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Karawinna

Origin of name: Aboriginal - Sky

Station opened: 11-4-1924

Station closed: 9-12-1988

Distance from Melbourne (via Castlemaine): 372 miles 11 chains 2 links; 598.897 km

Height above Sea Level: 206 feet

Karawinna was opened during construction of the line on 25-9-1923 for goods traffic.

When officially opened, a 200 foot low level passenger platform, 17 x 8 foot 6 inches shelter shed with locker, and loop goods siding with a 25 x 16 foot goods platform with ramp was provided. The low level platform at Karawinna did not feature a wooden platform edge like other stations on the line, and was surfaced to the nearest rail. A gang shed for storage of equipment was located at the up end of the yard and a Class 4 employee's residence was provided. A 10 x 8 foot portable hut was located in the station grounds.

Karawinna Station 1967. Note the high platform trolley for unloading small goods from vans. Photo: Bruce McLean

Stock loading facilities were requested in 1936. A 65,000 bushel concrete grain elevator was provided circa 1939.

Karawinna in 1967. A steel silo has been built to provide addition capacity. The 1936 stock loading facilities can be observed in front of the silos. Photo: Bruce McLean

A caretaker was appointed, usually the wife of the local repairer. Known caretakers were Mrs. E. Baker 1924, Mrs. E. Murphy 1927, Mrs. E. Hall 1931, Mrs. R. Connor 1936, Mrs. Pearce 1937, Mrs. Ratcliff 1939, Mrs. Jones 1941.

The Railway Telephone was abolished by 3-6-1969 and replaced by a telephone connected to the Public Telephone network.

An "H" type 100,000 bushel Horizontal Grain Storage was provided by 17-2-1970.

The sheep race was abolished by June 1971.

Karawinna mallee shed station building as it appeared on 2-12-1973. Note the steel sleeper in the track. The white box in the shed housed the Telephone. Photo: Bruce McLean

The 1973 wheat harvest is in full swing at Karawinna on 2-12-1973. This year was a big harvest in the mallee and all available rail trucks were pressed into service to handle the grain received on the Meringur line. Photo: Bruce McLean

To meet the problems being experienced with the storage of grain crops following an exceptional season and faster harvesting techniques being employed by grain farmers the Grain Elevators Board constructed a ground bunker 60 feet long and 100 feet wide. It was placed into operation on 17-12-1979.

The up end of Karawinna showing additional grain storage facilities - the "H" type shed behind the silos and part of the wall of a ground bunker to the right. 21-12-1980. Photo: Bruce McLean

Karawinna was closed with the line on 9-12-1988.

Karawinna on 9-4-1989 - after the official closure of the Redcliffs to Meringur line. Note the overgrown condition of the track. 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. Karawinna silo was included as a site that no longer met Vicgrain's operational requirements.