Royal Commission on the Matter of Uniform Railway Gauge
Royal Commission on the matter of uniform railway gauge · Royal Commission on Unification of Railway Gauges · Railway Gauge Royal Commission
8 February 1921 – 12 October 1921
A three-member commission of a businessman and two railway engineers that examined how Australia's different railway gauges could be unified, and recommended conversion to the 4 ft 8½ in standard gauge.
How it came into existence
Appointed by Letters Patent dated 8 February 1921 by the Hughes government, following agreement with the States that the question be examined by two experts from abroad and an independent Australian. John James Garvan was chairman, with Rustat Blake as civil engineer and Frederick Methven Whyte as mechanical engineer; E. Simms was secretary.
Changes during its life
- 12 October 1921Report and the chairman's supplementary report laid before both Houses.
How it ended
Its report, with a supplementary report by the chairman, was presented to Parliament on 12 October 1921, ending the commission. It recommended that 4 ft 8½ in be the standard gauge, that no mechanical or third-rail device would meet the case, and that the other gauges be converted. A Premiers' conference in Melbourne in November 1921 adopted 4 ft 8½ in as the standard gauge for Australia.
Main functions
- Unification of Australian railway gauges
- Choice of a standard gauge
- Cost and staging of gauge conversion
Lineage
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