Brief outline of Hawkesbury's Railway Service

An extension of the Sydney to Parramatta railway line was discussed as early as 1843. Following the plans to extend the line to Blacktown, the community pressured the Government. The railway line was officially opened to Blacktown in 1860. The Government eventually set aside money in the budget in 1862 for the line to be extended to Richmond. Originally the line was going to be a horse-drawn service however there was a lot of opposition and at the proclamation in 1863 the change was announced.

The line was officially opened by Sir John Young, the Governor of New South Wales, on the 29 November 1864 with stations at Riverstone, Mulgrave, Windsor and Richmond. Newspapers reported the opening in detail and The Sydney Morning Herald on the 30 November 1864 gives a thorough account. When the need grew, other stations opened at various times, these included:

• Racecourse 1870 but renamed Clarendon in 1876. This station was used extensively for the racecourse in the vicinity.
• Hawkesbury Dairy & Ice Society siding near Windsor opened in 1922 
• Vineyard 1935 
• East Richmond 1935

Richmond Railway Station in the late 1950s. Photo: R. D. Power
Source : Hawkesbury Library Service

The railway line was electrified to Riverstone on the 22 May 1975 and following long delays and debate, the extension continued to Richmond, officially opening on the 17 August 1991.

Official opening of electrified line at Richmond Railway Station, 1991. Photo: M. Nichols
Source: Hawkesbury Library Service

During the 1880s the community proposed that the rail service be extended to Kurrajong. In 1924 the first sod was turned and the line was officially opened to Kurrajong on the 8 November 1926. The line ran at a loss and following flood damage and land slides the line was officially closed in 1952.

Additional information about the Richmond-Kurrajong Railway Line is located online at Richmond Kurrajong Railway 


Sources
Hawkesbury Heritage / Stan Stevens
Macquarie Country / Douglas Gordon Bowd
Hawkesbury 1794 - 1994 / Jan Barkley & Michelle Nichols