Berry Railway Station Group

Item details


Name of item:	Berry Railway Station Group
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Platform/ Station
Primary address:	Station Road, Berry, NSW 2535
Local govt. area:	Shoalhaven

Boundary:

North: boundary of RailCorp property (including car park) fronting Station Road (including the site of the station masters residence); East: 5m east of the end of the station platform; South: boundary of RailCorp Property on the southern side of the railway tracks (fronting north boundaries of properties fronting Old Creamery Road); West: 5m west of the per way shed. (Note Council LEP has separate and incorrect mapping information).

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Station Road	Berry	Shoalhaven			Primary Address

Owner/s

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

Statement of significance:


	Berry Railway Station is of State historical significance as an important country railway station complex built from 1893 to the 1940s, with most of its original 1893 elements intact, including platform buildings, early equipment and the original station masters residence, and for its relationship to the development of the town of Berry. The Berry Railway Station is of State aesthetic significance as a rare group of simple early weatherboard station buildings including goods shed and Station Master's residence, with later corrugated steel produce shed, located in a picturesque location within the historic Berry township, with the Illawarra escarpment visible beyond. The small weatherboard Out-of-room, signal box and lamp room are typical of small sheds built extensively for these purposes throughout the state. The Station Master's residence is a representative, now rare, early example of a railway residence, which predates the standard railway residence designs of 1899. The Berry Railway Station group is of technical and research significance for its early moveable items including staff instruments, signals, fog signalman's equipment, early timber trolley and timber indicator board.
	Date significance updated: 07 Jul 09
	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:	NSW Government Railways
Builder/Maker:	G. J. Featherstone & T. J. Barbel (Station buildings), W. Monie & J. Angus (Railway line)
Construction years:	1886-1893
Physical description:	PRECINCT ELEMENTS: Station Masters Residence (1893) (Type 6) Platform building (1893, awning added in 1901) (Type 14) Signal box (1912) Lamp Room (1993) Out of room aka Parcels Office (1893) Produce shed (c. 1940s) Goods shed (1893, 1960) Platform (1893, modified 1915) Moveable items CONTEXT Berry Railway Station is located on Station Road opposite and south of David Berry Park and Memorial Park, and the intersection with Alexandra Street (which leads north onto the Princes Highway). There is a station car park located to the north of the railway station platform. Perimeter fencing for the station is modern powdercoated white aluminium fencing. The Station Master's residence is located northeast of the station platform building, east of the car park. The railway station is in a picturesque setting with the Illawarra escarpment visible beyond the station buildings, and the single platform and platform buildings are oriented facing south, with the exception of the Out-of-room, which has a door to the north opening into the station car park. The buildings on the platform generally string along the platform east-west. From east to west the buildings are ranged as follows: lamp room; Out-of-room; signal box; platform building; 1979 brick toilet block. The goods and per way sheds are located at the western end of the station, on the southern side of the railway lines. STATION MASTERS RESIDENCE (1893) Exterior: The residence is located on an unfenced site (February 2009) with a number of large trees, both native and exotic, with the front façade facing west into the Berry Railway Station car park. A straight concrete path leads to the centre of the front veranda from the station car park. This is a freestanding single storey weatherboard residence on brick piers with a gabled corrugated steel roof, a skillion corrugated steel roofed veranda across the width of the front of the house. The veranda is carried on 4 timber posts (corner post at southeast corner damaged) and has a timber floor. The residence has a rear section with two skillion roofs and a gable roofed rear wing to the north-eastern corner of the house, all roofed in corrugated steel. Part of a rear skillion roofed veranda is extant. The front façade is symmetrical, with a central 4 panel front door (now covered over on the exterior) flanked by timber famed double hung windows, each sash having a single vertical glazing bar. The residence originally had 2 brick chimneys at the apex of the gabled roof, however only the southern of these is extant (note roof is patched in the former location of the northern chimney). There is a simple brick chimney near the north-eastern corner of the building to service the kitchen, where a hearth is extant. Part of the rear sections have fibro asbestos walls. Windows are generally timber framed double hung with vertical glazing bars to sashes. The front and back doors are timber 4-panel doors with fanlights. These doors are blocked up on the outside. Interior: Walls have been largely removed, leaving only 2 rooms in the main section of the house. There are timber floors and tongue & grooved timber ceilings. PLATFORM BUILDING (1893) External: The platform building is a long rectangular weatherboard building with a concrete base and a corrugated steel skillion roof sloping towards the rail lines, with the awning supported on cantilevered timber roof beams braced with curved metal braces. All of the rooms open onto the platform with no interconnection between rooms. The building contains a waiting room, station masters office and staff instruments room. The building has aluminium framed double hung windows, with one extant timber framed double hung window frame (in the waiting room); security screen doors and security screens to windows. There are steel brackets to the platform building awning, which faces south, timber beams and a timber valance to the east and west ends of the awning. There are no chimneys to the roof, however there is an extant chimney breast to the waiting room. There is an air-conditioning unit on the roof. Internal: The internal layout of the platform building appears to be relatively intact. There are timber tongue & grooved internal wall linings and ceilings, except in the waiting room. There are operable metal vents to the interior near the top of walls. The waiting room has modern floor tiling and fibre cement sheeting to walls and ceilings, and 2 modern aluminium framed windows, one within an original timber window frame. There are "staff instruments" still operating in the room at the eastern end of the platform building. This room has timber tongue & grooved ceiling and walls. The fog signalman's equipment is also located in this room. SIGNAL BOX (1912) Exterior: The signal box is a small weatherboard building located directly next to the platform building and is raised on a concrete base, the base being attached to the platform building. The signal box has a corrugated Colorbond skillion roof. Originally this building had no wall on the platform side, however a wall with windows and central doorway has been added. Interior: The original signal lever frame remains within the signal box. OUT OF SHED (1893) Exterior: This is a small weatherboard skillion roofed structure, located east of the signal box, with entrances to both platform and car park behind. It has a solid timber tongue & grooved board sliding doors to the centre of the north and south elevations. Interior: The out of shed has a concrete floor and no wall linings. LAMP ROOM Exterior: The lamp room is a diminutive gable roofed building with a corrugated steel roof, and a central timber tongue & grooved board door on the north elevation facing the car park. Interior: The floor is concrete, and there are no ceilings or wall linings. There is timber shelving installed to the interior of the east wall. GOODS SHED (1893) Exterior: This is a corrugated iron side shed 36’x l6’ with a small timber platform along the rail side and a wider platform at the northern end with sliding timber doors to both road and rail sides. The building is in intact condition however the tracks have recently been removed in changes to the yard layout. Interior: not accessed (2009). PRODUCE SHED (c. 1940s): Exterior: this is a large corrugated steel shed with a gabled corrugated steel roof located west of the goods shed. Noted on c.1974 plans as being leased by Berry Rural Co-op Society. Interior: not accessed (2009). PLATFORM (1893) The platform face is brick with brick copings and indicates the extension of the platform in 1915 to accommodate longer trains. The centre of the platform has been capped with concrete to raise the height. LANDSCAPE/NATURAL FEATURES There are significant plantings on the platform, between the station platform buildings, including topiary shrubs. The Shoalhaven LEP 1985 (as amended) lists - as part of Schedule 7: Heritage Items: the Berry Railway Station Group - the following plantings: Ilex cornuta (Chinese Holly) and Gardenia thunbergia (Gardenia). In addition, the site of the Station Master's residence contains a number of large mature trees, both native and exotic. MOVEABLE ITEMS Signals (in signal box); staff instruments (in room at east end of platform building); fog signalman's equipment (in room at east end of platform building); timber trolley (in Out-of-room); pair of timber rollover indicator boards (located between the signal box and the Out-of-room); ETS (Electronic Ticketing Staff) - decommissioned in situ - Miniature staff instruments (x2), contact boxes (x2).
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Station Masters Residence (1893): poor to very poor condition. Platform building (1893): Good Signal box (1912): Good Lamp Room (1993): Moderate Out of room (1893): Good Per way shed: (c. 1940s): Good Goods shed (1893, 1960): Good Platform (1893): Good Moveable items: Good to very good
	Date condition updated:06 Jul 09
Modifications and dates:	1901: awning added to the originally awningless platform building 1903: between 1901 and 1903 a butter factory was constructed east of the rail lines, and new rear extensions constructed to the Station Master's residence 1907: fernery (no longer extant) built to south-western corner of Station Master's residence 1912: Goods siding constructed to serve the Berry Central Butter Factory; signal box constructed. 1913: Goods siding to Butter Factory extended c. 1915: Platform lengthened c1915 for racecourse traffic c.1940: Produce shed constructed 1960: shortening of goods stage and construction of ramp to goods shed 1974: internal alterations to platform building c. 1974: internal alterations to Station Master's residence (removal of most internal walls) 1979: new brick toilet block 1983: internal alterations to platform building c. 1980s: most internal walls removed from main front gable roofed section of Station Master's residence N.d.: Perway shed demolished 2014: ETS (Electronic Ticketing Staff) - decommissioned in situ. Miniature staff instruments (x2), contact boxes (x2)


Current use:	Railway Station
Former use:	Nil

History

Historical notes:

The Illawarra Line was opened as an isolated line as far as Bombo (North Kiama) in 1887 however in 1886 the contract had been awarded to Messrs. Monie and Angus to extend the single line as far as Bomaderry with the intention for the Government to build the Kiama to Jervis Bay Railway. A number of stations were built along the line of which Berry was the largest, reflecting the importance of the town.

It was built as a small but complete station having a crossing loop, stock and goods shed siding and four staff residences, the buildings being timber framed. 1894 plans, signed H. Deane, for the station include cattle yards, 2 platforms (though only one was built), and platform waiting sheds, Station Master's residence, and a fettler's cottage near the level crossing north of the station.

The platform building was originally built as a timber awningless platform building, however an awning was added in 1901. Plans dated 8.8.1901 for "Proposed awning to waiting shed" show the platform building interior containing a ticket office, general waiting room, ladies room, lavatory and water tank. A proposed platform awning is shown on these plans.

"With its vast workforce spread across the state, the NSW Railways was a major landlord with many hundreds of houses for employees at different levels. While accommodation was more likely to be provided for employees in rural locations, the standard of accommodation provided was closely aligned to the position and status of the officer who was to occupy it." (p. 47, McKillop).

By 1888, with a change in railway administration, standard and economic building designs were being introduced for all types of railway buildings including residences. These standard designs were used at various locations throughout NSW and were altered only slightly depending on site specific conditions. The simple designs for Station Masters and Gate Keepers residences were efficiently planned and employed economical materials such as timber and galvanised iron. Sets of standard design drawings for "Station Officer’s Houses" were approved by the Chief Commissioner, Charles Oliver, in 1899. These designs [prepared by Henry Deane] were known as the J1, J2, J3 and J4, and one for a 'Gate Keeper's Cottage' K1. The designs were based on standard designs that were used throughout the network during the early 1890s.

The 1893 Berry Station Master's residence is a relatively early example of the J2 type Station Master's residence design, having been constructed prior to the 1899 issue of the series of standard plans for these buildings. It is also one of a number of railway residences built at Berry, including a gatekeeper’s house at 66 Prince Alfred St. (The other railway residences at Berry are now in private ownership).

The ‘J2’ design is a standard type residence dating from 1885-1920, usually of timber or brick with a high gabled roof with rafters extending to form a veranda across the front of the building, and two chimneys. The buildings featured a simple symmetrical façade with central four-panel front door, front room windows to either side and a rear skillion service wing. While the overall form remained similar to J1 it was 4ft wider, and provided larger rooms. Plans dated 1903 show new rear extensions to the Station Master's residence.

1907 plans show the station with the following structures: on the east side of the railway tracks (south to north): Berry Central Butter Factory, engine boiler house, goods shed, and a Fettler's cottage near the level crossing; west side (south to north): cattle yards, Fettler's cottage, levers, platform with horse dock at southern end, platform building, Station Master's residence with a fern house attached to the south-western corner, and a further Fettler's cottage to the west of the level crossing.

In 1912 the goods siding was extended to serve the Berry Central Butter Factory, it being also extended in 1913 to send milk to the Sydney markets.

Plans annotated in the 1960s note the shortening of the goods stage attached to the south of the goods shed in 1960 and the construction of a ramp to the goods shed and demolition of the cattle yards (by this stage marked as "trucking yards") in 1968.

Plans dated 22.4.1974 show a proposed gang shed and proposed migratory gang camp amenity building on the former site of the cattle yards and fettlers cottage south of the station (west side). These plans also show toilet upgrades to the platform building and the demolition of a separate gents toilet building, the former Station Master's residence being leased to the Boy Scouts, and the former Fettler's house to the west of the level crossing also being leased for private rental accommodation.

Plans dated 17.7.1979 were for construction of a new brick toilet block.

Plans for alterations to station buildings dated 8.1.1982 show the platform building containing (from south to north) a waiting room, parcels & booking office (also containing a Station Master's office), staff amenities, and working staff instruments room (aka signal box).

The Berry Station Master's residence is now disused (2009) but its immediate past use was as a Scout Hall. It is presumably during this period of use as a Scout Hall that most of the internal walls to the front main gable roofed section of the residence were removed.

The historic electric staff system was decommissioned in 2014, and Berry was one of the last locations to use this technology in the metropolitan network.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Signalling-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Forestry-Activities associated with identifying and managing land covered in trees for commercial purposes.	Timber-
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	Transport of goods-
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 the railway network-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Berry Railway Station is of State historical significance as an important country railway station group built from 1893 to 1912, with most of its original elements intact, including early equipment and the original Station Master's residence, and for its relationship to the development of the town of Berry. The Berry Station Master's residence is of historical significance as one of a number of railway residences constructed at Berry which evidence late 19th century railway operational arrangements to accommodate staff on site, and as an early design residence, constructed prior to the issue of a series of standard plans for railway residences in 1899.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The Berry Station Master's residence design has historical association with Henry Deane, Engineer in Chief for Railways Construction 1891-1901.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Berry Railway Station is of State aesthetic significance as a rare group of simple early weatherboard station buildings with later corrugated steel goods and produce sheds, located in a picturesque location within the historic Berry township, with the Illawarra escarpment visible beyond. The small weatherboard Out-of-room, signal box and lamp room are typical of small sheds built extensively for these purposes throughout the state. The Berry Station Master's residence is of aesthetic significance as a small vernacular Victorian Georgian style dwelling, purpose-built for accommodation of railway staff.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The place has the potential to contribute to the local community's sense of place, and can provide a connection to the local community's past.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	Berry Railway Station is of research significance for its early moveable items including staff instruments, signals, fog signalman's equipment, and timber indicator board.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The Berry Railway Station group is considered rare for its collection of extant early weatherboard structures and early moveable items including staff instruments, signals, fog signalman's equipment, and timber indicator board which all remain in their original context. Particularly as a group with the original weatherboard platform building, this collection of weatherboard station buildings built 1893 to 1912 is rare. The Berry Station Master's residence is relatively rare as one of few examples of its design remaining in RailCorp ownership (the others being at Bomaderry, Shellharbour, Morisset and Teralba). The Berry goods shed is rare as only one of a few goods sheds that remain within the Metropolitan network, once a common structure at all major station sites (other similar example at Bomaderry).
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The Berry Station Master's residence is a representative example of an early design railway residence, which predates the standard designs of 1899. The small weatherboard Out-of-room, signal box and lamp room are typical of small sheds built extensively for these purposes throughout the state.
Integrity/Intactness:	Various structures such as the timber loading stage, perway shed and cattle yards are no longer extant at Berry, however the core group of 1893 platform buildings, goods shed and Station Master's residence are extant, along with an extensive range of early moveable items which remain in context and a c. 1940s produce shed. While interior fitout to the platform building has altered over time, much of the original fabric is extant. The interior of the Station Master's residence has been extensively altered (most internal walls removed), however it is externally relatively intact, though in poor condition. The signal box is of moderate to high integrity, retaining its signalling equipment and associated items in situ, though has undergone some modifications to its external appearance on the rail side.
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:

1. Conservation principles: Conserve cultural heritage significance and minimise impacts on heritage values and fabric in accordance with the ‘Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance’. 2. Specialist advice: Seek advice from a qualified heritage specialist during all phases of a proposed project from feasibility, concept and option planning stage; detailed design; heritage approval and assessment; through to construction and finalisation. 3. Documentation: Prepare a Statement of Heritage Impact (SOHI) to assess, minimise and prevent heritage impacts as part of the assessment and approval phase of a project. Prepare a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) prior to proposing major works (such as new additions, change of use or proposed demolition) at all places of State significance and all complex sites of Local significance. 4. Maintenance and repair: Undertake annual inspections and proactive routine maintenance works to conserve heritage fabric in accordance with the ‘Minimum Standards of Maintenance & Repair’. 5. Movable heritage: Retain in situ and care for historic contents, fixtures, fittings, equipment and objects which contribute to cultural heritage significance. Return or reinstate missing features or relocated items where opportunities arise. 6. Aboriginal, archaeology and natural heritage: Consider all aspects of potential heritage significance as part of assessing and minimising potential impacts, including Aboriginal, archaeology and natural heritage. 7. Unidentified heritage items: Heritage inventory sheets do not describe or capture all contributory heritage items within an identified curtilage (such as minor buildings, structures, archaeology, landscape elements, movable heritage and significant interiors and finishes). Ensure heritage advice is sought on all proposed changes within a curtilage to conserve heritage significance. 8. Recording and register update: Record changes at heritage places through adequate project records and archival photography. Notify all changes to the Section 170 Heritage & Conservation Register administrator upon project completion.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register	SRA s.170 Register

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Guidelines used
State Rail Authority Heritage Register Study	1999	SRA132	State Rail Authority	No
Heritage and Conservation Register State Rail Authority of NSW	1993	5	Paul Davies for SRA	No
S170 Heritage & Conservation Register Update	2009		Paul Davies Pty Ltd	Yes
S170 Heritage & Conservation Register Update	2009		Paul Davies Pty Ltd	Yes
Heritage Platforms Conservation Management Strategy	2015		Australian Museum Consulting	Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written	Berry & District Historical Society Inc.		Potted History Berry (originally Broughton Creek)
Written	C.C. Singleton	1946	The Illawarra Line: Bombo to Nowra, ARHS. Bulletin, Vol XV, No 108, Oct
Written	David Sheedy	2009	Historical Research for RailCorp S170 Register Update
Written	Lidbetter, Marg	1993	Historic Sites of Berry
Written	McKillop, Robert	2009	NSW Railways (RailCorp) Thematic History
Written	Office of Rail Heritage (ORH)	2009	Railway Residences: Summary Report Prepared for S170 Update Project, 2009

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:	State Government
Database number:	4801132

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