Scarborough Railway Station group

Item details

Name of item: Scarborough Railway Station group
Other name/s: Clifton
Type of item: Complex / Group
Group/Collection: Transport - Rail
Category: Railway Platform/ Station
Location: Lat: -34.2661826548 Long: 150.9646318200
Primary address: First Street, Scarborough, NSW 2515
Local govt. area: Wollongong City
Local Aboriginal Land Council: Illawarra

Boundary:

North: 5m north of the platform end; East: 10m from rail corridor (excluding Station Master's residence) along Lawrence Hargrave Drive; South: 5m south of the platform end (excluding overbridge); West: boundary of railway property fronting Railway Avenue (including landscape).
All addresses
Street AddressSuburb/townLGAParishCountyType
First StreetScarboroughWollongong City  Primary Address
Illawarra railwayScarboroughWollongong City  Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation NameOwner CategoryDate Ownership Updated
TAHE - Sydney TrainsState Government16 Nov 98

Statement of significance:

Scarborough Railway Station - including its platforms, platform buildings and out-of-room - is of historical significance for its role as a transport hub for the village of Scarborough since 1915, and its historical links to the earlier station locations. Scarborough Railway Station is also of historical significance for its association with the development of Scarborough as a tourist resort since the early 20th century. Scarborough Railway Station is of aesthetic significance as an intact group of railway structures dating from the 1915 duplication of the Illawarra line, which are good representative standard platform buildings of this period.
Date significance updated: 08 May 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

Designer/Maker: N.S.W. Government Railway
Builder/Maker: N.S.W. Government Railway
Construction years: 1915-1916
Physical description: PRECINCT ELEMENTS
Platform 1 Building (1915) (type 11)
Platform 2 Building (1915) (type 11)
Out of room (1915) Platform 2
Pedestrian stairs (modern) Platform 2

CONTEXT
Scarborough Railway Station has two perimeter platforms, with Platform 1 on the west, Platform 2 on the east. The perimeters of the station are defined with dark green powder coated aluminium fencing. Platform 2 is accessed either via a driveway off First Street, or adjacent modern stairs, to the northeast of the First Street overbridge. The west platform (Platform 1) is accessed via Railway Avenue to the west or by crossing the First Street overbridge.

PLATFORM 1 BUILDING (1915)
Exterior: The Platform 1 (west) building is a gabled face brick building with an awning on the east (Platform) side, corrugated steel roofing and a skillion corrugated steel roof to platform awning. The building has no chimneys. Gable ends feature rectangular timber louvred vents. Walls feature sandstone reveals and sills to windows and sandstone door reveals, and a sandstone corbel at door header height. There is a corrugated steel screen added to the north end of the building. The building features timber framed double hung windows with 9-paned top sashes with coloured glass panes to most. The awning is cantilevered on steel brackets mounted on decorative sandstone brackets. Doors are timber flush with 6-paned fanlights with coloured glass panes.

Interior: Reportedly the interior contains a Station Master's office, waiting room and men's toilet.

PLATFORM 2 BUILDING (1915)
Exterior: The (east) Platform 2 building is a gabled brick building with a cantilevered platform awning, gabled corrugated steel roofing, skillion corrugated steel awning roof, and a corrugated steel screen added to north end. There are no chimneys to the roof. The walls are painted to south and east elevations, with original face brick to west (platform) and north elevations. The walls feature sandstone reveals and sills to windows and sandstone door reveals, and a sandstone corbel at door header height. The building features timber framed double hung windows, with 9-paned top sashes with coloured glass panes to most. The awning is cantilevered on steel brackets mounted on decorative sandstone wall brackets. Doors are modern timber flush doors with original 6-paned fanlights with coloured glass panes. The building has timber exposed rafter ends. There are no vents to gable ends.

Interior: Reportedly the interior contains a Station Master's office, waiting room and men's toilet.

OUT OF ROOM (1915)
Exterior: Located at the southern end of Platform 2, this is a small square face brick building with a gabled corrugated steel roof, and a single door facing the platform, with a sandstone reveal around the fanlight. The fanlight is covered over. The roof ridge is parallel with the long axis of the platform.

PEDESTRIAN STAIRS (modern)
A set of modern concrete stairs accessing the south end of Platform 2 from the First Street overbridge.

PLATFORMS (1915)
Two perimeter platforms with modern concrete platform edges (platforms extended out).

LANDSCAPE/NATURAL FEATURES
Scarborough Railway Station is located in a bushland setting with views of the Illawarra escarpment to the west.
Physical condition and/or
Archaeological potential: 		Platform 1 Building (1915): moderate. Some cracking evident to northern end of building.
Platform 2 Building (1915): good
Out of room (1915): very good
Date condition updated:08 May 13
Modifications and dates: 1915: Line duplicated
1986: Line electrified
Further information: Adjacent to the site is the former Station Master's residence. The building is of low integrity having been highly altered and there are many better examples of this type of building along the Illawarra line.
Current use: Railway Station
Former use: Aboriginal land

History

Historical notes: Wollongong / the Illawarra:
Before European settlement in the Illawarra, the region was home to the local Wodi Wodi Aboriginal people of the Dharawal nation (NPWS, 2005). This Aboriginal community had a well-developed and complex society, and physical and cultural evidence of this remains today in the forms of burials, middens and other sites. The Aboriginal history has also been preserved through traditional knowledge and dreaming stories which have been passed down through the generations (WCC, c2012). Traditional stories tell of their arrival at the mouth of Lake Illawarra in canoes when the Ancestors were animals. They brought the Dharawal or Cabbage tree palm (Livistona australis) with them and are named for this sacred tree (NPWS, 2005).

Aboriginal communities first encountered Europeans in 1796.

Red cedar (Toona ciliata) timber-getters operated in Illawarra escarpment (rain)forests as the first 'settler' industry in the area from the 1810s.

Dr Charles Throsby used the coastal Illawarra grasslands as cattle fodder in 1815 opening the area to European settlement. He focussed his herd behind the fresh water lagoon then situated at the junction of the current day Harbour and Smith Streets where he built a stockman's hut and cattle yards (DeTom Design, 2011, 17-18) and this was a meeting point for the first Illawarra land grantees in 1816 (WCC, c.2012).

The first settlement in the area now known as Wollongong was by Charles Throsby Smith, nephew of Throsby. He was one of the first to receive a land grant in the district and in 1822 was the first to settle on his 300 acre parcel. Smith's barn, located near Wollongong harbour, became the first school house in 1826 and then church building in 1828.

A military presence was established in the area now known as Port Kembla in 1826. They were relocated to the area now known as Wollongong in 1830. They were replaced by a local magistrate in 1833. This activity was focussed around the harbour. In 1833 the area's first school was established (ibid, 2011, 17-18).

In 1834 land owner Charles Throsby Smith (nephew of Dr. Charles Throsby)'s land was nominated as the site for the township to be known as Wollongong (ibid, 2011, 17-18).

In 1834 Surveyor General Major Thomas Mitchell surveyed the town with the centrepiece of land devoted to the Church of England. As there was no crown land, Thosby-Smith sold his land to the Government and it was transferred to the church. The surveyed town was bounded by streets to be known as Harbour, Keira, Smith and Crown Streets (ibid, 2011, 18). The original township was bounded by Crown, Keira, Smith and Harbour Streets which remain major streets in Wollongong today (WCC, c2012).

The Illawarra District Council was formed in 1843. In 1859, two municipal councils were formed: Municipality of Wollongong which was proclaimed on 22 February, and Central Illawarra Municipality which was formed on 19 August 1859 (this took in the area from Unanderra to Macquarie Rivulet). North Illawarra Municipality was formed on 26 October 1868 and included the area from Fairy Creek to Bellambi. In 1947 The City of Greater Wollongong was formed by the amalgamation of the City of Wollongong, the Shires of Bulli and Central Illawarra and the Municipality of North Illawarra, under the Local Government Act, 1919 in the NSW Government Gazette 104 of 12 September 1947.

1880s expansion and the Illawarra Railway Line:
Wollongong expanded in the 1880s and the railway which finally linked the area to Sydney, encouraged movement away from Mitchell's plan. The relative isolation of the Illawarra ended in 1888 when the railway was finally introduced to link the area to Sydney. The town was transformed from a focus on the wharves to one on the railway and began to expand away from St.Michael's central position. The rail allowed the area to ship milk, coal and coke to Sydney city, expanding Wollongong city's potential enormously. By the turn of the century a smelting works and number of coke oven batteries were opened and the town's population rose from 1635 in 1881 to 3545 in 1901 (an average growth rate of 3.9%)(McDonald, 1989, in Davies, 2003, 14).

Scarborough or South Clifton:
Scarborough was originally known as South Clifton. A hotel named the Scarborough Hotel opened in the area in 1887. Scarborough may be named after the seaside resort in Yorkshire, England; or after one of the convict transport vessels in the First Fleet. The name Scarborough means "Fort on the Rock". The first subdivision of the area took place c. 1886-1887 and was advertised as "1st subdivision Town of Clifton, on Illawarra Line, 36 miles from Sydney". By the early 20th century, the Scarborough area, like Austinmer and Thirroul, had developed a reputation as a tourist resort.

The railway station first opened in 1887 as Clifton, on a site south of the present station, changed its name to South Clifton in 1888, then to Scarborough in 1903. When the station originally opened in 1887 it was the northern terminus on the isolated part of the Illawarra line which at that time extended to Wollongong. With duplication of the line, new sites were found and both Clifton and Scarborough were relocated with the new Scarborough railway station site opening on 21.1.1916. The original 1887 timber platform building at Scarborough was relocated to Thirroul in 1915.

The platform buildings constructed at Scarborough in 1915 were standard brick station buildings which form a matching pair opposite each other and on the 'Down' platform there is a detached brick Out-of-room from the same date.

The site originally had an overhead booking office and a signal box which have since been removed. The brick walled remains of an old carriage dock and a brick 1915 freight bank and remains of brick steps were noted on site previously but no longer appear to be extant.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)New South Wales themeLocal 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. Gardens-
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. Other open space-
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. Cultural - Coasts and coastal features supporting human activities-
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. Modification of terrain-
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. Introduce cultural planting-
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 Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings Landscapes and parklands of distinctive styles-
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 Landscapes of institutions - productive and ornamental-
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 Mining-Activities associated with the identification, extraction, processing and distribution of mineral ores, precious stones and other such inorganic substances. Mining for coal-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Mining-Activities associated with the identification, extraction, processing and distribution of mineral ores, precious stones and other such inorganic substances. coal transport and handling-
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)-
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 1820s-1850s land grants-
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 Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Administering and alienating Crown lands-
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 Early farming (Cattle grazing)-
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 suburban developments-
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 Subdivision of rural estates-
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 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 Railway Suburbs-
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 coastal 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 Evolution 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 Impact of railways on suburban development-
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-
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 Suburban Expansion-
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 Planning relationships between key structures and town plans-
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 Vernacular towns serving a specific industry-
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 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 Utilities-Activities associated with the provision of services, especially on a communal basis Suburban Consolidation-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities Utilities-Activities associated with the provision of services, especially on a communal basis Public Transport - suburban railway lines-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities Utilities-Activities associated with the provision of services, especially on a communal basis Railways connecting coastal settlements-
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 - providing public transport-
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 - administration of land-
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 - providing rail transport-
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. Public works-
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-
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 - public land administration-
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 - facilitating agriculture-
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 operating public infrastructure-

Assessment of significance

SHR Criteria a)
[Historical significance] 		Scarborough Railway Station, relocated in 1915 to its current location, is of historical significance for its role as a transport hub and its association with the development of the village of Scarborough as a tourist resort, as well as demonstrating the duplication of the Illawarra line in 1915.
SHR Criteria c)
[Aesthetic significance] 		Scarborough Railway Station is of aesthetic significance as an intact group of railway structures dating from the 1915 duplication of the Illawarra line, which are representative standard platform buildings of this period.
SHR Criteria d)
[Social significance] 		The place has the potential to contribute to the local community's sense of place, and can provide a connection to the local community's past.
SHR Criteria f)
[Rarity] 		Scarborough Railway Station is not rare (one of 12 stations on the Illawarra line with brickstandard island platform buildings).
SHR Criteria g)
[Representativeness] 		The 1915 platform buildings and out-of-room at Scarborough Railway Station are good representative examples of railway station buildings of this period, built to standard designs. Scarborough Railway Station is a fine representative railway station with early standard brick island platform buildings. There are 12 stations on the Illawarra line with examples of this type of platform building (other examples at Banksia, Bulli, Carlton, Coledale, Erskineville, Helensburgh, Kiama, Mortdale, Rockdale, Sydenham and Wollongong). The platform building at Scarborough is virtually identical to the platform building at Helensburgh, though the building at Helensburgh is unique in being curved.
Integrity/Intactness: The platform buildings and out-of-room are intact externally. The platforms have been widened.
Assessment criteria: Items are assessed against the PDF 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 CategoryDescriptionDate Updated
Recommended ManagementProduce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) 
Recommended ManagementPrepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines 
Recommended ManagementCarry out interpretation, promotion and/or education 

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of actDescriptionTitleCommentsAction date
57(2)Exemption to allow workStandard 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

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

Listings

Heritage ListingListing TitleListing NumberGazette DateGazette NumberGazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register 0124102 Apr 99 271546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register     

References, internet links & images

TypeAuthorYearTitleInternet Links
WrittenNational Parks and Wildlife Service2005Aboriginal Illawarra
WrittenPaul Davies P/L2003Conservation Management Plan, St Michael's Cathedral Wollongong
WrittenWollongong City Council (in association with Wollongong Heritage Committee)2012Wollongong City Centre Heritage Trail (brochure)

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.
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Data source

The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name: Heritage NSW
Database number: 5012214

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