The dramatic celebrations of the opening of Australia’s first viable mainline railway on 25th June, 1857
By mid-1856, the railway from Geelong to Melbourne was complete except for track to be laid between Werribee River and Williamstown Junction. A few months later services to Lara (then Duck Ponds) began and in spite of drainage problems identified by a government survey, were extended to Little River in January 1857.
At that time the Geelong region embraced the unspoiled realm of nature itself – the vast plain of Lara in the north, the Barrabool Hills in the west and vibrant wetlands stretching down the bay to coastal reserves in the south. The area was a water wonderland where seagulls and pelicans scavenged and migratory birds rested and fed to prepare for their onward journeys… and that is also, precisely what a party of 500 worthies, ‘including a significant sprinkling of ladies and legislators’ wished to do. They had journeyed for several hours aboard the small steamer, ‘Citizen’ from Melbourne to Greenwich (later named Newport) and now eagerly awaited their connecting train. But fate and enthusiastic but inexperienced directors, had intervened – there were at least two separate timetable schedules operating that day… with degrees of incompatibility.
Their spirits must have lifted as they heard the distant puffing and saw the smokey wreaths of a train approaching. Alas, it was full of enthusiastic and happy excursioners not in the least disposed to yield their carriages to such august travellers. What a sight they must have presented – 500 toffs, resplendent in their top hats and tails, ladies with parasols, bonnets and crinoline gowns. The 53 miles (66 km) to Geelong probably seemed to the VIPs like one hundred and fifty three. At 2 pm empty carriages arrived but without a proper platform the passengers had to struggle through ‘viscid and adhesive mud’ to climb aboard the train. By the time they arrived at Geelong at five past 4 in the afternoon, they were a ‘shivering and hungry company’ in need of food and warmth. Before they could alight, however, they had to fight off a crowd of men and boys who wanted to get in before they got out. The final insult was to find‘… only the sad scene of what must have been well laid out tables – before 2500 ‘other’ people sat down to feast…’
Amidst the farce and humour we may see in the dashing of such great expectations, a serious and sad accident had occurred. Henry Walter, the Geelong and Melbourne Company’s engine superintendent, who had spent many hours personally decorating company locos, was knocked off the foot plate of one whilst it passed under a bridge; he died soon after. There were more accidents to follow and though the inexperienced design of Snell, the chief engineer, has been identified as probable cause, the Company simply failed to realise that running a railway was extremely costly, demanding many skilled operators to present a successful service. The Company’s financial position continued to deteriorate until 1860 when it was taken over by the government.
It was by no means a complete loss. Construction of the line from Melbourne to Geelong had been accomplished at reasonable cost and provided an invaluable start to the Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat Railway.
A Historical reimagining of the event based on an article in the Argus of 26 June.
Paul Burke