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Nunga

Origin of name: Aboriginal - Day.

Station opened: 30-1-1912 as BOULKA; 9-12-1912 renamed NUNGA

Distance from Melbourne (via Castlemaine): 284 miles 00 chains 79 links; 457.069 km

Distance from Melbourne (via Ballan): 463.573 km

Height above Sea Level: 169 feet

Nunga was the first station to be named Boulka originally, the second being Bronzewing. It is not known why Boulka was unacceptable as a station name despite two attempts.

When the railway to Mildura and Yelta was surveyed, the plans located a station ground at 125 miles from Woomelang or 284 miles 25 chains 13 links from Melbourne on the down side of a sand ridge and road level crossing, however Nunga was actually built closer to Melbourne by about 15 chains on the sand ridge and with the level crossing on the Ouyen side. Today, the parallel Calder Highway curves around the original station ground perimeter whilst Nunga station site and siding serving the grain silo are located within the standard railway boundary.

Nunga station and siding was built to the left of the level crossing, however the original surveyed station reserve with its wider boundaries can be noted to the right. Refer to the text. 1970. Photo: Victorian Railways

Nunga was opened with a loop goods siding and was a Caretaker station supervised by Lascelles until 23-12-1912 when supervision was transferred to Ouyen.

As a result of the Commissioner's 1913 inspection tour of the Mildura line, it was decided that a 150 foot long passenger platform and shed, and a small goods platform and shed should be provided. A 15 ton private weighbridge was installed in the goods yard.

Location boards were removed on 1-11-1922 and by 2-12-1924 Nunga was operated under caretaker conditions and on 4-11-1929, became a "no one in charge" station.

The exact cessation date for passenger traffic is not known, however it was most likely in 1954 as only 4 passengers commenced journeys from Nunga according to the 1953/54 annual report statistics. No further passenger journeys are recorded in subsequent reports.

By 17-1-1956 the passenger platform was reduced from 401 feet to 150 feet. The platform facing was removed some years later, at least by 1982.

A type Horizontal Grain Storage of 100,000 bushels capacity was provided by 17-2-1970.

Nunga station reserve showing the passenger platform and waiting shed and grain silos. 1970. Photo: Victorian Railways

Nunga platform remains and silos looking in the up direction. 16-8-1982. Photo: Bruce McLean

G530 and G512 standing on the siding at Nunga following a derailment at the Pinnaroo line junction at Ouyen on 24-6-1993. Photo: Bruce McLean

Nunga continued to exist due to its silos and grain traffic until 27-7-1999 when Vicgrain Limited announced that 71 under utilised sites throughout the State would no longer form part of its core grain storage system. Nunga was included as a site that no longer met Vicgrain's operational requirements.

The up end of Nunga looking in the down direction. 20-4-2002. Photo: Bruce McLean