A Quick Summary

The Heiner Road Precinct is the birthplace of Queensland Rail. Still remaining are important links to our history such as the first section of the Southern & Western Railway built in Queensland in 1864, which in turn is the first section of railway in the world to be built as a government enterprise. The first overbidge built by the Railways in Queensland and the first public road built as the northern approach to the first shared road and rail bridge to be built by the Railways in Queensland, and again they are all the first in the world constructed as a government enterprise.

(31 December 2004) (Information obtained from a Queensland Heritage Council web page)

Recent research has revealed that South Australia Railways may actually hold the title for the first Government built and owned steam railway in the British Empire.

The 1865 Ipswich to Toowoomba section of the Southern and Western Railway is recognised as the World's first main-line narrow guage railway. The 1864 Ipswich Wharf branch line was the first section of railway track in Queensland.

These important elements of our historic past are under threat of destruction.

(28 May 2005) Heiner Road and the Wharf Railway have recently been allowed to be destroyed by the Ipswich City Council and the Queensland Government only the overbidge remains.

If the State Government of Queensland approved Riverlink shopping centre is allowed to go ahead as currently designed these world firsts will be either destroyed or relocated, completely diminishing their historic significance to one another at the birth place of Queensland Railways.

The State Minister for Development and Innovation used special call in powers under the Integrated Planning Act to override numerous appeals, stating that the development (a shopping centre?) was of State Significance. The Minister has subsequently approved the development to go ahead with a condition that the overbridge be split in two, entombing its base section and the wharf railway without public access, never to be seen by the public again. The first public road built by the Railways 'Heiner Road' would be destroyed.

The historical connection between all three of the most important elements on site will be destroyed unless a partial redesign of the project is undertaken, i.e. the 1864-65 Heiner Road travels over the 1864 Wharf Railway via the 1864-65 Heiner Road Overbridge. If the bridge is relocated as has been suggested it will not have the same meaning

You can Help.

Please download and print a copy of the Petition and have as many people as possible sign it and then fax back to (07) 3281 1797 or post back to 12 FItzgibbon Street, North Ipswich, 4305. We need to show the State Government of Queensland that the decision to destroy our world first heritage is not acceptable to its citizens.

Please review this web site to better understand the historic importance of our heritage under threat and the circumstances leading to their impending destruction.

First Train Whistle (an extract from Queensland Railways First Half Century, printed in 1914)

To the unsophisticated youth of Ipswich the first train whistle heard in the town made a great event. The date was 11th January, 1865. There were many sturdy sons of Ireland on the railway staff in those days, and the first engine which emitted the first whistle was named "Faugh-a-Ballagh"  The resident engineer fired it up with chips of wood, and the wondering inhabitants saw the horse of iron conducted from the locomotive shops down to the railway wharf, with which it was connected by the first piece of the line laid down. The locomotive having behaved well on its trial trip, a passenger railway carriage and a goods truck were attached, and quite a number of delighted "youngsters" were treated to a first free ride on a railway in Queensland.

Undoubtedly Ipswich was then the hub of Queensland, and Ipswich boys proudly proclaimed it so.

"Faugh-a-Ballagh" (above) 11th January 1865................ Railway Wharf and Wharf Railway (below)

© youripswich.com 2004, 2004-08-08

First railway workshops ca. 1870 from John Oxley Library, wharf branch line, and original elevation of overbridge also shown.

You can Help save our heritage:

Download Current Petition and gather as many signatures as possible.

Previous Tabled Petitions:

Tabled Paper Petition No.1

Tabled E-Petition No.1

Tabled Paper Petition No.2

Tabled Paper Petition No.3

The Heiner Road Precinct:

Precinct Overview

Download Reference Material:

Documents in *.pdf format