Darkan Station Master's House

Statement of Significance

The building is closely associated with the provision of railway facilities. It was built initially for the station master and was later occupied by other railway staff. The building is a good example of the building style from the period, it is important part of the town’s original building stock and makes a positive contribution to the streeetscape.

Physical Description

Situated to the east of the Railway Station on the railway reserve in the centre of Darkan. The front of the house (west facing the station) has a straight pitch verandah which has been partially enclosed in later times.

History

Darkan had been chosen by Muir (Inspecting Engineer of Surveys) in 1905 as a junction centre of the Wagin-Collie/Narrogin lines with another southward route running to Bridgetown via Moodiarrup. The railway opened on 7 September 1906 with the first Stationmaster appointed 1/2/1911 and the station closed 1/8/1919 with the Stationmaster transferred to Bowelling. Stationmasters were C.J. Wilkinson (1/2/1911 – Nov 1911), C.W.H. Copley (Nov 1911 – Nov 1915), E. Davey (Nov 1915 – April 1918), E. Seddon (April 1918 – 1/8/1919). In the classification of stations at the time (Grades 1- 9, Perth being Grade 1), Darkan was a Grade 8 station. Mr Copley was paid £150 p.a. as SM, Darkan. (1)

The extension of the Narrogin - Williams line to Darkan in 1906 and the construction of the remainder of the line to Collie two years later, was part of the State’s rapidly mushrooming rail system. However, the whole matter of the SW railway network became a political football with parochialism and self interest of local residents clashing with rational debate.

The question of the railway routes had seemed to be settled in Darkan’s favour with the Railway’s recommendation in 1905, of a junction of the Collie-Narrogin and Wagin-Darkan lines at Darkan. However, manoeuvring taking place at Wagin, which was destined to the depot, placed this route in doubt. Wagin was keen to see the eastern extension spur through Dumbleyung go ahead before the connection to Darkan. The proposed Wagin-Darkan line was surveyed in 1908 running through Wedgecarrup, Arthur River and Maybrook. However by 1909 there was a groundswell of support for a “Deviation” with the line running from Wedgecarrup to the 131 mile and then to Darkan. Residents in the Moodiarrup area were still fighting to have the line passing through their district.

In 1908 James Stewart was elected President and Tom Silver, Secretary of the Moodiarrup Railway League. In December of that year, a deputation from Moodiarrup met the Premier to discuss the railway, without gaining any real satisfaction. Never before in the history of the district had an issue been so bitterly debated as the route of the proposed new railway. Throughout 1909 the battle raged unabated with the various factions using whatever tactics available to advance their cause. When the proposed line was not included in the 1909 budget, it was clear that the ‘battle of the routes’ was the main factor. This led to a deputation to the Premier in October, who in response, said the Government hadn’t deviated from its original proposals and the Wagin-Darkan extensions had been practically decided upon. However nothing was to materialise for a number of years due to the more urgent claims of the newly settled areas, changes of Government and outbreak of the Great War. (2)

Integrity/Authenticity

Modifications: Some
Extent of original fabric: Most

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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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.