Canungra Railway Yard: The Scenic Rim's Timber Railway
For forty years the Canungra railway was the town's lifeline to the outside world, carrying sawn timber from the Scenic Rim forests down to the main network. The tracks were lifted long ago, but the story of the yard is a big part of Canungra's timber-town past. It's one of the stops in our Hidden Gems Queensland guide.
Find this and dozens more in Hidden Gems Queensland: directions, access notes and safety tips. Printed guides include 12 months of the Explorer app free. Get the guide →
Canungra Railway History
The branch line opened in 1915, linking Canungra with the Beaudesert line at Logan Village. It was built to move the huge volume of hardwood coming out of the surrounding ranges: timber brought down by Lahey's Tramway was milled at Canungra and loaded onto government freight trains. Timber traffic began to decline from 1923 and most of the area's timber had been cut by the 1940s. The line got a late boost from military traffic in World War II, after the Jungle Warfare Training Centre opened nearby in 1942, but it officially closed in 1955.
Where Was Canungra Railway Station?
The old station and yard stood near the centre of Canungra, beside the creek. Since 1962 the station site has been occupied by Canungra State School, so it isn't open to wander through. Please view the area only from public streets and don't enter the school grounds. To see a surviving piece of the timber railway up close, pair this with a visit to Lahey's Tramway Tunnel just outside town.
Canungra Railway FAQs
When did the Canungra railway line close?
It closed in 1955, forty years after opening in 1915.
Where was Canungra railway station?
Where Canungra State School is today. The school moved onto the old station site in 1962.
What did the Canungra railway carry?
Mainly sawn timber from Canungra to the railway at Logan Village, plus military traffic during World War II.
For more heritage sites across the state, grab a copy of our Hidden Gems Queensland guide.
