BELL RAILWAY STATION ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRECINCT
363/363A BELL STREET, PRESTON VIC 3072
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Statement of Significance
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BELL RAILWAY STATION ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRECINCT - History
Despite the construction of railway lines in other parts of Melbourne and regional Victoria from the 1850s, a railway line to Preston was not constructed until the late 1880s. Support for the construction of a railway line to Preston first commenced in the mid-nineteenth century, continuing into the 1880s when meetings were held demanding a line to the area. The lack of a rail service had hindered development in Preston until this time, although it has been stated that that there was an increased interest in the ‘possibilities of Preston as residential land in the prosperous 1880s, despite its poor transport connections with Melbourne’. A route to Whittlesea via Royal Park, North Fitzroy, Thornbury, Preston and Reservoir was finally proposed, and the ‘Fitzroy and Whittlesea Line’ was constructed in the late 1880s, opening on 23 December 1889. The ‘Collingwood loop’ was subsequently constructed in 1904, providing a direct line for passengers from Whittlesea and Preston into the city. The gatehouse to the north of Oakover Road was constructed by 1909 with associated oubuildings, pan closet and boundary fencing. By 1945, the gatehouse had been modified or replaced, and a small structure had been constructed on the site, adjacent to the gatehouse to the north. The gatehouse and adjacent small structure were removed between 1984 and 2009.BELL RAILWAY STATION ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRECINCT - Interpretation of Site
The Oakover Road gatehouse was constructed by 1909 on the north-east corner of the Oakover Road level crossing, at this time comprising an irregular shaped building form with a small timber portico facing the railway line, associated boundary fence and pan closet (Figure 1). By 1945, the building had been altered or replaced to a rectangular building form, and the adjacent building had been constructed (Figure 2). This form is maintained throughout the mid twentieth century (Figure 3). The gatehouse and adjacent structures were demolished between 1984 (Figure 4) and 2009 (Figure 5). The location of the gatehouse appears to have remained undeveloped since this time, but has been variously disturbed by the installation of automatic boom gates, pedestrian level crossing gates/fencing and associated infrastructure, utility installations and alterations to the sidings to the north of the gatehouse. An additional structure is shown on the west side of railway line, on the Oakover Road level crossing, on the 1945 and 1984 aerial images (although a building in this location is not indicated on the 1963 plan at Figure 3). This building had also been removed by 2009, although the location of this building has been entirely disturbed by the installation of boom and pedestrian level crossing gates.
Heritage Inventory Description
BELL RAILWAY STATION ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRECINCT - Heritage Inventory Description
The site is located on the north-east corner of the Oakover Road level crossing, to the north of the pedestrian crossing. It is an open area of unvegetated soil and ballast on the east side of the Mernda rail line. Railway/utility services are located within the site and a contemporary cyclone fence runs along the east boundary of the site.
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PRESTON TRAMWAY WORKSHOPSVictorian Heritage Register H2031
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JUNCTION HOTELVictorian Heritage Inventory
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BROADHURST TANNERYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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