Bomaderry railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bomaderry
Bomaderry in April 2019
Location	Meroo Street, Bomaderry New South Wales Australia
Coordinates	34°51′14″S 150°36′35″E / 34.8538°S 150.6098°E / -34.8538; 150.6098
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	NSW TrainLink
Line(s)	South Coast
Distance	153.348 km from Central
Platforms	1, 108 metres
Tracks	4
Train operators	NSW TrainLink
Bus operators	Nowra Coaches Shoal Bus
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Easy Access
Architectural style	Inter-war functionalism
Other information
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	2 June 1893
Previous names	Nowra Bomaderry (Nowra)
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	330 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank	204
Services
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station Terminus South Coast Line Berry toward Kiama

Bomaderry railway station is a special train station in Bomaderry, New South Wales, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site because of its history and unique design. The station is the last stop on the South Coast railway line.

It has one platform and serves NSW TrainLink trains that run to Kiama. Sometimes, buses replace trains for early morning or late night trips. There's also a special track nearby used by freight trains, which carry goods for companies like the Manildra Group.

The station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, meaning it's an important historical place to protect.

History of Bomaderry Station

The railway line reached "North Kiama Station" (now Bombo) in 1887. The plan was to connect the line to Sydney in the north and possibly Jervis Bay or Eden in the south.

A big step was finishing the 342-metre truss bridge over the Shoalhaven River in 1881. Bomaderry Railway Station officially opened on 2 June 1893. It was meant to be a temporary end point for the line.

However, the railway didn't extend further south to Jervis Bay. So, the bridge was changed to carry road traffic instead. The connection to Sydney had opened earlier, in October 1888.

Some of the oldest parts of the station, like the old Station Master's house and the goods shed, are still around from 1893. These show how the railway line was built from Bombo.

As Bomaderry became a permanent train stop, and Nowra grew across the river, the station became more important. A large area for goods was added. This included a turntable (a spinning platform for turning trains around) in 1914. Other additions were a dairy siding (a side track for milk trains) in 1921 and a crane in 1934.

The original platform building was destroyed in a fire in 1945. It was rebuilt the next year in a style called "inter-war functionalist." This style is known for its simple, practical design and often uses curved shapes. The new building is considered one of the best examples of this style for railway buildings in the state.

For a long time, Bomaderry used an old system called "electric staff signalling" to control trains. This system was put in place in 1908 and was finally updated to modern automatic signals in 2014.

How the Station Works

From 1933 to 1991, Bomaderry was the end stop for a direct train service to Sydney called the South Coast Daylight Express.

Today, most trains from Bomaderry are shuttle services. They travel between Bomaderry and Kiama, which is where the electric train lines end. There were talks about extending the electric line to Bomaderry, but this hasn't happened yet.

You can use an Opal smart card for tickets at Bomaderry. This electronic ticketing system has been available since 2014.

Train Tracks at Bomaderry

The Bomaderry train yard has four tracks. These include the track next to the platform, a track for trains to pass each other, and two tracks for goods trains.

There's also a secure area south of the station where trains can be stored overnight. A longer "master siding" track branches off from the goods tracks. It goes over Railway Street and Bolong Road, passing by local businesses like Shoalhaven Steel Supplies and Shoalhaven Starches.

Platforms & Services

Bomaderry has one platform.

• Platform 1: Services to and from Kiama on the South Coast line.

Getting Around from Bomaderry

Several bus companies run routes from Bomaderry station:

• Kennedy's Tours:
  • 110: to Greenwell Point
  • 111: to Orient Point
  • 112: to Kangaroo Valley

• Nowra Coaches:
  • 101: to Wollongong University Shoalhaven Campus
  • 102: to Basin View
  • 103: to Hyams Beach

• Shoalbus:
  • 139: to Shoalhaven Heads
  • 131: Bomaderry loop service
  • 135: to Sussex Inlet

• Stuart's Coaches:
  • 120: to Currarong via Myola

What Bomaderry Station Looks Like

The Bomaderry station area is a heritage site with several old buildings and structures. These include the platform building (from 1946), the goods shed (from 1893, extended in 1944), the station master's house (from 1893), the platform itself (updated in 1934 and 1946), a turntable (from 1914), a crane (from 1934), and old signals.

You enter the station from the west, through the main entrance of the 1946 platform building. There's a car park right next to it. The single platform is on the eastern side of the building. At the southern end of the platform, you can see the horse dock and signals.

The station area is surrounded by white fences. There's also a small fenced area on the platform with train points (switches for tracks) under a metal roof.

The goods shed, with its crane, is to the southeast of the platform. The old weighbridge is on the eastern side of the tracks. The turntable is at the very southern end of the railway yard and can't be seen from the platform.

The Station Master's house is on the west side of the tracks, north of the station car park. It faces the car park, not the main street.

You'll also see trees planted around the station and a garden bed that spells out "Bomaderry" in plants.

The Platform Building (1946)

This is a single-story brick building with a tiled roof. It's built in the "Inter-war Functionalist" style. The building has a "stepped" look, with parts that stick out and parts that are set back. It has two rounded lobbies on the west side, next to the parcels office. These rounded parts have flat concrete roofs supported by square brick ribs.

Most of the windows are original steel-framed windows, often in groups of three or four. There are also some wooden doors. The building has wide eaves (the parts of the roof that hang over the walls).

Inside, some original features remain, especially in the lobby and parcels office. The waiting room has modern floor tiles and a colorful mural on three walls. The entrance area has modern tiles and mosaic decorations. These art pieces seem to be part of a recent community project.

The Station Master's Residence (1893)

This is a single-story house made of weatherboard (wooden planks). It has a gabled roof (a roof with two sloping sides that meet at a ridge) and a veranda at the front. The front veranda has been enclosed with weatherboards and windows.

The house still looks quite original inside, with wooden walls and ceilings in the main rooms.

The Goods Shed (1893, 1944)

This is a rectangular shed made of corrugated steel, with a gabled roof. It's raised up on a timber platform. The goods shed and its crane are located between the railway lines to the southeast of the station platform. The shed has large wooden double doors facing west.

The Jib Crane (1934)

The crane is located just north of the goods shed platform. It's mounted on a round concrete base. The crane is marked "T133" and can safely lift 8 tons.

The Turntable (1914)

The turntable is at the very southern end of the Bomaderry Railway Station yard. It's a circular area sunk into the ground with a single rail inside. In the center is a cast iron machine used to turn trains around.

The Platform (1934, 1946)

This is a long platform that runs north-south on the eastern side of the platform building. The platform has a brick base with a concrete base and an asphalt surface. At the southern end, there's a loading dock built in 1934.

Signals (1946)

There are signal points on the platform, inside a fenced area at the southern end. They are covered by a flat metal roof.

Condition of the Station

As of 2011, the platform building, platform, horse dock, and signals were in good condition. The old station master's house, turntable, and crane were in moderate condition. The goods shed was in poor condition because its timber floor was very old and damaged.

The platform building still looks very much like it did when it was built. The inside was updated in 1994. While some older parts of the railway yard (like sheds for engines and carriages) have been removed, it still has structures from 1893 to 1946. The Station Master's house is still in good shape.

Changes Over Time

• 1934: A timber loading area was added at the south end of the platform.
• 1936: The coal stage (for loading coal onto steam trains) was removed.
• 1938: The trucking yards were removed, and the land was sold. The platform was extended south.
• 1944: The 1893 goods shed was made larger.
• 1946: The current platform and platform building were built after the old ones were destroyed by fire in 1945.
• 1994: The inside of the platform building was updated, and the roof was repaired.
• Later: The engine shed and carriage shed were removed. The Station Master's house had some changes, like the front veranda being enclosed.

Why Bomaderry Station is Special

Bomaderry Railway Station and its yard are important because they show the history of railways in New South Wales. They have many structures and machines from 1893 to 1946. The station was a key transport hub and helped local industries grow.

The 1946 platform building is a great example of the "Inter-War Functionalist" architectural style. It's known for its curved shapes. The Bomaderry turntable is also quite rare; it's one of only a few left on the Illawarra line.

The Station Master's house from 1893 is historically important. It shows how railway staff used to live on-site. It's also one of the few original buildings left from when the station first opened. Its design is linked to Henry Deane, a famous railway engineer from 1891-1901. The house is a simple, traditional weatherboard house built for railway workers.

Bomaderry railway station was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Historical Importance

The station shows how railways developed from 1893 to 1946, from steam trains to diesel. The old goods shed, turntable, crane, and platform all tell this story. Nearby buildings, like the old weighbridge and dairy building, also add to the station's history.

The Station Master's house is important because it shows how railway staff lived and worked in the late 1800s. It's one of the few original buildings from 1893 at the station. Its design was a model for later railway houses.

Connection to Important People

The design of the Station Master's house is connected to Henry Deane. He was the Engineer-in-Chief for Railways Construction in NSW from 1891 to 1901.

Artistic and Technical Achievements

The 1946 platform building is one of the best examples of the "Inter-War Functionalist" style in NSW railway buildings. It's special because of its curved parts.

The Station Master's house is a good example of a simple, traditional house built for railway staff.

Community Connection

The station helps the local community feel connected to their past. It's an important part of the area's history.

Rare Features

The Bomaderry turntable is rare; it's one of only four turntables left on the Illawarra line (the others are at Wollongong, Waterfall, and Kiama).

The goods shed is also rare. Most goods sheds have been removed from city areas, but Bomaderry's is still there.

The Station Master's house is one of the few original buildings from 1893 at Bomaderry. It's also one of only five houses of its kind still owned by the government in the metropolitan railway network.

Typical Examples

The Bomaderry Railway Station platform building is a top example of its architectural style in NSW.

The Station Master's house is an early example of a railway residence. Many houses of this design were built, but most have been demolished or sold.

Images for kids

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  Bomaderry railway station circa 2005