The Mungar Junction to Monto Branch is a 267 Kilometre railway corridor in the North Burnett region of Queensland that opened progressively in eleven separate stages between the years 1889 and 1928.
The line branched from the the North Coast Line at Mungar Station (a short distance west of Maryborough) and followed a westerly route towards Biggeneden and Gayndah before turning north via Mundubbera and Eidsvold to Monto.
Bundaberg was chosen as the port for a rail to Mt Perry, the remainder of the North Burnett, where minerals had been discovered, was selected to be serviced via Maryborough port line.
The line to Monto finally opened on 15 September 1928. Stops were established at Lacon, Riverleigh, O’Bil Bil, Malmoe, Grosvenor and Eidsvold en route to Ceratodus as part of stage nine.
Ceratodus takes its name from the lungfish (neoceratodus forsteri) an air-breathing fish which inhabits the Burnett River from which the North Burnett region gets its name.
Sidings were built at Jirette, Cynthia, Abercorn, Anyarro, Kapaldo and Selene when stage ten to Mulgildie (spelt “Mulgeldie” until 1945 ) was completed. The eleventh and final stage saw the line terminate via Three Moon at Monto.
The journey from Brisbane to Monto by mixed train took fourteen hours, and three times a week a sleeping car connected with the mail train at Mungar, taking twenty-one hours.
Unique Bridges of the North Burnett
A total of 12 bridges incorporating 6 separate and unique designs were built along the Mungar to Monto line as part of a stimulas package from 1905 to 1914. The chief engineer William Pagan encouraged his engineers to do an individual design for each bridge.
In 2016, they were nominated by Engineering Australia for Engineering Heritage Recognition.
The designs for these bridges include steel box girders, lattice truss, fish belly truss, riveted lattices truss, an early example of reinforced concrete and an un-reinforced concrete structure.
References: Institution of Engineers Australia; The Central & North Burnett Times; John Oxley State Library; Gayndah Heritage Railway Trail; Bundaberg Railway Enthusiasts Society; John Kerr