Yarrara

Origin of name: Aboriginal - Rough travelling or red gum trees or tumbling down

Station opened: 30-10-1925

Station closed: 9-12-1988

Distance from Melbourne (via Castlemaine): 388 miles 1 chain 2 links; 624.445 km

Height above Sea Level: 288 feet

Yarrara was opened with the extension from Werrimull to Meringur and was provided with a 200 foot low level passenger platform, 17 x 8 foot 6 inches shelter shed and locker, and a loop goods siding with a 25 x 16 foot goods platform. A 10 x 8 foot portable hut was located in the station ground.

This wonderful view of Yarrara station hut would have been taken shortly after the opening of the extension from Werrimull to Meringur. Note the barrow, scales, posters, customers, station sign, telephone cabinet and low level platform coping. Compare this view with others of Yarrara and note the changes with the effect of time. 1925. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely

Yarrara on 4-1-1960. Note the carriage level platform trolley and barrow ramp leaning against the station shelter. Photo: Peter Charrett

A concrete block cottage was provided for the appointment of a caretaker but the position was reduced to no-one-in-charge, possibly after 1945.

Sheep yards were requested in 1936 and were eventually constructed by local farmers in 1939 using used sleepers and materials for a loading platform, race and gates etc. provided by the railway department.

Unloading bagged wheat at Yarrara railway station, circa 1925. The Fargo truck was owned by F.A. Rigby. Photo: J. Famillo, courtesy Margaret Kelly

In 1954, the weighbridge collapsed and farmers loaded their own wheat into individual rail trucks to be weighed at their destination to save extra cartage costs to other sidings. The farmers then purchased and installed a 10 ton weighbridge in November 1955.

The Grain Elevators Board, in response to high delivery figures, built a steel storage for wheat only, known as a Behlen bin, in 1960. There were only few Behlen bins constructed but they were not considered a success.

Yarrara station and Behlen silo in 1967. Photo: Bruce McLean

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

The sheep race was abolished by June 1971.

The Behlen bin at Yarrara suffered from structural problems, having burst twice and stretched twice. The first occasion was in 1973 when the Millewa experienced one of its largest crops. The silo had filled to 2,700 tonnes of wheat when a fault developed. Railway wagons had to be diverted to Yarrara to move about 1,000 tonnes as quickly as possible. Its capacity was reduced from 100,000 bushels to 70,000 bushels for safety reasons. A new silo was put on the priority list, but in May 1978, the G.E.B. decided to scrap the storage altogether. Farmers in the area unanimously opposed the idea claiming that the extra cartage of 17 km to Werrimull would cost farmers $8,000 and lengthen the harvest in the Yarrara area by a fortnight. They were also concerned that the Meringur silo would be the only one on the line beyond Werrimull and if this closed, there would be no justification to retain the railway from Werrimull to Meringur. The Board believed the savings to farmers would be $1470 per annum.

The President of the Yarrara Silo Committee (Mr. B. Fox) presented a submission to the G.E.B. Board Chairman (Mr. K. Gross) at a public meeting held at Yarrara public hall on 13-6-1978 urging a change of heart by the Board and suggesting that a new double silo and elevator would serve the growers of the Millewa the best way possible. The submission also said that farmers were emphatic that no Behlen bins should be demolished as any paid storage was better than none. It was also pointed out that 17 km of a three-phase power line would be redundant if a new silo was not built at Yarrara.

A 140 foot extension to the down end of the goods siding was started in August 1975 and completed by 4-9-1975.

Yarrara station and platform was reduced to a sign and telephone cabinet by April 1975. Photo: Bruce McLean

The G.E.B. announced in December 1980 that the Board was finally convinced there was a need for a silo at Yarrara and $500,000 was allocated to build a 6000 tonne facility which could segregate grain four ways. An official opening took place on 9-9-1981 with the G.E.B. Chairman (Mr. K. Gross) in attendance.

T370 picks up loaded GH wagons at Yarrara. The new silo referred to in the text can be seen next to the locomotive. Photo: Chris Wurr

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

Yarrara on 9-4-1989 - after the official closure of the Redcliffs to Meringur line. Photo: Bruce McLean

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