Denmark-Nornalup Railway

Child Places

• 23971 Bridge, Ashpit and Turntable
• 03394 Denmark River Railway Bridge

Values

 The place is a modest representative example of a railway precinct in the State constructed in the early-twentieth century associated with the Group Settlement Scheme;
 The Turntable is a rare extant example and demonstrates the type of turntable erected at many locomotive depots from the late-nineteenth century;
 The Ashpit is a good representative example of an ashpit and demonstrates the maintenance of steam locomotives prior to dieselisation in the 1970s;
 The Railway Bridge is a good representative example of a timber railway bridge constructed in the early-twentieth century; and,
 The place is valued by the community for contributing to the development and expansion of the area from the early-twentieth century.

Physical Description

P1041 Old Denmark Railway Line and Railway Bridge is a ~65km railway precinct comprising associated and non-associated railway infrastructure, which includes P23971 Railway Precinct Denmark comprising a relocated 60’ iron railway Turntable (1898, 1929), concrete lined Ash Pit (1929), timber pile, steel, timber, and concrete Railway Bridge (P3394) (1929, 2014), relocated timber and corrugated iron (previously tile) roofed Station Master’s House (P23933)(1929), and relocated weatherboard and iron former Post Office building (P680)(1926, 1987).

History

In the 1880s, the Millar brothers (Charles and Edwin) from Victoria were contracted to construct the Great Southern Railway (Beverley to Albany). Their concessional arrangement with the State resulted in the establishment of a mill in Torbay, near Albany. By 1889, Elleker railway junction was completed to service timber mills in the area. The construction of the Great Southern Railway opened areas of land up for grazing and catalysed major settlement of the south-west.
This period in the State’s history was also heavily influenced by the unprecedented economic and infrastructure growth brought on by the gold rush. The construction of railway lines to the goldfields placed increasing pressure on timber mills to keep up with demand.
By the late-1890s the Millar brothers established several mills near Denmark, which resulted in rapid development of the town site. These mills were serviced by the Elleker-Torbay-Denmark railway line.

Condition

Sound

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.