Type : Station/Loop
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 736.797km (station)
Location : -29.396855, 153.009275
Opened : 6 November 1905
Closed : 13 June 1970 (station)
Status : Open (loop)
Name meaning : After the name of the road that leads to the town of Lawrence nearby
Notes : A 1750 metre crossing loop on the Up side exists at the location. The 21.3 metre platform was on the Down side and had a general waiting room and store. 28/12/1906 - the low level platform was raised to a standard level and a new shelter was built. 6/6/1978 - platform and shelter demolished. New loop opened 5/6/1995. Nearby deviation straightened out a sharp curve and eased the grade, the former main line was retained to create a crossing loop. One of three crossing loops between Grafton and Casino. Construction Branch ran two trains a week starting on 3rd April 1905 prior to the opening of the station. (WN14/1905). Station deleted per WN24/1970 (June 13th). Remains of the old formation can still be seen.
Casino End of Lawrence road loop, the line to the right is the old mainline now used as the loop while the new alignment can be seen to the left 29/9/13 (Ian Douglas)
Location of Lawrence Road (Six Maps)
4469/4470 are slowly climbing the 1 in 50 Lawrence Road bank north on Grafton with a northbound interstate freight - 26 July 1982.
The site of the original Lawrence Rd station before the deviation.
Gerald Tory:
I can remember the platform being there when I started on the Railway.
Plant Section went through and demolished all the old platforms
Gerald Tory:
The property behind the platform was owned by the Kingsley family . I can remember and elderly Gentleman that lived there with the Kingsley family . His name was Donald Frazer and I think he was Mrs Kingsley's Father .
The house that is in the picture is the original home .
I can remember the railway gates on the old line . You used to open and shut them yourself
Greg Lee:
Gerald Tory I've got one of those gates. I drove down the old formation after the deviation opened to get it. I don't know if you know Lloyd Khan? He told me he used to open those gates as well.
Gerald Tory:
Yes mate I know Lloyd Khan very well. When we had to open the gates for my Dad when I was a kid . Sometimes a train would come from Banyabba way and it used to hurtle down on the line past Lawrence Road .
I can remember the tick gates at the crossing at Whipore.
The road used to vere off to the left just before the overpass on the Summerland Way .
The road used to run parallel to the Railway Line and when it got to the Railway / Tick Gates you had to turn sharp right . The Tickie used to inspect your car for fruit and other stuff .
A mate of mine Parents used to be the Tick inspector at the gates . His name was Vince Smith and his wife Pearl lived in the house at the gates
Richard Butcher:
Yes recall that, also visited that area weeks after the deviation, recall the old Expresses up that grade, and 1301:1307:1311 over the time pushing in the rear. Pity the fed.govt. didn't do a lot more easing of the grades.
Graeme Kirkby:
Richard Butcher . And straightening the curves.
Richard Butcher:
Indeed Graeme, and the newer deviation was now probably 15 years ago.
Greg Lee:
Richard Butcher More like 25 years ago now. Time gets away.
Donald Bourke:
Richard Butcher I have been told that the deviation was supposed to go further on the southern end through a cutting and easing the grade on goat farm hill
Gerald Tory:
I was told it was the steepest grade on the North Coast Main Line .
I lived in Lawrence all my life and on a still night you could hear the Train climbing up the steep grade .
Greg Mashiah:
Gerald Tory - While it was not shown separately in the curve and gradient diagrams, and was only a short section, I often wondered how the grade at the Casino end of the former Leeville loop compared with Lawrence bank?
Gerald Tory:
I was on the Railways for 20 yrs and the gradient at the Northern end of Leeville loop was pretty flat compared to Lawrence Road Hill .
They had bank engines stationed at Gurranang and they would assist the down trains up the steep grade on Lawrence Road .
When they reached the top of the grade they would return to Gurranang loop until they were needed again
Gerald Tory:
Rappville range was another steep climb on the line
Richard Butcher:
Gerald Tory I believe it was the steepest section Lawrence Road/ Guranang bank, we took 3801 years ago up there, and I thought she was near stalling point. An ex.Call-boy loco Casino, they used 13 class in the rear to assist trains. Also riding cabs of 1&3 expresses at times a 50 class was attached Ex. south Grafton. Drivers got the poos, as Xpress trains did well,over 50-60MPH. Goods drivers would not go over 30 MPH, memories.
Jeremy Williams:
Gerald Tory:
Lawrence Road range was winding which slowed the trains down .
I was on the track machines and you couldn't get a run up as the speed limits on the curves wouldn't let you
Jeremy Williams:
There is a 70 near the bottom, so that's about as fast as a run-up you can get theses days.
Neil Grimley:
From memory, I think there was a 60 on the Down, Same problem as on the deviation, Down trains were either in Dyno or braking prior to the climb. This made old Lawrence Road a much harder climb with all the curves. Almost stalled there myself back in the mid 90's
Greg Lee:
Gerald Tory Richard Butcher Rappeville range was short but sharp. The bicentennial steam train stuck-up there in 1988. Had two attempts, then went and wimpered in Rappville loop until a diesel came to assist. An old driver told me that they "took it too cheap". Passenger engines have no sands running tender-first. There was a pit in the Rappville siding which suggests to me that there might have been a bank engine there in the early days, similarly to Gurranang.
Richard Butcher:
Yes even thou a deviation my lad mate Peter Lougher told me still a good grade there, I recall 3801 struggling up the old gradient be 20 yrs. ago.
Richard Butcher:
Hi Greg hope you are sparking well mate, yesthe old pit was to clean the fire grate out. Does not surprise me the old 3801 stalling, the old mails and the Brisbane expresses made hard work of the grade, evert one would have their heads out watching the spectacle,gee today's era a. Wash out, no fun, no action, no soot in the eyes. Appreciate your comment mate. Ha e another book on the way getting type set, re Eveleigh, still their Head Tour Guide, say cheers.
Richards Gwilym -Old Lawrence Road alignment
Richards Gwilym - the old alignment in 2022
Lawrence Road, 31 January 2026. A deviation here straightened a sharp curve and eased the grade, shaving about five minutes of travel times for freight trains. The former main line was retained to create a crossing loop. Today, there are only three crossing loops between Grafton and Casino (Kyarran, Lawrence Road and Rappville). (Ken Date)
Lawrence Road (Shane Morris)
Old formation of the bypassed line where it crosses Pringles Way near to the site of the old Lawrence Road station.
# Lawrence Road (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1905–1975
---
**Type:** Station (Closed — 13 June 1970); Crossing Loop (In use — new loop opened 5 June 1995)
**Line:** North Coast Line (Gurranang–Banyabba section from 1926)
**Distance from Sydney:** 736.797 km (Mileage **~23 miles from Grafton** at opening; level crossing at Mileage **457m 40c**; house 457m 64c to 457m 71c)
**Location:** -29.384612, 153.010549
**Between:** Gurranang (south) and Banyabba (north)
**Opened:** **6 November 1905** — Grafton to Casino; Circular No. A.182 of 1 November 1905; with station/platform
**Construction Branch services:** From **3 April 1905** — Tuesdays and Fridays only; one Down and one Up train (W.N. 14–1905 per your notes; confirmed in 1905 opening notice)
**Station closed:** **13 June 1970** — W.N. 24–1970 (ref. B.2–69–26,369)
**Status:** Station closed; new 1750-metre loop in use (opened 5 June 1995 — outside WN collection)
**Name meaning:** Named after the road leading to Lawrence township nearby
### Platform
**Original:** 21.3-metre platform — Down side; general waiting room and store
**28 December 1906 (per your notes):** Low-level platform raised to standard level; new shelter built (WN notice not found in OCR)
**6 June 1978 (per your notes):** Platform and shelter demolished (WN notice not found in OCR)
### Loop History
**Current loop:** 1750 metres — Up side; new loop opened **5 June 1995** (deviation straightened sharp curve and eased grade; former main line retained to create crossing loop; one of three crossing loops between Grafton and Casino)
### Level Crossing
**Lawrence Road level crossing — Mileage 457m 40c:**
Since **3 February 1943** — gates unattended; gates fitted with hooks and chains; notices exhibited (W.N. 4–1943; ref. S.42–872–X)
### Telephone
**No. 68 North Circuit (1926):** Lawrence Road listed between Gurranang and Banyabba — confirmed in Kyarran and Gurranang opening notices
**Additional circuit (1926):** Lawrence Road appears in a second telephone circuit listing alongside Lismore, Gurranang, Fairy Hill, Banyabba, Kyogle, Camira Creek, Clearfield — confirming cross-circuit connectivity at this location
### Property
**House at 457m 64c to 457m 71c (Up side):** Offered for sale to staff, W.N. 22–1960 — 3-room galvanised iron house with kitchen and laundry; three 400-gallon tanks; site tenancy at 10s. per annum; purchase price deductible from wages (ref. 55–890,621)
### Key Administrative Deletions
**W.N. 24–1970:** Deleted from Alphabetical List of Stations (page 56), List of Stations (page 161), List of Towns showing nearest railway station to Lawrence (page 233) — ref. B.2–69–26,369
**W.N. 27–1970:** Deleted from Through Booking of Parcels Pamphlet (page 67) — ref. C.1–70–28,810
**W.N. 26–1975:** Deleted from Working Timetable (pages 184, 203–215) and Accommodation Provided table (page 84) — alongside Warragai Creek, Ampdale, Coombell, Amarina and Shannon Brook — ref. A1 73 77203
---
> **Notes:** Lawrence Road opened 6 November 1905 as one of the original stations on the Grafton–Casino line (Construction Branch services from 3 April 1905, Tuesdays and Fridays). Listed in the 1905 station table at approximately 23 miles from Grafton. Platform raised from low-level to standard level 28 December 1906 with a new shelter. Listed as unattended (P) in 1924 accommodation table. Listed in No. 68 North telephone circuit (1926) between Gurranang and Banyabba. Level crossing gates at 457m 40c became unattended from 3 February 1943 — hooks and chains fitted. Station closed 13 June 1970; deleted from all publications W.N. 24 and 27–1970. Platform and shelter demolished 6 June 1978 (per your notes; WN notice not found in OCR). Working Timetable and accommodation references finally deleted W.N. 26–1975. New 1750-metre crossing loop opened 5 June 1995 on deviation alignment, former main line retained (outside WN collection).
---
## 1905 — Opened 6 November 1905; Construction Branch from 3 April 1905
### Construction Branch Services — W.N. 14–1905
> **Conveyance of Traffic over the Extension from Grafton to Casino** — Commencing on **Monday, 3rd April, 1905**, the Construction Department will convey passenger and goods traffic between Grafton and Casino on **Tuesdays and Fridays** in each week. The following is a list of the stations and sidings with their mileages from Grafton: Grafton — Solferino Road — Warragai Creek — Sportsmen's Creek — **Lawrence Road** — Banyabba — Camira Creek — Kytle Creek — Deep Creek Platform — Wooroowoolgan — Casino. *(W.N. 14–1905)*
---
## 1906 — Platform Raised to Standard Level; New Shelter — 28 December 1906
### Platform Raised — 28 December 1906
> **Lawrence Road — Platform Raised to Standard Level** — **28 December 1906** — low-level platform raised to standard level; new shelter built. *(Source: your notes — WN notice not found in OCR)*
---
## 1924 — Unattended Platform
### Unattended Platform — W.N. — 1924
> **Lawrence Road (P)** — listed as unattended platform in Local Appendix accommodation table. *(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices)*
---
## 1926 — Telephone Circuit No. 68 North; Cross-Circuit Listing
### No. 68 North Circuit — 1926
> **No. 68 North Circuit** — sequence: Kyarran — Warragai Creek — Gurranang — **Lawrence Road** — Banyabba — Camira Creek — Clearfield Ganger's Residence — Rappville — Coombell — Leeville — South Casino — Casino. *(Source: 1926 Weekly Notices — Kyarran opening circuit listing)*
### Cross-Circuit Listing — 1926
> **Additional circuit** — Lawrence Road listed alongside Lismore, Gurranang, Fairy Hill, Banyabba, Kyogle, Camira Creek, Kyogle Goods, Clearfield Ganger's Residence, Kyogle Resident Engineer, Rappville. *(Source: 1926 Weekly Notices)*
---
## 1943 — Level Crossing Gates Unattended — Since 3 February 1943; Mileage 457m 40c
### Level Crossing Gates — W.N. 4–1943
> **Page 106 — Level Crossings (North Coast) — Lawrence Road, Mileage 457m 40c** — Since **3rd February, 1943**, level crossing gates, Lawrence Road, Mileage **457m 40c**, have been **unattended**. The gates have been fitted with **hooks and chains** and notices exhibited. (S.42–872–X.) *(W.N. 4–1943)*
---
## 1960 — House for Sale at 457m 64c to 457m 71c — W.N. 22–1960
### House Sale — W.N. 22–1960
> **Lawrence Road — Sale of House on Railway Land Located Between 457m 64c to 457m 71c on the Up Side** — Offers will be received from the staff until 15th June, 1960, for the purchase of the house for residential purposes, containing **three (3) rooms, kitchen and laundry** and constructed of galvanised iron, with galvanised iron roof. Three (3) 400-gallon tanks are attached to the house. The land upon which the house is erected is not for sale, but the purchaser will be granted a tenancy of the site upon which the house is situated at a rent of **10s. per annum**, plus rates and taxes. The purchase money can be paid in full or can be deducted from the purchaser's wages or salary by equal fortnightly instalments. Ten per centum (10%) will be added to the offer to cover interest and Departmental expenses if the sale be on a terms basis. (55–890,621.) *(W.N. 22–1960)*
---
## 1970 — Station Deleted — W.N. 24–1970 (13 June 1970); Through Booking Deleted W.N. 27–1970
### Station Deleted — W.N. 24–1970
> **Railways of Australia Goods Rates Book — Page 56 — Alphabetical List of Stations** — Delete **Lawrence Road** and relative particulars. (B.2–69–26,369.) *(W.N. 24–1970)*
> **Page 161 — List of Stations** — Delete **Lawrence Road** and relative particulars. (B.2–69–26,369.) *(W.N. 24–1970)*
> **Page 233 — List of Towns, etc., in New South Wales** — Delete **Lawrence Road** shown as nearest Railway Station to Lawrence. (B.2–69–26,369.) *(W.N. 24–1970)*
### Through Booking Deleted — W.N. 27–1970
> **Through Booking of Parcels Pamphlet — Page 67** — Delete **Lawrence Road**. (C.1–70–28,810.) *(W.N. 27–1970)*
---
## 1975 — Working Timetable and Accommodation References Deleted — W.N. 26–1975
### All Remaining References Deleted — W.N. 26–1975
> **Working Timetable — Northern — Page 184** — Delete all reference to Lansdowne, Colombatti, Repton, Archville, Park Beach, **Lawrence Road**, Ampdale, Coombell, Wiangaree and Loadstone. (A1 73 77203.) *(W.N. 26–1975)*
> **Working Timetable — Pages 203 to 215** — Delete all reference to **Lawrence Road**, Ampdale, Coombell, Wiangaree and Loadstone. (A1 73 77203.) *(W.N. 26–1975)*
> **Page 84 — Stations, Sidings and Platforms — Accommodation Provided** — Delete all reference to Warragai Creek, **Lawrence Road**, Ampdale, Coombell, Amarina and Shannon Brook. (A1 73 77203.) *(W.N. 26–1975)*
---
## Summary of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **3 April 1905** | **Construction Branch services commence** — Tuesdays and Fridays only; Grafton to Casino (W.N. 14–1905) |
| **6 November 1905** | **Formally opened** as Lawrence Road — Grafton to Casino; Circular No. A.182 of 1 November 1905; 21.3-metre Down side platform; general waiting room and store |
| **28 December 1906** | Platform raised from low level to standard level; new shelter built (per your notes; WN notice not found in OCR) |
| By 1924 | **Lawrence Road (P)** — unattended platform |
| 1926 | Listed in No. 68 North and secondary telephone circuits — between Gurranang and Banyabba |
| **3 February 1943** | Level crossing gates at Mileage 457m 40c became **unattended** — hooks and chains fitted; notices exhibited (W.N. 4–1943; ref. S.42–872–X) |
| W.N. 22–1960 | House at 457m 64c to 457m 71c offered for staff purchase — 3-room galvanised iron; 3 × 400-gallon tanks; 10s. per annum site tenancy |
| **13 June 1970** | **Station closed** — W.N. 24 and 27–1970; deleted from all publications (ref. B.2–69–26,369 and C.1–70–28,810) |
| **6 June 1978** | **Platform and shelter demolished** (per your notes; WN notice not found in OCR) |
| **W.N. 26–1975** | Working Timetable and Accommodation Provided table references deleted (ref. A1 73 77203) |
| **5 June 1995** | **New 1750-metre crossing loop opened** — Up side; deviation alignment; former main line retained; one of three loops between Grafton and Casino (outside WN collection) |
---
*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1905–1975.*
*Note: Lawrence Road's cross-listing in two different telephone circuits in 1926 (No. 68 North and a secondary circuit including Lismore and Fairy Hill) confirms its position as an intermediate point between the Grafton and Casino operating districts — the secondary circuit suggests a connection to the emerging Murwillumbah/North Coast communication network being established as the South Brisbane extension was under construction. The 1943 level crossing gates being made unattended (hooks and chains) is the standard wartime rationalisation procedure documented at multiple North Coast locations. The house sale notice (1960) at 457m 64c to 457m 71c — a span of only 7 chains (140 metres) — gives a rare precise boundary for the railway land parcel at Lawrence Road, suggesting a small employee residence that was surplus to requirements by 1960. The new 1995 loop at 1750 metres is by far the largest facility ever at this location and makes Lawrence Road one of the most significant passing places between Grafton and Casino despite the small scale of the original station.*