Quairading Railway Station Precinct

Child Places

• 24777 Quairading Stationmasters House
• 24805 Railway line turntable
• 24776 Quairading Railway Station
• 24779 Railway stockyards
• 05142 Vacuum Oil Company
• 25337 Weighbridge
• 24792 Goods Shed
• 24799 CBH bins

Values

• The place is associated with the establishment and development of the Quairading townsite in the early to mid-twentieth century and represents a significant development in the progress of the town and district.
• The place is associated with the expansion of agricultural settlements in the Wheat Belt as a result of the state-wide growth of the railway network into regional areas of Western Australia and illustrates the importance and impact of access to railway transport to small rural towns in Western Australia.
• Although elements are missing, the place is representative of small rural train station buildings and equipment in Western Australia. The remaining extant elements of the railway precinct, including the goods shed, crane and loading platform, and the railway station building, demonstrate the way in which the former railway precinct operated, delivering agricultural produce from the region to market in an economic and effective manner.
• The place comprises a number of community buildings which contribute to the community’s sense of place.
• The place is associated with the development and growth of the Quairading district and provides evidence of a period in agricultural history in Western Australia.

Statement of Significance

The place is associated with the establishment and development of the Quairading townsite in the early to mid-twentieth century and represents a significant development in the progress of the town and district. The place is associated with the expansion of agricultural settlements in the Wheat Belt as a result of the state wide growth of the railway network into regional areas of Western Australia, and illustrates the importance and impact of access to railway transport to small rural towns in Western Australia. Although elements are missing, the place is representative of small rural train station buildings and equipment in Western Australia. The remaining extant elements of the railway precinct, including the goods shed, crane and loading platform, and the railway station building, demonstrate the way in which the former railway precinct operated, delivering agricultural produce from the region to market in an economic and effective manner.

Physical Description

Quairading Railway Station Precinct is the site of the following individual railway station buildings and structures, not all of which are still extant, as well as several new facilities associated with the Shire of Quairading: • P24776 Quairading Railway Station • P24792 Goods Shed • Crane and Weighbridge • Vintage Club facility and sheds • Quairading Community Resource Centre • Former Ganger’s Cottage and Railway Barracks buildings • P24777 Quairading Stationmasters House (no longer extant) • P24779 Railway stockyards (no longer extant) • P24805 Railway line turntable (no longer extant) • P24799 CBH bins (no longer extant) • P25337 Weighbridges (no longer extant)

History

The railway extension from Greenhills to Quairading was opened in April 1908. The Quairading townsite was laid out parallel to the railway line with town lots along Heal Street to the north of the railway line and Parker Street to the south. In 1915, Quairading was described as a ‘thriving township’ on the York-Merredin Railway, with a population of 300 and part of a splendid wheat district. By 1916, at least five large wheat stacks or bins were also present in the Quairading Railway Station Precinct for storage of wheat prior to distribution along the railway line. By November 1927, P24776 Quairading Railway Station building had been constructed opposite the Quairading Hotel on Heal Street. The P24792 Goods Shed is thought to have been constructed around the same time. By the 1950s, a series of small buildings were located in the vicinity of the Railway Station building, including a cabin, ladies facilities, refreshment room and Station Master’s offices, north of the Goods Shed. Several buildings and elements have been removed from the precinct for operational and other reasons. P24777 Quairading Stationmasters House and P24805 Railway line Turntable, both formerly located along Heal Road, are likely to have been removed during the construction of the Quairading-York Road, which loops between Heal Road and the railway reserve. In the 1970s the line between Quairading and Bruce Rock was decommissioned. At this stage, P24776 Quairading Railway Station and P24792 Goods Shed were vacated. In the 1980s, the railway corridor, encompassed by Quairading Railway Station Precinct, was leased to the Shire of Quairading who instituted a range of tourism and community projects. The Shire celebrated the centenary of the Railway Station in April 2008. In 2011, the Quairading Community Resource Centre moved into the purpose built centre within the Quairading Railway Station Precinct. As of 2016, P24776 Quairading Railway Station operates as the Information Centre and Wood Sculpture Display. The Vintage Club located behind the Railway Station and Goods Shed, and facing onto Parker Street, displays a collection of vintage working farm machinery, stationary engines and motor vehicles to the public.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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