Temora Railway Station group

Item details

Name of item: Temora Railway Station group
Type of item: Complex / Group
Group/Collection: Transport - Rail
Category: Railway Platform/ Station
Location: Lat: -34.4472631948 Long: 147.5286719620
Primary address: Cootamundra-Griffith railway, Temora, NSW 2666
Local govt. area: Temora
Local Aboriginal Land Council: Young

Boundary:

The listing boundary is an area around the station of approximately 20 metres in each direction from the edges of the platform and the boundary of the locomotive facility is Victoria and Camp Streets and the railway line in the other direction.
All addresses
Street AddressSuburb/townLGAParishCountyType
Cootamundra-Griffith railwayTemoraTemora  Primary Address

Owner/s

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

Statement of significance:

Temora is a major station complex with a significant third class station building of substantial scale, well detailed in excellent original condition. It is one of the best surviving third class buildings in the State. The support buildings on the platform support the main building. The station retains an excellent street side verandah.
The locomotive complex is a good example of a distant country facility with a rare surviving Institute building and office.
Date significance updated: 09 Dec 15
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: 1893-1915
Physical description: BUILDINGS:
The main building housed a Station Master's office, ticketing rooms, and waiting rooms. In 1912 a refreshment room was added beside the main passenger building. The complex also included a large parcel office and timber switchroom in adjacent buildings lining the platform.

Station building (1893):
Type 4, third class standard roadside brick (LEP, 2010)
A brick structure, with a reversed curved verandah across the eastern faade. It has a corrugated iron, single hipped roof, with a verandah extending over the platform area (ibid, 2010).

Refreshment Room (1912):
Brick initial island/side building, extended 1914

Signal box (1915):
Type 3 skillion roof timber, 1915

Bagged Wheat Shed (1905):
later to become the barley shed. Built in 1905 to hold 30,000 bags of wheat, and extended in 1907

Large Parcel Office and

Timber switchroom in adjacent buildings lining the platform (Government Architect, NSW).

STRUCTURES
Footbridge - 1913

Shell Siding:
This structure came into operation in 1926.

Many of the site's early railway features remain, including signals and signage (GA, NSW).

The wider station precinct also includes an extensive steam locomotive servicing area, with roundhouse, water tanks, and ancillary buildings (all now disused)(GA, NSW).
Physical condition and/or
Archaeological potential: 		The buildings retain a high level of their original fabric (with timber wall panelling, bench seats, and fireplaces) and have several notable features including a cast-iron platform awning and verandah, decorative brick cornices, and cement mouldings. Many of the site’s early railway features remain, including signals and signage.

The wider station precinct also includes an extensive steam locomotive servicing area, with roundhouse, water tanks, and ancillary buildings (all now disused).
Date condition updated:06 May 19
Modifications and dates: 2012-15: Initial work included extensive repairs to undo damage caused by termites and vandalism. The restoration work also removed 1960s additions and fixed poor detailing of services that had been added to the buildings during their last years of usage as a railway station. The former waiting room and ticket offices have been adapted for the display of museum items and interpretive material related to the railway history of the precinct. Access, boundaries, and fences were renegotiated as part of the new lease agreement, and unnecessary sections of fence removed so the station forecourt could be linked to an adjoining playground and tennis club. New landscaping has returned the forecourt to active use as public green space and an amphitheatre, and an interpretive walking trail now circumnavigates the whole railway precinct. (GA, NSW).
Current use: Youth Hub, Mixed use site
Former use: Aboriginal land, town lot, Railway Station and yard

History

Historical notes: ABORIGINAL LAND
The traditional owners of Cootamundra are the Wiradjuri, for whom the Murrumbidgee River was a plentiful source of shellfish and fish. Plants, tubers and nuts of the country between the major rivers supplied seasonal food. Larger game such as possums, kangaroos and emus were captured by groups of hunters to make up a varied and nutritious diet. (Heritage Branch, 1996, p132).

The dislocation by European colonists of normal Aboriginal routines of life was increasingly severe from the 1830s and the new diseases took a terrible toll. There were predictable problems over cattle. A series of incidents along the Murrumbidgee near Narrandera c1840 have been called the 'Wiradjuri wars'. The end result was that the Wiradjuri were deprived of their riverine territory and driven to the hills or to local employment on the stations. Men worked as cattlemen, general hands, sheep-shearers and flour grinders, and women as domestic servants and child carers. Ultimately many Wiradjuri people ended up living in the towns established to service those who had supplanted them. By the late nineteenth century few of the surviving Wiradjuri people lived a traditional life. The numerous towns of the area, which became closely settled with irrigation schemes during the twentieth century, contained an increasing Aboriginal population. Today in the region, most Wiradjuri people live in Narrandera and Griffith, with significant numbers in Wagga Wagga, Leeton and Tumut and smaller communities in Junee, Harden, Young and Cootamundra (Heritage Branch, 1996, p132-133).

The name Cootamundra was likely derived from the Wiradjuri word guudhamang for 'turtle', as the town is around a low-lying marshland, which is ideal turtle habitat (Cootamundra Heritage Centre & Visitor Information Centre, 2020, 1).

COLONISATION AND EARLY HISTORY OF COOTAMUNDRA
In 1829 the first British explorer Charles Sturt ventured into the Murrumbidgee Valley. Within 15 years most of the water frontages along the Murrumbidgee were occupied by pastoralists. John Hurley and Patrick Fennell obtained permissions to pasture stock on the Coramundra Run in the 1830s, which by 1849 had grown to 50,000 acres with an estimated grazing capacity of 600 cattle and 3000 sheep (Caskie, 2000, 1; CLHS, 2008). Meat prices soared in the 1850s and the Murrumbidgee stations 'became a vast fattening paddock'.

Cootamundry was surveyed and a plan of the proposed village was drawn up by surveyor P. Adams in 1861 on a site that was originally the horse paddock of John Hurley's station. The first town lots were sold in 1862. Like many other towns in the Riverina, Cootamundra's population increased with the brief gold rush of the 1860s. By 1866, the village had a population of 100, a post office, a police station and two hotels. The succeeding decades saw the triumph of sheep over cattle particularly on the saltbush plains at the western end of the region. The corollary of this pastoral expansion was the clearing of much of the bush, the sinking of wells, the building of dams for stock and the systematic fencing of paddocks. (Heritage Branch, 1996, p133-5; Wikipedia, 'Cootamundra').

The rail network helped in the growth of farming industries. Cootamundra's train station, linking into the main southern railway that links Sydney and Melbourne, opened in 1877 (CLHS, 2008).

TEMORA RAILWAY STATION
The railway line from Cootamundra came through to Temora, opening here on 1st September, 1893. (The distance being 304 miles, 2 chains, 49 links or 489.290 km from Sydney, and 958 ft. or 291.9 m altitude, measurements at the rail, centre of the platform). The railway station took its name from the local property and town, named by Mr. J. D. Macansh in 1848 after a castle called "Temora" in one of Ossian's epic poems.

One item within the yard is the bagged wheat shed, later to become the barley shed. This was built in 1905 to hold 30,000 bags of wheat, and was extended in 1907. Its erection was largely due to Mr. J.J. Donnelly, a prominent grain mechant of the Temora district, who came to Temora in 1893, and in 1904 had begun exporting grain to London. This trade he carried on successfully, included sending 202,000 bags of Temora wheat to London in 1907. The Gillespie and Pardey's Mill siding was opened in 1909. The line was interlocked on 4th March, 1915.

The Shell Siding came into operation in 1926.

Temora Railway Station was an important part of the railway network connecting the Riverina to other parts of NSW, and the focus of much activity. Temora was a bustling rural community with the busy station employing many local residents. It was the focus of the area's rural activities, with stockyards and grain sheds, and facilities for steam engines. This history has generated strong ongoing community links to the station (Government Architect, NSW).

Temora saw the establishment of a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) training base in 1941 and became home to the No. 10 Elementary Flying School. Its remote location helped maintain secrecy, while the flat agricultural surrounding terrain was forgiving of pilot error during landings and take-offs. No. 10 was the largest and longest-lived of the flying schools during World War 11, with more than 10,000 personnel involved and upwards of 2400 pilits trained. At its peak the unit operated a total of 97 De Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft. It ceased operations on 12 March 1946 (Stone, 2019, 18).

F type level crossing lights were established on the Junee Road crossing on 9th January, 1969 (LEP, 2010).

1986+ decline: Saving the station from disrepair and vandalism
In 1986 the passenger railway service was discontinued and the station closed. Trains no longer stop at Temora, although privately operated freight trains use the line and a section of the station is still used for signalling (GA, NSW).

Unused for over 20 years, the station buildings were becoming increasingly derelict and were being vandalised. Concerned community members realised that if the buildings remained empty their decline would continue (GA, NSW).

Temora Shire Council began discussions with site owners, Transport for NSW and its agents John Holland Group, about options to return the site to active use. Council negotiated a 10-year lease agreement, and John Holland Group carried out asbestos and vermin control works to make the site safe for new uses. Initial work included extensive repairs to undo damage caused by termites and vandalism. The restoration work also removed 1960s additions and fixed poor detailing of services that had been added to the buildings during their last years of usage as a railway station (GA, NSW).

Council formed a Railway Research Group and coordinated the collection of archival records and the development of content to populate a historical display. The former waiting room and ticket offices have been adapted for the display of museum items and interpretive material related to the railway history of the precinct. Council has redeveloped the railway precinct into an active community and tourism hub. The station has been restored and returned to active use so it can once again play a central role in Temora's social and economic fabric. Initiated by the community and council, the project was possible through NSW Government heritage grants and a lease arrangement with Transport for NSW, allowing the precinct to be adapted for re-use as railway museum, visitor facilities, youth centre, and exhibition space (Government Architect, NSW).

Temora's new youth space was officially opened on 9th December 2015 by Member for Cootamundra, Katrina Hodgkinson MLA. The hub is part of the extensive redevelopment of the station. Council received a NSW Government ClubGRANTS funding of $110,993 towards the new room and acknowledges the support and assistance of the NSW Heritage Division (OEH), Transport NSW and the John Holland Group. The hub is the base for the Shire's Youth Team and a venue for events and prgrammes. The official opening of the overall redevelopment of the station will be celebrated next March, with a visiting steam train and other activities (Temora Independent, 1/12/2015, 3).

Access, boundaries, and fences were renegotiated as part of the new lease agreement, and unnecessary sections of fence removed so the station forecourt could be linked to an adjoining playground and tennis club. New landscaping has returned the forecourt to active use as public green space and an amphitheatre, and an interpretive walking trail now circumnavigates the whole railway precinct. Facilities for local events and tourists have been provided, including refurbished public amenities. The green space and amphitheatre support events like local markets and live performances, and a free camping area has been set up for tourists with large vans and vehicles (GA, NSW).

The former refreshment room has been refitted for use as youth club, and the former kitchen has been adapted to become a multi-function community venue with opportunities for commercial tenancies. The whole site has been successfully transformed into a hub of community activity, as well as a much-needed tourist facility (GA, NSW).

A second stage of the project has also obtained NSW Government funding. This includes the walking trail that takes in the wider railway precinct, and features interpretive panels providing stories about wheat, wool, the flour mill, and the steam locomotive works (GA, NSW).

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. 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: Plains and plateaux 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. 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 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 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-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements Rail transport-
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-
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 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 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. Adapted heritage building or structure-
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 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 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 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 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 Developing private 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 living in the country-
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 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 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 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 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 Outlying 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 - 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 - building and operating public infrastructure-
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. Industrial buildings-
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 - 20th century interwar-
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. Building in response to climate - bushfires-
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 - Federation Queen Anne-
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. Applying architectural design to utlilitarian structures-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions. Ways of life 1900-1950-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions. Ways of life 1950-2000-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions. Ways of life 1850-1900-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation Going to a museum-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation Developing collections of items-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation Gathering at landmark places to socialise-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation Visiting heritage places-
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-

Assessment of significance

SHR Criteria f)
[Rarity] 		This item is assessed as historically rare. This item is assessed as arch. rare. This item is assessed as socially rare.
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 0126502 Apr 99 271546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register     
Local Environmental Plan 10611 Jun 10   

Study details

TitleYearNumberAuthorInspected byGuidelines used
Temora Shire Community based Heritage Study2003 David Scobie Architects Pty Ltd  Yes
State Rail Authority Section 170 Register1997 State Rail Authority  No

References, internet links & images

TypeAuthorYearTitleInternet Links
WrittenGovernment Architect, NSW2018'Temora Railway Station: reviving the town's social hub and welcoming visitors' View detail
WrittenHeritage Near Me2019'Walking the Line' View detail
WrittenStone, Matthew2019'Temora Time Warp' View detail

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.
rez
(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: 5012242

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