By Oscar Parry
Bulla Hill Miniature Railway is celebrating 50 years of steam-powered fun this month, marking the anniversary with a public run day on December 15.
The committee was formed in 1974 by members of the aircraft industry from Tullamarine interested in steam engines, originally meeting in what is now the long-term car park at Melbourne Airport.
Bulla Hill Miniature Railway committee president Ian Cottee said he “thoroughly” enjoys being part of the volunteer committee.
“It’s a good team effort here … it’s more of a fellowship … doing jobs associated with trains … gardening, a little bit of painting, train maintenance – and long coffee breaks,” Mr Cottee said.
He said the committee is always looking for more volunteers, with training provided and no requirement to own a miniature train.
“All my life I’ve worked in the steam industry in the industrial side, and I’d planned to build a steam train in my retirement, so I was able to do that in my business prior to coming here,” he said.
Mr Cottee said the first train run on the Bulla Hill site was in 2000 after the organisation was required to move their operations from the original airport site in 1998.
“Mr Alf Bond from A Bond Engineering provided a lot of earthworks for the present location in Bulla. It took two years to get up and running,” he said.
With assistance from Hume council, Mr Cottee said the Bulla Hill site went from “a very bland environment” to being “covered in trees.”
“They support us very well because we are an attraction for the area … it’s quite a pleasant environment with a picnic area – we supply picnic and barbecue facilities all free of charge,” he said.
He said he encourages those interested in becoming a volunteer to visit the site and “see how we get along as a team”.
The 50th anniversary public run will be held on Sunday, December 15, from 11am–3pm.
Details: facebook.com/BullaHillRailway/
