The town propelled by rail

With photographs

from the State Library of WA’s collection,

Kent Acott tells the

story of Midland

People were living in Midland shortly after the birth of the Swan River Colony.

But it was not until 1886 — and the establishment of the Midland Railway Company’s operations — that the town really began to grow.

Originally known as Midland Junction, the town developed around the Town Hall (built in 1906) and the Post Office (1913), with the Midland Railway Company’s sheds and yard across the road and Government Railway Workshops close by.

The workshops had a profound and lasting influence on the town, employing thousands of men over the 90 years the workshops remained open. Very few West Australians would not have a relative who worked on the site at some stage.

Midland Town Hall — a distinctive local landmark — was officially opened on January 23, 1907. But it was not until 1923 that a four-sided clock was placed on its top as a memorial to those who died in World War I.

The original Midland Junction railway station was about 300m from the current station. From its platforms, commuters could catch trains to Kalamunda, Mundaring and many stops along the way. It closed in 1966.

Current plans to relocate the station towards Midland Hospital mean it will be near the original Midland Junction station site.

In the 1960s and 1970s, there were many changes in the town. The Midland Railway Company was bought by the WA Government Railways in 1964 and part of the land became the Centrepoint Shopping Centre in 1972.

The “Junction” part of Midland’s name was dropped in 1961 and the Town of Midland merged with the Swan-Guildford Shire to become the Shire of Swan in 1970.

WA cricketers Keith Slater and Kevin Gartrell opened their sports store in the heart of Midland 40 years ago. Today, Slater Gartrell is one of Australia’s leading sports stores, specialising in cricket gear but also selling equipment for a full range of sports.

Mr Gartrell said Midland had changed considerably since the shop first opened in 1978.

“There was lots of vibrancy then, lots of different shops,” he said. “But over the years, we’ve lost a lot of them. The banks have gone, the fire brigade, the water works. Being a retailer has been tough, but we have survived and things are beginning to look a little brighter.”

Mr Gartrell, who has lived in the area all his life, remembers the significance of the railway workshops to the local community. One of his first jobs was with the Midland Railway Company.

“I have always loved living and working here — that has never changed,” he said.