The Old Wee MacGregor Tram Tunnel.

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Well we made it to the Old town of Hightville as it was known in the 1915, an only a few concrete slabs left.

The information board states the tunnel ahead and the MacGregor Mine are classed as extreme 4wd tracks ahead. My friend Graeme decided he was up to the challenge.

Well now in the mighty Ford Ranger we started to climb the hill. Graeme said the sign said follow the red stakes, obviously something I missed. The track up the hill is the track where the old railline use to rest.

This track is very narrow and washed out in section's of the track, also the edge of the track rest on the side of the mountain a steep drop off.


We made it to the top of the mountain where a sign was posted at the entrance to the Old tunnel. Graeme's good driving up the hill got us too this point safely.


The exert from this information board for easier reading.

Wee MacGregor Rail Line
Rail Tunnel

The rail tunnel ahead is unique to Western Queensiand and represents the only example of a rail tunnel west of the Great Divide in Queensland

The tunnel is 77 metres in length and consists of an unlined rocky interior with rough finished concrete portals at each end. Constructed through mostly manual labour, the tunnel allowed access across the rocky ridge to the Wee MacGregor Mine in the valley beyond Construction of the tunnel was completed in March 1915, and formed part of the narrow gauge rail line to Ballara further to the south.

Today the tunnel is home to a small colony of bats. Two species of bats reside in the cool environment of the tunnel. the small inland Cave Bat and the Troughton's Sheathtail Bat The sheathtail bat is quite rare and is only found in the hills of the Argylla Range.


On entering the tunnel which is 77metres in length, concrete wall at the start and finish of the tunnel.


Yes we did see a bat flying around as we walked through the tunnel.


At the other end of the tunnel you can see where the old steam engine travelled to the MacGregor Mine. The track in looked good from this side of the hill but I was definitely wrong about that as we discovered in the next adventure.

The side of the mountain has quartz rock through the mountain. A clear view of what was left of the MacGregor Mine.


Well now walking back through the tunnel different lighting made the tunnel different more pictures taken. You can see some one tried to drive through the tunnel.


Now there is only one way up and one way down. The mighty Ford Ranger had to take the trip stepping down the rocky embankment which was the track we ascended.

Our next adventure was to check out the old MacGregor Mine. This is the track I thought looked good from this side of the mountain anyway, I guess I was wrong.

This blog is getting long I will share our adventure in the next blog. I hope you have enjoyed the history of this area, manual labour of early pioneers using back breaking effort to make the tunnel and track to the mine.






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