Tempe Railway Station Group

Item details


Name of item:	Tempe Railway Station Group
Other name/s:	Cooks River railway station
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Platform/ Station
Location:	Lat: -33.9242289579 Long: 151.1564219940
Primary address:	Illawarra railway, Tempe, NSW 2044
Local govt. area:	Inner West
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Boundary:

North: a line across the tracks 5m north of the station footbridge; East: the boundary of railway land fronting Griffiths St; South: a line across the railway tracks 5m south of the end of the platforms; West: the boundary of railway land fronting Richardsons Crescent and the Cooks River excluding the sewer canal.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Type
Illawarra railway	Tempe	Inner West	Primary Address
Griffiths Street	Tempe	Inner West	Alternate Address
Richardsons Crescent	Tempe	Inner West	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
TAHE - Sydney Trains	State Government	16 Nov 98

Statement of significance:


	Tempe Railway Station - inclusive of the platforms, platform buildings on Platform 1 and Platform 2/3, footbridge, stairs and booking office - is of State heritage significance as a major station on the Illawarra line developed from 1884. Tempe Railway Station is of historical significance for its two rare 1884 platform buildings dating from the first period of construction of the Illawarra railway line, along with the 1918 overhead footbridge structure and stairs, and original 1918 overhead booking office. The 1884 platform buildings have historical association with railways designer C. Mayes. Tempe Railway Station is of aesthetic significance for its two 1884 platform buildings which are fine intact examples of vernacular railway platform buildings of the late Victorian period demonstrating Victorian Rustic Gothic style design influences, rare for their high level of integrity. The 1918 Dorman Long & Co. steel footbridge and stairs are of aesthetic significance and historical associational significance as an intact representative footbridge structure by this firm, rare for its high level of integrity. The steel footbridge and stairs at Tempe Railway Station are also of aesthetic significance as a landmark structure within the relatively visually isolated setting of the station. Tempe Railway Station is of aesthetic significance generally for its setting, with open space to the west, the Cooks River to the south, and a densely built up residential area to the east. The two 2nd class brick platform buildings are rare as Tempe is one of only 3 stations on the Illawarra line retaining platform buildings of this period and type (the others being Arncliffe and Sydenham), and the only station with two extant largely intact buildings of this period. The original 1918 overhead booking office is now considered rare (despite recladding).
	Date significance updated: 09 Nov 10
	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:	C. and E. Miller (original lines), C Mayes (1884 buildings); Footbridge: (1918): Dorman Long & Co
Construction years:	1884-1918
Physical description:	PRECINCT ELEMENTS Platform 1 building (1884) type 3 Platform 2 and 3 building (1884) type 3 Platform 4 Canopy (modern) Overhead booking office (1918) Footbridge (1918) Platforms (x3) CONTEXT Tempe Railway Station is located along Griffiths Street to the east and Richardsons Crescent and Mackey Park to the west. The station perimeter is defined with modern white powder coated aluminium fencing. The station is entered via sets of stairs at either side and a steel footbridge with stairs down to Platforms 1, 2/3 and 4. PLATFORM 1 BUILDING (1884) Exterior: This is a single storey painted brick building with a hipped and gabled corrugated steel roof with gable ends facing the railway lines. There are no chimneys. The gable ends each feature arched timber louvred vents and timber barge boards. There are two large openings to a central waiting area, divided by a painted brick post, each opening featuring a timber valance. The awning has cast iron posts with cast iron decorative brackets and steel brackets mounted on decorative stucco wall brackets. Window openings are all covered over. PLATFORM 2/3 BUILDING (1884) Exterior: This is a single storey painted brick building located on the island platform with a hipped and gabled corrugated steel roof with gable ends at each end, on both sides, facing the railway lines. The Platform 2 awning is on cast iron posts with cast iron decorative brackets on timber beams, and decorative stucco wall brackets. The central waiting area faces Platform 2. There are two large openings to a central waiting area, divided by a painted brick post, each opening featuring a timber valance. There are steel security doors to the openings. The building has timber framed window openings, modern timber flush doors with covered over fanlights. There is a doorway and fanlight opening facing Platform 3. There is termite damage to the south window frame. The Platform 3 awning is cantilevered on steel brackets mounted on stucco wall brackets. The building features decorative stucco sills to windows and slightly arched window heads. Interior: The central waiting area facing Platform 2 has a timber tongue & grooved board ceiling and an internal bricked up doorway. PLATFORM 4 CANOPY Platform 4 has a modern platform canopy on steel posts on concrete bases with a gabled corrugated steel roof. OVERHEAD BOOKING OFFICE (1918) The overhead booking office located on the footbridge, formerly a weatherboard building, is now clad in hardiplank. The building has a gabled roof clad in modern cliplock roofing with 3 gable ends (east-west, and one facing the platforms to the south). There are three original timber framed double hung windows on the north elevation, and an original doorway with a fanlight covered over. There is a modern timber flush door. There are three original large timber stop-chamfered posts to the east side of the ticket office which have been cut short at the bottom, and now have concrete bases. FOOTBRIDGE, STAIRS, STAR PATTERN NEWEL POSTS (1918) Steel Dorman Long & Co footbridge with two sets of taper-haunched girders, one set for street access, the other for platform interchange, steel stair balustrades and star patterned newel posts. The Dorman Long & Co steel haunched beam footbridge design consists of two sets of taper-haunched girders, with cantilevers resting on platform trestles and supporting shallow beams over the railway tracks to provide headroom over rolling stock. The central beam of the footbridge has been cut and raised to clear electric wires, when the line was electrified in 1926. PLATFORMS 1 central island platform, 2 perimeter platforms. Asphalt surfaces with some modern brick paving, brick edges to Platforms 1 and 2, concrete edges to Platforms 3 and 4. Platform 1 is not in use. LANDSCAPE/NATURAL FEATURES Tempe Railway Station has an interesting setting with the Cooks River to the south, Mackey Park to the west and the densely built-up residential area of Tempe to the east.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Platform 1 building (1884): Good Platform 2 and 3 building (1884): Moderate. Platform 4 canopy (modern): Very Good Overhead booking office (1918): Good Footbridge (1918): Good Platforms: Good
Modifications and dates:	1926: Footbridge: The central beam of the footbridge has been cut and raised to clear electric wires when the line was electrified c.1993: Overhead booking office (1918): Reclad in hardiplank, new cliplock roofing; window and door openings have modern steel security screens. N.d: Platform 1 building (1884): Window openings are all covered over. Steel security doors to waiting room openings; Platform 2 and 3 building (1884): Steel security doors to waiting area openings.


Current use:	railway station
Former use:	Aboriginal land, farms

History

Historical notes:

Marrickville and Tempe - early farms:
The earliest European occupant of the Cooks River was Sergeant Thomas Smyth who arrived with Governor Phillip in the First Fleet. On 8 October 1799 he was granted 470 acres and became the first large landowner in the southern section of the Marrickville area.

Farmlet:
When Thomas Smyth died in 1804 his farm was acquired by Robert Campbell (senior) who between 1831 and 1838 carved up the property into 42 farmlets ranging from 4 to 12 acres. The Cooks River area was known for its market gardens, orchards and small farms and were an important part of the local economy from the mid-nineteenth century.

Robert Campbell sold the property to Henry Mace, a chemist on 30 December 1837. When Henry Mace died on 31 December 1856 Thomas Crittenden and William Perry became the trustees.

It was during the 1820s and 1830s that saw the beginning of change to the Tempe area. Alexander Brodie Spark, one of Sydney's leading merchants and traders purchased land known as Packer's Farm, Cooks River. He set about building Tempe House in 1836, designed by John Verge, that was to become one of Sydney's showpiece estates at the time. In the 1840s Spark planned a model village in proximity to Tempe Estate and this no doubt would have been most attractive to prospective buyers.

On 13 May 1857 William Wells purchased the property at a public auction paying the sum of 331 pounds for the property measuring 10 acres and 6 perches (4.07ha).

William Wells was one of Sydney's new wealthy class. Born in Suffolk England in 1796 he was brought to trial in the Suffolk Lent Assizes Court on charges of Highway Robbery on 21 March 1816 and his sentence was committed to transportation to Australia. On 8 March 1817 Wells arrived in Sydney aboard the convict ship 'Fame'. In the 1822 Census it is revealed that he was living in Liverpool and working for the 'Town Gang'. On 28 April 1827 Wells was granted a Ticket of Leave within the District of Sydney however this was cancelled on 11 April 1828 when he was charged with 'being of Idle Character and found in an improper house at an unreasonable hour, when he was charged with robbing a man of his watch". Well's Ticket of Leave was re-issued as a Ticket of Redemption on 2 January 1832.

Having been granted a Ticket of leave Wells was a free man to pursue an independent occupation. On 1 July 1830 Wells has purchased a Hotel License for the Kings Rams in George Street Parramatta and held that license until 1836.

Wells was confirmed a government land grant on May 14 1836 for the site of the Lord Nelson Hotel in The Rocks. On this land Wells built himself a conventional 2 storey colonial home on the north-west corner of Kent and Argyle Streets. In 1838 Wells took up the licence of a hotel diagonally opposite his own house, known first as Sailors Return and then as The Quarryman's Arms. On 6 June 1842 Wells opened his own home as the Lord Nelson Hotel. Wells licensed the Lord Nelson from 1842 until 1860 and it remained in the Wells family until 1884.

Tempe over the 19th century:
Development of the Tempe area was much slower than originally envisioned. The area became known as Tempe after A.B. Spark's 1835 'Tempe House' on the south side of the Cooks River. During construction the station was known as the Cooks River Railway Station (this is the name on the original plans for the station), however it opened as Tempe on 15 October 1884.

"Tempe was a popular resort in the 1880s and, with the opening of the railway station, large crowds flocked to the tree-lined Cooks River, then considered one of the more attractive resorts of the colony for swimming and boating." (page 57, Cashman, Richard and Meader, Chrys: Marrickville Rural Outpost to Inner City, Hale & Iremonger, Sydney 1990).

Tempe Railway Station:
Tempe Railway Station was built on a duplicated line from Illawarra Junction to Hurstville and opened in 1884. As at Sydenham, the double track station at Tempe was built to service a large residential area.

Unlike Sydenham, Tempe had a small goods siding immediately eastward of the station in 1890. The original buildings included brick second class platform buildings on two brick-faced platforms and a brick Station Master's residence (all of which are still extant) as well as a brick Gatekeeper's cottage (since demolished). The former Tempe Station Master's residence is to the east adjacent to Platform 4, but now in private ownership.

The steel overhead footbridge was built in 1918, with steel stairs to the platforms, just prior to the quadruplification of the line in 1919. For the 1919 quadruplification of the line from Sydenham to Cooks River Junction, the old Down platform was converted into an island platform with a new platform (Platform 4) built for the Down Illawarra tracks. In 1926 the line was electrified as far as Oatley. Since 1943, the Platform 4 building (presumably c.1919) has been demolished and replaced with a modern platform canopy. Circa 1993 the overhead booking office was reclad and reroofed.

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.	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.	Changing the environment-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present.	Aboriginal Culture-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present.	Aboriginal Culture-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present.	Cadigal tribe - Eora nation-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present.	Cadigal tribe - Eora nation-
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	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	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	Administering the public railway 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	Building and maintaining 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.	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	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	Townships-
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	Developing suburbia-
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 - 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 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-
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]	Tempe Railway Station is of State historical significance as a major station on the Illawarra line developed from 1884 in two distinct phases. The station retains two 1884 platform buildings, along with a 1918 overhead footbridge structure and stairs, and original (though reclad and re-roofed) 1918 overhead booking office.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The steel footbridge, stairs and newel posts have historical association with Dorman Long & Co, designers and manufacturers of the footbridge.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The Tempe Railway Station 1884 platform buildings are of aesthetic significance as fine intact examples of vernacular railway platform buildings of the late Victorian period with some Victorian Rustic Gothic style influence. The 1918 steel footbridge and stairs are of aesthetic significance as an intact representative footbridge structure designed and manufactured by Dorman Long & Co and are a landmark structure within the relatively visually isolated setting of the station. Tempe Railway Station is also of aesthetic significance for its interesting setting, with open space to the west, the Cooks River to the south, and a densely built up residential area to the east.
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]	The two 2nd class brick platform buildings are rare as Tempe is one of only 3 stations on the Illawarra line retaining platform buildings of this period and type (the others being Arncliffe and Sydenham), and the only station with two extant largely intact buildings of this period. The original 1918 overhead booking office is now considered rare (despite recladding). The extant exterior and interior detailing of the 1884 platform buildings at Tempe is considered rare on the Illawarra line. The 1918 steel footbridge and stairs are considered rare for their level of intactness. The overhead booking office, originally one of 45 similar offices, is now considered rare (despite recladding).
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The 1918 footbridge and stairs are representative of Dorman Long & Co steel footbridge and stair structures of this period (30 such footbridges were built from 1909 to 1935, 28 in the Sydney metropolitan area). The 1884 platform buildings are representative of vernacular late Victorian period railway buildings (one of a set including St Peters, Sydenham) of 1880s railway platform buildings on the first section of the Illawarra line.
Integrity/Intactness:	The station buildings are essentially intact externally and internally with the exception of the overhead booking office, which has been reclad and re-roofed, however is the original structure.
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	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
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		01266	02 Apr 99	27	1546

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Pollen, Francis (author & editor) & Healy, Gerald	1988	Tempe, in "The Book of Sydney Suburbs"

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:	5012243

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