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Bronzewing

Origin of name: Native bird.

Station opened: 16-2-1921 as BOULKA (2nd) 1-11-1921 renamed BRONZEWING

Station closed: 3-6-1963

Distance from Melbourne (via Castlemaine): 279 miles 66 chains 48 links; 450.345 km

Distance from Melbourne (via Ballan): 457.111 km

Height above Sea Level: 142 feet

Bronzewing was the second of two stations originally named Boulka. The first one was renamed Nunga.

During their 1920 annual inspection of the Mildura line, the Commissioners agreed to put the siding in response to requests from farmers who were traversing bad roads for up to 16 miles to deliver wheat to Nunga. The siding was named Boulka by the department but Walpeup Shire Council was asked by the railway department to recommend suitable names in order of preference as they felt there was little distinction between Boulka and Boinka. Piror and Woorak, named after local properties, were considered, but "Pickering" was the official nomination. Mr. J. R. Anderson wrote to the council in April 1921stating that he had been instructed by the residents of the Boulka district that they took exception to "Pickering" and should have been more consulted as they had done all the work to get the station established. In another letter to council, Mr. Anderson put forward the names "Bronzewing", "Bailey" and "Farrell". Mr. Anderson attended the Walpeup Shire Council meeting on 30-6-1921 to press for their submission. The Commissioners accepted the name "Bronzewing" and the name were adopted from 1-11-1921.

The site of Bronzewing is in the centre of a low-lying salt pan, between high sand ridges. The flat terrain must have attracted the railway engineers to select this site as an additional crossing point for trains between Speed and Ouyen. Bronzewing was equipped with a crossing loop with extensions at each end to cross trains longer than the loop, a goods siding (without a goods platform), 150 foot long passenger platform and signals. An officer was appointed in charge from the date of opening and a departmental residence was provided. A 15 ton private weighbridge was installed in the goods yard. There was no town of Bronzewing and few farmhouses within two miles of the station. A "fair quantity" of bagged wheat was reported to be stacked at the station in March 1921.

By 5-4-1921 Boulka (as Bronzewing was named at that time) was provided with up and down home signals established as an electric staff station for the sections Speed - Boulka and Boulka - Ouyen. The station was open for traffic after this date on 26-4-1921 but by 19-7-1921 it was disestablished as an electric staff station and worked under no one in charge conditions by 2-8-1921. Bronzewing was temporarily established as an electric staff station for crossing trains during the wheat seasons of 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925 before being established as an intermediate composite block post in 1927.

Relaying of the main line with heavier 80 pounds rail had reached Bronzewing by September 1926.

The electric staff instruments were removed by 28-4-1936 and the crossing loop was removed by 8-4-1941.

Bronzewing became a "no one in charge" station from 1-3-1952. This may have been promulgated by the strong winds that blow across the exposed station site, "blowing the station building away" according to a newspaper report.

In the 1962 financial year there were 82 tons of inwards freight (mainly superphosphate) and 6 tons outwards.

There were no outward passengers in the last five years and freight revenue was only £16 (pounds) in the last financial year.

Bronzewing was closed for passenger and goods business from 3-6-1963 and the siding abolished on 1-10-1963. The short passenger platform and a galvanised iron shed with a railway telephone remained in use as an intermediate composite electric staff block post until Train Order working commenced between Dunolly and Mildura on 19-3-1989.

The author flagging a special enthusiast train to stop at Bronzewing station 30-12-1981. Photo: John Page

Bronzewing station shelter. Note that the water tank had been removed from its stand since the previous photo was taken. 16-8-1982. Photo: Bruce McLean