Grandchester is a town in the Lockyer Valley region in South East Queensland, Australia. It is located 76km west of the Brisbane CBD and is situated on the border of the Ipswich and Laidley local government areas. The name comes from the village outside of Cambridge in England.[1]
[edit] History
Grandchester railway station
Grandchester is home to the first narrow gauge mainline railway in the world. The first track opened to traffic on 31 July 1865 from Ipswich and terminated at this small town[1]. The original railway station, formerly known as Bigge's Camp, still exists.
Grandchester was the home of one of the last known surviving steam-powered flat-belt sawmills in Australia. The engine powering it was manufactured in 1910, and the mill had been in operation from 1945 until it was destroyed beyond repair in a fire sometime in the early hours of 6 May 2007.[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, July, 1965 pp121-136
- ^ Ipswich City Council Media Release, May 9, 2007
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 27°40′S 152°28′E / 27.667°S 152.467°E / -27.667; 152.467
