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Wharf Branch Railway 1864 - Extended to Hancock's Siding 1884

Significance:
The tramway / railway line to the old government railway wharf on the banks of the Bremer River in Ipswich was definitely the first section of railway line in Queensland and according to the Queensland Heritage Council's Web site the Southern and Western Railway was the first railway in the world to be constructed as a government enterprise. It is the first rail connection to maritime transport in Queensland and all of the imported railway material from Britain came up this section of track. It was on this section of track that Governor Bowen inspected the first set of rail wagons rolling down and testing the line, the first locomotive under steam was also tested on this section of railway.

Timeline:
1863 July - First Railway in Queensland (Ipswich Municipal Centenary)
There was much discussion and controversy in the Queensland Parliament, on the construction of a railway in the colony. Subsequently, in July 1863, parliament authorised the construction of the Southern and Western Railway, to begin in Ipswich. Abraham Fitzgibbon (right) was appointed Engineer-in-Chief. He was the first railway official to be appointed in the colony.

1863 November 19
Tenders were invited, on November 19, 1863, for the construction of the first section of the railway of 21 miles from Ipswich to the Little Liverpool Range and the laying of a permanent way for a 3 feet 6 inches gauge single line. The tenders had to be sent to the temporary office of the Engineer-in-Chief of Railways, North Ipswich.

1863 December 23
Abraham Fitzgibbon (right) was appointed Commissioner of Railways on December 23, 1863, with his headquarters at North Ipswich.

1864 February 1
John McDonald's tender for erecting railway offices and stores on the "north side of the Bremer RIver" was accepted on February 1, 1864.

1864 February 5
Five tenders had been received for the construction of the railway; but none were accepted. Peto, Brassey and Betts, an English company, was one of the tenderers. On February 5, 1864, that company's offer to construct the railway was accepted by the government.

1864 February 25
February 25, 1864 was an historic day for Ipswich on that day every house was filled to overflowing with visitors, who came to see Lady Bowen turn the first sod of the railway. The site of the ceremony was near the north bank of the Bremer River.

1864, June 18 Wharf Construction on the North Side of Bremer River (North Australian)
The wharf now in the course of construction on the Northern side of the river and opposite East Street, is intended for the landing of the heavy material and plant for the southern and Western Railway, now on its way to Brisbane. The contractor is Mr. Hargreaves, of Nicholas Street, and the works are being pushed forward with all dispatch. The piles used in the construction are twenty feet in length, the points of each being covered with iron shield of twenty pounds weight: taking from the time of its receiving the first blow of the monkey, which by the bye, weights a ton, seven hours' consecutive driving before it reaches the requisite depth.
From this stage a tramway will run to the railway on the brow of the hill, for the purpose of conveying material, such as may be required in the construction of the permanent-way, and that may arrive for transit to the interior, on the completion of the line.

1864 July (Item No. 42 of the Ipswich City Council’s 'Heritage Trail No. 11 -North Ipswich'..... printed in 1995)
in July 1864, a short section of railway line was laid down along the riverbank below the immigration depot to connect the original railway workshop site with a wharf. Materials for the railway arrived from England by ship and were then brought to Ipswich by paddle steamer. A few wagons were built and the materials were hauled up the line by horses. The line had a very sharp curve near the bottom and shortly after it was laid, an embarrassing incident occurred. The Governor Sir george Bowen was visiting the site and an inexperience ganger named Evans decided to demonstrate the wagon. He was unable to apply the brake correctly on the curve and the wagon and contents ended up in the Bremer. Some Brisbane critics seized on the incident and prophesied that the whole railway scheme would be a failure. The old wharf railway line still exists and is the oldest section of railway line in Queensland.

1864, August 27 (State Archives - Work Department Notes of Abraham Fitzgibbon)
"Respecting the other work, I have the honour to report that the branch railway and wharf at North Ipswich are almost completed; the abutments for the bridge over the Bremer have been commenced and the ground to be occupied by the terminal at South Ipswich is being bought to formation level.

1864, November (Triumph of Narrow Gauge A History of Queensland Railways)
The Governor inspected progress in November 1864. The rails had been laid down to the wharf, but as none of the locomotives were ready, one of the goods wagons was brought out. It coasted down the line easily at 20 kilometres per hour, and could not be stopped with the handbrake. but for a gum tree at the end of the line, it might have ended up in the river. A second wagon carefully controlled at half the speed made the journey without mishap.

1865, January (Triumph of Narrow Gauge A History of Queensland Railways)
Fitzgibbon complained constantly of Willcox's conduct, especially the slow progress, and the contractor's failure to give due receipt for the stores unloaded at the railway wharf, and to move them above flood level.

1865, January 11th - First Train Whistle (Queensland Railways First Half Century)
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

"Faugh-a-Ballagh" (above) 11th January 1865

1865 March 2 (State Archives - Work Department Notes of Abraham Fitzgibbon)
"The earthworks for the approaches to the bridge is being carried on and will easily be finished before the superstructure is erected."

1866 February (Triumph of Narrow Gauge A History of Queensland Railways)
Freight traffic grew steadily, and export produce and goods going up country used the short North Ipswich wharf branch. Transport between Brisbane and Ipswich was provided by small river steamers.

Special Note:
The Wharf / Hancock rail lines have only recently been pulled up, the ballast and remnants of timber sleepers and steel spikes are clearly visible when walking along the line.

The map below is an extract from 'Ipswich Its Growth Development and Function'

Photos above of the Wharf Branch Railway (Oct. 2003 before they were pulled up) and one of the first locomotive engines the 'Lady Bowen.' (No.3)

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