Bulli Railway Station Group

Item details

Name of item: Bulli Railway Station Group
Type of item: Built
Group/Collection: Transport - Rail
Category: Railway Platform/ Station
Primary address: Railway Street, Bulli, NSW 2516
Local govt. area: Wollongong City

Boundary:

North: south side of the Park Road overbridge (excluding overbridge and lifts); East: boundary of RailCorp property fronting Franklin Avenue; South: 5m south of the platform ends; West: boundary of RailCorp property fronting Railway Street, Bulli. Note this curtilage excludes the Park Road overbridge and car park. Please note this site is listed on the State Heritage Register (SHR) for which the curtilage may differ – see image gallery for more information.
All addresses
Street AddressSuburb/townLGAParishCountyType
Railway StreetBulliWollongong City  Primary Address
Franklin AvenueBulliWollongong City  Alternate Address
Park RoadBulliWollongong City  Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation NameOwner CategoryDate Ownership Updated
TAHE - Sydney TrainsState Government 
TAHE - Sydney TrainsState Government 
TAHE - Sydney TrainsState Government 

Statement of significance:

Bulli Railway Station is of state significance for its rare 1887 station building surviving from the first period of construction of the Illawarra line. The 1887 station building is one of the most intact of only four remaining examples of an 1880s third-class weatherboard station building along the Illawarra line, and remains as a tangible reminder of the role of Bulli Station as a transport hub for the village of Bulli since 1887. The 1923 station building and lamp room demonstrate the expansion of railway activity at Bulli into the early 20th century associated with duplication of the line during the 1920s. The juxtaposition of the 1887 and 1923 platform buildings demonstrate the evolution of railway station architecture during this period, and are both excellent examples of their periods and style. The site has special associations with the staff and volunteers of the Black Diamond Museum & Heritage Centre, located in the central section of the 1887 station building, who continue to be instrumental in the on-going preservation and interpretation of the site.
Date significance updated: 14 Jun 17
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: NSW Government Railway
Builder/Maker: Alex Scouller (Station Buildings, D. Proudfoot & A.T. Logan (Railway Line)
Construction years: 1887-1923
Physical description: PRECINCT ELEMENTS
Platform 1 (1923)
Platform 1 building (1923) (Type 11)
Out –of-Room (1923)
Platform 2 (1887, modified 1902, 1919, 2014)
Platform 2 building (1887) (Type 4, third class)
Movable Heritage

CONTEXT
Bulli Railway Station is located between Railway Street on the west and Franklin Avenue on the east, with the Park Road overbridge at the northern end of the station being a major access point to the platforms via modern lifts which have been attached to the southern side of the overbridge. The station has two perimeter platforms, each with asphalt surfaces and brick edges. Cream coloured powder coated aluminium fencing defines the station perimeters. There is a car park on the western side of the station (adjacent to the 1923 Platform 1 building), and a curved driveway off Franklin Avenue on the eastern side to access the 1887 Platform 2 building.

PLATFORM 1 BUILDING (1923)
Exterior: A large freestanding face brick platform building with a gabled corrugated steel roof. The building features timber tongue and grooved boarding and simple timber bargeboards to gable ends at north and south ends. There are two brick chimneys to the roof. The building has a skillion corrugated steel roof to a cantilevered awning on the platform (east) elevation, the awning being cantilevered on steel brackets mounted on decorative stucco wall brackets. Windows are timber framed double hung, with 9-pane top sashes with multi-coloured glass panes. Window and door openings are defined with decorative stucco surrounds. There are some timber flush doors and steel security doors, some 6-pane fanlights with multi-coloured glass panes. There is a weatherboard gabled shelter extension at the northern end of the building to shelter the ticket office area.

Interior (Partially accessed 2009): This building was originally planned with a men's toilet, ladies toilet, ladies waiting room, general waiting room, booking office and open booking lobby. The general waiting room has modern floor tiling and a modern security screen door, however retains an original ripple iron ceiling with a metal ceiling rose, and a chimney breast, though the fireplace has been blocked up, and original high moulded timber skirting boards.

OUT-OF-ROOM (1923)
Exterior: A small freestanding single storey brick lamp room located at the southern end of Platform 1. The building is face brick, with a gabled Colorbond roof, exposed timber rafter ends to eaves, and simple timber barge boards to the north and south gable ends. The gable ends each have rectangular timber louvred vents. The building has timber tongue and grooved boarded double doors opening on to the platform, with a fanlight above. There is a concrete lintel above the doorway.

Interior: Not accessed 2009.

PLATFORM 2 BUILDING (1887)
Exterior: This is a single storey gabled weatherboard platform building with weatherboard extensions at both north and south ends. The building has a corrugated steel gabled roof with 2 painted brick chimneys. The gable ends feature decorative timber bargeboards, pendants and finials, and pairs of rectangular timber louvred vents. On the west (platform) elevation, there is a skillion corrugated steel roofed awning supported on timber stop chamfered posts setback from the platform edge. This awning extends along the southern half of the original gabled section of the platform building. The awning has decorative timber valances to both north and south ends. There are some 2 panel double doors with glazing panels to top, 8-paned fanlights, and timber framed double hung windows. The extension at the southern end is a simple skillion roofed weatherboard room. The extensions at the northern end are a gabled weatherboard room with the gable end transverse to the main ridge of the building's roof. The gable ends to this extension feature timber bargeboards, pendants and finials matching those of the original section of the building. To the north of this extension is a further simple weatherboard skillion roofed room, which is the men’s toilet. The main public entrance to the building was formerly from the street through a central passage with large timber panelled double doors at either side. This doorway is covered by a porch on the eastern elevation with bull nose corrugated iron roofs and cast iron lace frieze. The matching door to the platform is sheltered by the platform awning.

Interior (not accessed 2009): 1916 plans for alterations show the interior plan as an office; a combined parcels & Out-of-Room; a signal box (converted from a parcels room), a central booking office, a general waiting room, with porch and verandahs; gents and ladies toilets. The building still had a central booking office with staff and passenger facilities on either side in 2004.

PLATFORMS (1923, 1887)
Two perimeter platforms, each with asphalt surfaces and brick edges. Platform 1 originally brickwork laid in English bond with stepped brick profile and cement rendered upper face. Coping has been scraped back in central section and some coping bricks missing from Country end. Platform appears to be tipping towards track, and asphalt surface cracking. Platform features include steps and footholds, terracotta wall vents, early signage and granite steps with grated step at doorways. Platform 2 has new precast U-shaped concrete panel and concrete deck platform wall with asphalt surface. Possible damage to base of timber building during platform renewal works where concrete step was installed and later removed. Some platform furniture e.g. grated steps were reinstated following works. Drainage installed to base of building to manage water.

LANDSCAPE/NATURAL FEATURES
There is a tree-planted island park along Franklin Street east of the Platform 2 building, which enhances its setting. There is a circular drive around the island park to access the Platform 2 building, which appears to be an early feature of the station's landscape setting.

MOVABLE ITEMS
NSW Railway heritage listed sites contain significant collections of stored movable railway heritage, including furniture, signs, operational objects, ex-booking office and ticketing objects, paper records, clocks, memorabilia, indicator boards and artwork. Individually, these objects are important components of the history of each site. Together, they form a large and diverse collection of movable objects across the NSW rail network. Sydney Trains maintains a database of movable heritage. For up-to-date information on all movable heritage items at this site, including numerous items within the Black Diamond Museum & Heritage Centre Museum, contact the Sydney Trains heritage team.
Key items at this station include but are not limited to:
- 1923 Waiting room and ticket office signs attached to Platform 1 building
- Timber luggage trolley
- Platform seats and signs
- Nameboard on down side
Please note there are three items of rolling-stock located on railway land, and a number of other movable items not related to Bulli Station within the Black Diamond Heritage Centre. These items do not form part of the State Heritage Register or S170 Heritage Register listings.
Physical condition and/or
Archaeological potential:
Platform 1 building (1923): Good
Out-of-Room (1923): Good
Platform 2 Building (1887): Moderate
Platforms: Good
Lifts: Very good
Moveable items: Moderate (timber station signs are damaged).
Date condition updated:11 Jul 09
Modifications and dates: 1902: Platform lengthened.
1916: Signal box built, repairs and upgrading to weatherboard 1887 Platform 2 building.
1919: Platform rebuilt in brick.
1923: Platform 1 building and Out-of-room erected (plans dated 1917), Park Road overbridge erected (plans dated 1922).
Post 1920s (date unknown): Removal of goods shed, crane and cattle yard from west side of station; removal of lamp room (originally south of 1887 Platform 2 building) and district supers office (north of 1887 platform building) from east side of station.
1985: Automatic signalling installed.
1986: Line electrified.
2009: Station building (down side) re-roofed, re-painted, and damaged timber replaced.
2014: 2014: Platform 2 replaced with U-shaped precast concrete panels.
2017: Platform 2 - reinstatement of missing heritage features such as timber finials and authentic paint colour scheme and repairs to significant early wall finishes.
Current use: Railway Station; Museum (Platform 2 building)
Former use: Post Office on down platform

History

Historical notes: The name Bulli appears to have been first recorded in the Sydney Gazette of 22 April 1815. In 1823 reference was made to a small land holding at "Bull Eye". A 300 acre grant was promised to Cornelius O'Brien on 31 March 1821, whose house was the only one in this part of the district for some years. In 1841 the estate of Bulli, consisting of 900 acres, was offered for private sale and later was subdivided into farms of 25 to 165 acres. For many years the name Bulli was used for all the country from Wollongong north to Coal Cliff.

The Illawarra line through Bulli opened in June 1887 as part of the then isolated section of the Illawarra Line from Scarborough (Clifton) to Wollongong. The line was duplicated in 1915-1917. Bulli Railway Station was planned as a typical small but complete country station having a standard 3rd class timber station building, unusually also having a detached post office. A Station Master’s residence and goods shed were also constructed in 1887. The 1887 Station Master's cottage (no longer owned by RailCorp) is a good example of the standard structure built during the 1880's. A 5 tonne derrick crane was installed in 1890.

When the line was finally connected to Sydney in October 1888, the station’s intended potential was realised which was further extended in 1916 with duplication reaching the station and construction of the Park Road overbridge with its steel beams brick abutments and balustrading. The line was then duplicated in 1923 to Woonona resulting in the construction of the present standard brick platform building on the Up platform, and an out-of-room to the south of the new Platform 1 building. The 1917 plans show an extant "inspectors office" (no longer extant) to the north of the 1887 Platform 2 building. In later years the goods shed and cattle yard at the station were closed and the structure demolished.

In 1984 the Black Diamond Museum & Heritage Centre was formed by the Bulli community and they now have a large collection of local history and memorabilia on display in the central section of the 1887 Platform 2 building.

In 1986 the line was electrified as far as Wollongong.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)New South Wales themeLocal theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Forestry-Activities associated with identifying and managing land covered in trees for commercial purposes. Timber-
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-
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. Evolution of design in railway engineering and architecture-

Assessment of significance

SHR Criteria a)
[Historical significance]
Bulli Railway Station is of historical significance for its 1887 Platform 2 building surviving from the first period of construction of the Illawarra line, and for its 1923 Platform 1 building and Out-of-Room, which demonstrate the duplication of the line at this time. Bulli Railway Station is also of historical significance for its role as a transport hub for the village of Bulli since 1887, and demonstrates expansion of the railway station into the early 20th century.
SHR Criteria c)
[Aesthetic significance]
Bulli Railway Station is of aesthetic significance for its 1887 and 1923 platform buildings, which demonstrate changing railway station architecture over this period. The 1887 Platform 2 building at Bulli is one of the best examples of an 1880s weatherboard, third class station building surviving on the Illawarra line (other examples at Albion Park, Dapto and Thirroul). The 1923 brick platform building is a good representative example of a Federation period railway station building, of a type and construction material which is common on the Illawarra line.
SHR Criteria d)
[Social significance]
The presense of the Black Diamond Museum & Heritage Centre occupying the central section of the 1887 Platform 2 building indicates that the place has a specific social significance for the local community.
SHR Criteria f)
[Rarity]
The 1887 Platform 2 building at Bulli is one of the best examples of an 1887 weatherboard, third class platform building surviving on the Illawarra line, and one of the few buildings extant from the 1887 period of the lines construction, with most others being replaced in 1915 for the duplication of the line. The Bulli Platform 2 building is one of only four extant 1887 weatherboard, third class platform buildings remaining on the Illawarra line, the others being at Albion Park Rail, Dapto and Thirroul. With the platform building at Albion Park Rail, the Bulli Platform 2 building is one of the two most intact extant platform buildings of this type.
SHR Criteria g)
[Representativeness]
The 1887 and 1923 platform buildings and Out-of-Room represent standard design railway station architecture of their respective periods of construction. Bulli, with its 1887 weatherboard, third class platform building, is one of only 4 stations on the Illawarra line with examples of weatherboard versions of this type of platform building (other examples at Albion Park, Dapto and Thirroul).
Integrity/Intactness: High level of integrity.
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:

The following site-specific exemptions were endorsed as part of the listing of the place on the State Heritage Register through Government Gazette on August 30 2013: 1. Upgrade, or minor alterations to the existing passenger lifts connecting the road bridge to the platforms, providing there is no adverse impact on the heritage significance of the place. 2. Alterations for office fit-out including the replacement, relocation or addition of non structural internal partitions, workstations or other furnishing that do not alter or add openings, walls, or structural fabric that has been identified as being significant; and have no adverse or irreversible impact on significant furnishings, layouts, fabric or spaces. 3. Upgrade or minor alterations to the existing carpark, providing there are no new buildings erected or no adverse impact on the heritage significance of the place. 4. The removal of existing security grills and replacement with a more sympathetic design, providing there is no adverse impact on the heritage significance of the place. 5. Internal activities to alter the display and presentation of museum artefacts and signage, providing there is no adverse impact on the heritage significance of the place. 6. All work to heritage fabric shall be undertaken by qualified tradesmen with practical experience in the conservation of similar items. ST Recommended Management: 1. Conservation principles: Conserve cultural heritage significance and minimise impacts on heritage values and fabric in accordance with the ‘Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance’. 2. Specialist advice: Seek advice from a qualified heritage specialist during all phases of a proposed project from feasibility, concept and option planning stage; detailed design; heritage approval and assessment; through to construction and finalisation. 3. Documentation: Prepare a Statement of Heritage Impact (SOHI) to assess, minimise and prevent heritage impacts as part of the assessment and approval phase of a project. Prepare a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) prior to proposing major works (such as new additions, change of use or proposed demolition) at all places of State significance and all complex sites of Local significance. 4. Maintenance and repair: Undertake annual inspections and proactive routine maintenance works to conserve heritage fabric in accordance with the ‘Minimum Standards of Maintenance & Repair’. 5. Movable heritage: Retain in situ and care for historic contents, fixtures, fittings, equipment and objects which contribute to cultural heritage significance. Return or reinstate missing features or relocated items where opportunities arise. 6. Aboriginal, archaeology and natural heritage: Consider all aspects of potential heritage significance as part of assessing and minimising potential impacts, including Aboriginal, archaeology and natural heritage. 7. Unidentified heritage items: Heritage inventory sheets do not describe or capture all contributory heritage items within an identified curtilage (such as minor buildings, structures, archaeology, landscape elements, movable heritage and significant interiors and finishes). Ensure heritage advice is sought on all proposed changes within a curtilage to conserve heritage significance. 8. Recording and register update: Record changes at heritage places through adequate project records and archival photography. Notify all changes to the Section 170 Heritage & Conservation Register administrator upon project completion.

Listings

Heritage ListingListing TitleListing NumberGazette DateGazette NumberGazette Page
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage registerSRA s.170 Register    

Study details

TitleYearNumberAuthorInspected byGuidelines used
State Rail Authority Heritage Register Study1999SRA146, SRA608 (Point St F/b), SRA607 (Farrell Rd F/b)State Rail Authority  No
Heritage and Conservation Register State Rail Authority of NSW199321Paul Davies for SRA  No
S170 Heritage & Conservation Register Update2009 Paul Davies Pty Ltd  Yes
S170 Heritage & Conservation Register Update2009 Paul Davies Pty Ltd  Yes
Heritage Platforms Conservation Management Strategy2015 Australian Museum Consulting  Yes

References, internet links & images

TypeAuthorYearTitleInternet Links
Written  Brief locality history found at: www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/library/bulli.asp
WrittenC. C. Singleton1946The Illawarra Line - Scarborough - Wollongong, A.R.H.S.Bulletin Vol. XI, No 104, June
WrittenDavid Sheedy2009Historical Research for RailCorp S170 Register Update

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: State Government
Database number: 4801146


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