Mildura Cement Siding

Siding opened: 5-9-1973

Distance from Melbourne: 349 miles 38 chains

Originally opened for traffic on 5-9-1973 as MILDURA STOCKYARDS SIDING, this siding connected off a loop secured at each end by staff locks.

Mildura Cement Siding was originally established in 1973 as Mildura Stockyards Siding and was the third site for livestock loading at Mildura. With the withdrawal of livestock traffic by the Victorian Railways from 1-10-1986, the siding no longer served its original purpose, however a bulk powdered cement discharge and transfer facility had been established at the end of the siding and this was to give the siding a new stream of high volume traffic.

Circular issued for the opening of the Mildura Stockyard Sidings on 5-9-1973. Source: Victorian Railways

The new cattle yards siding opened for operation on 5-9-1973. In this scene taken on 1-9-1973 only a few details had to be completed on the stock races. Photo: Bruce McLean

The Mildura Cattle Yards siding shown in relation to the main line in this view taken on 2-10-1984. Note the cement silo in the background. Photo: Bruce McLean

The establishment of pneumatic discharge facilities to receive bulk cement in rail wagons from Waurn Ponds provided additional use for the siding and eventually became the mainstay of traffic after V/line withdrew from the movement of stock by rail on 1-10-1986.

Tenders were called on 2-6-1990 for the sale and removal of the Mildura stockyards.

The Mildura stock siding the day tenders were called for their sale and removal. 2-6-1990. Photo: Bruce McLean

VPCX wagons standing at the end of the Cement Siding tracks at Mildura on 24-8-1991. Photo: Bruce McLean

A second cement discharge facility for Blue Circle Southern Cement was built on the site of the former sheep and cattle loading races in May 1994. Broken Hill is a major destination for bulk cement with road transports bridging the gap between Mildura and the mining city.

New Blue Circle Cement discharge and silo facilities on the site of the former stock loading races at Mildura Cement Siding. 10-7-1994. Photo: Bruce McLean

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