Muswellbrook Railway Station and yard group

Item details


Name of item:	Muswellbrook Railway Station and yard group
Other name/s:	Musclebrook Railway Station
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Platform/ Station
Location:	Lat: -32.2674542401 Long: 150.8902317380
Primary address:	Main Northern railway, Muswellbrook, NSW 2333
Local govt. area:	Muswellbrook
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Wanaruah

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
PART LOT	11		DP	1115346
PART LOT	12		DP	1115346

Boundary:

The listing boundary is the western end of the station platform, the southern boundary is a line 6m from the platform face, the northern boundary is a line along the rear fence of the refreshment room. The listing boundary is the western end of the station platform, the southern boundary is a line 6m from the platform face, the northern boundary is a line along the rear fence of the refreshment room building, and the eastern boundary is 5m from the Sydney end of the station platform.The listing boundary for the signal box is the footprint of the building.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Main Northern railway	Muswellbrook	Muswellbrook			Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
TAHE - Sydney Trains	State Government	05 Nov 98

Statement of significance:


	The station group represents an excellent example of an early complex surviving in its basic form and adapted with the addition of other structures as passengers increased. The first station building can be clearly seen with its rare example of an early street verandah and most of its detailing intact. The refreshment room is a good example of a type of building that thrived and are no longer in use. They are significant community buildings in the townscape, dominating the skyline with the bulk of the refreshment rooms. The signal box adds significance to the group and is itself a good example of a later elevated signal box.
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	John Whitton, Chief Engineer
Physical description:	BUILDINGS Station building - type 3, second class brick building,1869. The original station building was a small well proportioned brick structure with simple stone lintels and hipped roof. Rendered brick building with a hipped roof of corrugated, galvanised iron (originally slate). The building is elevated above street level. Its entrance is via steps leading to a stone flagged verandah with a hipped roof of corrugated galvanised iron, supported by timber posts. The verandah roof to the street is original. The doors are timber with moulded panels and window frames are timber, double-hung sash type (CCG Architects, 2016). A newspaper of the time (Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, 18/4/1868) reported: 'This station will be a very fine one, constructed of brick. The main building will be about 80' long and contain a large ticket office, ladies and gentlemen's waiting room, porter's room and offices. The platforms will be laid with stone flagging' (Muswellbrook Chronicle, 7/5/2019). The platform awning is an extension of the awning built at the time of construction of the adjacent refreshment room building. It is a cast iron, cantilevered awning of corrugated, galvanised iron (CCG Architects, 2016). The internal layout has changed since originally constructed, consisting today of a store room, waiting room, female toilets and male toilets (ibid, 2016). Refreshment rooms, 1921-2. Additions, c1927-8. Two storey building immediately adjacent to the station building. Two hipped roofs clad in diamond pattern slate tiles with terracotta ridge capping and ram's head finials. The ground floor projects outward from under the first floor, so that a portion has its own roof. The roofs are finished with timber barge boards and painted rough-cast infill. The chimneys are also rough-cast cement. Tuck-pointed brickwork, timber moulded panel doors, some with transom windows, timber double-hung sash windows bordered with stone lintels and ornate, rendered sills and pressed metal cornices. The layout consists of refreshment rooms and kitchens on the ground floor with passenger accommodation on the upper floor, with associated bathrooms and linen stores. Internally the building features pressed metal cornices and ceilings, hardwood floors, a pine staircase and balustrade (ibid, 2016, 11). Signal box - hip roof elevated type 4, 1923 An elevated, two storey signal box of a timber frame, pre-cast concrete and asbestos cement cladding. Lower floor comprises a drop-in, pre-cast concrete panel between concrete uprights and conventional timber-framed construction on the upper floor. A hipped roof with broad overhanging eaves, clad in fibro asbestos laid in a diamond pattern and terracotta ridge capping. WIndow frames are timber, double-hung sash with between 6 and 9 panes. Access is va a steel ladder and there is a toilet on the upper landing (ibid, 2016, 12). STRUCTURES Platform - brick-faced, 1869 Carriage dock - 1869 Was used for parcel and mail vans (ibid, 2016, 11). Remains of locomotive depot (1943), including: Turntable Crane - jib crane within shed T 145, 1869 Loading bank - timber
Modifications and dates:	Changes of level of the rear of both station and refreshment room buildings have occurred after construction (CCG, 2016). 1865 station building, platform, carriage dock, crane. Early 20th c. extension of station building to Sydney end, adding Station Master's room (back-to-back fire place with existing (formerly external) fireplace in what is now a store room, was a parcel room). Extension had windows to the street, a fireplace and no door to the station platform (as per 1917, 1918 plans). This extension is gone now (2016). c.1910 post card photo shows two chimneys at each ends of the hipped roof, including this one at the 'Sydney end'. The 1917 plans show 'proposed station buildngs' including refreshment rooms that were never built, or never built in the configuration on the plans. A 1980 photo shows no chimney protroding from the Sydney end roof hip/ridge. This suggests the configuration of these chimneys is not original and probably dates to the mid 20th century (CCG Architects, 2016). 1921-22 Refreshment Rooms added beside station building 1927-28 addition/extension/modification of refreshment room building. 1923 Signal box added. 1943 Locomotive depot, including turntable, crane and jib.
Further information:	Does not include the former locomotive depot or its turntable


Current use:	Railway Station and yard
Former use:	Aboriginal land, town lot, Railway Station and yard

History

Historical notes:

Construction of the Muswellbrook Railway Station started in May 1868 (Muswellbrook Chronicle, 7/5/19).

The single railway line from Singleton to and station of 'Musclebrook' was completed and opened in 1869, by the Earl of Belmore, Governor of NSW. Construction for the Muswellbrook section was awarded to George Blunt on 2/9/1864 (CCG Architects, 2016, 9).

A newspaper of the time (Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, 18/4/1868) reported: 'This station will be a very fine one, constructed of brick. The main building will be about 80' long and contain a large ticket office, ladies and gentlemen's waiting room, porter's room and offices. The platforms will be laid with stone flagging. We congratulate our friends on the prospect of having the finest railway station yet erected in the colony built in their pretty and picturesque town' (ibid, 2019).

The line (formerly known as the Great Northern Railway) runs through the Central Coast, Hunter and New England regions. It was the original main line between Sydney and Brisbane, however this required a change of gauge at Wallangarra. The line is now closed north of Armidale, and the main Brisbane-Sydney route is now the North Coast line (ibid, 2016, 9).

The 1869 station building is one of several notable early stations attributed to John Whitton during his long career with NSW Railways. It borrows heavily from his design experience in England and the influence of Georgian and Victorian architectural styles. Internally it comprised a Station Master's office, ticket office, waiting room, ladies room and lavatories (Cottee, 2004, quoted in ibid, 2016, 9).

Major changes and alterations included installation of a turntable in 1869 and its replacement by a larger one in 1890, lengthening of the platform and provision of an ash pit in 1891 (ibid, 2016, 9).

It was not until 1890 that the Railways Department changed the station name to Muswellbrook. A gatehouse was built at the level crossing in 1892. In 1898 and 1911 the platform was extended and in 1909 a station master's residence was approved for 545 pounds (ibid, 2016, 9).

Muswellbrook railway precinct was expanded in the early 20th century with addition of the much larger two storey brick railway refreshment rooms immediately adjacent to the station building (ibid, 2016, 9).

The refreshment rooms were commissioned in 1922, opened in 1922. A news paper report of the time said:
The new refreshment rooms at the Muswellbrook railway station were opened on Monday on the arrival of the passenger train from Tamworth. Miss Lawson, who acted as manageress at Glen Innes for seven years and five
years in a similar capacity at Singleton, is in charge of the rooms. The staff consists of 10 hands, four of whom were local appointments. Most of the food required will be brought from Sydney. The ground floor comprises: Dining saloon 30 feet wide and 50 feet long, and a bar 30 feet by 14 feet. At the northern end of the building on the ground floor are the cooking quarters, consisting of kitchen, scullery, pantry, storeroom, washhouse. On the top floor are eight rooms, bath room and linen press for use of the staff (Singleton Argus, 19/10/1922, 2, via www.trove.nla.gov.au).

In 1927 the Refreshment Rooms were extended, altered to include five bedrooms for the public. This building replaced the rest houses, which had been transferred from Murrurundi and Singleton and re-erected at Muswellbrook in 1918.

The subway underpass was constructed in 1928 as a replacement for the level crossing at the Sydney end of the station (ibid, 2016, 10). An overbridge was built on Bridge Street, replacing the level crossing. Meanwhile, a locomotice depot had been built in 1943.

In 1977 a coal mine at Ulan was opened and the railway was extended from Sandy Hollow to Ulan in 1982 to transport coal to Newcastle, via Muswellbrook (ibid, 2016, 10).

In 2007 approval was given for 2-staged refurbishment of the railway refreshment room as a museum; provision of stair & entry ramp and install lift, then for construction of a stand-alone visitor information centre, storeroom, toilets, deck & landscaping.

In 2011 approval was given to demolish the disused signal box.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Other open space-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	Building and maintaining the public railway system-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Townships-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from rural to suburban-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Resuming private lands for public purposes-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing private towns-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Role of transport in settlement-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Impacts of railways on urban form-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Impacts of railways on rural development-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	19th Century Infrastructure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	19th Century Infrastructure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Utilities-Activities associated with the provision of services, especially on a communal basis	Railways to inland settlements-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - building and operating public infrastructure-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - building and administering rail networks-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Architectural styles and periods - Victorian (mid)-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Applying architectural design to utlilitarian structures-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	This item is assessed as historically rare. This item is assessed as scientifically rare. This item is assessed as arch. rare. This item is assessed as socially rare.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Produce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) OF THE HERITAGE ACT 1977 Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977. I, the Hon James Griffin MP, Minister for Environment and Heritage, pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales do by this Order, effective at the time of publication in the New South Wales Government Gazette: 1. revoke the order made on 9 November 2020 and published in the Government Gazette Number 318 of 13 November 2020; and 2. grant the exemptions from subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 that are described in the attached Schedule. The Hon James Griffin MP Minister for Environment and Heritage Signed this 2nd day of June 2022. To view the standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 click on the link below.	Jun 17 2022

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		01208	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register	Muswellbrook Railway Precinct	4806182
State Environmental Planning Policy	Hunter Valley REP		03 Nov 89
Local Environmental Plan	Muswellbrook Local Environmental Plan 2009	I105
National Trust of Australia register		4102
Register of the National Estate		01383	21 Mar 78

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
State Rail Authority Heritage Register Study	1999		State Rail Authority		No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Tourism		2007	Muswellbrook Railway Station	View detail
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	Muswellbrook Railway Station	View detail

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5012118
File number:	EF14/5014

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