Henty Railway Precinct

Item details


Name of item:	Henty Railway Precinct
Other name/s:	Doodle Cooma
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Platform/ Station
Primary address:	Railway Parade, Henty, NSW 2658
Parish:	Henty
County:	Hume
Local govt. area:	Greater Hume

Boundary:

The listing boundary is Ivor Street on the west, Olympic Way on the east, Sladen Street crossing to the north and a line across the tracks 20 metres to the south of the platform. Please note this site is listed on the State Heritage Register (SHR) for which the curtilage may differ – for more information see images.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Railway Parade	Henty	Greater Hume	Henty	Hume	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
RailCorp	State Government
RailCorp	State Government

Statement of significance:


	The railway precinct at Henty has significance as a partly intact example of a small regional railway station and yard, constructed during a major expansion of the NSW rail network in the 1880's. The station building has aesthetic significance as a simple skillion-roofed weatherboard building, representative of similar standard early 20th century timber station buildings provided at country locations throughout NSW. The goods shed is a rare example of a non-standard goods shed with a semi-elliptical roof.
	Date significance updated: 05 Jun 08
	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 OEH copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Physical description:	MAJOR STRUCTURES - Managed by RailCorp Station Building - type 7 (1904, extended 1937) Out-of-shed (1939) Platform (c1904) MAJOR STRUCTURES - Managed by ARTC Goods shed STATION BUILDING (1904, extended 1937) The station building is a simple skillion roofed timber weatherboard building. The corrugated iron skillion roof slopes towards the platform edge extending to form a platform awning supported by rafters with timber braces. The building features a rear brick chimney to street front and timber framed double hung sash windows. The building is devoid of any other decorative features. The station building features (from North to South) a storeroom, general waiting room, Station Master’s office and a parcels room with each room accessed from the platform. Two detached toilets are located adjacent to the station building. OUT-OF-SHED (1939) The detached out-of-shed is a single room structure clad in corrugated iron with a skillion roof sloping towards the platform. PLATFORM (c1904?) Platform is brick faced throughout with brick coping and asphalt surface. GOODS SHED Non-standard 45' x 17' with semi-elliptical corrugated iron roof and timber platform. MOVABLE 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, contact the Sydney Trains heritage team. Key items at this station include but are not limited to: All station signage Various timber furnishing and finishes Original and early door and window hardware (locks, handles, sash locks and lifts etc) Painted rail-related wall mural on platform, signed J Russell, August 2006 Concrete-edged planter beds on platform Cast iron enamelled sink and fittings Suspended chain light fittings, switches and timber mounting blocks Wall-mounted telephone / switchboard, c1980s Framed “Henty” line diagram and associated equipment LANDSCAPE Public art / sculpture in circular garden – “Henty” and “Craft shop” Timber post and rail fencing Rail-related painted art mural on side of shipping container Rustic timber picnic table and seats
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	All buildings are generally in moderate condition.
	Date condition updated:25 Aug 09
Modifications and dates:	c1937 - Station building extended c1972 - Station repairs


Current use:	Railway Station
Former use:	Nil

History

Historical notes:

Following the completion of the first railway from Sydney to Parramatta Junction in 1855, proposals for the first railways to the rest of NSW were driven by pastoral communities seeking improved transport for their produce from the inland centres such as Goulburn, Bathurst, Singleton and Muswellbrook. In April 1873 John Sutherland, the Minister for Public Works, set out a policy to complete ‘the main trunk railways’; both the Main Southern line to Albury and the Western trunk route to Bourke on the Darling River were responses to the threat that wool from the Riverina and the west would be diverted to Melbourne via river boats and the Victorian railway to Echuca on the Murray River, which opened in 1864 (Lee, 2000, p98).

The 1870s saw a boom in railway construction. The construction contract for the Wagga Wagga to Albury section of the Great Southern Railway was awarded to George Cornwell & F Mixner on 14 February 1878. The single line from Wagga Wagga to Gerogery opened on 1 September 1880 (Forsyth, 2009).

The station at Henty opened as 'Doodle Cooma' in 1885, with the name changing to ‘Henty’ on 21 January 1891. A decision was made to change the name of the station from ‘Doodle Cooma’ to ‘Henty’ to avoid confusion, as the original station name could be confused with the railway station at Cooma on what is now the Bombala line (Forsyth, 1989; SRA, 1993).

A water pump, boiler, 90kl tank and jib were provided at Henty in c1884, before the completion of a platform and waiting shed on the Down side of the line in 1885. The station was interlocked in 1886, a station building constructed in c1891 with the extension of the platform and a residence provided in c1892. Other changes to the station precinct in the late 19th century included the addition of a waiting shed, erection of a 2 tonne yard crane and addition of a 10 tonne weighbridge (1893), a grain storage shed (1895), and erection of stockyards and extension of the siding in 1896 (Forsyth, 1989).

The station was relocated to its present site in c1904, with a new station building with detached out-of-shed and platform replacing the original station buildings. Plans dating from 1937 show that extensions were made to the southern elevation of the station building. In c1939 the out-of-shed was relocated to the site from Tamboolba (RailCorp historic plans; Forsyth, 2009)

Other changes in the early 20th century included the provision of a grain shed in 1901, gantry crane (1903), crossing loop (1904), 20 tonne weighbridge (1905), wheat stacking site and 5 tonne jib crane (1911), extension of the platform and provision of electric lighting (1916), and new stockyards (1923) (Forsyth, 1989).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Forestry-Activities associated with identifying and managing land covered in trees for commercial purposes.	Utilising timber for railway purposes-
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	Transport of goods-
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-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The railway precinct at Henty is significant as it was constructed during the ‘Great Railway Years’ of the 1880s, a period of major railway construction in NSW. The site is associated with the construction of the Main South Line, which was an important achievement in NSW, providing opportunity for growth and trade for remote communities in the state.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The station building has aesthetic significance as a simple skillion-roofed weatherboard building demonstrating a popular design for early 20th century railway architecture. Subsidiary buildings including the Out-of-shed and the unusual goods shed with (semi-elliptical) roof also contribute to the setting of the station precinct.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The place has social significance to the local community on account of its lengthy association with providing an important source of employment, trade and social interaction for the local community. The place is significant for its ability to contribute to the local community’s sense of place, is a distinctive feature for many community members, and provides a connection to the local community’s past.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The goods shed is a rare example of a non-standard goods shed with a curved roof.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The Henty station building is a good representative example of a skillion roofed building, one of the most common in the early 20th century. The place has representative significance for its collection of railway structures that collectively demonstrate widespread early 20th Century railway customs, activities and design in NSW, and are representative of similar items that are found in other railway sites across the state.
Integrity/Intactness:	The station buildings have a moderate level of integrity/ intactness.
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:

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 Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Guidelines used
State Rail Authority Heritage Register Study	1999	SRA285	State Rail Authority	No
S170 Register Update Project	2009		ARTC/ ORH	Yes
Heritage Platforms Conservation Management Strategy	2015		Australian Museum Consulting	Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written	Cottee, J.M.	2004	Stations on the track: selected New South Wales country railway stations: an historical overview
Written	Forsyth, J.H.	1989	Stations & tracks: volume 2: Main Southern Line: Granville Junction to Albury: Station, siding, track & bridge data
Written	McKillop, R	2009	NSW Railways (RailCorp) Thematic History
Written	State Rail Authority of NSW Archives Section	1993	How and why of station names

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

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	State Government
Database number:	4806285

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