South Brisbane is a railway station operated by Queensland Rail on the Beenleigh, Cleveland and Gold Coast lines. It opened in 1884 as Melbourne Street and serves the South Brisbane area. It is an elevated station, featuring one island platform with two faces and one side platform.

It is the second oldest-railway station in central Brisbane and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

History

The first station was constructed in 1884 on the corner of Melbourne and Grey Streets and opened as Melbourne Street railway station.

The second and current building was constructed on higher ground in 1891 as the terminus for the new rail extension from Boggo Junction (now Dutton Park railway station). This line bypassed the Woolloongabba railyards and made redundant the Stanley Street railway station that existed from 1882 to 1884. The £77,585 contract was let to Murphy & Company on 2 April 1890, and the line was completed by them on 7 December 1891. In the adjoining Melbourne-street post and telegraph office the water rose to a height of on the upper floor. The Railway Commissioners granted PMG the use of a suitable room in the South Brisbane Railway Station until repairs were carried out.

A 1912–1913 proposal to expand South Brisbane station to a six platform station reflected the increasing importance of the southern rail network, both as a passenger service and as a goods line. This work was undertaken between 1914 and 1918. To handle the increased traffic a turntable was constructed in 1916, which was expanded to in 1925. This was removed with the change-over to diesel engines in 1968.

On 18 November 1978, the narrow-gauge line was extended, via the Merivale Bridge from South Brisbane station into Roma Street station on the opposite side of the Brisbane River. As the interstate station at South Brisbane was to be demolished to make way for the World Expo 88 site, the standard gauge services were extended to the Brisbane Transit Centre, an extension of Roma Street station, on 21 June 1986, making the Transit Centre the interstate terminal.

Since two of the island platforms at South Brisbane were removed to accommodate the cross-river line, the South Brisbane station was reduced to its two original two platforms.

From 31 October 2011, the station was closed for seven weeks for major structural works and raising the platforms. Trains still travelled through South Brisbane during that period but did not stop.

Description

thumb|250px|The station platforms in August 2017

The station is a long, two-storeyed brick building with a hipped corrugated-iron roof. The Grey Street frontage is dominated by a central projecting pedimented entrance. Either side of the entrance are sloping corrugated-iron street awnings, which are supported by cast-iron columns with Corinthian capitals and large brackets.

Adjacent attractions

The station is very convenient to the Queensland Cultural Centre, including the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and the State Library.

The station is also very conveniently located to the Queensland Conservatorium and Suncorp Piazza, which are both situated within the South Bank Parklands.

References

  • Brisbane South Brisbane station Queensland Rail
  • South Brisbane station Queensland's Railways on the Internet
  • Track layout SA Track & Signal