100 Years ago....
New man in charge of rail gauge muddle
Feb 3, 2021
Federal Cabinet today appointed Sydney businessman, John Garvan, to head an inquiry into standardising gauges for Australia's disjointed railway systems.
Mr Garvan's brief as chairman of the Uniform Gauge Commission is to explore immediately the possibility of establishing one gauge for rail lines in all states. The present system of three different gauges has proven time consuming and costly to interstate transport.
The problem has baffled all previous conferences. The most complex problem is in South Australia which has put down all three of the gauges. Mr Garvan, who is managing director of the Mutual Life and Citizens' Assurance Company, will concentrate on the cost of unification. He will be assisted by two rail experts, one from England, and the other from America.
Article from "Chronicle of the 20th Century" ISBN 1 872031 80 3