Mullewa–Meekatharra railway

The Mullewa–Cue Railway Act 1894, an act by the Parliament of Western Australia assented to on 23 November 1894, authorised the construction of the railway line from Mullewa to Cue.{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a3188.html |title=Mullewa–Cue Railway Act 1894 |author= |date=23 November 1894 |website=www.legislation.wa.gov.au |publisher=Government of Western Australia |access-date=31 July 2024 |quote=}}

Earlier in 1894, a syndicate of interstate investors headed by Charles G. Lush had proposed to build a private line, however on 30 May 1894, John Forrest the premier had stated that the government had decided to construct the line.{{Citation | author1=Lush, Charles G | author2=Western Australia | title=Correspondence between Mr. Lush and the government with reference to construction of Mullewa-Cue railway | publication-date=1894 | publisher=Govt. Pr | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/22333862 | access-date=24 September 2024}}

The contract to construct the first section of the railway line from Mullewa to Cue was awarded to Baxter & Prince on 16 December 1895, with the line officially opened on 1 July 1898.Opening dates for sections from 12. Construction of the W.A. Government Railways network, 1879 - 1931, pages 208-210 {{Citation |last1=Gunzburg |first1=Adrian |last2=Austin |first2=Jeff |author3=Rail Heritage WA |last4=Gunzburg |first4=Adrian |title=Rails through the bush: timber and firewood tramways and railway contractors of Western Australia | date=2008 | publisher=Rail Heritage WA | edition=2nd | isbn=978-0-9803922-2-7 }}

The Cue–Nannine Railway Act 1896, assented to on 27 October 1896, authorised the construction of the railway line extension from Cue to Nannine.{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a3273.html |title=Cue–Nannine Railway Act 1896 |author= |date=27 October 1896 |website=www.legislation.wa.gov.au |publisher=Government of Western Australia |access-date=31 July 2024 |quote=}} The second section from Cue to Nannine was awarded on 22 April 1901, now to the Western Australian Public Works Department (PWD). The line was officially opened on 1 June 1903.

The Nannine–Meekatharra Railway Act 1909, assented to on 6 February 1909, authorised the construction of the railway line extension from Nannine to Meekatharra.{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a143242.html |title=Nannine–Meekatharra Railway Act 1909 |author= |date=6 February 1909 |website=www.legislation.wa.gov.au |publisher=Government of Western Australia |access-date=31 July 2024 |quote=}} The contract for the final section from Nannine to Meekatharra was awarded on 29 October 1909, now to Smith & Timms. This section was opened on 11 August 1910.

The Mount Magnet to Sandstone was a branch railway that connected with the Mullewa to Meekatharra railway line at Mount Magnet.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article67239270 |title=Sandstone Railway. |newspaper=Geraldton Guardian and Express |location=WA |date=22 July 1933 |accessdate=25 July 2012 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} The Mt. Magnet-Black Range Railway Act 1907, assented to on 20 December 1907, authorised the construction of the railway line,{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a143224.html |title=Mt. Magnet-Black Range Railway Act 1907 |author= |date=23 December 1927 |website=www.legislation.wa.gov.au |publisher=Government of Western Australia |access-date=1 August 2024 |quote=}} while the Railway (Mt.Magnet-Black Range) Discontinuance Act 1948, assented to on 21 January 1949, permitted its discontinuation. More specifically, the act permitted the removal of the line to be used for the construction or maintenance of other railway lines in the state, or to be sold by the ministry of railways.{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a144856.html |title=Railway (Mt.Magnet-Black Range) Discontinuance Act 1948 |author= |date=21 January 1949 |website=www.legislation.wa.gov.au |publisher=Government of Western Australia |access-date=1 August 2024 |quote=}}

The Meekatharra-Horseshoe Railway Act 1920, assented to on 31 December 1920, authorised the construction of the railway line from Meekatharra to the Horseshoe mine, north-west of Peak Hill.{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a143774.html |title=Meekatharra-Horseshoe Railway Act 1920 |author= |date=31 December 1920 |website=www.legislation.wa.gov.au |publisher=Government of Western Australia |access-date=31 July 2024 |quote=}} The private {{convert|85|mi|km}}-long railway was short-lived, existing from 1927 until 1933, when the company mining manganese went into receivership.{{cite web |url=https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/public/inventory/details/f0df7411-bf05-4c47-b85e-14796881573b |title=Peak Hill |author= |date= |website=inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au |publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia |access-date=31 July 2024|quote=}}{{Citation | title=Horseshoe Manganese Deposits - Building the new railway |newspaper=Geraldton Guardian | publication-date=16 June 1927 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/67173257 | access-date=31 July 2024}}

The Meekatharra to Wiluna railway was an extension of the line in operation between 1932 and 1957. Constructed of this extension was authorised through the Meekatharra-Wiluna Railway Act 1927, which was assented to on 23 December 1927.{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a144081.html |title=Meekatharra-Wiluna Railway Act 1927 |author= |date=23 December 1927 |website=www.legislation.wa.gov.au |publisher=Government of Western Australia |access-date=1 August 2024 |quote=}}

The Cue to Big Bell branch railway line{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41262195 |title=Big Bell Railway. |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=21 December 1936 |accessdate=25 July 2012 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}} was authorised for construction through the Cue-Big Bell Railway Act 1936, assented to on 3 November 1936. Prior to this, on 5 March 1936, the Western Australian government had entered an agreement with the American Smelting and Refining Company to build the railway to Big Bell.{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a144396.html |title=Cue-Big Bell Railway Act 1936 |author= |date=3 November 1936 |website=www.legislation.wa.gov.au |publisher=Government of Western Australia |access-date=1 August 2024 |quote=}}

{{see also|Northern Railway (Western Australia)#Northern Railway}}

The Mullewa station was connected to both Geraldton, through the Geraldton to Mullewa railway line, and to Perth, and Meekatharra was not the final location of the line, but Wiluna – further east.

The Mullewa to Meekatharra line was regularly affected by washaways during wet weather.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27479338 |title=STATE PARLIAMENT. |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=30 May 1918 |accessdate=25 July 2012 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article78953112 |title=RAILWAY WASHAWAY. |newspaper=Daily News |location=Perth |date=1 February 1928 |accessdate=25 July 2012 |page=6 Edition: HOME (FINAL) EDITION |via=National Library of Australia}}

The Mullewa to Meekatharra line was closed on 1 May 1978.{{Citation | author1=Western Australian Railways Institute | title=RIM | publication-date=1977 | publisher=The Institute | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/13320053 | accessdate=25 July 2012 }} – May 1978 – front page The Last Farewell – Mullewa Meekatharra line closes, photos front cover and page 7 – including XA 1405 at head of final train

The Railways Discontinuance Act 1980, assented to on 15 October 1980, authorised he discontinuance of the railway line from Pindar to Meekatharra.{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a662.html |title=Railways Discontinuance Act 1980 |author= |date=15 October 1980 |website=www.legislation.wa.gov.au |publisher=Government of Western Australia |access-date=13 August 2024 |quote=}}

Mullewa to Meekatharra line sections:details from page 69 {{Citation | author1=Quinlan, Howard | author2=Newland, John R | author3=Australian Railway Historical Society. New South Wales Division | title=Australian railway routes 1854 to 2000 | year=2000 | publication-date=2000 | publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society – New South Wales Division | isbn=978-0-909650-49-0 }}

• Mullewa, opened 1894 –
• Mullewa–Pindar – opened 1 July 1898 – closed November 1996
• Pindar–Cue – opened 1 July 1898 date identified with photo differently {{Citation | author1=HRRC | title=Opening of the Cue-Mullewa Railway at Cue, 20 April 1897 | publication-date=1897 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8740059 | access-date=29 July 2024}} – closed 29 April 1978
• : Mount Magnet – junction with Sandstone branch railway – 1 August 1910 – closed 28 May 1949
• Cue–Nannine – opened 1 June 1903 – closed 29 April 1978
• : Cue – branch line to Big Bell, Western Australia – opened 2 August 1938 date identified with article different {{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article257506136 |title=THE BIG BELL |newspaper=Murchison Times And Cue-big Bell-reedy Advocate |volume=43 |issue=508 |location=Western Australia |date=18 September 1937 |accessdate=29 July 2024 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}– closed 1 January 1956
• Nannine–Meekatharra – opened 11 August 1910 – closed 29 April 1978
• Meekatharra – continued to Wiluna Branch Railway – opened 2 November 1932 – closed 5 August 1957

File:Iron tank on stand, Yalgoo, September 2021 08.jpg

While all other trace of the former railway has disappeared from contemporary Western Australian railway maps, the {{convert|30|km|mi}} section from Mullewa to Pindar is designated as "Not in use" on the Public Transport Authority and Arc Infrastructure and maps.{{cite web|url=https://www.arcinfra.com/ARCInfrastructure/media/documents/Network%20Specifications/20221129_Arc_Map_Network.pdf|title=Arc Map Network|access-date=2 August 2024}}{{cite web |title=Public Transport Authority: Railway System: April 2019 |url=https://pta.wa.gov.au/Portals/15/AA_DOCUMENTS/Our_system/Freight%20network/PTA%20Rail%20Network%20Map_2019.pdf |website=Public Transport Authority |access-date=2 August 2024}}

A number of buildings and installations associated with the railway line continue to exist and are heritage listed.

The Mullewa railway station group is on the Western Australian State Register of Heritage Places, consisting of the station, goods shed and water tank. The station was completed in 1915 and remained operational until 1974.{{cite web |url=https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/bd8db994-a921-496b-820f-99508364be93|title=Shire of Mount Magnet Heritage Places|author= |website=inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au |publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia |access-date=29 July 2024 }}

Further east along the line, at Yalgoo, the railway station group is also on the State Register of Heritage Places. It consists of two water tanks, a station and a hotel.{{cite web |url=https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/9a5d1bec-8ef7-48c3-937a-b3ed7bfc2637|title=Yalgoo Railway Station Group|author= |website=inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au |publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia |access-date=29 July 2024 }}

At Mount Magnet, the railway station and platform, railway dam, railway bridge and the railway workers houses are on the Shire of Mount Magnet heritage list.{{cite web |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Search/Results?newSearch=True&placeNameContains=&streetNameContains=&suburbOrTownContains=&lgaContains=magnet&isCurrentlyStateRegistered=false|title=Shire of Mount Magnet Heritage Places|author= |website=inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au |publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia |access-date=29 July 2024 }}

In the town of Cue, the railway station is also on the State Register of Heritage Places, which also includes workers cottages, the loading ramp and the station master's house.{{cite web |url=https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/3c99214f-19bb-41bb-aa47-32062f630613|title=Cue Railway Station (former)|author= |website=inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au |publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia |access-date=29 July 2024 }}

At Meekatharra, the railway buildings, consisting of the station, a goods shed and a station masters house are on the Shire of Meekatharra heritage list.{{cite web |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Search/Results?newSearch=True&placeNameContains=&streetNameContains=&suburbOrTownContains=&lgaContains=Meekatharra&isCurrentlyStateRegistered=false|title=Shire of Meekatharra Heritage Places|author= |website=inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au |publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia |access-date=29 July 2024}} Meekatharra's rail infrastructure was actually enlarged after the line to Wiluna closed in 1957 as it became an important hub for transporting equipment for the developing iron ore mines in the Pilbara. This only changed with the roads in the region improving in the 1970s, which moved transport from the rail to the road.{{cite web |url=https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/2123cf4d-8fd2-42b6-8f46-d1cd508d61f3 |title=Railway buildings|author= |website=inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au |publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia |access-date=29 July 2024 }}

• Western Australian Government Railways
• Rail transport in Western Australia
• Midland Railway Company of Western Australia

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{{refbegin}}

• {{Affleck-On Track}}
• {{MayGray-WAGRPassCar}}
• Quinlan, Howard & Newland, John R. Australian Railway Routes 1854–2000 2000. {{ISBN|0-909650-49-7}}

{{refend}}

• [http://heritage.wa.gov.au/register/PDF_Files/R%20-%20A-D/13253%20RwCottBluffPt(P-AD).PDF http://heritage.wa.gov.au/register/PDF_Files/R%20-%20A-D/13253%20RwCottBluffPt(P-AD).PDF]

{{Railway lines in Western Australia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mullewa-Meekatharra railway}}

Category:Railway lines in Mid West (Western Australia)

Category:Railway lines opened in 1910

Category:Railway lines closed in 1978

Category:Former Western Australian Government Railways railway lines

Category:1910 establishments in Australia