Transport in the

1800’s
For the first 75 years most transport in Australia
was provided by either human or animal muscles.

Initially, most people had to walk or travel to

other colonies on coastal ships.
Convicts constructing roads, bridges and
buildings had to haul the materials they needed
themselves.

Later, horses, bullocks, camels, river steamers

and trains were introduced.
Horses were essential to the colonies’
transport development from the earliest
days.

They moved materials, people and the

imported and exported goods, particularly
wool and gold.

From 1853, they were used by the

famous Cobb and Co.
Cobb and Co’s fast, efficient network was
set up in NSW and Victoria during the
gold rushes to transport passengers and
goods, as well as the mail.

But horses had struggled to pull heavy

loads on rough roads, so teams of
stronger, slower bullocks were introduced
in 1820.
The first camels were imported in the 1840s and were used by Burke and Wills during their tragic
expedition
to cross the country.

In 1866, 122 of them were imported from India, which was the start of a camel craze.
Camels could go for nine days without water and carry two bales
of wool each.

Managed by Afghan cameleers, they worked very well inland and

were particularly useful in 1870–1872 when the telegraph line
was built.
River steamers also played a part in
transporting supplies and produce,
particularly wool for export, until the
railways were built.

Steamers couldn’t compete with the

trains, because they couldn’t go very
far upstream during dry summer
months.
Transport needs increased dramatically
after gold was discovered in 1851.

People, mining equipment, building

materials and supplies needed to reach
the goldfields and gold had to be taken to
ports for export.
Steam trains were believed to be the
best solution, so railway construction
commenced.

Many were started by private

companies then taken over by
colonial governments because of the
high construction costs.

These railways had a great impact on

the colonies.
Unfortunately, each colony developed its railways independently
and didn’t think about connecting them.

As a result, NSW had a 1435 mm gauge (the width between the

lines), Victoria and SA 1600mm, and Tasmania, Queensland, WA
and parts of SA a 1067 mm gauge.
They also all used different trolling stock
and had different operating systems.

This changed slowly, but it wasn’t until

1970 that one train could travel from
Perth to Sydney and in 1995, from Perth
to Brisbane.
Improved transport, particularly the development of
the railways, reduced isolation and helped to link the
states. This paved the way for the very remote states
to consider themselves as part of one country.

After a long debate and negotiation, this uniting of

states as one country was achieved in 1901 at
Federation.