Historical information

These three photos were taken at the time of the opening of the Orbost Railway (Bairnsdale-Orbost) in 1916. This was an extremely important and much anticipated event for this remote community In East Gippsland, Victoria. This railway was constructed 1912-1916, and functioned until 1987. It was a 'developmental' railway line, constructed to encourage and promote development in this region which suffered from extremely poor transport and lack of access to markets.

Significance

These photographs are significant because they are a record of an extremely important event in the history of Orbost, ie. the opening of the railway line in 1916.

Physical description

Three b/w photos/postcards of the Orbost Railway, 1916
2713.1 An oval shaped b/w photo/postcard showing a steam engine and five train carriages on a railway line, and workers beside the line using shovels.
2713.2 A panoramic rural view taken from an elevated position, showing paddocks, a long railway bridge on the right hand side with a line of telegraph poles beside it, one house on a road, and buildings in the distance.
2713.3 A steam train on a wooden bridge in the foreground. Steam from the train covers much of the photograph. Paddocks of maize, a barn and shed, and dead trees.

Inscriptions & markings

2713.1 NEWMERELLA RAILWAY, ORBOST STANLEY VOGT, BAIRNSDALE
2713.2 Railway Viaduct, Orbost Flats
2713.3 First Government Train to Orbost, Official Opening. W S Vogt, Bairnsdale