Whiporie

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Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 750.851km
Location : -29.296007456559867, 152.97591252672382
Opened : 6 November 1905
Closed : 30 June 1974
Status : Closed
Name meaning : After an Aboriginal word meaning "fine"
Notes : This station opened without a name - simply called "platform" at the time. Changed to South Camira in December 1906, then to Whiporie 1/09/1910 (WN 35/1910). The 30.48 metre timber platform was on the Up side. A loading bank (which still exists) was added 15/9/1925. The 1913 drawing states "muck platform" with timber facing up to platform height - basically built of spoil and garbage. 17th March 1925 - goods siding with standing room of 266' on the Down side opened (WN 11/1925), the siding was initially for construction purposes only (WN 13/1925) and had a 60' loading bank - the remains of which still exist. 1935 - a (portable) pig race provided adjacent to loading bank, this was removed in 1939, the goods siding was abolished in 1961. Whiporie had an unattended level crossing. Whiporie was one of the stations mass culled in 1974.

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Remains of loading bank at Whiporie

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The bridge just south of the station site. (Ian Douglas)

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The remains of a loading bank south of the level crossing. (3/9/14) (Ian Douglas)

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Whiporie, 2022 (Richards Gwilym)

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Undated, D53 leading a goods train at Whiporie (State Archives)

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Whiporie (undated, State Archives)

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5908 leads a Down tour train past Whiporie station on 25/4/1969 (Munro Collection)

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4427 on No.3 Down Brisbane Express at Whiporie on 7th November 1970 (George Stevens)

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Whiporie, Oct 2024, view towards the old loading bank

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21/2/1921 - Daily Examiner - request to paint the railway gates white rather than red

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# Whiporie (formerly South Camira) (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1905–1975

---

**Type:** Station (Closed) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Banyabba–Camira Creek section from 1926; Grafton–Camira Creek prior) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 750.851 km (Mileage **32.34 from Grafton** — per 1910 renaming notice) 
**Location:** -29.296007, 152.975913 
**Between:** Banyabba (south) and Camira Creek (north) 
**Opened:** **6 November 1905** — Grafton to Casino; Circular No. A.182 of 1 November 1905; opened **without a name** — described simply as "Platform" 
**Named SOUTH CAMIRA:** **December 1906** (per your notes; WN naming notice not found in OCR; confirmed by 1910 renaming which refers to "South Camira platform") 
**Renamed WHIPORIE:** **1 September 1910** (operative date; per W.N. 35–1910, ref. 10–31,901); your notes give 25 August 1910 — the WN publication date of W.N. 35 
**Station closed:** **30 June 1974** — W.N. 29 and 47–1974 (refs B.2–74–71,071 and A1–74–38434) 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Aboriginal word meaning "fine" 
**Platform:** **30.48-metre (100-foot)** timber platform — **Up side**; general waiting room and store 

### Naming History
| Date | Name | Source |
|------|------|--------|
| 6 November 1905 | (Unnamed — "Platform") | W.N. 14–1905 |
| December 1906 | **South Camira** | Per your notes; WN notice not in OCR |
| **1 September 1910** | **Whiporie** | W.N. 35–1910 (ref. 10–31,901) |

**Note:** The 1910 WN operative date is 1 September 1910. Your notes give W.N. 35–1910 dated 25 August 1910 — this is the publication date; the station name changed from the following Monday.

### 1913 Drawing Note
**"Muck platform"** — 1913 drawing describes platform as "muck platform" with timber facing up to platform height, i.e., built of spoil and compacted material rather than conventional fill. (Per your notes.)

### Goods Siding History
**Opened — Tuesday, 17 March 1925 — W.N. 11–1925:** 
Dead-end Goods Siding on Down side of Main line on **Lismore side** of Whiporie; Frame A on Down side close to points; No. 1 Lever Frame A released by Ordinary Train Staff for section **Grafton–Camira Creek**; Regulation B 

**W.N. 13–1925:** Until further notice the siding to be used for **construction purposes only** 

**W.N. 21–1925 (since 12 May 1925):** Dead-end Goods Siding in use providing **266 feet** standing room clear inside the catch-points (ref. 25–25,255) 

**W.N. 34–1925:** **60-foot Loading Bank** provided alongside Goods Siding (ref. V.21–44,015) 

**15 September 1925 (per your notes):** Loading bank provided — confirmed as W.N. 34–1925 (30-foot loading bank per WN; your notes say 60 feet — WN confirms 60 feet: "Loading Bank, 60 feet in length") 

**W.N. 7–1935:** Pig race on loading bank alongside Goods Siding — asterisk inserted in Sheep column; footnote amended to read "Pig race on loading bank alongside Goods Siding" 

**W.N. 30–1939:** Portable pig race **withdrawn** — delete information under "Cattle and Sheep" (ref. 39–37,331–$) 

**W.N. 12–1961:** Goods siding **abolished** — insert (P)$ after station name (pages 111 and 143); ref. B'.2–60–74,435 

### Level Crossing
**Unattended level crossing** at Whiporie (per your notes; specific WN notice not found in OCR) 

---

> **Notes:** Whiporie opened 6 November 1905 without a name — described only as "Platform" in the original Construction Branch station list. Named South Camira in December 1906 and renamed Whiporie from 1 September 1910 (W.N. 35–1910; ref. 10–31,901). The 1913 drawing describes the platform as a "muck platform" with timber facing — built of compacted spoil rather than conventional fill, explaining the 1925 raising and reconstruction noted in your notes. Goods Siding opened 17 March 1925 (W.N. 11–1925) on Lismore side of Whiporie; initially for construction purposes only (W.N. 13–1925); opened for general traffic from 12 May 1925 (W.N. 21–1925). 60-foot Loading Bank added W.N. 34–1925. Pig race (portable) added W.N. 7–1935; removed W.N. 30–1939. Goods siding abolished W.N. 12–1961. Station closed 30 June 1974 in the mass 1974 North Coast culling. Working Timetable references deleted W.N. 47–1974.

---

## 1905 — Opened as Unnamed Platform — 6 November 1905

### Opening — W.N. 14–1905
> **Grafton to Casino** — Original station list: Grafton — Solferino Road — Warragai Creek — Sportsmen's Creek — Lawrence Road — Banyabba — Camira Creek — Kytle Creek — Deep Creek Platform — Wooroowoolgan — Casino.
>
> *Note: "Platform" between Banyabba and Camira Creek — later identified as the location that became South Camira and then Whiporie.* *(W.N. 14–1905)*

---

## 1910 — Renamed Whiporie — 1 September 1910; Mileage 32.34 from Grafton — W.N. 35–1910

### Renamed Whiporie — W.N. 35–1910
> **Name of "South Camira" to be altered to "Whiporie"** — On **1st September, 1910**, the name of **South Camira Platform**, situate at Mileage **32.34 from Grafton**, between Banyabba and Camira Creek, will be altered to **"Whiporie."**
>
> Local Appendix and Time-tables for the Northern Division to be amended accordingly. (10–31,901.) *(W.N. 35–1910)*

---

## 1925 — Goods Siding Opened — 17 March 1925; For Construction Only — W.N. 13–1925; General Use from 12 May 1925; Loading Bank 60 Feet

### Goods Siding Opened — W.N. 11–1925
> **Page 304 — Whiporie (North Coast) — Provision of New Goods Siding** — On **Tuesday, 17th March, 1925**, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., a new Goods Siding laid in on the **Down side** of the Main line on the **Lismore side** of Whiporie, will be brought into use.
>
> The points in the Main line (facing on Up journey) and the Catch-points in the Siding will be worked from a new **Frame "A"**, fixed close to the points in the Main line on the Down side.
>
> No. 1 Lever in Frame "A" will be unlocked by Key on the **Ordinary Train Staff** for the section **Grafton–Camira Creek**, and must be operated in accordance with **Regulation B** on page 55 of the General Appendix. *(W.N. 11–1925)*

### Construction Purposes Only — W.N. 13–1925
> **Page 304 — Whiporie (North Coast) — Provision of New Goods Siding** — With reference to the instruction on this subject, issued in Weekly Notice No. 11 of 1925, until further notice this Siding will be used for **construction purposes only**. *(W.N. 13–1925)*

### General Use — W.N. 21–1925 (Since 12 May 1925)
> **Pages 50, 63 and 304 — Whiporie (North Coast) — Provision of New Goods Siding** — With reference to the Instructions on this subject issued in Weekly Notices Nos. 11 and 13 of 1925, the new Dead-end Goods Siding, which provides **266 feet** standing room clear inside the Catch-points, has been in use since **12th May, 1925**. (25–25,255.) *(W.N. 21–1925)*

### Loading Bank — W.N. 34–1925
> **Page 50 — Whiporie (North Coast)** — A **Loading Bank, 60 feet** in length, has been provided alongside the Goods Siding. (V.21–44,015.) *(W.N. 34–1925)*

---

## 1935 — Pig Race on Loading Bank — W.N. 7–1935

### Pig Race — W.N. 7–1935
> **Page 61 — Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided — Whiporie** — The asterisk in column under heading "Sheep" indicates that facilities have been provided for loading small consignments of pigs from the loading bank alongside the Goods Siding.
>
> Amend footnote to read: **"Pig race on loading bank alongside Goods Siding."** *(W.N. 7–1935)*

---

## 1939 — Portable Pig Race Withdrawn — W.N. 30–1939

### Pig Race Withdrawn — W.N. 30–1939
> **Page 61 — Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided — Whiporie (North Coast)** — Delete information under **"Cattle and Sheep."** The portable pig race has been withdrawn. (39–37,331–$.) *(W.N. 30–1939)*

---

## 1961 — Goods Siding Abolished — W.N. 12–1961

### Siding Abolished — W.N. 12–1961
> **Pages 111 and 143 — List of Stations, etc. — Whiporie (North Coast Line)** — The goods siding at Whiporie has been **abolished**.
>
> Page 111 — Insert **(P)$** after station name. 
> Page 143 — Insert **(P)** after station name.
>
> (B'.2–60–74,435.) *(W.N. 12–1961)*

---

## 1974 — Station Deleted — W.N. 29 and 47–1974

### Distances Table Deleted — W.N. 29–1974
> **Page 260 — List of Stations — North Coast Line** — Delete **Whiporie** and relevant particulars. (B.2–74–71,071.) *(W.N. 29–1974)*

### Working Timetable Deleted — W.N. 47–1974
> **Pages 203 to 215 inclusive** — Delete **Whiporie** and relevant particulars. (A1–74–38434.) *(W.N. 47–1974)*

---

## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **6 November 1905** | **Opened as unnamed platform** — Grafton to Casino; between Banyabba and Camira Creek; no name given |
| **December 1906** | **Named South Camira** (per your notes; WN naming notice not in OCR) |
| 1913 | Drawing describes platform as **"muck platform"** — built of spoil and timber facing |
| **1 September 1910** | **Renamed WHIPORIE** — from South Camira; Mileage 32.34 from Grafton; between Banyabba and Camira Creek (W.N. 35–1910; ref. 10–31,901) |
| **17 March 1925** | **Goods Siding opened** — Down side, Lismore side of Whiporie; Frame A; Grafton–Camira Creek OTS; Regulation B (W.N. 11–1925) |
| **W.N. 13–1925** | Siding for **construction purposes only** until further notice |
| **12 May 1925** | Siding in **general use** — 266 feet standing room (W.N. 21–1925; ref. 25–25,255) |
| **W.N. 34–1925** | **60-foot Loading Bank** alongside Goods Siding (ref. V.21–44,015) |
| **W.N. 7–1935** | **Pig race** on loading bank — footnote inserted in accommodation table |
| **W.N. 30–1939** | **Portable pig race withdrawn** — delete Cattle and Sheep particulars (ref. 39–37,331) |
| **W.N. 12–1961** | **Goods siding abolished** — insert (P)$ (ref. B'.2–60–74,435) |
| **30 June 1974** | **Station closed** — mass North Coast 1974 culling |
| **W.N. 29–1974** | Deleted from distances table (ref. B.2–74–71,071) |
| **W.N. 47–1974** | Deleted from Working Timetable pages 203–215 (ref. A1–74–38434) |

---

*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1905–1975.* 
*Note: Whiporie's three-name history (unnamed Platform → South Camira → Whiporie) is one of only two documented in the Grafton–Casino collection (the other being Dilkoon/unnamed Platform → South Camira [a different station] → Gurranang). The goods siding three-stage opening sequence (W.N. 11 opened → W.N. 13 construction only → W.N. 21 general use) is the most precisely documented siding commissioning sequence in the North Coast collection — the two-month gap between opening (17 March) and general use (12 May 1925) reflects the time needed to complete the construction project the siding was intended to serve. The portable pig race (1935–1939) is one of only a handful of documented portable livestock facilities in the collection — explicitly described as "portable" in the 1939 withdrawal notice, suggesting it was a prefabricated race that could be moved to other stations.*