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Merrinee

Origin of name: Aboriginal - Wallaby or wind

Station opened: 11-4-1924

Station closed: 9-12-1988

Distance from Melbourne (via Castlemaine): 366 miles 7 chains 2 links; 589.162 km

Height above Sea Level: 205 feet

Merrinee was opened during construction of the line for goods traffic on 5-6-1923.

The original plans for Merrinee provided for 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. A photograph (circa 1926) shows that a wooden station office was provided alongside the shelter shed (with 600 gallon water tank), possibly to deal with the passenger traffic offering on Merrinee race days. A high platform trolley for unloading van goods, and scales for weighing consignments can also be seen in the shed. A Class 4 employee's residence was also provided.

Merrinee station circa 1926. Note the wooden station building as well as the typical mallee-type shed provided at most stations along the line. Photo: Courtesy Freda Antcliffe Collection

Merrinee station was only the mallee-type shed when photographed in 1967. Photo: Bruce McLean

A concrete 65,000 bushel grain elevator was proposed for Merrinee in 1937 but was not erected.

A caretaker was in charge and records available show that Mrs.Hadler was appointed in 1943.

A Behlin-type silo was erected in 1966.

Merrinee in 1967. The Behlen type silo had been erected in the previous year. Photo: Bruce McLean

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

Every available rail wagon was made available to cope with the 1973 mallee wheat harvest. A trial was made to Merrinee on 2-12-1973 using bogie ELX open wagons fitted with tarpaulins. It was intended to use 30 wagons in two block trains of 15 wagons each but workers at the Dunolly grain terminal refused to unload the wagons as they considered the large volume of wheat a safety hazard. Photo: Bruce McLean

Merrinee mallee shed station building had been removed and all that took its place was a telephone cabinet and the station name board on 2-12-1973. Photo: Bruce McLean

Two steel bins were erected by 1983 to expand the grain capacity on the site.

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

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