Bulli railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bulli
Northbound view from Platform 2 in October 2011
Location	Railway Street, Bulli Australia
Coordinates	34°20′04″S 150°54′53″E / 34.334444°S 150.914737°E / -34.334444; 150.914737
Elevation	56 feet (17 m)
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	NSW TrainLink
Line(s)	South Coast
Distance	72.15 kilometres from Central
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	BUI
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	21 June 1887
Electrified	Yes
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	360 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank	199
Services
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station Woonona toward Bomaderry or Port Kembla South Coast Line Thirroul toward Bondi Junction

Bulli railway station is a train station in Bulli, Australia. It is located in the northern part of Wollongong. The station is on the South Coast railway line. It is a special old building, listed for its history. This means it is protected because of its importance.

History of Bulli Station

Early Days of Bulli

The name Bulli was first written down in 1815. In 1823, people talked about a small piece of land called "Bull Eye". A large area of land was given to Cornelius O'Brien in 1821. His house was the only one in this area for many years.

Later, in 1841, a big piece of land called the Bulli estate was sold. It was then divided into smaller farms. For a long time, the name Bulli was used for all the land from Wollongong north to Coal Cliff.

Building the Station

Bulli station opened on 21 June 1887. It was part of the Illawarra Line, which was separate at first. This section went from Scarborough (now Clifton) to Wollongong.

The station was designed to be a typical small country station. It had a wooden station building. It also had a separate post office, which was unusual. A house for the Station Master and a goods shed were also built in 1887.

Growing the Railway Line

The railway line finally connected to Sydney in October 1888. This made the station much more important. The line was made wider, or duplicated, between 1915 and 1917. This meant there were two tracks instead of one.

In 1923, the line was duplicated again to Woonona. This led to a new brick building being built on Platform 1. An extra room was also added. Over the years, some parts like the goods shed were removed.

Modern Changes and Heritage

In 1984, the Black Diamond Heritage Centre was started. It's a local group that collects history. They now have many old items and stories about the area. You can see these displays in the 1887 Platform 2 building.

In 1986, the train line was electrified up to Wollongong. This means trains could run on electricity. You can also see an old steam locomotive and some wagons near Platform 2. They used to belong to the South Bulli Colliery coal mine.

Train Platforms and Services

Bulli station has two platforms, one on each side of the tracks. These are called side platforms.

It is served by NSW TrainLink trains on the South Coast Line. These trains travel between Waterfall and Thirroul to Port Kembla. During busy times and late at night, some trains also go to Sydney Central, Bondi Junction, and Kiama.

What Bulli Station Looks Like

The station has two main buildings. One is the Platform 1 building from 1923. The other is the Platform 2 building from 1887. Both platforms have asphalt surfaces and brick edges.

You can find Bulli Railway Station between Railway Street and Franklin Avenue. There's a bridge called Park Road over the northern end. Modern lifts help people get to the platforms from this bridge.

Platform 1 Building (1923)

This is a large brick building with a sloped roof made of corrugated steel. It has wooden boards and simple wooden decorations. There are two brick chimneys on the roof.

The building has a slanted roof over the platform side. This roof is held up by steel brackets. The windows are made of wood and have colorful glass. Some doors are made of wood, and some are steel security doors. There is also a wooden shelter at the northern end for the ticket office.

Inside, this building originally had toilets and waiting rooms. The main waiting room now has modern floor tiles. But it still has its original patterned ceiling and a old fireplace area.

Out-of-room (1923)

This is a small, separate brick building at the southern end of Platform 1. It has a sloped roof and wooden ends. It has wooden double doors that open onto the platform. There is a concrete beam above the doorway.

Platform 2 Building (1887)

This is an older, single-story building made of weatherboard (wooden planks). It has a sloped roof with two painted brick chimneys. The ends of the roof have fancy wooden decorations.

On the platform side, there is a slanted roof supported by wooden posts. This roof covers part of the platform. The building has wooden doors with glass panels and wooden windows. The southern end has a simple wooden room. The northern end has more rooms, including men's toilets.

The main entrance used to be from the street through a central hallway. This doorway has a small porch with a curved roof and metal lace decorations. Inside, the building used to have offices, a signal box, a booking office, and waiting rooms.

Platforms

Both platforms are made of asphalt with brick edges. They are located on the outer sides of the railway tracks.

Station Surroundings

East of the Platform 2 building, there is a park with trees along Franklin Street. This makes the station look nice. There's a circular driveway around this park, which seems to be an old part of the station's design.

Old Items at the Station

There are some interesting old items at the station. These include signs from the 1923 waiting room and ticket office. There is also an old wooden luggage trolley. You can also see timber station signs and seats on the platform.

The Black Diamond Heritage Centre has many more old items. These include a signal frame, old train instruments, and lamps. They also have old wooden ticket boxes, safes, and different types of trolleys. There are also old tools, desks, and even a stretcher.

Condition of the Station

The Platform 1 building and the platforms were in good condition in 2012. The Platform 2 building was in fair condition. Some of the wooden station signs were damaged. Overall, the station is still very much like it was built.

Why Bulli Station is Special

Bulli Railway Station is important because it has a rare building from 1887. This building is from when the Illawarra line was first built. The 1887 station building is one of only a few remaining old wooden station buildings on this line. It shows how Bulli Station has been a transport hub since 1887.

The 1923 station building and lamp room also show how the railway grew. They were built when the line was duplicated in the 1920s. Having both the 1887 and 1923 buildings shows how train station designs changed over time. Both buildings are great examples of their style.

The station is also special because of the Black Diamond District Heritage Centre. This group helps to keep the station's history alive. They are located in the 1887 station building.

Bulli railway station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 30 August 2013. This means it is officially recognized as an important historical site.

Historical Importance

Bulli Railway Station is important for its history. The 1887 Platform 2 building is from the first time the Illawarra line was built. The 1923 Platform 1 building shows when the line was made wider. The station has been a key transport place for Bulli since 1887.

Design and Beauty

Bulli Railway Station is important for its design. The 1887 and 1923 buildings show how train station architecture changed. The 1887 Platform 2 building is one of the best examples of an 1880s wooden station building on the Illawarra line. The 1923 brick building is a good example of a Federation period railway station.

Community Connection

The Black Diamond District Heritage Centre is located in the 1887 Platform 2 building. This shows that the station has a special meaning for the local community.

Rarity

The 1887 Platform 2 building at Bulli is very rare. It is one of the best examples of an 1887 wooden station building on the Illawarra line. Many other old buildings were replaced around 1915. Bulli's building is one of only four such buildings left on the line.

Typical Design

The 1887 and 1923 station buildings show typical railway station designs for their time. Bulli is one of only four stations on the Illawarra line with examples of these wooden station buildings.