Addresses
Type of place
Tunnel
Period
Federation 1890-1914, Interwar 1919-1939
View of 19th century railway tunnel portals, from Gloucester Street
Railway tunnels (southern side) near Gloucester Street Station at Highgate Hill in Brisbane, Queensland, ca. 1930 (State Library of Queensland: Image number: 10189-0002-00570
Railway tunnels
Addresses
Type of place
Tunnel
Period
Federation 1890-1914, Interwar 1919-1939
When the railway from the Ipswich coalfields opened in 1876 it only ran as far as the Chelmer reach of the Brisbane River. As a coal supply was needed for the important South Brisbane wharves, a branch line from Corinda was completed in 1884. In 1889, the Queensland colonial government called for tenders for an extension to the South Brisbane railway that would connect to the Cleveland railway. Construction began in 1890. A 151 metre tunnel containing double rail lines was dug out of the hill overlooking Stephens Road in South Brisbane and the line opened on 21 December 1891. A second, adjacent, tunnel was constructed in 1930 as part of the Uniform Gauge Project connecting to Kyogle in northern New South Wales.
Also known as
Melbourne Street Extension
Lot plan
L230_SP117124; L231_SP117125
Geolocation
-27.486835 153.023954
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Information —
Construction
StructurePeople/associations
Murphy and Co - South Brisbane Extension Tunnel (Builder);Queensland Railways Department - Uniform Gauge Project Tunnel (Builder)
Interactive mapping
Also known as
Melbourne Street Extension
Lot plan
L230_SP117124; L231_SP117125
Geolocation
-27.486835 153.023954
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Information —
Construction
StructurePeople/associations
Murphy and Co - South Brisbane Extension Tunnel (Builder);Queensland Railways Department - Uniform Gauge Project Tunnel (Builder)
Interactive mapping
prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised March 2023)