Windsor Railway Station Group and Former Goods Yard

Item details


Name of item:	Windsor Railway Station Group and Former Goods Yard
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Platform/ Station
Location:	Lat: -33.6138286581 Long: 150.8111332490
Primary address:	Blacktown-Richmond railway, Windsor, NSW 2576
Local govt. area:	Hawkesbury
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Deerubbin

Boundary:

Southeast: Down end of the rail bridge over George St (bridge not included); Northwest: RailCorp property boundary fronting Cox Street; Northeast: RailCorp property boundary along the goods yard from Cox St to George St (excluding car park); Southwest: RailCorp property boundary extending from George Street, across open area including row of trees, to rear of Gangers Shed to Cox Street .

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Blacktown-Richmond railway	Windsor	Hawkesbury			Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
RailCorp	State Government	20 Nov 98

Statement of significance:


	Windsor Railway Station is of state significance as one of the stations built during the major upgrading works along the Richmond line in the 1880s providing evidence of the prosperity, and social and economic development of the Windsor area following the arrival of the railway during the 19th Century. The 1883 station building is a fine example of a Victorian second-class station building and is a significant landmark within the historic town centre. The goods yard is of research significance for its potential to yield information on the operational system and layout of the late 19th century goods handling through the remnants of rail sidings, brick faced platform, hand crane and anchor points. However, its integrity has been compromised due to the removal of the majority of its associated structures and its non-operational state.
	Date significance updated: 10 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 OEH copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	NSW Government Railways
Builder/Maker:	Private contractor, G. Jones
Construction years:	1883-1884
Physical description:	BUILDINGS Station Building - type 3, second class roadside brick (1883) STRUCTURES Station Platform - brick faced (1883) GOODS YARD Platform - brick faced Crane - Class 1, jib crane - 5 tonne, iron, Philadelphia (1880s) Modern Sheds - steel framed, corrugated metal, modern (c1990) Gangers Shed - Corrugated metal gabled shed with timber frame (c1883) STATION BUILDING External: A large face brick building known as a type 3 second class roadside building. It is a symmetrically organised central building with two wings attached to either side. The Down side wing is a rectangular larger building while the Up end wing is almost a square building. The central building features a hipped and valley slate roof, two tall brick chimneys with corbelled tops and round hoods, moulded and dentilated eaves, a corrugated iron ogee style veranda along the street side of the central building, and a wide corrugated metal platform awning supported on cast iron columns, exposed rafters and decorative brackets. Wings feature flat roofs obscured behind low parapets and moulded cornices. The building's vertically proportioned fenestration is original with cement rendered lintels resembling segmental stone arch appearance. Internal: The building retains much of its original elements including moulded plaster cornices, timber skirtings, fireplace (blocked), mini orb ceiling lining in the office and timber joinery. The overall historic character of the interiors are evident despite the changes and refurbishments overtime. STATION PLATFORM (1881) Windsor station has a brick faced road side platform with concrete deck and asphalt finish. White aluminium palisade fencing has been erected along the station street boundary and both ends of the platform. Modern platform furniture, bins, light fittings and signage also feature along the platform. GOODS YARD The yard is a large, irregularly shaped site that is fenced and contains remnants of the 19th century Windsor station goods yard. It is an overgrown yard with patches of concrete and asphalt slabs and remnants of rail sidings and anchor points on the ground. PLATFORM Remnants of the former curved brick faced goods platform are evident under the overgrown vegetation and rubble. CRANE An original 1880s goods crane fixed on an octagonal concrete base is the only intact extant element of the former goods yard. It is an iron jib crane with a hook dropping from the end of a single rotating arm. The crane is a Class 1, 5 tonne hand crane, No T181. MODERN SHEDS There are three modern steel framed sheds within the goods yard; One is a large corrugated metal sheeted and gabled shed, with two identical metal sheeted small sheds behind it. GANGERS SHED Located beyond the fenced area of the goods yard, the gangers shed is a timber framed gabled shed with corrugated metal wall and roof sheeting. It features timber floorboards, timber roof trusses, timber sliding loading doors, and wire mesh covered windows. MOVEABLE ITEMS - A Seth Thomas Clock (# 1886), working condition, in the ticket office. - Two timber L-shaped/corner seats in the waiting room. - An enamel station name board with timber frame on the platform side of the station building. - An Ajax brand safe (#1004) in the SM's office. POTENTIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURES The former goods yard has high archaeological potential due to the extent of remnant rail sidings, anchor points and former goods platform dating to the first railway.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The station building is generally in very good condition. The goods yard is in relatively poor condition due to overgrown vegetation and patches of rubble storage. The brick faced former goods platform is visible in sections within the vegetation and appears to be in moderate condition. The crane is in good condition. Modern sheds are in good condition. The gangers shed is in poor condition both internally and externally. Only roof sheeting appears to be new fabric and is in good condition. The condition of the remnant archaeological material from the goods yard requires further investigation.
Modifications and dates:	1883 - The station was rebuilt with the goods yard including the brick faced platform and Type 1 jib crane. 15 Jan 1890 - Water column from Mudgee re-erected. c.1916 - A skillion roof and timber clad signal box constructed behind the Up end of the platform (no longer extant). 33 Jul 1939 - Platform extended. 1943 - Alterations to station buildings and offices completed. 1945 - Raising platform height; and providing asphalt strip and brick coping. 28 Sep 1975 - Hawkesbury Dairy siding removed. 1997 - The platform building was extensively repaired and upgraded. All platform structures other than the main brick building were removed. 1991 - The line was electrified. N.d - Station Master's residence sold to private ownership (to north of Station on Brabyn Street) (Forsyth, 2009)
Further information:	A former railway residence at 33 Argyle Street is now privately owned.


Current use:	Railway Station
Former use:	Railway Station

History

Historical notes:

The line to Richmond was opened in 1864 and the station at Windsor was opened in that year, having been constructed by W & A Elphinstone. The original station building was a combination residence and office, as were built at Riverstone and Mulgrave stations on the same line. This was purchased and relocated to be converted into a private home in Milhelm Street.

A major upgrading of most stations on this line occurred in the 1880s, including Windsor. In April 1883 the contract for a brick station building and platform was awarded to G Jones. The station was rebuilt with the goods yard including the brick faced platform. The present brick platform building dates from 1884 and its design reflects similar buildings at Riverstone and Richmond.

A skillion roof and timber clad signal box constructed c.1916 behind the Up end of the platform is no longer extant. A timber and gable roofed ex-goods shed on the Down side of the track beyond the Down end of the platform was extant in 2001 but no longer extant.

The line was electrified in 1991. Plans show alterations to the station building c1941. The platform building was extensively repaired and upgraded in 1997. All platform structures other than the main brick building were removed.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
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	(none)-
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-
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 - providing rail transport-
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-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Windsor Station is historically significant as one of the stations built during the major upgrading works along Richmond line in the 1880s, maintaining physical evidence of a station layout including a goods yard dating from the early 1880s. Although buildings other than the main station building have been removed the station together with the hand crane and brick faced platform of the goods yard are important in demonstrating the configuration, styles and elements that were used in the goods handling and transport in the farming district of the Hawkesbury at the time.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Constructed in 1883, the station building is aesthetically significant as a fine example of a Victorian second-class road side station building providing evidence of the prosperity, and social and economic development of the Windsor area. The building is a landmark within the historic town centre.
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 e) [Research potential]	The goods yard has potential to yield information on the operational system and layout of late 19th century goods handling through the remnants of rail sidings, the brick faced platform, crane and anchor points. The extent of surviving remnant elements warrant brief archaeological investigation.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Windsor Station combined with its associated goods yard is a rare example of an 1880s railway station layout despite being modified and the majority of the structures removed.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Windsor Station is one of three stations (others Richmond and Riverstone) incorporating larger station buildings built on the Richmond line in the 1880s that differ significantly from other smaller and simpler stations on the line. The station building is a fine example of a late nineteenth century second-class station building representing the peak of achievement in station architecture.
Integrity/Intactness:	The station building has a high degree of intactness with some modifications to the interiors. The overall station and yard integrity has been reduced by the removal of other structures including the signal box and goods shed from the platform, and the components of the goods yard.
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.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	SCHEDULE OF STANDARD EXEMPTIONS HERITAGE ACT 1977 Notice of Order Under Section 57 (2) of the Heritage Act 1977 I, the Minister for Planning, pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales, do by this Order: 1. revoke the Schedule of Exemptions to subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act made under subsection 57(2) and published in the Government Gazette on 22 February 2008; and 2. grant standard exemptions from subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977, described in the Schedule attached. FRANK SARTOR Minister for Planning Sydney, 11 July 2008 To view the schedule click on the Standard Exemptions for Works Requiring Heritage Council Approval link below.	Sep 5 2008

Standard exemptions for works requiring Heritage Council approval

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		01287	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	Windsor Railway Station group	View detail
Written	Nichols, Michelle (Local Studies Librarian)	2010	Macquarie and the Hawkesbury District

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 Office
Database number:	5012289

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