Hobsons Bay Railways Heritage Precinct
Land, buildings, landscaping and infrastructure associated with the Melbourne-Williamstown and Melbourne-Newport-Geelong railways WILLIAMSTOWN, Hobsons Bay City
Statement of Significance
The Hobsons Bay Railways Heritage Precinct, comprising the land, buildings, landscaping and infrastructure associated with the Melbourne-Williamstown and Melbourne-Geelong railways established between 1857 and 1940, in Hobsons Bay. The Altona branch line is not included in this precinct.
How is it Significant?The Hobsons Bay Railways Heritage Precinct is of local historic, social, aesthetic and scientific (technical) significance to the City of Hobsons Bay.
Why is it Significant?Historically, it is significant as the first railway constructed by the Victorian Government and played a highly important role in the early development of the fledgling Colony of Victoria by providing a much-needed transport link between the main port at Williamstown and Melbourne. It had an enormous influence upon the development of Williamstown as well as other centres along the route including Newport and Spotswood. It is also significant for its individual components such as the Newport substation which provides evidence of the original metropolitan electrification scheme. (AHC criteria A4, B2 and H1)
Aesthetically, it is significant for individual components such as the Newport substation which is a local landmark and one of the largest and most intact buildings of its type, the stone bridges at Cole Street and Thompson Street, Williamstown that contribute to the historic nineteenth century character of Williamstown, the Williamstown Railway Station building that is a unique demonstration of one of the Government's first station designs, as demonstrated by the platform elevation and verandah and by the platform coping detail and the related Federation and Edwardian station complexes at Williamstown Beach, North Williamstown, Newport and Spotswood. (AHC criteria E1 and F1)
Contributory places in the City of Hobsons Bay include:
Bridges
- Railway-road stone bridges, Cole (Shown in cover image) & Thompson Streets, Williamstown (both 1859 and altered 1916) (q.v.)
- Railway bridge & stone ford over the Laverton Creek, Altona. 1859, rebuilt
- Railway bridge Kororoit Creek, Altona 1859, rebuilt
- Railway bridge Stony Creek, Spotswood 1859, part rebuilt,
- Railway bridge, Cherry Creek, Altona, 1857 rebuilt (q.v.)
Railway Stations
- Newport Railway Station complex and trees, Hall Street & Melbourne Road (q.v.)
- North Williamstown Station (q.v.)
- Spotswood Station complex and Signal Box (q.v.)
- Williamstown Beach Station, Railway Crescent (q.v.)
- Williamstown Station, Hanmer Street (q.v.)
- Paisley Railway Station site, Ross Road, Altona North.
- Commonwealth Oil Refinery (COR) Railway Station site, Kororoit Creek Road, Altona North.
Other buildings, structures and sites
Other buildings, structures and sites
- Assistant Manager's residence, Newport Railway Workshops (former), 57 Champion Road, North Williamstown (q.v.)
- Manager's residence, Newport Railway Workshops (former), 59 Champion Road, North Williamstown (q.v.)
- Newport Railways Workshop & Museum, 2 Champion Road, North Williamstown (q.v.)
- Victorian Railways DC substation (former), 1 Market Street, Newport (q.v.)
- Spotswood Railway Workshops (part) & palm trees, Melbourne Road Spotswood (q.v.)
- Site of Williamstown railways workshops at Point Gellibrand
- Gellibrand Pier former Railway Pier, Williamstown
- Railway Crossing - Keeper's House Hudsons Road, Spotswood, 1910c
- Spotswood Victorian Railways Stores Branch administrative building & stores, trees McLister Street, Spotswood 1922c (q.v.)
- Private spur lines and sidings to industrial sites in Newport and Spotswood.
(Note: there are a number of related sites along this line in other local government areas)
Please note that some heritage places within this precinct may also have an individual citation in this Study.
-
-
-
-
FORMER MORGUE
Victorian Heritage Register H1512 -
WILLIAMSTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL
Victorian Heritage Register H1639
-
RESIDENCE
Victorian Heritage Register H0487
-
'Altona' Homestead (Formerly 'Laverton' Homestead) and Logan Reserve
Hobsons Bay City -
-
-
-
