FORMER NORTH WILLIAMSTOWN RAILWAY STATION
5 POWER STREET, WILLIAMSTOWN NORTH VIC 3016
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Statement of Significance
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FORMER NORTH WILLIAMSTOWN RAILWAY STATION - History
North Williamstown Railway Station was originally opened in 1859 as a part of the railway line which ran from Point Gellibrand to Spencer Street. The Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company had initiated the construction of the railway line. However, they ran out of funds in 1856 and the line was completed by the newly formed Victorian Railways Department (Graeme Butler and Associates 2000). The Melbourne to Williamstown railway line was the first to be owned and operated by the Victorian Government. In 1881 there was a fire at the North Williamstown Railway Station. Approximately 100 feet of the up-side platform and a storeroom were destroyed, and the waiting room and office were severely scorched (The Argus 1881, p.7). It is not known if the damaged buildings were reconstructed in the same location as the originals. The location of the original/early station buildings was recorded on both the 1894 and 1911 Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works Plans No.14 and 149 respectively. The up-side station buildings included the main station building, storerooms including a cellar, toilet facilities (likely unsewered pan closets), and various ancillary buildings. The toilet facility at the northern end of the platform was added between 1894 and 1911. The down-side buildings comprised a smaller station building and the signal box. The 1894 plan depicts the station buildings as primarily constructed of timber, with a single masonry structure. In 1912 these station buildings were demolished and replaced with the current ‘Gisborne Style’ buildings (Gard’ner, J., Jarman, R., Coleman, R. and Hogg, J. 2020). However, the new station buildings were not constructed in the same location as the original buildings, instead they are situated slightly to the north. It is not known if parts of the earlier platforms were maintained or if these were entirely replaced. The ’Gisborne Style’ station buildings are still in use today.FORMER NORTH WILLIAMSTOWN RAILWAY STATION - Interpretation of Site
The North Williamstown Railway Station has undergone three major phases of development throughout its history. Its construction in 1859, rebuilding after the fire in 1881 and the demolition of the original buildings in 1912 with the new buildings constructed slightly to the north. The current buildings have undergone several changes as new technology eliminated the need for ticket salespeople and to make allowances for Protective Services Officers etc. However, the overall function of the place as a train station has been maintained since 1859.
Heritage Inventory Description
FORMER NORTH WILLIAMSTOWN RAILWAY STATION - Heritage Inventory Description
The site is within the current North Williamstown Railway Station complex. The former station buildings are currently overlain by established garden beds and concrete/ asphalt footpaths on both the up and down sides. On the up-side, the former station buildings are also partially overlain by the current station building, a grassed area and a bicycle locker. The site may have been disturbed by the root systems of the overlying plants and by the installation and maintenance of varying services in the vicinity.
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FINCHAM AND HOBDAY PIPE ORGANVictorian Heritage Register H2450
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NORTH MELBOURNE POTTERYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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STONY CREEK SLIPWAYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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