 Originally known as the "Powlett River railway", the Wonthaggi line was built extremely rapidly.A branch line from Nyora to Woolamai had already been approved, branching from the South Gippsland line (the "Great Southern Railway") just east of Nyora railway station, but work had not started.In December 1909, a extension of the branch from Woolamai to the Powlett River coalfield was given parliamentary sanction.