Cherry Gully Tunnel, Heritage railway tunnel in Silverwood, Queensland, Australia
Cherry Gully Tunnel is a railway passage in Silverwood that runs for about 272 meters through basalt rock with distinctive semi-elliptical concrete arches at both ends. The tunnel forms part of the historic Southern railway line connecting Warwick and Stanthorpe.
Built between 1878 and 1880, the tunnel marked a turning point in how Queensland developed its railway infrastructure. It showed the shift from brick construction to concrete methods during a time of expanding rail networks.
The tunnel construction site attracted numerous Irish workers who established temporary camps that evolved into small communities near the construction area.
You can access the tunnel from the outside and view its structure and the surrounding rock face. Be prepared for wet and slippery ground, especially after rain, and watch your footing along the railway line.
The interior has become a winter home for thousands of bent-wing bats, a rare species that uses the cool tunnel as shelter during cold months. This site hosts one of the region's most significant bat populations.
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