Armadale to Fremantle Railway Line Remnants

Child Places

• 24582 Armadale/Fremantle Rail Armadale Road to Cockburn
• 26203 Armadale to Fremantle Railway Line and Bridge
• 24581 Armadale/Fremantle Rail Line James Drain Portion
• 24004 Armadale/Fremantle Rail Line Nicholson to Taylor Rds
• 24582 Armadale/Fremantle Rail Armadale Road to Cockburn

Values

The place provides an example of the expansion of Western Australia’s railway network following population increases in the early twentieth century and the need to service farming and industry.

The place is likely to be rare as an extant element of the Jandakot to Armadale portion of the Fremantle to Armadale Railway Line which transported agricultural produce to Robbs Jetty.

Physical Description

The place comprises a strip of land containing remnants of the Armadale to Fremantle railway formation Armadale to Jandakot segment. This comprises the remains of a railway bridge over James Drain, a portion of the formed railway embankment for approximately 100 metres east and west of the bridge, and a small timber lined culvert north of Taylor Road. The strip is situated along the southern side of Armadale Road within the section northeast of Nicholson Road to the culvert north of Taylor Road. Additional portions are extant east of Warton Rd and east of Liddelow Rd. No archaeological survey was undertaken for this review but it is possibly archaeological material relating to the railway’s use and construction remain extant (e.g. dog spikes and other artefactual material).

History

Kelmscott, within the boundaries of the City of Armadale, was one of the earliest established settlements, the townsite being proclaimed in 1830. Early resources exploited, and industries pursued in the region, included timber cutting, small-scale farming, and brickmaking. Armadale itself, growing around the Narrogin Inn (c.1852), saw increased growth following the opening of the Southwest railway in 1893. Following the discovery of gold in Western Australia an unprecedented population increase was experienced resulting in many changes, including a rapid expansion in farming and industry across the State. The railway between Armadale and Fremantle was first established to cater to small land holdings west of Armadale with intentions to link the South Western Railway to the port at Fremantle. The Fremantle to Robbs Jetty line had been operational since 1898 and a line further south was proposed in 1903. There were continued calls for this to occur by the Armadale-to-Fremantle Railway Committee, and the Fremantle to Jandakot line was opened in 1906. Debates followed about where the line would link to the South Western Railway, Armadale or Mundijong, with Armadale being the favoured option due to the established timber trade in the South West as well as other industries in the vicinity of Armadale. The Armadale route was eventually chosen and the Jandakot to Armadale line was opened in July 1907. Due to the anticipated heavy traffic on the line, it was built with new heavy rails imported from Belgium. A number of sidings along the route were created through time with the first being those at Banjup and Forrestdale. The railway closed in 1964.

Condition

Poor

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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