Snapshot of the past
A photograph of the Longwarry railway siding c1900.
It was not so much a case of when the railway came to Longwarry, but more when Longwarry came to the railway.
Initially land travel through the district was via a rough track called the Telegraph Track. It was constructed when the state government decided quick communication with the eastern part of the state was needed. By 1864, a telegraph line had been constructed as far as Sale and on to Port Albert.
The need for a better road became even more obvious with gold mining at Walhalla. It was virtually impossible to move mining machinery to Walhalla or safely bring gold ore to Melbourne along the Telegraph Track.
By 1865, the first reasonable road from Melbourne to Sale was constructed and a Cobb and Co coach service operated along a rough road - offering a very uncomfortable 24-hour trip to Sale. As a result, a number of coach stops, blacksmiths and other businesses opened up along the road.
Motorists can still travel along Sale Rd. It is located north of Longwarry and runs through Drouin West and Buln Buln. At times, it incorporates parts of the Old Telegraph Rd.
The Land Acts of the 1860s and 70s meant small farming leases were taken up in Gippsland and around Longwarry district. Timber, beef, dairy and other industries developed to support the population for the growing city of Melbourne.
The state government decided to open a rail link from Oakleigh, where the Melbourne rail lines finished, to Moe. This would enable a passenger service and also carry goods and produce back to the city.
The proposal had some resistance amongst the politicians, especially from wealthy sheep graziers to the west of Melbourne.
However, the people of Melbourne couldn’t eat wool, so funding was approved to open up a rail line to fertile farm land in Gippsland.
Construction began from both ends and a railway camp of construction men, their wives and children was set up at The Rock Cutting, east of what is now Longwarry. It was accessed via Hammond Rd which runs off the Drouin-Longwarry Rd.
The line reached Bunyip in October 1877, and the next stage to cross the Bunyip River commenced. Finally, the first train crossed the river on March 1, 1878 and ran through what is now Longwarry station.
This significantly moved development from the Sale Rd to the rail line. By 1884, Longwarry Timber Company, Witton Brickworks and a beef pastoral lease Longwarry Station set up beside the new rail siding.
A detailed 1886 Lands Department survey showed the township of Longwarry had 98 residential blocks of which 47 had been purchased by just 26 people.
Longwarry had arrived at the railway line. Photograph and information courtesy of the Longwarry and District History Group.
The group focuses on the history of the 3816 postcode, including Longwarry, Labertouche and Modella, and is always seeking new members and sponsorship.