Byron Bay railway station explained

Byron Bay
Type:Former railway station
Mullumbimby · Lismore
Style:Australian closed station
Address:Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Coordinates:-28.6445°N 153.6116°W
Distance:882.66 kilometres from Central
Line:Murwillumbah
Structure:Ground
Platform:1
Tracks:2
Opened:15 May 1894
Closed:16 May 2004
Accessible:Yes
Owned:Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operator:NSW TrainLink

Byron Bay railway station is a former railway station located on the Murwillumbah line in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia. It opened on 15 May 1894 and closed on 16 May 2004, when the line from Casino was closed. The station complex was built from 1894 to 1913. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[1] [2] [3]

Station today

Despite no longer being served by trains, the station remains open as a NSW TrainLink booking office. A pub occupies a building at the southern end of the platform.[4]

The station forecourt is served by NSW TrainLink coach services to Grafton, Casino, Tweed Heads, Surfers Paradise and Brisbane, Greyhound Australia services to Brisbane, and Sydney,[5] and Premier Motor Service services to Brisbane, Lismore and Sydney.[6]

It is also serviced by minibus operators to Ballina, Gold Coast, and Brisbane Airports,[7] [8] and local bus operators Ballina Buslines and Blanch's Bus Company.[9] [10]

The Byron Bay Railroad Company commenced a rail service to Byron Bay with a 660/720 class railcar from its resort three kilometres north of the town in December 2017.[11] [12] However, it does not extend to the existing station, terminating north of the Lawson Street level crossing some away.[13] [14] [15]

Description

The heritage-listed complex includes a timber station building in a type 4 timber standard roadside design with a brick-faced platform that was completed in 1894. A timber shed was also completed in 1894, while a timber skillion roofed signal box was completed in 1913. A water tower on Butler Street with a brick base and rivetted iron tank also dates from 1894.

Platforms and services

Byron Bay had one platform, with a passing loop and siding at the northern end of the station. It was served by trains from Sydney including the North Coast Mail until 1973 when replaced by the Gold Coast Motorail which in February 1990 was replaced by an XPT service.[16]

Heritage listing

Byron Bay station group is a coherent group of railway buildings with good detailing and containing a number of unusual features including the round water tank on a brick base and the railway hotel attached to the station building. The station building is an excellent example of the timber standard roadside type and the location of the station and residence in the main street of Byron bay contribute in a significant way to the streetscape of the town. The water tank is one of two tanks of this design known to survive and is therefore of high significance.[1]

Byron Bay railway station was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.[1]

The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

This item is assessed as historically rare. This item is assessed as scientifically rare. This item is assessed as arch. rare. This item is assessed as socially rare.[1]

See also

References

Attribution

Notes and References

  1. 01107. 2 June 2018.
  2. http://www.nswrail.net/locations/show.php?name=NSW:Byron+Bay&line=NSW:murwillumbah:0 Byron Bay Station
  3. http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/afc4815bcc4a10ceca256f56001b4a51/$FILE/Final%20Report.pdf Closure of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail service
  4. http://therailsbyronbay.com/index.php/about-the-rails About the Rails
  5. https://www.greyhound.com.au/information/timetables Timetables
  6. http://www.premierms.com.au/newhome/TimeTableSelect.asp Timetables
  7. http://www.byronbayshuttle.com.au/ Home
  8. https://byronbay.xcede.com.au/?atrkid=V1ADW62342577-13784431944-k-byron%20bay%20airport%20shuttle-48938391624-p-g-m-1t1 Home
  9. https://www.buslinesgroup.com.au/ballina-maps-timetables Timetables
  10. http://blanchs.com.au/timetables/ Timetables
  11. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-16/world-first-solar-train-the-brainchild-of-byron-bay-millionaire/9265522 World first solar train now leaving the platform in Byron Bay with zero emissions
  12. https://www.railexpress.com.au/solar-train-enters-service-in-byron-bay/ Solar train enters service in Byron Bay
  13. News: Movement at the station - light rail for Byron Bay?. ABC News. 6 May 2015. 1 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200401034417/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-06/light-rail/6447930. 1 April 2020. live.
  14. News: A 3km train line could be serving Byron Bay by the end of the year. Gold Coast Bulletin. 19 May 2015. 1 April 2020.
  15. http://northbyronbeachresort.com.au/rail-shuttle/ Byron Bay Train
  16. "The New Timetable" Railway Digest March 1990 page 94