31-697: The Newcastle–Bolgart Railway was the second stage of the Clackline–Miling railway . It was opened on 6 December 1909 by the Western Australian Premier Newton Moore . The line ran between Newcastle (now Toodyay ) and Bolgart, Western Australia . The line came about after community support rallied against the Government, who were seen as not approving the rail to reduce the value of the Midland Railway Company land holdings. At
62-650: A highway bypass of Clackline and the Clackline Bridge began in the 1990s, and it was constructed between January 2007 and February 2008. The local community had been concerned that the historic bridge would be lost, but it remains in use as part of the local road network, and has been listed on both the Northam Municipal Heritage Inventory and the Heritage Council of Western Australia 's Register of Heritage Places. The Clackline Refractory
93-494: A local post office. In 2018 they canvassed community support, which was strong, so volunteers cleaned up and opened a community post office. Clackline is located within the Shire of Northam . It is within the state electorate of Central Wheatbelt , and federal Division of Pearce . Clackline is reliant on the road network as the only available means of transportation. It is situated alongside Great Eastern Highway , which has bypassed
124-485: A meeting on 6 November 1906 local MLA Timothy Quinlan then Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly threatened to resign from the government and join the opposition. The meeting proposed that Quinlan should meet with Moore and obtain a definitive answer as to whether he would include the line on the schedule of proposed railways. The matter of a line between Newcastle and Bolgart
155-511: A rudimentary water crossing. Construction began in January 1935, and was completed relatively quickly, with the opening ceremony held in August 1935. The bridge has undergone various improvement and maintenance works since then, including widening by three metres (10 ft) in 1959–60, but remained a safety hazard, with increasing severity and numbers of accidents through the 1970s and 1980s. Planning for
186-543: A venue for community events, such as farmers markets and weddings, and now serves as the community post office. It is located south of Great Eastern Highway, opposite the old general store site, but a walking trail passing under the highway connects to the remains of the Clackline railway station. After the general store and local post office closed, the Clackline Progress Association decided the community needed
217-525: Is a heritage listed brickworks site in Clackline, located on Refractory Road in a valley near Great Eastern Highway . An abundant supply of fine quality clay was discovered in Clackline in 1898, which led to the establishment of a quarry and refractory. By 1901, the industry was important to Western Australia, with the brick products from Clackline used by multiple government departments, the Fremantle Gas and Coke Company , and many goldmines. Other users of
248-634: Is a historic road bridge in Clackline that carried the Great Eastern Highway until 2008. It is the only bridge in Western Australia to have spanned both a waterway and railway, the Clackline Brook and the former Eastern Railway alignment. The mainly timber bridge has a unique curved and sloped design, due to the difficult topography and the route of the former railway. The bridge was designed in 1934 to replace two dangerous rail crossings and
279-467: Is located on the low side of Avro Anson Road, in a small park approximately five kilometres (3.1 mi) south-east of Clackline. The memorial, assembled by members of the local community in the months following the crash, features a cairn of granite and boulders supporting a jarrah cross. The names and details of the deceased airmen − Flying Officer Lynton Birt, Sergeant Geoffrey Debenham, Sergeant Noel Nixon, and Sergeant Kenneth Hugo − are carved into
310-639: Is on Refractory Road. In the 2021 census , Clackline had an estimated population of 330 people. The Clackline area produces some of the highest grade export hay (oaten) in Australia, and is home to wine growing ventures and an olive grove producing extra virgin olive oils . There are several historic sites, including heritage listed sites, located in and around the Clackline townsite. The Avro Anson Memorial commemorates four Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airmen killed when their Avro Anson aircraft crashed near Clackline on 9 October 1942. The memorial site
341-506: The Governor of Western Australia Frederick Bedford turned the first sod of soil during a ceremony near Newcastle. The Governor noted that this was the first time he had officiated at the construction of a railway. During his visit the Governor stated that was he glad he would not leave Western Australia without being associated in some way with the policy of agricultural railways construction for
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#1732898135491372-659: The CENTENARY of the BRITISH COLONISATION OF WEST AUSTRALIA MDCCCXXIX ; MDCCCCXXIX A D. E.W.MEMBERY. H.T. The sculptor of the lion was Archie H Paton, who has since been recognised with a nearby plaque. It is a stopping point on the Kep Track , adjacent to a picnic area and toilets. A restored rail carriage, serving as a museum, was installed by the now-defunct Clackline Railway Committee. The railway carriage has been used as
403-614: The Supreme Court alleging that Barry & McLaughlin breached their contract by purchasing timber directly from his employees. Clackline%E2%80%93Miling railway The Clackline to Miling railway branch, originally known as the Clackline to Newcastle railway line, is a railway line in Western Australia . The line developed progressively over the years and as it did so, various sections were named differently. Each section of
434-549: The Vigilance Committee was received by the premier to discuss the railway construction. They advised the premier that the Midland Railway Company and other prominent large land holders had subdivided their land to put it on the market. Mr Camerer explained to the premier that as a dairy farmer from Victoria he took up land in Bolgart after being assured two years prior that the railway was being built he could not continue without
465-742: The bricks included the Railway Department, the Perth Gas Company , the Fremantle smelter, and the Great Boulder Perseverance Company. The Clackline Refractory also supplied bricks for the nearby pumping stations for the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme . As of 2012 , the site is in poor condition and mostly deserted, apart from stacks of various ceramic products. As well as kilns suitable for modern-day production,
496-568: The connection with Clackline was no longer needed, and was closed with other former eastern railway connections in February 1966. It is now a heritage trail. In the 1960s the railway line from Toodyay to Miling was altered by the construction of the Eastern Railway through the Avon Valley , through Toodyay and a connection with Northam. The fate of the railway has been put in question due to
527-528: The cross. Over the years, the memorial was forgotten and lost, overgrown by shrubs and trees. Upon its rediscovery in the early 1980s, the memorial's history and significance were researched, and it was restored in 1984 by volunteers from the Perth branch of the Royal Australian Air Force Association. Since then, the association has held annual memorial services at the site. Clackline Bridge
558-526: The line needed separate lobbying and discussion in the Western Australian Parliament to get enabling acts. The final section was approved in 1920 and completed in 1925. After completion it became known as the Miling branch, following final expansion north to Miling , and the closing of the Clackline to Newcastle (Toodyay) section. The railway line to connect Newcastle to the eastern railway
589-525: The line. It was also noted that 15,000 acres were under crop within five miles of the proposed route of the railway. The premier replied that there was justification for the line and that he had already decided to bring a bill for construction of the Newcastle–Bolgart Railway. The builders of bridges on the line, Barry & McLaughlin, had engaged Joseph Shearer, a timber cutter and teamster, to supply timber. On 31 March 1910 Shearer took action in
620-519: The name Clackline in 1879 but the origin of the word is unknown. A settlement was established in the 1880s, being at the junction of the Perth-Newcastle Road and the township was gazetted in 1896. It has also been known as Clackline Junction for the road and the rail junction. It was an important junction for the Eastern Railway lines to Northam , and Toodyay on the Clackline–Miling railway branch . The railway service through Clackline
651-599: The public meeting on 6 November a further meeting was held on 8 November 1906 at the Newcastle Mechanics Institute ; this meeting was chaired by Mr O. Bull. The Mayor of Newcastle Father Hallinan moved that the Toodyay Vigilance Committee be formed to watch carefully all matters related to the Newcastle–Bolgart Railway and to keep their claims before the public and the WA Parliament. The meeting
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#1732898135491682-644: The separation of wheatbelt railway lines being designated into specific tiers . The railway line was developed over time, the construction taking fifteen years to travel over 100 km. Names used as found in WAGR Annual reports in the 1950s The line has had derailments in 2019. Clackline, Western Australia Clackline is a locality in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia , about 80 kilometres (50 mi) east-north-east of Perth . John Forrest , later Premier of Western Australia , recorded
713-481: The site has older kilns constructed from bricks, with corrugated iron roofs supported by metal poles. Alongside these structures is a large brick chimney. In 1929, Clackline School 's students and headteacher, E.W.Membery commemorated the 100th anniversary of British colonisation by building a monument. The monument features a sculpture of a lion, with a plaque reading: ERECTED by the PUPILS of CLACKLINE to COMMEMORATE
744-465: The state. As a memento of the occasion the Governor was presented with a miniature shovel that had a sandalwood handle and gold blade. The line was opened on 6 December 1909; on 10 December 1909 a bush fire was started by sparks from a train on the line causing considerable damage despite the efforts of some 300 volunteers fighting the fire. Another fire broke out on 11 December 1909, destroying 250 acres of wheat crop owned by Quinlan. Following on from
775-459: The tender for the construction of the line was awarded to Barry & McLaughlin as the lowest bidder at £25,744 2s. 4d. With the addition of costs for rail and fastenings the total cost was £48,000, which was £2,000 above the original estimates at the time of presenting legislation to parliament for construction; a significant portion of the tender was costs associated with bridge construction. Construction officially commenced on 4 December 1908 when
806-456: The townsite since February 2008. The highway connects traffic south-west to Perth, and north-east to Northam and beyond. Other important roads in the area are Clackline–Toodyay Road, leading north to Toodyay , and Spencers Brook Road, heading south-east to Spencers Brook and then on to York . Clackline historically had its own primary school, until the late 1970s. Clackline School , later known as Clackline Primary School, opened in 1896, and
837-571: Was closed in 1966 at the time the Avon Valley route of the Eastern Railway was opened. Clackline is in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) east-north-east of Perth, and 17 kilometres (11 mi) south-west of Northam . Clackline Brook is an 11.6-kilometre-long (7.2 mi) waterway that runs from near Clackline towards Mokine before turning north and ending near Mokine Hill. Clackline Nature Reserve
868-449: Was considered to be best started from Clackline, rather than Northam . The original terminus of the line in the 1890s was a platform, it was later that the second stopping place properly known as Toodyay railway station was completed after the extension to Newcastle-Bolgart Railway was completed. Following the construction of the standard gauge railway through the Avon valley in the 1960s,
899-686: Was extended and renovated several times before relocating in 1954 to a new site on the same road. The school was closed down in 1976, but in 1980 became the temporary location of the Avon Valley Church's school. Since then, the closest primary schools to Clackline are in Northam, Bakers Hill and Wundowie . The nearest high schools as well as further education campuses are located in Northam: Northam Senior High School , St Joseph's High School , C. Y. O'Connor College of TAFE , and
930-666: Was first raised in 1897. A number of state governments promised the construction of the line starting with the James Government , the line again promised by the Rason Government . The Labor Government then surveyed the line; this was followed with the Moore Government letting contracts for construction. At the sod turning ceremony Quinlan noted that the line from Clackline had not been a financial success but that opening this section would improve its fortunes. On 20 October 1908
961-453: Was surprised to learn that the premier hadn't responded to the request from the prior meeting for him to meet with Quinlan. The meeting was also informed that the Norseman railway was on the schedule, which caused consternation given that the Norseman rail had repeatedly been refused by previous WA Governments and that the Bolgart line had been repeatedly promised. Another deputation on behalf of