St. Albans Station (1887 -1959)

 

Location: Main Rd West, St. Albans.

Distance from Spencer Street Station (Southern Cross Station): – 18.12km (11.25 miles). This station was located on the north side of Main Rd West approximately 313 metres from the existing station.

 

Key Dates:

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1886 – The Cosmopolitan Land and Banking Company wrote to the Railway Commissioners requesting that a railway station be built in the area.

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1887 – The St. Albans Railway Station opens for passengers. The station is located on the north side of Main Rd West.

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1888 – A post office at the railway station opens and the station master is place in charge. Suburban trains operate between Spencer Street Station (Southern Cross) and St. Albans.

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1889 – The station’s booking office is completed. A portable house is provided for the porter.

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1907 – An anonymous letter was sent to the Railways Commissioners suggesting the station to be moved 1 mile further north.

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1908 – The post office is moved from the station to a local store in Main Rd West.

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1921 – The line is electrified from Footscray to St. Albans. The suburban electric trains terminated at this station.

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1926 – The station master’s position is withdrawn and replaced by a caretaker and three porters. James Robinson is the last station master.

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1954 – The station master’s position is restored.

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1959 - The station is closed and a new station is built south of Main Rd West to reduce the number of railway gate closures. The station's original platform, signal bay and booking office are demolished.

 

Station Masters:

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1888 – George Newstead.

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1888 – Cornelius William O’Brien.

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1891 – William McCallum.

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1893 – William Thomas Smith.

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1894 – Robert Surridge.

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1897 – James Robinson.

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1951 – Albert Henry "Harry" Johnson.

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1952 – Albert Henry "Harry" Johnson.

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1953 – Albert Henry "Harry" Johnson.

 

1954 – Albert Henry "Harry" Johnson.

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1955 – Albert Henry "Harry" Johnson.

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1956 – Albert Henry "Harry" Johnson.

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1957 – Albert Henry "Harry" Johnson.

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1958 – Albert Henry "Harry" Johnson.

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1959 – Albert Henry "Harry" Johnson.

 

Ref: Fifteen Railway Stations of the West (Footscray to Sunbury) by Tom Rigg January 2009.

Photos: S&DHS.