Route of the Ballarat Railway Line

Child Places

• 16727 Site of Ballarat Bridge, Vasse Floodgates & Wonnerup Floodgates

Statement of Significance

The railway route runs from Yoganup to Ballarat Mill near Lockeville. It is still mostly visible. Its unique route travels across the bridge over the Vasse River and into an old jetty. In its early days, the railway was known as a tramway.

Physical Description

The railway route runs from Yoganup to Ballarat Mill near Lockeville. It is still mostly visible. Its unique route travels across the bridge over the Vasse River and into an old jetty. In its early days, the railway was known as a tramway.

History

The agreement between the West Australian Timber Company and the government to take timber was signed on 29 July 1871. John McNeil operated as the company’s agent in Western Australia and was based at Lockeville, where he oversaw the construction of the jetty and railway, which would have included the building of the railway bridge over the Vasse estuary in order to take the line across to the jetty. To date, no reference has been found for the construction of the railway bridge that carried the rail line across the narrow channel (where the Vasse estuary joins the Wonnerup Inlet) to the jetty. It was a matter of local satisfaction that the Vasse could boast having the first locomotive and railway line in the State. In describing how the mill was progressing, a ‘correspondent’ in the 21 April 1871 edition of The Inquirer remarked: We are anxiously looking for the arrival of the vessel from Melbourne bringing the locomotive for the W. A. Timber Coy railway. The works are progressing rapidly and it is rumored and generally believed, that His Excellency the Governor will pay us a visit for the purpose of opening the railway and saw mills on the 1st May. This will be a happy May Day for us and it may be easily imagined that we feel no small satisfaction in having this first railroad of the Colony within our district. Governor Weld officially opened the railway line on 23rd December 1871, while the Jarrahdale-Rockingham line was opened in November 1872. The locomotive was originally named ‘Ballaarat’ by the Mayor of Melbourne after the original spelling of the town of Ballarat where it was built by James Hunt at the Victoria Foundry (now Phoenix Foundry). ‘It had a horsepower of 16 and had two cylinders of 7 inch diameter and a 14 inch stroke. Three wagons without springs were used on the timber train.’ The timber had been hauled along the rails, originally made of jarrah, by horses before the arrival of the locomotive. Horses and later bullocks continued to be used in conjunction with the engine.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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