Williamstown Railway Station Complex
Hanmer Street WILLIAMSTOWN, Hobsons Bay City
Hobsons Bay Railways Heritage Precinct
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Statement of Significance
The Williamstown Railway Station complex, comprising the station buildings constructed in 1859, the Ann Street footbridge and the Thompson Street road bridge, at Hanmer Street, Williamstown.
How is it Significant?The Williamstown Railway Station complex is of local historic, social and aesthetic significance to the City of Hobsons Bay.
Why is it Significant?Historically, it is significant as the oldest railway station in Victoria to survive relatively unaltered and is now one of the earliest groups of timber public buildings in Victoria. It forms part of a valuable complex of early railway elements, which includes road and pedestrian bridges and fencing. The first surviving public building to be completed in Williamstown and symbolic of the town's importance as a deep-water port. (AHC criteria A4 and D2)
Aesthetically, it is significant as a relatively intact example of a very early station, which was specially designed for its location and is notable for its unique elements that include an uncommon attached hipped roof platform canopy. It is the focal point of a valuable complex of early railway elements that also includes the road and pedestrian bridgesandfencing. (AHC criteria B2, E1 and F1)
Note: Included on the Victorian Heritage Register as VHR H1599.
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Williamstown Railway Station Complex - Physical Description 1
A transverse gable timber flush boarded station building with an attached hipped roof canopy set on timber columns. Tuscan order pilasters, set into the track side wall, take the verandah support beams on deeply scrolled brackets which are repeated on the verandah posts, terminating above the capital mouldings. Deep architraves surround openings both on this and other walls; the wide four panel door pairs being hung beneath two panel side-hung top lights and the through way being equipped with a wicket gate pair. Shallow truncated pyramidal mouldings fill the lower panels of these doors. Architraves, multi-pane sash windows and roof vents are the major period elements of other elevations, given later recladding.
The flush boarding has been reclad on three sides with asbestos cement sheet; the chimney cornices removed; an opening closed in on the east elevation and the entrance there altered; what appears to have been pavilions at each end and connecting verandah facing Hanmer Street have been removed. Details such as sign boards, brackets and lights have been added.
Nearby, Mephan Ferguson's Carlton Foundry iron pedestrian bridge (c1880) is of note. The bridge has been raised and rebuilt to allow for electrification.
Williamstown Railway Station Complex - Integrity
External integrity and context
Integrity - Moderate (Station and footbridge)
Condition - Good (Station), Good (Thompson Street bridge), Poor (Ann Street footbridge)Williamstown Railway Station Complex - Historical Australian Themes
Moving Goods and People
Williamstown Railway Station Complex - Physical Description 2
AssociationsVictorian Colonial Government
Williamstown Railway Station Complex - Physical Description 3
Context
Isolated complex but linked with the other early elements on the line, particularly the valuable stone road bridges (1857-).
Heritage Study and Grading
Hobsons Bay - Hobsons Bay Heritage Study
Author: Hobsons Bay City Council
Year: 2006
Grading: Local
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FORMER MORGUEVictorian Heritage Register H1512
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WILLIAMSTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOLVictorian Heritage Register H1639
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TIME BALL TOWERVictorian Heritage Register H1649
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