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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-09-10 Daily Xml
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TATIARA RAIL SERVICE

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (16:20): On 29 June, I attended celebrations in Bordertown to mark 125 years of regular trains running between Bordertown and Kingston South-East. I place on record that the Leader of the Opposition in this place was also there.

The start of this service between Bordertown and Kingston on 2 July 1883 was the culmination of over 80 years of struggle by the farmers and businessmen of Tatiara for a railway to join Bordertown to the nearest port at Kingston. A journey that previously took about 12 to 14 days by bullock train was now completed in a day, and the cost of transporting wheat fell by half. The narrow gauge railway built primarily for the transportation of grain throughout the Mid North, the South-East and Eyre Peninsula was chosen for its rapid and less expensive construction.

In 1882, it was decided that the line between Adelaide and Melbourne would be broad gauge to allow faster, heavier and more comfortable trains, and that it would pass along the same route as the narrow gauge line between Bordertown and Wolseley. Regular daily trains began running from Adelaide to Bordertown in 1886, which obviously made a huge difference to that area. Wolseley itself became a major point in the rail journey when it was used for the changing over of the gauge.

I congratulate the community on marking this achievement. I also congratulate Councillor Richard Vickery, the chairman of the Tatiara District Council who spoke; the MC on the occasion, Ralph—whose last name escapes me—and the community at Wolseley who turned out for the opening of some boom gates (which I did) on a rail crossing which, hopefully, will add to the safety of people in the area when crossing the road where the rail line runs. I congratulate the people of Bordertown and the surrounding area for marking this achievement, and I hope that we will see it returned to its former glory in the future.

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