Mungar Junction to Monto Branch Railway

The Mungar Junction to Monto Branch Railway is in Queensland, Australia. Having lost out to Bundaberg for a rail link to Mount Perry, Maryborough turned the tables by securing a link to the Central and Upper Burnett districts of Queensland, where minerals had been found. Progressively opened between 1889 and 1928 the line branched from the North Coast line at Mungar Junction a short distance west of Maryborough and struck a north-westerly route towards Biggenden and Gayndah before continuing on via Mundubbera and Eidsvold to Monto. No less than eleven stages were constructed along its 267 kilometre path. The line is now closed to passengers. A goods train ferries mainly timber and produce.

Opening

To Brooweena

The first section from Mungar Junction to Brooweena was opened on 29 July 1889 and sidings were established at Pilerwa, Yerra, Thinoomba, Hunter’s Hut and Aramara. Originally called Teebar and later known as Clifton and then Woocoo , Brooweena (perhaps an Aboriginal word for “crab” or “crayfish”) acquired that name in 1890. Brooweena has always relied heavily on the local sawmill and the railway provided ready transport of timber.

To Boompa, Biggenden and Degilbo

Opened on 1 March 1891 the second stage brought the line a short distance to Boompa and, on 13 April 1891, via Lakeside to the larger settlement of Biggenden. The fourth stage saw the line opened a short distance west of Biggenden to Degilbo (then known as Woowoonga) on 1 April 1893. A very busy railhead thrived and goods were reconsigned by wagon to the likes of Gayndah, Mundubbera and Eidsvold.

To Wetheron and Gayndah

The next two stages were opened to Wetheron on 21 December 1905 and to Gayndah on 16 December 1907. The line passed through small sidings at Muan, Chowey, Didcot, Gooroolba and Byrnestown en route to Wetheron and at Mount Lawless, Dappil and Ideraway en route to Gayndah. Gayndah apparently takes its name from the local Aboriginal word for “thunder” and is at the heart of a large citrus growing area. It is Queensland’s oldest provincial town and was once favoured to be the state capital.

To Boomerang

Some six years passed before the seventh stage to Boomerang was opened on 1 November 1913 passing through Banapan, Dirnbir, Mount Debateable and Humphrey. The next stage saw the opening of the line to Philpott Creek and Mundubbera on 3 February 1914. Freight transport increased as two sawmills consigned timber east and frequent shipments of cattle and pigs occurred.

To Ceratodus, Mulgildie and Monto

The balance of the line to Monto was opened in three stages – to Ceratodus on 26 April 1924, to Mulgildie on 20 June 1927 and finally to Monto on 15 September 1928. Stops were established at Lacon, Riverleigh, O’Bil Bil, Malmoe, Grosvenor and Eidsvold en route to Ceratodus as part of stage nine. Ceratodus takes its name from the lungfish (neoceratodus forsteri) an air-breathing fish which inhabits the nearby Burnett River. The Archer brothers settled the Eidsvold region in 1848. Although of Scottish origin, they later moved to Norway. Eidsvold is named after a small Norwegian town where that country’s constitution was signed. Sidings were built at Jirette, Cynthia, Abercorn, Anyarro, Kapaldo and Selene when stage ten to Mulgildie (spelt “Mulgeldie” until 1945 ) was completed. The eleventh and final stage saw the line terminate via Three Moon at Monto. The journey from Brisbane to Monto by mixed train took some fourteen hours or, by connecting with the mail train at Mungar, twenty-one hours.

Other lines

Overlapping development of the Mungar Junction to Monto link was construction of a branch line from Byellee (near Gladstone) south-west to Monto between 1910 and 1931. Completion of that line thus provided a semi-circular inland link between Maryborough and Gladstone. Because light track was laid between Mungar Junction and Mundubbera, the route was never an alternative when floods or derailments blocked the North Coast line.

Plans for another track to approach Monto from the north did not eventuate. A line from Rannes and Thangool (the Callide Valley Branch Railway) terminated at Lawgi a short distance to the north.

See also

• Rail transport in Queensland

References

• "Sweat Steam & Soot" by Neville Rackemann 1988 Bundaberg Railway Enthusiasts Society

• "Triumph of Narrow Gauge: A History of Queensland Railways" by John Kerr 1990 Boolarong Press, Brisbane

External links

• Queensland Rail, Mungar, photo