Rosewood Railway Station

Rosewood Gate was opened in late 1866 following the opening of Queensland’s first railway between Ipswich and Grandchester on 31 July 1865. Station buildings were erected in 1875/76, 1880/81, and in 1918.

The plans for the existing precast concrete station were prepared by the important railway designer W. A. Caldwell (1856-1918) who worked with Queensland Government Railways on numerous projects between 1907 and 1918.

Be sure to pop inside (if visiting Rosewood) to read more about the history of the Rosewood Railway on the information boards.

1883 Deputation from Farmers

Mr Isambert, member for the district, introduced a deputation (Messers Frederick, Ponting and Smallbone appointed at a public meeting to represent the district farmers) to complain to the Minister for Works that they were inconvenienced in transporting their produce to market due to a shortage of trucks at the station and only one porter supplied by the department to load the trucks.

As a result, the produce was left at the station and exposed to stray cattle. The Minister, Mr Morton, pointed out that Rosewood was not the only district experiencing concerns due to abundant crops this season and thus increased traffic along the railway line. New engines and wagons were under construction, and he promised the erection of a fence to keep the cattle out of the area. Whilst he couldn’t yet promise an extra train between Brisbane and Gatton, the department was considering an additional train to Toowoomba. (The Week Brisbane, 30 June 1883)

A line to Marburg opened in 1912 branching from the Main Line 380 m east of Rosewood Railway Station. Whilst this line is now closed, a steam train railway and museum ran on this line for a number of years. Unfortunately, the museum and steam train railway are closed for the time being.

1913 Issues with Lighting and Platform Length

In 1913, the Daile Standard stated, “The Rosewood station is behind the times – the platform is too short, and the lighting of the station is inadequate.” In response, the Commissioner for the Railways looked into both considerations. Lengthening the platform required applications for funding, but he did promise that an overbridge would be constructed once available funds were approved.

He said he had had little success at various systems of lighting for country railway stations. He was considering a system using electricity from storage batteries carried and charged on the actual trains and then placed at stations along the way. (Daily Standard Brisbane, 12 June 1913)

By 1960 the complex consisted of the main station (north side), old station (south side), footbridge, loading bank, goods shed and crane, trucking yards, ambulance shed, SM’s house, ganger’s house, trolley shed, weighbridge, and turntable.

The loading bank was removed in 1966, the weighbridge in 1967, the goods shed in 1979, the crane in 1974, and the cattle yards by c1985. The turntable was donated to the Australian Railway Historical Society by 1995 and has since been removed.

2015 Rosie, the Cow, on Rosewood Station

Rosie, the cow, was spotted on CCTV walking along the Rosewood Station platform late one night. After notifying trains of Rosie’s presence, trains reduced their speeds coming into the station until she was taken back to her paddock. Rosie had been known to wander down the streets of Rosewood in the past. (Brisbane Times, 23 October 2015)

2021 Tractor on the Rail Line

The Ipswich-Rosewood rail line morning commute was interrupted following a tractor being driven along the tracks, damaging the line. At 4am, the tractor was used to ram raid a motorcycle shop in West Ipswich and load motorcycles onto a truck, before being driven along the rail line at several points, the driver attempting to escape pursuing police. Buses and taxis were required to transport stranded rail commuters. The vehicle was abandoned once it became wedged in a ditch in Dinmore. (ABC News, 15 October 2021)