Murphys Creek Railway Complex

The 1867 Murphy’s Creek Railway Station and its water tank are a tribute to the development of Queensland Railways during the steam locomotive era (1865-1969). Due to limited water carrying capacity of early locomotives, water halts were required along the main range line. A water tank was installed at Murphy’s Creek prior to the completion of the line and the area became known as a ‘feeding place for the engines‘. In 1871, a goods shed was constructed at the station following increasing goods traffic. A booking office and platform were built in 1878-79 to provide additional room for the developing line traffic. In 1879, an 11,000 gallon steel water tank was installed to expand water supply. A reserve for railway purposes was set aside opposite the station in 1884 and a fork line was established there in 1885, in an effort to support locomotives in ascending the Main Range without having to reduce their load at Murphy’s Creek. In 1917, Murphy’s Creek was closed as a watering station; however an emergency 8,000 gallon water tank was erected in 1921 and expanded with a second tier in 1949. The station was closed in 1992 with the introduction of Centralised Traffic Control.