Kondinin Railway Precinct

Author

Shire of Kondinin

Place Number

11409

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Location

Kondinin

Location Details

Local Government

Kondinin

Region

Wheatbelt

Construction Date

Constructed from 1915

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
RHP - Does not warrant assessment	Current	27 Mar 2020

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	18 Mar 1998	Precincts	Precincts Heritage precincts have been included in this recommendation in order to recognise and conserve the general environment of specific settings within the Quairading Shire. Although the Heritage Act does not provide for Precincts, the Town Planning Scheme Part V, (Appendix 1), does make provision for their recognition and management. Places within a precinct may also be listed individually within the Municipal Inventory. The identified precincts often encompass a combination of places and sites of significance. Individual places and sites have been assessed on their individual significance, and recommendations have been made appropriate to that significance. Within a precinct, the place undergoes an additional evaluation. A number of issues need to be considered prior to any development within the bounds of the precinct. Precinct issues include: the relationships of the places to each other are, the streetscape value, the aesthetics, and the story the places tell as a unit. Precincts The procedure for precincts is outlined in the Town Planning Scheme Section 5.1.3.4., Appendix 1 of this report. The adoption of a precinct i area will be publicly advertised, with submissions invited, prior to implementation. Consideration would be afforded a place, in accordance with Category 3, as well as consideration as a consequence of the relationship to the other places in the precinct. Design guidelines should be prepared, as appropriate for each separate precinct.
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	18 Mar 1998	Category 3	Category 3 Recognition of cultural heritage value; Provide recognition and protection through the processes of the Town Planning Scheme. Recommend that the place is retained and conserved if possible. Photographically record the place prior to any major redevelopment or demolition. Inclusion in the Shire's Town Planning Scheme means a local recognition of the heritage value of a place. Full implication of inclusion in the Town Planning Scheme are outlined in Appendix 1. Should a development application be received for a place, an assessment of the appropriateness of development would be made. Professional advice and consultation would be available, from the Heritage Council of WA, the Shire or specialised consultants, to inform property owners of development options should it be appropriate. Heritage Council and National Trust properties also included in the Town Planning Scheme Provisions.

Child Places

Statement of Significance

The precinct represents the railway line which was responsible for the
subsequent development of the Kondinin town and region.

Physical Description

Kondinin Ladies Rest Room
Goods Shed
Trembath Park
Railway Station
Water tank
Crane/ramp
Stock yards ref no. 2
Weighbridge ref no. 26
Fettlers Quarters ref no. 104
Turnaround SITE
Wheat bin CBH 1937 SITE
Cuseeden's Store SITE

History

In 1905 and 1906, 5.8 million acres of land
was classified for farming, 899,000 acres of which were first class land, but too far away from the then
existing railway infrastructure. Some pioneer settlers took up selections of some of that land in the
Kondinin area.
By 1909, a town was established in Kondinin. In c1911, the town had been planned for a different
location, but the railways put a bend in the proposed line, to what is now Kondinin which was further
east of the selected site. The town and railway were determined, in part, by the availability of a possible
water supply to service the trains and the settlers. The supply was subsequently obtained from
Woorkakanin Rock, a dam was constructed, and the water piped to the overhead water tank at the
railway. The overhead water tank provided water supplies for the steam trains. The goods shed and
wagon shed were also on site.
By 1913, a Kondinin Progress Association had formed, and wrote to the MP, NW Harper, to influence
the survey of the townsite. In 1914, with the railway line imminent, lands were resumed, and the
Surveyor General ordered that the district be surveyed. Surveyor Fox, in charge of the Narrogin lands
Office, surveyed 2 sections of 1/4 acre blocks adjacent to the railway station, thereby creating the
centre of Kondinin town. On 15 March 1915, the Yilliminning railway line from Narrogin, through
Dudinin and Kulin, opened through to Kondinin. The Public Works Department constructed the line
and handed it over to the Railways Department.
The railways practice was to locate towns 25 miles apart along the railway line, with sidings in-between
to facilitate the wheat cartage. However three strong groups emerged in the Kondinin area; Kulin,
Kondinin and Bendering, along the Yilliminning line. The Lands Department agreed to the retention
of the towns close together, although Bendering never progressed as a town, and Kondinin and Kulin
have experienced problems of two centres in close proximity.
With the construction of the line, the railway workers lived in barracks at the railway reserve. Cuseeden
established a store to serve the men on the railway construction. He established his store in about
1914, approximately 1/2 mile north of the existing townsite.
A triangle section of track constructed in 1915, and pointing due east, allowed for the trains to turnaround
as Kondinin was the railhead for a short while until the railway line connected through to
Narembeen in the north, on 22 December 1915. The weighbridge was located in close proximity to
the bagged wheat stacks, approximately opposite the Kondinin Hall.
By 1921, the Kondinin Railway Station had been constructed on the site. The station was located on
the opposite side of the railway line from the town, and proved to be inconvenient. The Ladies Waiting
room near the railway station was the original station at Kondinin prior to the construction of the brick
station in 1921 (demolished 1987). Narembeen subsequently remained the railhead until 16 March
1925, when the line finally connected to Merredin.
In 1937, bulk handling of the grain was introduced at the Kondinin Railway reserve with the advent of a
CBH bulk grain storage bin.
The goods shed and associated loading ramp and crane are still insitu. A workman was killed during
the erection of the crane at the railway station.
By 1974, the railway station was in an unsafe condition, and a public meeting in 1980 resulted in the
demolition of the station in 1987.

Condition

Precinct

Associations

Name	Type	Year From	Year To
WAGR	Architect	1915	-

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	A Webb; "Kondinin-Kalgarin-Hyden Community, Time and Place".	Shire of Kondinin	1988

Place Type

Precinct or Streetscape

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	Transport\Communications	Rail: Other
Present Use	Transport\Communications	Rail: Other

Historic Themes

General	Specific
TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS	Rail & light rail transport

Creation Date

23 Mar 1998

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

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.