Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 600.668km
Location : -30.359565, 153.097350
Opened : 13 July 1925
Closed : 18/11/1989, then re-opened
Status : In use
Name meaning : After Mr Oswald C Sawtell for whom the platform was built
Notes : A 100 foot dead end siding on the up side of the line was brought into service on 18/03/1940, the siding could hold 4 four wheel trucks, it was removed on 8/11/1976. The original Up timber platform was 76.2 metres long with timber platform building. The new station is similar to Eungai and Urunga. 1928 - toilets installed. 1957 - electric lighting installed. 1959 - waiting room extended.Sawtell platform opened **13 July 1925** — named after Mr Oswald C. Sawtell. 250-foot (76.2m) Up side unattended platform at Mileage 373m 19c, between Bonville and Boambee; Nos. 11 and 14 Mail trains and Nos. 149 and 52 Goods trains stop when required (from August 1925). Toilets installed 1928. Opened as Booking Station for coaching traffic only from 1 December 1937. Departmental dead-end siding added 18 March 1940 — 100 feet, Up side, Mileage 373m 26c (329 feet Grafton side of platform); Frame A; Raleigh–Coffs Harbour ETS; standing room 4 four-wheel trucks. Seal Press No. 764 allotted late 1940. Electric lighting 1957; waiting room extended 1959.
>
> Goods Siding abolished 8 November 1976 — 2A points, catch-point and Frame A removed (W.N. 45–1976). Sawtell deleted from stations list W.N. 47–1976, then re-inserted as Sawtell\* ("Small consignments of a light nature only") W.N. 50–1976 with Power's code 3370; standing room "5" deleted from accommodation table W.N. 51–1976. Hulbert Street level crossing Type F signals commissioned 18 June 1989 (600.889 km). Station closed **18 November 1989**; subsequently re-opened. 1940 — Departmental Dead-End Siding — 18 March 1940; Frame A; 329 Feet Grafton Side of Platform ((W.N. 12–1940) - Sawtell (North Coast) — Provision of Siding** — On **Tuesday, 18th March, 1940**, between 8.0 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., a new Departmental Dead-end Siding, **100 feet** in length in the clear, laid in on the **Up side** of the Main line at Mileage **373m 26c**, **329 feet on the Grafton side of Sawtell Platform**, will be brought into use. **Sawtell (North Coast) — Abolition of Goods Siding** — On **Monday, 8th November, 1976**, between 8.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m., Sawtell Goods Siding will be abolished. **No. 2A points and catch-point, Frame A and associated equipment** will be removed. (S.&C. 127433.) *(W.N. 45–1976)* Error in the WN - List of Stations, Sidings and Platforms — North Coast Line** — Delete **Sawtell** and relevant particulars. (B2 74 71076.) *(W.N. 47–1976)* - correction then published : List of Stations, Sidings and Platforms — North Coast Line** — Insert **Sawtell**, **602 km** from Darling Harbour; **441 km** from Newcastle. (B2 74 71076.) *(W.N. 50–1976)*. Station Closed — 18 November 1989
> **Sawtell** — Date of Closure: **Saturday, 18th November, 1989**. *(Source: 1989 Weekly Notices — closure list)*
Sawtell station on the North Coast on 17 December 1982. Like its neighbour Urunga it was also demolished in the early 1990s and replaced with a small unattended modern structure. (Peter Burr)
Sawtell (undated) (Newcastle Rediscovered
Sawtell, circa 1940
The very spartan shelter at the current station
Location of Sawtell station (Six Maps)
NT33 at Sawtell, 24/9/22 (Christopher Dunkerley)
N11 - North Coast Mail - at Sawtell 14/11/1984 (Neil Munro)
N11 - North Coast Mail - at Sawtell 1/6/1983 (Neil Munro)
Way and Works carriage sits in the 100' siding at Sawtell in May 1972 (Records NSW)
Sawtell, Colin Sutton (1989)
Titled "Bricks to build the new hotel" - Sawtell station, 1930 (Coffs Collection)
Swatell, undated (probably late 70s, early 80s) (Peter Leonard)
Sawtell, late 60s (Adrian Swift)
Undated image of Sawtell (Lynda Knight) (Coffs Local History - Remember When)
# Sawtell (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1925–1989
---
**Type:** Station (in use)
**Line:** North Coast Line (Raleigh–Coffs Harbour section; between Bonville and Boambee)
**Distance from Sydney:** 600.668 km (Mileage **373m 19c** — per 1925 opening notice; 602 km from Darling Harbour per 1976 re-insertion)
**Location:** -30.359565, 153.097350
**Between:** Bonville and Boambee
**Opened:** **Monday, 13 July 1925** — 250-foot (76.2m) Up side unattended platform; between Bonville and Boambee; Nos. 11 and 14 Mail trains stop when required; prepaid traffic (W.N. 28–1925; ref. 25–25,216)
**Named after:** Mr Oswald C. Sawtell — for whom the platform was built
**Booking Station (Coaching only):** From **1 December 1937** (W.N. 50–1937; ref. C.1–37–6,859)
**Toilets installed:** **1928** (per your notes)
**Departmental Dead-end Siding:** Opened **18 March 1940** — 100 feet (30.5m) in clear, Up side, Mileage 373m 26c, 329 feet on Grafton side of platform; Frame A; No. 1 lever FPL released by Raleigh–Coffs Harbour Miniature ETS; standing room 3 wagons / 4 four-wheel trucks; control of Raleigh (W.N. 12 and 13–1940; ref. S.&T.E. 39–278,674 and 39–278,634)
**Seal Press No. 764:** Allotted to Sawtell (W.N. 50–1940)
**Electric lighting installed:** **1957** (per your notes)
**Waiting room extended:** **1959** (per your notes)
**Goods Siding abolished:** **Monday, 8 November 1976** — 2A points, catch-point, Frame A and associated equipment removed (W.N. 45–1976; S.&C. 127433); standing room "5" deleted from accommodation table (W.N. 51–1976)
**Deleted from stations list:** W.N. 47–1976 (ref. B2 74 71076)
**Re-inserted as Sawtell\*:** W.N. 50–1976 — "Small consignments of a light nature only"; 602 km from Darling Harbour; 441 km from Newcastle; Power's code 3370 (W.N. 50 and 51–1976)
**Hulbert Street Level Crossing:** Type F flashing highway signals and warning bell brought into use **18 June 1989** at 600.889 km; automatically controlled by track circuit; Station Master Sawtell responsible Mon–Sat (W.N. 23 and 24–1989; S.&C. 166259)
**Station closed:** **Saturday, 18 November 1989** (W.N. — 1989)
**Station re-opened:** After 18 November 1989 closure (per your notes — now in use)
**Status:** In use; new station similar to Eungai and Urunga
---
> **Notes:** Sawtell platform opened **13 July 1925** — named after Mr Oswald C. Sawtell. 250-foot (76.2m) Up side unattended platform at Mileage 373m 19c, between Bonville and Boambee; Nos. 11 and 14 Mail trains and Nos. 149 and 52 Goods trains stop when required (from August 1925). Toilets installed 1928. Opened as Booking Station for coaching traffic only from 1 December 1937. Departmental dead-end siding added 18 March 1940 — 100 feet, Up side, Mileage 373m 26c (329 feet Grafton side of platform); Frame A; Raleigh–Coffs Harbour ETS; standing room 4 four-wheel trucks. Seal Press No. 764 allotted late 1940. Electric lighting 1957; waiting room extended 1959.
>
> Goods Siding abolished 8 November 1976 — 2A points, catch-point and Frame A removed (W.N. 45–1976). Sawtell deleted from stations list W.N. 47–1976, then re-inserted as Sawtell\* ("Small consignments of a light nature only") W.N. 50–1976 with Power's code 3370; standing room "5" deleted from accommodation table W.N. 51–1976. Hulbert Street level crossing Type F signals commissioned 18 June 1989 (600.889 km). Station closed **18 November 1989**; subsequently re-opened.
---
## 1925 — Platform Opened — 13 July 1925; 250 Feet; Mileage 373m 19c; Nos. 11 and 14 Mail
### Platform Opened — W.N. 28–1925
> **Pages 49 and 301 — Sawtell (North Coast) — Provision of Platform** — On **Monday, 13th July, 1925**, a new unattended platform, **250 feet** in length, erected on the **Up side** of the line at Mileage **373.19** (Time-table from Sydney), between Bonville and Boambee, and to be known as **SAWTELL**, will be brought into use.
>
> **Mileage for Rates Purposes:**
> - From Sydney: **373 miles 19 chains**
> - From Darling Harbour: 374 miles
> - From Newcastle: 273 miles 61 chains
>
> Freight and other charges on traffic to Sawtell must be **prepaid**.
>
> **Nos. 11 and 14** Mail trains will stop when required to pick up and set down passengers. (25–25,216.) *(W.N. 28–1925)*
### Goods Trains Added — August 1925
> Commencing **Monday, 3rd August 1925**: **No. 149 Goods** (2.40 p.m. ex Taree) and **No. 52 Goods** (8.0 a.m. ex South Grafton) call at Sawtell (between Bonville and Boambee) when required to pick up and set down passengers. *(Source: 1925 Weekly Notices)*
---
## 1937 — Booking Station for Coaching Traffic — 1 December 1937 — W.N. 50–1937
### Booking Station — W.N. 50–1937
> **Page 146 — Sawtell (North Coast) — Opened as a Booking Station for Coaching Traffic Only** — Since **1st December, 1937**, Sawtell has been opened as a Booking Station for coaching traffic only. (C.1–37–6,859.) *(W.N. 50–1937)*
---
## 1940 — Departmental Dead-End Siding — 18 March 1940; Frame A; 329 Feet Grafton Side of Platform
### Intermediate Sidings — W.N. 12–1940
> **Page 32 — Intermediate Sidings — Add:**
> - Milepost Mileage: **373m 26c**; Siding: **Sawtell**; Side: Up; Points face: Up; Signals: No; Points worked by: Staff Lever; ETS Section: **Raleigh–Coffs Harbour**; Regulation: **B**; Control: **Raleigh**
>
> (S.&T.E. 39–278,674–W.&M.) *(W.N. 12–1940)*
> **Page 69 — Accommodation Table:** Milepost 373m 26c; Siding — Sawtell; Standing Room Other Sidings: **3**. (S.&T.E. 39–278,634–W.&M.) *(W.N. 12–1940)*
### Siding Opened — W.N. 12–1940
> **Sawtell (North Coast) — Provision of Siding** — On **Tuesday, 18th March, 1940**, between 8.0 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., a new Departmental Dead-end Siding, **100 feet** in length in the clear, laid in on the **Up side** of the Main line at Mileage **373m 26c**, **329 feet on the Grafton side of Sawtell Platform**, will be brought into use.
>
> **Interlocking:** Points (facing Up trains) and catch-points worked from new **Frame "A"** on Up side; No. 1 lever (FPL) released by key on Miniature ETS for **Raleigh–Coffs Harbour**. (S.&T.E. 39–278,674–W.&M.) *(W.N. 12–1940)*
### (P) Deleted — W.N. 13–1940
> **Pages 222 and 252 — Sawtell (North Coast)** — A siding, with standing room equal to **4 four-wheel trucks**, has been provided. Delete letter **(P)**. (4–54,606.) *(W.N. 13–1940)*
---
## 1940 — Seal Press No. 764 Allotted — W.N. 50–1940
### Seal Press — W.N. 50–1940
> **Page 129 — Seal Presses** — Seal Press **No. 764** has been allotted to **Sawtell**. Page 60, Local Appendix, Northern Division, to be also posted accordingly. (G.W.1–44 1,702.) *(W.N. 50–1940)*
---
## 1976 — Goods Siding Abolished — 8 November 1976; Re-Inserted as Sawtell\*
### Goods Siding Abolished — W.N. 45–1976
> **Sawtell (North Coast) — Abolition of Goods Siding** — On **Monday, 8th November, 1976**, between 8.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m., Sawtell Goods Siding will be abolished. **No. 2A points and catch-point, Frame A and associated equipment** will be removed. (S.&C. 127433.) *(W.N. 45–1976)*
### Deleted from Stations List — W.N. 47–1976
> **Page 259 — List of Stations, Sidings and Platforms — North Coast Line** — Delete **Sawtell** and relevant particulars. (B2 74 71076.) *(W.N. 47–1976)*
### Re-Inserted as Sawtell\* — W.N. 50–1976
> **Page 208 — List of Stations, etc.** — Insert: **Sawtell\***. Insert footnote: **"S — Small consignments of a light nature only."** *(W.N. 50–1976)*
> **Page 259 — List of Stations, Sidings and Platforms — North Coast Line** — Insert **Sawtell**, **602 km** from Darling Harbour; **441 km** from Newcastle. (B2 74 71076.) *(W.N. 50–1976)*
> **Rates Book** — Insert Sawtell — Power's code **3370**. *(W.N. 50–1976)*
### Standing Room Deleted — W.N. 51–1976
> **Page 82 — Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided — Sawtell** — In the column headed "Other Sidings based on vehicles 22 feet in length" delete **"5"**. (A1 76 72141.) *(W.N. 51–1976)*
---
## 1989 — Hulbert Street Level Crossing — 18 June 1989; Station Closed 18 November 1989
### Hulbert Street Level Crossing — W.N. 23 and 24–1989
> **Sawtell (North Coast) — Bringing Into Use Type "F" Flashing Highway Signals and Warning Bell at Hulbert Street Level Crossing (600.889 km)** — On **Sunday, 18th June, 1989**, between 6.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m., Type "F" flashing highway signals and warning bell will be brought into use at Hulbert Street level crossing (**600.889 km**). Automatically controlled by track circuit for Down and Up trains. Tests to be carried out daily Mon–Sat by Station Master, Sawtell; Sundays by Station Master, Coffs Harbour. (S.&C. 166259.) *(W.N. 23 and 24–1989)*
### Station Closed — 18 November 1989
> **Sawtell** — Date of Closure: **Saturday, 18th November, 1989**. *(Source: 1989 Weekly Notices — closure list)*
---
## Summary of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **13 July 1925** | **Platform opened** — 250-foot (76.2m) Up side; Mileage 373m 19c; between Bonville and Boambee; named after Mr Oswald C. Sawtell; Nos. 11 and 14 Mail trains stop when required; prepaid; (W.N. 28–1925; ref. 25–25,216) |
| August 1925 | Nos. 149 and 52 Goods trains also stop when required |
| **1928** | **Toilets installed** |
| **1 December 1937** | **Booking Station for Coaching Traffic** opened (W.N. 50–1937) |
| **18 March 1940** | **Departmental Dead-end Siding** — 100 feet, Up side, 373m 26c, 329 feet Grafton side of platform; Frame A; Raleigh–Coffs Harbour ETS; 4 four-wheel trucks; (P) deleted (W.N. 12 and 13–1940) |
| W.N. 50–1940 | Seal Press No. 764 allotted |
| **1957** | **Electric lighting installed** |
| **1959** | **Waiting room extended** |
| **8 November 1976** | **Goods Siding abolished** — 2A points, catch-point, Frame A removed (W.N. 45–1976; S.&C. 127433) |
| W.N. 47–1976 | Sawtell deleted from stations list |
| W.N. 50–1976 | Re-inserted as **Sawtell\*** — Small consignments only; 602 km from Darling Harbour; 441 km from Newcastle; Power's code 3370 |
| W.N. 51–1976 | Standing room "5" deleted from accommodation table |
| **18 June 1989** | Hulbert Street level crossing Type F signals commissioned at 600.889 km (W.N. 23 and 24–1989) |
| **18 November 1989** | **Station closed** |
| Post-1989 | **Station re-opened** — new station similar to Eungai and Urunga |
---
*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1925–1989.*
*Note: The deletion and re-insertion of Sawtell in the stations list within the same WN series (W.N. 47 deleted, W.N. 50 re-inserted — just three weeks apart) reflects the simultaneous abolition of the goods siding and reclassification to a stopping place only. The 329-foot gap between the platform (373m 19c) and the siding (373m 26c) is exactly 7 chains — consistent with the siding being placed beyond the platform end to allow for a locomotive length clearance before the siding connection.*