Information
The rail line from South Brisbane to South Brisbane Junction (now Corinda) commenced in 1884 and had a station in Fairfield. The original rail line converged with Fairfield Road near the current-day Victoria Street and ran parallel with it to Yeronga. The first station was situated just south of Victoria Street. Due to the low-lying nature of the area, the railway track was underwater during the floods of 1890 and 1893 and had to be repeatedly closed. The line was subsequently duplicated and moved above flood level to its current position in 1896. The opening of the railway station in 1884 led to an increase in housing around the local area, although the lack of late-night and weekend services meant that it could still be a chore to get to town, with local residents having to walk up the hillside to Ipswich Road and travel to town by omnibus.
Citations
John McClurg, ‘Historical Sketches of Brisbane’, Brisbane: RHSQ, 1975, p. 88; Brisbane Courier, 3 March 1896; Courier-Mail, 29 January 1934.
Image Citations
The first train from Brisbane to Sydney on the new standard gauge railway line, passing through Fairfield, September 1930. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Record number. 3504.
Map References
QSA. QSA Series ID 2043 City of Brisbane and Suburbs Maps – A1A Series. 5 chains to the inch. City of Brisbane. 5 chains to the inch. Government Engraving, and Lithographic Office, Brisbane.. 634496