Freshwater railway station, Queensland

Freshwater railway station is on the Cairns-to-Kuranda railway line (part of the Tablelands railway line) in Queensland, Australia. It is located at Kamerunga Road, Freshwater in Cairns.[1]

Freshwater
Freshwater railway station, 2015
LocationKamerunga Road, Freshwater, Cairns
Cairns Region, Queensland
Australia
Coordinates16°52′51″S 145°42′35″E
Owned byQueensland Rail
Operated byQueensland Rail
Line(s)Tablelands
Kuranda
Platforms1
Tracks1
Construction
Structure typeground
History
Rebuilt2018
Traffic
Passengers (2018)240,000 annually
Services
Preceding station   Queensland Rail   Following station
Terminus
Kuranda Scenic Railway
Kuranda
Terminus
Location
Freshwater
Location within Queensland

Services

Although located in the suburb of Freshwater, it does not currently provide any commuter services. It is only used by Kuranda Scenic Railway tourist service which stops at this station and approximately 60% of the annual 400,000 tourists board the scenic railway service at this station.[2]

History
Freshwater railway station, trackside, 2018

The Tablelands railway line was built to provide transport between the mines near Herberton and the Cairns Port. The contract for the first 8 miles from Cairns railway station to Redlynch railway station (passing through Freshwater) was opened on 8 October 1887.[3] During the construction of the line, in March 1887, heavy rain caused the flooding of Freshwater Creek; at the point where the railway line crossed the creek, there was 8 feet (2.4 m) of water over the line.[4] Shortly after the line was opened, further heavy rains damaged the approaches to the railway bridge over Freshwater Creek.[5] Another 8 feet (2.4 m) of flooding occurred again at the Freshwater Creek crossing in January 1888.[6]

When the railway line opened, there were a number of railway sidings along the line: Stratford (5 miles from Cairns), Lily Bank (6 miles from Cairns), and Richmond (7 miles from Cairns). Richmond Siding was renamed Freshwater Siding in January 1890.[7] The development of the railway line had encouraged land developers to release land subdivision called Richmond Park Estate which was sold from 1886 with advertising featuring the forthcoming Richmond Park railway station and its ten minute rail journey to Cairns; this explains the original name of the siding.[8]

In September 2018, a $4.8 million refurbishment was completed at Freshwater station. The work included extending the station platform to provide access to all 15 passager carriages on the Kuranda Scenic Rail service as well as improving bus and car parking facilities and additional facilities to assist disabled passengers.[2]

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References
  1. "Freshwater - railway station in Cairns Region (entry 13208)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  2. Bailey, Mark (13 September 2018). "$4.8 million facelift for Freshwater train station complete". Media Statements. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  3. "Cairns Railway, Section from Redlynch to Crooked Creek Bridge (entry 600755)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  4. "Local Items". Cairns Post. IV (203). Queensland, Australia. 31 March 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Brisbane". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay And Burnett Advertiser (4, 474). Queensland, Australia. 29 November 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "The Brisbane Courier". The Brisbane Courier. XLIV (9, 359). Queensland, Australia. 13 January 1888. p. 4. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "The Cairns Range Railway". Stratford History Trail. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  8. "Advertising". Cairns Post. III (152). Queensland, Australia. 8 April 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.

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