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List of closed railway stations in Melbourne

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A number of railway lines and stations which formed part of the greater Melbourne railway network have been closed over time, either in part or in full. The decision to close a railway station has historically been made by the department responsible for rail transport within the Government of Victoria.

Over the history of the Melbourne railway network, a total of eleven complete railway lines, as well as 71 railway stations, have been closed. The most recent railway stations to close are Surrey Hills and Mont Albert stations, which closed on 17 February 2023, due to the level crossing removal project which will see the two stations merge and become Union station, while the most recent railway line to close to traffic is the Port Melbourne railway line, which was closed on 11 October 1987,[1] and was subsequently converted to light rail. A number of stations have also been closed and rebuilt at another location, such as West Footscray, which was rebuilt 160 metres away as part of the Regional Rail Link project.[2]

Most closed railway lines have been converted to other uses, such as rail trails or linear parkland. In addition, a number of closed railway stations have been converted for other uses, such as retail stores.

Closed railway lines

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Name Opened Closed Stations Current status Notes
Broadstore branch line 12 October 1942 1982 1 Dismantled after 1991
Gembrook line 18 December 1900 April 1954 15 Reopened in 1962 as the Belgrave line between Upper Ferntree Gully and Belgrave. Beyond Belgrave the Puffing Billy Railway reopened in 1962 as a heritage service along the former line.
Healesville line 1 March 1889 9 December 1980 5 Until 2020, the line remained in place between Lilydale and Yarra Glen, however, the line has since been dismantled as far as Yering, and will be dismantled to Yarra Glen throughout 2022. Beyond Yarra Glen the Yarra Valley Railway is undertaking works to restore the line towards Healesville. [3]
Inner Circle line 22 May 1888 3 Reservation mostly intact and used by the Capital City Trail [4]
Kew line 19 December 1887 13 May 1957 2 Dismantled and reservation sold. [5]
Mornington line 10 December 1889 15 June 1981 5 Disused line remains in place between Baxter and Moorooduc. The Mornington Railway Preservation Society operate tourist services between Moorooduc and a rebuilt Mornington station.
Mont Park line 28 August 1911 30 June 1964 1 Dismantled and reservation sold
Outer Circle line 3 May 1890 7 Section between East Camberwell and Alamein remains open as the Alamein Line, with the reservation remaining intact and used as a linear park and is part of the Anniversary Outer Circle Trail north of East Camberwell station.
Port Melbourne railway line 13 April 1854 16 October 1987 4 Was converted to light rail between Port Junction and Port Melbourne, with tram services commencing to use the line from 18 December 1987. The line is today served by tram route 109 services. ,[6][7]
Red Hill line 2 December 1921 29 June 1953 3 Dismantled and some of reservation sold, with the remainder existing as a rail trail.
Rosstown Railway 14 November 1888 1916 4 Dismantled, much remains as linear park or parkland adjacent to Elsternwick station [8]
St Kilda – Windsor link line 1857 1867 0 (link between two other lines) Dismantled and reservation sold
St Kilda railway line 13 May 1857 31 July 1987 4 Was converted to light rail between Port Junction and St Kilda, with tram route 96 commencing to use the line from 20 November 1987 [9]
Spring Vale Cemetery line 7 February 1904 19 December 1951 or 10 December 1950 1 Dismantled and reservation sold ,[10][11]
Warburton line 13 November 1901 1 August 1965 10 Reservation intact, used for rail-trail
Whittlesea line 23 December 1889 28 November 1959 4 Line remains open to Mernda. Beyond Mernda the line has been dismantled, with the right of way remaining intact.
Diagram showing Melbourne's rail network including former and planned lines

Stations

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Closed

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Name Line Location Type Opened Closed Current status Notes
Albion & Darlington Sunbury Between Footscray and Sydenham stations steam-era suburban 5 January 1860 1 January 1861 Demolished, the current Albion station occupies the same site [12]
Holden Sunbury Between Diggers Rest and Sydenham stations steam-era rural 1860 (late) 11 November 1927 Demolished
White City Sunbury Between Tottenham and Sunshine steam & electric-era suburban 5 January 1860 4 October 1981 Demolished
Cremorne Windsor (Sandringham) North bank of the Yarra River steam-era suburban 12 December 1859 22 December 1860 Demolished
Botanical Gardens Hawthorn (Lilydale) and Windsor (Sandringham) Between the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Royal Botanic Gardens steam-era suburban 2 March 1859 1863 (uncertain) Demolished
Maidstone Sunbury Between Footscray and Albion steam-era suburban 2 March 1861 1 April 1865 Demolished
Salt Water River Williamstown Between Maribyrnong River and South Kensington steam-era suburban 1 October 1859 1867 (uncertain) Demolished
Garden Vale Rosstown Railway Ridell Parade, near Kooyong Road, Gardenvale steam-era suburban 1887 1916 Demolished
Hawthorn Road Rosstown Railway Hawthorn Road, Caulfield steam-era suburban 1887 1916 Demolished
Booran Road Rosstown Railway Booran Road, Glen Huntly steam-era suburban 1887 1916 Demolished
Sugar Beet Mill Rosstown Railway Koornang Road, Carnegie steam-era suburban 1887 1916 Demolished
Richmond Park Glen Waverley Between Burnley station and Heyington stations steam-era suburban 24 March 1890 May 1890 Demolished
Fitzroy Inner Circle In the Edinburgh Gardens steam-era suburban 8 May 1885 1892 Demolished
Fulham Grange Outer Circle Located near the current Grange and Heidelberg Road intersection steam-era suburban 24 March 1891 24 April 1893 Demolished
Willsmere Outer Circle Adjacent Willsmere Road and Earl Street steam-era suburban 24 March 1891 24 April 1893 Demolished
East Kew Outer Circle, later Alamein to the west of Normanby Road, close to Harp Road steam-era suburban 24 March 1891 24 April 1893 Demolished
Waverley Road Outer Circle Adjacent Sycamore Street Malvern East steam-era suburban 24 March 1891 9 December 1895 Demolished
Pic Nic Hawthorn East of Burnley station steam-era suburban 24 September 1860 19 July 1898 Demolished
Deepdene Outer Circle, later Alamein Near corner of Burke Road and Gordon Street steam-era suburban 24 March 1891 9 October 1927 Demolished
Shenley Outer Circle, later Alamein Canterbury Road, Canterbury steam-era suburban 24 March 1891 9 October 1927 Demolished
Roystead Alamein Mont Albert Road, Canterbury steam-era suburban 14 May 1900 9 October 1927 Demolished
North Carlton Inner Circle Lang Street steam & electric-era suburban 8 May 1885 1948 Converted to community centre
North Fitzroy Inner Circle East of Nicholson Street, on Rae and Park Streets steam & electric-era suburban 8 May 1885 1981 to goods trains, 1948 to passengers Demolished, platform mound remains
Williamstown Racecourse Branch from the Geelong line South of Kororoit Creek Road level crossing Williamstown steam & electric-era suburban, special events 6 April 1855 4 June 1951 Demolished
Spring Vale Cemetery Branch from Pakenham line North of Springvale station steam & electric-era suburban, funeral services 7 February 1904 1952 Demolished
Balnarring Red Hill On private property, nearly no remains steam-era rural 2 December 1921 29 June 1953 Demolished
Merricks Red Hill Part of equestrian facility steam-era rural 2 December 1921 29 June 1953 Demolished
Red Hill Red Hill On private property steam-era rural 2 December 1921 29 June 1953 Demolished
Campbellfield Upfield Camp Road, Campbellfield steam & railcar, semi-rural 8 October 1889 5 May 1956 Demolished
Barker Kew Barkers Road, Kew steam & electric-era suburban 19 December 1887 13 May 1957 Demolished
Kew Kew North of Hawthorn station steam & electric-era suburban 19 December 1887 13 May 1957 Demolished, now the site of VicRoads headquarters
North Campbellfield Upfield Near current Upfield station steam & railcar, semi-rural 8 October 1889 5 May 1956 Upfield station opened nearby on 17 August 1959
South Morang Whittlesea Site of current South Morang Railway Station steam & railcar, rural 23 December 1889 28 November 1959 Demolished; rebuilt and reopened 22 April 2012
Mernda Whittlesea Platform remains visible from highway steam & railcar, rural 23 December 1889 28 November 1959 Demolished; rebuilt and reopened 26 August 2018
Yan Yean Whittlesea Situated on private property steam & railcar, rural 23 December 1889 28 November 1959 Demolished
Whittlesea Whittlesea Site remains as parkland steam & railcar, rural 23 December 1889 28 November 1959 Demolished
Somerton Craigieburn Adjacent to Somerton Road level crossing, Roxburgh Park steam-era, rural 13 November 1882 December 1961 (passenger service) Still open to freight services, new Roxburgh Park station opened near original site in 2007
Mont Park Asylum Branch from Hurstbridge Waiora Road, MacLeod steam & electric-era, freight only 28 August 1911 1964 Demolished
Mount Evelyn Warburton Wray Crescent, Mount Evelyn steam-era rural 13 November 1901 1 August 1965 Platforms demolished, building converted to library, cafe and community centre. A replica platform exists next to the original building.
Wandin Warburton Railway Parade, Wandin steam-era rural 13 November 1901 1 August 1965 Demolished, platform partially intact
Seville Warburton Station Road, Seville steam-era rural 13 November 1901 11 August 1965 Demolished, platform intact
Killara Warburton Sunnyside Road, Seville East steam-era rural 13 November 1901 1 August 1965 Demolished, platforms intact
Woori Yallock Warburton Syme Road, Woori Yallock steam-era rural 13 November 1901 1 August 1965 Demolished, platform intact
Launching Place Warburton Warburton Highway, Launching Place steam-era rural 13 November 1901 1 August 1965 Remnants of platform
Yarra Junction Warburton Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction steam-era rural 13 November 1901 1 August 1965 Intact and used as a museum
Wesburn Warburton Cavanagh Road, Wesburn steam-era rural 13 November 1901 1 August 1965 Remnants of platform
Millgrove Warburton Warburton Highway, Millgrove steam-era rural 13 November 1901 1 August 1965 Remnants of platform
Warburton Warburton Highfield Road, Warburton steam-era rural 13 November 1901 1 August 1965 Remnants of platform (The siding site is currently an old sawmill, planned redevelopment)
Coldstream Healesville Station Street, Coldstream steam-era rural 15 May 1888 December 1980 Station buildings destroyed by fire, platform intact [3]
Yering Healesville MacIntyre Road, Yering, just off Melba Highway steam-era rural 15 May 1888 9 December 1980 Abandoned [3]
Narrambi Mornington Near Narambi Road railcar, rural unknown June 1980 Material reused for other stations
Langwarrin Stony Point McClelland Road, Langwarrin steam & railcar suburban 1 October 1888 22 June 1981 Demolished, platform mound remains
White City Sunbury Sunshine Road, Tottenham steam & electric-era, special events, workers trains 11 November 1927 4 October 1981 Demolished
Lyndhurst Cranbourne Bayliss Road, Lyndhurst, just off Western Port Highway steam & diesel-era, rural 1 October 1888 4 October 1981 (passenger service) Still open to freight services until 2009
Mobiltown Werribee Kororoit Creek Road, Altona North electric-era suburban 9 November 1953 21 January 1985 Demolished [13]
Paisley Werribee line express route Ross Road, Altona steam, diesel & electric-era suburban 14 October 1929 14 April 1985 Demolished, although the island platform remains [13]
Galvin Werribee line express route Maidstone Road, Altona steam, diesel & electric-era suburban 22 August 1927 14 April 1985 Demolished [13]
Williamstown Pier Williamstown Morris Street, Williamstown steam & electric-era suburban 3 October 1857 25 March 1987 Demolished, now a carpark [13]
South Melbourne St Kilda Ferrars Street, South Melbourne steam & electric-era suburban 16 September 1858 August 1987 Converted to tram stop and commercial use [9]
Albert Park St Kilda Ferrars Street, Albert Park steam & electric-era suburban 27 November 1860 August 1987 Converted to tram stop and commercial use [9]
Middle Park St Kilda Canterbury Road, Middle Park steam & electric-era suburban 2 July 1883 August 1987 Converted to tram stop and abandoned [9]
St Kilda St Kilda Fitzroy Street, St Kilda steam & electric-era suburban 13 May 1857 August 1987 Converted to tram stop and commercial use [9]
Montague Port Melbourne Woodgate and Montague Streets, Montague steam & electric-era suburban 2 June 1883 December 1987 Converted to tram stop and demolished [6]
North Port Port Melbourne Raglan Street, Port Melbourne steam & electric-era suburban May 1859 December 1987 Converted to tram stop and demolished [6]
Graham Port Melbourne Graham Street, Port Melbourne steam & electric-era suburban 1 June 1888 December 1987 Converted to tram stop and demolished [6]
Port Melbourne Port Melbourne Beach Street, Port Melbourne steam & electric-era suburban 13 April 1854 December 1987 Converted to tram stop and commercial use [6]
Stopping Place #16 Mornington Nepean Highway, Mornington steam & railcar, semi-rural 30 November 1959 1988 Demolished, replaced by Mornington Tourist railway station in 2000
APM Siding Branch from the Hurstbridge line at Fairfield Grange and Heidelberg Roads, Alphington Goods siding 29 July 1919 1994 Track dismantled, alignment remains
Werribee Racecourse Continuation of Werribee line Off Bulban Road, Werribee Steam & diesel-era, special events unknown October 1993 Access to station and part of the platform demolished; station signs remain [13]
Princes Bridge City Loop Flinders Street, current site of Federation Square steam & electric era suburban 8 February 1859 1997 Services amalgamated into Flinders Street. Platform space is now used as screen gallery for the Australian Centre for the Moving Image
General Motors Pakenham Off Progress Street, Dandenong South (access via dirt track) electric-era suburban, workers trains 18 November 1956 28 July 2002 Intact but no legal access to the station site [13]
Surrey Hills Belgrave & Lilydale Bedford Avenue, Surrey Hills steam & electric-era suburban 13 August 1883 17 February 2023 Demolished and replaced by Union station [14][15]
Mont Albert Belgrave & Lilydale Churchill Street, Mont Albert steam & electric-era suburban 11 August 1890 17 February 2023 Demolished and replaced by Union station, station building preserved and relocated [14][15]

Rebuilt

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These stations previously existed in slightly different locations, and/or at a higher or lower level (for example, originally at ground level then lowered into a cutting), to their modern-day counterparts. They may be considered the closed predecessors of today's stations.

  • Ardeer (August 1956) – on the Melton line (greater metropolitan line)
  • Boronia (1998) – on the Belgrave line; track lowered station rebuilt (with a significantly larger capacity than before the rebuild) lowered as part of grade separation under the intersection of Dorset/Boronia Roads. Surface areas and carpark now integrated with Boronia Junction Shopping Centre.
  • Bentleigh (11 June – 29 August 2016) – on the Frankston line; rebuilt as part of the level crossing removal works at North Road, McKinnon Road and Centre Road.
  • Box Hill (1983–1985) – on the Belgrave/Lilydale line; track lowered and station incorporated into Box Hill Central shopping centre.
  • Canterbury (19 June 1966) – on the Belgrave/Lilydale line; current high level station opened on 15 September 1968 and was completed and the Canterbury Road level crossing closed on 22 December 1968
  • Dandenong – Built 8 October 1887, upgraded in 1994–1995 – Change over for the Pakenham and Cranbourne Lines
  • Elsternwick (October 1960) – on the Sandringham line; grade separated to remove the level crossing and tram square at Glen Huntly Road.
  • Epping (29 November 1959) – terminus of the Epping line until 2012; current station opened on 30 November 1964
  • Fawkner (13 July 1903) – on the Upfield line; current station opened on 10 December 1906
  • Footscray 1900 – two separate stations for the Williamstown and Sunbury lines were merged into the current site
  • Flinders Street
    • Originally Melbourne Terminus (built 1854)
    • Current Flinders Street station (built 1910)
  • Gardiner (18 January 2016) – lowered into cutting as part of the removal of a Glen Waverley line rail crossing at Burke Road.
  • Glen Waverley (24 February 1964) – terminus of the Glen Waverley line
  • Heatherdale (2015 - 6 February 2017) track lowered into cutting and station rebuilt as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project.
  • Hoppers Crossing (1983) – Originally located on the Western Side of Old Geelong Road (1970–1983) for country trains, rebuilt with longer platforms to cater for Electric Trains on the Eastern Side of Old Geelong Road.
  • Laburnum (January 2007) – on the Belgrave/Lilydale line; track lowered to create a rail underpass replacing the level crossing at Middleborough Road.
  • Lalor (5 August 1952) – on the Mernda line
  • McKinnon (25 March – 1 August 2016) – on the Frankston Line; rebuilt as part of the level crossing removal works at North Road, McKinnon Road and Centre Road.
  • Mitcham (25 December 1882 – 2 January 2014) – on the Belgrave/Lilydale line; track lowered to create a rail underpass replacing two level crossings at Mitcham Road and Rooks Road. New station opened 25 January 2014.
  • Moorabbin 1959 – on the Frankston line; new station lowered below road level and provision made for the third track (which did not occur for some 20 years), road underpasses established for South Road and the Nepean Highway
  • Mornington (1987) – on the Mornington line; new station located on the demolished Stopping Place 16 station and opened 2000
  • Narre Warren (3 June 1995) – on the Pakenham line
  • Nunawading (January 2010) – on the Belgrave/Lilydale line; track lowered and station rebuilt with a provision made for a third track as part of the Springvale Road grade separation project.
  • Officer (13 May 1956) – on the Pakenham line
  • Ormond (11 June – 29 August 2016) – on the Frankston line; rebuilt as part of the level crossing removal works at North Road, McKinnon Road and Centre Road.
  • Richmond (the gateway to the city for all eastern lines) has had several incarnations:
    • Punt Road low level (8 February 1859 – 12 December 1859)
    • Swan Street low level (12 December 1859 – 1885)
    • Richmond high level (1885 – 26 March 1960) – the opening of this station overlapped with the closure of Swan Street
  • Sandown Park (16 May 1955) – on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines; current station opened on 19 June 1965
  • Southern Cross, the main terminus of regional and interstate services in Victoria.
    • Progressively expanded until 1960.
    • Rebuilt station building and platform layout beginning in 1960 as part of the works providing a standard-gauge railway link to Sydney.
    • Beginning 2002, Spencer Street has been substantially rebuilt and renamed Southern Cross. While maintaining the previous platform layout, the station bears no resemblance to the former station.
  • Tottenham low level (27 July 1982) – on the Sunbury line
  • Watergardens (Sydenham) (2002) – on the Sydenham line
  • Watsonia was lowered into a cutting when the line between Macleod and Greensborough was duplicated. (Hurstbridge line)
  • West Footscray (14 October 2013) – on the Sunbury line; rebuilt as part of the Regional Rail Link project.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "VR timeline". Archived from the original on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  2. ^ Bryne, Bridie. "Brand new train station at West Footscray officially opened". Herald Sun. Maribinong Leader. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Carman, Gerry (10 December 1983). "Rail line reprieve plan". The Age.
  4. ^ "Inner Circle Line". VICSIG. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Kew Line". VICSIG. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Last train to Port Melbourne". Newsrail. Vol. 16, no. 1. Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. January 1988. p. 22. ISSN 0310-7477. OCLC 19676396.
  7. ^ "Port Melbourne Light Rail opens". Newsrail. Vol. 16, no. 2. Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. February 1988. p. 56. ISSN 0310-7477. OCLC 19676396.
  8. ^ "Rosstown Rail Trail" (PDF). City of Glen Eira. City of Glen Eira. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Light rail project". Newsrail. Vol. 15, no. 12. Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. December 1987. p. 376. ISSN 0310-7477. OCLC 19676396.
  10. ^ Victorian Railway to '62, by Leo J. Harrigan (1962)
  11. ^ Suburban Tickets of The Victorian Railways, by H.K. Atkinson (1991)
  12. ^ "VICSIG". vicsig.net. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "M>Train Ceases to Stop at General Motors". Newsrail. Vol. 30, no. 9. Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. September 2002. pp. 271–272. ISSN 0310-7477. OCLC 19676396.
  14. ^ a b Surrey Hills level crossing removal City of Boroondara
  15. ^ a b "Surrey Hills and Mont Albert crossings removal fast-tracked". Level Crossing Removal Authority. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
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