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Gama

Origin of name: Aboriginal - Large wallaby

Station opened: 15-1-1903

Distance from Melbourne (via Castlemaine): 253 miles 60 chains 80 links; 408.387 km

Distance from Melbourne (via Ballan): 415.281 km

Height above Sea Level: 273 feet

Gama was opened with the extension of the line from Woomelang to Hattah, although it was open for goods traffic during construction by 20-10-1902. A 200 feet long passenger platform with ramps each end and a 17 x 8 foot 6 inches shelter shed and a goods loop siding with a 25 feet x 15 feet goods platform was provided at this time. A private 15 ton weighbridge was also provided. The station has never been staffed and supervision was from Lascelles. Limit Boards were provided by 4-9-1905 as no signals were to be installed.

The platform was extended in 1914 to a length of 200 feet.

Relaying of the main line with 80 lb. rails between Woomelang and Mildura had reached Gama by September 1921.

A concrete 65,000 bushel elevator was erected circa 1939 on the goods siding. A steel 150,000 bushels silo and "H" type 100,000 bushels Horizontal Grain Storage were provided by 17-2-1970.

The passenger platform had been reduced to 100 feet by the time Gama was closed to passenger traffic on 1-2-1970.

The Up end of Gama showing the stockyards and silo. 1970. Photo: Victorian Railways

The Down end of Gama showing the grain silos and passenger platform opposite the rectangular grain shed. 1970. Photo: Victorian Railways

Supervision was transferred from Lascelles to Woomelang by 27-11-1979.

Gama station platform and silos looking in the up direction. 16-8-1982. Photo: Bruce McLean

On 27-7-1999, Vicgrain Limited announced that 71 under-utilised sites throughout the State would no longer form part of its core grain storage system. Gama was included as a site that no longer met Vicgrain's operational requirements.

Gama looking in the down direction. 20-4-2002. Photo: Bruce McLean