Newmarket railway station, Melbourne

Newmarket station opened on 1 November 1860, just over a week after the railway line to Essendon opened as part of the private Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company. The station closed with the line on 1 July 1864, but was reopened on 9 October 1871, under government ownership.{{cite book|last=Turton|first=Keith W|title=Six And A Half Inches From Destiny. The first hundred years of the Melbourne-Wodonga Railway 1873-1973|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society|year=1973|isbn=0-85849-012-9|pages=23, 86}} The name of the station comes from the fact that land was granted in 1858 for the establishment of the Newmarket Saleyards and the Melbourne City Abattoir.{{Cite web|url=https://esshissoc.org.au/localhistory/placenames/|title=Place Names|last=|first=|date=|website=Essendon Historical Society|access-date=24 December 2022}} Both the abattoir and saleyards opened in 1861, with livestock relocating from the "old market" on the corner of Elizabeth and Victoria Streets, near the Melbourne CBD.{{Cite web|url=https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM01056b.htm|title=Newmarket Saleyards|last=|first=|date=|website=eMelbourne|access-date=24 December 2022}}

In 1886, a permanent station building was built and, in 1925, the present buildings were provided. In 1880, interlocking and a signal box, for the Flemington Racecourse line junction, were brought into use and, in 1969, became remotely controlled from Kensington.

During April and May 1994, the timber decking across Racecourse Road was replaced, with the tracks laid on concrete, and new concrete abutments on both sides of the bridge being laid.{{cite magazine|date=July 1994|title=Works|magazine=Newsrail|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society|page=218}} The current bridge over Racecourse Road is the third bridge on site.

During construction of CityLink in 1997–1998, the station was used for passengers to shuttle to and from Flemington Bridge on the Upfield line, due to services not operating between Flemington Bridge and North Melbourne, and the temporary closure of Macaulay. This was to allow elevated roads, linking the West Gate and Tullamarine Freeways, to be constructed.

On 4 May 2010, as part of the 2010/2011 State Budget, $83.7 million was allocated to upgrade Newmarket to a premium station, along with nineteen others.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/new-premium-stations-for-metro-20100504-u4pf.html|title=New premium stations for Metro|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=4 May 2010|accessdate= 18 February 2023}}{{cite magazine|date=June 2010|title=General News|magazine=Newsrail|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society|page=165}} However, in March 2011, this was scrapped by the Baillieu Government.{{cite web|first1=Ashley|last1=Gardiner|first2=Anne|last2=Wright|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/overhaul-call-on-guards-with-guns-at-melbourne-train-stations/news-story/2790408f8e6b55eb3d32fc40180a39a9|title=Premier Ted Baillieu says armed guards will create 'culture of safety'|publisher=Herald Sun|date=25 March 2011|accessdate= 18 February 2023}}

In 2014, it became obvious that structural problems were affecting the building on Platform 1, which is elevated and on concrete piers, on which cracks and concrete cancer were evident. The retaining wall at the back of the platform was also exhibiting extensive concrete cancer. Metal props were inserted to shore up the piers, and the cantilevered awning over the platform was demolished, and replaced by a temporary timber structure. Half of the large ramp from street level to the station entrance was removed, partly to allow three steel straps to be bolted to the outside of the building, to support the wall.{{cite web|title=Crumbling station building at Newmarket|url=http://railgallery.wongm.com/crumbling-newmarket|publisher=Wongm's Rail Gallery|accessdate=2013-10-01}} Parts of the building were eventually demolished in that year.[http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/fears-over-demolition-of-newmarket-railway-station-20140519-38k6a.html Fears over demolition of Newmarket railway station] - The Age

Newmarket has two side platforms. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Craigieburn line services.{{cite PTV route|Craigieburn|mode=train}}

Platform 1:

• {{RouteBox|Craigieburn line|Craigieburn line|#{{rcr|Melbourne|Craigieburn}}|black}} all stations services to Flinders Street

Platform 2:

• {{RouteBox|Craigieburn line|Craigieburn line|#{{rcr|Melbourne|Craigieburn}}|black}} all stations services to Craigieburn

Yarra Trams operates one route via Newmarket station:

• File:Melbourne tram route 57 icon.svg: West Maribyrnong – Flinders Street station (via Elizabeth Street){{cite PTV route|57|mode=tram}}

File:Newmarket-Station-Melbourne.jpg|Southbound view from Platform 1, October 2005

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• [http://www.street-directory.com.au/sd3/map.php?x=144.9289685757347&y=-37.78728996059669&l=13&mt=4 Melway map] at street-directory.com.au

{{Public Transport Victoria railway stations|Craigieburn=y|state=collapsed}}

Category:Flemington, Victoria

Category:Railway stations in Australia opened in 1860

Category:Railway stations in the City of Moonee Valley