Re: Stawell to Grampians - and Halls Gap?

[John Cleverdon <johnc@cdi.com.au>]

Steven Hurst wrote:

> I have done a bit of research at:
> http://maps.ogdc.vic.gov.au/engine/sdmb/plain_sdmbc.main_page
> and discovered, that there appears to be a reservation leading to Halls Gap
> from Fyans Creek, where the Grampians Line also goes North.
> I hope that I don't get sued for copyright, but I have put 2 relevant maps
> on my website, only for a short while though, as you can't link to the maps
> on the SDMB website easily...

If you want more information, you can always try visiting the Land & Survey
Information Centre at 456 Lonsdale St (I'm on the 11th floor :-). They provide
access to the SDMB-Cadastral, and  may give you access to those sections
covering the line (I have access to the SDMB at work, and might also be able to
take a look myself).

> The eagle eye should pick them out, at Fyans Creek, Stawell is to the right
> and Grampian to left (North West), and Halls Gap to South (south west).

We have old plans that cover both lines.
The junction is just on the down side of the site of Fyans Creek station, on the
other side of the level crossing.

> At Halls Gap, it comes in the top at the centre, and curves to the left side
> of the map, stopping half way down...

The station site was to be located at what is now the shores of Lake Bellfield.

> NOW, can anyone tell us if there actually was a rail line here, or was the
> land just reserved etc???????

There was no line - it was just the reservation.

Interestingly, there was a township called Heatherlie gazzetted but never built,
on the eastern side of the quarry, at the end of the Grampians line.
There are a couple of copies of the Parish and Township register at work; I
wouldn't mind looking for a copy for myself - it would be interesting to see how
many townships were proposed to be built along railway lines, but nothing
happened (Robinvale-Koorakee-Lette being one example).

PS. While we are discussing proposed railway lines, does anyone have a map of
the proposed railway line from Frankston to Mornington via Mt Eliza?

John
--
John Cleverdon, B.App.Sc. (Cartography), AMMSIA
Land Titles Automation Project - Beveridge & Williams, Melbourne
Amateur astronomer & Railway enthusiast | Bombers - 2000 AFL Premiers
E-mail:  johnc@cdi.com.au | Phone: 03 5987 1535 (H) | Dromana, Victoria
The Locomotive Page: http://www.railpage.org.au/loco
Astronomical Society of Frankston: http://www.cdi.com.au/~johnc/asf.htm
Railway Map of Victoria: http://www.cdi.com.au/~johnc/railmap.htm