South Maitland Railway Workshops

Item details


Name of item:	South Maitland Railway Workshops
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Workshop
Location:	Lat: -32.7391353069 Long: 151.5370270270
Primary address:	Junction Street, Greta, NSW 2334
Parish:	Maitland
County:	Northumberland
Local govt. area:	Maitland
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Mindaribba

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	647	DP	1007014
LOT	648	DP	1007014
LOT	1	DP	1040209
CONV BOOK	892	NO	1152
CONV BOOK	892	NO	1152
CONV BOOK	227	NO	1393
LOT	645	DP	862455

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Junction Street	Greta	Maitland	Maitland	Northumberland	Primary Address
	Telarah	Maitland	Maitland	Northumberland	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Hunter Valley Training Company Pty Ltd	Community Group

Statement of significance:


	South Maitland Railway Workshops is one of the oldest continually operating railway workshops in Australia, documenting more than 70 years (in 1990) of the history, expansion and development of a steam railway; The South Maitland Railway complex remains largely intact and its extant layout, structures and fabric demonstrate the operation of a steam railway workshops; As the largest private railway workshops in NSW, the South Maitland Railway complex symbolises the importance of coal mining and steam powered transportation both locally and nationally (Summary Statement of Significance, Godden Mackay 1990, p.54).
	Date significance updated: 07 Apr 06
	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:	1891-1918
Physical description:	The site is bounded by Junction Street to the east, Ordinance Street to the south, Newcomen Street to the west and Simpsons Lane to the north. It contains a number of permanent buildings built at various times between 1903 and the mid-1990s (NSW Public Works, 2010, 9). It sits within a rural setting to the western edge of which is subject to flooding. On 12/3/1909 the East Greta Coal Mining Company Ltd. bought 7 acres 10.75 perches (c.3ha) of land from Charles Simpson to construct a railway maintenance yard and workshop. This was added to land already owned by the railway on which they had built a two lane through Running Shed, which would house four locomotives. Access to the main line was from both ends of the Running Shed (NSW Public Works, 2010, 24).
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	No evidence has been found of historical use of the site before the creation of East Greta Junction. Although there have been several stages of construction on the site, these have generally involved building larger and more structures, so that any archaeological evidence of the earlier phases would be underneath the present structures. No evidence has been found of an early use of the present site associated with the Railway Workshops. The present study area (Alstom Power site) lies outside the area covered by the PCO (SHR) and no previous use of this land suggests a significant association with the workshops. The elements of the previous land use comprise fences and dirt tracks. All associated infrastructure such as building, sheds, and animal enclosures are located on the subject land constitute significant items of European heritage under the terms of the NSW Heritage Act 1977. Field survey found there is no likelihood of buried or potentially significant archaeological deposit on the subject land. The proposed use of the land is for open surface storage, with no impact on the surrounding structures. This would have minimal impact on subsurface deposits, and therefore no further archaeological investigation is recommended. (Dallas, 2000).
	Date condition updated:07 Apr 06
Modifications and dates:	On 12/3/1909 the East Greta Coal Mining Company Ltd. bought 7 acres 10.75 perches (c.3ha) of land from Charles Simpson to construct a railway maintenance yard and workshop. This was added to land already owned by the railway on which they had built a two lane through Running Shed, which would house four locomotives. Access to the main line was from both ends of the Running Shed (NSW Public Works, 2010, 24). c.1904 construction of workshops began, when a locomotive depot was built by the East Greta Coal Mining Company. This was a two road engine shed. 1912 Engine Shed was demolished and replaced by a four track galvanised iron shed. 1912-18: the present workshop was constructed some time between 1912 and 1918. By 1918 a sand drying shed, a locomotive battery shed, and a signing-on cabin were on site 1927 a coal loader and an addition to the main workshop were built. 1930 Goods sheds from Caledonia and Weston Stations moved to the site to serve as an oil store and a lunch room. 1943 a bath house was built. 1957 a toilet block, a machine shop and stores building, and a new signing-on cabin were built. The old battery store was demolished. 1981 Four Track galvanised iron shed demolished to make way for a larger locomotive depot Above source: NSW Public Works, 2010, 24) 1981 a new sand house and battery shed were built (Dallas, 2000).


Current use:	museum use
Former use:	rail related uses, storage, vocational training centre

History

Historical notes:

1842-1893: Land grant & pastoral use
The subject land was part of an 1842 grant to Thomas Winder, bought in 1884 by Albert Simpson. Exploration for coal in the area around Newcastle was underway in the 1840s. Commercial mining in the Maitland district began at Greta Coalfield in the 1860s, then at East Greta in 1869, with a second mine here in 1898. Other mines were then opened in the vicinity. The coal was first transported to Maitland by horse and cart. (Dallas, 2000).

1891-1918: Coal mining, Railway companies & workshops
The original East Greta Coal Mining Co. was established (by the same syndicate operating the mine) in 1891. One of its first actions was to build a railway from East Greta No. 1 Colliery to the Great Northern Railway. This was opened in 1893. The line was later extended to other mines in the area. A branch from Aberdare to Cessnock was opened in 1904. Passengers and goods, as well as coal, were transported on the line between Stanford Merthyr and East Greta Junction, in order to connect the colliery communities with Maitland. This service began in 1902, and at first passengers had to make their own way between the junction and West Maitland (later Maitland). In 1903 the service was extended to West Maitland. South Maitland Railways ceased operating the passenger trains in 1967, and NSW GR ceased operation of trains on the line in 1972.(Dallas, 2000).

In 1918 the South Maitland Railway Company was formed, amalgamating the East Greta Coal Mining Co. and the Aberdare Railway (which had been based at East Greta until its locomotive workshops were relocated to Telarah in 1912). East Greta Junction was created where the colliery line joined the Great Northern Railway. It consisted at first of a small loop siding to transfer wagons between the two lines. However the extension of the private railway meant that this was inadequate, and more loop sidings had been constructed by 1903. (Dallas, 2000).

On 12/3/1909 the East Greta Coal Mining Company Ltd. bought 7 acres 10.75 perches (c.3ha) of land from Charles Simpson to construct a railway maintenance yard and workshop. This was added to land already owned by the railway on which they had built a two lane through Running Shed, which would house four locomotives. Access to the main line was from both ends of the Running Shed (NSW Public Works, 2010, 24).

Construction of workshops on the site began in about 1904, when a locomotive depot was built by the East Greta Coal Mining Company. This was a two road engine shed, and was demolished in 1912 to be replaced by a four track galvanised iron shed. This was in turn demolished to make way for a larger locomotive depot, built in 1981. The present workshop was constructed some time between 1912 and 1918. On the site by 1918 were also a sand drying shed, a locomotive battery shed, and a signing-on cabin. A coal loader and an addition to the main workshop were built in 1927. Goods sheds from Caledonia and Weston Stations were moved to the site in 1930 to serve as an oil store and a lunch room. A bath house was built in 1943. In 1957 a toilet block, a machine shop and stores building, and a new signing-on cabin were built. The old battery store was demolished. In 1981 a new sand house and battery shed were built (Dallas, 2000).

The original Mount Dee homestead on top of the hill became offices, and the first new building was the large Erecting & Repair Workshop. As operations expanded in the 1920s most of the infrastructure was established, with brick buildings added in the 1950s and the last replacement steel framed Running Shed built in 1981.

1967 takeover; 1984 closure; 1986+ adaptive reuse for education, heavy industry
Coal & Allied Industries took over the company and its railway and loco repair depot at East Greta Junction. With changes in the coal industry the workshops closed in 1984, but the railway continued to operate.

In 1986 the Hunter Valley Training Co. bought the site and reopened the workshops as an apprentice training centre after rehabilitation. By 1990 the subject site was leased to GEC Alstom Australia P/L. The present complex was opened in 1991 and since the site has been used for heavy industry.

In 2015 three workshop buildings were leased to the Maitland Rail Museum for museum use. Discussion is underway over a fourth: the former Blacksmith's Shop being leased by the Maitland Rail Museum also (Sheedy, pers.comm., 22/9/2015).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
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	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	Administering the public railway system-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working complex machinery and technologies-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in the public service-
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-

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Heritage Act	Record converted from HIS events Order Under Section 57(2) to exempt the following activities from Section 57(1): (1) The maintenance of any building or item on the site where maintenance means the continuous protective care of existing material: (2) The minor repair of the building where minor repair means the repair of materials by patching, piercing-in, splicing and consolidating existing materials and including minor replacement of minor components such as individual bricks, timber sections and cladding where these have been damaged beyond reasonable repair or are missing. The replacement should be of the same material, colour, texture, form and design as the original it replaces and the number of components it replaced should be substantially less than existing. (3) Garden maintenance including cultivation, pruning, weed control, repair and maintenance of existing fences, gates and garden walls, and tree surgery but not extensive lopping. (4) Eradication of noxious plants and animals. (5) Maintenance and repair of existing access to roads. (6) The engaging in or carrying out of any of the activities referred to in subsection 57 (1) of the Heritage Act 1977, by any public authority in respect of the repair, maintenance and construction of service infrastructure.	Jan 19 1990
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 Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register	00627	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former	00627	19 Jan 90	11	468
Local Environmental Plan	228	03 Sep 93
Register of the National Estate - Interim	10634

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Archives and Special Collections Unit, Information Resources Program, Information and Education Services Division, University of Newcastle	1998	South Maitland railways archives : a researchers' guide
Written	Don Godden. Author: Godden, Don.; Series Title: National Estate Program 1983/84, Project ; 31	1985	South Maitland railways : technology and operations
Written	Godden Mackay Pty Ltd.	1990	South Maitland railway workshop : conservation plan
Written	Hunter Valley Training Co. P/L Author: Hunter Valley Training Co. Pty. Ltd.; Series Title:	1989	South Maitland railway workshop conservation
Written	Hunter Valley Training Company Pty Ltd.	1995	South Maitland railway coal loader, Telarah restoration stage I
Written	Malcolm Lindsay	1982	The South Maitland Railways Steam Locomotive Workshop
Written	Mary Dallas Consulting Archaeologists	2000	Statement of European heritage impact - Letter re Alstom Power/Hunter Valley Training Company Property: 78 Junction St., Telarah
Written	NSW Public Works	2010	Former South Maitland railway workshops site: conservation management plan	View detail
Written	Sheedy, David in association with Robert Driver	2004	The former South Maitland railway workshops : heritage management strategy

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:	5045660
File number:	S90/01828

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