Karaak Flat

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Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 354.778km
Opened : 5 February 1913 (station), 1934 (loop)
Location : -31.925995, 152.285834
Closed : Prior to mid 1975.
Status : Closed
Name meaning : An Aboriginal word meaning "spittle"
Notes : The 76.2 metre platform held a timber station building with general and ladies waiting rooms and a store. The site had a goods siding which closed on 22/2/1965. Although a signal box was shown on the opening of line circular there is some doubt that a building was provided. Karaak Flat opened 5 February 1913 with the standard arrangement — Frame A on the platform; Frames B and C for the Goods Siding (loop), unlocked by No. 5 Lever Frame A; Fixed Signals "All Right." Station brand KKF. A signal box was shown on the opening circular but it is uncertain if a building was provided; if so, it would have been removed when ETS was installed in 1917. Abolition of Goods Siding** — Since **22nd February, 1965**, the connection between the Main line and the goods siding worked from **Frame A** has been removed and the goods siding has been abolished. **Frame A and connections have been dispensed with.** *(W.N. 8–1965)* The site had a stock race. 1975 — All References Deleted — W.N. 27–1975

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Karaak Flat Station was to the left of the road bridge in a cutting. It opened in 1913 and closed in 1975 (Six Maps)

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Photographer: unknown
Date: early 1900s
Location: Karaak Flat, between Wingham and Mt George
Subject: Railway construction work

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November 1933, article on the loop construction

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26/05/1949 - fatality at Karaak Flat

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A view from NT-36, the Up "Grafton XPT"  at km.355.500, approaching the former site of Karaak Flat. 2-11-2011. (Graeme Kirkby)

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Kimbriki Homestead Karak Flat.
14-11-24 (Greg Riddel)

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# Karaak Flat (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1913–1975

---

**Type:** Station (Closed — Platform); Loop (see notes) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Kimbriki–Wingham section; later Kimbriki–Killawarra) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 354.778 km 
**Location:** -31.925995, 152.285834 
**Between:** Kimbriki and Killawarra 
**Opened:** 5 February 1913 (Dungog–Taree line opening) 
**Loop:** Opened 1934 (details uncertain — see note) 
**Goods Siding abolished:** **22 February 1965** — Frame A and connections removed (W.N. 8–1965) 
**Station closed:** **29 June 1965** (per your notes — formal WN closure notice not found in OCR) 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Aboriginal word meaning "spittle" 
**Station Brand:** KKF (allotted 1913) 
**Platform:** 76.2-metre Down side; timber building with general and ladies waiting rooms and store 
**Signal box note:** Shown on opening circular; uncertain if building provided — if provided, removed when ETS replaced OTS in 1917 
**ETS section (1934 onwards):** Kimbriki–Wingham (Frames A and B released by this staff — W.N. 5–1934) 
**Circular:** No. 13 of 1913 (referenced in W.N. 5–1934 amendment) 

---

> **Notes:** Karaak Flat opened 5 February 1913 with the standard arrangement — Frame A on the platform; Frames B and C for the Goods Siding, unlocked by No. 5 Lever Frame A; Fixed Signals "All Right." Station brand KKF. A signal box was shown on the opening circular but it is uncertain if a building was provided; if so, it would have been removed when ETS was installed in 1917.
>
> Your notes give "1934 (loop)" as an opening date for a loop at Karaak Flat. The 1934 W.N. 5–1934 entry does not mention a loop at Karaak Flat itself — it records the altered releasing of Frames A and B at Karaak Flat to the **Kimbriki–Wingham** section (consequent on Kimbriki's opening). No formal loop opening notice for Karaak Flat has been found in the WN collection. The 1934 date in your notes may refer to the ETS section change rather than a physical loop, or there may be a loop opening notice in a section of the 1934 WN that has not been recovered by OCR.
>
> Goods shunting times: 10 minutes (1924); 5 minutes (1925 and 1930). Stock races (cattle 5, sheep 4) and 10 vehicles "other sidings" standing room (1965 deletion confirms these were present at siding abolition). Goods siding abolished 22 February 1965 — "the connection between the Main line and the goods siding worked from Frame A has been removed and the goods siding has been abolished. Frame A and connections have been dispensed with" (W.N. 8–1965). Station designated (P) after siding abolition (W.N. 11–1965); "L" in Goods and Livestock freight prepaid column deleted; sheep, pig and cattle races entries deleted. Karaak Flat deleted from all publications in W.N. 27–1975 (station name and relevant particulars, page 81).

---

## 1913 — Opened; Station Brand KKF; Frame A on Platform; Fixed Signals; Goods Shunting

### Station Brand — KKF — 1913
> **Karaak Flat — KKF** — station distinguishing brand allotted. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Frame A on Platform — 1913
> **Frame "A"** situated on the Platform at Stratford, Bundook, Somerset, Charity Creek, **Karaak Flat** and Killawarra. Frame "A" secured by Guard's lock on No. 4 Lever. Frames "B" and "C" for Goods Siding (Dungog and Taree ends), unlocked by No. 5 Lever Frame "A." *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Fixed Signals All Right; Green Disc Required — 1913
> All consignments for Somerset, Charity Creek, **Karaak Flat**, Killawarra, Kolodong and State Lime Works Siding must be prepaid under platform conditions. Passengers exhibit green disc by day; light lamp at night. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Goods Shunting Times — 1913
> - No. 76a Stock: **10 minutes at Karaak Flat** and 10 minutes at Bundook

*(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1924 — Unattended; 10 Minutes Goods Shunting

### Listed as Unattended — 1924
> **Karaak Flat\*** — listed as unattended in station sequence (multiple entries). No. 142 Goods: Killawarra, 7 minutes; **Karaak Flat, 10 minutes**; Charity Creek, 7 minutes. *(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1925 — 15 Minutes Goods Shunting; 5 Minutes on Other Train

### Goods Shunting — 1925
> No. [—] Goods: **Charity Creek, 15 minutes; Karaak Flat, 5 minutes**; Killawarra, 5 minutes; Kolodong, 7 minutes. *(Source: 1925 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1930 — 4 Minutes Goods Train; Trains Call When Required

### Goods Train Times — 1930
> No. 149: 3 minutes Charity Creek, **4 minutes Karaak Flat**, 3 minutes Killawarra. *(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1934 — Frames A and B Released by Kimbriki–Wingham Staff — 30 January 1934

### Altered Releasing of Ground Frames — W.N. 5–1934
> **Karaak Flat (North Coast) — Altered Releasing of Ground Frames** — On and from **Tuesday, 30th January, 1934**, No. 1 lever in Frames "A" and "B" will be unlocked by key on the Miniature Electric Train Staff for the section **Kimbriki–Wingham**.
>
> **Circular No. 13 of 1913** to be amended accordingly. *(W.N. 5–1934)*

> **Note:** This entry is on the Wingham (north) side of Kimbriki — Karaak Flat is between Kimbriki and Wingham/Killawarra, while Charity Creek is between Kimbriki and Mount George (south). The same W.N. 5–1934 similarly altered Killawarra to Kimbriki–Wingham. Circular No. 13 of 1913 was amended — confirming it was the base diagram for Karaak Flat from 1913 to 1934.

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## 1935 — Listed in Station Sequence

### Station Sequence — 1935
> **Karaak Flat** — listed in station/siding sequence on North Coast Line. *(Source: 1935 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1946 — Staff Exchanger Position

### Staff Exchanger — 1946
> **Karaak Flat** — staff exchanger position [listed in table between Kimbriki and Killawarra]. *(Source: 1946 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1965 — Goods Siding Abolished — 22 February 1965; Station Designated (P); Closed 29 June 1965

### Goods Siding Abolished — W.N. 8–1965
> **Karaak Flat (North Coast) — Abolition of Goods Siding** — Since **22nd February, 1965**, the connection between the Main line and the goods siding worked from **Frame A** has been removed and the goods siding has been abolished. **Frame A and connections have been dispensed with.** *(W.N. 8–1965)*

### Station Designated (P); Siding Entries Deleted — W.N. 11–1965
> **Pages 95 and 143 — Karaak Flat (North Coast)** — The goods siding at Karaak Flat has been removed. **Insert (P) after station name**; delete "L" in column "Goods and Livestock freight to be prepaid"; delete "J.C." in column "Sheep, Pig and Cattle Races." *(W.N. 11–1965)*

### Accommodation Table — Stock Races and Standing Room Deleted — W.N. 11–1965
> **Page 80 — Accommodation Provided — Karaak Flat** — In column "Stock Races, Cattle–Sheep" delete **5** and **4** respectively; in column "Other Sidings" delete **10**. *(W.N. 11–1965)*

### Intermediate Sidings — Karaak Flat Deleted — W.N. 11–1965
> **Page 38 — Intermediate Sidings — System of Working — Maitland–South Brisbane** — Delete all reference to **Karaak Flat (siding abolished)**. *(W.N. 11–1965)*

### Station Closed — 29 June 1965
> Karaak Flat closed as a station — **29 June 1965**. *(Source: your notes — formal closure notice not found in OCR)*

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## 1975 — All References Deleted — W.N. 27–1975

### All References Deleted — W.N. 27–1975
> **Page 81 — Karaak Flat** — Delete station name and relevant particulars.
>
> **Page 198 — Karaak Flat** — [rate code deleted]. *(W.N. 27–1975)*

### Deleted from Maitland–Queensland Border — W.N. 26–1975
> **Page 173 — Maitland–Queensland Border** — Delete: Berrico, Doon Ayre, **Karaak Flat**, Killawarra. *(W.N. 26–1975)*

### Horses and Vehicles Loading Deleted — W.N. 26–1975
> **Page 186 — Maitland–Queensland Border Line** — Delete: Nooroo, **Karaak Flat**. *(W.N. 26–1975)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **5 February 1913** | **Opened** — 76.2-metre Down side platform; timber building (general and ladies waiting rooms, store); station brand KKF; Frame A on platform; Frames B and C (Goods Siding, unlocked by No. 5 Frame A); Fixed Signals "All Right"; green disc required; Circular No. 13 of 1913 |
| 1913 | Signal box shown on opening circular — uncertain if building provided; if so, removed with ETS installation 1917 |
| 1924 | Listed as unattended (\*); 10 minutes goods shunting |
| **30 January 1934** | **Frames A and B released by Kimbriki–Wingham Miniature ETS** (consequent on Kimbriki loop opening); Circular No. 13 of 1913 amended (W.N. 5–1934) |
| **22 February 1965** | **Goods Siding abolished** — Frame A and connections removed (W.N. 8–1965); station designated (P); stock races and standing room entries deleted (W.N. 11–1965) |
| **29 June 1965** | **Station closed** |
| W.N. 26–1975 | Deleted from Maitland–Queensland Border publications; horses and vehicles loading deleted |
| W.N. 27–1975 | All remaining references deleted |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1913–1975.* 
*Note: No formal loop opening notice has been found in the WN collection for Karaak Flat. Your note of "1934 (loop)" may refer to the ETS section change on 30 January 1934 (consequent on Kimbriki's opening) rather than a physical loop — or a loop opening notice may exist in a section of the 1934 WN not recovered by OCR. Circular No. 13 of 1913 was the base diagram from 1913 to at least 1934 — 21 years.*