including a circular depression and concrete sleepers. To the north west, the passenger platform mound was bulldozed away in 1991, but a short section of track bed is preserved immediately before the platform area.

    Archaeological Significance

    STRZELECKI RAILWAY STATION AND TURNTABLE - Archaeological Significance

    The site has a low potential for sub-surface deposits or structural elements relating to the station.

    Historical Significance

    STRZELECKI RAILWAY STATION AND TURNTABLE - Historical Significance

    The site is significant for its association with the Koo-Wee-Rup to Strzelecki line branch line of the south Gippsland Railway. Its presence at this fairly inaccessible location reflects considerable effort and determination on the part of the railway engineers of the day.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    STRZELECKI RAILWAY STATION AND TURNTABLE - Heritage Inventory Description

    The turntable site lies on the slope at the head of the valley. It is overgrown by vegetation.

    The turntable pit is quite well preserved, surviving as a circular depression and retaining concrete sleepers with rail pins at each end to mark the point at which the tracks approached the turntable. To the north west a short section of track bed is preserved immediately before the platform area.

• Location map
• Explore related places
  • Show:
    -- select -- Nearby Places

  • STRZELECKI RAILWAY STATION AND TURNTABLE

    

    Victorian Heritage Inventory
  • 
    STRZELECKI RAILWAY STATION TURNTABLE

    

    South Gippsland Shire
  • 
    Strzelecki Avenue of Honour

    

    Vic. War Heritage Inventory
• Public contributions