Orange Railway Station and yard group

Item details


Name of item:	Orange Railway Station and yard group
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Platform/ Station
Location:	Lat: -33.2869617785 Long: 149.1037355130
Primary address:	Peisley Street, Orange, NSW 2800
Local govt. area:	Orange
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Orange

Boundary:

The listing boundary is formed by Peisley St to the west (including the buildings fronting Peisley St included in the listing), the northern side of the footbridge, Endsleigh Avenue to the east and the extension of Warrendine Street to the south.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Peisley Street	Orange	Orange			Primary Address
Main Western railway	Orange	Orange			Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
TAHE - Sydney Trains	State Government	05 Nov 98

Statement of significance:


	Orange Railway Precinct is of state significance for its historic, aesthetic and rarity values. The 1877 two-storey Victorian station building is a fine and rare combined residence/station building, one of only four similar buildings in the state. The site is significant as a major railway complex comprising several rare, representative, and/or otherwise significant railway buildings and other structures including the goods shed (1877), Station Master's residence (1885), Railway Institute building (c1921), administration building (c1950) signal box (1938) and the transhipment shed (c1959). The cast iron footbridge is a rare structure reflecting a style of construction once similar to other pedestrian bridges and related structures built during the Whitton era in the late nineteenth century.
	Date significance updated: 18 Jul 13
	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


Construction years:	1877-1950
Physical description:	MAJOR STRUCTURES - Managed by RailCorp Station Buildings - type 1, sub-type 3, brick combined office and station (1877) with additions, (1902, 1907,1915) and platform MAJOR STRUCTURES - Managed by ARTC Station Master's Residence - type 11, 158 Peisley St (1885) Railway Institute Building - timber, 156 Peisley St (c.1921) Administration Building - 154 Peisley Street (c.1950) Goods Shed - through shed, Piesley St (1877) Rail Motor Shed- Piesley St (c1950) Signal Box (1938) (The signal box has been identified for removal as part of a state-wide strategy to manage redundant signal boxes) Transhipment Shed- Endsleigh St (c1959) Perway Inspector's Office and Depot- Endsleigh St OTHER ITEMS - Managed by ARTC Footbridge - iron with concrete deck (c1910) & extension (1938) Jib Crane - 5 ton STATION BUILDING (1877, modified 1902,1907,1915) The brick station building was built with a combined two-storey residence for the Station Master with upstairs bedrooms. The building has since undergone a series of modifications but retains its Victorian form and character. The building houses the central booking office, with extended wings along the platform for parcels, refreshments, waiting rooms and toilets. The building is constructed of brick in Flemish bond with label moulded rendered heads for openings, and corbelled and moulded render sills to double hung sash arched windows. The verandah is long and low to the platform and is supported on cast iron composite Corinthian style columns with cast iron angle brackets supporting roof in four directions (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007). STATION MASTER'S RESIDENCE (1885) The former Station Master's residence is located at 158 Peisley St. It was built c.1885, is late Victorian and includes the following features: gabled front end and octagonal bay with pitched slate roof; main roof of hipped and gable form; four panel glazed entrance door; glazed French verandah doors; sloping iron verandah roof supported on square stop chamfered timber posts, and fine moulded rendered chimneys (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007). RAILWAY INSTITUTE BUILDING (c1921) Federation style weatherboard house with pitched corrugated iron roof and brick chimney. The verandah extends over the front porch only supported by timber posts and brick columns (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007). ADMINISTRATION BUILDING (c1950) The Administration Building is a symmetrical three storey polychromatic, brick building with a pitched tiled roof. It has evenly spaced windows around all sides of both levels, and the entrance way is marked with a neo-classical portico. Internally there have been some modifications, particularly to the first floor where offices and equipment relating to train controls have been installed. Security grates have been fitted to some windows and air-conditioning installed, unsympathetically in some instances. Window frames have been replaced with aluminium frames. The building has all new floor coverings and toilets have been installed. A glass panel and door has been added inside the entrance arch. The general internal layout is likely to be similar to as built, as are ceilings, some skirting, doors and stair banisters (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007). GOODS SHED (1877) The goods shed consists of an internal frame of long Oregon hardwood timber beams clad in corrugated iron with a pitched roof. The roof has skylights along the enclosed section. The original shed was almost twice as long as it is today having extended northward to the end of the Orange railway station platform to where the jib crane still stands. The current dimensions are approximately 42m x 11.4m. The building has also been modified through the introduction of aluminium windows, roller doors and an awning extending from the northern end of the western side of the structure, along with landscaping. During its time of operation, a rail line passed through the eastern side of the building. The line is now covered over, and has possibly been removed. A wooden platform remains through the centre of the shed. The goods shed is being leased to Australian Native Landscapes as a storage and display centre for the retail of landscaping supplies. The tenants have constructed an office at the northern end of the building and a sales point in the centre. (BCubed Sustainability, 2007). RAIL MOTOR SHED (c1950) Located in the goods yard adjacent to the goods shed. The shed is constructed using iron beams and trusses and corrugated iron cladding. Disused railway tracks run into the shed and there is a diesel tank sitting aloft iron stilts to the southern end of the eastern side of the structure. The type and condition of the materials used in the rail motor shed would suggest the provenance of the rail motor shed to be mid 20th century. Currently, the shed is part of the Australian Native Landscapes lease but is not being used for any function (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007). SIGNAL BOX (1938) The signal box is a two storey timber board building located between the crossing loop track and the Main line south of the Orange railway station. The majority of the signals have been disconnected and decommissioned. Some levers have been removed. Air-conditioning has been installed (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007). TRANSHIPMENT SHED (c1959) The transhipment (OPR) shed was constructed c.1959 by the Orange Producers Rural Association and is located on the eastern side of the rail precinct opposite the Orange railway station and goods shed. The building is an open style shed consisting of an iron support structure covered over with corrugated iron. The OPR shed spans over track that was previously the eighth line of 8 marshalling sidings at Orange. The shed is in a good condition though its integrity is diminished (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007). PERWAY OFFFICE AND DEPOT The Permanent Way Depot is located opposite the Administration Building on the eastern side of the Orange rail precinct to the north of the station. The buildings include an office and various sheds. The office area roof is constructed using corrugated iron and has an uneven pitched roof and verandah covering the entrance on the western side of the building (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007). FOOTBRIDGE (1910, extended 1938) The footbridge is a pedestrian overbridge that provides pedestrian access over the tracks. The original bridge was constructed c1910, of composite plain cast iron posts and brown brick piers, riveted iron beams and cast iron railing. It was then extended with the new section being obviously distinct from the original (BCubed Sustainability, 2007). The 1938 section of the bridge is noted as being the first welded truss bridge in the rail system. The original component of the bridge is recorded as the oldest surviving footbridge in NSW and the only example of its type (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007). JIB CRANE Class No. 1, 5 tonne, hand operated jib crane. The crane was used to load and unload goods to and from rail wagons and road vehicles. Previously, the goods shed extended right up to where the jib crane still stands. (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007).
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	All structures appear generally to be in good condition.
	Date condition updated:18 Jul 13


Current use:	Railway Station
Former use:	Aboriginal land

History

Historical notes:

Orange is located on the Main Western line. The single line railway from Blayney to Orange was opened on 19 April 1877. The line was duplicated from Spring Hill to Orange on 5 November 1916 (Cottee, 2004; SRA, 1993).

When NSW Governor Earl Belmore visited Orange in 1869, he was greeted by a large archway of greenery bearing the words 'Railway extension is the one thing needful for development of the resources of our district'. The government was also keen to ensure a railway line was built - to Orange and well beyond - so that produce from Western NSW was not lost to markets in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. Engineer-in-Chief for construction of the railway line, John Whitton, surveyed several options for the route from Bathurst, initially by-passing Blayney and the villages of Millthorpe and Spring Hill, but intense lobbying ensured they were included in final plans. The successful tenderer was William Mason & Co. (ibid, 2017, 9).

In 1874 a contract was awarded for construction of the line and in 1876 a contract let for construction of a combined station/ residence building, goods shed and station verandah at Orange. The design for the station building/residence was finalised in 1876 and the building completed the following year (Cottee, 2004; SHR, 1993).

The Mayor of Orange, Thomas Dalton, drove the last bolt with a silver-mounted sledgehammer on 17 March 1877, a month before the complex was officially opened on 19 April 1877. The occasion was marked with an invitation to drink to the success of the railway in ale, while dignitaries drank champagne at the Royal Hotel. The contractor, Mr Mason, took a party of ladies and gentlemen for a train ride a few miles down the track and back. On Thursday 19 April the celebrations started early in Orange, long before the official party arrived, with a parade led by a brass band. About 1400 children were treated to 'plum cake and other toothsome delicacies' in the recreation ground (now Cook Park). Contractors treated workmen and their wives to a lunch of roasted bullock. A special train left Sydney at 6.20am to take Colonial Secretary Henry Parkes and MLAs to Orange. Extra carriages were added in Bathurst to bring people who had not been able to board an excursion train to Orange that had left earlier in the day. The ministerial train arrived in Orange shortly before 4pm. At a time when Orange's population was just 2000, about 7000 people were on hand to welcome the train, a sure indication of the importance of the railway to the town and surrounding districts. The line was formally opened by the Minister for Public Works, James Hoskins. Afterwards local childrene were briefly addressed by Parkes and then treated to a short trip down the line and back. The official party was given a banquet in the large goods shed, while Bathurst Volunteer Rifle Corp Band played throughout the evening. Dalton announced that 50 tons of Orange flour would be sent to Sydney by the next day's train, more than likely from the mill operated by his brother, James Dalton. The day's celebrations ended with a grand ball (ibid, 2017, 9-10).

A Guards' rest house was also provided in 1877 (Cottee, 2004; SRA, 1993).

In the year of the railway's arrival to Orange, 20,170 acres of land was under cultivation, wheat being the primary crop. It was the wheat farmer, therefore, that stood to benefit most from the opening of the line. Accordingly the initial planning of the precinct included a goods shed, which still stands today, for the loading of Orange grown grains onto rail trucks destined for Sydney markets. The original goods shed was much longer than it is today, extending northward almost to the end of the railway station platform, where the carpark is now, and utilizing the jib crane (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007).

The original 1875 plans for the station arrangement for Orange show that the Orange precinct was intended to service more than just passenger trains. The precinct included a depot and carriage shed with a turntable opposite the railway station and goods shed. The depot was subsequently moved in 1937 to East Fork and the area was converted for use as a marshalling yard (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007).

The 1877 opening of the Great Western Railway line in Orange marked a turning point for the fortunes of the town and surrounding districts. People now had an option of travelling to and from Bathurst, the Blue Mountains and Sydney by passenger train rather than relying on coaches and horses; district farmers and orchardists could send their produce to market by overnight train instead of relying on bullock drays; and miners could send their raw materials by train to be smelted in Newcastle or Wollongong. The coming of the railway provided employment for train drivesr, firemen, gangers, porters, signalmen and clerks, many of whom spent their entire working lives in the service. Orange residents had long campaigned for an extension of the Great Western Railway after it reached Bathurst, although their firts thoughts, of having a horse-drawn railway, luckily gave way to steam power (Edwards, 2017, 9).

In 1885 a branch line was opened from Orange East Fork to Molong (Cottee, 2004; SRA, 1993).

The 1930s saw significant developments to the rail infrastructure at Orange. With the Railway Institute already established, it was announced in 1936 that the new headquarters for the District Superintendent of Railways was to be constructed next to the station on the north-western side. As the town of Orange grew, the rail activities at Orange were being divided between the station in town and the depot at East Fork and accordingly the coal shed (perhaps only a coal dump or an elevated loading facility) and engine shed were relocated from an area opposite the station to East Fork in 1937 (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007).

In 1938, a signal box was added to the precinct, south of the goods shed and in-between the bifurcated main line and the lines of the marshalling area. The construction of the signal box represented the modernization of the 19th century railway station and yard and a new mechanized system of signalling to better cope with the increased number of trains travelling through Orange (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007).

Over time, the arrangement of the rail precinct has changed as a result of the development of Orange as a major regional centre and changes in railway technology and practices. Once the rail head moved on from Orange in 1880 and the railways continued into far western NSW, Orange turned to the production of fruit, finding it increasingly difficult to compete with wheat production in drier climate wheat districts. The production of grain in the Orange district in the 19th century was replaced to a large extent with fruit by the 1950s. A reflection of this was construction of the Orange Producers Rural Association (OPR) transhipment shed (c1959) within the railway precinct (B Cubed Sustainability, 2007).

Other additions and alterations within the station and yard included installation of a gantry crane (1896), erection of a carriage shed (1897), extension of the awning over the station platform (1898), alterations to station buildings (1918), provision of a wheat stacking site in the triangle (1918), construction of institute building (1921), new stockyards (1935), and at least one new rest house for Loco staff (1939) (Cottee, 2004; SRA, 1993).

Railway Institute Building
Former employee Les Brown an instructor at the Railway Institute advises that the verandah has had a concrete slab from at least 1949.

2017 140th Anniversary:
To mark the 140th anniversary of the opening of the railway line in the city, Orange & District Historical Society and Orange Railway Station staff organised a series of events. They comprised a 2-week exhibition of railway photographs at the Orange City Library; a celebration at the railway station to welcome the XPT from Sydney on the actual anniversary of the opening, 19th April; a screening of the light-hearted railway-themed movie, 'The Titfield Thunderbolt'; and a day-long symposium on railway history and heritage. The photographs were largely from the Central Western Daily negative collection, which is managed by Orange & District Historical Society, with other contributions from railway photography enthusiast, John Ward. They cover 1955-2000, showing operations, staff, passengers and freight, accidents and mishaps. They vividly convey the importance of the railway to Orange and the district. The railway station was crowded on Wednesday 19th April as locals awaited the arrival of the XPT. The City of Orange Brass Band welcomed the train a little after midday, and staff handed out souvenirs to children. A birthday cake was cut by Senior Customer Attendent at the station, Margaret Kennedy, and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Roads, Maritime and Transport, Kevin Andrews (Edwards, 2017, 10-11).

Guest speakers at the symposium included Historical Society Euan Greer, who discussed the opening of the line in 1877. Former railway man, Denny Ellis focussed on operations at their height in the 1940s and 1950s, and editor of the magazine of the Railway Historical Society, Bob McKillop, spoke on the influence of the railways in the period leading up to their decline and former CEO of State Rail Authority, David Hill, spoke via video recording of his time at the helm, and the importance of railway history and heritage. The exhibition was transferred from the library to the symposium venue for the day and supplemented with other photographs and memorabilia from guests. Guest of honour was former long-serving District Superintendent, 93 year old Tom Hetherington, who was delighted to catch up with colleagues (ibid, 2017, 11).

While Orange's passenger service now comprises just one daily XPT train from Sydney to Dubbo and return, coaches now transport people travelling further afield. However on the anniversary, there could not have been a more enthusiastic welcome for the train which provides such a vital service for travellers. Some local people boarded at Blayney, travelling to Orange to mark the anniversary. Freight trains regularly roll through Orange, although long-gone are the huge trains carrying tons of zinc from Broken Hill to the Sulphide Corporation's Cockle Creek smelter near Newcastle. There are far fewer freight trains than there used to be, but today's are longer and heavier than the short, light-weight trains of the 1960s and 1970s. These longer, heavier trains carry a much greater total weight of freight. The Indian Pacific passes through East Fork on its way to and from Perth three times a week but the once-busy Orange railway shunting yards are long gone. However the 140th anniversary celebrations proved that there is still a huge amount of interest in railways and railway heritage among the general public, as well as serving and former rail workers and railway history enthusiasts (ibid, 2017, 11).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences	Developing local landmarks-
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	Railway Station-
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	Public tramline system-
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	Administering the public railway system-
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.	Worker's Dwellings-
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.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Townships-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from rural to suburban-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Resuming private lands for public purposes-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Decentralising metropolitan activities to provincial cities-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing suburbia-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Role of transport in settlement-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Beautifying towns and villages-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Impacts of railways on urban form-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	19th Century Infrastructure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Shaping inland settlements-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creation of railway towns-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Impacts of railways on rural development-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Railway work culture-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	State government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - building and administering rail networks-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - conserving cultural and natural heritage-
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.	Interior design styles and periods - Victorian-
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.	Architectural styles and periods - Victorian (mid)-
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.	Architectural styles and periods - Victorian (late)-
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.	Landscaping - Federation period-
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.	Applying architectural design to utlilitarian structures-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Places of informal community gatherings-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with John Whitton, Chief Engineer, NSW Government Railways-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with the Hon. Sir Henry Parkes, Premier, father of Federation-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with William Mason and Co., builders-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with James Hoskins MLA, Minister for Public Works (1877)-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Thomas Gatton Dalton, Mayor of Orange (1877)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The site has historic significance, demonstrating the late 19th and early 20th Century development of the NSW railways. The station building dates from the opening of the line at Orange in 1877, and along with other structures within the yard precinct, has the ability to provide evidence of a late 19th century railway precinct. The scale and detailing of the station buildings reflect the importance and size of Orange as an important country location in NSW. As the Orange agricultural economy developed and railway technology progressed, so too did the use and layout of Orange Railway station, and the precinct demonstrates this historical growth.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The station building has aesthetic significance as a fine Victorian railway station building that demonstrates railway design in the 1870s.
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 1877 two-storey, brick station building is a rare combined residence/station building, with only four other similar buildings in the state, the others being Bowning, Emu Plains, Wallerawang and Yass junction. The cast iron footbridge is a surviving rare structure reflecting a style of construction similar to Whitton's river bridges and pedestrian bridges from the late 19th century.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The site has representative significance for its collection of railway structures, including the goods shed (1877), Station Master’s residence (1885), Railway Institute building (c1921), administration building (c1950), signal box (1938) and the transhipment shed (c.1959) and other related items that collectively demonstrate widespread 19th and early 20th century railway customs, activities and design in NSW, and are representative of similar items that are found in other railway sites across the state.
Integrity/Intactness:	The station buildings have a high 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:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Produce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Review a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
CMP-Comment	Conservation Plan submitted for comment	Conservation Management Strategy for review & comment re subdivision, October 2007		Mar 20 2008
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		01218	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register
Local Environmental Plan
Potential Heritage Item	A		17 May 02

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Edwards, Elisabeth	2017	'Milestone in Orange: 140 years of 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:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5012127
File number:	10/05593

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

All information and pictures on this page are the copyright of Heritage NSW or respective copyright owners.