Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 742.866km
Location : -29.347202, 153.018379
Opened : 3 April 1905 (Construction Branch services), 6 November 1905 (official opening)
Closed : 30 June 1974 (station), 1983 (signal box), 9th June 2010 (crossing loop)
Status : Closed
Name meaning : After the local parish of the same name
Notes : Listed in original Grafton–Casino station table (Construction Branch services from 3 April 1905; formally opened 6 November 1905). The 30.4 metre timber platform was on the Up side and held a shelter with a waiting room. 3rd March 1926 opened as an electric staff station (but not as a crossing station), and on 22nd March it opened as a crossing station. May 1926 - 434 metre interlooked loop added. 11/1987 - both residences sold and removed. The loop remained after the conversion to CTC but later closed with the opening of a new, longer loop at Lawrence Road. Station had a phone by the mid 1920 (No. 68 North Telephone Circuit originally, altered at later dates). 5 ton gantry crane removed in 1944. Ground exchanger installed opp signal box in 1948. Became part of South Grafton Locomotive Depot district 25th July 1948. Goods siding removed and abolished 20th December 1979. CTC introduced 1983. Crossing loop removed 9/6/2010 (ARTC). Banyabba station was a non-official post office (Australia Post records (SP1454/1 / GA3056)). Two-stage 1926 opening — ETS station (3 March, explicitly "not a crossing station") followed by Crossing Station with loop (later same month). This is the only documented case in the collection where a station opened as an ETS station and then was separately upgraded to crossing station status within weeks. The WN entries confirm both events with the same Frame A/Duplex Lock No. 4 arrangement.
Banyabba, 1982 (Greg Lee)
Banyabba in 1982 (Greg Lee)
12th Jan 1934 from trove / nth star newspaper Banyabba Station Between Grafton and Casino .
Banyabba in 2013 (Scott Sashmo)
Location of Banyabba (Six Maps)
Ben King:
Worked there 1973/74/75
Lonely place. No power. No people to talk to. Car access only.
Des Firth:
In the sixties there was a lot of family's living there
Ben King:
Only bloke there was a Dave Reardon and wife and kids but when you were there they normally gone to Grafton. There was two signallers houses there. On a Sunday shift you would come on to put No 1 Brisbane Limited and maybe couple of other trains . Book off for most of day and come back pm and put No 2 Brisbane Limited back through and a couple of other trains. All day to get a shift. On leaving ask the man on the wall which way he wanted to home stick left and lock up box
Stephen Martin:
Lots of places like that are just location signs now , I worked past a lot of them and wondered what was there originally ! Thanks to this group I'm finding out , cheers for that !
Richard Butcher:
Ah all those small stations, Banyabba, Shanonbrook, Camira creek, Leeville, Rappville, Gurranang, memories of ones child hood days, and much steam. Fast goods trains 2- C 35's, double D 50's, even a C35&c36 recall. And the small bankers like 1301:1307:1311& occasionally 1218:1219! Lawrence Road.
Remains of the trolley shed at Banyabba (supplied) (2022)
Banyabba, undated
Banyabba signal box, undated
Banyabba, 1976
From Railway Digest.
No. 14 North Coast Mail at Banyabba (13/1/1954) (Skiller Collection)
Banyabba, 1/7/1982 (State Archives)
Banyabba, and 5916 has detached to return to Grafton, leaving 5908 to continue with the RTM tour train to Casino. Friday 25.04.1969. (Peter Neve)
A Type K0 signal box adjoined the waiting room on the formerly unattended platform. RT Taaffe
Banyabba, 31 January 2026. Nothing remains of the former station and crossing loop. The only reminder of Banyabba's former status is the CTC equipment building (at far right), which itself is now redundant. The loop survived the conversion to CTC but later closed with the opening of a new, longer loop at Lawrence Road, a few km to the south. Nature is gradually taking over the former yard. (Ken Date)
# Banyabba (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1905–1983
---
**Type:** Station (Closed — 30 June 1974); Crossing Loop (Closed — 9 June 2010)
**Line:** North Coast Line (Gurranang–Banyabba / Banyabba–Camira Creek sections from 1926)
**Distance from Sydney:** 742.866 km
**Location:** -29.347202, 153.018379
**Between:** Lawrence Road / Gurranang (south) and Camira Creek (north)
**Opened:** **6 November 1905** — Grafton to Casino; Circular No. A.182 of 1 November 1905
**Station closed:** **30 June 1974**
**Signal-box closed:** **1983**
**Loop closed:** **9 June 2010** (per your notes; outside WN collection)
**Status:** Closed
### Signalling History
**At opening — 1905:** Listed in original Grafton–Casino station table (Construction Branch services from 3 April 1905; formally opened 6 November 1905)
**1924:** Listed as **Banyabba (P)** — unattended platform; within Grafton–Camira Creek Ordinary Train Staff and Ticket section
**ETS Station opened — 3 March 1926 — W.N. — 1926:**
Banyabba opened as ETS station (not initially a crossing station); Gurranang–Camira Creek ETS section cancelled; **Gurranang–Banyabba** (Type B, 1–36 Ordinary) and **Banyabba–Camira Creek** (Type C, 1–8 Key, 9–36 Ordinary) created; instruments fitted for ordinary and automatic working; new **Frame A** on Up side of Main line at Murwillumbah end of platform; Down and Up Home signals from Nos. 7 and 2 Levers Frame A; **Down and Up Landmarks** in lieu of Distant signals; Goods Siding points (Grafton end) worked by Duplex and Bracket Locks released by key from Duplex Lock on No. 4 Lever Frame A; Regulation C
**Loop opened as Crossing Station — March 1926 — W.N. — 1926:**
Loop on **Down side** of Main line (between Main line and Goods Siding); **1,320 feet (402 metres)** standing room in the clear; **Frame E** (Grafton end) and **Frame B** (Murwillumbah end); No. 1 Lever in Frames E and B released by either key from Duplex Lock on No. 4 Lever Frame A; Goods Siding points and catch-points in siding released by same arrangement
*Note: The ETS station opened 3 March 1926 (W.N. — 1926) and the loop as a Crossing Station later the same month.*
**Control telephone boundary — 1943:**
Banyabba staff instrument was the dividing boundary between South Grafton No. 1 train control area (Glenreagh to Camira Creek — **staff instrument on Banyabba side**) and South Grafton No. 2 (Camira Creek, excluding Banyabba instrument, to Casino); Circular No. 15 of 1940 amended
**Signals connected to Signal-box — 25 October 1935 — W.N. 42–1935:**
Down and Up Home signals Main to Loop, and Main and Loop line Down and Up Starting signals brought into use; points at each end of loop connected to Signal-box; indicators on Main line Starting signals (unattended working); Frame A on platform replaced by **Signal-box**; ground frames renamed; certain signals renumbered; **Circular No. 502–56 of 1935**
**Down Home signals relocated — 14 December 1943 — W.N. 50–1943:**
Down Home signals Nos. 17 and 19 refixed **149 feet nearer to Sydney**; **Circular No. 502–56 of 1935** amended (S.&T.E.)
**Bank Engine Working — Gurranang–Banyabba section:**
Bank engine key provided at Gurranang for Down direction Gurranang to Mileage 458m 0c; removed **2 February 1960** (W.N. 7–1960; ref. S.&T.E. 59–502,206)
**Motor-operated points — "date to be advised" — W.N. 9–1983:**
Announced in W.N. 9–1983 (deferred from W.N. 8–1983 — first notice deferred); route control relay interlocking; colour light signals; low speed indication at Down and Up Home signals; ETS Gurranang–Banyabba and Banyabba–Camira Creek retained; automatic staff exchangers remain; route control system with **yellow** (Down direction) and **blue** (Up direction) route setting buttons; confirmed conversion date not found in WN OCR
**CTC — 11 July 1983:**
Gurranang–Banyabba and Banyabba–Camira Creek ETS sections cancelled — Broadmeadow CTC (W.N. 29–1983; S&C 121220)
### Load Sections (1943)
- South Grafton→Gurranang: **425 tons** (d)
- Gurranang→Banyabba: **370 tons**
- Banyabba→Border Loop: **425 tons** (e)
- Assisted loads: 426–540 tons throughout
### ETS Sections History
| Period | Sections |
|--------|---------|
| 1905 | (Construction Branch) |
| By 1910 | Grafton–Gurranang; Gurranang–Camira Creek (OTS) |
| 10 March 1924 | Grafton–Camira Creek (Round, Red OTS) |
| **3 March 1926** | **Gurranang–Banyabba** (Type B); **Banyabba–Camira Creek** (Type C) created |
| 1983 CTC | ETS retained during transition period |
| **11 July 1983** | Both sections cancelled — Broadmeadow CTC |
---
> **Notes:** Banyabba opened 6 November 1905. Listed as unattended (P) in 1924. Opened as ETS station 3 March 1926 (not initially a crossing station); loop and crossing station status followed later in March 1926. The loop (1,320 feet, Down side) was released by Frames E and B via Duplex Lock on No. 4 Lever Frame A. Signal-box commissioned 25 October 1935 — Frame A on platform replaced; Starting signals and loop points connected to signal-box; Circular No. 502–56 of 1935. Down Home signals relocated 149 feet toward Sydney December 1943. Banyabba was the control telephone boundary between South Grafton No. 1 (south) and No. 2 (north) districts. Bank engine key removed 2 February 1960. Station closed 30 June 1974; deleted from publications W.N. 29 and 30–1974. CTC conversion announced W.N. 9–1983 (deferred from W.N. 8; confirmed date not in OCR); Gurranang–Banyabba and Banyabba–Camira Creek ETS cancelled 11 July 1983. Signal-box closed 1983. Loop closed 9 June 2010.
---
## 1905 — Opened 6 November 1905
### Opening — W.N. — 1905
> **Grafton to Casino** — Original station list: Grafton — Solferino Road — Warragai Creek — Sportsmen's Creek — Lawrence Road — **Banyabba** — Camira Creek — Kytle Creek — Deep Creek Platform — Wooroowoolgan — Casino. *(W.N. 14–1905)*
---
## 1926 — ETS Station; Then Crossing Station; Loop 1,320 Feet
### ETS Station — W.N. — 1926 (3 March 1926)
> **Page 303 — Banyabba (North Coast) — Opening as an Electric Train Staff Station** — On **Wednesday, 3rd March, 1926**, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Banyabba will be opened as an Electric Train Staff Station.
>
> Banyabba is **not a Crossing Station**, and trains must not be arranged to cross or pass at this station.
>
> **System of Working** — The existing Miniature Electric Train Staff section **Gurranang–Camira Creek** will be cancelled, and the new sections brought into use:
> - **Gurranang–Banyabba:** Miniature Electric Train Staff, Type **"B"**; Staffs Nos. 1 to 36 Ordinary
> - **Banyabba–Camira Creek:** Miniature Electric Train Staff, Type **"C"**; Staffs Nos. 1 to 8 Key, 9 to 36 Ordinary
>
> Instruments equipped for ordinary and automatic working.
>
> **Frame "A"** — situated on Up side of Main line at Murwillumbah end of platform; Down Home signal No. 7 and Up Home signal No. 2 worked from Frame A. **Down and Up Landmarks** provided in lieu of Distant signals.
>
> **Goods Siding points** (Grafton end) worked by Duplex and Bracket Locks released by key from Duplex Lock on **No. 4 Lever in Frame "A"**; Regulation C. *(W.N. — 1926)*
### Crossing Station and Loop — W.N. — 1926 (later March 1926)
> **Page 303 — Banyabba (North Coast) — Opening as a Crossing Station** — On **Monday, [date] March, 1926**, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., the new Loop will be brought into use at Banyabba, and that Station opened as a Crossing Station.
>
> The new Loop is laid in on the **Down side**, between the Main line and the Goods Siding.
>
> The points in the Main line at the Grafton and Murwillumbah ends of the Loop will be worked from new **Frames "E" and "B"** respectively.
>
> No. 1 Lever in Frames "E" and "B" will be unlocked by either Key from the **Duplex Lock on No. 4 Lever in Frame "A."**
>
> There will be **1,320 feet** standing room in the clear in the Crossing Loop.
>
> **Working of Goods Siding** — The points in the Main line and the Catch-points in the Goods Siding will be [released by key from Duplex Lock on No. 4 Lever Frame "A"]. *(W.N. — 1926)*
---
## 1935 — Signal-Box; Starting Signals; Loop Points Connected — 25 October 1935; Circular No. 502–56
### Signals and Signal-box — W.N. 42–1935
> **Banyabba (North Coast) — Bringing Home and Starting Signals Into Use, and Controlling Loop Points from Signal-box** — On **Friday, 25th October, 1935**, between 7.30 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., the Down and Up Home signals, Main to Loop, and Main and Loop line Down and Up Starting signals will be brought into use.
>
> The main alterations to be carried out:
> 1. Connecting points at each end of Loop to Signal-box
> 2. Provision of indicators on Main line Starting signals, to show when Signal-box is unattended
> 3. Alteration to naming of ground frames
> 4. Alteration to numbering of certain signals
> 5. **Replacing Frame "A" by a Signal-box on the platform**
>
> The complete arrangements will be in accordance with a circular, with diagram attached thereto, to be issued prior to the work being carried out. *(S.&T.E.) (W.N. 42–1935)*
> **Complete arrangements:** **Circular No. 502–56 of 1935** and diagram. *(Source: confirmed by 1943 amendment reference)*
---
## 1943 — Down Home Signals Relocated; Control Telephone Boundary; Load Sections
### Down Home Signals Relocated — W.N. 50–1943 (14 December 1943)
> **Banyabba (North Coast) — Alteration to Location of Down Home Signals** — On **Tuesday, 14th December, 1943**, between 8.0 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., the Down Home signals, **Nos. 17 and 19**, will be refixed **149 feet nearer to Sydney**.
>
> Diagram attached to **Circular No. 502–56 of 1935** to be amended accordingly. (S.&T.E.) *(W.N. 50–1943)*
### Control Telephone Boundary — 1943
> **South Grafton No. 1 control area:** Glenreagh to Camira Creek — **staff instrument on Banyabba side**.
> **South Grafton No. 2 control area:** Camira Creek (excluding Banyabba staff instrument) to Casino (staff instrument on Leeville and Old Casino sides) to Murwillumbah and Ballina.
> Circular No. 15 of 1940 amended accordingly. *(Source: 1943 Weekly Notices)*
### Load Sections — 1943
> - South Grafton→Gurranang: **425 tons** (d)
> - Gurranang→Banyabba: **370 tons**
> - Banyabba→Border Loop: **425 tons** (e)
> - Assisted loads: **426–540 tons**
>
> *(Source: 1943 Weekly Notices — W.N. 31–1943)*
---
## 1960 — Bank Engine Key Removed — W.N. 7–1960
### Bank Engine Key — W.N. 7–1960
> **Page 268 — Gurranang–Banyabba** — Delete all reference to Bank Engine Working with Bank Engine Key between Gurranang and Mileage 458m 0c. (S.&T.E. 59–502,206.) *(W.N. 7–1960)*
---
## 1974 — Station Deleted — W.N. 29 and 30–1974
### Tables Deleted — W.N. 29–1974
> **Page 260 — List of Stations — North Coast Line** — Delete **Banyabba** and relevant particulars. (B.2–74–71,071.) *(W.N. 29–1974)*
### Further Tables Deleted — W.N. 30–1974
> **Page 165** — Delete Banyabba. **Page 224** — Delete Banyabba from Alphabetical List. (B.2–74–71,071.) *(W.N. 30–1974)*
---
## 1983 — Motor-Operated Points (date deferred); CTC — 11 July 1983
### Motor-Operated Points — W.N. 9–1983 (Deferred from W.N. 8–1983)
> **Note** — This work advertised in Weekly Notice No. 8 of 1983 has been **deferred to a date to be advised**.
>
> **Banyabba (North Coast) — Conversion to Power Operation of Points and Signals** — On a **date to be advised**, as a preliminary to the introduction of centralised traffic control signalling on the North Coast line, the Main line to loop points at each end of Banyabba crossing loop will be converted to motor operation and the mechanical Main line and loop signals replaced by colour light signals.
>
> A **low speed indication** (small green light) with route indicator, cleared by an approaching train, will be provided beneath the Down Home and Up Home signals.
>
> ETS working will remain in use on the sections **Gurranang–Banyabba** and **Banyabba–Camira Creek**; automatic staff exchanging equipment will remain available.
>
> **Route Control System** — Individual route setting buttons for each route:
> - **Yellow** buttons — running routes in the **Down** direction
> - **Blue** buttons — running routes in the **Up** direction
>
> When route setting button depressed and released after one second: provided all conflicting routes are normal, any points in the required route not in correct position will operate; if line is clear to clearing point, signal will exhibit a proceed indication.
>
> **Call indicators** — near Starting signals at each end; flashing blue light and hooter.
>
> Diagram to appear in a future Weekly Notice. (W.N. 9–1983)*
> *Note: The advance notice in W.N. 8–1983 was deferred; confirmed conversion date not found in 1983 WN OCR. W.N. 27–1983 lists Banyabba as W.N. 9–1983 in the CTC programme summary.*
### CTC — 11 July 1983
> Since **11th July, 1983**, electric train staff working on the sections Gurranang–Banyabba and **Banyabba–Camira Creek** were cancelled and Centralised Traffic Control working, remotely controlled from **Broadmeadow C.T.C. Centre**, was introduced in lieu between Grafton and Camira Creek. (S&C 121220.) *(W.N. 29–1983)*
---
## Summary of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **3 April 1905** | Construction Branch services commence — Tuesdays and Fridays only |
| **6 November 1905** | **Opened** as Banyabba — Grafton to Casino; Circular No. A.182 of 1 November 1905 |
| By 1924 | **Banyabba (P)** — unattended platform; within Grafton–Camira Creek OTS section |
| **3 March 1926** | **ETS Station opened** — not initially a crossing station; Gurranang–Camira Creek cancelled; **Gurranang–Banyabba** (Type B) and **Banyabba–Camira Creek** (Type C) created; Frame A; Landmarks; Goods Siding Duplex Lock No. 4 (W.N. — 1926) |
| **Later March 1926** | **Crossing Station and Loop** — 1,320-foot loop Down side; Frames E and B; released by No. 4 Lever Frame A Duplex Lock |
| **25 October 1935** | **Signal-box commissioned** — Frame A replaced; Starting signals and loop points connected; unattended indicators; frames renamed; signals renumbered; **Circular No. 502–56 of 1935** (W.N. 42–1935) |
| **14 December 1943** | Down Home signals Nos. 17 and 19 refixed **149 feet nearer to Sydney**; Circular No. 502–56 amended (W.N. 50–1943) |
| **2 February 1960** | Gurranang–Banyabba Bank Engine Key removed (W.N. 7–1960) |
| **30 June 1974** | **Station closed** |
| W.N. 29 and 30–1974 | Deleted from all publications (ref. B.2–74–71,071) |
| **W.N. 9–1983** | **Motor-operated points** — deferred from W.N. 8; "date to be advised"; ETS retained; yellow/blue route buttons; automatic exchangers; no confirmed date in OCR |
| **11 July 1983** | **Gurranang–Banyabba and Banyabba–Camira Creek ETS cancelled** — Broadmeadow CTC (W.N. 29–1983) |
| **1983** | **Signal-box closed** |
| **9 June 2010** | **Loop closed** (outside WN collection) |
---
*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1905–1983.*
*Note: Banyabba's two-stage 1926 opening — ETS station (3 March, not a crossing station) then Crossing Station with loop (later March) — is unique in the collection. The loop was opened on a Monday in the same month, suggesting the loop track was substantially complete when the ETS instruments were commissioned and the crossing station status followed within weeks. The yellow/blue route button colour coding at the 1983 CTC conversion is the only documented colour-coded route button system in the Grafton–Casino CTC programme. The CTC conversion advance notice (W.N. 8–1983) was deferred before any date was confirmed — the only Grafton–Casino loop where the advance notice was deferred before the work date was even set, making Banyabba the last station in the programme to have its conversion work confirmed.*