Australian Trivia Only

[native pepper]

The myths surrounding Maryborough station Victoria range from, it was originally designed for Maryborough Queensland, or Spencer st station. But it was built because Maryborough Victoria was destined to expand into a huge rail centre for rural Vic as it already carried a lot of traffic.

[jon_d]

There's a little known story about how Queen Victoria had an obsession over Mary's so called achievements and monuments. Almost bordering on some sort of psychotic condition.

So, when government announced it was building the Maryborough station, she got wind of it. Anything to do with Mary was looked for. But, having borough really pipped the interest. The story continues with Victoria storming around the palace talking about this train station and Maryborough..... Another monument she charged.

Finally, someone managed to break though and say it's only a small little town in outback Victoria. "A few sheep and a cocky or two", they said. And the train station will just be a siding. "Like a little station of the mainline to Edinburgh" your majesty. So Victoria sort of calmed down. But over the days, she couldn't let go. Mary was getting a station build in Victoria's namesake. It ate her up.

Well, the jester giggled at all of this. "What's so funny?" she riled. So, the jester went on to say, why not build the biggest station as white elephant. Symbolizing Mary and her borough. Something that will last for ever and cause the townsfolk and travelers to wonder why."

Well, Victoria was calmed; but only for a minute. "Yes, a white elephant. A station with a dozen chimneys for a hot land. A station with 10 platforms to serve the 10 sheep and 2 cockies.....It will be the laughing stock of Mary's legacy" and so, she summoned the architects and town planners.

Month's later, poor old Nigel, the Victoria Gov't Railway treasurer couldn't understand why his building budget was out. it got worse as each chimney was bricked. He couldn't understand why. A visit to Maryborough explained it all, but how? He never found out. And the poor old governor never received an RSVP from Queen Victoria for the opening ceremony.

The only person outside of the royal conspirators who really knew was the postmaster. It was he that swapped the plans on Victoria's instructions. And if you look carefully in the post office, there is a small cryptic plaque noting the fact.

“The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.”

[native pepper]

[Eddy]

https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=I ... ode=browse

[BernieQ2]

Just a side note....
Maryborough Vic and Maryborough Qld airports,have the same runway headings.
Bernie.

[supersparky]

Well, the version of events that I was looking for, was that it was originally designed to be located at Bordertown, which is located on the Vic / SA border. Back in the days of the colonies, it was to be a customs interchange etc. However, it was allegedly hijacked at some level of Govt and deposited at Maryborough Vic. Thats what the local legends say anyway.
So someone else have a crack, with a new question as nobody really knows the real story. It is all stuff of myth and legend.
Bernie, if you were that lost between Vic and Qld, it wouldn't matter where you landed.

[native pepper]

Haven't heard that one David, but could be right this is the government sites version.

https://cv.vic.gov.au/stories/a-diverse ... y-station/

[supersparky]

It is more than 20 years since I moved away from that area.
Almost pre-internet. Most of the locals that i worked with at the time had a somewhat similar version of my story. But like everything, the truth is probably lost to time now. Especially if some govt official had something to hide.

Anyway, someone else needs to put up another question now

[Eddy]

An Australian was working with some articles published by Alexander Bell articles circa 1877, what was his/her name and the achievement ?

[Macca]

Does it have anything to do with Bell the inventor and the overland telegraph line to Darwin?