Merildin Railway Station and Goods Shed, 2022. (MPA/pgm)

30. Merildin Railway Station & Yards

Originally named the Mintaro Railway Station when the Northern Extension Line opened in 1870, the station name changed to Merildin in 1917. It is located 7 kms east of the township of Mintaro. The station is 418 m above sea level.

The Mintaro Station is between six and seven miles from Manoora, and here there is a combined shed as at Riverton, with the addition of a master’s house. At most of the other stopping places the Stationmasters have not residences erected on the spot, owing to the contiguity of neighboring townships, which give the necessary accommodation to the officials in question. This station, however, is four miles east of the Township of Mintaro, and hence the necessity of quarters being built for the Stationmaster.[1]

This little known Railway Station complex is historically important for the manner in which it reflects features of the development of the railways in South Australia. The design and detailing of the buildings also mean that it is of architectural interest.
The station was built in 1870 when the northern railway line was extended from Roseworthy to Burra.[2]

Merildin railway station (once known as Mintaro) sits in solitary splendour in a paddock with the living legacy of the station master’s garden. It too is State heritage listed, but is so remote from the rest of Mintaro that it’s unlikely to find a new purpose in life.[3]

“…the last passenger train to use the remaining line to Burra was a SteamRanger tour hauled by former SAR steam locomotive 621 on 19 September 1992. … In theory the line remains open in a dormant condition but has not seen a train in many years.”[4]

Notes

  1. The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 – 1889), Tue 30 Aug 1870, Page 2, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28594652, accessed 26/1/2022.
  2. Adapted from Merildin Railway Station & Yards, Bowman Road, Merildin, Photo By Tony Redhead, State Heritage Place – No. 12376 [brochure], Heritage South Australia, Department for Environment and Water, https://cdn.environment.sa.gov.au/environment/docs/tony-redhead-merildin-railway-station-info-gen.pdf, accessed 27/9/2023.
  3. Railway Stations in the Mid North of South Australia, https://www.weekendnotes.com/railway-stations-in-the-mid-north-of-south-australia/, accessed 14/11/2017.
  4. Roseworthy–Peterborough railway line, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseworthy%E2%80%93Peterborough_railway_line, accessed 22/10/2021.

State Heritage Place, SAHR 12376, confirmed 12 January 1984.

All-absorbing Topic
The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 – 1889), Fri 14 Jun 1867, Page 3.

Deputation.—The Mintaro Railway Station
South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 – 1900), Thu 24 Jun 1869, Page 3.

Antagonism settled
Northern Argus (Clare, SA : 1869 – 1954), Fri 2 Jul 1869, Page 3.

Changing a station’s name
Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA : 1910 – 1924), Fri 1 Jun 1917, Page 4.

MINTARO-MERILDIN
The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), Wed 13 Jun 1917, Page 9.

“DIN” NOT “DEN.”
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 – 1931), Sat 5 Jan 1918, Page 24.

This small, thoroughly charming, largely untouched historic town features some of the most significant and captivating 19th century buildings & ruins in South Australia.

The Mintaro Progress Association Incorporated acknowledges the Ngadjuri people as the Traditional Owners of the Country where Mintaro is situated today, and pays its respect to Elders past and present.

All rights reserved © Mintaro Progress Association Inc.

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