The Wooloongabba Branch railway line was a

branch line A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line. Branch lines may serve one or more industries, or a city or town not located ...

off the South Coast railway line in the inner southern suburbs of

Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

, Australia. It opened on 2 June 1884 to serve the wharves and industries along the

Brisbane River The Brisbane River (Turrbal language, Turrbal: ) is the longest river in South East Queensland, Australia. It flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay on the Coral Sea. John Oxley, the first European to explore the ...

Woolloongabba Woolloongabba ( ) is an inner southern Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Woolloongabba had a population of 8,687 people. Geography Woolloongabba is located by road south of the ...

and

South Brisbane South Brisbane is an inner southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , South Brisbane had a population of 14,292 people. Geography South Brisbane is on the southern bank of the Brisbane River, bounded to the nor ...

.''The Wooloongabba Branch'' Milne, Rod

Australian Railway History ''Australian Railway History'' is a monthly magazine covering railway history in Australia, published by the New South Wales Division of the Australian Railway Historical Society on behalf of its state and territory Divisions. History and prof ...

, August 2004 pp. 283–301 Queensland Railways always referred to the line as the Wooloongabba Branch (with one 'l'), despite the official spelling of the suburb it ran through being Woolloongabba (spelt with two 'l's).

Approval and construction

A railway from the Western line to

was first proposed in 1878. A railway from South Brisbane Junction (now Corinda station) to Stanley Street railway station was approved by the Queensland Parliament on 17 September 1881. The first sod was turned in October 1882. The line was built to provide a connection for Ipswich area coal mines exporting from and/or refueling ships at the wharves. The South Brisbane Wharf Branch extension was proposed in 1889 and costings were made in 1892.

Route

The branch ran from Boggo Junction (now

Dutton Park Dutton Park is an inner southern Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Dutton Park had a population of 2,134 people. Geography Dutton Park is located about south of the Brisbane ...

) and ran under the Cleveland line. There was passenger station at

Albert Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert Computers, Inc., a computer manufacturer in the 1980s * Albert Czech Republic, a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street mar ...

and a passenger terminus at Stanley Street near the South Brisbane Dry Dock (now the

Queensland Maritime Museum The Queensland Maritime Museum is located on the southern bank of the Brisbane River just south of the South Bank Parklands and Queensland Cultural Centre precinct of Brisbane, and close to the Goodwill Bridge. The museum was founded in 1971 an ...

). The major locomotive depot for the southern half of Brisbane's suburban network was at "Wooloongabba". The line was extended to the State Fish Market near Victoria Bridge, opening on 30 March 1897 with the first consignment of goods on 12 April. Stanley Street was the terminus for passenger trains south of the

until the opening of Melbourne Street station.

Closure

The South Brisbane Wharf Branch beyond Stanley Street closed in January 1960. Woolongabba locomotive depot closed on 22 September 1967. Wheat traffic to the South Brisbane flour mills was transferred to South Brisbane station and limestone to Roma Street from October 1969. Much of the goods traffic was transferred from Woolongabba to the new goods yard at Moolabin from December 1969 and much of the line closed on the 19th of that month. The line beyond Albert was dismantled in early 1970.''Sunshine Express'', March 1970. The last section between Dutton Park and Albert closed in 1989.

References

External links

1925 map of the Queensland railway system
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wooloongabba Branch railway line Closed railway lines in Queensland Public transport in Brisbane Railway lines opened in 1884 Railway lines closed in 1989 3 ft 6 in gauge railways in Australia 1884 establishments in Australia 1989 disestablishments in Australia Woolloongabba