A Victorian Railways locomotive crosses the Murray River into Tocumwal in 1908.
Railway development in the Riverina was about more than building train lines and providing the most effective and efficient transport to capital cities and ports.
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It became an era that is remembered for the struggles that impeded pastoralists and settlers, hindered by decades of political and interstate rivalry.
The development of railways, as well as these struggles, are captured in a new book that will be launched in Deniliquin on Thursday, September 14.
It is the latest work of historian Ian Lea, and is titled ‘Railway Development of the South-West Riverina’ with the appropriate sub-title ‘A story of decades of political and petty interstate rivalry’.
This 320 page quality production, complete with historic and colour photographs, is the culmination of many years of research by Mr Lea, which included reading more than 4,000 newspaper articles on Trove, countless books, as well as sourcing maps and period photos.
The result is a book which covers all of the many railway proposals, whether built or not, that would transgress the South-West Riverina, between Oaklands in the east and Wentworth in the west, and whether they were built by the privately owned Deniliquin & Moama Railway Co, the NSW Government or the Victorian Government between 1876 and 1928.
‘Railway Development of the South-West Riverina’ will be launched at the Deniliquin and District Historical Society Museum, 1 Macauley St, Deniliquin, at 2pm on Thursday, September 14.
The public is invited to attend, but to assist in catering please RSVP to Ian Lea on 0418 468 857 or email ian@retiredfarmer.com.au.
The privately owned D & MR Co mixed train crosses the Iron Bridge into Echuca in 1878.
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