ABOUT OUR RAILWAY STATION
The railway line to Casterton was opened in September 1884.
Construction of the Railway Station started in 1886. A.C. Findley constructed it and the Architect/Designer was Robert Watson.
The Architectural style is known as Victorian Period Gothic Revival (1851-1901)
The opening ceremony consisted of a banquet; the principal guest was the Hon. W. Shiels M.L.A, representative of Normanby.
A mixed Passenger–goods train continued to operate on the Casterton Line until 1949 when the passenger service was withdrawn.
On the 15th March 1954, a rail–car service between Branxholme and Casterton was started on a trial basis. Unfortunately, this was also removed on 31st July 1954.
Goods trains continued to use the line until 1977, with the railway station closing on 3rd March 1977.
The magnificent old railway bridge spanning the Glenelg River, just south of the railway station was sold for removal in 1986, a little over a century after being built.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
"It comprises a substantial standard building with a cast iron platform verandah. The detail to the entrance gable end and booking lobby remains intact.
Casterton Railway Station is historically significant in recalling the dominance of the port of Portland as an outlet to the Glenelg and Wannon River, wool and livestock traffic as well as the rivalry for traffic shown by the South Australian Railways and the town of Hamilton. It is also historically significant as an important example of a standard station building that arose from the ‘Octopus’ Act of 1884.
The Railway Station is architecturally significant as a substantially intact example of the ‘Casterton Style’ of railway buildings. The ‘Casterton Style’ represents the first departure from the previous Classical/Italianate station designs to use the Gothic and Tudor detailing. The stations were typically located at major points on the main lines.”
Source: Government Buildings Register Review of Country Railway Places – Former Casterton Railway Station Complex, Beeston, R., 1995.| STATION MASTERS 1925-1977 | ||
|---|---|---|
| NAME | From | To |
| MINTY, D.G. | 17-07-1925 | 06-09-1926 |
| FITZGIBBON, E. M. | 03-09-1926 | 16-09-1926 |
| NORWOOD, L. | 13-09-1926 | 11-06-1929 |
| LARKINS, A. | 01-07-1929 | 23-09-1931 |
| CLARKE, J. | 22-09-1931 | 13-10-1933 |
| SMITH, A. G. | 02-11-1933 | 25-05-1948 |
| COOPER, E. | 15-06-1948 | 07-08-1950 |
| CEACH ?, J. A. | 05-08-1950 | 15-10-1953 |
| COLEMAN, A. J. | 15-10-1953 | 04-05-1955 |
| HUON ?, L. W. | 05-05-1955 | 16-04-1958 |
| SMITH, W. J. | 16-04-1958 | 26-04-1961 |
| HEDGES, W. L. | 01-05-1961 | 02-08-1966 |
| WILLIAMSON, A. S. | 21-09-1966 | 25-10-1967 |
| NELSON, L. J. | 01-03-1968 | 14-04-1975 |
| WILLIAMS, C. | 15-04-1975 | ??-??-19?? |
| POVEY, J. M. | ??-??-19?? | 14-03-1977 |
The station is 245 mls from Melbourne (20 chains) All Stations Masters resided at the Department Residence, which, consisted of a 6-room home. 2- 18x12 and 4- 12x10 rooms C.W. & Bathroom, Water and Electric Light, later an electric hot water service was added, they lived rent-free. | ||