The opening of the line occurred during the period of the Victorian gold rush - a time when both Melbourne and Victoria undertook massive capital works, each with its own gala opening.
Melbourne | Canadian Pacific Railway | University of Melbourne | Great Western Railway | Shanghai Railway Bureau | Canadian National Railway | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Midland Railway | Grand Trunk Railway | Port Adelaide | London and North Western Railway | Port-au-Prince | Northern Pacific Railway | East Coast Main Line | London, Midland and Scottish Railway | Great Central Railway | West Coast Main Line | Port Arthur | Port Jackson | New Line Cinema | South Melbourne | Riccarton Junction railway station | port | Border Union Railway | Border Counties Railway | Port of Spain | London King's Cross railway station | Great Eastern Railway | Port Royal | Port Elizabeth |
The company was founded on 20 January 1853 to build Australia's first railway, the line from Melbourne to the port of Sandridge (now Port Melbourne).