Queanbeyan Railway Station group

Item details


Name of item:	Queanbeyan Railway Station group
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Platform/ Station
Location:	Lat: -35.3430373076 Long: 149.2290189540
Primary address:	Henderson Road, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620
Local govt. area:	Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Ngambri

Boundary:

The listing boundary commences immeadiately west of the Mcewan Ave road bridge on the north side of the station and follows the railway property boundaries westward adjacent to railway street.At a point just past the property opposite Oakes Estate Road the boundary crosses the tracks and follows the station property boundaries east including the parking area and residence untill reaching the Mcewan Ave road bridge to complete the curtilage.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Henderson Road	Queanbeyan	Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional			Primary Address
Goulburn-Bombala railway	Queanbeyan	Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional			Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
TAHE - Sydney Trains	State Government	06 Nov 98

Statement of significance:


	Queanbeyan Railway Precinct is of state significance as a late Victorian period railway precinct that remains relatively intact and includes several original items from the 1880s including the 1885 roadside station building and c1887 Station Master's residence. The station building is particularly significant, being a fine example of a Victorian first class station building. The station building is the largest and most ornate of the station buildings on the Bombala Line, signifying Queanbeyan as an important location in Southern NSW, even prior to the declaration of Canberra as the nation's capital.
	Date significance updated: 19 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


Builder/Maker:	Joseph Jordan
Construction years:	1887-1887
Physical description:	Listing includes station building, signal box, station master's residence, signal frame, turntable, water column, water tank, small ganger's shed (HIS, 2016). MAJOR STRUCTURES - Managed by RailCorp Station building - type 5, first class brick station building (1887), and Brick platform Signal box - weatherboard signal box with skillion roof (1920s) MAJOR STRUCTURES - Managed by ARTC Station Master's residence - 43 Henderson Road (1887) Signal Frame - F-frame signal cabin with flat roof and hardiplank boards OTHER ITEMS - Managed by ARTC Turntable (1926); Water column; Water tank; Small gangers shed STATION BUILDING (1887) Queanbeyan is the largest and most elaborate station building on the Bombala Line. The station buildings at Queanbeyan present as a symmetrical layout and elevation, with a central waiting room with two single storey structures to either side connected by small pavilions. The plan of the station features a central waiting room flanked by a kitchen, storeroom, refreshment room and dining room to one side; and a Station Master's office, parcels room, ladies waiting room and bathrooms to the other side. The station buildings are constructed of brick with a painted finish and quoining to building corners. The roofs are gabled and clad in corrugated iron with corbelled brick chimneys and gable vents. The main building features a transverse gable to each end. Gable ends feature decorative timber barge boards with central circular vents and a group of three arched windows below. The platform and rear verandahs have timber posts with curved iron brackets. Timber panelled French doors and timber double hung sash windows have moulded surrounds. PLATFORM: A recent study by Australian Museum Consulting, commissioned by Sydney Trains, found that Queanbeyan Station is one of only 11 remaining stations in the Sydney Trains network that has a precast concrete platform structure. All remaining precast platforms in the network are in poor condition or are likely to require reconstruction or demolition in the future. Discussions with Sydney Trains Heritage Division indicate that Queanbeyan Station has been identified as a good location to provide interpretation of this rare and endangered platform type. Interpretation is a conservaiton strategy that would mitigate the loss of significant fabric and technical value of the platform at this site (HIS, 2016, 1). SIGNAL BOX (1920s) and SIGNAL FRAME The two signalling structures are simple square structures with single pitch roofs clad in corrugated iron and timber framed walls clad in weatherboard (1920s) or hardiplank. STATION MASTER'S RESIDENCE (1887) The brick Station Master's residence features a standard L-shaped plan with symmetrical front facade with full width verandah, a hipped roof clad in corrugated iron, and corbelled brick chimneys.
Modifications and dates:	Part of goods yard transferred to Council for community use c1999


Current use:	Railway Station
Former use:	Railway Station

History

Historical notes:

Queanbeyan is located along the Bombala Line. Construction contract for the Bungendore to Michelago section was awarded to Alex Johnston on 27 May 1884. The single line from Bungendore to Queanbeyan opened on 8 September 1887 (Forsyth, 2008).
The station location chosen was in the Oaks Paddock, two kilometers from the centre of town, which was chosen to avoid the need to demolish the hospital and cemetery. Constructinoo f the station was completed in March 1887 and it opened in September that year (Sydney Trains, 2016, 6).

Construction of the station building, station master's residence, and gatekeeper's cottage were let to a Joseph Jordan on 12 July 1886. The station building was officially opened September 1887 and it is likely that the station master's and gatekeeper's residences were completed the same year (Forsyth, 2008).

In 1884 the NSW government had decreed that, in order to save costs, railway station buildings should be constructed from timber and iron. That Queanbeyan was exempt from this policy shows the status of the station within the NSW network, it was one of only 10 stations built between 1887 and 1892 to have brick station buildings. The remaining 121 stations built complied with the policy of using cheaper construction materials. Queanbeyan Station was designed

The platform was built on the Down (south) side of the railway line, with a carriage dock at the Sydney end of the platform and a crossing loop and stock loop siding on the Up (north) side. The loading bank and goods shed were on the Down side to the west of the station, with a public level crossing at Crest Road, which was abolished on 18 December 1955.

Major additions and other changes to the railway precinct/yard at Queanbeyan included alterations to the parcels office and refreshment room (1890), an office erected for the Sub-Inspector of Per Way (1891), small loading bank provided (1891), engine shed built (1896), gantry crane installed (1903) unloading bank built, and laying in a siding for unloading materials for the Canberra Branch railway line (1913), crossing laid in to Canberra Branch and locomotive water supply increased by 810kL (1924), ash pit built (1927), 60' turntable transferred from Nimmitabel to Queanbeyan (1926), portable workshop provided for the rail motor fitters (1950), siding laid in for stabling of 2-car diesel trains (1952), refreshment rooms closed (1956), renewing goods shed stage in steel and concrete (1963), additional shelter over goods shed stage erected (1961), and rest house closed (1974) (Forsyth, 2008).

A Gatekeeper's residence at Crest Road remains where built west of the station, but is no longer in railway ownership.

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	(none)-
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	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	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
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-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The place has historic significance demonstrating the late 19th century development of the NSW railways. The site includes several items dating from the opening of the line at Queanbeyan in 1887 and has significance demonstrating the layout of a late 19th Century railway station. The station building as the largest and most ornate station on the line is particularly significant in demonstrating the importance of Queanbeyan as an important location in Southern NSW, even prior to the declaration of Canberra as the national capital.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The site has aesthetic significance as a railway precinct that retains several original items that demonstrate railway design in the 1880s. The 1887 station building is a fine example of a Victorian first class station building with fabric and fine detailing typical of the period. The 1887 Station Master’s residence is a good example of a standard Victorian railway residence.
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 g) [Representativeness]	The station building has representative significance as a fine example of a first class station building, similar in design to other station designs from this period in NSW. Other items including the Station Master’s residence, signal box, signal frame, gangers shed, turntable, water column and water tank, demonstrate widespread late 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 group including the station building and Station Master's residence, platform, signal box, signal frame, turntable, water column and water tank have a high level of integrity. The gangers shed has a moderate 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.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
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		01226	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register	Queanbeyan Railway Precinct	4806293
Local Environmental Plan	Queanbeyan Railway Station
Register of the National Estate	Queanbeyan Railway Station Group

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Tourism		2007	Queanbeyan Railway Station Group	View detail
Written	Artefact Heritage	2013	Proposed partial demolition of platform at Queanbeyan Railway Station
Written	Artefact Heritage		Proposed partial demolition of platform at Queanbeyan Railway Station - non-indigenous heritage assessment
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	Queanbeyan Railway Station group	View detail
Written	Australian Rail History Society ACT Division		Queanbeyan Railway Station - a short history
Written	Sydney Trains	2016	Queanbeyan Station Platform Reconstruction - Statement of Heritage Impact

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:	5012149
File number:	EF14/5210

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