Historical information

Collected by Tom Rigg

Physical description

(i) Extract from Victoria Gazette, 17/7/1907|(ii) Notes by Tom Rigg|(iii) Maps of Cut Paw Paw, County of Bourke|Two copies of the above

Inscriptions & markings

Until about 1884 the general area now occupied by Sunshine / Braybrook was known as CUT PAW PAW. The Melbourne to Bendigo railway was built in 1859 and the railway to Ballarat began first to Melton in 1884 to Parwan in 1886 and to Bacchus Marsh in 1887. The junction of the two lines was known as Bacchus Marsh Junction during construction and after completion the area became Braybrook Junction no doubt influenced by the nearby settlement of Braybrook. In 1907 the Braybrook Junction Progress Association petitioned the Victorian Railways Commissioners requesting that the station name be changed to Sunshine Junction possibly recognising the dominating presence of the Sunshine Harvester Works. Approval was very promptly granted by the Commissioners and in the Victoria Gazette of July 17 1907 page 3419 the Victorian Railways gazetted that on and after Monday 15th July the name of Braybrook Junction station will be changed to Sunshine.