Kempsey

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Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 503.572km
Opened : 27 November 1917
Closed : n/a
Status : In use
Name meaning : Named by E W Rudder after his estate of the same name in England
Notes : Opened with a 380 metre central controlled ijnterlocked loop. The original Up platform was 137 metres in legth, increased in 1925 to 182 metres. The first station was made of timber and this was later rebuilt in brick. A Railway Refreshment Room and SM's residence were provided in 1919. A water tank was provided with a 203mm bore jib at both ends of the platform, water was taken from the town supply. 12/8/1915 construction started on a six road roundhouse (the foundations of which still remain) and an 18.2 metre turntable. An 8 tonne yard crane and goods shed were in existence when the station opened. 13/6/1919 - RRR opened. 15/6/1919 - footwarmer heater installed. 4/7/1925 - Loco depot - watering facilities and ash pit installed. 15/9/1925 - platform extended. 1/7/1943 - additional 90kl water tank installed. 1947 - gas resorvoir for refilling diner cars installed. The yards had additional sidings : Vacuum Siding (26/5/1951), Mobil Siding (7/1962), Kempsey Electric Light Co Siding (12/1934) and Shell Siding (14/3/1927). Kempsey crossing was the location of a collision betyween a school bus and train on 9/12/1968 - 4 passengers were killed and 15 injured.  

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Kempsey, 1917

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Rail bridge at Kempsey, undated

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McNally family and friends on the way to tennis, Kempsey district (Macleay Argus)

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Kempsey Station in 1962, Kempsey opened in 1917 and is still in use although much of it's once extensive yards have fallen into disrepair. (image State Records)

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First train into Kempsey 27 Nov 1917 (State Archives)

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Opening of the Kempsey section.

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Kempsey Bridge after the floods

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Kempsey station railway refreshment rooms

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Kempsey station 1950/60s

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Kempsey flood damage, 1949 (SLNSW)

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The week before Christmas in 1939 was not what everyone was expecting to experience. Rolls of motion picture film were regularly carried on the train to be shown in local theatres before being sent on to the next showing or returned to Sydney.

On Saturday, December 23, Robert Keevers, the owner of the touring Keever's Pictures, took delivery of several cans of film from the Kempsey Parcels Office. One container was incorrectly addressed and when he opened the container he saw smoke and immediately tried to close the canister of film.

He was too late closing the canister and the film burst into a sheet of flame that spread into the whole interior of the Parcels Office. While trying to save some of the cans, Allen Prewett, the projectionist, was badly burned about the arms and chest while members of the railway staff tried to save books and papers from the ticket office. The fire quickly spread to parcels and luggage on the platform.

Fortunately the Fire Brigade, under Capt A Lake, was very prompt and the firemen attacked the blaze which had spread to a wooden structure beside the brick Refreshment Rooms and looked like reaching the Signal Room and the Waiting Rooms.

Apart from the members of the brigade, Police Inspector Dudley, Constable Harrison, Frank Campbell and volunteers gave immediate assistance but were unable to save the telephone and telegraph offices.

A large crowd had gathered and, apart from the gravity of the moment, were amused when the force of the fire hose almost swept Bob Adamson off the roof. A stream also caught Const Harrison's helmet, driving it 50 feet into the air.

On inspection, the Traffic Inspector from Taree, reported that the Parcels Office was completely gutted while severe damage was done to the booking office, the stationmaster's office, the ceiling of the waiting room, the signal cabin, and the roof and awning of the platform. The damage to the station including the luggage and Christmas parcels was estimated to be £1000.

At the subsequent inquiry, the Coroner found that the fire which occurred on the date stated, destroyed the parcels office and other portions of the station, but how the fire originated, whether accidentally or otherwise, the evidence did not enable him to state.

- Macleay River Historical Society

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The official opening of the Kempsey Railway on November 28,1917. Crowds of people gathered to be part of the historic day.

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Construction at Kempsey station in 1917 (SLNSW)

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Location of Kempsey station (Six Maps)