Northampton Railway Station and Rest Room

Statement of Significance

The station buildings, and the railway precinct as a whole, have very high local and State significance
which must be recognised and protected. They are significant for historic, social and scientific reasons.
The two buildings, complete with siding, and station master's house behind, form a very significant
grouping, in excellent condition where most other vestiges of the railway have long since disappeared.
While it is an extension of the original railway line it represents one of the last remnants of the first
Government railway line in the State.

Physical Description

Railway Station:
The building comprises a single rectangular room with stone walls and a wide, symmetrical cantilevered roof
supported on gallows brackets. The roof is CGI, hipped at corners and with overhanging gambrels on each end. A
rendered chimney with mouldings passes through the roof adjacent to the ridge on the south end of the building.
Doors are pairs of two panel French doors with 2 pane highlights over, on two sides of the building together with
double hung windows. High above the windows under the eaves and all around the building are large grilled vents
between stone piers that ventilate the roof space over a flat ceiling. The ceiling is plasterboard with timber
mouldings across the joints. The building's authenticity and integrity is enhanced by the original internal fittings,
fireplace and furniture which are still in place.
Rest Room:
The character of the simple timber framed weatherboard rest room is enhanced by its curved CGI roof which is
cantilevered out on awning brackets to the west to form a verandah. The curved roof gives it a railway carriagetype
charm.
The railway platform, on which the buildings stand, is still in good condition making this site the focal point of the
overall railway precinct. The precinct also includes the Station Master's residence to the east, the route of the
railway through the town, saleyards, old wheat bin site, turntable, site of bridge and abutments over Nokanena
Brook and the original Gwalla Station site to the south (see other Site Nos. 78, 79, 80,134 & 135).

History

Although work on the State's first government railway line between Geraldton and Northampton commenced in
1874 it was not opened for traffic until 1879. One of the main purposes of the line was to transport lead and copper
from the Northampton Mineral Field to the port at Geraldton. The first railway station in Northampton was located
further south at Gwalla (Site No.134). However, following the extension of the line to Ajana, the station was
relocated to a more central position in 1912. The Mary Street Station was officially opened on 3 February 1913.
In the mid-1950s the W.A.G.R. reviewed the whole rail network in a move to discontinue services on unprofitable
branch lines. Despite local protests, the first lines to have services suspended were the Geraldton-Ajana and
Wokarina-Yuna branches on 29 April 1957. The railway station is now used as an office and meeting room for the
Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Chronology Entries
12/03/1913 The Northampton-Ajana Railway was officially opened.
1957 The Geraldton-Northampton-Ajana Railway was closed, the last train ren on 29 April.
1962 The Geraldton-Northampton railway line was removed.
Source Pages
Geraldton Guardian

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High
Orig'l Fabric: Very good.

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.