Mornington Train Crash (Historic Site)

Statement of Significance

• The place has historic value as the location of an horrific event which was significant to the community for the loss of life.

Physical Description

Remnant structures degrading within the predominantly rural landscape of grass and mature trees. (note the site was not accessed for this assessment and photographs were sourced from a 2002 report)

History

After dark on Saturday, November 6th 1920, Mornington Mill’s famous locomotive, 'The Jubilee', left the mill with 29 trucks carrying 4,000 sleepers, weighing about 610 tons. It was the last load for the week and riding on the sleepers were mill hands, hitching a ride to their customary Saturday night out at the Wokalup Hotel. The train gathered speed on the decline and went out of control. It was estimated to have reached 140 kilometres per hour before it derailed on a bend about 9 p.m. The resulting pile-up twisted the engine and tender into a ‘V’ shape as trucks and timber smashed into a heap of destruction reported at 40 metres long and 7 metres high. One survivor walked into Wokalup to raise the alarm. At 10 p.m. Mornington Mill’s whistle summoned volunteers. From there and Wokalup, 150 men responded and worked by lantern light through the night, freeing the victims. The last body was recovered the following afternoon. The injured were taken by trolley to Wokalup, then train to Bunbury Hospital. The final total death toll was reported to be 10 and this tragic event remains the highest death toll by train in Western Australia. The Jubilee was repaired and continued to serve for many more years.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low/ Low

Condition

N/A

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update