| Physical description: | BUILDINGS
Station Buildings:
- type 3, second class, sub-type 1, stone, platform 2 (1869) with Refreshment Room (1884)
- type 11, brick, platform 1 (1913)
Platform 1 Lavatory Block 1 (c1900)
Platform 2 Lavatory Block (c1900)
Signal Box - type E, 48 lever, brick on platform 2 (1911)
Barracks/Rest house, brick (1911-1913)
Site of Former SM’s Cottage (1868)
STRUCTURES
Platform 1, part stone & part brick faced (1870s)
Platform 2, brick faced (1911)
Footbridge (1911)
Other structures (various)
STATION BUILDING PLATFORM 2 (1869, 1884)
External: Constructed of stone with a slate roof the station building on Platform 2 is a 'type 3', second class station building altered to include refreshment rooms on the upper level with later brick extensions to both Up and Down ends. Its key features include a large two-storey central stone building flanked by attached stone and brick single-storey wing structures, a hipped slate roof to main building, gambrel roof to the Up end wing and flat roof to Down end wing, timber framed double-hung windows and timber panelled doors with standard iron brackets over decorative corbels supporting wide platform awnings, fretted timber work to both ends of awnings. The main two-storey central building features four tall brick chimneys with stone base and tops (one with chimney pot), bracketed eaves and segmental arched tall windows to the upper level. The single-storey sandstone south wing is part of the original station building with pitched slate roof and brick extension with corrugated metal gambrel roof and a brick chimney. The stone eaves of the original south wing are visible over the later platform awning. The south wing (ladies room) is a painted brick on the platform side and face brick on the car park side featuring tall face brick chimneys with corbelled tops and double-hung timber framed windows. An enclosed cantilevered balcony is located on the west side of the central wing, supported on cast iron brackets with iron lace (mostly removed). A ground floor brick and weatherboard skillion addition with a tall brick chimney is also located on the west side of the central wing.
Internal: The original layout of the station building in its extended form remains. The room arrangement on the ground floor includes combined station master’s office, ticket office and booking office, general waiting room, and ladies room. The upper level accommodates the local museum with entry via the rear staircase. The station refreshment rooms no longer function. The original internal finishes include decorative plaster ceiling and moulded plaster cornices to the waiting room and ladies waiting room, moulded timber architraves to original building joinery, plasterboard ceilings to amenities, and tile and carpet floorings. All fireplaces have been enclosed.
STATION BUILDING PLATFORM 1 (1913)
External: A single-storey building with slate gabled roof, gabled lantern roof to the centre and terracotta ridge capping. The walls are of face brick with black tuckpointed red brick jack arches to the openings. The walls have a brick plinth with red splay bricks. The south 5 bays are recessed with red bricks to the head of the recesses. The platform side of the building has timber framed double-hung windows with multi-paned upper sashes and double doors with coloured multi-pane fanlights. A double-hung ticket window is also located at the south end of the building. The building has various gabled wings at the rear. A cantilevered awning over the platform is supported on steel brackets on stanchions. It returns around the south side of the building and extends north to link with the lavatory building. A fretwork valance finishes the bay between the platform building and the lavatory. The half timber panelled gable end is visible behind the awnings.
Internal: The Platform 1 building is generally used by station staff and consists of two locked rooms and a general waiting room in the centre. The waiting room features decorative plaster ceiling, moulded timber architraves to window and door surrounds, a timber moulded dado above rendered dado line, timber skirting board and bricked in fireplace. Staff rooms were not accessible.
PLATFORM 1 LAVATORY BLOCK (c1911)
External: A single-storey face brick men’s lavatory building with a parapeted gable on the platform side featuring roughcast frieze between moulded string courses. The roof is of corrugated metal with exposed rafters. The other features include a four-panelled door with arched fanlight, a louvered/fixed window on the north side with segmental brick arch and decorative stone sill, and a double window on the platform elevation with louvered upper sashes, segmental arch and decorative stone sill.
Internal: Internally was not inspected.
PLATFORM 2 LAVATORY BLOCK (c1900)
External: A single storey face brick gabled building with a brick screen wall on the south side providing privacy to the men’s’ toilet entry. The building has a corrugated metal roof and plain bargeboards. The door and window openings have segmental arch lintels with louvers to the windows on east side and slots for ventilation in the gable ends.
Internal: Internally was not inspected.
SIGNAL BOX (1911)
External: A large two-storey face-brick and timber signal box with a corrugated iron gabled roof featuring simple bargeboards, turned timber finial and boxed eaves. The gable end is clad with rusticated weatherboards and has a timber vent. The signal box is located on the Platform 2 (Down side) with the floor level raised above platform level. It has 6-pane horizontal sliding band windows on the upper floor some with internal steel security mesh. There are 9-pane arched windows on the ground floor with rendered sills. Access is via steel stairs to a landing on the south elevation.
Internal: The signal box retains many of its original/early equipment within a refurbished and interiors including plasterboard panelled ceilings, modern light fittings, vinyl floor coverings, modern kitchen facility and cupboards. Early timber panelled walls in the store room still exist. The 48 lever interlocking machine is still in operation.
BARRACKS/REST HOUSE (1911 - 1913)
External: Located to the northeast of the station near No.26 Patrick Street, the barracks building is a single-storey gabled building on north-south axis with enclosed verandahs on the east and west elevations. The building is constructed of face brickwork, stretcher bond to the end walls, and Flemish bond under the verandahs. The gables have plain bargeboards with fretted timber boards to enclosed verandah ends. The large roof has been sheeted with corrugated metal. A large brick gable on the east side facing Patrick Street marks the original entry and is emphasized by a breakfront in the verandah. The verandah feature fibrocement panels to the bottom with brick base and band single-pane louvered windows to the upper portion. A brick chimney is located on the kitchen side of the building.
Internal: The floor layout of the barracks has been altered. An outer passageway exists, which was formally the verandah and external facades. Double-hung windows with simple concrete window sills, timber doors and simple face-brick walls are evident with ventilation grilles along the concrete base. The interior consists of six bedrooms, and a communal kitchen and lounge room area. Floors are tiled and modern florescent lights have been installed. Rooms have been recently refurbished with modern skirting boards, architraves, bathroom amenities, and kitchen facilities.
SITE OF FORMER STATION MASTER’S COTTAGE (1868)
The site of former Station Master’s Cottage was built in 1868 and was constructed of stone similar to the pointsman’s cottage at Glenbrook. The cottage was located a short distance to the south of the station and continued to be occupied by successive station masters until the twentieth century. It was demolished in 1934 when it became redundant and in poor condition due to vacancy for a long period. The site of the former cottage is now in a park named after Errol Barden, a Blue Mountains Shire Council employee who took a special interest in the environment of Mount Victoria.
PLATFORM 1 (1870)
Platform 1 is a curved side platform and constructed of part stone and part brick faced with concrete deck and asphalt finish. Platform originally coursed sandstone with battered profile. Surface shows evidence of cement render, particularly towards bottom of wall; render has been shaved off at top of wall. Platform has been raised with concrete slab. Stonework has been heavily cutback with mechanical tools and some blocks are in poor condition, including evidence of major cracking and missing pieces. Platform has been extended twice at City end, first in brick with corbelled coping, second with steel rail post and concrete panel with cantilever coping. Section with brick corbelled coping has been cut back and made straight. Deck is a patchwork of concrete slabs of various ages. The platform is highly vegetated along the eastern side rocky escarpments with various mature trees, shrubs and potted plants along the length of the platform, bush rock garden beds and timber garden beds. The platform also features period and modern light fittings, timber bench seating, bubbler, drain, historic furniture, a number of early and modern signage and aluminium palisade fencing to both ends of the platform.
PLATFORM 2 (1911)
Platform 2 is a roadside platform and constructed of brick faced with concrete deck and asphalt finish. It was widened at the time of duplication and the addition of the new awning. This platform is also highly vegetated with various mature trees, shrubs and potted plants along the length of the platform. It also features period and modern light fittings, timber bench seating, early and modern signage, an early bubbler and aluminium palisade fencing to both ends and along the street side of the platform. Platform brickwork, laid in English bond, with corbelled coping and weepholes. Brickwork has been patched in some places with different bonds. Platform has been extended to City end with steel rail post and concrete panels cast in situ. Platform has been raised with cantilevered concrete coping. Level bay retains signal cabling. Wall vents in platform building partially covered when platform was raised. Deck is a patchwork of concrete slabs of various ages.
FOOTBRIDGE (1911)
The footbridge is a standard Warren truss trestle and stairway with Hardie board long plank timber deck and channel iron stair stringers. The railing is supported on curved mild steel brackets. The footbridge connects both platforms and as the station is situated in a cutting, it extends on one side to the top of the embankment to connect to Patrick Street in the east and Station Street to the west. The balustrades to the stairs are timber post and handrail with wire mesh infill while the sides of the bridge enclosed with corrugated metal sheeting.
MOVEABLE ITEMS
All station signage
Platform Lighting - pendant style period pole lighting in group of two or one pendants with decorative brackets and pole base
Bubblers on both platforms
Seth Thomas brand clock ID # 2418 in the signal box
48 lever interlocking frame, CTC panel, signal tools, emergency board and equipment, boarded fireplace & chimney breast, glass fronted framed notice board, framed signal information board, 1956 book shelf and supports in the signal box
2 x L-shaped early timber seats in the Platform 1 waiting room
Early iron W and T Avery scale outside of SM’s office on Platform 2
Period timber bench seats on both platforms
All early station signage throughout the station
Set of two of timber rollover indicator boards, one with a foot pedal, still in use (in 2015)
Cast iron and concrete flower pots on platforms
Cast iron c1980s platform benches – on platform
Refreshment Room stove exhaust hood and chimney and oven rungs
Sections of timber Refreshment Room counter bar
Station timetable – green framed sign
Window pelmet with RRR
Timber ticket box
Timber cabinet
Timber desk shelves, painted cream
Two red steel boxes
Timber bench/settle
Timber chair
Two metal waste bins with curved lids
Two electric staff machines
Metal urn with lid, handles, tap and flue
Trike on display rails
Cast iron signal frame, signal mast on display in grounds
Cast iron stormwater grates and vents throughout station
Cast iron and concrete door grilles
Timber fire surrounds, grates and tiled hearths
Fitted RRR timber shelving
Fitted waiting room seating
Board for keys with painted numbers
High-level concrete, ceramic and stainless steel cisterns in men’s toilets, including chains, wall supports and piping
Loose signage in storage
Cast iron sinks
Early light fittings and switches on timber mounting blocks
Early timber office desk with turned legs and two drawers
Collection of wrought iron platform benches with “Mt Victoria” painted lettering – in storage
Cast iron bath tub
Brown moulded plastic seat from waiting room
Platform trolleys - several
Parcel weighing scales mounted on Down platform
LANDSCAPE FEATURES
The setting of the station within the rock escarpment is the typical natural setting of the Blue Mountains stations. The station features a numerous collection of flora ranging from mature trees, shrubs and potted plants along both platforms, adding to the historic character of the station group.
POTENTIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURES
There are no known potential archaeological elements on the station. However, a number of remnant sidings, levers and giants from the earlier electrification system exist along the rock escarpment of Platform 1 and may have archaeological potential. The site of the former SM’s cottage also has archaeological potential. |