Outer Circle Railway Anniversary Trail
The Outer Circle Railway Anniversary Trail has been a joint initiative of the City of Boroondara and Parks Victoria.
Twelve signs displaying historic photographic images and associated text have been developed to help path users to understand the historical features of the park and how these relate to Melbourne's railway heritage.
A working group consisting of local residents, members of local historical societies, railway experts and Council officers was established for the project.
The working group made decisions regarding the location of signs, the content of the captions and the most appropriate photographs for the signs.
The Public Transport Corporation, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Citipower and Yarra Valley Water have been consulted and the Department of Infrastructure assisted by providing photos.
Local historical societies and the Australian Railway Historical Society have assisted by providing historical information.
In this section
1. Bridge Over Yarra River
The Yarra River brick and steel viaduct was built for double tracks (though only one was ever laid) and has three brick and two stone piers between its abutments.
2. Between Willsmere and East Kew Stations
The line from Fairfield Park to Riversdale opened in March 1891 but East Kew Station closed in 1893, after a scant two years of operation.
3. East Kew Goods Yard
East Kew Station was built as part of the Riversdale to Fairfield Park section of the Outer Circle line and opened in March 1891 on the west side of Normanby Road.
4. Deepdene Station
Deepdene Station, named after the Deepdene Estate, owned by Mr D.C. Askew, and located on the south east corner of Burke and Whitehorse Roads, was opened in Whitehorse Road in March 1891, then closed from 1893 to 1900.
5. Whitehorse Road Crossing 1912
The Riversdale to Fairfield Park section of the Outer Circle Railway opened in 1891 with a series of bridges and road level crossings facilitating the crossing of major and minor thoroughfares.
6. Shenley Station
Shenley Station, to the north of Canterbury Road, was opened on 24 March 1891 when the Riversdale to Fairfield Park section of the Outer Circle Railway was opened.
7. South Side of Canterbury Road Bridge
This photograph in which a goods train emerges from the south side of the Canterbury Road overbridge, was taken on 15 February 1938 when the line was used only for goods.
8. Riversdale Station
Riversdale Station, was named after Riversdale Road, originally Molony's Road, which changed its name to the same name as the Hawthorn stretch of the road.
9. Hartwell Station
The station now known at Hartwell was opened later than other stations on the Riversdale to Waverley Road stretch of the Outer Circle Railway, being opened under the name of Hartwell Hill on 7 May 1906
10. Toorak Road Bridge
Burwood Station was opened on 30 May 1890 with the name of Hartwell, after nearby Hartwell House, the residence of William James Irwin.
11. Ashburton Station
Ashburton Station, 3.25 miles from Oakleigh and 7 miles from Fairfield, was opened on 30 May 1890 to the north of High Street under the name of Norwood, taken from Norwood Road (now Toorak Road).
12. Alamein Station
The first section of the Outer Circle Railway line to be completed was the section from Waverley Road to Riversdale Station which opened in May 1890 and went north through the Ashburton area.
13. Black Bridge
The Outer Circle line left the Gippsland line near Poath Road and the current Hughesdale Station with the first station on its line being Waverley Road.
Acknowledgements
We wish to acknowledge the following sources that have allowed reproduction of their photographs.