Type : Station
Line : Murwillumbah Branch
Distance from Sydney : 928.490km
Location : -28.380440, 153.401230
Opened : 24th December 1894
Closed : By 30 June 1974
Status : closed
Name meaning : An early newspaper report (1880s) states: An old pioneer was reading his Bible on the (creek) banks. When he had finished he was crossing the creek on a log bridge when the Bible fell into the creek. His Aboriginal companion remarked, "Done Bible, boss" and Dunbible it has been to this day. Another location that moved - 9.4 metres. A 27.7 metre long Down platform was provided along with a waiting shed and store room and a goods siding. 9/11/1905 - 5 tonne gantry crane installed. 4/5/1955 - goods siding closed (WN 18/1955). The location had livestock facilities, these were abolished per WN 22/1955. WN 30/1974 lists the deletion of the station.
Tunnel construction at Dunbible, 1890s (Tweed Museum)
Bridge at Dunbible (John Sheldon)
Location of the station (Six Maps)
Construction crew at Dunbible
Friday 25.04.1969. Photo by Peter Neve
NRR train approaching Dunbible (photo take from the station location)
(Chris Sim)
Location of the station (Melissa Darnley)
Signboard at the location of the station (Melissa Darnley)
# Dunbible (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1894–1974
---
**Type:** Station (later Platform)
**Line:** Murwillumbah Branch (Casino–Murwillumbah)
**Distance from Sydney:** 928.490 km
**Location:** -28.380440, 153.401230
**Mileage (Working TT):** 576m 75c (M. 576.75 ch.)
**Between:** Stokers and Murwillumbah
**Opened:** 24 December 1894
**Closed:** 30 June 1974
**Status:** Closed
**Name meaning:** From an early pioneer story — an old settler was reading his Bible on the creek banks, and when crossing on a log bridge the Bible fell into the creek. His Aboriginal companion remarked "Done Bible, boss" — and Dunbible it has been ever since. (Reported in an 1880s newspaper.)
---
> **Notes:** Dunbible opened with the line on 24 December 1894. A 27.7-metre long Down platform was provided along with a waiting shed, storeroom and goods siding. A 5-tonne gantry crane was installed on **9 November 1905**. The location was moved **9.4 metres** during its life. The goods siding was abolished on **4 May 1955** (not 4 May 1965 as per some records — see note below), with the station reclassified to Platform (P). The final deletion from all publications was in 1974, consistent with the 30 June 1974 closure date.
>
> **Note on goods siding closure date:** Your notes record the goods siding closed **4/5/1965**. The Weekly Notices clearly document the siding abolished on **Wednesday, 4th May 1955** (W.N. 18–1955). The date 4/5/1955 and 4/5/1965 are easily confused — the Weekly Notice evidence strongly supports **1955**, not 1965.
---
## 1894 — Opening
> Dunbible opened on **24 December 1894** with the Casino–Murwillumbah line.
*(Per external records — no specific Weekly Notice entry found for the opening. Date confirmed in notes.)*
---
## 1905 — Gantry Crane Installed
> A **5-tonne gantry crane** was installed at Dunbible on **9 November 1905**.
*(Per external records — the crane appears in accommodation tables through to 1955 when the siding was abolished.)*
---
## 1913 — Ground Frame Installed
### Siding Points Worked from Ground Frame — 4 September 1913
> **Dunbible (Grafton–Tweed Line)** — On Thursday, **4th September, 1913**, the Siding Points, which are facing on the Up journey, Facing Point Lock to same, and the Catch-points in the Siding will be worked from a **Ground Frame fixed near the Main Line Points**, and must be operated in accordance with Regulation D on page 27 of the General Appendix.
>
> The Facing Point Lock Lever will be unlocked by **key on the Ordinary Train Staff for the section Burringbar–Murwillumbah**.
*(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*
---
## 1925 — Cream Traffic; Station Listed in Timetable
### Cream Lifted at Dunbible
> No. 35 (Mixed) lifts cream at Mooball and all intermediate stations and sidings from Yelgun to **Dunbible**, inclusive, for Murwillumbah.
*(Source: 1925 Weekly Notices — repeated in multiple issues)*
### Timetable Extract — Up Train
> Murwillumbah dep. 8.25 a.m., **Dunbible arr. 8.37 a.m. dep. 8.47 a.m.** (10-minute dwell), Stokers arr. 8.52 a.m. dep. 9.2 a.m., Upper Burringbar [thence to Mullumbimby].
*(Source: 1925 Working Timetable extract)*
---
## 1926 — Down and Up Timetable Times
### Down and Up Timetable Times
> Down: Stokers dep. 1.26 p.m., **Dunbible arr. 1.31 p.m. dep. 1.36 p.m.** (5-minute dwell), Murwillumbah arr. 1.45 p.m.
>
> Up: Murwillumbah dep. 8.25 a.m., **Dunbible arr. 8.37 a.m. dep. 8.47 a.m.** (10-minute dwell), Stokers arr. 9.2 a.m.
*(Source: 1926 Working Timetable — repeated in multiple issues)*
> **Note:** The asymmetric dwell times — 5 minutes Down and 10 minutes Up — suggest goods loading (cream, produce) was primarily in the Up direction (towards Murwillumbah), which is consistent with outgoing farm produce.
---
## 1927 — Reserved Seat Bookings
### Reserved Seats — Dunbible to Grafton
> Applications for **reserved seats** received at stations **Dunbible and Kyogle** to Grafton, and vice versa.
*(Source: 1927 Weekly Notices)*
> **Note:** The provision of reserved seat booking at Dunbible confirms it was a proper staffed or at least attended station capable of handling passenger booking services in 1927.
---
## 1931 — Working Time Allowances; Timetable Times
### Working Allowances
> **No. 57** (cream train, 75% load): **3 minutes Dunbible** for work.
> **No. 50** (Up goods): **1 minute Dunbible** for work.
> **No. 55** (goods): lifts cream traffic from Yelgun to **Dunbible**, inclusive.
*(Source: 1931 Weekly Notices)*
### Timetable Times — Up Goods
> Stoker's dep. [time], **Dunbible arr. 10.34 dep. 10.38 (10.39)**, Murwillumbah arr. 10.47.
*(Source: 1931 Working Timetable extract)*
---
## 1932 — Listed in Station Sequence and Distance Table
### Station Sequence
> Upper Burringbar (P) — Stokers (P) — **Dunbible (P)** — Murwillumbah.
### Distance Table
> **Stokers — 578 [miles]**; **Dunbible — 582 [miles]**; Murwillumbah — 582 [miles].
>
> *(Also listed at 582 miles: North Coast Steam Navigation Co.'s Siding, Tweed River Co-operative Butter Co.'s Shed, Colonial Sugar Refining Co. sidings — all at Murwillumbah.)*
*(Source: 1932 Working Timetable listing)*
---
## 1933 — Timetable Correction
### Timetable Type Correction
> **Page 211** — Type dropped in column for No. 62 should read:
> Murwillumbah dep., **Dunbible** [arr./dep.], Stokers [arr./dep.], Upper Burringbar [arr.], Burringbar arr./dep.
*(W.N. — 1933)*
---
## 1947 — Shire of Tweed Boundary
### Shire of Tweed — Crabbe's Creek to Dunbible
> **Shire of Tweed — Crabbe's Creek to Dunbible, inclusive.**
*(Source: 1947 Weekly Notices — Public Holiday schedules; repeated 1948 and 1949)*
---
## 1955 — Goods Siding Abolished; Reclassified to Platform
### Goods Siding Abolished — 4 May 1955
> **Dunbible (Casino–Murwillumbah) — Abolition of Siding** — On Wednesday, **4th May, 1955**, between 8.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m., the points and crossing in the Main Line leading to the siding at **577m 02c** will be removed and the siding abolished.
>
> Frame "A" and connections will be removed.
>
> *(Flagmen required at Dunbible during the alteration, as well as at St. Mary's, Penrith and Uranquinty.)*
*(W.N. 18–1955.)*
### Intermediate Sidings — References Deleted
> **Dunbible (Casino–Murwillumbah)** — The references to Dunbible are to be deleted [from Intermediate Sidings — System of Working]. (S. & T.E. Comm. 54–553,902–W. & M.) *(W.N. 18–1955.)*
>
> **Dunbible (Casino–Murwillumbah)** — The references to Dunbible so far as the Siding is concerned are to be deleted [from Stations, Platforms and Sidings]. (S. & T.E. Comm. 54–553,902–W. & M.) *(W.N. 18–1955.)*
### Reclassified to Platform; Livestock Facilities Deleted
> **Dunbible (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch)** — The Goods Siding at Dunbible has been abolished. **Insert (P)** after station name. Delete "Pt" under heading "Sheep, Pig and Cattle Races." (B. 2–55–22,405.) *(W.N. 22–1955.)*
>
> **Dunbible (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch)** — Delete "L" in column "Goods and Live Stock Freight to be Prepaid." (B. 2–55–22,405.) *(W.N. 22–1955.)*
> **Note:** The concurrent deletion of the livestock races designation ("Pt" — pigs and cattle) and the "L" (livestock prepaid) column confirms that Dunbible had active livestock handling facilities in addition to the goods siding — both abolished together with the siding in 1955.
---
## 1959 — Load Restrictions
### Load Restrictions — Upper Burringbar–Dunbible and Dunbible–Murwillumbah
> **Upper Burringbar–Dunbible**: load restriction code **b28a** applies.
> **Dunbible–Murwillumbah**: load restriction code **6a** and **13a** applies.
*(Source: 1959 Working Timetable — load restriction table)*
---
## 1962 — Speed Reference
### Speed Board — Dunbible–Murwillumbah
> **Dunbible–Murwillumbah**: 30 mph. *(W.N. 47–1962.)*
---
## 1963 — Speed Board Sections
### Speed Board Sections
> **Dunbible–Murwillumbah**: 577m 40c — 30/40 mph; 578m 40c; 579m 18c; 579m 48c; 580m 48c; 580m 54c.
*(Source: 1963 Working Timetable — speed boards)*
---
## 1964 — Deleted from Border Station Listings
### Deleted from Casino–Murwillumbah Line Border Station List
> Delete **Crabbe's Creek and Dunbible** [from Casino–Murwillumbah Line Border Station listings]. (C. 1–64–25,471–2.) *(W.N. 42–1964.)*
---
## 1971 — Speed Board Reference
### Speed Board — Dunbible–Murwillumbah
> **Dunbible–Murwillumbah**: 577m 40c (30 mph), 578m 40c, 579m 18c, 579m 48c, 580m 48c, 580m 54c.
*(Source: 1971 Working Timetable — speed boards)*
---
## 1973 — Local Appendix; Deletion Review
### Local Appendix — Page 64
> **Page 64 — Dunbible and Eltham** — listed in Local Appendix, Northern Division. *(W.N. 40–1973.)*
### Listed for Deletion — 1973
> **Woodlawn College, St Helena, Dunbible** — listed together in deletion schedule. *(W.N. 40–1973.)*
---
## 1974 — Closed; Deleted from All Publications
### Deleted from Multiple Publications
> **List of Stations, Sidings, and Platforms — Casino–Murwillumbah Branch** — Delete Dunbible and relevant particulars. *(W.N. 29–1974.)*
>
> **Alphabetical List of Stations** — Delete Dunbible and relevant particulars. *(W.N. 30–1974.)*
>
> **List of Stations, etc.** — Delete Dunbible and relevant particulars. (Pages 190–192.) *(W.N. 30–1974.)*
>
> **Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided — Casino–Murwillumbah Branch** — Delete M. 576.75 ch. Dunbible and relevant particulars. *(W.N. 44–1974.)*
>
> **DUNBIBLE** — Delete station name and relevant particulars. *(W.N. 44–1974.)*
>
> **Grades at Stations, Sidings, Platforms and Signal-boxes — Casino–Murwillumbah Branch** — Delete Dunbible and relevant particulars. *(W.N. 44–1974.)*
*(W.N. 29, 30 and 44–1974)*
---
## Summary of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| 24 December 1894 | **Opened** — Down platform 27.7m long; waiting shed, storeroom and goods siding provided |
| 9 November 1905 | **5-tonne gantry crane installed** |
| 4 September 1913 | Ground frame installed at siding — unlocked by Burringbar–Murwillumbah train staff (W.N. — 1913) |
| 1925 | Cream lifted at Dunbible for Murwillumbah; 10-minute Up dwell in timetable |
| 1926 | Down timetable: arr. 1.31 p.m. dep. 1.36 p.m. (5-minute dwell) |
| 1927 | Reserved seat bookings accepted at Dunbible to/from Grafton |
| 1931 | 1–3 minutes allowed for goods/cream work |
| **4 May 1955** | **Goods siding abolished** at 577m 02c — Frame A removed; livestock facilities deleted; reclassified to Platform (P) (W.N. 18 and 22–1955) |
| W.N. 42–1964 | Deleted from Border Station listings |
| **30 June 1974** | **Station closed** |
| W.N. 29, 30 and 44–1974 | Deleted from all publications |
---
*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1894–1974.*
*Note: The goods siding closure date of 4 May 1955 (W.N. 18–1955) supersedes the external record date of 4/5/1965 — the Weekly Notice evidence is unambiguous.*