Moorland

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Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 409.860km
Location : -31.789757, 152.655313
Opened : 12 April 1915
Closed : 19th December 1973
Status : Closed
Name meaning : No primary reference, although probably named after the features of the local grasslands
Notes : The original UP platform was 76.2 metres in legth and contained usual station building consisting of an out-of room, ladies' waiting room and station masters office. 24/11/1920 - removal of a goods shed and platform to the Bombala branch. 24/7/1973 - abolition of the goods shed and siding. The station building was relocated to Glenreagh West and has been restored by the Glenreagh Mountain Railway. Moorland opened 12 April 1915 with the Taree–Wauchope section. Unattended from opening — passengers required to exhibit green disc by day and lamp at night. ETS sections Coopernook–Moorland and Moorland–John's River at opening. Goods shunting 10 minutes in 1915, also 10 minutes in the 1920 WN (listed as "Moorlands," one of several OCR variants), and 9–15 minutes in 1924. No. 17 Goods (1915): 10 minutes at Moorland on both Down and Up journeys. Stock yards put out of use by 1940 — deleted from accommodation table (W.N. — 1940). Goods Siding abolished 24 July 1973 — reference B. 2–72–26,537 noted in W.N. 33–1973

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Moorland - location of station was above the line where the dirt road loops. Opened 1915, closed 1971 (Google Maps)

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Moorland station prior to 1982 in situ (Allan Sharp)

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Circa early 1960s from my father's collection.
My dad Ray Williams was the Station Master at Moorland NSW for a few years in the 60s.....this station eventually was transferred to Glenreagh Mountain Railway for restoration.

(Karen Snowdon)

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The reuse of Moorland station seems to have started early! This article from 25/3/1931 notes that parts of the station building were to be relocated. The building now exists at Glenreagh West.

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Neville Mayers notes that in the 1950s cork wood leaf, passion fruit, oranges, rutile and other goods were loaded there.

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44240 on N271 at Moorland 8-10-83 (Garry Holt)

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Loading timber at Moorland (undated) (State Archives)

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Colin Sutton

Moorland in 1956,I was appointed S.A Class 1 ,only stayed 5 months, then appointed. L.S.A Class 2 at Raleigh

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Colin Sutton with his mother at Moorland.

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4018 working an Up goods at Moorland, 14/11/1969 (G C Taylor)

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Looking over the location of the on-time Moorland station.

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# Moorland (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1915–1973

---

**Type:** Station (Closed — Platform) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Coopernook–Moorland / Moorland–John's River sections at opening) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 409.860 km (Mileage 254m 51c — per 1924 timetable) 
**Location:** -31.789757, 152.655313 
**Between:** Coopernook and John's River 
**Opened:** **12 April 1915** (with opening of Taree–Wauchope section) 
**Goods Shed and Platform removed to Bombala Branch:** **24 November 1920** (per your notes — notice not found in OCR of 1920 WN) 
**Stock Yards put out of use:** By **1940** (W.N. — 1940) 
**Goods Siding abolished:** **24 July 1973** (per your notes; reference B. 2–72–26,537 in W.N. 33–1973) 
**Station closed:** **19 December 1973** 
**Status:** Closed (station building relocated to Glenreagh West; restored by Glenreagh Mountain Railway) 
**Name meaning:** Probably named after the features of the local grasslands 
**Platform:** 76.2-metre Up side; station building containing out-of-room, ladies' waiting room, and Station Master's office 
**Station Brand:** Not confirmed (not found in OCR) 
**ETS sections at opening:** Coopernook–Moorland and Moorland–John's River 
**Goods shunting:** 10 minutes (1915); 10 minutes (1920 — listed as "Moorlands"); 9–15 minutes (1924) 

---

> **Notes:** Moorland opened 12 April 1915 with the Taree–Wauchope section. Unattended from opening — passengers required to exhibit green disc by day and lamp at night. ETS sections Coopernook–Moorland and Moorland–John's River at opening. Goods shunting 10 minutes in 1915, also 10 minutes in the 1920 WN (listed as "Moorlands," one of several OCR variants), and 9–15 minutes in 1924. No. 17 Goods (1915): 10 minutes at Moorland on both Down and Up journeys.
>
> On 24 November 1920, the goods shed and platform were removed to the Bombala Branch — a notable transfer of infrastructure to an entirely different line on the opposite side of the state (formal WN notice not found in OCR). Stock yards put out of use by 1940 — deleted from accommodation table (W.N. — 1940). Platform Sheet No. 654 allotted to Moorland (1955) — confirming the station was still operating at that date.
>
> Goods Siding abolished 24 July 1973 — reference B. 2–72–26,537 noted in W.N. 33–1973 (alphabetical list entry for Moorland changed from \*r to \*S classification, reflecting the siding abolition). Station closed 19 December 1973.
>
> The station building was relocated to Glenreagh West and has been restored by the **Glenreagh Mountain Railway** — one of the few surviving examples of the original Taree–Wauchope line station buildings. Like other stations on this section, Moorland was located a considerable distance from the town it served.

---

## 1915 — Opened 12 April 1915; Green Disc; ETS Sections; Goods Shunting

### Opening Instructions — 1915
> Lansdowne, Moorland, John's River, Camden Haven River and Heron's Creek — all consignments prepaid under Siding and Platform conditions. Passengers exhibit **green disc by day and light lamp at night**. *(Source: 1915 Weekly Notices)*

### ETS Sections at Opening — 1915
> ETS sections at opening:
> - **Coopernook–Moorland**
> - **Moorland–John's River**
>
> *(Source: 1915 Weekly Notices — ETS sections table)*

### Goods Shunting Times — 1915
> - No. 17 Goods (Down): Lansdowne, 11 minutes; **Moorland, 10 minutes**; John's River, 10 minutes; Camden Haven River, 10 minutes; Heron's Creek, 10 minutes
> - No. 17 Goods (Up): Heron's Creek, 10 minutes; Camden Haven River, 10 minutes; John's River, 10 minutes; **Moorland, 10 minutes**; Langley Vale, 25 minutes; Lansdowne, 10 minutes
> - No. 2 Goods: John's River, 10 minutes; **Moorland, 10 minutes**; Langley Vale, 25 minutes

*(Source: 1915 Weekly Notices — appears multiple times)*

---

## 1920 — Goods Shed and Platform Removed to Bombala Branch — 24 November 1920; Goods Shunting 10 Minutes

### Goods Shed and Platform Removed — 24 November 1920
> **Goods Shed and Platform removed from Moorland to the Bombala Branch — 24 November 1920.** *(Source: your notes — formal WN notice not found in OCR of 1920 volume)*

### Goods Shunting Times — 1920 (listed as "Moorlands")
> No. 142 Goods: Johns River, 10 minutes; **Moorlands, 10 minutes**; Langley Vale, 25 minutes; Lansdowne, 10 minutes. *(Source: 1920 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1924 — Unattended; 9–15 Minutes Goods Shunting; Mileage 254m 51c

### Listed as Unattended — 1924
> **Moorland\*** — listed as unattended at Mileage **254m 51c** in station timetable sequence. *(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices)*

### Goods Shunting Times — 1924 (appears multiple times)
> - No. 142 Goods: John's River, 10 minutes; **Moorland, 10 minutes**; Langley Vale, 25 minutes; Lansdowne, 10 minutes
> - No. 19 Goods: Lansdowne, 11 minutes; Langley Vale, 90 minutes; **Moorland, 15 minutes**; [next]
> - No. [—]: John's River, 10 minutes; **Moorland, 9 minutes**; Langley Vale, 25 minutes; Lansdowne, 12 minutes

*(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1940 — Stock Yards Put Out of Use

### Stock Yards Deleted — W.N. — 1940
> **Page 60 — Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided — Moorland (North Coast)** — The stock yards at Moorland have been put out of use. Delete particulars relative thereto under heading Cattle and Sheep.
>
> Also page 217 of the Merchandise and Livestock Rates Book to be amended accordingly. *(Source: 1940 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1955 — Platform Sheet No. 654 Allotted

### Platform Sheet — 1955
> **Platform Sheet No. 654** allotted to Moorland; Station Master Moorland to advise. *(Source: 1955 Weekly Notices — appears twice)*

---

## 1973 — Goods Siding Abolished — 24 July 1973; Station Reference Changed; Closed 19 December 1973

### Goods Siding Abolished — 24 July 1973
> **Goods Siding abolished at Moorland — 24 July 1973.** *(Source: your notes — reference B. 2–72–26,537)*

### Alphabetical List Reference Changed — W.N. 33–1973
> **Page 91 — Alphabetical List of Stations and Their Distances from Border Stations** — Moorland: Delete **\*r** and insert **\*S** in reference column. (B. 2–72–26,537.) *(W.N. 33–1973)*

> **Note:** The change from \*r to \*S in the reference column reflects the abolition of the goods siding — \*r denotes a station with a goods siding; \*S a passenger stop only. This confirms the 24 July 1973 date aligns with W.N. 33–1973.

### Station Closed — 19 December 1973
> **Moorland station closed — 19 December 1973.** *(Source: your notes)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **12 April 1915** | **Opened** — 76.2-metre Up side platform; timber building (out-of-room, ladies' waiting room, SM office); unattended; green disc required; sections Coopernook–Moorland and Moorland–John's River; 10 minutes goods shunting |
| **24 November 1920** | **Goods Shed and Platform removed to Bombala Branch** (formal WN notice not in OCR) |
| 1924 | Listed as unattended (\*) at 254m 51c; 9–15 minutes goods shunting |
| W.N. — 1940 | **Stock Yards put out of use** — cattle and sheep accommodation deleted |
| 1955 | Platform Sheet No. 654 allotted |
| **24 July 1973** | **Goods Siding abolished** (reference B. 2–72–26,537; W.N. 33–1973 changes classification \*r → \*S) |
| **19 December 1973** | **Station closed** |
| Post-closure | Station building relocated to Glenreagh West; restored by Glenreagh Mountain Railway |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1915–1973.* 
*Note: The removal of the goods shed and platform to the Bombala Branch on 24 November 1920 is an unusual administrative action — transferring physical infrastructure from one line (North Coast) to another (Bombala, far inland). The 90-minute goods shunting allowance at Langley Vale in the 1924 No. 19 Goods timetable (compared to 10 minutes at Moorland) reflects the relative importance of the Langley Vale sawmill operations. The station building's survival and restoration at Glenreagh West makes Moorland one of the few documented cases of a relocated and preserved original Taree–Wauchope station building.*