| Physical description: | BUILDINGS
Station Building, Platforms 1-2, (1909)
STRUCTURES
Platforms 1-3, (1909, 2007)
Footbridge, (c1990s)
Overbridge, (1909)
CONTEXT
Berowra Railway Station is located east of the Pacific Highway at Berowra. It has: three platforms, the westernmost of which (closest to the road) is modern (Platform 3); a large modern footbridge with lift towers at the northern end of the platforms; an early 20th century station building on an island platform (Platforms 1-2); and a road bridge at the northern tip of the station. There is also an easement approximately 10m wide on either side of the railway tracks, but no visible evidence of former sidings or the original station buildings. The station is sitting slightly down slope of the Pacific Highway and is screened from the road by trees. There is a small commercial strip on the western side of the Pacific Highway immediately across the road from the station.
STATION BUILDING (1909)
External: The Berowra Railway Station building is located between the two lines on the island platform (Platforms 1-2) and comprises a single storey face brick building in English bond with a corrugated iron gable roof. On each platform is a large awning, supported on cast iron brackets, which are in turn supported on painted stone brackets, which are part of the brick engaged piers of the station building. Timber valances fill the ends of the awnings. The station building features rendered detailing including cornices, architraves, string-courses and sill, timber-framed double hung sash window. A modesty wall has been added to screen the entrance to the men's toilets, which are directly accessed through a door in the southern end of the building. The ticket window has been relocated to the northern end of the building and a modern awning erected above the window. The building is circled by a concrete box drain with cast iron grate covering. Some of the doorsteps are standard SRA concrete with metal foot scraper inserts.
Internal: The building has painted plaster and cement rendered walls, painted joinery of a high quality and ceilings of fibrous plaster sheeting. Floors are wooden with linoleum or concrete. All of the office furniture and fittings as well as the ticket window are modern. The Station Managers office and current ticketing room, one of which was probably the original waiting room, retain evidence of former fireplaces and an early electric signal box. The building generally retains its original double-hung windows and decorative air vents. None of the doors appear to be original and fanlights have been replaced with fixed glass or wooden panels. Floor finishes and light fixtures are modern.
PLATFORMS (1909, 2007)
The western platform (Platform 3 - adjacent to down line for express and continuing northern trains) is a modern structure built in 2007 with a concrete platform, supported on a steel structure. This platform has a modern open shelter structure in steel with a skillion roof.
The island platform dates from the early 20th century. Platform 2 retains its original brick faces, while Platform 1 has been extended in concrete (c1957?). The original faces may still be behind the concrete extension, but were not visible. All platforms include standard modern SRA furniture, bins and fences.
FOOTBRIDGE (c1990s)
At the northern end of the platforms between the platforms and overbridge is a modern concrete footbridge with steel lift structures, providing access from the Pacific Highway to all three platforms.
OVERBRIDGE (1909)
At the northern end of the station is a concrete arch overbridge, with two arches over the railway lines. A wider arch spans two tracks on the western end of the bridge and a narrower arch is over the single track to the east. The concrete arches are supported by brick piers laid in Colonial bond. There is evidence, in the form of an infilled opening in the parapet of the bridge, of a former set of stairs that went from the road bridge to the platform. The deck of the bridge is modern concrete.
MOVABLE
NSW Railway heritage listed sites contain significant collections of stored movable railway heritage, including furniture, signs, operational objects, ex-booking office and ticketing objects, paper records, clocks, memorabilia, indicator boards and artwork. Individually, these objects are important components of the history of each site. Together, they form a large and diverse collection of movable objects across the NSW rail network. Sydney Trains maintains a database of movable heritage. For up-to-date information on all movable heritage items at this site, contact the Sydney Trains heritage team.
Key items at this station include but are not limited to:
Push button Signal Control Panel. Disconnected (2017), but still in place. |
Physical condition and/or
Archaeological potential: | CONDITION
Station Building - Good Condition
Platform - Good Condition
Footbridge - Very Good Condition (modern)
Overbridge - Moderate Condition
POTENTIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURES
Platform 3, which was built on the western side of the through line (closest to the Pacific Highway) in 2007, is located in the former location of the original timber waiting shed, platform, office and stores buildings. There was also a railway siding in this area. The construction of this new platform and access way is likely to have removed or substantially disturbed any archaeological evidence of the original station complex. The former Station Master's Residence fronted the Pacific Highway immediately adjacent to the current pedestrian entrance on its southern side. Some archaeological evidence of this building and artefact deposits associated with it may remain, but these are likely to have been disturbed by levelling and the introduction of vegetation in this area. The archaeological potential is considered to be low. |
| Modifications and dates: | 1957: Platforms were modified to allow for operation of the wide electric rollingstock when the electrification was extended from Hornsby to Cowan.
1990s: Down relief line was provided, allowing fast north-bound passenger and express trains to pass around local trains which had terminated at Berowra. (Local trains now terminate at Berowra in lieu of the previous arrangement, whereby local trains terminated at Cowan). As part of the upgraded facilities, access to the platforms is provided by a new pedestrian overbridge and steps at the northern end, in lieu of the former access from the brick vehicle overbridge which remains essentially intact apart from the removal of the station steps.
2007: A new passenger platform provided allowing faster through passenger trains to provide a passenger service even though a local train is standing at the island platform. The relief road diverges from the down main line south of the platform and rejoins the down line near the present-day brick overbridge.
N.d: In recent years, some minor modifications and improvements have been carried out to platform lighting, seating, shelters and other features to provide better facilities for train passengers.
N.d: Internal modifications have been made following the change in operational requirements. Waiting rooms have been eliminated. The parcels office has been removed. The ticket office window has been relocated to the Down platform side wall. A stud wall has split the former Ladies' Waiting Room diagonally.
2010: New carpark constructed adjacent to the station curtilage
2012: Toilet upgrade
2019: Overbridge refurbishment |