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Gypsum

Origin of name: From white, crystalline mineral, common in district.

Station opened: 2-3-1904 as AUSTRAL GYPSUM SIDING; 26-5-1921 as GYPSUM SIDING; 15-9-1927 as GYPSUM

Station closed: 1-1-1955

Distance from Melbourne (via Castlemaine): 274 miles 0 chains 98 links

Height above Sea Level: 163 feet

The Mallee contains extensive deposits of gypsum used for the manufacture of plaster and cement. The Austral Gypsum Co. pegged a lease for 80 acres adjoining the railway and requested a siding at 274 miles on 22-6-1903, with a guarantee that 1000 tons of gypsum would be sent a year. The site had been used as a ballast siding with the necessary rails and sleepers lying adjacent to the line ready for relaying. The siding was ready for use by 13-8-1903 with an annual licence fee of one pound from 1-3-1904. Austral Gypsum Co. were required to forward a copy of the licence to the Crown Solicitor.

By April 1904, a 24 foot by 4 foot narrow platform of light construction, and a 30 foot by 18 foot iron shed were erected on the siding. The company also had a winding plant in the ground consisting of a small engine and cable for hauling light trucks on a tramway which led from the siding to the nearby gypsum field. Rails for the tramway were delivered by rail on 9-4-1904. The tramway was in a north-easterly direction from the siding crossing a point that was later to be known as the Henty Highway, and in more recent years, Sunraysia Highway. Surface mining took place in an area on the western side of the present roadway.

On 24-8-1903 instructions were issued to supply the Austral Gypsum Co. with a trolley for use on their siding only at a cost of one shilling and six pence per day.

On 26-11-1903 the company asked for a refund of fifty-three pounds ten shillings being the difference between the actual cost and the deposit paid for the siding on account of the advantages being derived by the department from the siding.

On 18-2-1904 instructions were issued to secure the main line points with combined staff locks and plungers. They were fitted on 2-3-1904.

Limit Boards were erected in 1905 as there were no signals.

On 12-9-1911, the siding became the property of the Commissioners as Austral Gypsum Co. had discontinued operations. An unsuccessful request was made on 6-11-1911 for the siding to be shifted to 271 miles 70 chains for the convenience of farmers carting wheat. The District Superintendent visited the district in 1912 in connection with the request and agreed to make the siding available for wheat loading after some settlement took place. In the 1912/13 season only 360 bags of wheat were sent and for 1913/14 season, none were despatched. Local residents asked for the siding to be opened for goods and passenger traffic in April 1914. The siding was opened for inwards goods in truck loads of 2 tons minimum in 1914, but opening for passenger business was not warranted.

Gypsum was supervised by Woomelang until 23-12-1912 when supervision was transferred to Lascelles.

1914 was a drought year and arrangements were made to open the siding temporarily for inwards goods of any quantities not requiring crane power or shed accommodation, at owner's risk. The siding reverted to the previous arrangements when the drought was broken.

The siding was extended and a goods platform provided by 3-12-1920.

Austral Gypsum Siding was renamed Gypsum Siding in 1921 and passenger traffic was accepted, 61 outward passengers being recorded in the 1921 annual report. It is likely that a passenger platform was provided at this time as a January 1921newspaper report indicated that there was activity at the siding necessitating a speed restriction.

The Location Boards were removed by 1-11-1922.

On 15-9-1927 the named was shortened to Gypsum.

Arial photograph of Gypsum showing the loop siding and structures connected with the gypsum mining operation. The tramway formation leading to the gypsum pit can be been leading to the bottom right hand of the photograph. Source: Victorian Railways

Messrs. Lloyd and Fraser, who had contracted to send up to 15,000 tons of gypsum annually to the cement works at Fyansford, near Geelong, complained that the siding could hold only 12 trucks and there was no room to place empty trucks as the loaded ones were not removed every day. A considerable number of bags of wheat were also being dispatched from Gypsum.

The siding was closed to all traffic on 1-1-1955.

The site of Gypsum on 11-10-1982. Traces of the tramway formation leading to a gypsum field can be found through the mallee scrub to the left of the telephone pole. Photo: Bruce McLean