Footscray Railway Station
McNab Avenue FOOTSCRAY, Maribyrnong City
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Statement of Significance
Footscray Station is of State historical and architectural significance as an important and elaborate Edwardian railway station with intact original landscape elements. The station and its landscaped surrounds present a rich cultural landscape and built environment. (Criterion A3) Architecturally, a design made more impressive by its unusual configuration. Its "V" plan is distinctive when seen in context of the impressive contemporary landscape and civil engineering works. Andrew Ward (1981) has allotted the highest level of importance to the station in his state-wide study and describes it as '...an architectural tour de force quite rare in stations of this size'. Both the station and gardens have been highly prized for their beauty and enhancement of the local area by past and present residents of Footscray. (Criterion E1) The associated landscaping provides a rare contemporary environmental context.
Historically it has served as a major public building for nearly 90 years and has been a focus of civic pride as demonstrated in the Council sponsored maintenance and development of the adjacent gardens, now sadly neglected. (Butler 1989) (Criterion A4) Both as a portal for commuting in and out of Footscray and as a symbol of civic pride the station reflects the community aspirations. (Criterion G1) The design solution to a difficult junction site are clearly and successfully articulated, enhanced by the elaborate engineering and technical solution to the goods line bypass at the western end.(Criterion F1)
Footscray Conservation Study S.O.S.
Architecturally, a design made more impressive by its unusual configuration. Although possessing similar multi-platform elements to contemporary stations such as Heidelberg and Box Hill, its V-plan is both distinctive and visually exciting when seen in the context of the impressive contemporary landscape and civil engineering works. Historically, it has served as a major Footscray public building for near 90 years.
Australian Heritage Commission (AHC) criteria
The Australian Heritage Commission criteria consist of a set of eight criteria which cover social, aesthetic, scientific, and historic values. Each criterion has sub-criteria written specifically for cultural or natural values. The relevant criteria are:
A.3 richness and diversity of cultural features
A.4 demonstrates well the course and pattern of history, important historic events
E.1 aesthetic importance to the community or cultural group
F.1 design or technological achievement .
G.1 social importance to the community
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Footscray Railway Station - Physical Description 1
Station building and signal box of red brick with associated timber foot-bridges and platforms set in the V junction between two major lines. The arcaded porch entry is the prominent feature from the approach along McNab Avenue with its neglected Edwardian landscaping and the rebuilt footbridge. Pedimented parapet bays face each main line. Styling in red brick and cement render are carried through the station buildings in an Edwardian Baroque manner. Each station building has a cantilevered canopy with a scalloped ripple-iron valence. A small roof lantern lights the entry linked to the booking hall. Rooms are fitted with vertical boarded dados now repainted in overall green. Rail cuttings are an impressive engineering feature. Tree plantings along the perimeter of the precinct relate to both Victorian Railways and Council landscaping and link to the adjacent Railway Reserve landscape.
Footscray Railway Station - Physical Conditions
Good
Footscray Railway Station - Integrity
Generally original except the removal of iron roof cresting, balls from pediments at the entrance, replacement of slate with corrugated iron roofing and sheeting over of windows. The footbridge has been altered a number of times.
Footscray Railway Station - Physical Description 2
Adjacent to the Footscray commercial district with an important Edwardian park (Railway Reserve) as its original public approach. Historically positioned between the pre gold rush settlement and the later commercial hub which developed in the late 19th century.
Footscray Railway Station - Historical Australian Themes
Thematic context
Australian Principal Theme Moving goods and people
PAHT Subtheme: Moving goods and people by rail
Local Theme RailwaysFootscray Railway Station - Physical Description 3
Creation date(s): 1899-1900
Heritage Significance state
Map (Melway) 42 D5
Boundary description
Comprising station buildings and approaches on the Williamstown and Sunshine
Lines including the footbridge and McNab Avenue gardens approach and turn around.
Local Government Area: City of Maribyrnong
Ownership Type PTCHeritage Study and Grading
Maribyrnong - Maribyrnong Heritage Review
Author: Jill Barnard, Graeme Butler, Francine Gilfedder & Gary Vines
Year: 2000
Grading:Maribyrnong - City of Footscray Urban Conservation Study
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1989
Grading:
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FORMER BARKLY THEATREVictorian Heritage Register H0878
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PRIMARY SCHOOL NO.253Victorian Heritage Register H1713
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FOOTSCRAY RAILWAY STATION COMPLEXVictorian Heritage Register H1563
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