Darkan Railway Station

Statement of Significance

The place is significant on the following grounds:
The Station played an important role in the community providing a link to Perth, the Great Southern and the South West and for telegraphic communications in the early days.
The building is an important part of the railway network that linked Collie and Narrogin.

The building is a good example of the building style from the period. It is an important part of the town’s original building stock and makes a positive contribution to the streetscape.

The first survey made for the Collie - Narrogin Railway followed its present course, from Narrogin to about Culbin siding, then turned south-west and straight towards Collie until joining the present railway near Cowcher siding, about 10 miles north-east of Collie. This survey passed approximately 12 miles north of the present site of Darkan. This was later changed to the present route.

Mounting political pressure from both ends of the line resulted in a decision in April 1905, to extend the Narrogin-Williams spur to Darkan. The Narrogin-Darkan section was opened on 6 September 1906, and it is said that the steam engines from Narrogin initially burned wood to generate steam as coal was not immediately available in Narrogin. The Collie-Darkan section was opened on Monday 7 October 1908.(3)

Physical Description

The siting of the siding at this point dictated the position of the commercial buildings such as the refreshment rooms. The building has sash windows, overhanging eaves and wire covered vents to eaves. The east and north walls have modifications where a door/windows have been bricked in - possibly when being built as a variation to the standard design.

History

The new railway brought with it the necessity to formally declare and name townsites and sidings along its route. The town of Darkan was officially gazetted on 7 December 1906, and took the name from the Darkan Rock, which was situated in the Darkan Gully (Surveyor of W.A. Saw, April 1889). Similarly the name “Darkan”, given to the nearby home of William Gibbs, was taken from Darkan Rock. (1)

The townsite of Darkan was surveyed south of the railway line, but the first building blocks were surveyed out of Bill Burrowes’ farm on the north of the railway line. It was on these blocks outside of the official townsite that the first business houses in Darkan were built.

The contract to build Darkan was advertised in the “Government Gazette” on the 19 May 1911. The successful tender from Mr. H. Parker, was accepted on the 17 August 1911 (His bid for 4 identical buildings was £1776-6-6, or about £444 each). The completion date is recorded by the WAGR as 14 December 1912, but this included the new Goods Shed and Ladies Waiting Room as well. It is likely the station building was completed early in 1912.

The Stationmaster’s house was commenced on 17 February 1912 and completed later in the year.

Darkan is amongst a group of seven identical stations built during 1911-17. They are Darkan, Bowelling, Popanyinning, Wickepin, Kondinin, Dumbleyung and Northamption. Only Kondinin has been demolished. (2)

Following the closure of the Narrogin-Bowelling line the building lay idle. The Building was used as an ‘Op Shop’ for a period. It is now used for “one-off” events held on the Railway Reserve.

Integrity/Authenticity

Modifications: Few
Extent of original fabric: All

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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.