The Australian Trans-Continental Railway was more than an engineering achievement—it was a nation-building project that helped fulfil the promise of Federation. This course traces the political negotiations, technical challenges and extraordinary determination required to link Australia's east and west by rail. Participants will explore the railway's construction, the eventual creation of a standard-gauge route across the continent and the introduction of the iconic Indian Pacific. A fascinating course for anyone interested in Australian history, engineering and transport.

DELIVERY MODE

Face to face

COURSE OUTLINE

• Australian railways in the 19th century: a brief history
• The politics of a trans-Continental railway - a carrot for Western Australia to join the Federation
• Work on the finalisation of the track in 1917
• Work to standardise gauges and introduce the 1970 Sydney to Perth route 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Appreciate the political and practical issues in establishing the railway
• Recognise the political and economic significance of establishing the line
• Discuss the relevance to 21st century infrastructure projects