Jun 30, 2023 3 min read

Long Gestation For Eaglemont Station.

The drawn-out battle citizens face getting public facilities built with their public money.

The original 1888 rail line from the city to the Heidelberg Terminus did not include stations at Darebin, Dennis or Eaglemont.

These stations were added in 1922, 1924 & 1925 respectively, after concerted lobbying by local residents, who were called on by the Railways Commissioners and local politicians to "chip in" for the privilege!

The Age, 13.03.1922, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS. NEW STATION WANTED.

"The Railway Commissioners visited Heidelberg on Thursday afternoon to look into the request of residents for a new station between Heidelberg and Ivanhoe. They were met by Messrs. Beckett and Kiernan, M's.L.C., and Mr. Cain, M.L.A., and a number of residents. The distance between the two stations is over a mile, and a new station is desired about midway between - opposite the Eaglemont estate. The residents pointed to the increased population of the district, and to the fact that a large number of blocks of land had been sold, the owners of which were waiting for the new station. After inspection, the Commissioners stated that sooner or later a station would have to be provided in the vicinity. They promised to consider the request in the light of the financial position on 1st July next. In the meantime they would decide on the location of the proposed station."

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It is interesting that 100 years ago there was acceptance that a half mile walk to a train station was too far - why 100 years later would our Council think a half mile or more walk to Ivanhoe facilities is acceptable?

The new station at Eaglemont was not commenced until 1925, and did not open for business until May 1926 - without an opening ceremony.

The community contribution was £500 plus a block of land for the Station Master's house. This is the triangular land now used as a carpark behind the Village.

The small timber station was built on the northern side of the then single electrified track, approximately where the 1979 outbound waiting room now stands.

The original Eaglemont Station, built 1925/26, demolished 1979.

It took line duplication in 1949/50 for the tawdry original to be replaced by a new building on the south side, as part of Eaglemont Village.

The 1925 original served 54 years.

The newer stations, added with residents' financial contributions, were modest affairs.

When the residents subsequently sought improved facilities they got short shrift from their political representative, who accused them of seeking "pretentious" stations -

The Argus, 20.02.1930, Page 5

Pretentious Stations Obsolete.

"In reply to further representations by the deputation, Mr. Cain said that he was strongly opposed to building pretentious railway stations, particularly when fast and frequent train services had made them unnecessary and therefore obsolete.

As a private member of Parliament he had held the same views, and when the new stations at Darebin, Dennis, and Eaglemont, on the Heidelberg line, had been sought by deputations which he had introduced as representative of the district, stations of the time at Preston, Regent, and Reservoir, to which the deputation was now objecting, had been accepted.

He could not promise to replace these stations with more pretentious buildings, but would have repairs made where necessary.

Mr. Cain added that he could not promise a new station between Keon and Reservoir, for which residents had signed a petition, unless the petitioners were prepared to pay a proportion of the cost, as had been done with the new stations he had mentioned on the Heidelberg line.

The money so paid was not lost to the residents; it was a sound investment for which they received a quid pro quo."

Replacement stations for the original 1888 Ivanhoe and Heidelberg Stations were built before 1913, and are still in use today.

There was some impatience from the Ivanhoe and Heidelberg types about the slow pace of upgrades for their stations -

The Argus, 16.02.1910, Page 4

HEIDELBERG STATION.

"Despite the fact that the new double platform at Ivanhoe has now been completed for some time, and the promises that the Heidelberg station would be commenced at once, no action has been taken in regard to the latter, which, being the terminus, requires increased accommodation. The shire council has decided to request the commissioners to beautify the railway embankment facing the municipal offices, and abutting on Studley-road, with ornamental shrubs."

The original Heidelberg Station had no shelter for passengers.

The railways have certainly had good service from these more substantial, architectually interesting stations.

Would John Cain Snr., sometime Premier of Victoria, regard them as "pretentious"?