FAIRFIELD RAILWAY STATION
Station Street FAIRFIELD, Darebin City
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Statement of Significance
The station building complex at Fairfield was erected in 1911 under a contract signed by the Lang Brothers on the 26th. April of that year. It was designed by the Way and Works Branch of the Victorian Railways Department following the formation of the chief architect's office when J.W.Hardy was the chief architect.
It is historically, aesthetically and socially significant.
It is historically significant (Criterion A) as the passenger and goods station for its locality since construction in 1911, indirectly recalling its opening in 1888 and remaining in use for its original purpose at present. It is important also for its capacity to offer an insight into the important work of the chief architect's office following its establishment in 1908 when the Railways Department was engaged in the improvement of station facilities across the network in response to unprecedented traffic gowth. Whilst this design compares closely with Montague (demolished) and loosely with nearby Westgarth, it appears not to be one of a number of similar stations, the adoption of the Arts and Crafts mode, however, enabling it to be readily identified with the early work of the chief architect's office.
It is aesthetically important (Criterion E) as an increasingly rare (Criterion B) substantially complete railway complex of the Post Federation period (Criterion D), the Arts and Crafts motifs including strapwork, spandrels, fibro cement slates and rough cast work being hall marks of J. W. Hardy's office at the time. Situated at the southern entry to the Station Street shopping centre, the complex, complete with signal box, imparts character to the centre and has become a local icon, valued by the community.
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FAIRFIELD RAILWAY STATION - Physical Description 1
A complex of railway buildings consisting of up and downside station buildings, platforms, footbridge and signal box (see separate data sheet). The main (down side) station building is a timber framed Arts and Crafts influenced structure with a fibro-cement slate gable roof, terra cotta ridging and with strapwork and roughcast to the vented gable ends. The weatherboards are rusticated. There is a standard cantilevered verandah with ripple iron curtain and rough cast chimneys with terra cotta pots.
The down end, formerly accommodating the closets, has been demolished since 1995. There is an open booking lobby at the up end giving direct access to the footbridge and platform, the posts supporting the superstructure having Arts and Crafts spandrels. The station office adjoins with signal frame bay and former waiting room at the down end. There is a recent entrance in the roadside elevation provided following the conversion of the building to office space. There are pressed metal linings internally.
The smaller downside building with cantilevered verandah is in the same style and consists of an open booking lobby giving direct access to the platform and footbridge and an office and waiting room, open to the platform.
The timber framed footbridge has steel main girders with rebuilt corrugated iron sheeting to the main span replacing pickets in situ in 1981when first inspected. The approach spans have wire mesh fences and there are pipe railings to the balustrades for the steps. The steps and approach spans have timber framing with cross bracing characteristic for structures of the type.
FAIRFIELD RAILWAY STATION - Integrity
Condition: Sound. Integrity: High, picket fences replaced with wire mesh, minor recent structures, station building no longer manned. Secondary building between main station building and signal box demolished prior to 1981. The footbridge has been truncated at its northern end, the removed span formerly giving access across the goods siding.
FAIRFIELD RAILWAY STATION - Historical Australian Themes
3. Developing local, regional and national economies
3.7 Moving goods and people
3.7.3.1 Building and maintaining railwaysHeritage Study and Grading
Darebin - Darebin Heritage Review
Author: Andrew Ward
Year: 2000
Grading:
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FULHAM GRANGE STATION [OUTER CIRCLE LINE], FAIRFIELDVictorian Heritage Inventory
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ACRASIAVictorian Heritage Inventory
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QUARRY & HOUSEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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