Williamstown Transport Talk by John Rees

At the turn of the twentieth century, the West Australian Government was under pressure from Kalgoorlie-Boulder mining companies to provide an efficient means of transportation.

Bowing to this pressure, the "loop" service line was constructed in 1897 to transport freight and mining equipment, but because of the area, it encompassed, the railway quickly became the main means of passenger transport for the local residents.



Leaving Kalgoorlie Station, the loop branched east to serve the smaller towns of Williamstown, Brown Hill, Hill End and Trafalgar, before entering Boulder City via Kamballie Station and Forrest Street. Leaving Boulder City Station, thus forming the "outer loop", the line passed through the stations and sidings of Dunlop, Hainault and Golden Gate, before eventually reaching Kallaroo, Halfway, Coventry Street, Roberts Street, Hannan Street Station, and Victoria Park before returning to the Kalgoorlie Terminus.



Hear from John Rees, Eastern Goldfields Historical Society Life Member, about the busiest Railway line in Australia.