Burrumbeet railway station

Burrumbeet is a closed railway station located in the town of Burrumbeet, on the Ararat railway line in Victoria, Australia. In addition a short branch line ran southwards from the main line to serve Burrumbeet Racecourse.

Construction of the line from Ballarat through Burrumbeet to Ararat was authorised in December 1871. Work commenced in September 1872 from Burrumbeet, with little excavation required over the plains to Ballarat, with the line and station opened in August 1874.[1] In the years of 1874-75 3208 passengers travelled from the station, by 1885 it had increased to 4040.[2]

Two other railway platforms existed in the area. Burrumbeet Racecourse Platform was open to passengers between 1892 and 1904, for the use of special trains running for race meetings at the nearby Burrumbeet Racecourse, the final leg of the journey being by horse and buggy. That platform was replaced by a short branch line to a new station at the racecourse itself. The branch opened in 1904 and closed in July 1948 due to declining traffic .[2]

The original station building at Burrumbeet was of brick construction with a separate signal box. In January 1965, they were replaced by a new building incorporating a signal bay. The station closed to passengers in 1972, with complete closure occurring in December 1987 when all safeworking facilities, points and crossings were removed. The station had been staffed (at least for safeworking purposes) from its opening until its final closure.[2]