Dumbleyung Railway Station Precinct

Statement of Significance

The Dumbleyung railway precinct is the last near-complete precinct of its type in Western Australia. The station building is a standard small brick structure completed in January I 913. Although other examples still exist, none survives in a precinct situation and only one other is likely to be earmarked for preservation. It therefore has rarity value as well as representativeness. Dumbleyung still contains its goods shed, loading ramp, out-of-shed and adjacent station masters' house on the other side of Absolon St. The foundation and base of the goods crane still exist. Unfortunately trackage, other than the main line, has been recently removed, but the yard layout can still be made out and all the features combine to provide a good record of a working, rural railway yard. As such, Dumbleyung represents the past social and economic activities of passenger travel, parcel and small freight consignment and delivery and large freight handling services giving it much social value. It is of great historic value as Dumbleyung was the terminus of one of three prototype light agricultural railways and was amongst the first agricultural lines constructed. This reflected the pressures on rail transport to service newly settled agricultural areas. The 'development' line type became a standard for most future wheatbelt railway construction although surviving lines, including that through Dumbleyung, have been substantially upgraded.

Physical Description

The station building is a one-room brick structure with a galvanized iron roof and a substantial verandah around all sides. Standard small country station which was designed for the light agricultural railway lines - in keeping with the low cost of these lines. Goods shed is of a standard WAGR design which has a timber frame and galvanized iron clad. It is 30 feet long and with an entrance wide enough for a single track. To one side is a platfo1m unloading area which can be accessed from outside. The Dumbleyung shire is considering fencing off the goods shed as they have concerns regarding its condition. Out-of-shed is also a timber framed building which is galvanized iron clad. It is elevated for easy access to goods vehicles - both rail and road and was used for smaller parcels. Loading bank is earth filled with sleeper edges. It has the base and foundations of the crane at one end. A four ton crane was installed in I 961 in place of a smaller unit. Station Masters' House was one of the standard WAGR housing designs constructed of brick and with a corrugated iron roof. Rail trackage - only main through line remains. All other trackage has recently been removed.

History

Assessment 1998 Architect/designer: WAGR - Chief Engineer of Existing Lines Builder: H. Parker Construction 1913 In response to the 1905 report from the Royal Commission on Immigration and Land Settlement, the government decreed that any settler in wheat farming areas should be serviced by a rail line no more than 15 mile (24krn) from the farm gate. As a result the WAGR was directed to commence the building of light agricultural railways despite its concern about the standard of the line which could be achieved with the budget allowed. The Wagin to Dumbleyung railway was opened on l 8'h February 1907 as the second of these light agricultural lines. Construction comprised rail of 45lb/yd on rough timber sleepers on the natural surface with earth packing and light gravel ballast. Extensions beyond Dumbleyung in later years exacerbated the problem of the false economy of these lines just as the Commissioner of Railways had predicted. It was not until the 1980s that complete upgrading of the Wagin eastward railway (through Dumbleyung) allowed the heaviest of Westrail's locomotives to operate on the line. Dumbleyung remained a terminus until May 3 1912 when the extension to Kukerin was opened. At this time the 'triangle' for turning of the locomotives at Dumbleyung was removed. At first an unattended siding, Dumbleyung soon warranted a station master. The station masters house was erected in 1912 and remained in use until the station master was withdrawn on 28'h September 1984. It is now privately owned by Pam Bairstow and rented out. The tender submitted by H. Parker for the erection of traffic offices at Dumbleyung, Darken, Popanyinning, Wickepin and Darkan, at a cost of £ I 776 6s 6d, was accepted on I 7'h August 1911 .1 The Dumbleyung Traffic Office (station building) was completed in 1913. It was also used by the WAGR until 1984. For some years after that it was leased by the Agricultural Protection board but is now empty. General freight services had ceased in the 1970s and now a new grain bin outside the limits of the original station yard sees the only Dumbleyung use. Trains also operate through Dumbleyung to Lake Grace and from there to wither Newdegate or Hyden. Out-of-shed transferred from Wickepin in I935.

Uses

Historic Themes

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