Steam Train Carriage, 1926

Welcome to the Great Age of Steam, a time when life was simpler and slower: you’ve packed a leather trunk, perhaps with some playing cards and homemade cake for the journey, snapped its brass clips shut, and at Flinders Street Station, climb aboard a steam train filled with a sense of excitement for new adventures.

This beautifully restored train carriage was built in 1926 at the Newport Railway Workshop in Melbourne as First Class carriage 61 AW and transported travellers throughout regional Victoria. In 1937, it was converted to Second Class carriage 72 BW, before being converted back to a First Class carriage in 1956. In 1972, it was converted again, to Second Class carriage 2 VFW for use on trains between Melbourne & Sydney. Finally in 1980, it was converted back to Second Class carriage 72 BW for use once again in Victoria. It was retired to a rail yard in Collingwood in 1983 – and was soon afterwards sold and put on a truck from Melbourne to Forrest – a tiny township in the Otway Ranges.

Hosts Mike & Fleur spent over nine months restoring the carriage, including careful use of salvaged materials, resulting in a luxurious, warm and inviting interior that will transport you back in time.

Steam Train Carriage can sleep up to six guests, but given it’s a converted carriage, this a cosy space – so a couple, or family of 4 may be more comfortable. There are three bedrooms, a master with queen bed; and two smaller compartments with a double & two singles. Your well-behaved furry friend is also welcome (unsuitable for young or larger dogs, due to the delicate furnishings through the carriage).

The master bedroom also features twin vintage mahogany armchairs – the perfect spot for a nightcap – and open the sliding door to your own private outdoor bath with polished brass tapware, surrounded by lush greenery and climbing vines. For couples, this as romantic as it gets! The main bathroom in the carriage has a shower, art deco washstand, and luxury Grampian Goods Co. amenities.

All rooms have been richly decorated with the late Victorian period and the steampunk movement in mind. Warm wooden antique furniture, ornate chandeliers, pressed metal and wood panelling; deep red velvet curtains, leather lounge, exposed piping and gloss black floors, all create an interior that evokes feelings of nostalgic happiness.

The small but fully-functional kitchen with stove & oven is a delight to cook in. Basic provisions such as olive oil, spices, tea & coffee are provided…and enjoy your morning coffee from the Italian stove-top coffee maker or French press. The wood fire in the living room will keep you toasty of an evening, and there’s also split-system air-conditioning for warmer months.

There’s no TV, but WiFi is available, along with a stereo and selection of books & board games. Outside, it’s quiet and peaceful, with leafy trees, bird life, and garden with outdoor setting to relax in. Stay in this charming and truly unique carriage with its strong sense of a bygone era, and you may never want to depart.