Newdegate Railway Precinct

Child Places

• 12721 Newdegate CWA Rooms
• 12722 Coffee Shop (fmr)
• 25245 Newdegate Railway Station Building

Statement of Significance

The precinct represents a way of life, and a significant development in the progress of the Newdegate town and district.

Physical Description

Railway station: 1948
Timber framed with weatherboard cladding and a terracotta tiled roof. The gable roof extends at break pitch along the platform frontage of the building, and is supported by square timber posts. Four doors open onto the platform. The original toilet remains insitu in close proximity to the station.

Newdegate Railway Goods Shed: 1940
Timer framed and clad with vertical sheets of corrugated iron. The roof is skillion.

Newdegate Railway Water Tank: 1926
The water tank is a critical element in the running of the steam trains. The Railway dam was constructed about 2.5 kilometres north of Newdegate, to supply water to the tank which provided an overhead water supply to the trains. In c1978, the tank was dismantled and removed from the site.

Stationmaster's house: 1948
The first stationmaster was appointed in 1947 due to the increase in traffic on the line after World War Two. The stationmaster's house was constructed at the same time as the Railway station. With the decline in rail services, the stationmaster was no longer required. In the early 1970s, the house was relocated to Mitchell St to allow for the construction of the CBH bins, and is privately owned.

Weighbridge: 1930
\In 1930 the weighbridge was installed making the weighing of wheat bags considerably easier than it had previously been. Bags were use until the 1937/38 season when Co-operative Bulk Handling constructed the bulk store in 1937. It was located at the site of the public toilets.

Staff Quarters: 1963
In 1963, 3 houses were relocated from Lake Biddy, for the gangers who had previously lived in Lake Biddy. In 1968 the houses were moved to Lake Grace.

CBH: 1937
In 1937 the first bulk bins were constructed in Newdegate. The place is significant in terms of the
primary grain growing occupation of the region. It is the largest inland receival centre.

History

After Newdegate was first settled in 1922, the promise of a railway as soon as 40,000 acres of wheat was cropped, was fulfilled by the Government. The 1924/25 harvest achieved the requirement and the railway was completed from Lake Grace in 1925, and Newdegate was established as the railhead. 600 people attended the opening. Railway business was originally conducted from small timber cabins. The goods shed was relocated form another site, and re-erected on this site in 1940. In 1947, the first stationmaster was appointed due to the increase in traffic on the line after World War Two. Over the ensuing years a staff of up to three people were required to cater for the passenger and freight traffic. In 1982 the Total Western Transport Company took over the lease of this and other facilities in the railway yard, and continue to use the places for transport purposes. The station is currently vacant.

Integrity/Authenticity

Railway station:
Integrity: Intact/Redeemable
Authenticity: High Degree

Newdegate Railway Goods Shed
Integrity: Intact
Authenticity: High Degree

Condition

Railway station: fair/good Newdegate Railway Goods Shed: Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.