Built : 1891
Original Name : Stirk’s Landing
Jeck’s Crossing
Kalamunnda
Kalamunda
Station Facts : Before the government took control of the
Upper Darling Range Railway (UDRR), the stations along the line, didn’t really
have any
buildings or platforms, so Kalamunda Station was a unique station along
the line.Some stations only had a shed, used for passenger shelter,
Kalamunda Station had a fully raised platform, with two station buildings,
a water tower and sidings for passing trains and for storing wagons and
by 1926, after the Government had taken control of the line, a new Station
building was added. The new building was made of wood and has a tiled
roof, it looks simular to Lake Grace Station, Newdegate and also simular
to Dalwallinu, obviously due to the era the station buildings were built in.
Kalamunda Station, was always the main station along the line, it was situated
next to the town centre of Kalamunda. The railway
for many people living up in the hills, along the line, was the easiest
form of commuting to and from Perth.
The original owners of the UDRR, the Canning Jarrah Timber Company, were
throughout, the life time of their control, reluctant in providing a
passenger service along the line, as well as passenger stops and amenities.
At the time of construction, the Government of Western Australia,
gave the go ahead to build and run the line on the condition that passengers
in the hills district must be accommodated for.
The Canning Jarrah Timber Company, only saw the line as a Timber line.
Kalamunda Station had it’s last train pull out from it’s platform in July
1949, the Government of Western Australian deemed the line to be
uneconomical, however, one other possible reason for removing the Upper
Darling Range Railway Line, was that it was built with cheap
track construction methods, little or no ballast was used, a disregard for
grades was in evidence along the whole line, also the impractical
routes were in no need any more. I guess also, by 1950, roads in the area
from Midland to Kalamunda and beyond, had improved greatly
since 1891 and buses, could transport people from Kalamunda to Perth in
a distinctly shorter time then having to catch a train down from
the hills to Midland Junction then changed trains to carry on to Perth.
The Timber mills had ceased railway operations from Bartons Mill,
Pickering Brook and Canning Mills.
By the 29th of December 1950, the track along the line, had started to be
removed, and eventually by April 1952, all the track had been
removed along the line.