The arrival of the railway, to what was then a tiny settlement, spurred the growth of the township of Mundubbera, to that we see today.
Opened amidst great ceremony and celebration:
” . . . Mundubbera, to which point the Gayndah line was opened, with eclat on Monday, February 2, by the Hon. W.T. Paget (Minister for Railways), is 28 miles north-west from Gayndah, and 101 miles from Mungar Junction. This is a stage in the westward progress of the Gayndah line which Mr. Paget has said—perhaps facetiously—might be extended to Windorah in the far West . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Queenslander’ – Article ‘Our Illustrations. Mundubbera Railway.’ – by A.P.C. – published 14th February 1914
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Upon reading this introductory paragraph, one immediately notices that the rail line was called the ‘Gayndah Line’, to which one would naturally presume was the end of the line, though proposals to extend the rail beyond Gayndah had been publicised as early as 1889. The following excerpts explain:.
” . . . When the line was opened to Gayndah the populace rested on their oars, and tacitly assumed that Gayndah—being the town where the first Queensland Derby was run and having some of its ancient glory clinging to it—was to be the terminus for all time. But while Gayndah was resting peacefully on this prospect, Mr. Kidston, the then Premier, startled Queensland with a railway programme which proposed to use up 10 million sterling. It was realised at once that Gayndah would see her fondest hopes decay and that, in spite of a picturesque past, the Gayndah line would go beyond Gayndah. . . “
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” . . . Mr. Surveyor Amos was sent to make a flying survey of the country between Gayndah and Mundubbera, where the line will bifurcate; one branch will head north-west toward-Eidsvold and the other will follow the course of the Auburn to Dykehead, westward.
The then Railway Commissioner (the late Mr. Thallon) reported that the extension would not pay in spite of proximity (three to six miles) of the Binjour Plateau with its 25,000 to 80,000 acres of volcanic soil, now partly occupied by about 80 German families, whom Pastor Niemeyer, of Rosewood, planted on the soil and guided as a patriach of old.
Beside Binjour, which object lesson, there was the Mundnbbera cattle station of 97,000 acres, half of which was classed as suitable for agriculture. Then there was Mount Debateable, 84,000 acres, half of which was said to be fit for agriculture (vide Mr.Geo. Phillips’s report).
The estimated cost of extension to Mundubbera was £119,779, plus £8,000 for rolling stock.
The proposal to extend the line to Mundubbera was tabled in December,1910, and passed in the same month. Construction commenced in July, 1911, and the line was opened to Boomerang in November, 1913 . . . “
Source: Excerpts – ‘The Queenslander’ – Article ‘Our Illustrations. Mundubbera Railway.’ – by A.P.C. – published 14th February 1914
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A brief outline of the development of the ‘Gayndah Line’:
1860’s The need for a rail link to Gayndah was proposed
1880’s Construction commenced in the late 1880’s
Jul 1889 The line to Brooweena opened
Mar 1891 The line to Boompa opened
Apr 1891 The line to Biggenden opened
1893 Though the rails had been previously installed to Degilbo, this section was not opened until flood damaged the Mary River Bridge at Antigua thus cutting off the lime supply for the sugar industry at both Maryborough and Bundaberg. This spurred a new supply to be opened up near Degilbo.
Dec 1905 The 32 km line to Wetheron opened
Dec 1907 The line to Gayndah opened
Nov 1913 The line to Boomeran opened
Feb 1914 The line to Mundubbera opened
Sep 1928 The line to Monto opened
“ . . . Very pleasant is the train journey from Gayndah to Mundubbera, which is the way to Eidsvold, the line running along the Burnett River, a considerable stream bordered by very fine ti-trees, and winding among picturesque hills and ridges sloping to the river and timbered chiefly by a forest of stately gums. The township of Mundubbera, has sprung up but little less rapidly than Jonah’s gourd, and already has a butter factory and good hotel, and is rapidly acquiring all the advantages and conveniences of a town . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘The History of Queensland: Its People & Industries’ – by Matthew J Fox – published c 1923 – pp 824
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Today, though the infrastructure is all still there, the rails are silent and the ‘Mundubbera Railway Station’ locked shut. Proposals to turn this historical gateway to the west into a tourist attraction are on the table . . .
Helpful Hints:
– Within Close Proximity to Town Centre – obtain Directions here
– Car Parking available along Bauer Street
Discover Mundubbera:
– Nearby Features:
– Shopping
– Facilities available at Mundubbera
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