Here in History by Betty Laver

The Bundaberg to Gladstone Railway

As early as 1865 the Gladstone town’s leaders begged in vain for Gladstone to have rail links with Brisbane, but this event was not forthcoming for some time. Later, the railway was built as far as Bundaberg, but Gladstone only had a small population and their voices seemed never to be heard. In 1885 this fight became political when a deputation, comprising Jason Boles, Duncan Seaton, Abel Vallis, Richard Harvey and Thomas Harbottle drew attention to all the timber available in the area and argued the benefits to the government to pursue this avenue. Three years later the Bundaberg to Gladstone rail link developed into a political promise and eventually became a reality.