Marulan Railway Precinct

Item details


Name of item:	Marulan Railway Precinct
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Platform/ Station
Primary address:	Thoroughfare Street, Marulan, NSW 2579
Parish:	Marulan
County:	Argyle
Local govt. area:	Goulburn Mulwaree

Boundary:

The listing boundary follows the rail property boundaries on both sides of the tracks, from the George Street road bridge to the east and to the Goulburn (western) end of the station platforms. The unpaved forecourt on the southwest side of the station is within the curtilage. Please note this site is listed on the State Heritage Register (SHR) for which the curtilage may differ – see image gallery for more information. Any proposed development within the vicinity of the listed site should also consider the historic relationship between the listing and its surrounding area.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Thoroughfare Street	Marulan	Goulburn Mulwaree	Marulan	Argyle	Primary Address

Owner/s

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

Statement of significance:


	Marulan Railway Precinct is significant as an important element within the townscape of Marulan. The precinct is historically significant as one of the earliest extant railway precincts in NSW, with railway services to Marulan dating from the earliest period of railway construction in NSW in the 1850s and 1860s, and with the extant station building constructed for the opening of the line in 1868. The station building was constructed as a combined office/residence and demonstrates the now defunct custom of providing accommodation for railway staff in station buildings. The site has aesthetic significance as a good example of a simple Victorian Georgian style station building that remains substantially intact. The extensive and decorative platform awning is exemplary of railway design in the mid-Victorian period. The signal box is a standard platform structure that demonstrates past signalling and safe-working methods in the NSW railway system.
	Date significance updated: 13 Jun 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


Builder/Maker:	F. Horn
Construction years:	1868-1915
Physical description:	MAJOR STRUCTURES - Managed by ARTC Station Building - type 1, Down Platform, brick combination residence/station (1867) Signal Box - timber on platform (c.1915) OTHER STRUCTURES - Managed by RailCorp Building Awning (c1874) Waiting Shed - Up Platform concrete (modern) Platform faces - brick (1868 & c.1915) STATION BUILDING AND AWNING (1867, c1874) Located on the Down platform, this is a brick building with 5 bay verandah to platform supported on fluted cast iron columns with decorative brackets, simple timber beams and end valances with profiled sheet metal in floral motif. The detail of the joinery is of fine quality. The roof form is hipped with an extension at the Down end for the residence. A feature of the building is the width and visual dominance of the platform awning (added later in c.1874). SIGNAL BOX (c.1915) The ‘Type F’ signal box is located adjacent to the station building on the Down platform. The building features a low skillion roof clad in corrugated sheet metal and sloping towards the platform. The building is clad in timber weatherboard. WAITING SHED Modern concrete waiting shed located on Up Platform. Not assessed as significant. PLATFORM (1868 & c.1915) Platform 1 (c.1915) is a straight side platform constructed in association with duplication works. It is brick with an asphalt surface. Platform 2 (1868) is a straight side platform made of brick with concrete and asphalt surface. Coping has been raised. SITE FEATURES: Early Marulan Station Signs (1 each per platform) Column Capitals and cast iron decorative brackets (apparently mirrored base column) Gooseneck lighting Some original timber cabinetry and detailing in Station building Original lever frames and equipment still inside signal box. Ticketing window into waiting room still extant (some damage) Original pan toilet & original wash basin and cabinetry in Ladies Room Waiting room bench in situ – some remnant pieces from other waiting room bench Interpretation Signage (badly bent) erected by council (?) near entrance Front garden area used to house tennis court erected by Station Master who lived in nearby property (now privately owned) MOVEABLE ITEMS 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: Platform bench with station name lettering Cast Iron Safe in Booking Office Timber framed blackboard/noticeboards
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Items are generally in moderate condition. The platform level has been raised to well above floor level which may lead to future problems with damp and deterioration around the building.
	Date condition updated:25 Nov 09
Modifications and dates:	? - Platform 2 level significantly raised. 2014 - Transport Access Program - included: An accessible ramp and footpath from Platform 1 to the existing pedestrian level crossing. An accessible ramp and footpath leading to Platform 2. New balustrade and hand rails, improved safety including tactile surfacing, lighting and CCTV surveillance cameras.
Further information:	Photos indicate that platform 2 level has been raised to well above floor level which may lead to future problems with damp and deterioration around the building.


Current use:	Passenger services contiune to operate to Marulan
Former use:	Passenger station and railway yard

History

Historical notes:

Marulan Railway Precinct is located on the Main South Line. Following the completion of the first railway from Sydney to Parramatta Junction in 1855, proposals for the first railways to the rest of NSW were driven by pastural communities seeking improved transport for their produce from the inland centres such as Goulburn, Bathurst, Singleton and Muswellbrook. When John Whitton arrived in Sydney in 1856 to take up his position as Engineer-in-Chief of the NSW Railways, "he understood his job was to plan the extensions which would take the infant railway into the interior of Australia", however, it wasn’t until 1860 that definite plans were made to extend the Great Southern Line to Picton, with an extension to Goulburn (Lee, 2000, p98).

The original township of Marulan was surveyed in 1834 and built approximately 4 kilometres south of the present town of Marulan. In 1867 a private subdivision was offered for sale close to the location of the new railway station and yard, after which the old town (surveyed in 1834) declined and Marulan began to develop around the site of the new railway station. A contract was let to F. Horn on 8 February 1868 for the combined station building and Station Master’s house. A separate contract was awarded to G. Thead on 3 December 1867 for construction of a goods shed (Forsyth, 1989).

The single line from Marulan to Moss Vale was completed in 1868, and Marulan opened to railway traffic on 5 August 1868. Changes to the station precinct in the late 19th century and early 20th century included the addition of a veranda to the station building in 1874, erection of a 10 tonne crane (1876), repairs to the water tank (1877), removal of the crane (to Bundanoon in 1880), alterations to the stockyards, construction of a Station Master’s cottage, erection of a cart weighbridge, and fixing signal levers on the platform (all 1882). New sheep yards were constructed and a post office erected in 1885, a residence for the night officer erected in 1891, the station interlocked in 1895, and (the original) trucking yards removed in 1913 (the other stockyards remaining until 1985). A new Up platform and associated buildings were constructed in 1915 as part of duplication works on the Southern line, and in 1924 a loading bank was erected for limestone traffic (Forsyth, 1989).

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 and safe working-
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-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Servicing and accommodating railway employees-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Evolution of design in railway engineering and architecture-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The place has historic significance as railway services at Marulan date from the earliest period of railway construction in NSW in the 1850s and 1860s, with the extant station building constructed for the opening of the line in 1868. The station building was constructed as a combined office/residence and demonstrates the now defunct custom of providing accommodation for railway staff within a station building.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The site has aesthetic significance as a good example of a simple Victorian Georgian style station building that remains substantially intact. The extensive and decorative platform awning is exemplary of railway design in the mid-Victorian period. The station building remains an important element within the townscape of Marulan.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The site is of social significance to the local community on account of its lengthy association for providing an important source of employment, trade and social interaction for the local area. The site is significant for its ability to contribute to the local community’s sense of place, is a distinctive feature of the daily life of many community members, and provides a connection to the local community’s past.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The site has rarity significance as a combined office/residence and is one of only four similar structures remaining in NSW, with other examples extant at Fairfield, Branxton and Menangle.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The signal box is representative of approximately 36 similar ‘Type F’ boxes that remain in the state demonstrating past signalling and safe-working methods in the NSW railway system. The station building and signal box have the ability to demonstrate 19th century railway customs, activities and design in NSW, and are representative of similar items that are found at other railway sites across the state.
Integrity/Intactness:	The station building has a good level 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

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Guidelines used
State Rail Authority Heritage Register Study	1999	SRA257	State Rail Authority	No
S170 Register Update Project	2009		ARTC/ ORH	Yes
Heritage Platforms Conservation Management Strategy	2015		Australian Museum Consulting	Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Forsyth, J.H.	1989	Stations & tracks: volume 2: Main Southern Line: Granville Junction to Albury: station, siding, track & bridge data
Written	J.M. Cottee	2004	Stations on the track: Selected NSW Country Railway Stations: An Historical Overview

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:	4806257

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