Rail Geelong

Irrewarra Station

• Branch line
• Decline
• Location Events
• Photos
• Sources

The station was opened as part of the Geelong to Colac extension on October 1, 1877 as Ondit. The name was changed on August 7, 1889 when the branch line to Beeac was opened, and an intermediate station on the line took the name. Initial facilities at the station included a 200 foot passenger platform with shelter on the main line, and a goods shed with platform and livestock loading yards on a loop siding. Irrewarra was made a staff and ticket station on July 1, 1878 with two home signals provided at the same time. A proper station building and passenger facilities were provided in 1880.

Branch line

Irrewarra was once the junction for the line north to Beeac and Cressy, and then on to Newtown and Ballarat. The junction was located at the Geelong end of the station, and faced Colac. When the branch to Beeac was opened in 1889 it branched from the main line at the east side of the station, with the only change being an additional home signal on the branch line.

Staff and ticket safeworking was altered to electric staff on the Colac - Irrewarra section on November 1, 1899 with the section Irrewarra - Birregurra following on March 29, 1900. In 1906 a staff exchange box was provided in what could be one of the earliest in the state, and plunger locking of the Colac end points was provided on December 9, 1909.

When the Beeac line was extended though to Ballarat in 1911 the station became a major junction, and in 1913-14 the station was redesigned, with the platform extended to 350 feet and an interlocked signal box provided. By 1915 Irrewarra had a four road yard with a dead end extension for the livestock races, and an enlarged station building. The interlocking was commissioned on August 5, 1915.

Trains on the branch line left their wagons at Irrewarra, which would then be picked up byy the main line train. Freight traffic at the station rose from 1920 when the Irrewarra pastoral run was subdivided and occupied by 50 soldier settlers.

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Decline

A scissors crossover was located at the up end of the station, but was replaced by two separate crossovers in 1923 to reduce maintenance costs. The large electric staff instruments were replaced by miniature instruments on September 19, 1928 on the sections Colac - Irrewarra - Birregurra.

A fire destroyed the signal box and station office in January 1939 and for the next three yards essential signals were worked from levers on the platform. The signal box was rebuilt and recommissioned on March 12, 1942. The new box permitted Irrewarra to switch out when no crossings or branch line traffic was running.

The branch line was closed in 1953, resulting in the rationalisation of facilities at Irrewarra including the removal of the interlocking on August 21, 1954. However the home signal on the branch remained until January 1957. The station closed to all traffic on August 22, 1958 but remained in use as a crossing station during holiday periods until the electric staff instruments were removed on November 24, 1960. The remain siding was removed after this time.

Today a 'Irrewarra' station sign marks the former station site.

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Events

Line Opened

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Photos

7 images found. These will open in a new window

West from Warrowie Road level crossing	East from Warrowie Road level crossing	Irrewarra station signboard
Warrowie Road level crossing	Looking down the line from the Colac - Ballarat Road level crossing	Extra high lights at the Colac - Ballarat Road level crossing
Colac - Ballarat Road level crossing

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Sources

• Andrew Waugh - http://www.vrhistory.com/
• Cross Country: Norman Houghton and Jack McLean
• Newsrail - October 2005, page 302. 'Birregurra: Change for Forrest', Rod Milne