WOODANILLING RAILWAY

Woodanilling Railway

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The WA Land Co built and owned the Great Southern Railway (from Beverley to Albany) which opened on the 1st of June 1889. Round Pool was listed as one of the original sidings in the timetable commencing 3rd of June 1889. However there was some confusion over the siding name because there was also a siding called Round Swamp (now known as Tenterden), so the siding name was changed to Yarabin, which probably came from the name of a well (Yairabin Well), which was a few miles east of the siding.

In 1892, a townsite around the siding of Yarabin Siding, was Gazetted and this caused more confusion as the siding was known as Yarabin, yet the town site was known as Woodanilling and so, in 1893, the siding was again renamed. The name Woodanilling (Woodanilling Spring) was the name given by the Noongar people to the pool of water known as Round Pool and relates to the many small fish found in the pools of water at the spring.

Woodanilling Railway Station c1910

The first permanent towns person to the townsite was Mr. H Stevens, who arrived at the siding in 1892. He was employed by the GSR as a fettler and had previously been working for the GSR at the siding of Popanyinning. He, with his wife and daughter, initially lived in a tin and hessian humpy on the western side of the railway just north of the site of the old railway goods shed.

Originally, there was no Station Master at Woodanilling so the mail and goods were left on the side of the railway. After being dropped off Mr. Stevens wife would pick up the mail and goods and act as the Postmistress for the district. Eventually when a proper railway house was built the Stevens moved into it and Mr. Stevens continued his work with the railways till he was 65 years old. He died in 1935.

By the time 1896 rolled around, the West Australian Government Railways (WAGR) [2] had bought out the Great Southern Railway which was having a hard time making profits from its railway and land sales.

XA1405 is on the Great Southern Railway Centennial 100 years train on 4 June 1989 heading for Albany seen paused at Woodanilling.
(c) Phil Melling – Flicker

In 1901, with an increase of settlers using the rail siding, a meeting was held to push for the appointment of a Station Master and, on the 12th of January 1903, Woodanilling became a booking Station for the WAGR. In 1903 and 1904, the station was the leading goods provider for the GSR Line, with mallet bark being the main stay and wool and grain as support traffic. Railway workers, when working in the area, lived out of the old Pub (across the road from the station) which by then was a boarding house.

It wasn’t until 1904 that Woodanilling received its first Station Master in a Mr. A Errington and, with the further increase in siding traffic, a station masters office and platform verandah were constructed in 1907. This added to the already built parcels office, instrument room, open station lobby and ladies waiting room. The latter was positioned separately from the main station building to the north along the station platform. A few years later, in 1909, a cart weighbridge was installed plus the addition of an Assistant Station Master, to take some of the load off the Senior Station Master.

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STATION STAFF

The Woodanilling Railway Station was manned from 12 January 1903 until 31 July 1916. From 12 January 1903 up to 31 December 1909 staff were designated as “Officer-In-Charge,” and from 1 January up to 31 July 1916 they were designated as “Station Master.” With the removal of the station master in 1916, the station has remained unattended.

12 January 1903 – November 1904
A. C Errington – Officer-in-charge

November 1904 – November 1908
A. Searle – Officer-in-charge

November 1908 – March 1909
A. W. Flanders – Officer-in-charge

March 1909 – 31 December 1909
E.H. Brennan – Officer-in-charge

1 January 1910 – June 1913
E.H. Brennan – Station Master

June 1913 – May 1915
H. Davey – Station Master

May 1915 – 31 July 1916
G. Poat – Station Master

The station yard boasted a goods shed and platform directly across the line from the station. It had a station main, loop and goods road. The station masters house was located on the Station side (eastern side) of the tracks in line with the intersection of Robinson Rd and Burt Rd.

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STATION IMPROVEMENTS

Western Mail
12 December 1908 – P9

The improvements to the railway station yard have been commenced at last. The weighbridge, tracking yards, and the enlargement of the yard will be much appreciated.

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WOODANILLING RAILWAY PICTORIAL

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