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Coordinates: 37°48′06″S 144°54′09″E / 37.8016°S 144.9024°E / -37.8016; 144.9024
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{{User sandbox}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2015}}
<!-- Please DO NOT replace the following infobox with the Military Conflict infobox without first discussing it on this article's talk page. Which infobox to use has been extensively discussed on the talk page, and re-adding the Military Conflict infobox without first obtaining a consensus through a discussion there may be considered vandalism. -->{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox station
| conflict = Emu War
| name = Footscray
| partof = [[Great Depression]]
| type = [[Regional rail|Regional]] and [[Commuter rail|commuter]] rail station
| date = November 2, 1932 - December 10, 1932
| style = Melbourne
| place = Campion district, [[Western Australia]]
| image = Footscray station signal box and footbridge.jpg
| result = Unsuccessful emu cull; emu victory
| image_caption = Looking south from platform 6 in April 2010, with disused signal box on platform 5 in the foreground
}}{{Infobox historical event
| address = Irving Street, [[Footscray, Victoria|Footscray]]
|Event_Name = Emu War
| country = Australia
|Image_Name = Emu-wild.jpg
| coordinates = {{coord|-37.8016|144.9024|format=dms|type:railwaystation_region:AU-VIC|display=inline,title}}
|Imagesize = 240px
| distance = 5.62 kilometres from [[Southern Cross railway station|Southern Cross]]
|Image_Alt =
| line = [[Sunbury railway line|Sunbury]]<br />[[Werribee railway line|Werribee]]<br />[[Williamstown railway line|Williamstown]]<br />[[Serviceton railway line|Serviceton]]<br />[[Port Fairy railway line|Port Fairy]]
|Image_Caption = An [[emu]] (''Dromaius novaehollandiae'')
| other = Bus<br/>Tram
|Thumb_Time =
| structure = Ground
|AKA = Great Emu War
| platform = 6 (2 side, 2 island)
|Participants = Emus<br />Sir [[George Pearce]]<br />Major G.P.W. Meredith<br />[[Royal Australian Artillery]]
| depth =
|Location = Campion district, [[Western Australia]]
| levels =
|Date = 2 November – 10 December 1932
| tracks = 6
|Result = See [[#Aftermath|Aftermath]]
| parking =
|URL =
| bicycle =
| opened = 17 January 1859
| closed =
| rebuilt = 2012-2014
| electrified = Yes
| disabled = Yes
| code = FSY
| owned = [[VicTrack]]
| operator = [[Metro Trains Melbourne|Metro Trains]]
| zone = 1
| status = [[Premium station]]
| former =
| passengers =
| pass_year =
| pass_percent =
| pass_system =
| mpassengers = {{Rail pass box|passengers = 3.705 million<ref name="patronage2008-2014">{{cite web|title=Train Station Patronage FY2008-2014|url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV/PTV%20docs/research/PTV-Station-by-Station-Fact-Sheet-accessible-version-2015.xls|publisher=Public Transport Victoria|accessdate=1 November 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330211628/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV/PTV%20docs/research/PTV-Station-by-Station-Fact-Sheet-accessible-version-2015.xls|archivedate=30 March 2016|deadurl=yes|format=XLS|date=14 May 2015|df=dmy-all}} (access from [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/ptv-data-and-reports/research-and-statistics/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103220141/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/ptv-data-and-reports/research-and-statistics/ |date=3 November 2016 }})</ref>|pass_year = 2008-2009}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 3.648 million<ref name="patronage2008-2014" />|pass_year = 2009-2010|pass_percent = -1.54}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 3.856 million<ref name="patronage2008-2014" />|pass_year = 2010-2011|pass_percent = 5.7}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 4.199 million<ref name="patronage2008-2014" />|pass_year = 2011-2012|pass_percent = 8.9}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = Not measured<ref name="patronage2008-2014" /> |pass_year = 2012-2013}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 3.767 million<ref name="patronage2008-2014" />|pass_year = 2013-2014|pass_percent = -10.29}}
| services =
{{s-rail|title=V/Line}}
{{s-line|system=Victoria|line=Bendigo|previous=Southern Cross|next=Watergardens|rows1=3}}
{{s-line|system=Victoria|line=Ballarat|previous=Southern Cross|next=Sunshine|hide1=yes}}
{{s-line|system=Victoria|line=Geelong|previous=Southern Cross|next=Sunshine|hide1=yes}}
{{s-rail-next|title=Metro Trains}}
{{s-line|system=Victoria|line=Sunbury|previous=North Melbourne|next=Middle Footscray}}
{{s-line|system=Victoria|line=Werribee|previous=South Kensington|next=Seddon|rows1=2}}
{{s-line|system=Victoria|line=Williamstown|previous=South Kensington|next=Seddon|hide1=yes}}
| website = [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/stop/1072 Public Transport Victoria]
}}
}}


'''Footscray''' is a [[Railways in Melbourne|Melbourne Metro]] and [[V/Line|Intercity]] station in [[Footscray, Victoria|Footscray]], [[Melbourne]]. It was opened at the present site in 1900, replacing two separate older stations from 1859.<ref>[http://www.vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Footscray Footscray] Vicsig</ref><ref>[http://www.railgeelong.com/location/footscray Footscray Station] Rail Geelong</ref> In 2011/12, it was the sixth busiest Metro station, with 4.2 million passenger movements recorded.<ref>[http://ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/ptv-data-and-reports/research-and-statistics/ Station Patronage Research] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523190157/http://ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/ptv-data-and-reports/research-and-statistics |date=23 May 2016 }} Public Transport Victoria</ref> It is served by Melbourne Metro lines 1, 5, and 7, as well as South Western Railway, Bendigo Line, Shepparton Line, Airport Line, Western Railway, North Eastern Railway services, and is in fare zone 1.
The '''Emu War''', also known as the '''Great Emu War''',<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shuttlesworth|first=Dorothy Edwards|authorlink=|title=The Wildlife of Australia and New Zealand|publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]]|year=1967|page=69|isbn=}}</ref> was a [[nuisance wildlife management]] [[military operation]] undertaken in [[Australia]] over the latter part of 1932 to address public concern over the number of [[emu]]s said to be running amok in the Campion district of [[Western Australia]]. The unsuccessful attempts to curb the population of emus, a large [[flightless bird]] indigenous to Australia, employed soldiers armed with [[Lewis gun]]s—leading the media to adopt the name "Emu War" when referring to the incident.


The station consists of a ground level section for [[5 ft 3 in gauge railways|broad gauge]] platforms 1 to 6, and the underground platforms 7 and 8. The line through the underground platforms is [[dual gauge]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/43b-link-wont-cut-travel-times-20100614-ya7g.html|title=$4.3b link won't cut travel times|last=Lucas|first=Clay|date=2010-06-15|newspaper=The Age|accessdate=2013-02-19}}</ref> providing a rail link to the [[Port of Melbourne]] and other freight terminals for goods services, and access to [[Southern Cross railway station|Spencer Street]] for the [[Standard-gauge railway|standard gauge]] [[Western standard gauge railway line|Western Line]] and [[North East railway line|North Eastern Line]].
==Background==
Following [[World War I]], large numbers of ex-soldiers from Australia, along with a number of British veterans, took up farming within Western Australia, often in marginal areas. With the onset of the [[Great Depression in Australia|Great Depression]] in 1929, these farmers were encouraged to increase their [[wheat]] crops, with the government promising—and failing to deliver—assistance in the form of [[subsidies]]. In spite of the recommendations and the promised subsidies, wheat prices continued to fall, and by October 1932 matters were becoming intense, with the farmers preparing to harvest the season's crop while simultaneously threatening to refuse to load the wheat.<ref name="Johnson2008">{{Cite journal| last = Johnson | first = Murray | year = 2006 | title = 'Feathered foes': soldier settlers and Western Australia's 'Emu War' of 1932 | journal = [[Journal of Australian Studies]] | issue = 88 | ISSN = 1444-3058 | pages = 147–157 }}</ref>


A number of sidings once existed at the station, but have now been covered by car parking on the eastern side of the Line 7 tracks.
The difficulties facing farmers were increased by the arrival of as many as 20,000 emus.<ref name="Gill">{{Cite book| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=zM0tG5ApO0UC&pg=PR26 | page = xxvi | title = Ornithology | first = Frank B. | last = Gill | edition = 3rd | publisher = Macmillan | year = 2007 | ISBN = 978-0-7167-4983-7 }}</ref> Emus regularly migrate after their breeding season, heading to the coast from the inland regions. With the cleared land and additional water supplies being made available for livestock by the West Australian farmers, the emus found that the cultivated lands were good habitat, and they began to foray into farm territory—in particular the marginal farming land around [[Chandler, Western Australia|Chandler]] and [[Walgoolan, Western Australia|Walgoolan]].<ref name="Johnson2008" /> The emus consumed and spoiled the crops, as well as leaving large gaps in fences where [[rabbits in Australia|rabbits could enter and cause further problems]].<ref name="defended">{{Cite news| url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4509731 | title = "Emu War" defended | work = [[The Argus (Australia)|The Argus]] | date = 19 November 1932 | page = 22 }}</ref>


==History==
Farmers relayed their concerns about the birds ravaging their crops, and a deputation of ex-soldiers were sent to meet with the [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|Minister of Defence]], Sir [[George Pearce]]. Having served in World War I, the soldier-settlers were well aware of the effectiveness of machine guns, and they requested their deployment. The minister readily agreed, although with conditions attached: the guns were to be used by military personnel, and troop transport was to be financed by the Western Australian government, and the farmers would provide food, accommodation, and payment for the ammunition.<ref name="Johnson2008" /><ref name="rain">{{Cite news| url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4504009 | title = Rain Scatters Emus | work = The Argus | date = 18 October 1932 | page = 7 }}</ref> Pearce also supported the deployment on the grounds that the birds would make good target practice,<ref name = Boom>{{Cite book| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=W_9jMwwC4foC&pg=PT267 | page = 256 | title = Boom and Bust: Bird Stories For a Dry Country | first = Libby | last = Robin | first2 = Leo | last2 = Joseph | first3 = Rob | last3 = Heinshohn | publisher = CSIRO Publishing | year = 2009 | ISBN = 978-0-643-09606-6 }}</ref> although it has also been argued that some in the government may have viewed this as a way of being seen to be helping the Western Australian farmers, and towards that end a [[Movietone News|Fox Movietone]] [[cinematographer]] was enlisted.<ref name="Johnson2008" />
On 17 January 1859, the railways arrived in Footscray, when the new [[Williamstown railway line|Williamstown line]] opened, with trains running from [[Southern Cross railway station|Spencer Street]] in Melbourne to the important cargo port of [[Williamstown, Victoria|Williamstown]]. This railway line connected to the 18-month-old [[Port Fairy railway line|Geelong railway]] at the junction near where the current [[Newport railway station, Melbourne|Newport station]] lies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://railgeelong.com/lineguide.php?line=geelong|title=Rail Geelong - Geelong Line History|publisher=railgeelong.com|accessdate=2009-09-08}}</ref> The line between Melbourne and Footscray, via the new station at [[North Melbourne railway station|North Melbourne]], had been made possible with the construction of a railway bridge over the [[Maribyrnong River]]. The first station to open in Footscray opened on this line on the opening day of service; it was not, however, where the current Footscray station lies, but on Napier Street.


Shortly afterwards, Footscray became a junction station, when a second railway line, branching at Footscray, was opened to [[Sunbury railway station, Melbourne|Sunbury]]. Therefore, on 1 March 1859, less than two months after the first, Footscray's second railway station opened on Nicholson Street, not far from the original Napier Street location, for services on the new railway line.<ref name="Vicsig">[http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&name=Footscray Infrastructure - Footscray] Vicsig</ref> By 1862, [[Bendigo railway line|this railway line]] had been extended to Sandhurst (later renamed [[Bendigo railway station|Bendigo]]). A signal box was provided at the junction from 1879, located on at the [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]] end of platforms 4 and 5. Quadruplication of the tracks towards Melbourne in November 1976 put an end to the junction and closed the signal box. The building is listed on the [[Victorian Heritage Register]].
== The "War" ==
[[File:Sir George Pearce.jpg|left|thumb|Sir George Pearce, who ordered that the army cull the emu population. He was later referred to in Parliament as the "Minister of the Emu War" by Senator [[James Dunn (Australian politician)|James Dunn]].<ref>{{Cite news| date = 19 November 1932 | title = Over the Speakers Chair | work = [[The Canberra Times]] | location = [[Canberra]], [[Australian Capital Territory]] | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2318780 | accessdate = 10 January 2010 }}</ref>]]


On 16 September 1900, the current station opened, located at the precise point of junction of the two lines.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73250527| title=The New Footscray Railway Station| newspaper=The Independent| date=9 December 1899| page=3}}</ref> The two original stations were then closed.<ref name=Vicsig/>
Military involvement was due to begin in October 1932.<ref name="rain" /> The "war" was conducted under the command of Major G.P.W. Meredith of the Seventh Heavy Battery of the [[Royal Australian Artillery]],<ref name="Johnson2008"/><ref name = Boom/> with Meredith commanding a pair of soldiers armed with two [[Lewis gun]]s<ref>{{Cite book| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=kr7ddMAUnqUC&pg=PA123 | pages = 123–124 | title = The Default Country: A Lexical Cartography of Twentieth-century Australia | first = Jay Mary | last = Arthur | publisher = UNSW Press | year = 2003 | ISBN = 978-0-86840-542-1 }}</ref> and 10,000 rounds of ammunition.<ref name = Boom/> The operation was delayed, however, by a period of rainfall that caused the emus to scatter over a wider area.<ref name="rain" /> The rain ceased by 2 November 1932,<ref name="Johnson2008" /><ref name="rain" /> at which point the troops were deployed with orders to assist the farmers and, according to a newspaper account, to collect 100 emu skins so that their feathers could be used to make hats for [[Australian Light Horse|light horsemen]].<ref name="machine">{{Cite news| url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2315329 | work = The Argus | date = 3 November 1932 | title = Machine Guns Sent Against Emu Pests | page = 2 }}</ref>


The tracks under the station were opened on 21 October 1928, as part of the South Kensington-West Footscray line, and were dual-gauged in the early 1960s, as part of the construction of the [[Sydney-Melbourne rail corridor|Melbourne-Albury standard gauge line]]. Platforms were provided in the 2020s as part of the standardisation of the [[Western standard gauge railway line|Western Line]] from Spencer Street to Ararat.
=== First attempt ===
On 2 November the men traveled to Campion, where some 50 emus were sighted.<ref name="Johnson2008" /> As the birds were out of range of the guns, the local settlers attempted to herd the emus into an ambush, but the birds split into small groups and ran so that they were difficult to target.<ref name="Boom" /> Nevertheless, while the first fusillade from the machine guns was ineffective due to the range, a second round of gunfire was able to kill "a number" of birds. Later the same day a small flock was encountered, and "perhaps a dozen" birds were killed.<ref name="Johnson2008" />


Footscray was upgraded to a [[Premium station]] in 1996, though the enclosed waiting area and ticket facilities had already been built in 1993, as part of the 'Travel Safe' program of the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=October 1997|title=Upgrading Eltham to a Premium Station|magazine=Newsrail|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society|page=310}}</ref>
The next significant event was on 4 November. Meredith had established an [[ambush]] near a local dam, and more than 1,000 emus were spotted heading towards their position. This time the gunners waited until the birds were in close proximity before opening fire. The gun jammed after only twelve birds were killed, however, and the remainder scattered before more could be killed. No more birds were sighted that day.<ref name="Johnson2008" />


On 5 June 2001, at around 08:30, two suburban [[Comeng (train)|Comeng]] trains collided on Platform 4. An out of service train heading to Newport collided with a Williamstown bound train, carrying around 20 passengers, with 3 injuries reported.<ref name="newsrailjul2001">{{cite magazine|date=July 2001|title=Operations|magazine=Newsrail|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society|page=218}}</ref>
In the days that followed Meredith chose to move further south where the birds were "reported to be fairly tame",<ref name="WA1992-11-04">''West Australian'', 4 March 1932, quoted in Johnson (2006), p152</ref> but there was only limited success in spite of his efforts.<ref name="Johnson2008" /> At one stage Meredith even went so far as to mount one of the guns on a truck: a move that proved to be ineffective, as the truck was unable to gain on the birds, and the ride was so rough that the gunner was unable to fire any shots.<ref name="Johnson2008" /> By 8 November, six days after the first engagement, 2,500 rounds of ammunition had been fired.<ref name="Boom" /> The number of birds killed is uncertain: one account claims just 50 birds,<ref name="Boom" /> but other accounts range from 200 to 500—the latter figure being provided by the settlers. Meredith's official report noted that his men had suffered no casualties.<ref name="Johnson2008" />


In 2010, as a part of the [[John Brumby|Brumby]] [[Government of Victoria|State Government]]'s Footscray renewal program,<ref>{{cite web|title=Transport Projects eNews|url=http://enews.transport.vic.gov.au/link/id/zzzz4ed56ac459884508/page.html?ib=1|publisher=Department of Transport, Victoria|accessdate=2013-01-19}}</ref> the existing footbridge over the platforms, which was accessed by ramps, was replaced with a $15 million footbridge. The bridge, named after indigenous activist William Cooper,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/the-great-disconnect-20101101-17afe.html|location=Melbourne|work=The Age|first=Clay|last=Lucas|title=The great disconnect|date=2 November 2010}}</ref> has stairs and associated lifts. Complaints were made that the new footbridge was less usable than the one it replaced. It has a roof, but has not been designed to be weatherproof, and the lifts are prone to breakdown.<ref>{{cite web|title=Colander Bridge|url=http://www.ffrr.footscray.org/documents/colander-bridge|publisher=Fair-go for Footscray Rail Residents|accessdate=2013-02-19}}</ref>
Summarizing the culls, ornithologist [[Dominic Serventy]] commented:


=== Regional Rail Link upgrades ===
{{quote|The machine-gunners' dreams of point blank fire into serried masses of Emus were soon dissipated. The Emu command had evidently ordered guerrilla tactics, and its unwieldy army soon split up into innumerable small units that made use of the military equipment uneconomic. A crestfallen field force therefore withdrew from the combat area after about a month.<ref name="Britannica">{{Cite web|title=casuariiform|year=2009|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/98874/casuariiform|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica|accessdate=16 August 2009}}</ref>}}
Between 2012 and 2014, Footscray underwent major upgrade and conservation works as part of the [[Regional Rail Link]] project.
On 8 November, representatives in the [[Australian House of Representatives]] discussed the operation.<ref name="Boom" /> Following the negative coverage of the events in the local media,<ref name="elusive" >{{Cite news| url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2315839 | title = Elusive Emus | work = The Argus | date = 5 November 1932 | page = 4 }}</ref> that included claims that "only a few" emus had died,<ref name="defended" /> Pearce withdrew the military personnel and the guns on 8 November.<ref name=defended/><ref name="Boom" /><ref name=withdrawn>{{Cite news| url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4507996 | title = War on Emus | work = The Argus | date = 10 November 1932 | page = 8 }}</ref><ref name=war>{{Cite news| url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2317086 | title = Emu War Again | work = The Canberra Times| date = 12 November 1932 | page = 1 }}</ref>


An additional two platforms were built to the north of the existing platforms, to separate Sunbury Metro services from [[V/Line|Intercity]] services. On 20 January 2014, Platforms 1 to 4 were renumbered 3 to 6, with the new platforms commissioned as Platforms 1 and 2.<ref>[http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/yourjourney/Footscray_Major_Access_Changes.pdf Major access changes] V/Line January 2014{{Deadlink|date=January 2019}}</ref> At the same time, Platforms 3 and 4 were closed to be rebuilt as dedicated platforms for V/Line services, reopening on 16 July 2014.
After the withdrawal, Major Meredith compared the emus to [[Zulus]] and commented on the striking maneuverability of the emus, even while badly wounded.
{{quote|If we had a military division with the bullet-carrying capacity of these birds it would face any army in the world... They can face machine guns with the invulnerability of tanks. They are like Zulus whom even [[Expanding bullet|dum-dum bullets]] could not stop.<ref name="Sunday Herald">{{Cite news| url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18516559 | title = New Strategy In A War On The Emu | work = [[The Sun-Herald|The Sunday Herald]]| date = 5 July 1953 | page = 13 }}</ref>}}


The existing footbridge, erected in 2010 at a cost of $15 million, was also partially demolished in 2013 to help accommodate the works. <ref>{{cite news|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201205730/http://www.maribyrnongweekly.com.au/story/1281208/footscray-commuters-face-long-wait-for-station-works-completion/?cs=1468|title=Footscray commuters face long wait for station works completion|last=Millar|first=Benjamin|date=6 February 2013|newspaper=Maribyrnong Weekly|accessdate=6 January 2019}}</ref> New canopies, stairs and escalators were erected at the Irving and Hyde St ends of the footbridge, and new wide ramps were built from the footbridge to the platforms and street level, to help people access the platforms with greater ease. New lifts were also added to the structure.
=== Second attempt ===


All works at the station were completed in November 2014. <ref> https://twitter.com/rrlproject/status/532680247510986752?s=21 </ref>
After the withdrawal of the military, the emu attacks on crops continued. Farmers again asked for support, citing the hot weather and drought that brought emus invading farms in the thousands. [[James Mitchell (Australian politician)|James Mitchell]], the [[Premier of Western Australia]] lent his strong support to renewal of the military assistance. Additionally, a report from the Base Commander indicated that 300 emus had been killed in the initial operation.<ref name="war" />


==Platforms & services==
Acting on the requests and the Base Commander's report, by 12 November the Minister of Defence approved a resumption of military efforts.<ref name="war" /> He defended the decision in the senate, explaining why the soldiers were necessary to combat the serious agricultural threat of the large emu population.<ref name="defended" /> Although the military had agreed to loan the guns to the Western Australian government on the expectation that they would provide the necessary people, Meredith was once again placed in the field due to an apparent lack of experienced machine gunners in the state.<ref name="Johnson2008" />


Footscray has eight platforms. It is serviced by [[Metro Trains Melbourne|Melbourne Metro]] lines 1, 5, and 7,<ref>{{cite PTV route|Sunbury|mode=train}}</ref><ref>{{cite PTV route|Werribee|mode=train}}</ref><ref>{{cite PTV route|Williamstown|mode=train}}</ref> and numerous [[V/Line|Intercity]] services.<ref>[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1728 Ballarat - Melbourne timetable] Public Transport Victoria</ref><ref>[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1740 Bendigo - Melbourne timetable] Public Transport Victoria</ref><ref>[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1745 Geelong - Melbourne timetable] Public Transport Victoria</ref>
Taking to the field on 13 November 1932, the military found a degree of success over the first two days, with approximately 40 emus killed. The third day, 15 November, proved to be far less successful, but by 2 December the guns were accounting for approximately 100 emus per week. Meredith was recalled on 10 December, and in his report he claimed 986 kills with 9,860 rounds, at a rate of exactly 10 rounds per confirmed kill. In addition, Meredith claimed 2,500 wounded birds had died as a result of the injuries that they had sustained.<ref name="Johnson2008" />


'''Platform 1:'''
== Aftermath ==
*'''Line 1''': services to [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]]
Despite the problems encountered with the cull, the farmers of the region once again requested military assistance in 1934, 1943 and 1948, only to be turned down by the government.<ref name="Johnson2008" /> Instead, the bounty system that had been instigated in 1923 was continued, and this proved to be effective: 57,034 bounties were claimed over a six-month period in 1934.<ref name="Boom" />


'''Platform 2:'''
By December 1932, word of the Emu War had spread, reaching the [[United Kingdom]]. Some conservationists there protested the cull as "extermination of the rare emu".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jenkins|first=C.F.H.|authorlink=|title=The Wanderings of an Entomologist|publisher=[[Cornell University Press]]|year=1988|page=8|isbn=0-7316-2888-8}}</ref> [[Dominic Serventy]], an eminent Australian ornithologist, described the cull as "an attempt at the mass destruction of the birds".<ref name=Serventy>{{Cite book|last=Serventy|first=Dominic Louis|authorlink=Dominic Serventy|author2=Herbert Massey Whittell|title=[[Birds of Western Australia|A Handbook of the Birds of Western Australia (with the exception of the Kimberley Division)]]|publisher=Patersons Press; Original: [[University of Wisconsin Press]]|year=1948|location=|page=63|url=|doi=|id=|isbn=}}</ref>
*'''[[Sunbury railway line|Sunbury line]]''': all stations and limited stops services to [[Watergardens railway station, Melbourne|Watergardens]] and [[Sunbury railway station, Melbourne|Sunbury]]


'''Platform 3:'''
== References ==
*'''[[Ballarat V/Line rail service|<span style="color:#004990;">Ballarat line</span>]]''': [[V/Line]] services to [[Southern Cross railway station|Southern Cross]]
{{Reflist|colwidth=25em}}
*'''[[Ararat V/Line rail service|<span style="color:#004990;">Ararat line</span>]]''': [[V/Line]] services to Southern Cross
*'''[[Bendigo railway line|<span style="color:#FCB514;">Bendigo line</span>]]''': V/Line services to Southern Cross
*'''[[Deniliquin railway line|<span style="color:#FCB514;">Echuca line</span>]]''': V/Line services to Southern Cross
*'''[[Deniliquin railway line|<span style="color:#FCB514;">Swan Hill line</span>]]''': V/Line services to Southern Cross
*'''[[Geelong V/Line rail service|<span style="color:#8D80B8;">Geelong line</span>]]''': V/Line services Southern Cross
*'''[[Warrnambool V/Line rail service|<span style="color:#8D80B8;">Warrnambool line</span>]]''': V/Line services Southern Cross

'''Platform 4:'''
*'''[[Ballarat V/Line rail service|<span style="color:#004990;">Ballarat line</span>]]''': [[V/Line]] services to [[Ballarat railway station|Ballarat]]
*'''[[Ararat V/Line rail service|<span style="color:#004990;">Ararat line</span>]]''': V/Line services to [[Ararat railway station|Ararat]]
*'''[[Bendigo railway line|<span style="color:#FCB514;">Bendigo line</span>]]''': V/Line services to [[Bendigo railway station|Bendigo]]
*'''[[Deniliquin railway line|<span style="color:#FCB514;">Echuca line</span>]]''': V/Line services to [[Echuca railway station|Echuca]]
*'''[[Deniliquin railway line|<span style="color:#FCB514;">Swan Hill line</span>]]''': V/Line services to [[Swan Hill railway station|Swan Hill]]
*'''[[Geelong V/Line rail service|<span style="color:#8D80B8;">Geelong line</span>]]''': V/Line services to [[Wyndham Vale railway station|Wyndham Vale]], [[Geelong railway station|Geelong]] & [[Waurn Ponds railway station|Waurn Ponds]]
*'''[[Warrnambool V/Line rail service|<span style="color:#8D80B8;">Warrnambool line</span>]]''': V/Line services to [[Warrnambool railway station|Warrnambool]]

'''Platform 5:'''
*'''[[Werribee railway line|Werribee line]]''': all stations and limited stops services to [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]]
*'''[[Williamstown railway line|Williamstown line]]''': weekday all stations and limited stops services to Flinders Street

'''Platform 6:'''
*'''[[Werribee railway line|Werribee line]]''': all stations and limited stops services to [[Werribee railway station|Werribee]]
*'''[[Williamstown railway line|Williamstown line]]''': weekday all stations and limited stops services to [[Williamstown railway station, Melbourne|Williamstown]]

==Transport links==
[[CDC Melbourne]] operates six routes via Footscray station:
*406: to [[Keilor East, Victoria|Keilor East]]<ref>{{cite PTV route|406}}</ref>
*409: [[Yarraville, Victoria|Yarraville]] – [[Highpoint Shopping Centre]]<ref>{{cite PTV route|409}}</ref>
*410: to [[Sunshine railway station, Melbourne|Sunshine station]]<ref>{{cite PTV route|410}}</ref>
*411: to [[Laverton railway station, Melbourne|Laverton station]]<ref>{{cite PTV route|411}}</ref>
*412: to Laverton station<ref>{{cite PTV route|412}}</ref>
*414: to Laverton station<ref>{{cite PTV route|414}}</ref>

[[Sita Buslines]] operates four routes via Footscray station:
*402: to [[East Melbourne]]<ref>{{cite PTV route|402}}</ref>
*403: to [[University of Melbourne]] [[Parkville Campus (University of Melbourne)|Parkville Campus]]<ref>{{cite PTV route|403}}</ref>
*404: to [[Moonee Ponds Junction]]<ref>{{cite PTV route|404}}</ref>
*472: [[Williamstown, Victoria|Williamstown]] – Moonee Ponds Junction<ref>{{cite PTV route|472}}</ref>

[[Transdev Melbourne]] operates four routes via Footscray station:
*216: [[Caroline Springs]] – [[Brighton Beach railway station|Brighton Beach station]]<ref>{{cite PTV route|216}}</ref>
*219: [[Sunshine, Victoria|Sunshine South]] – [[Gardenvale, Victoria|Gardenvale]]<ref>{{cite PTV route|219}}</ref>
*220: Sunshine station – Gardenvale<ref>{{cite PTV route|220}}</ref>
*223: Yarraville – Highpoint Shopping Centre<ref>{{cite PTV route|223}}</ref>

[[Yarra Trams]] operates one route to and from Footscray station:
*[[Melbourne tram route 82|82]]: to Moonee Ponds Junction<ref>{{cite PTV route|82|mode=tram}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Footscray station footbridge.jpg|Footbridge that links all platforms taken from Irving Street in December 2011
File:Footscray Railway Station front..jpg|The same view from Irving Street in May 2014
File:Footscray Railway Station platforms 1 & 2.jpg|Westbound view from Platform 2 in May 2014
File:Bunbury Street Tunnel (Footscray station end).jpg|The [[South Kensington - West Footscray railway line]] cutting runs beneath the south-western end of Platforms 5 and 6 in September 2008
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|Footscray railway station, Melbourne|Footscray railway station}}
* [http://www.emugigs.com/emuwar/ How we lost the "Emu War"]
*[http://www.street-directory.com.au/sd3/map.php?x=144.90240349633245&y=-37.801639166965955&l=13&mt=4 Melway map] at street-directory.com.au
* [http://www.naturebase.net/pdf/plants_animals/living_with_wildlife/0805_emu.pdf Plants & Animals: Emu]

* {{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4508317|title=Attack on Emus|work=The Argus|date=12 November 1932}}
{{Public Transport Victoria railway stations|Sunbury=y|Werribee=y|Williamstown=y|Northern=y|South Western=y|Western=y|state=collapsed}}


[[:Category:1932 in Australia]]
[[Category:Listed railway stations in Australia]]
[[:Category:Agriculture in Western Australia]]
[[Category:Premium Melbourne railway stations]]
[[:Category:Dromaius]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Melbourne]]
[[:Category:History of agriculture in Australia]]
[[Category:Railway stations opened in 1859]]
[[:Category:History of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Victorian Heritage Register]]
[[:Category:Non-combat military operations involving Australia]]

Revision as of 09:04, 2 April 2019

Footscray
Regional and commuter rail station
Looking south from platform 6 in April 2010, with disused signal box on platform 5 in the foreground
General information
LocationIrving Street, Footscray
Australia
Coordinates37°48′06″S 144°54′09″E / 37.8016°S 144.9024°E / -37.8016; 144.9024
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byMetro Trains
Line(s)Sunbury
Werribee
Williamstown
Serviceton
Port Fairy
Distance5.62 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms6 (2 side, 2 island)
Tracks6
ConnectionsBus
Tram
Construction
Structure typeGround
AccessibleYes
Other information
StatusPremium station
Station codeFSY
Fare zone1
WebsitePublic Transport Victoria
History
Opened17 January 1859
Rebuilt2012-2014
ElectrifiedYes
Passengers
2008-20093.705 million[1]
2009-20103.648 million[1] Decrease 1.54%
2010-20113.856 million[1] Increase 5.7%
2011-20124.199 million[1] Increase 8.9%
2012-2013Not measured[1]
2013-20143.767 million[1] Decrease 10.29%
Services
Preceding station   V/Line   Following station
Template:Victoria lines
Template:Victoria lines
Template:Victoria lines
Metro Trains
Template:Victoria lines
Template:Victoria lines
Template:Victoria lines

Footscray is a Melbourne Metro and Intercity station in Footscray, Melbourne. It was opened at the present site in 1900, replacing two separate older stations from 1859.[2][3] In 2011/12, it was the sixth busiest Metro station, with 4.2 million passenger movements recorded.[4] It is served by Melbourne Metro lines 1, 5, and 7, as well as South Western Railway, Bendigo Line, Shepparton Line, Airport Line, Western Railway, North Eastern Railway services, and is in fare zone 1.

The station consists of a ground level section for broad gauge platforms 1 to 6, and the underground platforms 7 and 8. The line through the underground platforms is dual gauge,[5] providing a rail link to the Port of Melbourne and other freight terminals for goods services, and access to Spencer Street for the standard gauge Western Line and North Eastern Line.

A number of sidings once existed at the station, but have now been covered by car parking on the eastern side of the Line 7 tracks.

History

On 17 January 1859, the railways arrived in Footscray, when the new Williamstown line opened, with trains running from Spencer Street in Melbourne to the important cargo port of Williamstown. This railway line connected to the 18-month-old Geelong railway at the junction near where the current Newport station lies.[6] The line between Melbourne and Footscray, via the new station at North Melbourne, had been made possible with the construction of a railway bridge over the Maribyrnong River. The first station to open in Footscray opened on this line on the opening day of service; it was not, however, where the current Footscray station lies, but on Napier Street.

Shortly afterwards, Footscray became a junction station, when a second railway line, branching at Footscray, was opened to Sunbury. Therefore, on 1 March 1859, less than two months after the first, Footscray's second railway station opened on Nicholson Street, not far from the original Napier Street location, for services on the new railway line.[7] By 1862, this railway line had been extended to Sandhurst (later renamed Bendigo). A signal box was provided at the junction from 1879, located on at the Flinders Street end of platforms 4 and 5. Quadruplication of the tracks towards Melbourne in November 1976 put an end to the junction and closed the signal box. The building is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

On 16 September 1900, the current station opened, located at the precise point of junction of the two lines.[8] The two original stations were then closed.[7]

The tracks under the station were opened on 21 October 1928, as part of the South Kensington-West Footscray line, and were dual-gauged in the early 1960s, as part of the construction of the Melbourne-Albury standard gauge line. Platforms were provided in the 2020s as part of the standardisation of the Western Line from Spencer Street to Ararat.

Footscray was upgraded to a Premium station in 1996, though the enclosed waiting area and ticket facilities had already been built in 1993, as part of the 'Travel Safe' program of the early 1990s.[9]

On 5 June 2001, at around 08:30, two suburban Comeng trains collided on Platform 4. An out of service train heading to Newport collided with a Williamstown bound train, carrying around 20 passengers, with 3 injuries reported.[10]

In 2010, as a part of the Brumby State Government's Footscray renewal program,[11] the existing footbridge over the platforms, which was accessed by ramps, was replaced with a $15 million footbridge. The bridge, named after indigenous activist William Cooper,[12] has stairs and associated lifts. Complaints were made that the new footbridge was less usable than the one it replaced. It has a roof, but has not been designed to be weatherproof, and the lifts are prone to breakdown.[13]

Between 2012 and 2014, Footscray underwent major upgrade and conservation works as part of the Regional Rail Link project.

An additional two platforms were built to the north of the existing platforms, to separate Sunbury Metro services from Intercity services. On 20 January 2014, Platforms 1 to 4 were renumbered 3 to 6, with the new platforms commissioned as Platforms 1 and 2.[14] At the same time, Platforms 3 and 4 were closed to be rebuilt as dedicated platforms for V/Line services, reopening on 16 July 2014.

The existing footbridge, erected in 2010 at a cost of $15 million, was also partially demolished in 2013 to help accommodate the works. [15] New canopies, stairs and escalators were erected at the Irving and Hyde St ends of the footbridge, and new wide ramps were built from the footbridge to the platforms and street level, to help people access the platforms with greater ease. New lifts were also added to the structure.

All works at the station were completed in November 2014. [16]

Platforms & services

Footscray has eight platforms. It is serviced by Melbourne Metro lines 1, 5, and 7,[17][18][19] and numerous Intercity services.[20][21][22]

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

Platform 3:

Platform 4:

Platform 5:

Platform 6:

CDC Melbourne operates six routes via Footscray station:

Sita Buslines operates four routes via Footscray station:

Transdev Melbourne operates four routes via Footscray station:

Yarra Trams operates one route to and from Footscray station:

  • 82: to Moonee Ponds Junction[37]
  • Footbridge that links all platforms taken from Irving Street in December 2011
    Footbridge that links all platforms taken from Irving Street in December 2011
  • The same view from Irving Street in May 2014
    The same view from Irving Street in May 2014
  • Westbound view from Platform 2 in May 2014
    Westbound view from Platform 2 in May 2014
  • The South Kensington - West Footscray railway line cutting runs beneath the south-western end of Platforms 5 and 6 in September 2008
    The South Kensington - West Footscray railway line cutting runs beneath the south-western end of Platforms 5 and 6 in September 2008

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Train Station Patronage FY2008-2014". Public Transport Victoria. 14 May 2015. Archived from the original (XLS) on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) (access from [1] Archived 3 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine)
  2. ^ Footscray Vicsig
  3. ^ Footscray Station Rail Geelong
  4. ^ Station Patronage Research Archived 23 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine Public Transport Victoria
  5. ^ Lucas, Clay (15 June 2010). "$4.3b link won't cut travel times". The Age. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Rail Geelong - Geelong Line History". railgeelong.com. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  7. ^ a b Infrastructure - Footscray Vicsig
  8. ^ "The New Footscray Railway Station". The Independent. 9 December 1899. p. 3.
  9. ^ "Upgrading Eltham to a Premium Station". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. October 1997. p. 310.
  10. ^ "Operations". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. July 2001. p. 218.
  11. ^ "Transport Projects eNews". Department of Transport, Victoria. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  12. ^ Lucas, Clay (2 November 2010). "The great disconnect". The Age. Melbourne.
  13. ^ "Colander Bridge". Fair-go for Footscray Rail Residents. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  14. ^ Major access changes V/Line January 2014[dead link]
  15. ^ Millar, Benjamin (6 February 2013). "Footscray commuters face long wait for station works completion". Maribyrnong Weekly. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  16. ^ https://twitter.com/rrlproject/status/532680247510986752?s=21
  17. ^ "Sunbury Line". Public Transport Victoria.
  18. ^ "Werribee Line". Public Transport Victoria.
  19. ^ "Williamstown Line". Public Transport Victoria.
  20. ^ Ballarat - Melbourne timetable Public Transport Victoria
  21. ^ Bendigo - Melbourne timetable Public Transport Victoria
  22. ^ Geelong - Melbourne timetable Public Transport Victoria
  23. ^ "406 Keilor East - Footscray via Avondale Heights and Maribyrnong". Public Transport Victoria.
  24. ^ "409 Yarraville to Highpoint SC via Footscray". Public Transport Victoria.
  25. ^ "410 Sunshine Station - Footscray via Ballarat Road". Public Transport Victoria.
  26. ^ "411 Laverton Station - Footscray via Altona Meadows & Altona & Millers Rd". Public Transport Victoria.
  27. ^ "412 Laverton Station - Footscray via Altona Meadows & Altona & Mills St". Public Transport Victoria.
  28. ^ "414 Laverton Station - Footscray via Geelong Rd". Public Transport Victoria.
  29. ^ "402 Footscray Station - East Melbourne via North Melbourne". Public Transport Victoria.
  30. ^ "403 Footscray Station - Melbourne University via Royal Melbourne Hospital". Public Transport Victoria.
  31. ^ "404 Footscray - Moonee Ponds via Newmarket". Public Transport Victoria. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  32. ^ "472 Williamstown - Moonee Ponds via Footscray". Public Transport Victoria.
  33. ^ "216 Sunshine Station – City via Dynon Rd". Public Transport Victoria.
  34. ^
  35. ^ "220 Sunshine Station - City via Footscray Rd". Public Transport Victoria.
  36. ^ "223 Yarraville - Highpoint SC". Public Transport Victoria.
  37. ^ "82 Moonee Ponds - Footscray". Public Transport Victoria.
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