Wongan Hills Railway Station

Statement of Significance

The place demonstrates the development of the railway facilities in Wongan Hills.

Physical Description

: The building is steel framed with infill panels combining cream coloured face brick and red brick. The low pitched roof is clad with corrugated fibro-cement sheeting. The window frames are and entrance doors are in aluminium frames. The concrete floor slab is covered with vinyl tiles. The building was designed to accommodate trains and road buses. It comprises public facilities which were financed by the Shire of Wongan Ballidu, station offices, store rooms and WAGR staff amenities.

History

Goomalling was the railhead in 1902. From 1905, when land in the Wongan Hills region began to be settled, there was agitation for a railway line. The railway between Goomalling to Wongan Hills officially opened in 1911. In 1912, construction of the line northwards to Mullewa began from both ends. Wongan Hills became the centre for the construction workers for the new railway. A loop line was constructed for turning the railway engines, and the coal stand was located in close proximity to the water tank stand. The Railway dam was excavated in 1913 and 1914, at the same time as the railway tank and stand in the railyard. On 1 August 1913 Wongan Hills opened as a booking station, and various buildings were located on the site as the need arose; sidings, coal stage, Goods Shed and Stationmaster's house in 1915. In 1920 Railway Station buildings were relocated from Trafalgar (Kalgoorlie) and re-erected at Wongan Hills. The station first operated as a goods and coaching station from 1 August 1913. From the beginning there was continued lobbying for a new railway station at Wongan Hills, and by 1937 a new station was promised, however when the Commissioner of railways conferred with the deputation, he decided against a new station. In 1945 an application to the Roads Board, to move the bins to the west side of the Railway reserve increased speculation that it was a move in preparation for the new station. Diesel trains came into service on the Goomalling Mullewa line on the 3 July 1955. The entire Railway and siding facilities were redesigned to ensure a more efficient operation and to re-route grain trucks away from town. The new station building was located on the east side and the entire yard layout was reversed. A new grain storage facility was installed by CBH, replacing a bin and temporary structures. The site of the station was where the wheat stacks were located. They were covered with sheets of corrugated iron, with the sides protected from the weather by hessian. bag lumpers loaded the wheat bags from the stacks onto flat railway cars. The station was subsequently built, and officially opened by Charles Court, the Minister for Industrial Development, Railways and the North West, on 27 November 1965. The passenger and general freight trains stopped running by 1985 and the station closed on 30 September 1985. Only wheat and super loads are now transported by rail. In 1989 the Art and Craft centre opened in the Station Building.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: intact Authenticity: High degree

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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