Theebine to Kingaroy

An Interesting Branch that was very successful in developing a region after its construction.

A Minerals Branch line off the (then) isolated Maryborough System was approved by Parliament as a minerals branch from Kilkivan Junction (now Theebine) to Kilkivan. The first section to Dickabram was opened on 1 Jan 1896 and then to Kilkivan on 6 December of that year.

Development of the South Burnett region between Esk and Kilkivan languished for the lack of a rail extension. Proposals were put forward from advocates with business interests in Toowoomba, Brisbane and Maryborough. It was eventually decided by royal commission to extend the railways from Both Esk and Kilkivan towards Nanango, but only the line from Maryborough eventually reached there.

It revived a loss making branchline but suffered greatly once decent roads were built, being so indirect from Brisbane. Kingaroy did not exist when the extension was approved but quickly became an important town after the line was opened to there in 1904. Other major settlements along the line sprang up as a result of the lines construction, being Goomeri, Murgon and Wondai.

The last traffic to use the line was peanuts traffic from Atherton. Cessation of this traffic has effectively closed of both of those branches.

Stations along the branch are: