Great Northern Railway

The first section of the Great Northern Railway was one of the original steam-worked Australian passenger railways opened in the 1850s, and was the genesis for the railways in northern New South Wales including the connection to Queensland.

The Hunter River Railway Co., consulting engineer James Wallace, and resident engineer J.N Gale, constructed this railway from 1854. Bridges were built of timber and small culverts used brickwork, of which some remains.

Pioneering work across the Hexham Swamp used brushwood matting over the soft ground.

Governor Denison opened the line between Honeysuckle Point and East Maitland, by then taken over by government, on 30 March 1857, proclaiming it the Great Northern Railway. The extensions to Newcastle and West Maitland opened in 1858.

Railway staff at Honeysuckle.

Honeysuckle station decorated, with crowds awaiting the arrival of the Duke of York in 1901.

Engineers Australia plaque.

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Great Northern Railway location map.

Engineering Heritage Recognition Program

Marker Type	Historic Engineering Marker (HEM)
Award Date	30 March 2007
Heritage Significance	This section of railway from Honeysuckle to Maitland was built at the beginning of railway deveopment in NSW and presented some unique challenges in constructing a stable road bed across the Hexham swamps.
Nomination Document	Available here.
Ceremony Booklet	Not Available.
Interpretation Panel	None Installed.