Kuender Siding & CBH Bin

Statement of Significance

The railway siding represents communication, transport and agricultural viability for the area.

History

As early as 1915 the Narrogin to Kondinin line passed through Kulin and ended at the Kondinin railhead. From 1913 Stileman was Chief Engineer of the WAGR, and his plan proposed the extension of the trunk line eastwards from Corrigin through to Forrestania which was planned for expansion under the Empire Immigration Scheme, sharing costs. In 1926 the Wagin line extended eastwards to a railhead at Lake Grace. Considerable lobbying from the Karlgarin community vied for an extension of the Corrigin line as outlined in the Stileman Plan. By 1927 fierce discussions were taking place. The motion to construct the trunk line east from Kondinin was put before Parliament in 1928. The Stileman Plan was subsequently defeated. As late as 1929 surveys were continuing for the Kondinin extension, and late in 1929 the Karlgarin town was surveyed, but in June 1930 the railway gangs commenced constructed at the Lake Grace end of the spur line to Karlgarin and Hyden. Kuender is the first siding north of LakeGrace.
The railway line did not come to Kuender Siding until 1931, and the trains first ran between Lake Grace and Karlgarin in 1932. Local farmers carted their grain to the siding. The grain was in bags sewn at the top and loaded into closed wagons for cartage to Fremantle. In 1937, CBH built a bulk bin at the siding. The siding consisted of the bin, weighbridge (where the bin attendant slept) stockyards for loading stock, and a goods shed where farmers collected their goods. The railway line was closed on the 30 June 1957, however on the 15 January 1960, the line was re-instated for a trial between Hyden and Lake Grace. It has remained operation for the cartage of grain and superphosphate since that time.

Historic Themes

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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.