Stations names on Melbourne's Pakenham Line

Progress has been slow, but we are finally reaching the very end of Melbourne's longest line!

Hopefully, the nomenclature of nine stations east of Dandenong (including 1 closed and 1 proposed station) will be of interest to people viewing this blog.

Without further ado, let us get into the meat of the topic.

General Motors (closed)

Arguably the most famous disused station in all of Melbourne, General Motors takes its name from the only reason the station ever existed, which was a General Motors (Holden) Factory located to the north of the station. The General Motors factory closed in the 1990s but the station managed to stay open until July 2002.

Hallam

Hallam acquires its name from a chap named William Hallam, someone who owned the Hallam Hotel.

Prior to 1904, the station was originally called 'Hallam's Road', referring to the road located east of the station.

Narre Warren

Narre Warren is most definitely an Aboriginal, although the language group and meaning of the phrase is not particularly known. Victorian Places suggests that the name means 'small hills'.

Berwick

Berwick is named after the English town of Berwick-Upon-Tweed, located in England. Berwick's name is an Old English term meaning 'barely farm'. The 'upon-Tweed' part of the name simply comes from the fact that the town is on the River Tweed.

Beaconsfield

Named after Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Beaconsfield, who was a conservative statesmen and a Prime Minister for Britain for some time in the nineteenth century. 

Located within a very long article, this short paragraph from an Argus article on December 1879 details a picnic occurring. This was intended to celebrate the opening with Beaconsfield station.


Officer

This odd name given to a village turned urban hell comes from a Robert Officer who was a pastoralist in the area who was the son of a Medical Doctor of the same name.

This station originally opened as 'Officer's siding' until 1899.

Cardinia Road

I do not know what this station is named after, I think it might be an old name given to a house or shop or something.

I am joking, Cardinia Road is named after the road that crosses the railway line to the west of the station. That road goes to a suburb called Cardinia, which obtained its name from an Aboriginal expression 'karr-din-yarr' which means 'look towards the rising sun'.

Prior to its opening, many people speculated on the name that was to be picked for this station. 'Lakeside' was the most common of the suggested names, although 'Pakenham West' and 'Toomuc' were also suggested.

Pakenham

Pakenham could be traced back to numerous origins. You can find a list of them here. The most popular of these name origins suggests that the name came from Edward William Pakenham, a General who served in the Crimean War.

Pakenham East (proposed)

It was worth mentioning this station that is expected to be open within the next few years, although the station's name origin can be boiled down to it being located east of the Pakenham's main station.

Conclusion

That is it for this week! Next week will be about the Cranbourne Line! Make sure to share this post as always!

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