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Penshurst Railway DisasterPrint Page Print this page

Railway Disaster : 14-May-2013
Railway Disaster : 14-May-2013

Photographs supplied by Graeme Saunders

The monument at the cemetery was erected in memory of the seven men who were killed during the construction of the Penshurst - Koroit railway.  The monument is close to the graves of those who died.

In March 1890, seven men died and others were badly injured on a homeward journey at the end of work. The train, with an open truck at the front of it, overturned when it struck a bullock on the line a short distance from the township. The young men were returning to the `single mens` camp` at Penshurst, with most of them being Irish born or of Irish descent.

The people of Penshurst in 1890 were shocked and saddened by the tragedy, laying the dead to rest in the Boram Boram cemetery just outside the township.

Location

Address:Boram Boram Lane, Penshurst Cemetery, Penshurst, 3289
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -37.837118
Long: 142.276073
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:Disaster
Sub-Theme:Land Transport
Actual Event Start Date:01-March-1890
Actual Event End Date:01-March-1890

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Sunday 26th March, 2000
Front Inscription

Time Shall Not Weaken
The Memory Of Those Who Died Tragically
On The Building Of The Penshurst - Koroit Railway
March 1st, 1890.

James Callghan (22)
John Dillon (24)
John Dunphy (24)
Patrick McGee (33)
John O`Donnell (21)
William Waters (27)
James O`Brien (28) Buried Melbourne

Quiet Is The Rail At The End Of The Day
Silent Now From Hammer Blows
And Silent Forever
The Voices Of Working Men
Who Died On Their Homeward Journey

The Workers`Carriage Overturned After
          Striking A Bullock
Three Kilometres East Of Penshurst

Commemoration 26.3.2000

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au