This May the Model Railway Exhibition, (brought to you by the Hills Model Railway Society Inc.) will be held at Hawkesbury Race Club. The event will run over two days May 31 - June 1 2025.

If you’re heading out for the event, you might be interested in finding out more about the Hawkesbury's Stations and the history of the Richmond Line. Read on train lover!

Everyone loves a good train ride – enjoying the views out the window, being able to sit and read, jamming out to tunes with your headphones, maybe you’re taking the time to call a loved one, or browsing online for the latest addition to your wardrobe? However you pass the time, trains have been an important part of our lives for a great many years, including in the Hawkesbury.

The Richmond train line and Richmond Railway Station were officially opened to the public at the start of December in 1864, an early Christmas gift to the excited community. It was a day of celebration for residents with several government officials travelling to attend the festivities which included a breakfast feat for the public and an official dinner party in the evening. Crowds met the new train at Windsor and Richmond Stations with cheers (between which they were allowed to ride for free for the day)! Their appreciation surely heard across the scenic farmlands, a celebration rivalling that of the “turning of the first sod” in Windsor when construction began in January 1863. Another celebration was held in 1991 for the completion of the electrification of the line between Richmond and Riverstone.

As the end of the line, Richmond Station originally had several space-consuming facilities: a goods shed, cattle and sheep races (used for safe and efficient handling of the animals for transport), a carriage dock, locomotive and carriage sheds, and an engine turntable. The area looks quite different now with the station surrounded by modern roads and shops. The main building, however, maintains its historic vibe and is well cared for by staff. East Richmond Station officially opened in July 1939, the last station to be constructed along this branch line, following increasing demand and petitions from locals and students of the then Hawkesbury Agricultural College as early as 1893.

Windsor and Mulgrave Stations were established the same time as Richmond. Windsor Station was relatively large with facilities including a goods shed and large crane, cattle and sheep races, a carriage dock and a loading ramp. The original Station building was large, utilised as both an office and a residence, until it was later sold, relocated and converted into a private residence elsewhere in the area. The current building and platform replaced the old in 1883-1884, the design reflecting those at Richmond and Riverstone Stations. This station is now located nearby the heart of the Windsor township, within walking distance in fact.

Mulgrave Station is significantly smaller, with only a single building originally being erected. This served as accommodation for the stationmaster and a booking office, with a partition put up to create a waiting room. Eventually other facilities were built, these being a goods shed, a cattle race and a loading ramp, however only the platform (rebuilt in 1912 after the original was demolished) remains.

Clarendon Station was built in 1876, of particular service to those who appreciated attending the regular horse racing activities close by. The station was first named the Hawkesbury Racecourse Railway Station but was later renamed after a property owned by G. Evans. The station has undergone various remodelling and expansion efforts over the years, particularly notable during wartime to service the nearby Richmond RAAF Base.

Vineyard Station was established in July of 1925, situated roughly 50 rail kilometres from Sydney it was built to meet an ever-growing demand by commuters and due to the recent electrification of the train line. The Station remains to be quite small, consisting only of a waiting shed for passengers.

While we can all be a bit preoccupied while travelling nowadays, it’s great to occasionally reflect on the efforts that brought us this convenience.

If you’re wanting to learn more about railway history in the Hawkesbury (yes, there’s more!), we have another article about the old Richmond to Kurrajong line.

Don’t forget to check other pages on our website to discover all of the great attractions that await you at the end of your train journey!