Wondabyne, New South Wales
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| Wondabyne Central Coast, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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 Wondabyne railway station | |||||||||||||||
| Population | 3 (SAL 2021)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2256 | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Central Coast Council | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Patonga | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gosford | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Robertson | ||||||||||||||
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Wondabyne is a suburb located in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, and is part of the Central Coast Council local government area.
Wondabyne railway station is serviced by NSW Trainlink services to Newcastle and Central on the Main North railway line and is adjacent to a wharf on Mullet Creek, a tributary estuary of the Hawkesbury River. The train station has a very short platform which is long enough to hold only around one train door.[2]
Due to the rugged terrain of the area, Wondabyne station does not have road access.[2] It has been suggested that it may be the only station in Australia that does not have road access. The station relies on water access for residents across Mullet Creek, via a pontoon and walkway.
For railway enthusiasts, Wondabyne Railway Station is interesting for its isolation, very short platform - less than one carriage (exit via rear door of the last carriage) - and the fact that it is fully equipped (except for staff) with announcements of coming trains, signage, seats and shelters on both platforms, boom-gates and bells to protect those crossing the tracks and an Opalcard validation unit.
Trains only stop at Wondabyne at the request of passengers who must speak to the guard in the rear carriage or hail the train, as you would a bus, as it approaches. Not all trains will stop at Wondabyne. Stations either side are Hawkesbury River (South) and Woy Woy (North).
Just north of the railway station by the water is a 70-acre (28 ha) tract of land owned by Gosford Quarries that contains a sandstone quarry. Stone is cut from the quarry periodically for restoration works on Sydney city buildings that were originally constructed many years ago from Wondabyne sandstone. In 2000, the quarry was brought back into operation to provide stone for the two spires of St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. The spires now complete the construction of the cathedral, which began in 1868.[3]
Wondabyne is a popular starting point for bushwalks into the surrounding Brisbane Water National Park and the Wondabyne to Patonga walking track. Other destinations within the park including Pindar Cave, Kariong Brook and Wondabyne Trig - the latter offers extensive views of the surrounding area. Walking trails also join the Great North Walk (which stretches from Sydney to Newcastle) for more extensive trips. The track that gives access to these areas leaves from near the station and is very steep.
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Wondabyne (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ a b Transport for NSW. Accessed 1 June 2018.
- ^ Completion of St. Mary's Cathedral spires. Accessed 6 March 2015.
External links
- Video of Wondabyne station precinct. Accessed 6 March 2015.
- History of Wondabyne. Accessed 6 March 2015.
- The only train station in Australia inaccessible by road Accessed 13 April 2015.