Hoyleton railway station explained

Hoyleton
Type:Former Australian National regional rail
Address:Charles Terrace, Hoyleton, South Australia
Coordinates:-34.0252°N 138.5607°W
Owned:South Australian Railways 1869 - 1978 Australian National 1978 - 1989
Operator:South Australian Railways 1869 - 1978 Australian National 1978 - 1986
Distance:116 kilometres from Adelaide
Platform:2
Tracks:2
Structure:Ground
Status:Demolished
Opened:1869
Closed:29 March 1989

Hoyleton railway station was located on the Hamley Bridge-Gladstone railway line. It served the town of Hoyleton

History

Opening

Hoyleton railway station opened on 21 August 1869 when an isolated horse-drawn tramway was built to deliver grain from the plains east of Port Wakefield in the areas of Balaklava, Halbury and Hoyle's Plains (now Hoyleton) to that port.[1] [2] The line from Hoyleton to Balaklava eventually became a part of the Hamley Bridge-Gladstone railway line when that line was extended to Gladstone on 2 July 1894.[3] The railway facilities at Hoyleton consisted of a ticket office, platforms for loading and unloading freight and passengers and a goods shed.[4] The goods shed was constructed by S.Saunders from Port Wakefield, this solid building protected all goods required within a large area, and initially served the community as a meeting place, entertainment area, House ofWorship and Sunday School.[5]

Closure and demolition

In 1978, the station and all associated infrastructure was included in the transfer of South Australian Railways to Australian National. For various reasons, the line through Hoyleton had become obsolete and was removed by late 1989.

Present day

The original historic stone railway shed remains standing alongside the grain silos which are still in use, but now serviced by road.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: PORT WAKEFIELD RAILWAY. . . XII . 3385 . South Australia . 21 August 1869 . 24 September 2018 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: THE PORT WAKEFIELD AND HOYLE'S PLAINS TRAMWAY, AND THE DISTRICT THROUGH WHICH IT PASSES. . . VI . 1,808 . South Australia . 27 November 1869 . 24 September 2018 . 2 (SECOND EDITION) . National Library of Australia.
  3. Hamley Bridge to Balaklava railway 26 November 1869
  4. Hoyleton Railway Station, Wakefield, State of South Australia, Australia
  5. Hoyleton Railway Goods Shed
  6. https://www.bushtrackerownersgroup.asn.au/places/151237/sa+hoyleton-railways-goods-shed