The station opened as the temporary terminus of the line from Longwood, before it was extended to Benalla on 18 August 1873.
History
The station opened with the line in 1873, and was an important railhead before the opening of the Goulburn Valley line to the west. A temporary building was initially provided, and was replaced in 1876 by a weatherboard structure. The goods shed that was provided with the opening of the line was still in use in the 1970s.[2]
In 1909, the goods yard was extended, and a new signal box provided, with the main line slewed to run through the platform, instead of No. 2 road as previously. In 1938, the yard was again altered, and the station building was moved to its current position, at the northern end of the platform.[2]
On 7 February 1969, the Violet Town rail accident occurred one kilometre south of the station, when the southbound Southern Aurora passenger train collided head on with a northbound freight train.[4]
In 1979, a road leading to a former crane at the station was abolished.[1]
On 5 January 1994, a number of track and signal alterations took place, including the abolition of No. 3 road, sidings "A" and "B", and a number of disc signals and points.[5]
As part of the North East Rail Revitalisation Project, a second platform was constructed on the 1960s built standard gauge line, in conjunction with the standard gauge conversion of the existing broad gauge track. Work began in December 2008, and was completed in late 2009.[7][8][9]
Former station Balmattum was located between Violet Town and Euroa, while Baddaginnie was located between Violet Town and Benalla.
