Hilldale

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Hilldale, 23/11/1981 - petition to to save the station, Maitland Mercury

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Hilldale, 4/1/23 (Alex Albans)

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4457 with a dozen freight through the curves at Hilldale 18 June 1979. (Ed Tonks)

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Hilldale, March 2010. Google captures an XPT passing through the station (North Coast trains haven't stopped at the location for decades).

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# Hilldale (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1911–1988

---

**Type:** Station (Unattended Platform; later School Platform) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Kilbride–Wallarobba section) 
**Station Number:** NC6 
**Distance from Sydney:** 226.372 km (226.515 km for Big Creek Road level crossing — 1988) 
**Location:** -32.504255, 151.649930 
**Between:** Kilbride and Wallarobba 
**Opened:** 14 August 1911 (with opening of Maitland–Dungog line) 
**Closed:** 20 October 1975 (W.N. 41–1975); re-opened 1984 
**Status:** In use 
**Name meaning:** After the nature of the location — the station is in a valley at the foot of a hill 
**Platform:** Originally Up side; rebuilt platform 1930 — 73.1 metres (240 feet); reduced to 30.1 metres (100 feet) by 1970 (W.N. 35–1970); existing new station is a short platform similar to other Hunter end rebuilds 
**Site shifted:** 67.6 metres from original position 
**Station building:** B1 type 
**Goods Siding:** Down side loop siding at opening; abolished **30 January 1941** (W.N. 5–1941); Circular No. A306 of 1911 amended 
**Level crossing:** Big Creek Road (226.515 km) — Type "F" flashing light signals and warning bell, brought into use **11 February 1988** (W.N. 12–1988) 

---

> **Notes:** Hilldale opened on 14 August 1911 with a Down side loop siding and an Up side platform (station B1 type). All consignments prepaid; passengers required to exhibit a green disc by day and light a lamp at night. The telephone was transferred from the Ganger's Residence to the Station Building in 1930 (W.N. 44–1930). The Down side goods siding was abolished on 30 January 1941 with connections removed and Circular No. A306 of 1911 amended. The rebuilt platform (1930) was 73.1 metres; by 1970 it had been reduced to 100 feet (30.5 metres) as per W.N. 35–1970 (amending from 250U to 100U feet). The station closed formally on 20 October 1975 but trains 735 and 722 continued calling for school children and mail bags. After re-opening in 1984, Big Creek Road level crossing Type "F" signals were provided on 11 February 1988 (W.N. 12–1988).

---

## 1911 — Opened; Station Brand HLD; Green Disc; Lever and Bracket Lock; 21 Miles from Maitland

### Maitland–Dungog Line Opened — 14 August 1911
> **Hilldale — 21 miles from Maitland; 5 miles beyond Martin's Creek** — station brand **HLD** allotted. *(Source: 1911 Weekly Notices — station sequence and brands)*

### Working Instructions — Unattended; Green Disc Required — 1911
> All consignments for Oakhampton, Dunmore, Martin's Creek, **Hilldale**, Wallarobba and Wiragulla must be prepaid and consigned under platform conditions. Passengers must **exhibit to the Driver a green disc by day and light the lamp at night**. Guards must ascertain if passengers wish to alight at intermediate platforms. *(Source: 1911 Weekly Notices)*

### Lever and Bracket Lock Arrangements — 1911
> The Lever and Bracket Lock arrangements at Martin's Creek, **Hilldale**, Wallarobba and Wiragulla must be worked in accordance with Regulation "E" on page 27 of the General Appendix, the Bracket Locks being unlocked by key on the Ordinary Train Staff for the section **Paterson–Dungog**. *(Source: 1911 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1912 — Employees' Passes

### Employees' Passes — 1912
> Passes from Maitland and Martin's Creek, and to Dungog, to employees **between Hilldale and Dungog**. *(Source: 1912 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1920 — Goods Shunting Times

### Goods Shunting Times — 1920
> No. [—] Goods: Mindaribba, 7 minutes; **Hilldale, 9 minutes**; Wiragulla, 8 minutes. *(Source: 1920 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1924 — Listed as Unattended; Goods Shunting Times

### Station Listed as Unattended — 1924
> **Hilldale\*** — listed with asterisk (unattended) in station sequence. *(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices)*

### Goods Shunting Times — 1924
> - No. 141 Goods: Wiragulla, 8 minutes; **Hilldale, 9 minutes**; Mindaribba, 7 minutes
> - No. 180 Goods: Wiragulla, 8 minutes; **Hilldale, 10 minutes**; Mindaribba, 10 minutes

*(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1930 — Telephone Transferred to Station Building — W.N. 44–1930

### Telephone Transferred — W.N. 44–1930
> **Hilldale (North Coast) — Telephone transferred from Ganger's Residence to Station Building** — The telephone, connected to **No. 78 Telephone Circuit (North)**, has been transferred from the Ganger's Residence to the Station Building. *(W.N. 44–1930)*

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## 1935 — Engine Class for West Maitland–Hilldale Section

### Engine Class — 1935
> **Engines for the section West Maitland–Hilldale** — [engine class specified]. *(Source: 1935 Working Timetable)*

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## 1941 — Goods Siding Abolished — 30 January 1941

### Goods Siding Abolished — W.N. 5–1941
> **Hilldale (North Coast) — Abolition of Siding** — On **Thursday, 30th January, 1941**, the connections leading from the Main line to each end of the siding were removed, and the siding abolished (vide Circular No. 21 of 1941).
>
> **Circular No. A306 of 1911** to be amended accordingly. *(W.N. 5–1941)*

### Local Appendix and Rates Book Amended — W.N. 5–1941
> - **Pages 31 and 58 — Hilldale (North Coast) — Abolition of Goods Siding** — The Goods Siding at Hilldale has been removed. Delete relative particulars.
> - **Pages 213 and 252 — Hilldale (North Coast) — Abolition of Goods Siding** — Insert letter **(P)** alongside station name [platform only].

*(W.N. 5–1941)*

> **Note:** Your notes give the siding closure date as 28 January 1941. The Weekly Notice (W.N. 5–1941) states **30 January 1941** (Thursday). The 28 January date may be a drafting date for the notice; the operational date per the WN is 30 January 1941.

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## 1961 — Speed Through Hilldale; Down and Up Speeds

### Speed Tables — 1961
> - **Kilbride–Hilldale**: Down 45 mph, Up 70 mph
> - **Hilldale–Wallarobba**: Down 25 mph, Up 40 mph; **64 mph** [special restriction]

*(Source: 1961 Weekly Notices — speed tables)*

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## 1970 — Platform Length Reduced from 250 to 100 Feet — W.N. 35–1970; Big Creek Road Level Crossing

### Platform Length Reduced — W.N. 35–1970
> **Page 78 — Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation provided — Hilldale** — In column headed "Length of Passenger Platform and side of line situated":
>
> Delete **250U** — Insert **100 U**. *(W.N. 35–1970)*

> **Note:** 250 feet = 76.2 metres (consistent with the 1930 rebuilt platform of 73.1 metres — minor measurement difference); 100 feet = 30.5 metres (consistent with your note of 30.1 metres by 1961, confirmed in WN by 1970).

### Big Creek Road Level Crossing — Hilldale — 1970
> **Level Crossings, North Coast Line — Big Creek Road, Hilldale, Mileage 140.60 ch** — In column headed "for notes, see page 123":
>
> Delete **"U"** — Insert **"C"**. *(W.N. 35–1970)*

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## 1975 — Station Closed 20 October 1975; Trains Continue for School Children

### Station Closed — W.N. 41–1975
> **Page 173 — Stations and Platforms etc. — Maitland–Queensland Border** — Delete all reference to the following (from **20.10.75**): Oakhampton, Airdrie, **Hilldale**, Wiragulla. *(W.N. 41–1975)*

### References Deleted from Multiple Publications — W.N. 41–1975
> - Page 186: Maitland–Queensland Border — Delete: **Hilldale, Wiragulla**
> - Amendment List No. 14 — **HILLDALE** — Delete station name and relevant particulars

*(W.N. 41–1975)*

### Trains Continue to Call — W.N. 42–1975
> **From October 20 (Mondays to Fridays):**
>
> Train No. 735 will stop regularly at 198.956 (Oakhampton), 215.773 (Airdrie), **226.372 (Hilldale)** and 237.972 (Wiragulla) for the purpose of **setting down school children**.
>
> Train No. 722 will stop regularly at 237.972 (Wiragulla), **226.372 (Hilldale)**, 215.773 (Airdrie) and 198.956 (Oakhampton) for the purpose of **picking up school children**, also receiving and putting out mail bags at **226.342 (Willdale)**.
>
> **From October 25 (Saturdays):**
>
> Train No. 745 and No. 722 will stop at **226.372 (Hilldale)** for setting down/picking up passengers and mail bags. *(W.N. 42–1975)*

> **Note:** The 1975 notice references **Willdale** (226.342 km) for mail bags — this appears to be a locality name near Hilldale at a slightly different kilometrage, or an OCR rendering of "Hilldale." The mail bag pick-up/set-down at 226.342 is listed separately from the school children stop at 226.372.

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## 1988 — Type "F" Signals at Big Creek Road Level Crossing — 11 February 1988

### Type "F" Signals Brought Into Use — W.N. 11 and 12–1988
> **Hilldale (North Coast) — Bringing Into Use Type "F" Highway Signals at Big Creek Road Level Crossing (226.515 km)** — This work, which was advertised in Weekly Notice No. 42 of 1987, has been brought into use on **11 February 1988**.
>
> **Type "F" flashing light highway signals and a warning bell** are in use at Big Creek Road level crossing (226.515 km). The highway signals are automatically controlled by track circuit for Down and Up trains. The general operation of the equipment is in accordance with Regulations for level crossing protection in the General Appendix, Part II.
>
> **Big Creek Road, Hilldale** — Delete C; Insert \*AF; Add **Martins Creek** [as responsible station for maintenance]. *(W.N. 11 and 12–1988)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **14 August 1911** | **Opened** — Up side platform; B1 station building; Down side loop siding; Lever and Bracket Lock arrangements (Paterson–Dungog staff); station brand HLD; unattended; green disc required; Circular No. A306 of 1911 issued |
| 1912 | Employees' passes issued between Hilldale and Dungog |
| 1920 | 9 minutes allowed for goods work |
| 1924 | Listed as unattended (\*); 9 minutes goods shunting |
| W.N. 44–1930 | Telephone transferred from Ganger's Residence to Station Building (No. 78 Circuit, North) |
| 1930 | Platform rebuilt — **73.1 metres** (240 feet), Up side |
| 1935 | Engine class specified for West Maitland–Hilldale section |
| **30 January 1941** | **Goods siding abolished** — connections removed; Circular No. A306 of 1911 amended; station marked (P) — platform only (W.N. 5–1941) |
| 1961 | Speed tables: Kilbride–Hilldale Down 45/Up 70 mph; Hilldale–Wallarobba Down 25/Up 40 mph |
| W.N. 35–1970 | Platform length reduced from **250 feet (76.2m) to 100 feet (30.5m)**; Big Creek Road level crossing note changed from U to C |
| **20 October 1975** | **Station closed** — deleted from all publications (W.N. 41–1975); trains 735, 722 and 745 continue calling for school children and mail bags (W.N. 42–1975) |
| **1984** | **Station re-opened** |
| **11 February 1988** | **Type "F" flashing light signals and warning bell** at Big Creek Road level crossing (226.515 km) — Martins Creek responsible for maintenance (W.N. 11 and 12–1988) |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1911–1988.* 
*Note: The goods siding abolition notice gives 30 January 1941 as the operational date — your external notes give 28 January 1941, which may be the drafting or instruction date. Circular No. A306 of 1911 (Hilldale base diagram at opening) was referenced from 1911 to 1941 — 30 years.*