Coonamble railway station explained

Coonamble railway station
Coordinates:-30.9557°N 148.3795°W
Map Relief:yes
Location:Coonamble railway line, Coonamble, Coonamble Shire, New South Wales, Australia
Beginning Label:Design period
Owner:Transport Asset Holding Entity
Designation1:New South Wales State Heritage Register
Designation1 Offname:Coonamble Railway Station and Yard Group; 01117
Designation1 Type:state heritage (complex / group)
Designation1 Date:2 April 1999
Designation1 Number:1117
Designation1 Free1name:Type
Designation1 Free1value:Railway Platform / Station
Designation1 Free2name:Category
Designation1 Free2value:Transport – Rail
Designation1 Free3name:Builders

Coonamble railway station is a heritage-listed former railway station on the Coonamble railway line at Coonamble, Coonamble Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[1]

History

The Coonamble railway line was completed to Coonamble in 1903.[2] The original station was burnt to the ground in a May 1910 fire.[3] The station was subsequently rebuilt, and the current station buildings date from this time.[1]

In 2007, media reports suggested that the station was at risk of being demolished after the Australian Rail Track Corporation expressed concern about frequent vandalism causing maintenance and safety issues. The Coonamble Shire Council were looking for a possible tenant at that time to secure the building's future.[4]

The station received $131,045 in federal government heritage funding for protection and conservation works in 2009.[5] The station platform had been recently reconstructed in 2015.[6]

Description

The heritage-listed complex consists of a brick station building in a type 16 pioneer design with an awning, dating from 1910.[1]

The original heritage listing also included a timber goods shed, also from 1910, but it has subsequently been reported that it is no longer extant.

Heritage listing

Coonamble is a site of high significance as a pioneer site with a brick building in "as built" form. It appears to be the only such example in the State, the other brick building of the same type being Narrabri which has been altered. The intactness of the station group is also of significance.

The building is an important civic building, well detailed and proportioned and has the unusual use of rough cast on the gables with non standard timber detailing. The associated buildings add to the completeness of the site giving context to the station building.[1]

Coonamble 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]

References

Attribution

Notes and References

  1. 01117. 2 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Coonamble . nswrail.net . 30 June 2018.
  3. News: COONAMBLE RAILWAY STATION DEVASTATED. . . XLI . 1763 . New South Wales, Australia . 12 May 1910 . 30 June 2018 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Old railway station faces uncertain future . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 22 February 2007 . 30 June 2018.
  5. Heritage Conservation Provides $13.7 Million Boost for NSW Jobs . Federal Minister of Environment and Heritage . 16 October 2009.
  6. Web site: Coonamble Railway Station . Office of Environment and Heritage . State Heritage Inventory . 30 June 2018.