Newcastle–Bolgart Railway

[1] The line came about after community support rallied against the Government, who were seen as not approving the rail to reduce the value of the Midland Railway Company land holdings.

At a meeting on 6 November 1906 local MLA Timothy Quinlan then Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly threatened to resign from the government and join the opposition.

[6] Construction officially commenced on 4 December 1908 when the Governor of Western Australia Frederick Bedford turned the first sod of soil during a ceremony near Newcastle.

The Mayor of Newcastle Father Hallinan moved that the Toodyay Vigilance Committee be formed to watch carefully all matters related to the Newcastle–Bolgart Railway and to keep their claims before the public and the WA Parliament.

Mr Camerer explained to the premier that as a dairy farmer from Victoria he took up land in Bolgart after being assured two years prior that the railway was being built he could not continue without the line.

On 31 March 1910 Shearer took action in the Supreme Court alleging that Barry & McLaughlin breached their contract by purchasing timber directly from his employees.

Newcastle railway station circa 1897. At this stage it was the end point of the Clackline railway.
Part of the 1917 Western Australian Royal Commission into Agriculture map – showing the Clackline to Newcastle (Toodyay) then to Piawaning railway line (Bolgart is shown in smaller lettering above Bejoording) – to the left on the map the Midland Railway line, to the right the Northam to Goomalling to Mullewa railway line. [ 3 ]