Town marks 150 years of railway

The line was constructed as an extension of the existing Melbourne to Essendon railway.

When the station opened, only a single platform was provided with a temporary timber station building. A brick building was erected in 1874-75.

Seymour resident David Watson has held many roles on the railway and said its opening positioned Seymour as the gateway to northern Victoria and NSW.

He said it set Seymour up to become a major railway operations centre.

“Melbourne could be reached in two-and-a-half hours instead of a two-day journey over roads that were little more than bush tracks,” he said.

“Transportation of freight to and from the area was now cheap, scheduled and dependable.

“The town began a steady migration from the “old town” near the river to higher and less flood-prone ground near the railway.”

During its heyday, 400 men were employed on the railway.