Bakers Hill Railway Platform

Statement of Significance

Former Bakers Hill Railway Station is of cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:The place is a tangible reminder of the role and that rail transport played in the development of regional Western Australia.

Physical Description

The former Railway Platform is orientated in an east west direction in alignment with Newman Street. The platform is elevated approximately 600mm above the ground level, is approximately 5 metres wide and runs approximately 50 metres in length. The platform is constructed with timber posts in the ground and timber slabs used as retaining walls to the elevated platform. A timber top plate-edge beam is used on top of the retaining section covering the timber posts. A bituminous surface is evident to sections of the platform. Railway line steel sections are located adjacent to each post and are embedded in the platform. Embarkments are at either end of the platform. There is a timber sign ‘Bakers Hill” supported by timber posts. An interpretation sign is located in front of the platform to the eastern end and includes information about the platform as well as initiative undertaken by the local community. A Heritage Trail interpretive plaque for Kep Track is located to the north west of the platform and includes information relating to the platform and the development of the Perth to Kalgoorlie water pipeline. The platform is currently in fair condition with sections in poor condition and evidence of termite activity. Some trees are also damaging sections of the platform and some sections have collapsed. Behind the platform to the north are paddocks and to the south is Newman Street.

History

following is from interpretation signage on site. Bakers Hill had a station and siding on the second route of the Eastern Railway between Midland Junction and Spencers Brook. This track was closed in 1966 when the route through the Avon Valley was opened. Although the rail was removed in 1890, remnants of the old platform are still visible today. NOT KEEN ON PRIVATE SCHEME I stand here tonight opposed to private enterprise…. [in] a great project like this which would mean the necessities, the conveniences and even the lives of people on these goldfields being handed over to private control. (John Forrest, Western Australia, Debates of the Parliament 1896 IX 21 July 1896) In a two-hour speech Premier John Forrest argued the state government had lost money bailing out a private railway enterprise involving entrepreneur Edward Keane. Keane lived in Bakers Hill – in the place you can see across the valley that became Hooper’s Winery. The road to the pie shop behind you is Keane Street. (National Trust Plaque for Kep Track) BAKERS HILL RAILWAY STATION This is the site of the Station which closed in 1966. Trees and shrubs along this line were planted by Bakers Hill Primary School Yr 6/7 students under the guidance of volunteer salinity and townscape persons on August 18th 2005. Funding for the project was received from Agriculture W.A. Salinity Management and Shire of Northam. Rest But A While and Ponder Of Days Gone By

Integrity/Authenticity

Level of Integrity: Medium Level of Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Fair and Poor in sections

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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