Dixons baseline - memorial cairn
The town is believed to be named after Harris brothers: John Harris (1819–1895) and George Harris (1831–1891), who established a store and cotton ginnery in the area. Cotton was a valuable crop during the 1860s as the American Civil War had created a worldwide shortage.
Robert Dixon, 1800-1858, was an assistant surveyor with the NSW Surveyor General's Department. He surveyed extensive areas of NSW and in 1840 was promoted surveyor in charge of the Moreton Bay District. He established the Normanby Plains trigonomical baseline which started the first accurate mapping of Queensland. A memorial cairn erected by the Institute of Surveyors in memory of Robert Dixon at Warrill View - Peak Crossing Road, Harrisville, along where the baseline passed (27.8142°S 152.6510°E).
Robert Dixon memorial cairn
Harrisville railway station
The Fassifern railway line (Queensland's first branch railway line) opened from Ipswich to Harrisville on 10 July 1882 with the town being served by Harrisville railway station in Queen Street. It was 18 miles 50 chains (30.0 km) from Ipswich at an elevation of 179 feet (55 m) [27.8110°S 152.6666°E].
Harrisville railway station - 1909
Harrisville railway station - 1962
Steam locomotive C17 No.752 arrives at Harrisville railway station, in 1962, with a short goods train. An interesting feature of the Harrisville station was that an ambulance stretcher was kept in a shed on the platform. When some one was in need of hospital care they would be wheeled on the stretcher onto the first available train to Ipswich. The rail section to Harrisville was closed in July 1964. The Goods shed in the above picture is still in existence at Harrisville and can be seen from Eagle Street.
Utilising Google Maps Lat/Long coordinate search, it places the Harrisville railway station just prior to the Eagle Street, along Queens Street.
Probable Harrisville railway station location
Wilsons Plains railway station
On 12 September 1887 the Fassifern railway line was extended to Dugundan with Wilsons Plains being served by Wilsons Plains railway station on the corner of Wilsons Plains Road and Redhill Road. It was 20 miles 54 chains (33.3 km) from Ipswich at an elevation of 188 feet (57 m) [27.8362°S 152.6556°E].
Wilsons Plains railway sign
Utilising Google Maps Lat/Long coordinate search, it places the Wilsons Plains railway station just prior to the Ellis and Jackson Street, along Wilsons Plains Road.
Probable Wilsons Plains railway station location
Radford railway station
Radford takes its name from the railway station, which was named after the town of Radford in Nottinghamshire, England. The Radford railway station is located on Radford Road, 22 miles 09 chains (35.6 km) from Ipswich at an elevation of 194 feet (59 m) [27.8541°S 152.6437°E].
In the map segment below (from the CAD map for Queensland Two Mile Series - 1955) the station locations for Harrisville to Radford are detailed.
Segment from QLD 2 Mile map - 1955
Probable Radford railway station location