FORMER DARNUM STATION
RAILWAY AVENUE DARNUM, BAW BAW SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The significant features of the former Darnum railway station comprise the late 19th to early 20th century artefact scatter located in the north of the former rail reserve, the potential features associated with the Granger's House and Stationmaster's Residence, and any remnants of the former tramway. There may also be remnants of the former passenger platform and railway station buildings at the south of the site. The station also played an important role in the timber industry of the region, with several tramways terminating at the railway station. The former Darnum railway station site is of archaeological significance as the potential remains at the site could provide information on the nature of, and activities that took place, at the railway station complex. The station is of historical significance as this site relates to the history of the Gippsland railway line and its association with the expansion of the railway network in Victoria. The station is of significance as the remains at this site are likely to evidence the period in which they were deposited, providing further information about the people who worked at, or travelled via, the railway station, and other activities at the railway station.
Under the terms of the Heritage Act 2017 there is protection for all historical archaeology sites and objects in the state.
Please visit the Heritage Victoria website to find out more about the Heritage Inventory.
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FORMER DARNUM STATION - History
A railway station was built at Darnum on the Gippsland railway line, and the station opened on 4 February 1880 (Figure 1). The township of Darnum also contained a store, a school, and post office and hotel within a couple of years of the railway being established. By the early 1900s, a series of tramways extended from Darnum station north and south to several sawmills in the area (Figure 2). The trams travelled seven miles to transport timber to the railway station. Once timber was cleared in the area, the land was utilised for dairying. Milk was railed to Melbourne on a daily basis from milk depots at Darnum, which had opened in 1912 and 1915. A saleyard was located at the railway station in 1910. Despite land clearing, sawmills continued to operate in the area until 1980 (Victorian Places 2015). The station was closed on 13 September 1983.
The Gippsland railway line between Warragul and Yarragon was duplicated in 1952 and electrified in 1955 (VicSig 19972019). A Gippsland Railway plan indicates that a small part of the railway station reserve to the south of the railway line was purchased by the Country Road Board for construction of the Princes Freeway which occurred in the early 1980s (Figure 3).
A Victorian Railways plan of Darnum railway station (Figure 4) shows the passenger platform and station to the north of the railway line and the goods platform to the south of the railway line. The passenger platform was approached via a ramp from Railway Avenue to the north, along gravel paths. The passenger platform had several station buildings. To the north, adjacent to Railway Avenue, there was the Ganger's House, and to the northwest there was the Station Master's Residence. To the far west, there was a building called House Ward located close to the level crossing. It may have been where the level crossing operator was located. Directly opposite the station, on the corner of Railway Avenue and Wellings Street the Commercial Hotel was situated.
FORMER DARNUM STATION - Historical Significance
The station is of local historical significance as this site relates to the history of the Gippsland railway line and its association with the expansion of the railway network in Victoria. The station has the potential to provide further information about the people who worked at, or travelled via, the railway station, and other activities at the railway station.
FORMER DARNUM STATION - Archaeological Significance
The former Darnum railway station comprise the late 19th to early 20th century artefact scatter located in the north of the former rail reserve. Potential features associated with the site include the Granger's House and Stationmaster's Residence, and any remnants of the former tramway. There may also be remnants of the former passenger platform and railway station buildings at the south of the site. The former Darnum railway station site is of archaeological significance as the site could provide information on the nature of, and activities that took place, at the railway station complex. The station also played an important role in the timber industry of the region, with several tramways terminating at the railway station. The site is currently an open parkland area which appears to have some recent works such as removal of grass cover and installation of utilities. The southern section of the site where the former station and platform are located, are overgrown with vegetation. The site has the potential to contain historical archaeological features, deposits and artefacts.
Heritage Inventory Description
FORMER DARNUM STATION - Heritage Inventory Description
The field survey was confined to the area to the north of the railway line and south of Railway Avenue, Darnum, as ground disturbance to the site through the construction of the Princes Freeway has occurred to the south of the railway line. The area surveyed comprised a large flat open area, parts of which had recently been disturbed by ploughing or stripping of grass cover. This disturbed area was in the western section of the surveyed area (Figure 5). The eastern portion of the surveyed area comprised of native vegetation and grassed areas. To the south of the flat area the ground surface dropped significantly in elevation adjacent to the railway line, which was constructed in a cutting. An informal vehicle track was located between the flat northern area and the railway line. The vehicle track was level and terraced above the railway line (Figure 6). This area also contained some large blocks of concrete (Figure 7). While the northern part of the surveyed area was mostly cleared of vegetation, several large pine trees were located along the top of the embankment flanking the railway line. A large oak tree was located in the western portion of the survey area. The area adjacent to the railway line where the previous passenger platform was located was unable to be accessed due to overgrown vegetation at the time. A large surface scatter of glass and ceramic fragments (approximately 30 m x 30 m) was located where the grass cover had been removed immediately south of Railway Avenue. The density of the artefact scatter was around three artefacts per square metre. It is likely the scatter has been spread out from its original location through the movement of machinery ploughing or stripping of the grass cover. There are also utilities visible, consisting of a manhole and post (approximately two metres apart), which have been installed through the centre of the artefact scatter (Figure 8). This installation would have likely resulted in the relocation of artefacts in an area around five metres in diameter. If the installation consisted of open cabling a large area would have been disturbed. The artefact scatter included a clear glass bottle base (Figure 9) with visible lettering: Cannington Shaw + Co. Makers St Helens. This company operated between 1875 and 1913 in England. A torpedo bottle base was also recorded (Figure 10). The artefact scatter is located to the south of the former hotel location and to the east of the former Ganger's House location, at what was previously the northern entrance to the railway station.
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Darnum War MemorialVic. War Heritage Inventory
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Darriman Hall Honour RollVic. War Heritage Inventory
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Darnum Honour Roll (First World War)Vic. War Heritage Inventory
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