Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed

Statement of Significance

Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed, comprising the stone and brick quoin walled and corrugated iron roofed railway station, the timber framed corrugated iron clad good shed, the timber framed corrugated iron motor shed and the timber framed corrugated iron electrical engineer’s office, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:

the aesthetic value of the building in relation to their design and use of construction materials;

the place contributes to the townscape as a significant component at a former point of entry and as a part of a precinct containing several important heritage places;

the place has historic value as it was one of the two earliest government-built railway complexes in Western Australia.

the place reflects the rapid growth of Coolgardie, following the discovery of the eastern goldfields, which created one of the most important goldrushes in the history of Australia;

the place has association with an eminent Chief Architect from the Public Works Department, George Temple Poole, who was responsible for the design of a large number of public buildings in the state. The place is also associated with the State Engineer-in-Chief, C. Y. O’Connor, who was responsible for effecting the development of the goldfields through the establishment of a railway network and permanent water supply, as well as many other engineering achievements throughout Western Australia;

the place demonstrates a simple elegance and grace, the Coolgardie Railway Station building as an interpretation of Federation Academic Classical and Federation Free Classical architecture, and the goods shed, simply as a very fine industrial structure that combines well with the remaining buildings on site that demonstrate the nature of a late 19th Century railway station complex;

the place has social value for its role in the transportation of people and supplies, improvement in the living conditions and as a symbol of Coolgardie’s former prosperity contributing to the community’s sense of continuity of place as a museum;

the buildings are of comparative rarity as they are amongst a small number of late 19th Century railway buildings to survive without being obscured by large scale change and redevelopment; and,

the place is representative of major railway stations of the late 19th Century and is able to demonstrate, with the aid of interpretation, the manner in which a railway complex operated with a barracks accommodation and ancillary facilities, both within its contemporary curtilage and immediately beyond to the living accommodation that was build for the Resident Engineer, Station Master and platelayers.

Aesthetic Value
The group of buildings and intervening spaces comprising the remaining evidence of the Coolgardie station yard have a moderate degree of importance to the community for their aesthetic characteristics, more so as a formerly well composed set of places in an industrial setting than for their individual aesthetically pleasing characteristics. The two main structures, Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed, are particularly important for their collective effect and their spatial relationship which reveals something of the functional and organisational nature of the site. Each building has its own distinctive aesthetical quality and, together, the group and its open spaces contribute to the community’s sense of history and place.

The elevations of Coolgardie Railway Station are aesthetically pleasing and the simplicity of the design contributes to the charm and elegance of the building. The Goods Shed is an example of a once common type and has an elegant simplicity in its lines.

Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed contributes to the aesthetic values of the setting, by its landmark quality, as a former entry statement to the town.

Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed contributes to the aesthetic values of the setting as part of a precinct containing several important heritage places.

Historic Value
The construction of Coolgardie Railway Station building, together with the extension of the railway line from its previous terminus at Southern Cross in 1896, marked the beginning of the development and growth of communications and transport systems into the goldfields. It led to a large improvement in the quality of life for the people living in the goldfields. This also improved production with a flow-on effect which helped to underpin the economy of Western Australia. It also marked the beginning of the State Government’s involvement in the progressive extension of the north-eastern railway network. The completion of the railway had an impact on Coolgardie’s demographic growth, the development of the goldfields and subsequent increase in revenue for the state and the construction of permanent structures in the town of Coolgardie.

Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed is a reflection of the rapid growth of Coolgardie, following the discovery of the eastern goldfields, which created one of the most important goldrushes in the history of Australia, which substantially affected the development of the State of Western Australia and impacted on the economy of Australia.

Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed has association with an eminent architect Chief Architect from the Public Works Department, George Temple Poole, who was responsible for the design of a large number of public buildings in the state, many of which are heritage listed


The place is also associated with the State Engineer-in-Chief, C.Y. O’Connor, who was responsible for effecting the development of the goldfields through the establishment of a railway network and permanent water supply, as well as many other engineering achievements throughout Western Australia.

The opening of the railway was a significant state-wide event. The opening was attended by Governor Smith, the Premier, Sir John Forrest, members of cabinet and many other dignitaries.

The buildings demonstrate a simple elegance and grace, the Coolgardie Railway Station building as an interpretation of Federation Academic Classical and Federation Free Classical architecture, and the goods shed, simply as a very fine industrial structure that combines well with the remaining buildings on site that demonstrate the nature of a late 19th Century railway station complex.

Scientific Value
As one of the state’s earlier railways and one to which so little has been added, the site has some scientific value in its potential to yield information on a late nineteenth century railway station complex.

A wider understanding of the nature of a late nineteenth century railway complex would be available from this site through archaeological and further documentary research. The site has not been built over and much evidence remains of the locations of previous structures and the arrangement of the site.

There is no evidence to suggest that there were any particular technical innovations in the construction of various elements on the site and the documentary evidence suggests that much of what was constructed was of a standard pattern.

Social Value
Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed has social value for its role in the transportation of people and supplies to and from the town of Coolgardie to the western seaboard. The improvement of transportation dramatically improved living conditions for the people of Coolgardie and its surrounding districts, and, in more recent times, the community has claimed it as one of the symbols of Coolgardie’s former prosperity contributing to the community’s sense of continuity of place as a museum.

Rarity
Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed are of comparative rarity as they are amongst a small number of late 19th Century railway buildings to survive without being obscured by large scale change and redevelopment.

The remaining buildings and sites are evidence of a form of railway operation and railway workers’ existence that has long passed and provides evidence of the high status of the various levels of railway workers accommodation in relation to other housing in Coolgardie.

Representativeness
Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed are representative of major railway stations of the late 19th Century, in spite of many adaptive changes to the buildings. The representative value, without interpretation or conservation, is reduced by the loss of the various outbuildings, fences and other site elements.

The place occupies an important position in its capacity to demonstrate, with the aid of interpretaion, the manner in which a railway complex operated with a barracks accommodation and ancillary facilities. The surrounding quarters are an important integral part of the ability of the complex to demonstrate a wide range of station related activities.

Condition
Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed is generally in poor condition.
Detailed considerations of condition may be found in, Considine and Griffiths Architects: ‘Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed, Conservation Plan’ (prepared for the Shire of Coolgardie, August 1996).

Integrity
Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed has a moderate level of integrity. Its integrity geing diminished by the closure of the station and adaptation to a museum.

For a discussion of the integrity of the place, refer to Considine and Griffiths Architects: ‘Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed, Conservation Plan’ (prepared for the Shire of Coolgardie, August 1996).

Authenticity
Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed has a high level of authenticity with great deal of original fabric existing in both structures, much of what is visible is authentic.

For a discussion of the authenticity of the place, refer to Considine and Griffiths Architects: ‘Coolgardie Railway Station and Goods Shed, Conservation Plan’ (prepared for the Shire of Coolgardie, August 1996).

Physical Description

The Coolgardie Railway Station was completed at the same time as the railway line in 1896, as part of the contract for the Southern Cross to Coolgardie railway. The original plans were issued under the authority of the Chief Civil Engineer of Western Australian Railways, C.Y. O’Connor. The specification for the new railway station at Coolgardie is a useful reference and gives a clear picture of the structures to be provided in the initial construction campaign at Coolgardie. It also provides an invaluable source for referencing the nature of the original products and materials used in construction. The works included the construction of the station and platforms, picket fences, a goods shed, the outside loading platfom, a five tonne crane, station master’s house, wood sheds, latrines, two platelayers’ cottages, a 25,000 gallon water tank, an engine shed, two outside engine pits, carriage shed, coal store, turn-table, a sheep and cattle yard, carriage and horse loading platform, road approaches and footpaths.
The station buildings were designed by George Temple Poole, of the Public Works Department, and the tender documents were issued by the Chief Engineer. The line and buildings were constructed by the Wilkie Brothers. Early drawings, figures 4 & 5, show the design of the station to be a simple classical composition with a long platform canopy and a short entrance canopy. Corners and openings have brick quoins and the walls are infilled with stone. Windows are arched head double hung sash and the roof is shown to be ventilated by gablets to both north and south elevations. The plan is based on a central ticket hall and office, with staff accommodation to the east of the hall and the passengers’ facilities to the west.
A plan prepared for the Coolgardie water supply in 1905, locates all the station buildings elements, together with the two platelayers’ cottages (now private houses) and a station master’s house in Woodward Street, the goods shed at its original size, turn-table (demolished), the resident engineer’s house (now a private residence) and all ancillary buildings. An earlier plan, made in 1904, contains similar information and names all structures on the railway station site.
By 1907, the production of gold had declined in Coolgardie and the fields to the east in Kalgoorlie and Boulder overshadowed Coolgardie with large and rich operations. The town began to lose its population to other centres and the suburbs and outlying areas were soon deserted. By the time of the First World War, the population was in steady decline and the war itself contributed to further decline.
The station was under continual pressure for upgrading to meet the changes and growth of the railway system in its early days. Implementation of change was slow. The station’s visitors and occupants endur4ed uncomfortable conditions and patchwork attempts to improve them, if contemporary records are to be given full credit.

History

Constructed 1896
Coolgardie Station Building

1896-1933

The station building design was by George Temple Poole and the rooms of the building consisted of a public hall, ticket office, general waiting room, ladies’ waiting room, general purpose room, latrines and urinals, parcel room, station master’s office, a clerk’s office, a fuel room and a permanent way office. It is a single storey building 51 metres long by 6.4 metres wide in the main hall. The central foyer is 7.6 metres wide, with a portico to the north and platform with a 7.6 metre wide roofed area. The station building style lies somewhere between the Federation Academic Classical style and Federation Free Classical style. It has a pitched roof supported on timber trusses and corrugated iron cladding, with double hung sash windows positioned symmetrically, Ogee gutters are fixed along the eaves and round galvanised iron downpipes fitted off the gutters. Large fireplaces are in five rooms. The original concept remains legible, both in the elevation and plan with little major change to the original concept. The design was conceived as a major entry bay at the centre by wings to the east and west and two further lower wings added to the extreme ends of each of these. The verandah adds emphasis to the entrance at the centre of the building. No drawn documentary evidence is available to record the changes that occurred to the station until 1933, with the exception of a photograph indicating a second storey addition to the western-most room. This photograph is displayed in the station lobby at Coolgardie. The curiously designed addition has since been removed.

1933
Documentary evidence indicates that the Chief Civil Engineer commenced preparations to convert the general waiting room into a bedroom. It is evident that the seats which lined the west and east walls of the general reading room were removed for this purpose.

Fly wire was nailed over several doors and windows of the room used for sleeping purposes; this is an intrusive element still evident today.

1939
Documentary evidence dating from 1939 suggests that the lamp room was converted into a bedroom. However, this indicates that the lamp room was far too small to accommodate a bedroom, the room was only 9 6’ x 8 ‘. It is far more likely that the clerk’s office adjacent to the station master’s office was altered instead, as later dated plans show this to be the case.

1942-1944
By 1942, several rooms had undergone conversions. The station building consisted of two bedrooms, one bedroom was the former clerk’s office adjacent to the station master’s office, the other ws the former general waiting room. No significant changes had been made structurally; the function was simply changed. Between 1942 and 1944, a kitchen had been placed in the former general purpose room and the fireplace in that room removed and replaced with a Metters stove. The ‘out-of-shed’ had taken the place of the former urinals. In the east wing the parcel and cloak room maintained its location, as did the station master’s room and the ladies’ waiting room. The water tanks had been removed and a file room was located where the fuel room used to be. The original lamp room appears to have been incorporated into the ‘out-of-shed’. One window in the ‘out-of-shed’ was blocked-up and a door and platform were added to the north wall.

1945
The existing ladies’ waiting room was converted into a bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom adjacent to the station master’s office was converted into a ladies’ waiting room and the Metters stove removed and converted into an open fireplace. A shower was installed into the lavatory and a sink installed in the room used as the kitchen.

1949
The station approach was resurfaced and white lines indicating 45 degree parking were placed on the bitumen which are still visible today.

1958
A separate barracks building was created in the former resident engineer’s quarters. The rooms previously used as bedrooms in the station building were converted into a ladies’ waiting room and new men’s conveniences.

1972
The last train left Coolgardie station on 28 November 1971. The line was officially closed on 16 September 1974. When the station building were taken over by the Shire of Coolgardie on 5 June converted into a museum, the limestone walls were painted white and two windows on the west side of the northern elevation were poorly filled-in.

The present configuration of the building remains identical to its 1896 shape. The interiors were extensively remodelled to accommodate the changes over the years. The main walls of the existing station building were left in place to a large extent, but many of the spaces have been re-configured, in minor ways, for the change in purpose. The ‘out of shed’ has been converted into lavatories and partitions of lightweight construction divide the room into five separate compartments. The bathroom remains as was, the two bedrooms (original ladies’ waiting room and general waiting room) were converted into a flat for the caretaker. The former ladies’ waiting room now functions as a kitchen and an opening has been made in the east wall providing direct access to the original general waiting room which still functions as a bedroom. No changes have been made to the remaining rooms. All now functions as a bedroom. All now function as exhibition spaces with the exception of the two end rooms on the east wing which are used as a store room and workshop respectively. Refer to the drawings for descriptions of the present functions and parts of the place.

Coolgardie Goods Shed

1896
The goods shed was a first class design, according to the specification. The goods shed is an industrial building form. Its walls were covered in corrugated galvanised iron. Girts are fixed horizontally to accept the iron cladding. The walls retain the original cladding system and colour scheme. The doors were made to roll aside, but only the southern doors remain in place. It had at least one office, judging from documentary evidence, of 2 x 3 inch timbers spaced and framed. The outside of this office was vertically boarded with 1 inch wrought, tongued and grooved boarding, according to the specification, but has since been removed. The interior of the office was lined and sealed with half inch wrought, tongued and grooved and beaded boarding. There is no evidence of the office in the building. Rainwater tanks were placed to each side of the shed; these have since been take down. The goods shed was originally 300 feet long.

1920s
The foods shed was reduced in size. The office may have been removed at this time. It is uncertain what other modification were made in the process. The remaining shed, in its present format, does not comply with any standard pattern. Further, there is no evidence of a ridge vent system ever having been built.

1972
The good shed was taken over by the Shire of Coolgardie and now serves as part of one of the council depots. The changes are not substantial and allow the original concept and organisation to be read.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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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.