28. RAILWAY STATION
Railway Terrace

This railway was originally established in 1854 to link the Murray Darling pastoral riches coming into the river port at Goolwa with the salt water port of Port Elliot, for overseas export, thus establishing Australia’s first commercial and passenger railway. When Port Elliot failed to provide safe anchorage, the railway was extended to Port Victor in 1864 and later the railway line was extended across the wooden causeway to the sheltered anchorage off Granite Island.

The present building was built in 1926. It is typical of railway stations built in this era, and replaced the original 1865 weatherboard station which catered for the horse tram traffic from Goolwa, and early steam train traffic. In 1984, the regular service from Victor Harbor to Adelaide ceased and has been replaced by the Cockle Train, a Sunday and school holiday service between Victor Harbor and Goolwa.