Gilgandra Railway Station Building (Former)

Item details


Name of item:	Gilgandra Railway Station Building (Former)
Other name/s:	Gilgandra Speedway Clubhouse
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Station Building
Location:	Lat: S31° 45.202’ Long: E148° 38.532’
Primary address:	Gilgandra Speedway Newell Highway, Gilgandra, NSW 2827
Local govt. area:	Gilgandra
Hectares (approx):	15

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Gilgandra Speedway Newell Highway	Gilgandra	Gilgandra			Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	The former Gilgandra Railway Station building was constructed in 1902 and was the town’s rail passenger facility until the 1980s. Since 1991 it has formed part of the infrastructure of the Gilgandra Speedway. The building is an example of early 20th century building design for small to medium railway stations and a rare surviving small weatherboard railway station. It was an important part of the district’s transport infrastructure for over 80 years and is now an important part of a popular sporting facility. The building is representative of the construction and operation of the Dubbo to Coonamble Railway Line. It has local historical, aesthetic and social significance, rarity and representativeness. The former railway station building has a moderate degree of integrity.
	Date significance updated: 23 Oct 08
	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


Physical description:	The former railway station building is a carpenter style structure with a gable roof and rusticated weatherboard cladding. Double hung windows at the rear of the building are protected by bracketed awnings and the former platform side is covered by a large bracketed awning set as a reverse skillion. This awning was originally supported by five large angle steel brackets. Four of these are complete and one has been cut to provide a clear space. The awning is now also supported by five tubular steel posts.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The building appears to be well managed and in good condition. The site is considered to have low archaeological potential.
	Date condition updated:23 Oct 08
Modifications and dates:	Relocation to Gilgandra Speedway – c.1990 Opening of new windows – c.1991 Insertion of new awning posts – c.1991


Current use:	Speedway Clubhouse
Former use:	Railway Station building

History

Historical notes:

A proposed railway line to Coonamble was included in the Government Railway Policy of 1886. In 1899 a Parliamentary Committee considered four possible routes for the railway. These were:

• Dubbo to Coonamble,
• Mudgee to Coonamble,
• Narromine to Coonamble,
• Warren to Coonamble.

The Dubbo to Coonamble route was the only proposed route to pass through Gilgandra. This route was eventually chosen as being most ‘in the public interest, as well as in the interests of the districts most concerned’. The committee also decided that the route would pass through Gilgandra. Construction of the railway from Dubbo commenced in 1901 and the first passenger train ran from Dubbo to Coonamble on 29 July 1902. Goods operations commenced in August 1902. (Back to Gilgandra Committee 1937:44)

The Gilgandra Railway Station was completed ready for the opening of the new line in 1902. This building was used until the 1980s. In 1990 or 1991 it was relocated to the Gilgandra Speedway fro use as a clubhouse.

The Gilgandra District Speedway Club Inc began development of the Gilgandra Speedway in 1990. The speedway was officially opened by George Downey in 1991.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
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	(none)-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	(none)-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Sport-Activities associated with organised recreational and health promotional activities	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The former Gilgandra Railway Station building was constructed in 1902 and was the town’s rail passenger facility until the 1980s. Since 1991 it has formed part of the infrastructure of the Gilgandra Speedway. It has local historical significance.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The former Gilgandra Railway Station building is an example of early 20th century building design for small to medium railway stations. It has local aesthetic significance.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The building was an important part of the district’s transport infrastructure for over 80 years and is now an important part of a popular sporting facility. It has local social significance.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The building is a rare surviving example of a small weatherboard railway station.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The building is representative of the construction and operation of the Dubbo to Coonamble Railway Line.
Integrity/Intactness:	The place has a moderate degree of integrity.
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.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Gilgandra Local Environmental Plan 2011	I43	09 Dec 11
Heritage study

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Gilgandra Shire Community Based Heritage Study	2008		Ray Christison	Ray Christison	Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Back to Gilgandra Committee	1937	Back to Gilgandra

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

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	1590074

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