Railway Station Ballarat, circa 1895 (H3434)Reproduced courtesy of Public Record Office of Victoria

Engineers and locomotive crew at Portland locomotive depot, circa 1921 (MM000290)Reproduced courtesy of Museum Victoria

Flinders Street Station circa 1910 (MM070280)Reproduced courtesy of Museum Victoria

Victorian Rail Heritage

Since Australia’s first steam train made the short journey from Flinders Street to Port Melbourne in 1854, railways have played a key role in Victorian transport.

Railways have carried city commuters, farmers’ produce, parcels & tourists. They have provided jobs for thousands of Victorians and a social focus for rural and urban communities alike.

The construction of Victoria’s railway system has required one of the State’s largest and most sustained investments in public infrastructure.

Flushed with the tremendous wealth generated by the goldfields, the Victorian government invested £9 million over the first decade of railway development between 1854 and 1864 to build just 254 miles (409 km) of railway, while private railway companies invested another £1.8 million.

Over the next sixty years the railway system continued to expand rapidly reaching 2,900 route miles (4,670 km) by 1891 and 4,700 miles (7,565 km) in 1931, representing a total investment of almost £50 million.

By this time, every town in Victoria with a population of over 500 boasted its own railway station.

Station designs throughout Victoria varied according to architectural styles of the era, their location and government priorities. Some included elaborate tearooms, a grand clock-tower or adjoining stationmaster’s residence. Others were little more than a rain shelter devoid of staff or comfort. Most stations featured at least one siding or a small goods shed, and some included loco depots, signal boxes and extensive rail yards.

Text courtesy of Museum Victoria

Newport ClocktowerVictorian Goldfields Railway at Castlemaine Hawthorn Tram Depot

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VicTrack Heritage Program

Since 2004, the VicTrack Heritage Program has been overseen by the VicTrack Heritage Advisory Panel.

The Panel is made up of independent members, including an academic architect and a Heritage Victoria representative, as well as members of the VicTrack Board, and other VicTrack staff.

The Panel meets quarterly. VicTrack also holds a position on the Department of Transport’s Heritage Operations Committee. In this role, VicTrack works with the Department to support main line and tourist railways to provide heritage train operations for the ongoing enjoyment of Victorians and visitors.

VicTrack also manages many of Victoria’s important heritage locations such as the Hawthorn Tram Depot and the Newport Workshops.

VicTrack is dedicated to preserving Victoria’s rail and tram heritage for future generations.

VicTrack Heritage Advisory Panel

Chris Lovell (Chair) VicTrack Board member

Bruce Cohen Chair of VicTrack Board

Dimity Reed Architect

Robert Green Heritage Victoria Architect

Mike Ryan VicTrack, Heritage Manager

Render repairsNew roof for the Northern building Repainting Southern building

Restoring the Train Hall in 2006

Ballarat Railway Complex

The historic Ballarat Railway precinct is an important reminder of the region’s early prosperity and the role it played in Victoria’s development.

Built in the late 19th Century, the Ballarat Railway Station was a primary transport hub during the Gold Rush era and played an integral role in the development of the region and the state.

– restoration of the Ballarat Station train hall in 2006 ($2.6 million)

– re-roofing of the train stabling building in 2007 ($150,000)

– render repairs and repainting of the station’s southern building in 2007 ($290,000)

– roofing works on the northern building in 2008 ($142,000)

– restoration of pedestrian timber bridge in 2009 ($140,000)

– restoration and upgrade of Ballarat Coach House in 2009 ($110,000)

The following restoration works have been funded by the Victorian Government and VicTrack:

The entire station complex is expressive of Ballarat’s economic significance at the time and remains very much at the centre of daily life in Ballarat in the 21st century.

In recognition of its historical, present and future significance, more than $3.4 million has been invested in restoring and upgrading the precinct since 2006.

The Maryborough Station platform in 2010VicTrack will restore the platform verandah in 2011 on behalf of the Department of Transport.Photo by Noel Butcher www.noelb.com, courtesy of V/Line.

A specialist carpenter restores a clock tower cupola vent frame.

Hawthorn Tram Depot improvements add to the heritage tram fleet visitor experience.

Works to restore St Arnaud Railway Station’s unique 1879 water tower were completed in 2007.

VicTrack Heritage Program

VicTrack is proud to support the preservation of Victoria’s rail and tram heritage through its Heritage Program.

Under the program, $1 million is invested annually in the restoration of state heritage-listed buildings and structures.

As the custodial owner of the state’s rail infrastructure, VicTrack is responsible for a range of heritage assets, including station buildings and locomotive depots, bridges, culverts, tunnels, turntables, tram depots, workshops, trampoles and shelters.

More than 100 locations within the VicTrack portfolio are listed as having Victorian state heritage significance.

Each year, $1 million is allocated to the restoration of state heritage-listed assets, which are prioritised according to their:

– Historical significance

– Architectural merit

– Profile in the community

– Maintainability

– Operational use

Other considerations include the scale and cost of works, public safety, potential commercial return and VicTrack’s legal obligations.

The restored Goods Shed at CreswickGeelong Signal Box B before restoration Creswick Goods Shed before restoration

The restored Signal Box B at Geelong

Heritage Program 2010-11

In 2010-11, VicTrack will complete the following restoration projects:

– Roof and foundation works at Serviceton Railway station (built in 1888)

– Restoration of the Station Building and Goods Shed at Creswick Railway station (built in 1874)

– Repairs to Signal Box B at Geelong (built in 1884)

– Roof restoration and pressed metal repairs to the Korumburra Railway station (built in 1907)

– Rebuilding of the lamp room and internal works to Avoca Railway station (built in 1876)

– Restoration of Maldon Railway station, damaged by fire in 2009 (built in 1888)

About VicTrack

VicTrack is a Victorian government rail business that is the custodial owner of Victoria’s railway land and infrastructure. VicTrack undertakes capital works, property, telecommunications and other commercial activities to support a safe and efficient public transport system.

As a commercial organisation VicTrack funds its operations through the delivery of services and by leasing land and buildings within its large property portfolio.

VicTrack is a responsible member of the communities in which it operates, actively providing a range of benefits for communities, heritage and the environment.

The fully restored Coach House

Rotten timbersDamage to the roof Timber repairs underway

In 2009, VicTrack managed extensive restoration works at the Ballarat Coach House.

The Ballarat Coach House was built in the late 1800s and was used by Cobb & Co to store gold for transport to Melbourne.

The original fittings of the Coach House were very high quality in their day. The original safe that was used to store gold in the late 1800s is still in place.

The works, valued at $110,000 included external repairs of the building’s roof, windows, timberwork and stormwater system and internally, the building was modernised to include a kitchenette and toilet.

Ballarat Coach House