Ottoman Railway Station

The Beersheba Turkish Railway Station is a well-preserved Ottoman building dating from 1915, sitting west of the Old City near the edge of the early town plan. The station was the terminus of a branch line constructed to supply Ottoman forces during World War I and played a direct role in the pivotal Battle of Beersheba in October 1917.

The building has been restored and now serves as a heritage site. The simple stone structure — arched windows, thick walls, a platform canopy — is an evocative piece of the First World War landscape, and the surrounding area still has a quiet, somewhat forsaken quality that suits its history. A small exhibition inside documents the station's wartime role.

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A story
The station was built in 1915 at the end of a branch line from the main Hejaz Railway — part of the Ottoman strategy to extend supply lines into the Sinai during World War I. Capturing the station was a key objective for British and ANZAC forces in the 1917 Battle of Beersheba. The charge of the Australian Light Horse that took the town began just east of here.