Archer Park Rail Museum facts for kids
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Archer Park Railway Station and Museum, 2009
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| Location | Denison Street, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
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| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1897–1908 |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Archer Park Railway Station, Rockhampton Central Railway Station | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600777 |
| Significant period | 1897–1970 (historical) 1897–ongoing (social) 1890s–1910s (fabric) |
| Significant components | loading bay/dock, trees/plantings, machinery/plant/equipment – transport – rail, office/s, carriage shade (railway), railway station, store/s / storeroom / storehouse, railway refreshment room/s, platform, furniture/fittings, track |
Archer Park Railway Museum is a special place in Rockhampton, Australia. It used to be a very busy train station called Archer Park railway station. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about trains and the history of railways.
The museum was built between 1897 and 1908. It is now a heritage-listed site, meaning it is protected for its historical importance. One of the coolest things at the museum is a rare French Purrey steam tram. This tram was rebuilt using parts from the original trams that ran in Rockhampton a long time ago.
Contents
History of Archer Park
Archer Park Railway Station was once the main train station in Rockhampton. It played a big part in the city's history and how people traveled. It was also important for the growth of the railway network in Queensland.
Early Rockhampton Railways
The Archer brothers first explored the Rockhampton area in 1853. They were the first Europeans to map the Fitzroy River. Their farm, Gracemere Station, led to more people settling in the area.
Rockhampton became a town in 1858 after a gold rush. It quickly grew into a major port for central Queensland. Goods and people came and went through Rockhampton for almost a century.
In 1863, Queensland decided to build its railways using a narrow gauge. This meant the tracks were closer together than in other parts of Australia. The main reason was that it was cheaper to build narrow-gauge lines.
The first railway in Queensland opened in 1865 near Ipswich. Rockhampton's citizens wanted their own railway too. They needed it to transport copper from the Peak Downs area.
Connecting Rockhampton
The first part of the Central Western railway line opened in 1867. It went from Rockhampton to Westwood. This line reached Emerald in 1879 and Longreach in 1892. For a long time, this railway system was separate from the southern Queensland lines.
In the 1880s, Rockhampton grew a lot because of gold found at Mount Morgan. The city wanted a railway to its beach resort at Emu Park. The Emu Park railway line opened in 1888.
At this time, Rockhampton had two separate railway lines. One went west from Stanley Street, and the other went to Emu Park from North Rockhampton. There was no direct connection between them.
Building the Junction Railway
The railway department wanted to link these two lines. This meant building a bridge over the Fitzroy River. It also meant buying land to connect the stations.
A big financial crisis in 1893 stopped work for a while. But then, the government decided to build a deepwater port at Broadmount. This made connecting the railways even more important.
In 1895, the plan for the Rockhampton Junction Railway was approved. This new bridge and connecting line were the first double lines outside of Brisbane. The Rockhampton City Council gave land for a central railway station. This land was part of Leichhardt Park, which is now Archer Park.
Designing Archer Park Station
Plans for Archer Park station were drawn in 1897. It was designed to be a separate station but connected to the main line. It would have a long platform and a special arched roof called a carriage shade. This shade would protect passengers from the weather.
Architect Henrik Hansen finalized the plans in 1898. Hansen designed many railway buildings, including other stations with similar arched roofs.
Construction of the Rockhampton Junction Railway began in 1897. The bridge was delayed by floods. A home for the station master was built in 1897. A signal cabin was also added in 1898 to control the train movements.
The Rockhampton Central Station building itself was tendered in 1899. Gas lighting was installed instead of electric.
Opening and Busy Years
The Rockhampton Junction Railway officially opened on November 6, 1899. This connected the two halves of Rockhampton's railway system. Archer Park station opened to the public on December 11, 1899. It quickly became the main passenger station in Rockhampton.
Archer Park was a passenger station. It handled mail and parcels, but not large goods. It was a busy hub for trains going to Mount Morgan, Emu Park, and local areas like Lakes Creek. Trips to the seaside at Emu Park and Yeppoon were very popular.
In 1906, plans were made to add a refreshment room to the station. This room opened in 1908, offering food and drinks to travelers.
Running trains along Denison Street was tricky. Trains had to go slowly, only 10 miles per hour. Firemen had to ring a hand bell to warn people.
By 1922, Archer Park was too small for the growing number of long trains. The station layout made it hard for trains to move efficiently. This caused delays and blocked the main line.
Changes and Closure
The Stanley Street station was expanded in 1923 to handle longer trains. It became the main station for long-distance trains. Archer Park then focused on local services.
During World War II, Archer Park was used again to help move soldiers.
In 1956, the signal cabin was moved into the station building. Staff numbers were reduced around this time to save money.
Over the years, fewer trains used Archer Park. The Emu Park line closed in 1964. Other services also stopped. By 1969, there were no more passenger trains from Archer Park.
The station officially closed on February 2, 1970. It was then used as a freight terminal for a while. Some parts of the building were changed for this new use.
Becoming a Museum
From 1982 to 1989, local people complained about the noise from the freight operations. The Rockhampton City Council wanted to turn the station into a museum.
Archer Park closed as a freight terminal on January 14, 1990. On May 1, 1990, Queensland Railways gave the station to the Rockhampton City Council. The plan was to develop it into a museum.
Work was done to restore the station building and carriage shed in 1996. A section of the railway line was kept to connect the station to its loop line. However, the station is no longer connected to the main railway network.
What Archer Park Looks Like
Archer Park Railway Station is a beautiful building. It has a main station building with a platform on one side. On the other side, there is a verandah where people entered. A large steel-framed roof, called a carriage shade, covers both the platform and the tracks.
The station building is made of timber and has a corrugated iron roof. The front entrance has a special projecting section with a shaped timber gable. It says "A.D. 1899 RAILWAY STATION" on it. The entrance has cast iron columns and delicate metal decorations.
The verandah also has cast iron columns and decorative brackets. The floor is made of hexagonal concrete tiles.
An extension was added in 1908 for the refreshment rooms. It looks similar to the original building. At the southern end, there is a loading bay and a men's toilet block. The carriage shade is a curved roof made of steel. It used to cover two tracks, but now only one.
Inside, the building has timber walls and ceilings. The entrance area has ticket windows and offices. The signal box, where signals were controlled, is now inside the building. It has levers that used to control the train tracks.
Outside, there is a driveway and parking area. Some trees are scattered around the site. The area under the carriage shade is now fenced off. A small section of the original railway line remains in front of the station.
Why Archer Park is Special
Archer Park Railway Station is important for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history changed: It was a key part of Rockhampton's railway network. It helped connect different parts of the city and the region.
- It has rare features: The double line on Denison Street, where road and rail traffic shared space, was very rare in Australia. The station also has rare parts of its old signaling system.
- It shows a typical railway station: It is a great example of a main railway station from the late 1800s. The curved carriage shade was a special design feature by architect Henrik Hansen.
- It looks great: The station is still mostly in its original condition. Its design is very skilled and beautiful. It adds a lot to the look of Rockhampton.
- It connects to the community: Archer Park was the main passenger station in Rockhampton for many years. It was where people traveled and goods were moved. It has a strong connection to the people of Rockhampton.
See also
- List of transport museums
- Trams in Rockhampton
