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Lascelles

Origin of name: After prominent landholder E.H. Lascelles.

Station opened: 15-1-1903 as MINAPRE; 15-4-1905 renamed LASCELLES

Distance from Melbourne (via Castlemaine): 248 miles 26 chains 82 links; 399.656 km

Distance from Melbourne (via Ballan): 406.656 km

Height above Sea Level: 256 feet

During construction of the line, Minapre was open for goods traffic from 7-4-1902. When the line from Woomelang to Hattah was officially opened on 15-1-1903, it was provided with a goods loop siding on the up side in the position of No.4 road with a 25 x 15 foot goods platform and a 17 foot by 8 foot 6 inches shelter provided on the 200 foot passenger platform on the down side. The platform had ramps at each end. There was no one in charge of the station. Limit Boards were provided by 4-9-1905 in lieu of signals.

Lascelles station office and waiting shelter. 5-5-1982. Passenger trains ceased stopping at Lascelles in 1981. Photo: Bruce McLean

Van goods shed located at the down end of the passenger platform at Lascelles. 5-5-1982. Photo: Bruce McLean

The small goods shed provided at Lascelles. The Minapre Hotel stands in the background. 5-5-1982. Photo: Bruce McLean

A 14 foot deep tank with a large spoil bank surrounding it was excavated on the down side at the up end and a pipe fed a nest of nine 400 gallon tanks on a timber frame beside the railway near the up end points supplied water for steam locomotives. Three employee residences were built between the tank and the station in 1904.

The prominent Mallee leaseholder, Mr.E.H. Lascelles, applied to the Railway Department to have the station name changed to Lascelles as the town and station site was sold under the name Lascelles. Minapre was renamed from 15-4-1905. The station was worked under caretaker conditions from 24-11-1909. A permanent Stationmaster was appointed in November 1910.

On 22-2-1911, Lascelles was opened as a safeworking staff station with up and down home signals provided and No.2 road laid. By 16-11-1914 the electric staff system was introduced between Woomelang and Lascelles, and by 18-1-1915, between Lascelles and Speed. Tenders were also called in 1914 for the erection of three employee's residences. An additional residence was provided for the ganger. The passenger platform was most likely extended some time after to 401 feet long. Lascelles also had a sheep loading race yards and a private15 ton weighbridge.

Lascelles sheep race. 5-5-1982. Photo: Bruce McLean

Relaying of the mainline with 80 pounds to the yard rails was completed from Woomelang to Lascelles by August 1921.

A 110,000 bushel grain elevator was constructed circa 1939 on the goods siding.

In 1957 a "stick shed" was erected at the up end of the goods siding next to the concrete silos. The "stick shed" was so-named as it featured a series of roof supports using rough-cut timber and was rooved with galvanised iron. The shed was to be used for grain storage but a windstorm shortly after its completion saw it flattened to the ground. It was not replaced.

The short-lived 1957 "stick shed" built to store grain. Photo: Jim Robinson

The up end of Lascelles looking towards Ouyen and Mildura. 5-5-1982. Photo: Bruce McLean

Flashing light signals were installed at the Henty Highway level crossing at the up end on 4-2-1969. Concurrent with the installation, a two position Up Home Light signal was provided on the Down side of the crossing.

On 20-2-1969 the Down Home Signal was re-located 250 feet further out from the station.

The Morse Telegraph system was abolished at Lascelles by 1-4-1969.

Two steel Ascom silos were erected behind the concrete silos by the Grain Elevators Board. (No date for construction available).

A type Horizontal Grain Storage of 200,000 bushels capacity was provided by 17-2-1970.

The Up end of Lascelles showing the water reserve, departmental residences and grain silos. The shadow from the concrete silos falls across the station platform. 1970. Photo: Victorian Railways

The Down end of Lascelles with the station platform and buildings, goods shed, ramped goods platform, grain shed, stockyards and to the right, the extension of No. 2 track crossing loop. Note that Lascelles platform is on a curve. 1970. Photo: Victorian Railways

Lascelles station during an inspection by the General Manager of the Victorian Railways, Mr. I. Hodges (at door). 29-6-1976. Photo: Victorian Railways

It was rumoured in July 1979 that Lascelles was to close for passenger traffic, however assurances were provided by VicRail to Mr. M. Whiting, Member for Mildura, that there was no intention. However on 23-9-1979, the Stationmaster position was removed and Lascelles was worked under Caretaker conditions

A revised timetable for passenger services between Melbourne and Mildura introduced on 27-9-1981, provided for the closure of Lascelles as a passenger station (along with Tempy).

Despite strong protests, particularly from the Hopetoun area that saw Lascelles as their "local" station for travel to Melbourne, the closure would enable the travelling time between Melbourne and Mildura to be cut by 35 minutes. It was suggested that travellers could easily arrange to catch trains at Woomelang, a short distance away.

With the withdrawal of passenger status, Lascelles was disestablished as a Staff Station in 1982 and was altered to No One in Charge status from 31-5-1983. Stations previously supervised by Lascelles - Speed, Tempy, Gama and Turriff - were transferred to Woomelang for supervision.

Lascelles station precinct showing the sheep race at left, grain storages, goods shed and station platform and office. 16-8-1982. Photo: Bruce McLean

The down end of Lascelles showing the sweeping curve on which the station and sidings were located. 5-5-1982. Photo: Bruce McLean

The demise of Lascelles commenced in 1981 when it was no longer a passenger stopping station, the Stationmaster position abolished and it was disestablished as a Staff Station. In September 1985, No.2 road was dismantled and the station platform coping was removed and the platform itself was nearly all removed.

The Lascelles platform has been graded back and No.2 road crossing loop has been removed in this scene taken on 3-10-1985. The concrete slabs removed from the platform coping are stacked at left. Photo: Bruce McLean

On 23-1-2002, the down end turnout was officially booked out following a derailment caused by heat buckling the rails.

G511, X51, S306 at the head of a grain train at the Sunraysia Highway level crossing, Lascelles. 10-2-2002. Photo: John Page.

The Down end of Lascelles showing repairs to the main line after a derailment due to heat buckling on 23-1-2002 and the failure of Freight Australia to restore the points to the grain silo siding. Photo: Bruce McLean