Glebe Railway Tunnel

Item details


Name of item:	Glebe Railway Tunnel
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Tunnel
Primary address:	Between Glebe Metro Light Rail Stop and Jubilee Park, Glebe, NSW 2037
Local govt. area:	Sydney

Boundary:

Width of tunnel and 5 metre radius around it, between portal entry near Lower Avon Street (Glebe Metro Light rail) and Portal at Jubilee Park

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Between Glebe Metro Light Rail Stop and Jubilee Park	Glebe	Sydney			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:


	The Glebe railway tunnel is significant as a major feature of the landscape and layout of the Glebe area. The tunnel is an important relic of the inner-city freight system that operated to the wharves, including Darling Harbour, and connected through to the southern suburbs. It was an integral part of a separate railway network built between 1910 and 1922 for freight trains to traverse the metropolitan area independent of the passenger train network. The tunnel and its portals are important brick structures that reflect the industrial nature of the area. The tunnel remains largely intact since its opening in 1922.
	Date significance updated: 14 May 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:	Railway Commissioners
Builder/Maker:	Railway Commissioners/Day Labour
Physical description:	TUNNEL (1922) Glebe railway tunnel runs approximately 800 metres from Lower Avon Street Glebe (adjacent to the metro light rail Glebe stop) to Jubilee Park. Tunnel openings at the east and west end are built of brick in an English bond pattern, with the arch formed by bricks laid in soldier course, and featuring a sandstone keystone. The tunnel supports a double track currently used by the metro light rail system. The tunnel is approximately 8.3m wide and 5.9m high.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The tunnel remains in good working condition.
Modifications and dates:	1996: modified for use by metro light rail system, including new tracks, overhead wiring and catenary structures


Current use:	Metro Light Rail tunnel
Former use:	Metropolitan Goods Line tunnel

History

Historical notes:

The Glebe railway tunnel was constructed in 1919-22 as part of the Rozelle Goods line linking the Darling Harbour goods yard with the Rozelle yard and beyond. The line was to serve as a separate rail system for freight trains so they could move independently of the passenger services, but would also be able to link into the four main lines (north, west, south and Illawarra) at specific locations. As part of the works a large marshalling yard would be built in the middle of the goods line network (at Enfield) to centralise the interchange of freight traffic. The separation of goods traffic had been an ongoing concern for the railways since the 1880s when the Darling Harbour goods yard was established. It continued to be an issue as freight train movements increased throughout the early years of the twentieth century.

The completion of the goods line was directly associated with the Sydney Harbour Trust's completion of the Pyrmont (Jones Bay) wharves, which were considered the most up-to-date and advanced in the port, with rail lines running along each of the wharves. The goods line provided a continuous loop connection through Central Station Yard, Darling Harbour Goods Yard and the Pyrmont wharves, with connections to Rozelle Yard, White Bay and Glebe Island. In this period, Sydney Harbour was the main port for NSW and the goods line provided a direct connection between rural Australia, growing wheat and wool and mining coal, and the ships carrying the goods to export markets. Imported goods arriving on the docks were back-loaded onto the empty trains for distribution around the state. Work began around 1910 with the goods line from Rozelle to the northern end of Darling Harbour completed and opened for traffic on 23 January 1922.

Between Darling Harbour and Rozelle, a series of underbridges, viaducts and tunnels were constructed to carry the line through the suburban landscape.

The tunnel was cut through from west of Bridge Road at the western end of the Wentworth Park viaduct and emerged beyond Victoria Road at Jubilee Park. In 1996 the tunnel was modified to serve the new metro light rail system with the laying of new tracks and fitting of overhead electric wires to power the cars.

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	Rail to ship interchange-
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-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Glebe railway tunnel has historical significance as an essential component of the Rozelle Goods line network. The separate railway network (1910-22) for freight trains to traverse the metropolitan area independent of the passenger train network was one of the most significant and effective railway projects in New South Wales during the twentieth century.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The Glebe railway tunnel has aesthetic significance for its landmark quality in the urban environment. The tunnel entrances are distinctive features on the former goods line.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The Glebe railway tunnel is representative of the style of tunnel excavation carried out by the NSW Government railways in the construction of the Sydney rail network in the first decades of the twentieth century.
Integrity/Intactness:	The Glebe railway tunnel is intact with a high 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.

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	Railcorp S170 Register

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
S170 Heritage & Conservation Register Update	2009		Godden Mackay Logan		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	John Oakes	2001	Sydney's Forgotten Goods Railways

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:	4803228

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