Join us on Sunday 17th August 2025 for a special event!
“Where’s the Sugar?” commemorates the Tea & Sugar train that ran across the Nullarbor, bringing provisions to railway families for many years. This iconic train was the lifeline for isolated communities living along the Trans-Australian Railway line.
The train started running from around 1915, when building of the Trans Australian Railway from Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie had already commenced. It ran weekly, right through to August 1996, when it was ‘cancelled’.
The train was formed with various types of carriages at different times of the year, depending on the needs of the people it serviced. It conveyed a variety of attendees such as; the Butcher, Bank Teller, Provision Storeman, Doctor, Pastor/Minister, Mothers & Babies nurses, and Father Christmas in December!
There are so many isolated and regional people who lived across the Nullarbor, worked, grew up, went to school, saw the doctor, went shopping for the family, or actually spent years working on board the train – just so many memories!
The Tea & Sugar at the Railway Museum is an authentic exhibition, with the Butcher Van, Provision Van, Pay Car and a Relay Car (for crew and passengers) providing an interactive community history display of those actual carriages used!
On this special day there will be hundreds of images on show, and lots of displays… all with a connection to the Tea & Sugar. One additional highlight will be country/folk singer/guitarist Kat Raynor entertaining all the visitors. There will also be several volunteers dressed for various Tea & Sugar related roles.
