Cannington Railway Station (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Cannington Railway Station Precinct, represents the development of the South Western Railway system. The site represents the beginnings of the town, the development of motorised transport and demonstrates associations with early settlers of the town.

Physical Description

The old Cannington railway station is no longer present as it was demolished in 1989. Whilst the station is no longer in existence, a reinstated railway line and several original buildings surrounding the former station still remain which were part of the original Cannington Railway Station precinct.

History

The place as associated with the development of the suburb of Cannington. The place was associated with providing transport for visitors to the Canning Agricultural Show from the greater Perth metropolitan and regional area. The place is associated with the work of engineer C.Y. O’Connor, during which period a number of significant infrastructure projects were completed in throughout the State. The South Western Railway (SWR) from East Perth-Pinjarra opened on 2 May 1893. Cannington was one of the original stations and opened with the railway. The railway was originally single track, with the rails on the Sevenoaks Street side of the platform. The contract drawings for the SWR show that Cannington was provided with a 4th Class station building, 40ft by 30ft goods shed, 4th Class station master’s house, 250ft long passenger platform, and a 55ft-long goods loading bank. The station building was based on a New Zealand Railways design, introduced by C.Y. O’Connor when he became Engineer-in-Chief in 1890 (His signature is on the contract plans). Strangely, the old Cannington Station building is a mirror image of the contract plan, with the arrangement of rooms reversed. This building had a verandah fitted later to the western side, but remained largely the same structure until demolished in the 1970’s1. A ‘Station Master’ was appointed to the station from 2 May 1893 until 8 September 1989. A double track was completed from Burswood-Maddington on 3 January 1904 and the new line of rails was laid on the Railway Parade side of the platform. The station then became an island platform, with this platform later being extended to 450 feet long. In February 1897, a water main was laid from Victoria Reservoir to Perth and the pipeline was laid under the railway approximately 850m south of the old Cannington Railway Station. In September 1897, a round 6000 gallon iron tank was erected alongside the track, 145m south of the station building and used for supplying water to steam locomotives. After the double track was completed in 1904, this tank ended up between the two lines of rails. In 1913, a new pedestrian overhead bridge as built and a new 5000 gallon tank erected opposite the old site towards Railway Parade. The loading bank was removed in November 1964 and the stockyards were removed in July 1966. The goods shed ceased to be used from September 1970. A water column was placed near the rails and was used until the end of steam locomotive working through Cannington in early 1971. The station attracted passengers through events such as the Canning Show and the expansion of Carousel Shopping Centre, and was for promotion in new estate plans. The old station building was demolished later throughout the 1970’s, and a new brick building constructed for the station master and staff. The station closed on 8 September 1989 and on 26 September the same year, the new bus/rail station opened further northwest as the new Cannington Station which currently exists today. The old station and platform were demolished on 25-29 September 1989. Today, the old station site now serves as a car parking area for the existing Cannington Train Station and contains an electric substation. The former station is surrounded by several original buildings which as a commercial, retail and residential uses. Whilst these surrounding building do not form within the railway site, their proximity to the station suggests its existence as being subsequent to the operation of the railway station.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low

Uses

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