Local Government
West Arthur
Region
Wheatbelt
Coalfields Rd Darkan
Railway Reserve,
West Arthur
Wheatbelt
Constructed from 1908, Constructed from 1965
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 16 Aug 1996 | Category 3 | |
The ramp and crane were used extensively for lifting goods (particularly fertilizer, grain and stock) arriving and departing by rail and for the piles of sleepers stacked in the station yard for onward delivery. The railway continued to operate until 1988. It is one of the few buildings or structures on the railway reserve that have remained on site (together with the Station Masters House and the Station). It is an important part of the Railway Precinct which contributed so greatly to the development of the Darkan Townsite.
Ramp 1908, 1965 Crane The crane and ramp lie on the southern side of the Railway Reserve and on the southern side of where the railway line was located. It is situated close to where the rail track goods shed and yards were originally located (these are no longer visible). The Ramp is built up and retained by timber railway sleepers and iron railway line construction. The finished surface of the ramp is gravel (1). The ramp was built in 1906. A request was made for a new ramp in 1965 but it is not known if this request was agreed to(1). The crane is a three ton steel crane set onto a concrete plinth with timber surrounds. It has a detachable hand and is still in working order.
In 1949 the Farmers Union of WA requested a crane for the loading ramp to handle the offloading of heavy machinery and goods. But the request was refused. Other places were deemed more in need than Darkan. In 1963 another request for a crane was made and this time the request was successful. The crane provided was a second hand three ton steel crane that was removed from a station that was being upgraded to a six ton crane. It was 1965 before the crane was eventually installed at Darkan(1).
Modifications: None known. A request was made in 1963 for a new loading platform but is not know if this request was agreed to Extent of original fabric: most
Good
| Name | Type | Year From | Year To |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAGR | Architect | - | - |
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| L Grey & I Saumann; "Conservation Plan Darkan Railway Precinct". | Shire of West Arthur | 2002 |
Historic site
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | VACANT\UNUSED | Vacant\Unused |
| Original Use | Transport\Communications | Rail: Other |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS | Rail & light rail transport |
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