The mid to late 19th century was gripped by railway fever, and Melbourne was no exception. In this wry piece from the Evelyn Observer, our correspondent expects the Doncaster line to be built, but is not so hopeful for a Warrandyte line. Anderson's Creek (From our own correspondent) Tuesday Evening The railway excitement has culminated. This evening, I suppose, the proposed new lines will be known. The Melbourne papers have made a guess and published a series of lines they expect will be included. We are carefully left out. Though both papers have the Kew to Doncaster line. However, nobody knows at present, yet we have a feeling that the extension from Doncaster to Warrandyte (although it would not eventually cost Government on sale of Crown lands one penny, and has every prospect of it being a very payable matter) ours will be a back seat. Everybody, of course, cannot be satisfied, yet we have been led to believe we had a very good show indeed. The Minister was not banquetted, nor did we bother him much, save and except we stated a clear good case - one that could not be equalled in the colony. Some places, I suppose, must wait and we are one of them. I hope I am wrong. It's a pity this place with its natural advantages so near the metropolis should have to wait another decade. The worst of it is private enterprise has no show. There would be no difficulty in raising the money. That has been clearly shown to Mr Gillies, but private lines in conjunction with the State railways are tabooed."
In the early 1900's the Doncaster Line was still in the works. "Members of the Railways Standing Committee met yesterday at the State Parliamentary buildings and took the evidence of Mr. M. Kernot, chief engineer for railway construction, in connection with the proposed electric railway from Victoria- park to Doncaster."
Twenty years on from the evidence presented in favour of the Doncaster Line by the Chief Engineer of Railway Construction, Mr M Kernot in 1908 - the Railway Standing Committee recommends a line to Doncaster. "Suburban Railway LINE TO DONCASTER COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PLAN Rate to Meet Losses Reporting on its inquiry into the many proposals which have been made for the provision of railway facilities for the Doncaster and Warrandyte districts, the Railways Standing Committee yesterday recommended to the Legislative Assembly the construction of a line from the present railhead at Kew to a point opposite the Doncaster Shire Hall. The proposed extension will be six miles 29 chains long. Assuming that the land for the line is provided free of cost by the people of the district, the estimated cost of the line is 494,930 pounds."
An extension to Doncaster from Kew Station was planned before the 1930s depression. But the Kew line was closed in 1952 before any work began.
The 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan favoured freeway construction over rail, but a line to Doncaster was included in the plan. From the train plans mapped out by this study only the city loop was constructed
Parliament passes the Eastern Railways Construction Act - allowing for a line along the Eastern Freeway, to Thompsons Road, Bulleen, then through Templestowe to Blackburn Road, Doncaster, cutting through 30 houses. The route faced opposition from affected councils and citizens.
After numerous consultations and negotiations between 1971 and 1973, the original proposed route is still the government's preferred line. The Parliamentary Public Works committee estimates that work may not begin for some years and does not have a 'firm completion time'.
Premier, Mr Rupert Hamer announces that the project will go ahead after the completion of the city loop, despite some doubts about it's viability. The cost-benefits are too low for Federal Government support the project, which is estimated to cost $120million. Work starts on an underpass in August, but the contractor experiences financial difficulty and the work is put on hold. By October 1976 the first excavation is being used as a dump for excavated earth.
The Age reports that the Liberals Shadow Transport Minister Mr Maclellan says that Labor has sold the land reserved for the Doncaster Line. The election in 1985 does not include a mention by either party, of heavy or light rail to Doncaster.
A report called Metplan, which is authored by the RACV, is released. It maps out the next 15 years for public transport. A lightrail to Doncaster Shoppingtown along the Eastern Freeway median strip is proposed.
