Sleeps Hill Tunnels and Viaducts

Let's go exploring around Sleeps Hill! The quarries that were once here were integral to the development of the South Australian railways and industry. It’s also where two old tunnels and viaducts, built back in the late 19th century, once stood as part of the original, and far more torturous line from Adelaide to Nairne.
Apparently the Sleeps Hill ‘station’ wasn’t abandoned until the 50s but in the 1940s, the Sleep's Hill tunnels were guarded. One contained reserves of ammunition, as well as valuable artifacts and paintings that were display items on tour from London.
Since then, the tunnels have been used as mushroom farms and wine storage. Tunnel no 2 recently hosted a fringe show.
Let’s go exploring and see what we can find out about the old and forgotten Sleep’s Hill quarries, tunnels, and viaducts.
Origin of the Name
Sleep's Hill Reserve was named after a man called Samuel Sleep. Arriving in South Australia in the late 1830s, Sleep worked as a shepherd for the South Australia Company in the 1840s and 1850s. Sleep's Hill also refers to a group of quarries that were in use in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Railways
The railway was a valuable means of transport for the quarry industry in Mitcham.
From 1909, a branch line ran parallel to the main line and the Clapham branch to serve the Sleeps Hill quarries. For a short time Sleeps Hill was the Southern extent of SAR suburban train workings, until the double track passed through the new tunnels to Eden Hills in 1916. The station was relocated to the south of the quarry sidings in the 40s and removed when Lynton station was opened in the mid-50s Some of the foundations of the station buildings, the trees from the station gardens, some of the foundations of the quarry crushing plant, and evidence of the alignment of the spur lines and sidings are all that remain.
In 1995, the western track of the double broad gauge track was converted to standard gauge, and the eastern track was doubled to provide one of the five crossing points on the current Adelaide-Belair suburban passenger line.
The Sleep's Hill/Eden Hills section of the line had two tunnels and two viaducts. A third tunnel, with a double track, was completed in 1919, bypassing the original route.
Viaducts - 110 ft and 75 ft high
Tunnels
In the 1940s, the Sleep's Hill tunnels were guarded. One contained reserves of ammunition, as well as valuable artifacts and paintings that were display items on tour from London.
Since then, the tunnels have been used as mushroom farms and wine storage. Tunnel no 2 recently hosted a fringe show.
Thanks for watching!
CREDITS:
Historic images are public domain or used with permission.
ehive.com/collections/200697/...
nrm.org.au/

[@slepper98]

Nice work, nothing better than the old tunnels and bridges. Cheers.

[@Outdoorstype]

You got that right!

[@sausagesandwichSA]

Excellent mate, lived nearby for many years and remember the sheds full of mushroom boxes, which were also home to a local homeless couple. Haven't seen them for many years now but when the sheds went they had a few different spots they'd sleep.

[@skybug3]

Good to see this spot again. A few decades ago when my knees were still good for it, rode a mountain bike in on the Shepherds Hill track to reach the tunnel entrance. Old railway wheels and axles in the scrub below the tunnel.

[@Outdoorstype]

It's interesting how railway rubbish sometimes just gets left behind isn't it? Thanks for watching!

[@jandrew0639]

As always, very interesting.

[@Outdoorstype]

Glad you think so!

[@Antony_Jenner]

Thanks Mike awesome vid.

[@Outdoorstype]

Thanks for watching legend!

[@EZ-df1cm]

Love seeing local stuff, keep em coming mate. I'm a Gawler local.

[@Outdoorstype]

Thanks, will do!

[@user-nu1dd8tx5n]

I went to the Fringe show. It was great and we got a talk from the owner!

[@Outdoorstype]

That's so awesome that you got that personal introduction. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@jeremykemp5845]

If you follow the trail over to the main line, you can access the sleeps hill track that way too. It also gives you a trail to get to the concrete abutment that was between the two viaducts. I agree walking down to the old tunnel is fun but the climb back out can be torture. Great video as always, Mike

[@Outdoorstype]

Ah that might be why I saw a bloke walking his dogs along what seemed like right next to the mainline.