YARRAVILLE RAILWAY STATION COMPLEX

15 GOULBURN STREET AND 13 MURRAY STREET YARRAVILLE, MARIBYRNONG CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

View north from the Anderson Street Railway Crossing shows main structures of the complex

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    YARRAVILLE RAILWAY STATION COMPLEX - History

    Establishment of the Williamstown Railway Line  

    The Melbourne Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company (MMA&MRR Co) was formed in 1853 to construct a rail link to port facilities at Williamstown as well as the railway line north to Echuca, within seven years. Infrastructure projects of such scale soon proved to be financially unsustainable for private companies such as MMA& MRR Co. In May 1856, the Government established the Victorian Railways (VR) Department to take over the operation of the company and the faltering railway project. [1] 
    
    

    The Williamstown Railway Line and the Footscray to Sunbury Line were officially opened as the first Victorian 

    Government railway lines on 13 January 1859. Stations on the Williamstown Line at that time included Spencer Street, North Melbourne, Footscray, Newport, Williamstown Beach, North Williamstown and Williamstown.    
    
    

    The Yarraville Railway Station was officially opened on the 20 November 1871. [2] Its development is summarised below. 
    
    

    Development of the Yarraville Railway Station Complex  

    
    1871
    The official opening of the station. It was small in scale and comprised mainly temporary platforms and simple timber shelters for passengers. [3]
    
    1871-early 1880s
    The station was soon proved inadequate for the growing population, industries, and businesses in Yarraville. Throughout the 1870s and 80s, the local community demanded better services and station facilities to accommodate the increasing numbers of passengers. The platforms had become too narrow, and the ticket office was too close to the Anderson Street Level Crossing, creating a hazardous environment for rushing commuters, which resulted in several fatal accidents.
    
    1883-87
    In 1883-87, major upgrade works at the station finally took place, significantly expanding the complex. These works consisted of the opening of a new goods siding to the east, the widening of the platforms and construction of the first permanent station buildings (see below). 
    
    Early 1880s
    Opening of Goods Siding. This short section of track departed the main line on the south of Anderson Street. It ran alongside the downside platform and re-joined the railway track near Castlemaine Street on the north.   
    
    1884
    A set of hand-operated crossing gates were installed on the Anderson Street level crossing by 1884.
    
    1885

    • The upside and downside platforms were widened, with pedestrian ramps created on the southern end of both platforms to provide better access. 
    • A footbridge was constructed over the railway line to connect both sides of the station and provide safer access for passengers.
    • New buildings, including a waiting room and booking office, were proposed for the upside. The contract was granted to WE White, who completed these timber buildings by February 1886 in accordance with plans designed by the Victorian Railways. The designer remains unclear. [4] The works include 1) an L-shaped waiting room building, which contained men’s and women’s waiting areas. It had a northern extension projecting onto Birmingham Street (then Sydney Street), and 2) a freestanding booking office located further southwest, with its front facade (with verandah) facing north. 
    • On the downside, a galvanised-iron shelter shed was already in place, as depicted in the 1885 plan. 

    1887-88
    In January 1887, the Victorian Railways awarded the tender to construct a Stationmaster’s Residence in Yarraville to PJ Corbel. [5] The weatherboard residence, as depicted in the 1885 plan, was to be located on the Victorian Railways land (now 13 Murray Street) to the immediate west of the Yarraville Railway Station. Evidence suggests the residence was completed by late 1887. The first resident Stationmaster was William Arthur Gregory, who moved there by January 1888 and remained until c.1892. [6] The house continued to function as a Stationmaster’s Residence until at least the 1940s, providing accommodation for Frank Hattam (1892), John Dewsnap (1896), Charles Owen (1900-1910s), William Deacon (1920), Timothy Gleason (1925) and Marcus O’Donnell (1930-45). [7] The residence remained a Victorian Railways property until 1996. [8] 
     
    In the early 1890s the Stationmaster’s Residence was separated from the Yarraville Railway Station Complex through the creation of an easement (Birmingham Street). It became part of the residential streetscape of Murray Street following the subsequent housing development of that street. 

    
    1890

    The Interlocking Railway Crossing Gates (deregistered, formerly VHR H1028) on Anderson Street were installed. [9]
    
    1892-93
    The upside waiting room building burnt down on the 22 July 1892. [10] In December, Victorian Railways granted a contract for new station buildings to Richard L Gray. In 1893, Gray completed the brick Upside Station Building based on the Victorian Railway design. The identity of the designer remains unknown. [11] The contract specification mentions both ‘ladies toilets’ and ‘lavatory’, implying that the Male Toilet Blocks were constructed at the same time.
    
    Andrew Ward observes that the Upside Station Building was consistent with the design principle favoured by Charles Speight (1838-1901), Victorian Railway Commissioner from 1883-92. [12] Speight preferred grand, solid and well-planned station buildings. He applied this design approach to many of the station buildings constructed during his tenure. Other comparable examples in the late 1880s include Brighton Beach (1889, VHR H1077) and Ringwood (1889, VHR H1587). [13] Altogether with the Yarraville Upside Station Building, these station buildings are assessed by Ward as being the standard designs that ‘marked the close of the Speight era.’ [14]
    
    1893-94
    Further Goods Siding work took place, as depicted in the 1891 plan (revised in 1893-94, see below). Another set of tracks was constructed to the east of the sidings as to provide standing rooms for trucks. The standing room was later extended further northward and re-emerged with the railway line at the Somerville Road Level Crossing.
    
    1900-10s
    By the early 1900s, the Yarraville Railway Station had become a major passenger hub and freight centre on the Williamstown Line.
    
    In the 1910s, a more substantial timber Downside Shelter with gabled roof was constructed on the south end of the downside platform. The cast-iron shelter and booking office were subsequently removed. The Downside Shelter is captured by the 1910s photo taken from the Anderson Street Level Crossing.
    
    1916
    A pedestrian subway was constructed in 1916 to replace the footbridge. [15] It is speculated that the footbridge was removed to accommodate the overhead infrastructure required for the electrification of the metropolitan network.
    
    1920
    Electrification of the Williamstown Railway Line.
    
    1922

    • Further works took place at the brick Upside Station Building, including internal reconfiguration, alteration to the front (Birmingham Street) entrance and relocation of a chimney. The original southern chimney was removed and relocated to its eastern elevation. 
    • A brick Booking Hall was constructed on the south elevation of the Upside Station Building.
    • In October, at the suggestion of the Railway Commissioners, Footscray City Council and the Commonwealth Motor Bus Company Ltd initiated a discussion regarding a bus service between Yarraville and Melbourne. It was anticipated that the bus service would provide a cheaper and more comfortable alternative to the overcrowded trains during rush hours. The proposed bus route was to begin at the corner of Anderson and Fehon Streets and terminate in the Melbourne CBD, going through Footscray. [16] 

    1927
    A double-storey, brick Signal Box was constructed on the south of the upside platform. [17]
    
    1935
    Two brick shops were constructed c.1935-6 on the western side of the station and were subsequently assigned nos. 27-29 Birmingham Street. The shops were used as hairdressing salon and confectionary store until 1974. [18] 

     
    1946-50
    The Yarraville Station Bus Interchange (referred to as Bus Terminal in Council records) was constructed between 1946 and 1949. [19] In August 1949, Footscray City Council discussed the installation of an electric clock at the interchange building. [20]
    
     1969-2000s 

    • Use of the Goods Sidings ceased in 1969. The yard was converted into a carpark around the late 1990s and early 2000s. 
    • In 1994, the Interlocking Railway Crossing Gates (deregistered, formerly VHR H1028) were included in the VHR. 
    • The Signal Box was decommissioned in c.1995. 
    • The Stationmaster’s Residence was sold by the Victorian Railways and subsequently became a private residence. The southern section of the property was excised in 1998 and became the site of a separate housing development. [21] 
    • The pedestrian underpass was infilled in c 1990s to early 2000s. 

    Endnote 

    1.  GJM heritage (2020). State-level Heritage Assessment: Williamstown Railway Line, p. 8. 
    2.  “Opening of Yarraville”, The Argus¸18 November 1871, p1. 
    3. “Yarraville – To the editor of the Age”. The Age, 19 September 1873, p 3. 
    4.  PROV, VPRS 17077/P1, Contract No 2309/1403 and 2158. 
    5.  "Railway Tenders”, The Herald (Melbourne), 4 Jan 1887, p 3. 
    6. City of Footscray Rate Book 
    7. Sands and McDougall Directories 
    8. Certificate of Title Volume 10269 Folio 488 
    9.  Heritage Victoria. Statement of Significance for Interlocking Railway Crossing Gates (H1028). 
    10. “Fire at the Yarraville Railway Station” in Melbourne Weekly Times, 23 July 1892, p 15. 
    11. PROV, VPRS 17077/P1, Contract No 4956/2411 
    12. Ward (2019) Story of stations, p 256 
    13. Ibid, pp 253-256. 
    14. Ibid, p 253. 
    15. PROV, VPRS 8600/P1, Unit 135 
    16. “Motor buses for Footscray and Yarraville” in Independent (Footscray), 21 October 1922, p 4. 
    17. Heritage Victoria. Statement of Significance for Interlocking Railway Crossing Gates (H1028). 
    18. Sands and McDougall Directories 
    19. The building is not captured by the 1945 aerial photo, indicating it was built after this date. 
    20. PROV, VPRS 5338/P0, Unit 36, City of Footscray Council Minute Book 1949, p 317. 
    21. Landata, Plan of subdivision PS 417430A 

    Selected bibliography 

    Australian Railway Historical Society Victorian Division. Divisional Diary, January 1972.
    Barnard, J, Butler, G, Gilfedder, F & Vine G. (2001). Maribyrnong Heritage Review.
    Newspaper articles, as cited.
    PROV, VA 1007 Melbourne Water Corporation, VPRS 8600/P1 Survey Field Books, Book Nos 82, 161, 1797 and 2245
    PROV, VA 4616 Victorian Rail Track (Vic Track), VPRS 17077/P1 Contract Files, Contract No 4956/2411 – Yarraville Railway Line
    PROV, VA 4616 Victorian Rail Track (Vic Track), VPRS 17077/P1 Contract Files, Contract Nos 2309/1403 and 2158 – Yarraville Railway Line contract for station.
    PROV, VA 4616 Victorian Rail Track (Vic Track), VPRS 17400/P0001 Aerial photographs of Victorian Railway Line Sections, North Melbourne-Williamstown 1962, Newport-Altona 1962, 1969, Footscray-St Albans 1969, 1970, 1962, 1964
    PROV, VA 640 Footscray City, VPRS 5338/P0 Council minutes books, 1945-1949 Sands and McDougall Directories
    Ward, A. (2019). A story of stations: the architecture of Victoria’s railways in the Nineteenth Century. Williamstown, Victoria: Australian Railway Historical Society Victorian Division Inc 
    
    

    Permit Exemptions

    YARRAVILLE RAILWAY STATION COMPLEX - Permit Exemptions

    General Exemptions:

    General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

    Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

    Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

    Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

    Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

    Permit Exemption Policy

    YARRAVILLE RAILWAY STATION COMPLEX - Permit Exemption Policy

    General Exemptions 

    General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the VHR. General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which do not harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Act. 
    
    

    Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions. 
    
    

    Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here
    
    

    Specific Exemptions 

    The works and activities below are not considered to cause harm to the cultural heritage significance of the Yarraville Railway station Complexsubject to the following guidelines and conditions:  
    
    

    Guidelines  

    1.   Where there is an inconsistency between permit exemptions specific to the registered place or object (‘specific exemptions’) established in accordance with either section 49(3) or section 92(3) of the Act and general exemptions established in accordance with section 92(1) of the Act specific exemptions will prevail to the extent of any inconsistency.  
    
    

    2.   In specific exemptions, words have the same meaning as in the Act, unless otherwise indicated. Where there is an inconsistency between specific exemptions and the Act, the Act will prevail to the extent of any inconsistency.  
    
    

    3.   Nothing in specific exemptions obviates the responsibility of a proponent to obtain the consent of the owner of the registered place or object, or if the registered place or object is situated on Crown Land the land manager as defined in the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, prior to undertaking works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions.   
    
    

    4.   If a Cultural Heritage Management Plan in accordance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 is required for works covered by specific exemptions, specific exemptions will apply only if the Cultural Heritage Management Plan has been approved prior to works or activities commencing. Where there is an inconsistency between specific exemptions and a Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the relevant works and activities, Heritage Victoria must be contacted for advice on the appropriate approval pathway.   
    
    

    5.   Specific exemptions do not constitute approvals, authorisations or exemptions under any other legislation, Local Government, State Government or Commonwealth Government requirements, including but not limited to the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth). Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to obtain relevant planning, building or environmental approvals from the responsible authority where applicable.  
    
    

    6.   Care should be taken when working with heritage buildings and objects, as historic fabric may contain dangerous and poisonous materials (for example lead paint and asbestos). Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn 
    
    

    at all times. If you are unsure, seek advice from a qualified heritage architect, heritage consultant or local Council heritage advisor.   
    
    

    7.   The presence of unsafe materials (for example asbestos, lead paint etc) at a registered place or object does not automatically exempt remedial works or activities in accordance with this category. Approvals under Part 5 of the Act must be obtained to undertake works or activities that are not expressly exempted by the below specific exemptions.  
    
    

    8.   All works should be informed by a Conservation Management Plan prepared for the place or object. The Executive Director is not bound by any Conservation Management Plan and permits still must be obtained for works suggested in any Conservation Management Plan.  
    
    

    Conditions  

    1.   All works or activities permitted under specific exemptions must be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents harm to the registered place or object. Harm includes moving, removing or damaging any part of the registered place or object that contributes to its cultural heritage significance.  
    
    

    2.   If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the registered place are revealed relating to its cultural heritage significance, including but not limited to historical archaeological remains, such as features, deposits or artefacts, then works must cease and Heritage Victoria notified as soon as possible.  
    
    

    3.   If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any Aboriginal cultural heritage is discovered or exposed at any time, all works must cease and the Secretary (as defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006) must be contacted immediately to ascertain requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.  
    
    

    4.   If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any munitions or other potentially explosive artefacts are discovered, Victoria Police is to be immediately alerted and the site is to be immediately cleared of all personnel.   
    
    

    5.   If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any suspected human remains are found the works or activities must cease. The remains must be left in place and protected from harm or damage. Victoria Police and the State Coroner’s Office must be notified immediately. If there are reasonable grounds to believe that the remains are Aboriginal, the State Emergency Control Centre must be immediately notified on 1300 888 544, and, as required under s.17(3)(b) of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, all details about the location and nature of the human remains must be provided to the Secretary (as defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. 

    
    

    Exempt works and activities 

    
    

    Public toilets at the Station and Bus Interchange  

    • Refurbishment of existing toilets, including removal, installation or replacement of sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, wall and floor coverings, providing there is no damage to or alteration of the original structure or fabric.  

    Shops  

    • Any internal modifications to the building, including the alteration or replacement of any non-original fitout of commercial tenancies. 
    • Removal or replacement of non-original door and window furniture.  

    
    

    Soft landscaping 

    • Removal, pruning and lopping of all vegetation and trees.  

    
    

    Former stationmaster's residence 

    1.  All interior alterations and redecoration of the new rear portion of the residence including the living/dining, kitchen, laundry and rear bedroom. 
    2.  All non-structural internal alterations to the front rooms of the residence comprising the hallway, lounge, front bedroom (east side), front bedroom (westside), second bedroom (westside) and bathroom. 
    3.  All redecoration of the front rooms of the residence comprising the hallway, lounge, front bedroom (east side), front bedroom (westside), second bedroom (westside) and bathroom. 
    4.  Conversion and installation of a bathroom within the second bedroom from the front on the west side of the residence. 
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