Rosewood Railway Station. 1919 Patrick Joseph Hogan “Jim” on right. (Photo retouched by Jane Schy)

Rosewood History

Railway Station Employees

I have abbreviated Station Master/Station Mistress (SM) and Assistant Station Master (ASM).

This list has been compiled from various records. It consists of the names of railway employees and the years they were mentioned.

ROSEWOOD

The first gatekeepers at Rosewood were John Farrell, John Vance and William Mathew, who was the first ganger on the Rosewood length. Later Mrs. John Farrell was appointed gatekeeper until Mr. Kingsborough Black became gatekeeper.

July 1878 – Kingsborough Black was appointed as the first SM (changing places with the SM at Walloon)

Sept 1879 – Kingsborough Black SM was transferred to Chinchilla and succeeded by Mr John Knox.

21/2/1881-1/7/1890 – Arthur Powell (Night Porter)

April 1882 – John Knox SM Left suddenly and was replaced by Mr. H. Jeffries from Dulacca. Mr. Merritt, the telegraph manager was transferred to Walloon.

1886 – Mr. Arthur Bensley SM

1st June 1886 – J. W. Shirley appointed Porter

Feb 1888 – Mr. J. S. Cook SM Transferred from Rosewood to Woolangarra 19/1/1889.

1/6/1888 John Kerr – appointed (Night Porter). Mrs Kerr Gatekeeper at Rosewood until 17/11/1888

1889 – Mr. James Kerr Burns was SM until August 1911 when he retired to Brisbane.

1901 – May 1903 – Mr. Henry Venthem was a porter at the station.
May 1903 – Mr. H. Venthem, who has courteously discharged his duty as porter at the local railway station for some two or three years, has severed his connection with the department, and is proceeding to Brisbane to take up other work. His many friends wish him every success in his new sphere.

July 1901 – Mr. J. P. Walsh, night officer at the railway station, was transferred. Mr. Harry Boatwright, from Howard, was appointed to replace him.
Rosewood has been fortunate indeed in the officers who have been sent here, as each and every one has been noted for his unfailing courtesy and attentlion to the public.

6/01/1903 – Kingsborough Black, Senior was removed as Station Master from the Southern Division, Traffic Branch.

May 1903 – Mr. Joseph J. Walsh was relieving Mr. Nutley as night officer.

1907 – John Neill was night-officer at Rosewood for 2½ years until he was transferred to Pinkenbah in June.

June 1907 – Mr. John Samuel Hunt came from Ascot to be Night Officer. He had been SM at Whinstanes.

April 1908 – After 10 months at Rosewood, John Hunt was transferred to Comet.
A farewell smoke concert was held in Sloane’s Hotel and Mr Hunt was presented with a marble clock by the townspeople. William Ruhno made the presentation thanked him for the diligent and obliging manner in which he fulfilled his duty. His remarks were endorsed by Messrs F. S. Lound, J. F. Collett, W. Sellars and R. Elliott.

August 1911 – James Kerr Burns was promoted to Chief Inspector, Brisbane.
A farewell function was held in his honour at the Rising Sun Hotel. Mr. A. S. Ogg presented him with a beautiful silver afternoon tea set inscribed as follows :- “Presented to J. K. Burns, Esq., by the citizens of Rosewood, 22nd August, 1911.”

23/08/1911– Mr. Percy Cannon arrived to relieve as SM pending appointment of successor to James Kerr Burns.

1912 – Mr. John Richard Allen was SM until he retired in January 1927. Mr. Schmidt became relieving SM.

Sept 1912 – Mr. Schmidt ASM was transferred to Cooroy.

1914 – Lilia Beatrice Allen (Booking Clerk); Jane Elizabeth Dowrick SM; John Sellars (Porter)

October 1914 – Mr. James Mortimer Tait ASM

January 1916 – Mr. A. Wruck was relieving while James Tait was on annual leave.

July 1916 – James Mortimer Tait was promoted to SM at Cheepie.

1918 – Mr. W. Murphy was night officer.

1919 – Mr. P. J. Hogan of the clerical staff of the local railway station has been granted nine weeks’ holiday, which he is spending in Sydney. Mr. R. Buckley is relieving him. January 7.

1924 – Mr. Jeremiah Bernard Sloane (Booking Clerk)

1924 – Mr. F. Merton relieved for J. R. Allen who was on holidays at Tweed Heads.

August 1926 – Mr. W. Lourigan (from Kingaroy) was appointed ASM in place of Mr. J. Sellars who went to Darra.

Feb 1927 – Mr. Smith (relieving for J. R. Allen who retired) was replaced by Mr. W. J. Watson. Mr. M. J. Kenny was ASM (still ASM in April 1936). Mr. P. Aylwood was 1st ASM. Mr. A. Roberts from Barcaldine was 2nd ASM.

March 1927 – Mr. Charles Vincent Walker of Southport was appointed SM (still SM in June 1930).

1928 – Alfred Augustus Roberts, Mill Street. ASM

May 1929 – Mr. J. B. Sloane (Booking Clerk) went on annual leave and Mr. P. O’Shea was relieving.

June 1929 – Mr. Patrick Reddan, who had been in charge of the maintenance branch, retired after 40 years on the Rosewood length.

July 1930 – Mr. A. A. Roberts ASM was transferred.
ROSEWOOD – Valedictory- Members of the committee of the Rosewood A. and H. Association assembled at Weewandilla, the residence of Mr and Mrs E. O’Sullivan, on June 28, to bid farewell to Mr A. A. Roberts, formerly assistant station master at Rosewood, who has been transferred. During his stay in Rosewood Mr. Roberts has been an active member of the Rosewood A. and H. Association and on behalf of the society Mr. W. Wass (president) presented to him a case of pipes. [Brisbane Courier (Qld.), Thursday 3 July 1930, page 8]

1931 – Thomas Michael Fitzgerald SM (retired May 1938)

August 1936 – Mr. E. Ashwood of the staff of Rosewood Railway Station was notified of his transfer to Brisbane.

May 1938 – Mr. David Samuel Thomasson of Lowood was appointed SM at Rosewood.

June 1939 – Mr. Jeremiah Bernard Sloane promoted to Roma Street. Mr Jerry Sloane Farewelled

Sept 1940 – Mr. W. Matthews 4th class ASM at Rosewood was appointed 5th class ASM at Dinmore.

1941– Thomas Jenkins SM

1941 – David Samuel Thomasson SM

January 1942 – Mr. W. J. Cloughley SM – transferred to Cannon Hill

14 March 1942 – Mr. F. G. Gillespie of Wallangarra began duty as SM – later transferred to Townsville

18 March 1942 – Mr. W. H. Debney, Marlborough, Rockhampton district,, maintenance branch, arrived at Rosewood on transfer.

1942 – Mr W. Quaine (Mill Hill) SM

June 1943 – Bartholomew Daniel Buckley, Relief SM at Rosewood, was appointed ASM at Ipswich. He had been in the district for some years, and was well known in Ipswich.

1959 – Robert Alfred Heuston SM

1969 – Donald George Macpherson SM

ALFRED/CALVERT

1872 – Mr. J. W. Barrymore – Station house, Western Creek,

18/1/1890 – Mrs Annie Quainton appointed Gatekeeper.

1890 – Mr. S. C. Dugan – had been relieving SM for some time before his death in October 1890

1906 – Elizabeth Jane Dowrick SM

23/07/1912 – Mr. D. Bourke arrived from Grandchester

1914, 1915, 1916 – Mr. Philip John Danager SM; Mr. William Alexander Graham (Night Officer)

1922 – Mrs. Alice Lucy McMullen Gatekeeper/SM – Retired 1929

1932 – Beatrice Maud Smith, SM

1941– Sarah Mary Morrison SM

Late 1940s – Dorothy Taylor SM

1950s – Annie Yarrow SM

30th October 1914 – Rosewood – Mr. William Hagan resigned his position as assistant station master at Rosewood, Calvert, and Grandchester. The employees of all three stations assembled at the Rosewood railway station on 29th October to bid farewell to William who resigned his position as relieving night officer to enter into business. In the absence of John Allen, James Tait presented him with a dressing case and shaving outfit and remarked on his good relationship with everyone present. William Graham, night officer at Calvert, supported his remarks.

GRANDCHESTER

15/7/1865 – Mr. William Henry Norris appointed SM at Bigge’s Camp.

1/10/1874 – William Fry appointed SM

1889–June 1899 – Mr. J. Webster SM (been there over 9 years)

19/11/1889 – John Webster appointed SM

1906 – James Macarthur Mustard SM

1907 – Mr. Ernest Edward Taylor was relieving night-officer (January, February)

1912 – July 23rd Mr. D. Bourke who had been in charge of the railway gates for the past nine months, left for Calvert. His successor was Mr. W. Saurer of Toowoomba.

1914 – Mr. Frederick James Carney SM

1919 – R. J. Watkins SM

1920 – Thomas John Watson SM

1924 – J. Webster SM (relieving till July 1924)

1926 – Ernest Frederick Walker (Night Officer)

February 1927 – Mr. H. Jordan, the relieving SM had to return to his home at Sandgate, on account of illness. Mr. T. Cleary relieved during his absence.

October 1931 – Thomas John Watson SM transferred to Roma after 11 years

1931 – 1939 Mr. William Thomas Hodges SM

1937 – Saturday 27th June – Mr. George Searston, who has been stationed here for 25 years as one of the drivers of the pilot engine which works between Grandchester and Laidley, was farewelled by fellow employees prior to his departure for Mitchell on transfer. After Messrs. Gee, Buckley, Brooks, and Court had spoken in glowing terms of Mr. Searston, both as a mate and townsman, Mr. Buckley. on behalf of the railway employees of Laidley, Yarongmulu, and Grandchester presented their departing mate with a suit case and travelling rug with their very best wishes. Mr. Searston feelingly replied, thanking all sincerely for their good wishes and useful presents. Mr. Searston will leave by the western mail train on Tuesday for Mitchell. [Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Thursday 1 July 1937, page 4]

May 1939, 1941 – Mr. Walter Jensen SM

1958, 1959 – Sydney Harold Davies SM

1969 – William James Doughty Sherman SM

LANEFIELD

1914 – Mrs. Jane McCarthy SM

1928-1932 – Mary Elizabeth Andersen Gatekeeper

1941 – Bridget Ann Dixon SM

Nov 1941-Dec 1945 – Louisa Helena Carroll nee Schimke SM
STATION MISTRESS KILLED BY TRAIN Mrs. Louise Helen Carroll (51), station-mistress at Lanefield, was killed when she was struck by a train a few minutes before 7 o’clock yssterday morning. It is understood that Mrs. Carroll had stepped down from the platform to collect papers from a train standing on the opposite rails when a down train which was running a few minutes late, struck her. Mrs. Carroll received shocking Injuries. Mrs. Carroll, who resided at the station-mistress’ house at Lanefield, left many relatives in the district. Her husband died some years ago. Sergeant Linde and Constable O’Sullivan of the Rosewood Police, the Ipswich Ambulance and Dr. Patterson were quickly cn the scene. [Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Saturday 15 December 1945, page 2]

1959 – Elizabeth Florence Phillips SM

PERRY’S KNOB

1912 – Alma Elizabeth McGee SM

1919-June 1921 – Mrs Henrietta Roberts SM. Henrietta was transferred to Banyo on the Sandgate line because of the closure of Perry’s Knob Station (27th June 1921). The railway department decided to close Perry’s Nob railway station and to work the siding from Rosewood.

KUNKALA

1912 – Mary CeciliaTopp SM

Brisbane Courier (Qld.), Friday 2 March 1923, page 8
The railway cottage at Kunkala Railway Station, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. J. Topp and family, was totally destroyed by fire late last night. Mr. and Mrs. Topp attended the picture show at Rosewood, and on their way home noticed that their house was on fire. The furniture was insured for £100 in the State Government Insurance Office. Mr. and Mrs. Topp are quite destitute, everything being burnt, including £20 in money. Unfortunately, too, yesterday was pay day on the line, and Mr. Topp’s wages were in the house at the time of the fire.

TALLEGALLA

1912-1918 – Mrs Mary Pashley SM

4/09/1918 – Mr. and Mrs. Pashley, of the Tallegalla railway station have left for Nudgee, where they have been transferred. Mrs. M’Gee, from Perry’s Knob, has been appointed to Tallegalla.

MARBURG

1912-Oct 1915 – Mr. Robert Edward Mason

March 1923 – Mr. Ben Murrel SM – retired December 1925

April 1934 – Mr. F. W. Diezmann SM

THAGOONA

Queensland Government Gazette – 9th March 1889 – It is notified that the stopping place on the Southern and Western Railway, hitherto known as Raeside, will in future be called Thagoona.

24/6/1889 – Annie O’Shea appointed Gatekeeper

1/8/1891 – Winifred Shea appointed Gatekeeper

1914 – Eileen Margueritte McGuire SM

Oct 1928 – Mr. Daniel Maurice McGuire SM – transferred to Ipswich May 1938.

1940’s – Mrs. Nora Wilson SM

17/10/1951 – Walter Angus Wilson (62) married, a railway fettler living in a railway cottage at Thagoona, via Rosewood, died suddenly about 11.40p.m. at his residence.

WALLOON

15/7/1865 – Mr. John Standrin appointed SM at Walloon.

1872-31/7/1882 – Charles Glynn SM

1/8/1882 – J. J. Holdsworth appointed SM; Mr. Merritt was Telegraph Manager

27/10/1885 – Mrs Evans appointed Gatekeeper

25/11/1885 – Thomas Dobson appointed Porter

14/1/1888 – William George Cathcart appointed Operating Porter

18/10/1889 – T. Coghill appointed (Lad Porter) (aged 17)

6/12/1889 – Mrs Brodwick appointed Gatekeeper

1915 – Jane Dale was Gatekeeper

Jan 1921 – Mr. Roggenkamp SM was appointed relieving SM at Warwick & Mr. J. Kelly transferred from Saltern to Walloon.

1926 – Martha Henriette Minnie Fechner Gatekeeper
1929-1934 Martha Henriette Minnie Bell Gatekeeper

1936 – Mr. J. H. Kelly SM

August 1952 – Mrs. I. Owens (Tarzali) transferred from Mulgowie to 2nd class SM at Walloon.

1959 – Thomas Francis Ryan SM

1959 – Jessie Rex Gatekeeper

ENGINE DRIVER

Francis Christian D’arcy 1909, 1912
William Cook 1909, 1921
Charles Jasper Mason 1909, 1912
William James Wyatte 1909, 1914
Ludwig Muller – Matthew Street 1911
Joseph Edgar Proctor 1912, 1915
Hubert Delacour 1912, 1917
John Miller Kermode – Walloon 1914
William Joseph Lynch – Matthew Street 1914, 1915
Christopher Thomas Howe – Grandchester 1916, 1934
Thomas Nelson 1921
Benjamin Hohnke 1917, 1922
Charles Edward Macdonald 1929
Arthur Joseph Ward – Mill Street 1931, 1932
George William Baldwin – Matthew Street 1939
Percy George Peachey – Mt. Walker 1939

ENGINE CLEANER

George Searston – Grandchester 1912, 1934

RAILWAY EMPLOYEE

Harry Collier – Gate House, Rosewood 1911
James Cannon 1912
William Hagan 1914, 1915
Thomas Patrick Walsh 1914
James Cronk 1915
Mortimer James Tait 1915
Patrick Rafter – Grandchester 1916
George Henry Hagan – Walloon 1917
Martin Kehoe 1917
Cecil Ceorge Shine – Albert Street 1921
John Kenny – Albert Street 1922, 1934
John Vivian Titmarsh – Grandchester 1922
Thomas Rafter 1921, 1939
Daniel James Noonan – Railway Street 1922, 1926
James Daniel Reddan – Mill Street 9122
Bertie Francis Imber 1928
Frederick Keune – Calvert 1928, 1934
Jack Videroni 1929
William Wishart Matthews – Albert Street 1931
Raymond William Henry Engle – Hidden Vale Rd, Grandchester 1931
Ernest John Brewer 1932
John Kenny – Albert Street 1932, 1939
Arthur Alexander Boughen – John Street 1934, 1939
Kenneth Ashton Boyd – Albert Street 1958